Christmas Day Devotional 2025 

 
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Nollaig Chridheil! Merry Christmas!

The High Free Church Stornoway wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas. We know it can be a lonely time for some and a very busy time for others, and for many a very early start when little ones are involved! Whatever you are doing today, take some time to consider one who came to the world in humble circumstances as a baby born in Bethlehem, who performed miracles, who spoke truth, who fulfilled God's promise to save his people. Take time to remember Jesus, God incarnate, and the promise of salvation to those who believe in him as their saviour.

Rev Hugh brings us the final devotional:

Galatians 4:4–7

[4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
 

Glenys
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

Attending the High Free

Where and When


We currently do not have a building of our own yet but we are looking to have one built - click here for more information. In the meantime we use Sandwick Hall for our morning services and The Seminary (Francis Street, Stornoway) for our evening services. We also use the Fàilte Centre on Bayhead for our midweek meetings. 


We always welcome visitors to our services and we are glad that you are considering visiting us! We know that attending somewhere new or for the first time can be rather daunting, so we have compiled some information below so you know what to expect…

Should you wish to visit our services or meetings and would like to let us know you are coming along, you are more than welcome to fill out the form below - although, whether you contact us prior to your visit or if you just turn up, we will make sure you get a warm and friendly welcome either way!
 

Name:
Email Address:
Mobile:
Your Message:
 
 
Sunday Morning Service
11:00
Sandwick Hall

Sunday Evening Service
18:30
The Seminary

Tuesday Prayer Meeting - English
19:30
Fàilte Centre

Thursday Prayer Meeting - Gaelic
19:30
Fàilte Centre*

Friday Cuppa 'n' Cèilidh (over 55's) - Monthly
14:00 - First Friday of Month
Newton Centre, Seaforth Road

Saturday Prayer Meeting - English
19:30
Zoom**

*On the first Thursday of the month it is a joint Gaelic meeting with Stornoway Free Church in the Seminary.

**On the first Saturday of the month this is in the Fàilte Centre.

Accessibility
There is wheelchair access to all venues used by the High Free Church. If required, a first aid kit and wheelchair are to be made available in the following locations:

Sandwick Hall:
First Aid Kit - In the kitchen area inside the door nearest to the main entrance.
Wheelchair - In the crèche room to the right as you enter the building.

Seminary:
First Aid Kit - Kitchen area next to the exit door behind the pulpit.
Wheelchair - In the storage room through the exit midway down the sanctuary
on the left-hand side.

How to find us:

Sandwick Hall, The Seminary and the Fàilte Centre are marked below on the maps.

Sandwick Hall

 

The Seminary, Francis Street

The Fàilte Centre, Bayhead

 

Our Service

Our services are at 11am in Sandwick Hall and 6:30pm in the Seminary on Francis Street, Stornoway. During the morning service there is a crèche and, during term-time, Sunday School. Services generally follow this pattern:

Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
First Singing
First Prayer (Standing, if able)
Children’s Talk
Second Singing (Children leave for Sunday School)
Reading
Second Prayer (seated)
Sermon
Final Singing
Benediction

At the High Free our readings are taken from the English Standard Version Bible translation.

What to wear

This is up to you. We have some people who wear their suits, some who come smart-casual and some who come in jeans and T-shirt. Whatever you chose to wear you can be sure of a warm welcome!

What to take

All the words for the items of praise are projected onto a screen or hymn books will be given out as you enter the building. Take a Bible with you, a notebook and pen/pencil (if you wish) and yourself.

What about my kids?

We have a crèche available and a Sunday School. Crèche volunteers are in the first room on the right as you enter Sandwick Hall. The Sunday School leave after the second singing.