XCEL Church

15/06/2026

Men's breakfast this Sat at 8.30am at Tobias and Rosies, at Lonfern Culnacnoc, let Mick know if you can come or need a lift. All Men welcome.

15/06/2026

This song has brought freedom on Sundays and Xcel Nights over the last few months.

Songs encouraged the pilgrims on their journey throughout Scripture. As they travelled toward Jerusalem, they would sing the Songs of Ascent to strengthen weary hearts, remind themselves of God’s faithfulness, and keep moving forward even through hardship.

Some songs are more than music. They become companion songs for the journey.

“The Lily of the Valley” has become one of those pilgrim songs for me. It has brought healing to my heart over a long period of time.

Thank you Tommy for sharing it months ago. Many will remember Calum Macaskill from Kyleakin singing it many years ago, and what a blessing it was, I still hear his voice when I hear this song, but only now do I feel I truly understand its meaning.

Christ really is the Lily of the Valley — the One who meets us in low places, walks with us through valleys, and remains beautiful even in difficult seasons.

Keep going, folks.

There will always be voices that try to put you down, hold you back, discourage you, or bury you beneath accusations, lies, bitterness, and toxic words. But God did not create you to live trapped by the opinions of wounded people. He calls you to journey with Him.

Do not let toxic voices become louder than the voice of God.

Do not let accusations stop your walk with Christ.

Do not let disappointment make you retreat from His presence.

The enemy wants exhaustion, offence, and discouragement to make people quit the journey altogether. But God still leads pilgrims forward one step at a time.

Sometimes the song that keeps you going becomes part of the healing God uses to restore your soul.

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” — Psalm 118:14

Lily of the Valley is a timeless Christian hymn of worship that bea...

14/06/2026

Life - Recovery group this Monday at 1.30pm.

Xcel Nights - every Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Men's breakfast this Sat at 8.30am at Tobias and Rosies, at Lonfern Culnacnoc, let Mick know if you can come or need a lift.

Dedicated prayer time from 10am each Sunday, coffee, tea, and toast will be available.

Xcel Church service every Sunday at 11am, coffee available before and after the service. All welcome.

WhatsApp church group, if you'd like to join speak or let John know.

Want Prayer please ask at end of the service.

14/06/2026

Hope for the Week.

“I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” — 1 Samuel 15:24

“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” — Galatians 1:10

Two men. Two confessions. Two completely different directions.

Saul admitted, “I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”

Paul declared, “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Saul was a king chosen by God, yet his downfall began when the opinions of people became louder to him than the voice of God.

He compromised because he feared rejection. He wanted approval. He wanted to keep the crowd happy. And in doing so, he slowly lost peace, clarity, authority, and obedience.

Paul, however, came to a different conclusion.
He understood that you cannot spend your life controlled by public opinion and still fully follow Christ. Eventually there comes a crossroads where conviction and approval pull in opposite directions.

Saul chose the crowd. Paul chose Christ.

And every one of us faces that same tension.
Will we build our lives around obedience or applause? Around conviction or acceptance? Around truth or approval?

The fear of people is powerful because rejection feels painful. Nobody enjoys criticism.

Nobody enjoys being misunderstood. We all know what it feels like to want acceptance.

But when approval becomes your foundation, you become emotionally controlled by the reactions of others.

Praise lifts you too high. Criticism crushes you too deeply. Your peace rises and falls depending on opinions.

That is a dangerous way to live because people are inconsistent.

The same crowd that celebrated Saul later turned against him. The same crowds that shouted “Hosanna!” at Jesus later cried, “Crucify Him!”

The moment our identity becomes rooted in the approval of people, we hand people power they were never meant to carry. We begin measuring our worth by reactions, praise, acceptance, likes, compliments, or validation. And while applause can feel good for a moment, it is unstable ground to build a life upon.

Human approval changes constantly.
That is why Proverbs 29:25 warns: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” a snare is a trap.

Paul discovered something Saul never fully learned: freedom comes when God’s voice matters more than the crowd’s voice.

That freedom does not mean becoming cold or arrogant. It means you stop living as a prisoner to constant approval.

You stop compromising truth to avoid rejection. You stop performing for acceptance. You stop allowing criticism to define your identity.

This week, remember: Saul feared people and lost himself. Paul feared God and found freedom.

Do not let the crowd become louder than Christ. The opinions of people are temporary. The voice of God is eternal.

Remember - “If you live for their applause, you will die by their criticism.”

14/06/2026

A few folk after Church, flying the flags of countries connected to us at the world cup...

14/06/2026

Scotland may have left us all a wee bit tired after the Haiti game last night… but church is still on at 11am and we’re excited to gather together today! We've folk with connections to these countries 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇭🇹🇨🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽

So whether you’re full of energy or needing coffee on arrival, you are so welcome.

There’s something powerful about coming together to worship, encourage one another, and focus our hearts on God.

All welcome at Xcel Church Portree this morning at 11am. Come as you are.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
Psalm 108:3

7 “I will declare the [a]decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son, My Daughter,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall [b]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
Psalm 2: 7-9

The “rod of iron” symbolizes firm, unbreakable rule. A clay pot is fragile before iron strength.

09/06/2026

Xcel Nights are relaxed midweek gatherings where people can connect, have honest conversations about life and faith, enjoy coffee and community, and explore hope in a welcoming environment.

No pressure. No pretending. No need to have life figured out.

Some nights include discussion, stories, music, food, prayer, or guest speakers — but the heart of it is simple:

People doing life together.

This week Mick and Jan will share about their weekend at the revival conference in Lewis.

Isaiah 43:19 -
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?

31/05/2026

XCEL CHURCH NEWS

📍 Life - Recovery Group
This Monday at 1:30pm at the Skye Gathering Hall. Lunch will be served.

☕ Xcel Nights
Every Wednesday at 7:30pm.

🙏 Prayer Time
Every Sunday from 10:00am
Coffee, tea, and toast available.

⛪ Sunday Service.
Xcel Church
Every Sunday at 11:00am.

📱 Church WhatsApp Group.
With a number of new folk at Church, If you’d like to join our WhatsApp group to keep up to date with whats happening at Church - speak to John.

Everyone is welcome, coffee is served before and after our Sunday Service..

31/05/2026

Hope for the Week.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
Psalm 23:5

A table is an interesting picture.

A table is not a battlefield. It is not a place of panic, fear, or striving. A table is a place where people gather. It is a place of welcome, provision, conversation, rest, and relationship.

When David wrote Psalm 23, he could have said, "You give me a weapon in the presence of my enemies," or "You build me a fortress in the presence of my enemies." Instead, he said, "You prepare a table."

God's answer to our fears is often not an immediate escape from our circumstances but an invitation into His presence.

Think about what is found at a table.

At a table, hungry people are fed.
At a table, weary people find rest.
At a table, families reconnect.
At a table, friendships are strengthened.
At a table, there is conversation and fellowship.

At God's table, there is grace for the past, strength for today, and hope for tomorrow.

What makes this verse so powerful is where the table is located. It is not prepared in a quiet valley far away from trouble. It is prepared in the presence of enemies.

The enemies may be fear, anxiety, criticism, uncertainty, sickness, financial pressure, grief, or situations that seem beyond our control.

Yet God says, "Sit down. Eat. Rest. Trust Me."

The enemy wants you focused on the battle.

God wants you focused on the Shepherd.

The enemy wants you to believe you are alone. God reminds you that He is with you.

The enemy wants you to live in fear of what might happen tomorrow. God provides what you need for today.

The table reminds us that God is still in control.

If He can calmly prepare a table in the middle of our troubles, then He is not worried by what worries us.

Nothing catches Him by surprise.

This week, whatever is standing around your table, don't give it the seat of honour.

Fear doesn't belong at the head of the table. Worry doesn't belong there. Criticism doesn't belong there.

Jesus does.

Take your seat at His table. Receive His peace. Listen to His voice. Trust His heart.

The presence of enemies does not mean God has abandoned you. Sometimes it is in the very place of pressure that we discover just how faithful He really is.

Prayer
Lord, thank You that You prepare a table for me even when life is difficult. Help me to focus on Your presence more than my problems, Your promises more than my fears, and Your faithfulness more than my circumstances. Teach me to rest at Your table and trust You with the things I cannot control. Amen.

27/05/2026

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You....Isaiah 26:3