North West Lochaber Church of Scotland

05/09/2026

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Greetings! On Sunday 6th September the Sunday service will be in Mallaig at 11 am. We will have another look at the "Minor Prophets", this time focusing on the Book of Micah. The Bible readings will be Micah 4:1-5 and Micah 6:1-8.

On Sunday 13th Sunday there will be a Communion service at the Astley Hall in Arisaig.

The Ladies’ Bible Study group meets on Monday evenings at 7 pm. The Wednesday morning Prayer Breakfast meets at 7.45 am. Both meet in Mallaig Church Hall. The Thursday "drop in” is still suspended. The Poetry, Theology and Life group will recommence at 2 pm on Friday 11th September, meeting fortnightly.

The Music Group has also restarted. It meets on Sunday afternoons at 4 pm in Mallaig Church Hall. Can you play the piano? If so, would you be interested in playing the organ in Church? We need additional people who can play the organ during services - please do speak with me if you can help.

I have prepared a sheet of prayers for visitors to St Columba's Church in Mallaig. This is based on similar sheets at Dunblane Cathedral and Portree Parish Church. I have attached a copy if you are interested for your own use.

On Friday I went to Grantown-on-Spey to chair a meeting on behalf of the Presbytery's Land and Property Committee (of which I am Vice Convener). This meeting, looking at planned improvements to the local parish church, was very useful and informative - including giving ideas we can learn from. The importance of mutual learning between congregations is something which we should never overlook.

Please do let me know if you - or someone you know - would like a visit at home or in hospital. This includes ANY part of the parish, including the Small Isles and Knoydart. I’m also very happy to do home Communions for anyone who is frail or housebound. If you have any information to add to this weekly email please let me know by 7 pm on Friday at the latest.

Requests for baptism

Do you have friends or family looking to have their child baptised? I would be very happy to speak with them about the sacrament of baptism, what is involved and required, and to assure them of God’s welcome and blessing. In Luke 18:16 we read 'But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."'

Disruption to West Highland Line train services in November

Train services between Mallaig, Fort William and Crianlarich will be suspended from 9th November until 17th November to allow for engineering works. A rail replacement bus service will operate: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/service-alterations/buses-replace-trains-between-crianlarich-and-fort-william

News from the Church of Scotland and the wider Church:

News from the World Council of Churches: https://www.oikoumene.org/news

Church of Scotland website: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Memorial to Jane Haining at Auschwitz: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/kirk-school-matron-who-died-in-the-holocaust-recognised-at-auschwitz

Crossreach (Church of Scotland's Social Care arm) work on addiction at Cale House, Inverness: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/1-7m-investment-to-help-crossreach-expand-north-addiction-service

Church of Scotland - news updates: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI): https://ctbi.org.uk/

Clèir Eilean Ì: the Church of Scotland Presbytery for the Highlands and Hebrides: https://cei.presbytery.org.uk/

For your diary:

No "Drop in” on Thursdays at present.

Sunday 6 September: Church service at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, 11 am

Sunday 6 September: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 7 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 9 September: No breakfast prayer meeting today.

Friday 11 September: Poetry, Theology and Life Group resumes today, Mallaig Church Hall, 2 pm. The group will meet every fortnight.

Sunday 13 September: Church service with Communion at the Astley Hall in Arisaig, 11 am.

Sunday 13 September: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 14 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 16 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Wednesday 16 September: Kirk Session meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Friday 18 September: Poetry, Theology and Life Group does NOT meet today. Next meeting on 25 September.

Sunday 20 September: Church service at St Columba's Church in Mallaig, 11 am.

Sunday 20 September: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 21 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 23 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Friday 25 September: Poetry, Theology and Life Group, Mallaig Church Hall, 2 pm. The group will meet every fortnight.

Sunday 27 September: Church service at the Land, Sea & Islands Centre in Arisaig, 11 am. Please note the change in venue (not the Astley Hall today).

Sunday 27 September: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 28 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 30 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Friday 2 October: Poetry, Theology and Life Group does NOT meet today. Next meeting on 9 October.

Sunday 4 October: Church service with Communion at St Columba's Church in Mallaig, 11 am.

Sunday 4 October: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 5 October: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 7 October: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Friday 9 October: Poetry, Theology and Life Group, Mallaig Church Hall, 2 pm. The group will meet every fortnight.

Sunday 11 October: Church service at the Land, Sea & Islands Centre in Arisaig, 11 am. Please note the change in venue (not the Astley Hall today).

Please check the page for any changes: North West Lochaber Church of Scotland - see: https://www.facebook.com/NWLochaberChurch

Bible text: 3 John 11: "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord,

Matthew

The Rev Matthew Z Ross
Minister
North West Lochaber Church of Scotland
Iar-Thuath Loch Abar - Eaglais na h-Alba

Church services every Sunday at 11.00 am:
1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays of each month: St Columba's Church, Annie's Brae, Mallaig.
2nd & 4th Sundays of each month: Astley Hall, Arisaig.
Knoydart and Small Isles services: info will be shared here.
ALL WELCOME!

02/09/2026

NORTH WEST LOCHABER
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
All welcome at our Sunday service, 11 AM on 6th September, at St Columba’s Church in Mallaig

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

The Poetry, Theology and Life Group will resume on Friday 11th September at 2 pm in Mallaig Church Hall. It will meet fortnightly, as before.
All are welcome.

30/08/2026

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Warm greetings to you. On Sunday 30th August the service will be in St Columba's Church, Mallaig, at 11 am. The readings will be from Exodus 3:1-15 and Matthew 16:21-28. We will use the hymnbooks instead of the screen at this service.

On Sunday 6th September the Sunday service will also be in Mallaig. There will be a Communion service at the Astley Hall in Arisaig on Sunday 13th Sunday.

The Ladies’ Bible Study group meets on Monday evenings at 7 pm. The Wednesday morning Prayer Breakfast meets at 7.45 am. Both meet in Mallaig Church Hall. The Thursday "drop in” and Poetry Group are still currently suspended; I will make an announcement about future events as soon as possible.

Thank you to everyone who came to Shona's funeral last Tuesday and to the Communion service on the Isle of Muck last Wednesday. I hope to arrange services on the Isles of Eigg, Rùm and Canna in due course. On Thursday evening I gave my first report to Clèir Eilean Ì (the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of the Highlands and Hebrides) in my role as Vice Convener of the Presbytery's Land and Property Committee (in place of the Convener). Clèir Eilean Ì normally meets online every month, but we will have a yearly in-person conference meeting on 24th September in Strathpeffer.

Please pray for the people of Nepal and Tibet affected by devastating flooding. I have included a link to an article from the World Council of Churches below.

Please let me know if you - or someone you know - would like a visit at home or in hospital - including the Small Isles and Knoydart. I’m also very happy to do home Communions for anyone who is housebound. Also, if you know of anyone who would like to receive this weekly email please do let me know.

Music Group

After a summer break, the Music Group will restart on Sunday 30th August at 4 pm in Mallaig Church Hall.

Can you play the piano? If so, would you be interested in playing the organ in Church? We need additional people who can play the organ during services - please do speak with me if you can help.

News from the Church of Scotland and the wider Church:

News from the World Council of Churches: https://www.oikoumene.org/news

Season of creation prayer amidst global climate extremes: https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-to-join-season-of-creation-prayer-amid-climate-extremes

Devastating flood at Nepal-Tibet border: https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-expresses-profound-sorrow-in-wake-of-catastrophic-flood-on-nepal-tibet-border

Church of Scotland website: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk

New fund to help with repairs of Church buildings with listed status: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/church-leaders-welcome-new-1million-listed-buildings-repair-fund

Church of Scotland asks the Scottish Government to care for historic Dunfermline Abbey: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/historic-church-with-links-to-king-robert-the-bruce-could-be-taken-into-state-care

Church of Scotland - news updates: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI): https://ctbi.org.uk/

Clèir Eilean Ì: the Church of Scotland Presbytery for the Highlands and Hebrides: https://cei.presbytery.org.uk/

For your diary:

No "Drop in” on Thursdays at present.
No Poetry, Theology and Life Group meetings at present.

Sunday 30 August: Church service at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, 11 am.

Sunday 30 August: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 31 August: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 2 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Sunday 6 September: Church service at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, 11 am

Sunday 6 September: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm.

Monday 7 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 9 September: No breakfast prayer meeting today.

Sunday 13 September: Church service with Communion at the Astley Hall in Arisaig, 11 am.

Monday 14 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 16 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Wednesday 16 September: Kirk Session meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Please check the page for any changes: North West Lochaber Church of Scotland - see: https://www.facebook.com/NWLochaberChurch

Bible text: Galatians 3:26-29 - Equality before God

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Every blessing,

Matthew

The Rev Matthew Z Ross
Minister
North West Lochaber Church of Scotland
Iar-Thuath Loch Abar - Eaglais na h-Alba

Church services every Sunday at 11.00 am:
1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays of each month: St Columba's Church, Annie's Brae, Mallaig.
2nd & 4th Sundays of each month: Astley Hall, Arisaig.
Knoydart and Small Isles services: info will be shared here.
ALL WELCOME!

29/08/2026

The Moderator’s prayer for the people of Nepal was used during the service in Mallaig on Sunday 30th August.

Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has shared a prayer in response to the deadly flash floods which devastated parts of Nepal and Tibet earlier this week.

The Church of Scotland has well established links with Nepal, opening its first mission station in the region in the 1870s, and later as one of the founders of the inter-denominational United Mission to Nepal (UMN) in 1954.

Mr Kennedy said:
God of grace and mercy,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
We depend upon your grace,
We plead for your mercy.

Be quickly at work for the people of Nepal.

Following the tragic flooding in Nepal,
We pray for all who are bereaved,
that they will know your comfort.
We pray for all who are injured,
that they will know your healing.
We pray for all who have lost homes and whole communities,
that they will be upheld in your strong hands.

We pray for all those working to provide aid for those in need,
Clean water and sustaining food,
Safe shelter and warm clothing,
A hand to hold and someone to cry with.

Be with all those agencies working to support and care for all who are in need.

Give us generous hearts to give what we can,
Give us praying hearts to hold the people of Nepal before you,
Give us hearts broken with your love for your people.

God of grace and mercy,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be powerfully at work in Nepal,
Do your sovereign work of grace and mercy,
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

United Mission to Nepal is responding to the crisis by working with partner agencies to provide essential food and other urgently needed supplies to families in the badly affected Dhading and Rasuwa Districts.

UMN initially hopes to support some 1,000 families affected by the disaster.

Donations can be made through UMN’s TrustBridge giving page: https://givingspace.trustbridgeglobal.com/project/1383517f-f6ab-431f-8b83-4ff1a3919b6e/eng/summary

Other agencies, including Christian Aid Scotland, British Red Cross and UNICEF UK have also launched appeals for support.

29/08/2026

NORTH WEST LOCHABER
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
All welcome at our Sunday service, 11 AM on 30th August, at St Columba’s Church in Mallaig

25/08/2026

A £1.7 million investment for CrossReach addiction facility Cale House in Inverness will help ensure more people from across the Highlands, Western and Northern Isles will be helped on the path to recovery.

25/08/2026

♻️ Did you know…?

The Land, Sea and Islands Centre is now a collection point for your used ink cartridges!🖨️

Instead of ending up in landfill, your empty cartridges can be recycled and remanufactured – helping to reduce waste and give them a new lease of life. 🌱

Even better, recycling your cartridges with us will also help raise a small amount of funds for the local community. 💚

So next time you change your printer cartridge, don’t bin the old one – bring it along to the Land, Sea and Islands Centre!

An empty cartridge? Full of potential!

22/08/2026

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Sunday, 23rd August, the service will be at the Astley Hall in Arisaig at the usual time of 11 am. Continuing our look at the “Minor Prophets” of the Old Testament, we will be looking at the Book of Haggai. The readings are Haggai 1:3-9 and Haggai 2:6-9.

The Ladies’ Bible Study group meets on Monday evenings at 7 pm. The Wednesday morning Prayer Breakfast meets at 7.45 am. Both meet in Mallaig Church Hall. The Thursday "drop in” and Poetry Group are suspended during the summer.

Please let me know if you - or someone you know - would like a visit at home or in hospital - including the Small Isles and Knoydart. I’m also very happy to do home Communions for anyone who is housebound. Also, if you know of anyone who would like to receive this weekly email please do let me know.

Funeral service for Shona Johnston

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday 25th August at 12:00 Noon at St Columba’s Church in Mallaig, followed by interment at Beoraid Cemetery in Morar. I send my condolences to Shona’s family at this sad time; please pray for them at this time of sad bereavement. Shona had recently been a resident at the Macintosh Centre in Mallaig.

Small Isles Communion service - Isle of Muck - Wednesday 26th August

There will be a Communion service in the upstairs room at the Isle of Muck Community Hall on Wednesday 26th August starting at 12.30 pm, followed by lunch. This is timed to connect with the MV Sheerwater ferry from Arisaig, also calling at the Isle of Eigg. The service on the Isle of Muck will be dependent on the ferry being able to operate.

The ferry will depart from Arisaig at 10.00 am, Eigg at 11.30 am and arrive at Muck at 12 Noon. It will then depart from Muck at 3.00 pm, arriving back at Eigg at 3.30 pm and at Arisaig at 5 pm. Ferry tickets are available from Arisaig Marine café / ticket office in Arisaig or online at: https://arisaig.co.uk/

Music Group

After a summer break, the Music Group is likely to restart a week from now on Sunday 30th August (4 pm in Mallaig Church Hall) but this is subject to confirmation. I hope to be able to confirm this in next week’s email. New members will be made very welcome.

Can you play the piano? If so, would you be interested in playing the organ in Church? We need additional people who can play the organ during services - please do speak with me if you can help.

Hymns and readings on the screen - can you please help?

For the past two years, Anton Ziemiev has prepared and projected the words on the screen during Sunday services in both Mallaig and Arisaig. Due to academic commitments in Inverness, Anton will no longer be able to do so every Sunday. I am most grateful to him for all his help; thank you very much Anton.

If you would be willing and able to do the projection, please do speak with me. Anton will continue to do so on an occasional basis, but it would be great if a rota of helpers could be started. Full training will be given.

A thought in the aftermath of a tragedy...

The death of former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday has hit the headlines for the saddest of reasons. The alleged falsification of qualifications and experience led to his resignation, followed by a media frenzy. I do not condone such falsifications, but the frailty and vulnerability of a human being was rather lost in all of this. We should reflect on the words of Jesus: “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7). Please pray for his grieving family and friends at this difficult time.

I was struck by an article about this tragedy by former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. It is behind a paywall (and so I can’t share it), but even the introduction (which can be read without payment) is highly thoughtful: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2026/08/the-shaming-of-jason-arday

News from the Church of Scotland and the wider Church:

News from the World Council of Churches: https://www.oikoumene.org/news

78th anniversary of the WCC: https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-marks-78th-anniversary-we-give-thanks-to-god

Church of Scotland website: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Church of Scotland - news updates: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news

Tribute to former Moderator the Very Rev Dr James Harkness, who has died at the age of 90: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/tributes-paid-to-former-moderator-and-royal-chaplain-with-a-pastors-heart

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI): https://ctbi.org.uk/

Clèir Eilean Ì: the Church of Scotland Presbytery for the Highlands and Hebrides: https://cei.presbytery.org.uk/

For your diary:

No "Drop in” on Thursdays during the summer.
No Poetry, Theology and Life Group meetings during the summer.

Sunday 23 August: Church service at the Astley Hall in Arisaig, 11 am.

Monday 24 August: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Tuesday 25 August: Funeral service for Shona Johnston at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, at 12 Noon.

Wednesday 26 August: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Wednesday 26 August: Communion service at the Isle of Muck Community Hall, 12.30 pm. See information above re ferry times from Arisaig and Eigg (on the MV Sheerwater).

Sunday 30 August: Church service at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, 11 am.

Sunday 30 August: Music Group at Mallaig Church Hall, 4 pm - to be confirmed.

Monday 31 August: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 2 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Sunday 6 September: Church service at St Columba’s Church, Mallaig, 11 am

Monday 7 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 9 September: No breakfast prayer meeting today.

Sunday 13 September: Church service with Communion at the Astley Hall in Arisaig, 11 am.

Monday 14 September: Ladies Bible Study, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Wednesday 16 September: Breakfast prayer meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7.45 am.

Wednesday 16 September: Kirk Session meeting, Mallaig Church Hall, 7 pm.

Please check the page for any changes: North West Lochaber Church of Scotland - see: https://www.facebook.com/NWLochaberChurch

Bible text: Psalm 42:8

"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life."

May Christ’s love uphold you.

Grace, peace and every blessing,

Matthew

The Rev Matthew Z Ross
Minister
North West Lochaber Church of Scotland
Iar-Thuath Loch Abar - Eaglais na h-Alba

Church services every Sunday at 11.00 am:
1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays of each month: St Columba's Church, Annie's Brae, Mallaig.
2nd & 4th Sundays of each month: Astley Hall, Arisaig.
Knoydart and Small Isles services: info will be shared here.
ALL WELCOME!