This week at Hilton Church
Sunday 20th September Nitelife meets today at 7.00pm in the small hall.
Wednesday 23rd September Rejoice in the Lord! A Bible study on Philippians 2.00pm in the small hall
Thursday 24th September Book Group meets in the small hall at 7.30pm
Friday 25th September Hilton Family Support Toddler Group 10.00am – 11.30am
Sunday 27th September 10.30am Sunday worship in the church and broadcast live on the church Facebook page
Calum’s Loch Ness Marathon
Calum Macritchie is taking part later this month in the Loch Ness Marathon. He is raising money for Christian Aid.
All donations will be gratefully received. Just follow this link!
Calum writes:
I was intending to raise funds for the “5th Gospel Christian Charity” aimed at supporting children in Gaza and Bethlehem. Unfortunately, this charity has not been able to respond to any efforts on my part to contact them and looks as if it may be winding down. So due to this lack of response on that their behalf, I have decided to change the fundraising arrangements for a charity close to my heart that does amazing work across the world. “Christian Aid” is also a charity for which my mother worked for a number of years! Here is their mission statement:
Everyone is equal in the sight of God. For over 75 years, this truth has inspired us to stand together in solidarity with our most marginalised global neighbours, of all faiths and none.
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of their dignity and lets injustice thrive.
We seek to eradicate extreme poverty by tackling its root causes. Together with people living in poverty, we amplify our voices to speak truth to power and create lasting change.
(Please note that a donation of a sum of money equivalent to the donations already made to the ‘5th Gospel Christian Charity ‘has been made to this Christian Aid appeal.)
Hilton Parish Church
Sunday 20 September 2026
A worship service was held at 10.30am in the church building on Sunday 20 September. The service was simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page. For the next four weeks, you can catch up here.
The Bible passages were Jonah 4 and Matthew 20:1-16 and Duncan led and preached. The sermon begins in 43:40 on the catch up.
Duncan’s subject today was the generosity of God, the extent of God’s grace – and our reaction to it. We looked at the final act of the story of Jonah. (Jonah 4) Here’s a man who is sent by God to preach to the great city of Nineveh, warning its inhabitants of coming judgement if they don’t repent. He’s a reluctant prophet, but in the end he goes, and the results of his preaching are greater than he could ever have imagined. The whole city turns to God and repents. But is Jonah happy? No – because he doesn’t think the city’s inhabitants deserve to be forgiven. He sulks. But God says ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ The lesson of the story, said Duncan, is that ‘God loves the people Jonah doesn’t love.’
And then we looked at Jesus’ story about the workers in the vineyard. (Matthew 20:1-16) The landowner went early in the morning, and selected a team from the folk waiting in the town for work. He promised them 1 denarius, a fair day’s wage. They set to work. But at four more times throughout the day the landowner went and recruited more workers from the dwindling pool of job-seekers, promising everyone selected a fair payment. And then at the end of the day, blow me down, if he didn’t give them all the same amount – the one denarius he had promised the first group. Even those who had just worked an hour received the same pay. ‘This is massively unfair!’ the men grumbled.
The landowner said ‘Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”, and Jesus concluded ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ In a sense the landowner’s treatment of the workers was unfair. But Duncan asked us to reflect on those were hired in the course of the day, those who had not been signed up first thing by any of the others farmers seeking workers for the day. What about the older people, who may not be so strong? What about those who may have been discriminated against because of disability, or because they didn’t know the ‘right people.’
But, says Duncan, ‘Jesus is hinting at a different kind of world. A world where generosity rather than just simple equality of fairness is the benchmark.’
‘Jesus’ story doesn’t favour the best, the biggest or the brightest. It seems in Jesus’ story, the question of who deserves what isn’t a relevant question. All that’s important in the story is that every last person gets a place in the vineyard. The early bird and the late, the able bodied and the infirm, the young and the old, the popular and the forgotten. Jesus through his story is giving us a glimpse of his Kingdom, where it isn’t a case of survival of the fittest, but a world where everyone ends the day with dignity and security. The landlord is not being fair but he is being generous to everyone.’
These stories are enormously challenging! First they remind us of the love and generosity of God who wants each person to have a place in the vineyard. And secondly they lay bare our own Jonah-heartedness as we discriminate in our thinking, and see some people as being beyond the pale of God’s love.
And so we seek to respond in sheer joy that the God who loves us so much also loves everyone in the world, and we seek to treat those we meet with a kindness and love which reflects the kindness and love of God.
And the stories also speak to any of us who, for whatever reason, feel that God does not love us, that we are unlovable, that what we have said or thought or done, or what was been done to us puts us forever beyond the reach of divine love. We are loved. There is nothing which can thwart the love of God towards us, if we orientate our hearts towards God and dare to hope, and make our way to the market place at five in the afternoon, and see, the landowner is standing, beckoning. Beckoning me!
Here are links to websites which Duncan has recommended we explore:
The Bible Project
The Bible Society
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Here are links to David Sim’s posts on ‘Medium’
All posts
New posts:
Love your enemies. No exceptions (July 20 2026)
The unfolding word: Listening for the heartbeat of the sacred text (August 3 2026)
Faith>Belief (31 August 2026)
Nature speaks of the divine (9 September 2026)
Beyond nature – encountering the divine (14 September 2026)
Highland Foodbank would appreciate our help: Harvest Appeal, 2026
Inverness ‘Warm Spaces’
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.
Here’s a link to a list of these ‘Warm Spaces’ with the times they are available.
Hilton Parish Church works very closely with Hilton Family Support, helping to make a difference in the local community. Click the links below to explore.
Click here for the latest Hilton Family Support Newsletter.
Click here to donate to Hilton Family Support
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.
Our latest Facebook posts
Here's a link to the second Bible passage for Sunday's service:
Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20:1-16 - New International Version - UK
www.biblegateway.com
The parable of the workers in the vineyard - ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for t...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Here's a link to the first Bible passage for Sunday's service:
Bible Gateway passage: Jonah 4 - New International Version - UK
www.biblegateway.com
Jonah’s anger at the LORD’s compassion - But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, ‘Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A worship service will be held at 10.30am in the church building on Sunday 20 September. The service will simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page. Teas and coffees will be served in the Sanctuary after the service. All very welcome!
The Bible passages are Jonah 4 and Matthew 20:1-16 and Duncan will be leading and preaching.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
This week at Hilton Church
Sunday 20th September Nitelife meets today at 7.00pm in the small hall.
Wednesday 23rd September Rejoice in the Lord! A Bible study on Philippians 2.00pm in the small hall
Thursday 24th September Book Group meets in the small hall at 7.30pm
Friday 25th September Hilton Family Support Toddler Group 10.00am – 11.30am
Sunday 27th September 10.30am Sunday worship in the church and broadcast live on the church Facebook page
Calum’s Loch Ness Marathon
Calum Macritchie is taking part later this month in the Loch Ness Marathon. He is raising money for Christian Aid.
All donations will be gratefully received. Just follow this link!
Calum writes:
I was intending to raise funds for the “5th Gospel Christian Charity” aimed at supporting children in Gaza and Bethlehem. Unfortunately, this charity has not been able to respond to any efforts on my part to contact them and looks as if it may be winding down. So due to this lack of response on that their behalf, I have decided to change the fundraising arrangements for a charity close to my heart that does amazing work across the world. “Christian Aid” is also a charity for which my mother worked for a number of years! Here is their mission statement:
Everyone is equal in the sight of God. For over 75 years, this truth has inspired us to stand together in solidarity with our most marginalised global neighbours, of all faiths and none.
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of their dignity and lets injustice thrive.
We seek to eradicate extreme poverty by tackling its root causes. Together with people living in poverty, we amplify our voices to speak truth to power and create lasting change.
(Please note that a donation of a sum of money equivalent to the donations already made to the ‘5th Gospel Christian Charity ‘has been made to this Christian Aid appeal.)
Hilton Parish Church
Sunday 20 September 2026
A worship service was held at 10.30am in the church building on Sunday 20 September. The service was simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page. For the next four weeks, you can catch up here.
The Bible passages were Jonah 4 and Matthew 20:1-16 and Duncan led and preached. The sermon begins in 43:40 on the catch up.
Duncan’s subject today was the generosity of God, the extent of God’s grace – and our reaction to it. We looked at the final act of the story of Jonah. (Jonah 4) Here’s a man who is sent by God to preach to the great city of Nineveh, warning its inhabitants of coming judgement if they don’t repent. He’s a reluctant prophet, but in the end he goes, and the results of his preaching are greater than he could ever have imagined. The whole city turns to God and repents. But is Jonah happy? No – because he doesn’t think the city’s inhabitants deserve to be forgiven. He sulks. But God says ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ The lesson of the story, said Duncan, is that ‘God loves the people Jonah doesn’t love.’
And then we looked at Jesus’ story about the workers in the vineyard. (Matthew 20:1-16) The landowner went early in the morning, and selected a team from the folk waiting in the town for work. He promised them 1 denarius, a fair day’s wage. They set to work. But at four more times throughout the day the landowner went and recruited more workers from the dwindling pool of job-seekers, promising everyone selected a fair payment. And then at the end of the day, blow me down, if he didn’t give them all the same amount – the one denarius he had promised the first group. Even those who had just worked an hour received the same pay. ‘This is massively unfair!’ the men grumbled.
The landowner said ‘Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”, and Jesus concluded ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ In a sense the landowner’s treatment of the workers was unfair. But Duncan asked us to reflect on those were hired in the course of the day, those who had not been signed up first thing by any of the others farmers seeking workers for the day. What about the older people, who may not be so strong? What about those who may have been discriminated against because of disability, or because they didn’t know the ‘right people.’
But, says Duncan, ‘Jesus is hinting at a different kind of world. A world where generosity rather than just simple equality of fairness is the benchmark.’
‘Jesus’ story doesn’t favour the best, the biggest or the brightest. It seems in Jesus’ story, the question of who deserves what isn’t a relevant question. All that’s important in the story is that every last person gets a place in the vineyard. The early bird and the late, the able bodied and the infirm, the young and the old, the popular and the forgotten. Jesus through his story is giving us a glimpse of his Kingdom, where it isn’t a case of survival of the fittest, but a world where everyone ends the day with dignity and security. The landlord is not being fair but he is being generous to everyone.’
These stories are enormously challenging! First they remind us of the love and generosity of God who wants each person to have a place in the vineyard. And secondly they lay bare our own Jonah-heartedness as we discriminate in our thinking, and see some people as being beyond the pale of God’s love.
And so we seek to respond in sheer joy that the God who loves us so much also loves everyone in the world, and we seek to treat those we meet with a kindness and love which reflects the kindness and love of God.
And the stories also speak to any of us who, for whatever reason, feel that God does not love us, that we are unlovable, that what we have said or thought or done, or what was been done to us puts us forever beyond the reach of divine love. We are loved. There is nothing which can thwart the love of God towards us, if we orientate our hearts towards God and dare to hope, and make our way to the market place at five in the afternoon, and see, the landowner is standing, beckoning. Beckoning me!
Here are links to websites which Duncan has recommended we explore:
The Bible Project
The Bible Society
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Here are links to David Sim’s posts on ‘Medium’
All posts
New posts:
Love your enemies. No exceptions (July 20 2026)
The unfolding word: Listening for the heartbeat of the sacred text (August 3 2026)
Faith>Belief (31 August 2026)
Nature speaks of the divine (9 September 2026)
Beyond nature – encountering the divine (14 September 2026)
Inverness Warm Spaces
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.
Here’s a link to a list of these ‘Warm Spaces’ with the times they are available.
Highland Foodbank asks for our help: Harvest Appeal 2026
Hilton Parish Church works very closely with Hilton Family Support, helping to make a difference in the local community. Click the links below to explore.
Click here for the latest Hilton Family Support Newsletter.
Click here to donate to Hilton Family Support
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.
Our latest Facebook posts
Here's a link to the second Bible passage for Sunday's service:
Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20:1-16 - New International Version - UK
www.biblegateway.com
The parable of the workers in the vineyard - ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for t...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Here's a link to the first Bible passage for Sunday's service:
Bible Gateway passage: Jonah 4 - New International Version - UK
www.biblegateway.com
Jonah’s anger at the LORD’s compassion - But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, ‘Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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