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The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Minister's
Letter
Sep 2006
Thurso Manse
Rose Street
Thurso
KW14 5LS
Dear Friends,
Beryl and I would like to thank you all
for the opportunity and the privilege of sharing in the life and
work of St. Peter's and St. Andrew's.
While our time here will be very brief yet
it will be an enriching experience for us and hopefully for you
all. Do feel free to drop in and see us in the manse. And do let
us know if there are people, sick or with problems, who would
appreciate a pastoral visit.
It has been said that our real, inward
nature is only truly revealed when, in an enexpected emergency we
act on the spur of the moment, automatically as it were, without
time for prior thought.
In Mark 4:35-41 we're told how the
frightened disciples, fearful that their boat would be swamped,
awoke the sleeping Jesus and conveyed to Him their desperate
plight.
Notice that the awakened Jesus did not
pray to God (which under the circumstances would have been the
normal reaction of a man faced with such a life-threatening
situation). Rather, Jesus acted as God.
He simply spoke to the raging elements and
they obeyed Him. The significance of this should be pondered for,
in this incident, we have a unique insight into Jesus'
self-consciousness.
Clearly , it was natural for Jesus to
think of Himself as Divine and to act accordingly. And remember
that this is the One who, as Christians, we worship and serve; One
who was conscious that he was more than man, One who knew in His
inner being that He was the eternal Son of God. Accordingly, as we
travel through life with all of its storms and rough waters, let
us keep the eyes of our faith firmly fixed on Him.
Yours very sincerely,
Douglas Anderson
Locum Minister.
WEDDINGS
Lisa Sinclair and Andrew Cormack
Laura Sutherland and John Gunn
Mary Young and Richard Fraser
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Guild News
The official launch of the Guild's projects for the next three
years, under the title "Let's Live: body, mind and soul"
will take place on 2nd September, at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
when representatives of our Guild will be attending.
The theme for this year is "Honouring
the Body." This is indeed important in our walk as Guild
members and we are praying for guidance and support from God , and
all who will remember us in prayer.
Our session begins on Monday 11th
September when we will gather togaether at the Royal Hotel for our
annual meal, before going to the Hall for 7:30 pm where our guests
will be our locum minister, Rev. Doug Anderson and his wife Beryl.
Challenge, Fellowship and Fun are all to
be found in the Guild's programme and new members and visitors are
always welcome, so why not COME AND SEE. Every blessing from the
Guild,
Mary Chalmers (contact person)
Autumn
Rally............. 4th Oct... Venue to be confirmed
Coffee Morning........... 21st
Oct.. British Legion
Guild Week Coffee Morning 17th
Nov.. British Legion
Find out more about
the Guild's work at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/boards/guild/
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Thank God
Thank God you can't call him too often.
You only need to ring once and God hears
you. Because of Jesus, you never get a busy signal. God takes each
call personally.
He knows each caller personally. Best of
all, God often calls us. Are you waiting for his call or will your
answering machine talk to him?
If you listen carefully, you will hear
music in the background and God singing,
"I just called to say I love you!
I just called to say how much I care...."
Rev. Paul Kummer
Pastor of the Grace Lutheran Church Destin,Florida.
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
A Faithful
Servant
|
Our Church Officer
In June, we were sorry to learn that Bob
Chalmers had decided to stand down from the post of Church
Officer, having served in that capacity for over twenty five
years.
Bob has been faithful and diligent in
carrying out the many duties involved, and never stopped at
the words in the job description but acted above and beyond
the call of duty.
To many people the Church Officer is,
alongside the Minister, the face of the church, whether in
dealing with weddings, funerals and other special services, or
giving access to tradesmen, or liaising with other groups who
use the premises. At all such times, Bob consistently showed
the compassion and gentleness of the Saviour Jesus Christ.
We hope that Bob will enjoy being able to
take a well-earned break and will be refreshed in his "retirement"
and welcome Alec Stevens as our new Church Officer. We pray
that he will find the work enjoyable and rewarding. |
The Minister's Man
The minister's man stood apart from his
fellows: as a child, the schoolmaster could not train him for
the place he was to occupy. As a young man, the University
could not mould him, even if it had got the opportunity.
Ministers and schoolmasters might be turned out by the dozen;
but a beadle, or minister's man, was a totally different
story.
James Dawson, a well-known beadle in
Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, one day came upon three elders of
a neighbouring church in solemn conclave at a street corner.
The subject under discussion was the
election of a new beadle; and, seeing James pass, they hailed
him, and asked him if he could recom- mend any one for the
vacancy.
Reflecting for a moment, James shook his
head and replied, " Gin it had been a bit minister or
elder body ye wanted I could hae named a score or two, but
whaur to get a beadle is mair than I can tell." |
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Jerusalem
|
The Middle East Conflict
"On 18 July I wrote to the Prime
Minister urging him to use all means at his disposal to press
for an immediate cease fire in the Middle East. At the same
time, I wrote to all our partner churches in the region to
express our deep concern and solidarity, and they have now
shared their experiences with us. For example, Joseph Kassab,
the General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of
Syria and Lebanon, our partner church, wrote:"
"The daily aggression and violence
against civilians and innocent children brought back the
memories of the Lebanese war that we suffered (1975-1990). The
severe damage of the houses, factories, infrastructure and
trucks, has destroyed the Lebanese dream of prosperity and
development. The efforts of sixteen years in rebuilding the
country were lost in sixteen days. And what makes it worse is
that the Security Council could not even decide to call for a
cease fire."
"Emergency grants from our World
Mission Council and Mission and Renewal Fund have enabled us
to send £40,000 to the Synod to assist with their relief
work. However, I am also aware that there will be many in our
congregations and parishes who wish to respond to the
humanitarian crisis which has enveloped the region in the wake
of this heart rending conflict. I therefore commend to you the
Middle East Crisis Appeal which has been launched by Christian
Aid, our own relief and development agency. Through its local
partners, Christian Aid is able to supply desperately needed
relief in Lebanon, Israel and Gaza.
"A radical and distinctive action of
the Church at such a time of crisis is to pray - for justice,
for peace and for healing. I invite you and your congregation
to join with me in this prayer The prayer was written in
Bethlehem and Jerusalem yesterday by Rev Dr Mitri Raheb,
General Director of the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Rev Jane Barron, Minister of St Andrew’s Jerusalem."
Right Rev Alan McDonald
Moderator of the General Assembly
11th August 2006 |
A Prayer from
Bethlehem And Jerusalem
 Lord
Jesus Christ, born a little child in Bethlehem, forced to flee
with a terrified family, we pray for the children of this
region, that we leave a legacy of justice with walls and war
no more.
In Galilee You calmed a storm, gentling fear
and overcoming nature. May the northern Lake and hills know
peace again.
Lord of beauty, who brought lushness to
Lebanon, where trees stood tall and green, forgive us for
scorching earth and flesh, polluting the sea. Help us re-build
bridges where people meet and new life blossoms.
In Jerusalem You turned power upside down
and overcame death. May the power centres of the world
resurrect Your powerlessness and new hope.
Amen.
Jerusalem
I woke up this mornin' and
none of the news was good
And death machines were rumblin'
'cross the ground where Jesus stood
And the man on my TV told me that
it had always been that way
And there was nothin'
anyone could do or say
And I almost listened to him
Yeah, I almost lost my mind
Then I regained my senses again
And looked into my heart to find
That I believe that one fine day
all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords
forever in Jerusalem
Written by Steve Earle
Published by Sarangel Music |
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Standing on God's
Promise
Rees Howells, founder of the Bible College of
Wales, spent five years , from 1915 to 1920 in Africa with the
South Africa General Mission. About a week before they sailed they
received money from the Mission to pay their expenses to London,
but they needed some things to complete their outfit, and once
again the rule was applied, "First need First claim".
"There is always a tendency to keep money,
so as to get out of God's testings," said Mr. Howells, "and
we tried our best to do it this time!
"Anyway, we had to spend the money, and all
the people of the place thought we were well supplied. So we were,
up to that week, and we thought money would be sure to come the
day before we were to leave for London; but the last post came and
no money, and our train was leaving before the post next morning.
We thought it would be very hard to say good-bye to my uncle and
aunt and little Samuel, but the burden for the train money made
the parting a little easier! That is often the way with the Lord;
when we have a very hard thing to do, He will burden us in another
way to make the former one easier."
"Next morning, it was not so hard to part
with our parents, because we had to walk to the station without
the money! We felt sure that it would come on the station
platform, but no, the time came for the train to leave. What were
we to do? There was only one thing possible. We still had ten
shillings, and we must go as far as we could with it, then our
extremity would be God's opportunity. We had to change trains at
Llanelly station, about twenty miles from our home, and wait there
a couple of hours; so without letting anyone know, we only booked
as far as that. There were many people at our home station wishing
us all the good things, but what we needed was money to go to
London! Many also came as far as Llanelly, singing all the way.
The thought that came to me was, 'I'd sing better if I had the
money!'
"We went out to breakfast with some friends
at Llanell, and then walked back to the station still not
delivered; and now the time for the train had come. The Spirit
then spoke to me and said, 'If you had money what would you do?'
`Take my place in the queue at the booking office,' I said. `Well,
are you not preaching that My promises are equal to current coin?
You had better take your place in the queue.' So there was nothing
I could do except obey. There were about 'dozen people before me.
There they were passing by the booking office one by one. The
devil kept on telling me, `Now you have only a few people in front
of you, and when your turn comes, you will have to walk through.
You have preached much about Moses with ' Red Sea in front and the
Egyptians behind; but now you are the one who is shut in.' `Yes,
shut in,' I answered, `but, like Moses, I'll be gloriously led
out!' When there were only two before me, a man stepped out of the
crowd and said, 'I'm sorry I can't wait any longer, but I must
open my shop.' He said good-bye and put thirty shillings in my
hand! It was most glorious and only a foretaste of what the Lord
would do in Africa, if we would obey. After I had the tickets, the
people who came with us to the train began to give gifts to us,
but the Lord had held them back until we had been tested. We were
singing all the way to London!"
On their arrival, Mr. Head asked them to
breakfast the next morning. He then told them that he had £50
for them, but he didn't post it. "Thank God, you didn't,"
said Mr. Howells, adding to himself, "I wouldn't have been
without the test in the queue for anything."
From "Rees Howells: Intercessor" by
Norman Grubb .
Published by The Lutterworth Press PO Box 60 Cambridge CB1 2NT
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
Church Gift Day
|
Message from the Treasurer
This year's Gift Day falls on Sunday
17th September 2006 and I should like to remind you that the
Church can benefit from the recovery of income tax on all
amounts donated provided you are a basic rate tax payer.
Basically we can recover 28 pence on
every £1 that you donate. If you have not done so
previously and would like to help in this manner please
complete the Gift Aid form which is enclosed in your Gift Day
envelope accompanying the September Newsletter.
At the time of writing the Church
faces a heavy financial commitment in renovating the existing
Manse ahead of the appointment of a new minister. With this in
mind please consider making a regular contribution to Church
funds using the Gift Aid scheme.
Please see Robert Allan (Telephone
number 01847 892989) or myself (Telephone number 01847 890304)
for this purpose.
Stuart Whiteley
Treasurer
August 2006
|
The Shortened Sermon It
is not a far cry from the "ordinary" to the "special"
collection. Some sermons on the latter occasions are extra long;
while others, it is but fair to say, are extra short.
It is related of Dean Jonanthan Swift
that he once preached a charity sermon, the length of which so
irritated many of his hearers that they remonstrated with him
on the matter.
On a subsequent occasion he preached
another sermon of the same kind, and this time many of his
hearers thought he was too short -so difficult it is to please
everybody.
The Dean's text was longer than his
sermon:-" He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto
the Lord, and that which he hath given will be repaid to him
again." "Now,my friends," continued the
preacher, " you hear the terms of the loan. If you like
the security, down with the dust."
It is recorded that the collection
which followed this quaintest and shortest of sermons was
eminently satisfactory.
"Just after the second battle of
Bull Run, when communication was cut off by the telegraph
being down, the people in the South were in a feverish state
of anxiety to get news. At length a letter arrived at the post
office in Lexington, the home of Stonewall Jackson, addressed
to his old pastor. It was in the General's handwriting, and
all were impatient to have it read, so that they might know
how the battle had gone. When the seal was broken only this
was found: ` Dear Pastor, I remember that this is the day of
the collection for Foreign Missions. Please find enclosed my
cheque.-T. J. JACKSON."' |
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
A Higher Law
I inherited the tradition of a beach mission (
in Aberdeen -Ed.) which in Tom Allan's day had seen five hundred
gathered on the sands. As the week progressed we found selves in
direct competition with the red-coats - an army of youth workers
hired by the council to entertain children.
We therefore moved to Hazelhead and Duthie Park,
with lunch-time and ening services at St Nicholas' Kirkyard in
Union Street. The Kirk-yard was the ideal preaching station.
Standing on a gravestone and singing `Up From the Grave He Arose',
or borrowing a set of bones from a passer-by and using them to
illustrate a sermon from Ezekiel 36 - `Can these bones live?' -
were unforgettable experiences.
One night the evening service had just started
when a commotion, indeed an uproar, started in Union Street. A man
was shouting, with the high-pitched hysterical voice of one under
the influence of demons. "Don't listen, don't believe him!
God is evil! Satan is good!" He had, inevitably, drawn a
considerable crowd around him, and advanced purposely to where I
was standing and preaching.
I have always had an immense and unreasonable
dread of any hysterical crowd, and my knees were knocking in
terror as I retreated to the end of the microphone lead and looked
around for support, only to find that the team had retreated a
further twenty yards, with their backs to the wall.
I continued, however, to preach as the man
advanced with red, glaring eyes and tried to seize the microphone
from my hand. In terror I watched as his hand, some eighteen
inches from my own, was apparently gripped by an immense and
unseen force. His hand quivered but was held. Shaking with fear,
my voice went deep and quiet as I continued to speak of the love
and power of the crucified Christ.
After ten minutes the man went quietly to a
gravestone and started sobbing. The crowd were deeply silent, and
a policeman came up and asked if help were required, but by that
time the situation was clearly in the hands of a higher law. Later
I was approached by two young Americans - whose typical response
was, `Man, that was beautiful!'
From "Mussels at Midnight", the
autobiography of Captain. Stephen Anderson, the Church of
Scotland's first lay Evangelist, published 1989 by Christian Focus
Publications, Tain. Copyright Stephen Anderson.
The Minister's Page
Guild News Thank God
A Faithful Servant
Jerusalem God's Promise
Church Gift Day A Higher Law
Faith That Moves The Mountains Release
to the Captives Letter from Nepal
The Faith That
Moves The Mountains
When you know not where to turn,
stay still, just where you are.
There is something yet to learn.
Be careful lest you jar the threads that
fate is weaving in a patternyou can't see.
Be Passive.
Trust the Hand that works the looms of destiny.
Though it is your wish to set things right
and put things straight,
Choose the wiser way.
Have faith.
With patience watch and wait.
There's a purpose in it all,
as time will surely prove
And when you least expect it,
you will see the mountain move.
by Patience Strong
|
Letter from
Nepal
Christine Stone
P.O. Box 2714
Kathmandu
Nepal
July 2006
Dear Friends,
I'm just back in Nepal, greeted by a
16-hour downpour making paddling knee-deep the only way to my
flat, and traffic where cycles, motor-bikes, and cars all drive
straight at you, instead of in straight lines. I drove four
thousand miles while I was in (mainly) Scotland and it was a great
joy to see so many of you, but I was very sorry that there were so
many friends and congregations that I just didn't have time to
visit. I would have loved to meet everyone but even a month away
has meant a big pile-up of training here. I'm missing, but
grateful for, all the good things I enjoyed especially time with
dear friends. Age now means I am not able to be a World Mission or
CMS partner, but I'm back "independently" as it were but
with the support of friends and churches. Things for which I have
been longing for the last twenty-five years are beginning to
happen, and the opportunities for helping are endless, so it isn't
the time to leave. Here's my first day back....
At KISC (Kathmandu International Study
Centre) it's the last week of term. The teacher training unit now
has its own adjacent building and half of all my equipment had
been moved in along with a special needs trainer. A Norwegian
mission has promised funds for five years and a couple in England
have been accepted by a mission and will come to KISC as teacher
trainers in January. I'll have to have a big final move next week.
Then I walked round to Save the Children Norway - it's so near I
don't need the bike. Along with Save the Children US and Japan
they are now improving/transforming village primary schools from
the first grade up in twenty-four districts, a third of the
country. So I must do trainings in Baglung, Rukum, Rolpa,
Kabre.... these are the priorities the others a bit later! But
even more exciting is that there is now a 'critical mass' of
schools where the teaching has changed out of all recognition and
the happiness of the children and their understanding and the
enthusiasm of teachers and parents are clear to see.
The government and donors WANT good
quality education for all but haven't understood that the key is
to help the teachers who in general know nothing about how to make
school a happy place. So now Save the Children are ready to go to
the government with proof that our method is good and to press for
it to be done nation-wide with World Bank input. Then think how
much training will be needed and how many enthusiastic trainers!!
Then via Room to Read to see how Tommy Tempo 2 and 3 and reprints
are getting on, I went to see Khus, who publishes my Better
English for Schools series. "Didi, five districts ring up
every day asking for a training as all the private schools in the
district are using our books. Can you start doing them this week?"
Well, yes fitting round the ones I've just booked. Now the diary
is full for July and still lots to do. It prompted these
thoughts... Bhairhawa and Syangja, Rukum and Rolpa Janakpur and
Siraha, even distant Dolpa. Dhading, Dang and Pokhara, Kabre and
Kailali - Social Studies, English, Maths and even, yes, Nepali! It
takes a day or two to reach these places, but I have got one
booked for Kathmandu itself. What of the country itself? More
peaceful in terms of no strikes, but still a culture of strikes
and trouble if you don't like anything. The Maoists and all the
political parties are combining to write a quick, temporary
constitution as well as actually running the country, and then
there will have to be a new constitution. So many different ideals
and aims it will be a long and rocky road ahead for a country with
so little experience, so continue to pray for moderation,
co-operation and development for the many poor.
Thanks for everything, it's great having
you all with me. This week's special Anglican prayer or collect
was that all of us in our different callings would be enabled to
serve faithfully as Christ's servants. Let's continue to pray for
each other like that.
With my love,
Christine
This is my first non-mission letter. If you
would to hear my news by e-mail, please contact Mrs Shirley McKay:
shirleymckay @ hotmail.co.uk Any complaints to me though!!!
Edited by Iain
MacKillop for the members and friends of
St. Peter's And St.Andrew's Church Thurso. Many thanks to all
who contributed
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