The week ahead at Hilton Church
Sunday 3rd December Informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme 6.00pm-7.00pm
Monday 4th December Continuing the Advent readings using Advent Manifesto for those who have opted to purchase a copy. (See details below) Rhymes Recollected in the small hall 2.oopm-3.00pm. Theme: Music and song.
Thursday 7th December Book Group in the small hall: NB starts at the earlier time of 7.00pm
Sunday 10th December Worship Service in the Church and live on-line on the Church Facebook page at 10.30am. Informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme. 6.00pm-7.00pm Nitelife meets in the small hall from 7.00pm
Help Brian to help children in Malawi
Brian is giving freely of his time to go to Malawi for a couple of weeks this autumn to work with children there as part of a TeamUP team. He has personally to cover the cost of his flights, and needs to raise £1000 to enable him to make this November’s trip. He will be deeply grateful for your help in reaching this target. You can donate via Justgiving here. Full details here.
For news of Brian’s visit, see here.
Photos from Brian, received 1st December:
Brian Dec 23 1
Brian Dec 23 2
Brian Dec 23 3
Brian Dec 23 4
Brian Dec 23 5
Brian Dec 23 6
Advent 2023
“If Jesus returned tomorrow, what would be put right immediately or simply swept away? What tables might be overturned? Who would Jesus eat with? What would he say about our religion? Who would Jesus hang out with?”
These are some of the challenging questions that are asked at the beginning of The Advent Manifesto by Martyn Percy.
During Advent 2023, we are going to follow this book as a basis for reflection. Beginning on Monday 27th November, the book contains a daily reading for contemplation together with a prayer and some suggestions for further exploration.
During Advent, we will follow the story contained in Luke 1 v 26-79 at Sunday morning services.
3rd December. Luke 1:26-38
10th December Luke 1:39-45
17th December Luke 1:46-55
24th December Luke 1: 67-79
There will also be some more informal gatherings in the Anchor Café on Sunday evenings, 3rd & 10th December, at 6-7pm to worship together and explore the story further.
The Advent Manifesto will only serve as a guide for the various services and gatherings. You will not be disadvantaged if you don’t have a copy of the book! We will simply be looking at the story as contained in Luke’s gospel. If, however, you would like to have the opportunity for an additional daily reflection during Advent based on the Luke readings, we would highly recommend The Advent Manifesto. It’s available on Kindle as well as through all the other usual retailers.
Hilton Parish Church
Sunday 3 December 2023
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
A worship service was held at 10.30am in the church building on 3 December. The service were simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page. You can catch up here, or by following the link below.
The Bible passage was Luke 1:26-38 and Duncan was preaching
The first Advent candle was lit, and we shared in Communion at the service. Bread is gluten-free and wine non-alcoholic.
There will be an informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme and today’s Bible passage – 6.00pm-7.00pm
Today’s Bible passage was the story of Mary being told by the angel Gabriel that she was to bear the Christ child. Duncan open up this story for us by sharing a story of his own.
On Friday night, he was in Perth for a meal to celebrate the retirement of Willie MacPherson who, for the last 20 years has been CEO of Vine Trust, which has done a huge amount of good in the name of Christ in Tanzania and in Peru, and with which Hilton Church has close links. Duncan was inspired by his experience of Vine Trust to realise how much con be accomplished when Christians receive a God-given vision, and go forward in faith to bring it to reality.
The speaker at the dinner was the former Church of Scotland Moderator Albert Bogle, who was a founder-member of the Vine Trust. The Trust had its origins, Albert said, in a group of people in Bo’ness in the 1980s who were all associated with a craft shop called Branches which gave its modest profits to charitable work. When this group of people had the vision of founding what was to be Vine Trust, they named it with reference to Jesus words ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ (John 15:5) It is in connection with the life-giving Vine that we, the branches bear fruit.
Duncan then turned to Gabriel’s words to Mary. ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured. The Lord is with you.’ (Luke 1:28) How easily we regard ourselves as being unimportant, or insignificant! But each of us, Duncan reminded us is ‘highly favoured’, treasured by God. Each of us is a branch, each of us has a God-given role to be fruit-bearers for Jesus in our own sphere of life and influence. And us we rejoice in our belovedness and open our eyes to the roles entrusted to us, we can be assured that ‘The Lord is with us.’
Why can we have this assurance? Because Mary said ‘Yes!’ Because she fulfilled her role, and permitted ‘the power of the Most High’ to ‘overshadow’ her (Luke 1:35), and so Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us entered the world.
We are each beloved branches. We are each connected to the life of Emmanuel. And as we listen, God will make known to us his dreams for us.
(John writes: This was a powerful sermon. I loved how Duncan said that the sermon wasn’t ‘given’ until that visit to Perth on Friday evening. He had, I’m sure read and worked on the passage and prayed about how to approach it. Day after day as the week progressed, there was no clarity. Until Friday, and those words of Albert Bogle’s and Duncan’s intuition that this, this was the message.
And so it is as we seek direction from God – there may well be silence, until that moment when the intuition is given, when the angel whispers, when our hearts say ‘Yes!’
It’s good to remember that the background against which the consequences of Mary’s ‘Yes!’ were worked out was one fraught with crisis – the Roman occupation, the murderous pride of King Herod. We live in dark times, but each day across the world – in places of war, famine, anguish, anxiety – the ‘Yeses’ of God’s people are worked out, and make differences both large and small. And all because, before Mary says ‘Yes!’ to Father God, Christ the Son had uttered the same, universe-changing syllable.
We are beloved. We are each branches with unique roles and callings. May our ears be open this coming week to the whisper of the angel.)
A number of venues across Inverness have opened their doors through the week to offer a warm welcome and bring people together in the local community. Enjoy some Highland hospitality and make new friends. Additional support is also available at some venues:
Giving to Hilton Parish Church
If you would like to give towards the work of Hilton Parish Church, here are a few ways in which you can do it.
(1) The most beneficial way of giving would be through a monthly standing order which would enable the congregation to have a regular and predictable monthly income.
Sort Code: 80-91-26
Account No: 00444375
Account Name: HILTON CHURCH
(2) You can also give through the Give.net link below
(3) Free Will Offering Envelopes – we are conscious that many may wish to continue with this scheme putting money aside each week, and we look forward to receiving these offerings when the crisis comes to an end.
(4) If you would like to give offerings through cheque, these can be made payable to Hilton Church and posted to: Hilton Parish Church, 4 Tomatin Road, Inverness, IV2 4UA
Please note that if you are a tax payer Gift Aid is applicable for all of the above and this can increase our income by 25%. If possible, please complete a Gift Aid declaration (available here or from the church office) and return it to the church office.
We thank you for your support of the ministry of Hilton Church.
Sundays
Services
You’re welcome to join us at the services in Hilton Church
Young people
Check out the activities for young people
Weekdays
Toddler Group
Meets every Friday in school term time, 9.30-11.15
Rhymes Recollected
Meets fortnightly Come along and read, or listen to your favourite poems. For over-60s
Get in touch
Contact Details
Hilton Church is at 4 Tomatin Road, Inverness IV2 4UA
Tel:
01463 233310
email:
office@hiltonchurch.org.uk
The Care Team
The Care Team’s role is to provide help and support in various ways for people of all ages in the congregation. These could be a home or hospital visit, a meal in time of crisis, or a listening ear.
If you, or anyone you know needs help in this way, please contact
Church Office: 01463 233310
The week ahead at Hilton Church
Sunday 3rd December Informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme 6.00pm-7.00pm
Monday 4th December Continuing the Advent readings using Advent Manifesto for those who have opted to purchase a copy. (See details below) Rhymes Recollected in the small hall 2.oopm-3.00pm. Theme: Music and song.
Thursday 7th December Book Group in the small hall: NB starts at the earlier time of 7.00pm
Sunday 10th December Worship Service in the Church and live on-line on the Church Facebook page at 10.30am. Informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme. 6.00pm-7.00pm Nitelife meets in the small hall from 7.00pm
Help Brian to help children in Malawi
Brian is giving freely of his time to go to Malawi for a couple of weeks this autumn to work with children there as part of a TeamUP team. He has personally to cover the cost of his flights, and needs to raise £1000 to enable him to make this November’s trip. He will be deeply grateful for your help in reaching this target. You can donate via Justgiving here. Full details here.
For news of Brian’s visit, see here.
Photos from Brian, received 1st December:
Brian Dec 23 6
Brian Dec 23 1
Brian Dec 23 2
Brian Dec 23 3
Brian Dec 23 4
Brian Dec 23 5
Advent 2023
“If Jesus returned tomorrow, what would be put right immediately or simply swept away? What tables might be overturned? Who would Jesus eat with? What would he say about our religion? Who would Jesus hang out with?”
These are some of the challenging questions that are asked at the beginning of The Advent Manifesto by Martyn Percy.
During Advent 2023, we are going to follow this book as a basis for reflection. Beginning on Monday 27th November, the book contains a daily reading for contemplation together with a prayer and some suggestions for further exploration.
During Advent, we will follow the story contained in Luke 1 v 26-79 at Sunday morning services.
3rd December. Luke 1:26-38
10th December Luke 1:39-45
17th December Luke 1:46-55
24th December Luke 1: 67-79
There will also be some more informal gatherings in the Anchor Café on Sunday evenings, 3rd & 10th December, at 6-7pm to worship together and explore the story further.
The Advent Manifesto will only serve as a guide for the various services and gatherings. You will not be disadvantaged if you don’t have a copy of the book! We will simply be looking at the story as contained in Luke’s gospel. If, however, you would like to have the opportunity for an additional daily reflection during Advent based on the Luke readings, we would highly recommend The Advent Manifesto. It’s available on Kindle as well as through all the other usual retailers.
Hilton Parish Church
Sunday 3 December 2023
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
A worship service was held at 10.30am in the church building on 3 December. The service were simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page. You can catch up here, or by following the link below.
The Bible passage was Luke 1:26-38 and Duncan was preaching
The first Advent candle was lit, and we shared in Communion at the service. Bread is gluten-free and wine non-alcoholic.
There will be an informal gathering at the Anchor Cafe to reflect on the Advent theme and today’s Bible passage – 6.00pm-7.00pm
Today’s Bible passage was the story of Mary being told by the angel Gabriel that she was to bear the Christ child. Duncan open up this story for us by sharing a story of his own.
On Friday night, he was in Perth for a meal to celebrate the retirement of Willie MacPherson who, for the last 20 years has been CEO of Vine Trust, which has done a huge amount of good in the name of Christ in Tanzania and in Peru, and with which Hilton Church has close links. Duncan was inspired by his experience of Vine Trust to realise how much con be accomplished when Christians receive a God-given vision, and go forward in faith to bring it to reality.
The speaker at the dinner was the former Church of Scotland Moderator Albert Bogle, who was a founder-member of the Vine Trust. The Trust had its origins, Albert said, in a group of people in Bo’ness in the 1980s who were all associated with a craft shop called Branches which gave its modest profits to charitable work. When this group of people had the vision of founding what was to be Vine Trust, they named it with reference to Jesus words ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ (John 15:5) It is in connection with the life-giving Vine that we, the branches bear fruit.
Duncan then turned to Gabriel’s words to Mary. ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured. The Lord is with you.’ (Luke 1:28) How easily we regard ourselves as being unimportant, or insignificant! But each of us, Duncan reminded us is ‘highly favoured’, treasured by God. Each of us is a branch, each of us has a God-given role to be fruit-bearers for Jesus in our own sphere of life and influence. And us we rejoice in our belovedness and open our eyes to the roles entrusted to us, we can be assured that ‘The Lord is with us.’
Why can we have this assurance? Because Mary said ‘Yes!’ Because she fulfilled her role, and permitted ‘the power of the Most High’ to ‘overshadow’ her (Luke 1:35), and so Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us entered the world.
We are each beloved branches. We are each connected to the life of Emmanuel. And as we listen, God will make known to us his dreams for us.
(John writes: This was a powerful sermon. I loved how Duncan said that the sermon wasn’t ‘given’ until that visit to Perth on Friday evening. He had, I’m sure read and worked on the passage and prayed about how to approach it. Day after day as the week progressed, there was no clarity. Until Friday, and those words of Albert Bogle’s and Duncan’s intuition that this, this was the message.
And so it is as we seek direction from God – there may well be silence, until that moment when the intuition is given, when the angel whispers, when our hearts say ‘Yes!’
It’s good to remember that the background against which the consequences of Mary’s ‘Yes!’ were worked out was one fraught with crisis – the Roman occupation, the murderous pride of King Herod. We live in dark times, but each day across the world – in places of war, famine, anguish, anxiety – the ‘Yeses’ of God’s people are worked out, and make differences both large and small. And all because, before Mary says ‘Yes!’ to Father God, Christ the Son had uttered the same, universe-changing syllable.
We are beloved. We are each branches with unique roles and callings. May our ears be open this coming week to the whisper of the angel.)
A number of venues across Inverness have opened their doors through the week to offer a warm welcome and bring people together in the local community. Enjoy some Highland hospitality and make new friends. Additional support is also available at some venues:
Giving to Hilton Parish Church
If you would like to give towards the work of Hilton Parish Church, here are a few ways in which you can do it.
(1) The most beneficial way of giving would be through a monthly standing order which would enable the congregation to have a regular and predictable monthly income.
Sort Code: 80-91-26
Account No: 00444375
Account Name: HILTON CHURCH
(2) You can also give through the Give.net link below
(3) Free Will Offering Envelopes – we are conscious that many may wish to continue with this scheme putting money aside each week, and we look forward to receiving these offerings when the crisis comes to an end.
(4) If you would like to give offerings through cheque, these can be made payable to Hilton Church and posted to: Hilton Parish Church, 4 Tomatin Road, Inverness, IV2 4UA
Please note that if you are a tax payer Gift Aid is applicable for all of the above and this can increase our income by 25%. If possible, please complete a Gift Aid declaration (available here or from the church office) and return it to the church office.
We thank you for your support of the ministry of Hilton Church.
Sundays
Services
You’re welcome to join us at the services in Hilton Church
Young people
Check out the activities for young people
Weekdays
Toddler Group
Meets every Friday in school term time, 9.30-11.15
Rhymes Recollected
Meets fortnightly Come along and read, or listen to your favourite poems. For over-60s
Get in touch
Contact Details
Hilton Church is at 4 Tomatin Road, Inverness IV2 4UA
Church Office: 01463 233310
email:
office@hiltonchurch.org.uk
The Care Team
The Care Team’s role is to provide help and support in various ways for people of all ages in the congregation. These could be a home or hospital visit, a meal in time of crisis, or a listening ear.
If you, or anyone you know needs help in this way, please contact
Church Office: 01463 233310