St Peters – TheWeeFlea.com: Recent Episodes
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This is my latest column in EN – you can read the original here.. Revitalising a dying church: what’s the secret? David Robertson | Comment Date posted: 16 Oct 2024 St Peter’s Free Church, Dundee, which grew ‘shakily and yet sincerely’. Source: Facebook | St Peter’s Free Church Of making many strategies there is no end, and […]
Letter from Australia 121 – Small Beginnings Dear Brothers and Sisters, It’s been a long time since my last letter (Nov 3rd – https://theweeflea.com/2023/11/03/letter-from-australia-120-a-new-beginning-in-newcastle/So, I thought I would give you a quick update with a couple of thoughts. The work here is not easy. Revitalising a small congregation in an increasingly post Christian society, with […]
Luke 2:20 – The Shepherds respond to what they have seen and heard. A response of praise and glorifying. With the carol Silent Night from Dave Henderson and Friends…. Also on the ASK podcast as audio only – here
Colossians 3:17 – Why is gratitude such a key element of Christian living? What does it mean to give thanks to God the Father through Jesus? Also on the ASK podcast here Coffee and Colossians 96 – Doing it all in the Name of Jesus
Colossians 3:11 – Why does Christianity appeal to so many nationalities? Should there be separate ethnic churches? Who were the Scythians? Why is the Church the greatest multi-culture in the world? Also on the ASK podcast here Also see this article I wrote on whether we should have ethnic churches – The photos is of […]
Colossians 2:7 – We need to build on the faith as we have been taught it….with a wonderful example from Dick Lucas…. Also available as a podcast here – Colossians 53 – Rooted and Built up in Christ
This is the last of our series ‘Songs for Sunday’. We have looked at all 64 YouTube videos of praise from St Peters – Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. We finish with a song unique to St Peters – Crawford Mackenzie (and elder and praise leader) wrote ‘God Made Me’ for children. I recorded this […]
This is a beautiful modern song about the Christian’s last journey – death. It’s from Indelible Grace and should be much better known! Beutifully sung here by the St Peters congregation…. Songs for Sunday 62 – We Praise God for His Covenant
This is an unusual song. Its a song about infant baptism. The Covenant. Words by Donald MacDonald. Baptism – A personal Journey in which it is discovered that infant baptism is Biblical! Songs for Sunday 61 – Up From the Grave He Arose
Robert Lowry’s great hymn – Up from the Grave He Arose – is a hymn that we usually only sing on Easter – but is appropriate for any Lord’s Day! Songs for Sunday 60 – How Great is our God!
Chris Tomlin’s ‘How Great is our God’ – with a beautiful accompaniment from Max on the violin…..enjoy… Songs for Sunday 59 – Psalm 49 – A Song for the Rich This ‘wraps himself in light’ was from our balcony this week…
Ch 1.v.5 – Does it matter what Gospel is preached? How do we know if it is true? (the picture is of my son being ordained as a preacher of the true message of the Gospel,,) The Most Important News This Year – CCC…. Coffee and Colossians 7 – Hope Stored up in Heaven
This is one of the great Easter hymns – by Charles Wesley….a hymn that could be sung any Sunday – because each one is the Lord’s Day – the day we worship our risen Lord. Songs for Sunday 57 – Come Thou Fount This picture is from the Sydney Show on Easter Saturday
This week we look at Robert Robinson’s great hymn – Come Thou Fount. (The photo is of three wee visitors to our balcony just after I recorded this!) Songs for Sunday 56 – Great is the Lord and Worthy of all Praise
This weeks Song for Sunday is the short and inspirational ‘Great is the Lord and Worthy of all Praise” Songs for Sunday 55 – 10,000 Reasons
This week we sing Matt Redman’s song based on Psalm 103 – we have reasons to the thankful… Songs for Sunday 54 – Jesus, Lover of My Soul
This Getty/Townend song with a Celtic tinge is a joyful thankful song about thankfulness – tune and words blend perfectly! Songs for Sunday 52 – All Heaven Declares
Noel Richard’s simple song is beautiful….Plus a reflection on who we should be worshipping and how we should be worshipping.. Songs for Sunday 51 – Psalm 48 (Old 124th)
Although this is one of the lesser known psalms – it is a great song about the security of the church and the advance of the Gospel throughout the whole earth. Sung to 0ld 124th…. Songs for Sunday 50 – And Can It Be?
Charles Wesleys great hymn – sung by the St Peters congregation…. Songs for Sunday 49 – When We Walk With The Lord
Letter from Australia 115 – A Prince in Israel has Fallen – An appreciation of the ministry of Rev Eric Alexander – and his final words in public. Dear Brothers and Sisters, When the Queen died, I felt that it marked the end of an era for the United Kingdom. This weekend I heard […]
This is an old brethren style song. As a motto for the Christian love it is hard to beat! Sung as usual by the St Peters congregation…. Songs for Sunday 48 – Immortal, Invisible….
Walter Smith, 19th Century Free Church minister from Aberdeen – wrote this great hymn….enjoy and worship… Songs for Sunday 47 – All Glory be to Christ – Auld Lang Syne
For this Christmas we have an original song from Dave Henderson…it is beautiful Songs for Sunday 45 – O Holy Night
This French carol (sung in English) is one of the most beautiful and famous carols – once again it is beautifully sung by Dave and Laura…. Songs for Sunday 44 – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Dave Henderson and Laura Ferguson sing this beautiful version of my favourite carol – and one that should be the theme for our Christmas this year! O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – full lyrics O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God […]
This lovely and triumphant 19th Century hymn from Caroline Noel is a great reminder of who is in charge – and when he will return…. Songs for Sunday 42 – Psalm 16:7-11
Psalm 16 is a beautiful and extraordinary song – full of hope and Christ….sung to the tune Old 134th Songs for Sunday 41 – Ps 50:1-7 (Woodlands) This is the sunset from our apartment….a reminder of resurrection and the glory to come!
We return to Sing Psalms – this is a psalm about Christ’s return, about the judgement day – and about his visitation of his people….sung to the tune Woodlands… Songs for Sunday 40 – We Will Feast in the House of Zion The photo is of a great sunset at Portmahomack…our God shall surely come! […]
The St Peters Congregation sing Sandra McCracken’s beautiful hymn – about the time when weeping will be no more – and we will take part in the great feast. Hopefully this gives you a foretaste… Songs for Sunday 39 – How Deep the Father’s Love
This weeks song is the beautiful ‘How Deep the Father’s Love’ by Townend – some of the most moving words ever written…and a superb tune… Songs for Sunday 38 – Hear the Call of the Kingdom This photo is of the sunset from Manly beach last night….beautiful place…
Another Getty /Townend song – this time a call for compassionate outreach and passionate and powerful mission. Songs for Sunday 37 – By Faith Hear the call of the KingdomLift your eyes to the KingLet His song rise within youAs a fragrant offeringOf how God rich in mercyCame in Christ to redeemAll who trust in […]
This song from Sovereign Grace, based largely on Isaiah 40, is powerful and beautiful….this version sung by Dave Henderson and the St Peters congregation, especially so…a real hand raiser!\ Subscribe on YouTube here Songs for Sunday 35 – In Christ Alone This photo is of a place where I go to behold our God!
This week we hear the wonderful modern hymn in Christ Alone – every line is rich and deep in meaning…. Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 34 – See What a Morning
This week we sing See What a Morning – one of the great Easter hymns – from Getty and Townend…. Also on YouTube Songs for Sunday 33 – Wake up my Soul – (Ps 103) If you are missing the Coffee and Revelation you can get them on the ASK website here
This weeks song is the New Scottish hymn – Wake up my Soul – based on Psalm 103. It’s a beautiful simple song… Songs for Sunday 32 – To God be the Glory
The great Fanny Crosby song – To God be the Glory – sung by the St Peters congregation…. Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 31 – O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
This beautiful 19th Century hymn is both simple, memorable and deep….enjoy and worship Him… Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 30 – There is a Hope
This song is an amalgamation of verses from the Psalms and Proverbs. A children’s song that is good for adults… Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 28 – Crown Him with many Crowns
This 19th Century hymn is rich with theology, praise and language….sung by the St Peter’s congregation…. Songs for Sunday 27 – Speak O Lord Psalm 89; – Walking in the Light of God 1 Kings 8 – The Wise Kings Greatest Achievement; Crown Him With Many Crowns
This Sunday we hear the Getty/Townend song ‘Speak O Lord’ from the St Peters congregation. A prayer song we often sang before the sermon… Subscribe on YouTube here Songs for Sunday 26 – O For A Closer Walk With God
This is a Psalm about God’s word and our lives, sung to the tune Mulchaich. Beautiful words and tune…sing and pray together… Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday – Psalm 126
This weeks song is Graham Kendrick’s ‘Above the Clash of Creeds’…..a beautiful hymn so appropriate for today…. Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 22 – Psalm 51 – Rich in Mercy – Crawford Mackenzie
This is a beautiful version of Psalm 51 written and led by one of the elders, Crawford Mackenzie .. Also on YouTube Songs for Sunday 11 – Psalm 51
This week we hear Luthers magnificent ‘A Safe Stronghold (Mighty Fortress)… Subscribe on YouTube Song for Sunday 17 – From the Sun’s Rising…
Revelation 1:7 – We don’t often think about the second coming – but it is a crucial part of New Testament Christianity. What does it mean? With the song ‘Lo he comes with clouds descending”. Subscribe on YouTube Coffee and Revelation 2 and 3 – The Trinity and What has Jesus Done for Us?
Ps 43 is a perfect psalm for our day. The psalmist laments the opposition he faces and the darkness within society – as well as his own feeling that God has abandoned him. But he pleads with God to send forth his light and truth – that he may again praise him….Sung by St Peters… […]
This week we look at, and hear Psalm 19 – its a beautiful psalm sung here by the St Peters congregation. It answers the question – why does God not speak? He does…. Subscribe on YouTube Songs for Sunday 14 – Psalm 139
Letter from Scotland 3– Scotland – Return to St Peters Dear Brothers and Sisters, It was touch and go – but we made it! I have been looking forward to being back in St Peters – for three years! Everything was all arranged for the 15th but covid intervened and it was questionable whether I […]
This is a wonderful version of Ps 139 from New Scottish Hymns – sung by the St Peters congregation. We have a wee look at the meaning of the psalm before hearing it sung. Also on YouTube here – http://Songs for Sunday 14 – Ps 139
This week we hear Townend’s ‘You’re the Word of God the Father’ – a modern, theologically and biblically rich Christ centred worship song. Superb… Songs for Sunday 12 – Psalm 23 This is where we are staying and where I recorded this..
This week our song is Vicky Beeching’s The Wonder of the Cross – in it we consider whether it matters who the author is in terms of whether we sing the song or not…. Also on YouTube For more on the Vicky Beeching controversy – see these earlier articles. Undivided – An Open Letter […]
This week we listen to congregation of St Peters singing Ps 130 to the tune Martyrdom. This is such a profound and encouraging song – especially for those of us in the depths. I reference the version from the Getty’s – which you can also see here. Songs for Sunday 7 – O For A […]
The story behind Charles Wesley’s great hymn, a wee look at the lyrics and a great version from St Petes… Subscribe on YouTube here – Songs for Sunday 6 – From the Highest of Heights – Indescribable
Chris Tomlin’s ‘Indescribable’ is a song of praise to the Creator in response to the Creation…. Subscribe on YouTube here… Songs for Sunday 5 – Psalm 62 – My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone
This is a new weekly series looking at some well known psalms, hymns and spiritual songs – as sung by the St Peters congregation. These have been available on YouTube for some time but I thought it might be useful to repost them – with a short explanation/devotional on the songs themselves. The first one […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, On Saturday morning I forewent my normal lie in and got up early to watch the induction of Andy Pearson to St Peters. We left Dundee 21 months ago and, as I expected, it has taken some time to get a new minister. If I had had my way, we […]
The Slow Death of the Church of Scotland Accelerates There is some really sad, but inevitable, news coming from Dundee this week. I have just read in The Courier that another three churches are to merge in Dundee.Broughty Ferry congregations to merge as ministers retire and worshipper numbers dwindle The Church of Scotland congregations in […]
Letter from Australia 65 – Caniggia and Christ Dear Brothers and Sisters, Sometimes I miss Dundee. I miss Baxter Park, the Ferry, the Dighty, Balgay observatory, St Peters, the Tay Bridge….and much more. But this week I was especially missing Dens Park…when I saw the documentary commemorating the great Claudio Caniggia coming to humble Dundee. […]
This weeks article in Australian Presbyterian – you can read the original here – “The providence of God is like Hebrew words – it can be read only backwards.” So wrote John Flavel. “Of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body” says the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Some of us […]
This weeks article in the Australian Presbyterian is a follow on to my review of Come Let Us Sing – by Rob Smith. Come Let Us Sing. Being back in a service of public worship last Sunday was lovely. The ‘social distancing’ is not too much of a culture change for this Scottish Presbyterian – […]
If you wanted an illustration of just how dangerous the Scottish Government’s new blasphemy bill (Hate Crime) then this letter published in the Courier provides a stark example: “We fully intend to monitor all Holy Books, sermons in places of worship and the social media accounts of the various religions and report any hatred to […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, It’s one year since we moved to Australia. It seems as though we have been here for years, on the other, as though it were five minutes. There are many things to reflect on – but if I were to give a report for the year, I think it would revolve […]
TEXT: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16) […]
I want to share with you a story – it’s one that is infinitely more important than anything about the current obsession of the UK chattering classes – Dominic Cummings. I’m talking about this wee video about CCC – Charleston COmmunity Church. If I was looking for ‘hits’ then I would not be posting this. […]
Dear brothers and sisters We have many things to be thankful for. The old song ‘count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. As we continue in this ‘crisis’ situation I thought I would share with you some things to be thankful for. I am […]