Welcome to Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

See the whole picture this Christmas

COMMUNION TONIGHT

Call to Worship – Psalm 51 (ESV) Minister: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. People: Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Call to Worship – Psalm 51 (ESV) Minister: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Call to Worship – Psalm 51 (ESV) ALL: For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering…

Call to Worship – Psalm 51 (ESV) ALL: … The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 130:1-8* (p. 173) 1LORD, from the depths I call to you; 2Lord, hear me from on high And give attention to my voice when I for mercy cry.

Psalm 130:1-8* (2/4) 3LORD, in your presence who can stand, if you our sins record? 4But yet forgiveness is with you, that we may fear you, LORD.

Psalm 130:1-8* (3/4) 5I wait—my soul waits—for the LORD; my hope is in his word. 6More than the watchman waits for dawn my soul waits for the Lord.

Psalm 130:1-8* (4/4) 7O Isr’el, put your hope in God, for mercy is with him 8And full redemption. From their sins his people he’ll redeem.

Prayer & Children’s Talk

The Alios Athena

Psalm 23:1-6* (p. 28) 1The LORD is my shepherd; no want shall I know. 2He makes me lie down where the green pastures grow; He leads me to rest where the calm waters flow.

Psalm 23:1-6* (2/5) 3My wandering steps he brings back to his way, In straight paths of righteousness making me stay; And this he has done his great name to display.

Psalm 23:1-6* (3/5) 4Though I walk in death’s valley, where darkness is near, Because you are with me, no evil I’ll fear; Your rod and your staff bring me comfort and cheer.

Psalm 23:1-6* (4/5) 5In the sight of my en’mies a table you spread. The oil of rejoicing you pour on my head; My cup overflows and I’m graciously fed.

Psalm 23:1-6* (5/5) 6So surely your covenant mercy and grace Will follow me closely in all of my ways; I will dwell in the house of the LORD all my days.

Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 12:4-20 Page Reader: Peter MacIntosh

1 Corinthians 12: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12: To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits,

1 Corinthians 12:4-20 to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. One Body, Many Parts 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12: For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

1 Corinthians 12: And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

1 Corinthians 12: But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. _____________

Psalm 68:18-20 (p. 303) 18Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious, ascended up on high; And in triumph victorious led captive captivity:

Psalm 68:18-20 (2/4) Thou hast receivèd gifts for men, for such as did rebel; Yea, ev’n for them, that God the LORD in midst of them might dwell.

Psalm 68:18-20 (3/4) 19Bless’d be the Lord, who is to us of our salvation God; Who daily with his benefits us plenteously doth load.

Psalm 68:18-20 (4/4) 20He of salvation is the God, who is our God most strong; And unto GOD the Lord from death the issues do belong.

SERMON 1 Corinthians 12:4-20 (p. 1153)

1 – THE GOAL OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS Gifts for Service and for Growth!Gifts for Service and for Growth! Gifts that focus on the TRINITY!Gifts that focus on the TRINITY! Gifts that emphasise VARIETY.Gifts that emphasise VARIETY. All together: Gifts that promote UNITY and Humility.All together: Gifts that promote UNITY and Humility.

2 – THE LOGIC BEHIND SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP We are a BODY in Christ.We are a BODY in Christ. A BODY with many parts… (12)A BODY with many parts… (12) A BODY with no unessential parts.A BODY with no unessential parts. (Can you grow, outside the body?)(Can you grow, outside the body?) A BODY where the DIFFERENCES between us are good! (Are all apostles?) A BODY where the DIFFERENCES between us are good! (Are all apostles?)

SO SERVE THE BODY Give thanks for the gifts that God has given to this congregation.Give thanks for the gifts that God has given to this congregation. Be ready to humbly serve Christ, as we serve one another.Be ready to humbly serve Christ, as we serve one another.

Psalm 113:1-9* (p. 151) 1O praise, you servants of the LORD; Sing praises to his holy name. 2O blessèd be the name of God; His praise for evermore proclaim. 3From east to west the praise of God Each day is to be spread abroad.

Psalm 113:1-9* (2/3) 4The LORD is high above the earth, His glory far above the sky. 5Who else is like the LORD our God, The one who sits enthroned on high? 6He is the one who stoops down low To look on heav’n and earth below.

Psalm 113:1-9* (3/3) 7He raises outcasts from the dust And from the ash-heap lifts the poor, 8Exalting them to dignity, With noblemen to sit secure. 9The childless woman he’ll reward With home and children. Praise the LORD!

Please join us in the entrance hall for tea and coffee God Calls Us to delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

130:1-8* (p. 173)CM 23:1-6* (p. 28)Tarwathie 68:18-20 (p.303) CM 113:1-9 (p. 151)