Kinlochleven Church - the next service is on Sunday, 4 May at 10.00 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.

Duror Church - the next service is on Sunday 11 May at 10.30 am led by the Rev. Marion Kinnear.

Nether Lochaber Church - the next service is on Sunday 4 May at 11.30 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.

South Lochaber Parish : Bible Study - meeting at Jeremy's house on 6 May at 10.45. Led by Jeremy looking at the life of Abraham.

Sunday 20 April 2025 South Lochaber Church of Scotland - available on YouTube at 

Hymn  Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,

waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose; with a mighty triumph o'er his foes; 

he arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Prayer God our Father, how wonderful and true, Jesus has risen, alleluia, we can sing

praises, he is alive, for evermore, Amen.

Bible Reading Mark 16:1-10 The day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early that morning, the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, soon after sunrise. They said to each other, “Who will move the stone for us from the entrance?”  The women looked and saw that the stone was already moved.  The women entered the tomb and saw a young man wearing a white robe. He was sitting on the right side, and the women were afraid.  But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one who was killed on a cross. He has risen from death. He is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him. Now go and tell his followers and Peter, ‘Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there as he told you before.’ The women were confused and shaking with fear. They left the tomb and ran away. They did not tell anyone about what happened, they were afraid. When Jesus rose from death early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene from whom he had forced seven demons to leave. After Mary saw Jesus, she went and told his followers.

Message In some languages the word for Easter comes from the word for the Jewish Passover. ‘Happy Easter’ in Gaelic, for example.  A' Chàisg sona is what you would say. Felices Pascuas it is in Spanish. Joyeuses Pâques is what French people say. Happy Easter!

Easter is happy because Jesus arose. The tomb was empty because God raised him, body and soul. God sent an angel to reassure frightened, sad and troubled followers. Death could not hold Jesus captive. He had conquered it.

Jesus told the believing criminal crucified beside him, ‘This day you will be with me in paradise’. Jesus opened the way to heaven for believers.

Mary Magdalene stayed close to Jesus. She had been a very troubled soul. He had driven seven demons out of her, and what a relief that was! She had become a follower, a supporter, a friend of Jesus. The other women were also friends and followers. They too felt the pain of separation from the Saviour. Jesus was gone from among them. When the grave separates us from people we love and care for we are sad. But Jesus had risen, and he would be for them a risen Saviour. They would soon adjust to a new way of relating to him. He is the risen Lord. At times he might make himself visible, but all the time he would still be with them, as the risen Lord. We too have a Saviour who goes with us, makes himself known to us, who helps us, and cares for us.

The bodily rising of Jesus was first made known to women. Women were not generally seen as trustworthy sources of information. But Jesus brings the least, the most despised, rejected and troubled of people into his confidence. He cared for them. He also placed his trust in them. That morning is important evidence for the resurrection.   

The women were sent to tell the disciples, and especially Peter. Peter needed a word of assurance. The angel used the name Jesus gave to Simon to be a strong leader, Peter, the rock. But Peter was a broken man. He had denied Jesus. He was deeply sorry. Here is a love that lifts, that reaches down into despair. We need to seek out and support those in the fellowship who are sad and troubled.  

The stone rolled away revealed that God had raised Jesus, for his work on the cross and in the grave was complete. Jesus the only sinless man ever to live died to take away sin, defeated death, despair and the Devil. 

Prayer Lord Jesus, risen Saviour help me grow in understanding of what you did for me, and help me follow in you all your ways. Amen.