Millerston Church - The Church by the Loch

11/04/2026

ALIVE is an Easter series which looks at five different people from the New Testament who encountered the risen Jesus and whose lives were transformed by that encounter. It also introduces us to people today who have encountered Jesus in their own lives, and who have experienced a similar transformation, finding love, hope, peace, freedom, and a new purpose in Christ. Throughout April, in our Sunday services and in some of our midweek meetings, we'll be thinking about these stories and encounters, and seeing how we too might be changed as we encounter Jesus, perhaps for the first time or in a fresh way. Here's a taster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpWnp57gOGw

So, if you'd like to explore for yourself what it means for Jesus to be alive and for you to meet him, you're very welcome to join us, either in person or via Zoom (just get in touch and we'll send you a link.) This Sunday, April 12th, we're looking at the story of Mary Magdalene.

Am I ALIVE?How can someone die, rise from the dead and affect our happiness and wellbeing today? The ALIVE series goes on a journey to meet Jesus’ first and...

08/04/2026

Although Easter Sunday has passed, and the Easter bank holiday weekend is over, along with Christians around the world, we're still celebrating Jesus' resurrection and reflecting on what it means, for each of us and for the world. One of the things we're encouraging people to do is to try reading a Gospel (especially if you're on holiday at the moment or have a bit of down time), to see for themselves who Jesus is, what he did, what he claimed, and how people responded to him. These stories of Jesus have been changing lives for two thousand years, as people encounter not just words about Jesus, but Jesus himself, the one who has defeated death, and who offers forgiveness and new life to all who trust in him. If you're passing the church just help yourself to one of the Gospels that are sitting in the display box on the fence outside, or drop into our Cheery Cup cafe on a Friday morning and find one there (along with some good coffee and home baking). And in our services throughout April we'll be looking at some of those who encountered Jesus soon after his resurrection, and hearing the stories of some people in our own day who have had a similar life-changing encounter. So, why not take some time to think a bit more about Easter, and what it could mean for you.

04/04/2026

This Sunday, April 5th, Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter - the most significant event in history. On Good Friday we remembered the death of Jesus, our representative before God, the one who takes our place and dies the death that should be ours, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. And on Easter Sunday, we celebrate His glorious resurrection, the source of hope, the proof that death is beaten, and for all who will make Jesus Lord of their lives, the assurance of sins forgiven and the promise of life everlasting.

Sadly we've had to take the decision not to proceed with our open-air service by the loch, as Storm Dave is likely to make that too unwise. But at 11.00 am we have an all-age celebration of Jesus' resurrection, when we'll be thinking about how God surprises us, and turns our sadness and disappointment into joy and hope. Alongside our hymns and reflections on this amazing and true story, there will be activities for creative folk to make things, and to share our own thoughts on the significance of Easter for us. There'll be a light lunch afterwards. If you'd like to join us for this, you'll be very welcome.

And if you're at or near Hogganfield Loch on Saturday 4th, beween 10.30 and around 12.00 noon, some of us will be down there, opposite our knitbombed trees, with wee Easter eggs and greeting cards, so feel free to come by and grab one

03/04/2026

This weekend,Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter - the most significant event in history. On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus, our representative before God, the one who takes our place and dies the death that should be ours, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. And on Easter Sunday, we celebrate His glorious resurrection, the source of hope, the proof that death is beaten, and for all who will make Jesus Lord of their lives, the assurance of sins forgiven and the promise of life everlasting.

We have a service in the church on Good Friday evening, April 3rd, at 7.30 pm, when we trace the story of Jesus from his last supper with his disciples through his betrayal and sham trial, and onto his crucifixion and death. The church is also open this morning when our Cheery Cup drop-in is on, between 10.30 and 12.30, for quiet prayer and reflection, so anybody who would like to spend some time there is welcome - enter through the small hall.

On Saturday morning, some of us will be down by Hogganfield loch with some Easter eggs and greetings cards to give away, so if you're passing, there's one for you.

On Easter Sunday morning we'll have a joint open air service with some of the other local churches at the beach area at the loch at 9.00 am. (It's just possible that Storm Dave will prevent this, so please check here for updates.)

Then at 11.00 am we have an all-age celebration of Jesus' resurrection, when we'll be thinking about how God surprises us, and turns our sadness and disappointment into joy and hope. There'll be a light lunch afterwards. If you'd like to join us for this or any of our Easter activities, you'll be very welcome.

21/03/2026

As we approach Easter, our knitbombers have been busy again. If you're walking round Hogganfield Loch, keep a look out for the signs and story of Easter. In our services over the next few weeks we'll be thinking about how God's plan of rescue for us culminates in Jesus, and his offering up of His life as a sacrifice on our behalf. If you'd like to join us for our worship times you're welcome any Sunday, at 11.00 am. We're usually on Zoom as well, so if you'd like to join us online, send us a message and we'll send you the link.

11/03/2026

Spring is (more or less) here, and as daffodils and crocusses begin to push through, there is a sense of new life emerging. For Christians, our joy comes not just with the general promise of spring, but with the very specific promise of New Life found through faith in Jesus. It is His death and resurrection which is the source of our hope of forgiveness and of eternal life. As we approach our Easter celebrations, we will be telling again this great story and proclaiming again the wonderful news that sin and death are conquered and that Jesus is risen and reigns

14/02/2026

Today is Valentine’s Day – named after a Christian saint but not particularly a Christian festival now. So if today you’re celebrating being “in love”, enjoy the day. Christians are big on love – because God is love. But God’s love is not so much romantic love as it is a deep, unconditional, sacrificial love. If you’ve passed this tree down at Hogganfield Loch you’ll see that as well as being hung with lots of hearts, it also contains words from the Bible (from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13). These are words that are often read at weddings. “Love is patient, love is kind, love keeps no record of wrongs” and so on. You can read the whole chapter here. As we read it, we find it’s a high bar. In fact, the only person who has ever fully lived up to it is Jesus Christ. The rest of us? If we’re honest, even if we find lots here to admire, we need to admit that we often fall short – even on this most romantic of days.

And of course, not everybody is celebrating today – for some it’s a day when they may feel a wee bit extra sad, or lonely, or hurt or let down. As it happens, on Wednesday this week Christians mark the beginning of Lent. This is the time when many Christians start to focus on the journey towards Easter, as Jesus moves towards his cross and resurrection. The cross, Jesus’s sacrifical death for all the world so that all who trust in Him may be forgiven for all their wrongdoing and may come into God’s family, is actually the supreme gift of love, the greatest that the world has ever seen or will over see – and this gift is offered to everybody. So, however you’re feeling today, loved up or unloved or somewhere in between, may you know that you are deeply loved by God and precious to him.

08/01/2026

After a break over Christmas and New Year, the Cheery Cup drop-in is back this Friday (and every Friday), from 10.30 am. So if you're in the area and you fancy some home baking, good tea and coffee, and a warm welcome, come on in - it will be great to see you.

24/12/2025

It's Christmas Eve. Why not take time to pause, and to enter into Christmas Day with a focus on Jesus, the one who is at the heart of Christmas - and the one whom we are called to place at the heart of our lives.

23/12/2025

As we go into Christmas Day, we will be spending time together in worship, focussing on Jesus, who's at the heart of all our celebrations. If you'd like to come and join us, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve, you'll be very welcome.

20/12/2025

So, the weather for this Sunday, December 21st looks...okay-ish, which we'll take as a win. We'll be down at Hogganfield Loch at 2.30 pm for some community carol singing, and if you're in the area and would like to come and join us for a bit, you'll be very welcome.

17/12/2025

Well, last Sunday, the rain kept pretty much everybody away from Hogganfield Loch, including us. So, we've rescheduled our community carol singing to this Sunday afternoon, the 21st. if you're able to come and join us at 2.30 pm, it will be great to see you.