StedfastDec09

A NOTE FROM BOTSWANA

Greetings... from Gaborone Village... where I am realizing that our friends in Scotland have been sorely neglected for far, far too long. I am so sorry!

Greetings... from Gaborone Village... where I am realizing that our friends in Scotland have been sorely neglected for far, far too long. I am so sorry! In ‘the old days, Winifred Merriweather used to faithfully keep you up to date with the happenings in Botswana by writing regularly and, more recently, Mary has undertaken this role. However, Mary has not been well and spent several weeks in Johannesburg and, while now back in Molepolole, it may still take her a while to find her pencil and paper.

In any case I do have several bits of news.

Firstly, Mary is back from South Africa and much improved although perhaps seeming a little ‘fragile’. However, she was able to see the UFC Team off at the Gaborone airport after the UCCSA Assembly and then, afterward, come to visit Gudrun and enjoy a little time

with her feet up on our couch.

Secondly, Gudrun is up and ‘shuffling’ with her frame, and making good progress after her hip replacement two and a half weeks ago. She now is ‘condemned’ to a walking frame for 4 weeks and then elbow crutches for a further 4 weeks... And then... Aha...?

One does not usually think of a hospital stay as enjoyable, but during the 12 days that Gudrun was in the Gaborone Private Hospital, we were surrounded by caring and lovely people. A Christian Laboratory technician from Cuba kept bringing us Bible verses of encouragement, and a host of other ‘angels’ of many different nationalities and backgrounds made us feel thoroughly cosseted.

I still find it incredible that such surgery is now being performed here in Botswana. Although I shouldn’t be... for, just around the corner, at the edge of the University Campus a new

December / January 2010

building is being constructed.

Two tall cranes have been swinging gracefully for several weeks and the edifice has rapidly reached roof height... to house the new Medical School. And, last weekend, on the other side of town I was taken by lift to floor No. 9 of the ‘Square’ - a new shopping centre... with incredible views of the budding Capital City... and a reminder of the growing opportunities for mission work and the extension of Christ’s Kingdom... as was the ‘handover’ event in The FM Hangar in August when, with Patricia Johnston and Tom and Marion Ireland present, John and Yvonne Lubbe passed the leadership of Flying Mission to Mike and JoAnne Webb. It was an exciting and challenging occasion.

Finally... life has been busy with Gudrun’s pre-operative and postoperative care... and I have had on my desk, since Easter, a pile of wonderful cards from many of you in the UFC wishing us well and reminding us of your love and caring. I had intended to scribble notes in answer to each one... but alas... However, Gudrun and I do want to thank all of you for your encouragements to us. They have been greatly appreciated and I trust that one day we may be able to speak with you again ‘face to face’. In my reading this evening I was reminded that our ‘times are in His hands’. I do not think that we will make Scotland this year... But next year? I hope so!

Be blessed.

End of an era for Westray Page 2

30 Years at Darnley Page 8

Malcolm J. McArthur Founder of Flying Mission

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Focus week at Milngavie Page 14

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In this Issue...

FIRST MINISTER

& CHURCHES FOCUS ON COMMON CONCERNS

On Wed 4 Nov 09, First Minister Alex Salmond met with senior figures from 12 Scottish Churches to discuss some common concerns around Social Cohesion and End of Life issues.

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The conversation was open and cordial, while addressing difficult issues and sharing examples of good practice from across the country. This annual meeting illustrates the increasingly active engagement between Churches and Civic Society in Scotland, both nationally and locally.

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First Minister & Churces focus on common concerns

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30 Years at Darnley

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Bibles and Bandages for Brazil

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End of an era for Westray

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Tribute: Joe Bowie: Elder Torry

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Focus week at Milngavie

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Incarnation: God for us, With us & in us

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Part 2 of the Interview with John Mason MP

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What Jesus means to me – Elaine Jack, Lossiemouth

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We are Witnesses –

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Back to Church Sunday

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Harvest at Stonehouse

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Overseas Partners

Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010

Those attending the meeting came from the Associated Presbyterian Churches, Baptist Union of Scotland, Church of Scotland, Congregational Federation, Free Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Religious Society of Friends, Salvation Army, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church of Scotland, United Reformed Church.

The Moderator, Rev Martin Keane represented the United Free Church.

Editorial She was one of a team whose aim was to care for those sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow. They became aware that many of these people had problems with their feet and neglected them. So she and the others got down on their knees and washed the feet of these men and women. I wonder how we would have felt if we had been asked to do such a task? It is always easy to speak about love in vague, theoretical terms that cost us nothing. Demonstrating love in action can be a much more costly business!

Thank God the Bible does not simply speak about God’s love in theoretical terms but tells us about a Saviour who was born into this world – that’s incarnation. If the Gospel we proclaim is to mean anything to those around us, it has to be ‘incarnate’; that is, it has to be worked out and lived out in the world of everyday life. In this issue we meet a number of people who have been willing to work out the consequences of following Jesus in different places and who seek to live in ways which make a difference to those around us.

As we again prepare to celebrate Jesus birth, who are the people he is calling us to love in practice and where are the places he is calling us to make a difference for him? What impact will the events happening in your congregation over Christmas have on the community around you?

John Fulton

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END OF AN ERA FOR WESTRAY Nancy Scott reports on the final service in the UF Church on Westray – and reminds us of some of the history of the congregation.

Sunday 25 October 2009

For nearly 30 years the Westray congregation has worshipped in the hall adjoining their church, the Reid Memorial Hall which was named in memory of their first minister who served the congregation for 37 years.

On Sunday 25th October 2009 the last United Free Church service was held in Westray.

The secession congregation built their own church in 1823, seating 300 people. As the congregation grew a gallery was added giving another 150 seats. When even this was too small a new kirk seating 550 was built in 1866 at the Braehead. By this time the congregation was United Presbyterian and became United Free following the national union in 1900. The older church became known as theSheepie Kirk.

At Rapness a Free Kirk congregation was formed in 1876 and they built a church there in 1883. This congregation also became United Free and was linked to the bigger congregation in the north of the island. In the mid 1920s the property in Rapness was sold to the Church of Scotland leaving the Braehead kirk the only United Free Kirk in Westray.

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When the majority of United Free congregations voted to join with the Church of Scotland in 1929, Westray voted against it and became one of the churches known as United Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). This word “continuing” was eventually dropped.

When the last minister, Rev Craig Wilson, left in 2006, it became clear Westray UF Kirk would not get another minister, owing to the general shortage of ministers in the denomination and because the congregation could not support a full time minister.

There were many meetings and prayer meetings to decide the best way forward and in 2008 the members voted to close the Kirk.

From January 2009 the congregation ceased to worship regularly in the Reid Memorial Hall, meeting instead on alternate Sunday mornings with the Church of Scotland and Baptist congregations. Sunday evening services have, for some years, been

united services meeting in turn in the three kirks, and, after it was built, in Kalisgarth care centre.

The wheels within Presbyterianism turn very slowly but eventually in 2009 the property was advertised and it was purchased by Adam & Linda Sharp.

Most of the furniture in the manse and moveables from the kirk were sold during the summer of 2009, leaving only the furnishings in the Reid Memorial Hall which were retained until after the final service in October (use of building kindly granted

by Adam and Linda Sharp for this occasion).

Some small tables were gifted to the Papay kirk (on the neighbouring island of Papa Westray). The reading light from the pulpit in the big kirk, the tea urn and other items were given to the Westray Parish Kirk.

Not long after this the organ was sent to Dounby UF Kirk when theirs broke down.

The last United Free Kirk service was held in the Reid Memorial Hall at 11.30am. In spite of numerous people being away on holiday or at the Baptist Assembly, well over one hundred people attended this united service which was led by Rev David Cartledge, Interim Moderator. Kathleen Hilton, who has helped so often over the years, provided music on her own keyboard and the singing was hearty.

Danny Harcus, Session Clerk, welcomed and thanked everyone for their help over what had been a time of difficult decisions. The UF congregation really appreciate the friendship, help and patience shown by the other kirks.

Rev Iain MacDonald, Church of Scotland, Westray, and John Drever, treasurer, Westray Baptist Church, Westray, both encouraged the UF congregation to look forward and assured them of a welcome wherever they made their new church home.

Margaret Eunson, Session Clerk, Dounby UF, read a letter from Rev Joe and Mrs Creelman and also brought her own advice on going forward.

Some of the youngest Westray UF folk, Kenneth and Louise Harcus with Bobby, Connor and Lizzie.

Rev Graeme Bruce, clerk to the United Free Church Presbytery of the North preached on Matthew 28: 16 – 20, again looking forward and saying there is still work for the UF people to do, albeit in a new sphere.

After this last service the lectern, the Communion table and pew Bibles were gifted to the Westray Baptist Kirk.

The most senior member of the congregation on Sunday 25 October, Zena Bain, retired elder, aged 86, was determined to be at the last service in the kirk which has been so much part of her whole life.

The Westray United Free Church of Scotland congregation will now inevitably divide between the other two kirks but will remain members of the UF denomination until the last items are approved by Presbytery in February 2010.

Nancy Scott read Matthew chapter 28 from the Study Bible which was presented to Danny Harcus as a token of appreciation for the many hours he had put in as Session Clerk .

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INCARNATION:

In the words of G K Chesterton, it really is “an incredible interruption”.

GOD FOR US, WITH US AND IN US

We invited Rev Sandy Roger, Minister of Middle Church of Scotland, Coatbridge, to help us reflect on the wonder of Jesus’ birth.

‘Incarnation’ is not a word you will find in the Bible, yet all the Christian Creeds and Confessions make mention of it. They assert that the Son of God came into the world by way of incarnation and virgin birth. I suppose the nearest biblical expression is “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).

What are we in the 21st century to make of such language? Does the bold assertion of the Shorter Catechism still hold any meaning for us in this age of sophisticated computer technology and innovative genetic experimentation?

The Catechism’s answer to the question “How did Christ, being the Son God, become man?” outlines the basic material to be covered in any discussion of this tremendous theme.

It says “Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin”.

UNTYING THE KNOT

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In the ancient world Greek playwrights had a kind of unwritten law which served them well as a literary device. It enabled them to introduce a god into the plot in order to get their hero out

of a sticky situation. Younger writers always had the tendency to overdo things and had gods galore here there and everywhere. The literary principle said that a god should never be introduced except to untie a knot which was beyond all human skill to remedy.

There is a sense in which that was what happened at the incarnation.

Says Martin Luther, “Man’s plight was a knot that it needed God’s help to unravel”. Prior to Christ’s coming our bondage to sin baffled all human ingenuity. But in the incarnation God Himself entered our history and shared our human condition, to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Far from Jesus of Nazareth being a product of the evolutionary process who came out of history, the doctrine of the incarnation emphasises that He stepped into it. As we often sing at Christmas time, “He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all”.

COMPLEX THEOLOGICAL LANGUAGE Jesus of Nazareth is none other than God incarnate rendered visible in terms of our humanity. In more theological language He is the eternally pre-existent Son of God who, in the incarnation, took to Himself a human

nature, so that in His one divine Person He was both human and divine.

The Person of the Son of God, the eternal Word, always had a divine nature; but since Bethlehem He has also had a human nature. He is one Person with two natures, but in such a way that the divine does not detract from the human nor the human diminish the divine. You might like to re-read those two paragraphs (out loud if it helps) and just savour them.

All this was given classic definition on 25th October 431 AD at the 6th session of the Council of Chalcedon which states our Lord Jesus Christ to be “revealed in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division and without separation”.

Now I know it sounds extremely technical and complex, but it is of vital importance. For if Jesus Christ is not fully God He cannot help us, and if He is not fully man He cannot understand us. But because Christians maintain these truths and hold them in tension, it proclaims powerfully that God is not remote from our human lives. So involved is He with His creation, He now knows what life is like from the inside. When we call Jesus Immanuel we come right to the heart of the incarnation. God is fully with us.

CHRIST FORMED IN YOU Many a Christmas Eve sermon will again quote the familiar couplet, “Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem is born, if He’s not born in thee thy soul is still forlorn”. It is a reminder that the incarnation of Christ was never meant to be a mysteriously fascinating piece of doctrinal dogma. It has implications for the Church and the believer.

New Testament theologians often point out the close parallel in Luke’s writing between the birth of Christ (Luke 1-2) and the beginning of the Church (Acts 1-2). Careful historian and writer that he was, Luke seems quite deliberately to mention the part played by Mary in both dramas. It is almost as if he is asking us to see her as a model of receptivity to the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8). The same Holy Spirit who caused the Son of God to become incarnate in Mary’s womb, also brought into being the Christian Church as the body of Christ.

And equally, it is the Holy Spirit who forms Christ in individual believers who unitedly comprise His Body, the Church. Outstanding Bible phrases like “Christ formed in you” (Galatians 4:19), “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and “Christ dwelling in the heart by faith” (Ephesians 3:17) are meant to be taken at face value. As well as being a date on the calendar Christmas is meant to be a state in the soul. Just as Christ came to take up residence in Mary’s womb and will come again at the end of history to claim that which is His by sovereign right, so in the interim He comes to dwell in our lives.

STARTING FROM SCRATCH It is also important to make a distinction between incarnation and virginal conception. Traditionally the two are inextricably bound up together, but they are emphasising different truths. Incarnation points to the historical fact, but virginal conception is the form which the incarnation took.

Certainly since the time of Irenaeus who wrote within sixty years of the Apostle John’s death, the Christian Church has explained the “how” of the incarnation in terms of virginal conception. The formation of the body and soul of Jesus of Nazareth in Mary’s womb was a creative act of the Holy Spirit and the Person of the eternal Son assumed humanity to Himself in such a way that the Child who was born was both human and divine. I would always want to maintain that the virginal conception is not just a symbolic legend to teach a truth about Christ, but God’s appointed way by which the Son took on our humanness and entered our world.

Here is how it was explained by Karl Barth. “This miracle of virgin birth was not necessary for the incarnation; God could have chosen another process, even as Jesus could have done other miracles to signify the same Word.

But those who want to discard the virgin birth have lost the incarnation along with it”. Rather interestingly the Moslem religion asserts its belief in Jesus’ virginal conception, but refuses to ascribe full deity to Jesus as God’s Son. Christ being born of a Virgin does not automatically prove His divinity or His sinlessness. Both of these are safeguarded in Him being the Person of the eternal, divine Son. But the incarnation of the Word by way of virginal conception does enshrine the truth of God’s sovereignty in redemption. From start to finish the Son’s coming into history is an act of God. It represents the divine initiative, for fallen humanity is unable to make any contribution to its own redemption.

God has to start from scratch, as it were, without human aid (John 1:13,

14). In the incarnation we have the start of a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) brought about by the work of the Last Adam and the Second Man (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).

RELAYING THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Recognising that all illustrations of these tremendous truths are inadequate, we nevertheless remind ourselves of a well-known story from the early days of radio. Just as the first ever broadcast by King George V was about to begin a loose wire was discovered. There being no time to fix it, a young Post office employee grabbed hold of the two ends of the wire in either hand. By this action the Christmas message of the King was relayed through the body of the young man. In the incarnation, Jesus did the same, which is why Charles Wesley invites us to sing the stupendous lines:

“Let earth and heaven combine, angels and men agree To praise in songs divine the incarnate Deity; Our God contracted to a span, Incomprehensibly made Man. He deigns in flesh to appear, widest extremes to join, To bring our vileness near and make us all divine; And we the life of God shall know, For God is manifest below”.

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WE ARE WITNESSES

using symbols from the meditation along with a resource sheet. In a fourth room we ran some PowerPoint slides. People were invited to walk round or view the slides in a reflective silence. Imagine: for 15 minutes, 60 people in a complex of office meeting rooms, gently milling about and praying silently. It was an amazingly touching experience. What one can do with a little creativity!

– Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010

days, we are encouraged to reflect and pray first on Jesus’ appearance to the women; then on different parts of the Emmaus story; and finally, on Jesus’ appearance to the apostles, where he ‘opened their minds to understand the scriptures’ (v 45) and commissioned his followers, ‘You are witnesses to this.’ (v 48).

Br Stephen Smyth, General Secretary of ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) writes about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which takes place from 18 - 25 January 2010.

2010 offers a time of blessings for the churches in Scotland. In 2010 we have been given the opportunity to contribute to the prayer life of the world church. We are also being challenged to renew our sense of mission and of ecumenical commitment, both internationally and here at home.

Scotland’s churches have played a key role in the development of the materials for the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The chosen theme is ‘You are Witnesses’ and the key text is Luke 24: the post Resurrection accounts.

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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a worldwide initiative. It is celebrated from the 18 to 25 of January every year, although in some places it is celebrated around Pentecost. The Week of Prayer is organized jointly by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU).

The Pontifical Council was responsible for commissioning the resources for 2010. About two years ago they approached the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland who, in turn, approached ACTS with the invitation to create the initial materials. ACTS responded readily and set up a small and experienced writers group to address the task. The group was drawn from across ACTS’ nine member churches and beyond.

One reason for inviting Scotland to produce the materials is the Edinburgh 2010 World Mission Conference ‘Witnessing to Christ Today’. 2010 marks the centenary of the Edinburgh 1910 World Mission Conference, which was a major landmark in the development of world mission and the creation of the ecumenical movement.

From 2 to 6 June 2010, 200 international delegates will meet in Edinburgh to remember 1910; to celebrate the 20th century story of mission and ecumenism; and, to

The WCC and PCPCU were delighted with ACTS’ choice of text and the quality of the initial materials produced by our Scottish writers group. Then, in Sept 08, an international writers group met in Scotland to develop the resources for distribution around the world. Finally, as happens every year, a writers group from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland met to fine tune the international materials for the context of Britain and Ireland. This year they found their task a very easy one.

In Christian Unity Week 2010, the Sunday falls at the end of the week, on the 24th. One suggestion is that people prepare for the Sunday by using the eight daily meditations either in small groups or individually. Then, on the Sunday, all the small groups and individuals come together for a local ecumenical service. Another suggestion is that we use as much ‘storytelling’ or ‘sharing of faith’ as possible during the week – to steep our prayer in people’s lives and experience.

The materials offer two versions of the main Sunday service: a ‘liturgical’ style and a ‘freer, more informal’ style. PowerPoint presentations of both services are available, as well as sheet music for a specially written hymn. In addition, there is a Dramatic Meditation which uses symbols to focus on different themes in prayer. This is also available in PowerPoint. Pamphlets and big print versions are also available.

The ‘You Are Witnesses’ materials invite us to reflect on the post Resurrection events in Luke 24. The materials are creative and user-friendly. Over eight

Ordering the materials is straightforward. All the materials – introductory flyer, service pamphlet and daily reflections, sheet music,

explore issues and inform action for the 21st century. Churches all over the world are being asked to support the conference in their prayers and to organise local events to mark the centenary. Churches in Britain and Ireland have perhaps a special part to play.

dramatic meditation, and PowerPoints – are available as free downloads from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) website: www.ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer You can order printed copies of the ‘You are Witnesses’ pamphlet, which includes daily reflections plus a choice of orders of service, from: Norwich Books and Music, St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Plain, Norwich NR3 3BH tel: 01603 612914 orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk All-age material for the Week of Prayer will be available from ROOTS, the worship and learning resource: www.rootsontheweb.com Using the materials leaves plenty of room for local creativity. With outlines for daily reflections and a choice of main service styles, it will be easy to adapt the materials to suit your own local ecumenical context and venue.

For example, on Fri 30 Nov, the Church of Scotland / ACTS Autumn Conference was held in the Church of Scotland offices in Edinburgh. In the afternoon the 60 participants were introduced to the Week of Prayer materials. We adapted the dramatic meditation as part of this. In three rooms we set up a series of ‘stations’

How might you celebrate the Week of Prayer in 2010? The best answer is probably ‘in the way that best suits your particular context.’ Across the country we are increasingly familiar with praying together with other Christians. 2010 invites us to refresh previous practice and deepen relationships.

Whether local ecumenical relationships are strong or strained, we might approach our neighbouring churches to make the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity special. The resource materials are helpful, especially when approached creatively. And, they are easily available. Sharing stories, sharing scripture and sharing faith with others can really enrich us all.

We are also encouraged to remember the Edinburgh 2010 conference in our prayers and to mark the event locally in some way. An important part of this would be to pray for the mission of the churches here in Scotland and across the world. Some of the Week of Prayer materials might be used again around the conference date in June. For a 2010 prayer card and leaflet visit SCOT on: http://www.edinburgh2010.org/ en/resources/logo-and-leaflets.html.

As I travel around our churches and local ecumenical groups I always encourage people to ‘do more and pray more – together. I am increasingly aware of the fundamental importance of good personal relationships and of a spirit of perseverance.

The 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds and challenges us: ‘You are Witnesses’. Might we in Scotland respond – together: ‘Yes. We Are!’

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Thirty years at Darnley In the last issue we reported on a special service at Darnley to celebrate 30 years of Ministry in that congregation by Rev Colin Brown.

Rev Archie Ford has been asking him about time in that congregation and community.

What was the Darnley area like when you arrived in 1879 (Sorry 1979 of course!) and how has it changed over the years ?

Darnley was a new council housing scheme consisting of large blocks of flats built during the 1970s. The buildings were unattractive and both badly designed and constructed - some were demolished before they were even completed! Indeed the scheme turned into a financial disaster for the local Council. However the flats were

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bright, modern and spacious to live in but dampness was a serious problem in many. Darnley was not as big as some of the post war Glasgow schemes such as Drumchapel or Pollok but many people moved to Darnley when their homes in older parts of the city were demolished. However from the very start there was a strong sense of community as people tried to make the best of the situation in which they found themselves. Thirty years ago almost everyone in the church lived in Darnley.

Did you believe you would be in Darnley for so long?

I am sure the thought that I might spend the next thirty years in Darnley did not enter my head. I was still at an age when five years seemed like a long time and thirty almost an entire lifetime! In any case at that time short ministries seemed to be the norm and

this was particularly true of those in a first charge.

Why have you been in Darnley for 30 years?

I suppose one of the unique things about Darnley, certainly for the first twenty years, was that it was in a state of constant change. People were coming and going all the time as the area changed. It had quickly become a fairly undesirable place to live with mounting social problems and it was only a few years after the area was built before large parts of it were being pulled down. At the same time new private housing estates were being built in the area and with a new railway station, motorway and supermarket the whole character of Darnley changed.

All this meant there were always new challenges both for the congregation and for me as the local minister.

Whenever opportunities to move came

I always felt my calling was still to Darnley. Perhaps too the Church and indeed the community needed some stability and I think being a constant in the midst of so much change was a help. I also now think there is a lot to be said for long ministries where you build up relationships with families and it is real joy to conduct weddings and baptisms and to welcome into Church membership those whom I have watched as they have grown up in the congregation.

What stands out as you look back at 30 years of Church life and worship in Darnley?

Over the years there have, of course, been many ups and downs in the life of the congregation but one of the wonderful things has been that even, at times when we have encountered problems or setbacks there have also been blessings. In the early days our

“Whenever opportunities to move came I always felt my calling was still to Darnley. ” focus was very much on ourselves and our emphasis as a church was to build up the congregation. Over the years we have increasingly tried to look beyond our doors to the community and to the wider world.

The change in emphasis from looking inwards to looking outwards has, I think, helped develop the spiritual life of the congregation. It has also

been good to be part of a change whereby we have moved from being a congregation which depended so much on help, in various ways, from the wider denomination, to now being a congregation that is able to contribute to the wider work of the Church.

Bible Study groups have become so important in the life of the Church is another indication of where we are on our spiritual journey as a congregation.

The Kirk Session sees this a time of exciting potential for our church. For me personally, after thirty years in Darnley it is amazing to still feel there is so much to do.

What good things are happening today?

One highlight in our life as a congregation will come when a group of our young people who have grown up in the congregation and are currently preparing for membership are admitted as members of the church.

We are at present experiencing one of the ‘ups’ in life of our church with an increased attendance at worship, a large and growing Sunday School and a wide range of activities going on in the building. The fact that our

What are the congregation’s prayers for today?

Perhaps two things I would want to mention. Firstly for our children and young people. They are such an encouragement to the congregation and we pray they may continue to grow up in the faith. Secondly we would pray that we might be equipped to face the challenges created by our recent growth and the new opportunities before us.

Tribute: Joe Bowie: Elder Torry Joe Bowie who passed from us at the age of 77 demonstrated a life of faithful and loving service in all he did. In his working life with SAI people knew where he stood, but with gentleness and humour.

served as a servant, as in every area of Christian life. He was also greatly involved in the Aberdeen Male Voice Choir, travelling round the North-East, and even into Europe, to sing praise to His Saviour.

He was made an elder in 1964 and served with faithfulness, diligence and care, a man of God and a man of prayer. He committed himself to the Boys Brigade and served briefly as Captain, before being asked to lead a work in what was then the new housing estate at the far end of Torry.

This continued for almost 35 years and many of the boys remember him with affection for his enthusiasm, especially in the many camps. Above all he was committed to the BB’s call to promote that which tends to a true Christian manliness. Joe also served as Battalion Chairman for the Junior Section – and

We remember him as reflecting very clearly the fruit of the Spirit in every dimension – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We also remember Elspet, his wife of just short of 50 years, who so faithfully cared for him through his battle with Alzheimer’s; and even when the Joe we knew had been lost, he remained a contented soul, and the many friends who continued to visit pays testimony to the great affection in which he was held. At the service we sang, ‘When all my labours and trials are o’er, that will be glory for me’ – and we believe it for Joe Bowie.

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IT’S A FANTASTIC PRIVILEGE Part 2 of the Interview with John Mason MP

John Mason M.P. was elected to represent the Glasgow: East constituency at a By Election in July 2008. In the last issue he spoke about his life up to the point when he became an MP. Now he goes on to reflect on his experiences as an MP.

Are there things about Parliament which have surprised you?

Perhaps how old fashioned and out of touch Westminster can be. Also how poorly they use time. In debates there is often much repetition of previous speakers’ points as a result of which the debate runs out of time. This then means important sections of bills do not get debated at all. An example of this was the Embryology Bill. I had vaguely expected that the quality of debate and the ability of MPs would be much higher at Westminster than at Glasgow City Council (where I was before). But in fact that is not the case. A number of councillors in Glasgow would easily be matches for some of the MPs. What have been the challenges and opportunities?

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Just to be an MP is a fantastic privilege.

Every time I walk into the Commons Chamber I am reminded how grateful I should be to be there. Being in a group of just seven SNP MPs means the spotlight is very much on us and it is impossible to hide. I was nervous the first time I had to ask the Chancellor a question on a statement he had made; especially as other people

had asked all my prepared questions before I was taken! Being on the committee studying the Equality Bill was also a challenge. As we debated religion and sexual orientation I was aware of having to tread carefully in a controversial area. And I was criticised in some circles for seeking to put forward a Christian position. However, through it all there is a sense that God has put me there and He always provides a right road for us to walk through difficult times.

On the opportunity side I have been able to take part in debates on subjects from Christianity in Public Life to Child Poverty. More locally there is great encouragement in taking up the case of a needy family who desperately require better housing - and sometimes being successful. People are generally very appreciative. One person said to me the other week that the great thing was that I was available as they had not had that before. I was encouraged although it was sad that previous politicians had not been available.

How can Christians and Churches support and encourage those who serve as Members of Parliament?

Well the number one thing is to pray for MPs. That is clearly commanded in Scripture so we should all do that.

More specifically I would ask for prayer for Government minsters and all MPs that we would have wisdom in dealing with local and national problems, how we use our time, and getting space to reflect. Personally I have now completed visiting the 46 churches in the Glasgow East constituency. And I have been greatly encouraged by their interest in me and prayers for me... often they pray for me right then while I am in the service!

Are there opportunities for Christians in Parliament to meet together?

Yes, there is a group called “Christians in Parliament” which encourages Christian MPs and staff to meet together. Generally they meet each Tuesday lunchtime for a worship service or to hear a speaker. The leader of CiP is currently Andrew Selous who is a Tory MP from down south. However, other parliamentary associations like the All Party Pro Life Group would also have a fairly strong Christian membership. I know that some individual Christian MPs meet

up with others for prayer together. I myself meet regularly with an excouncillor (from another party!) to chat over issues and pray for each other. Interestingly enough at the Second Reading stage of the Child Poverty Bill before the summer, there was strong Christian representation in the Chamber; one of the Government Ministers (Labour), a shadow minister (Tory), the LibDem spokesman and myself. I thought it was good that on an issue like this there was such strong Christian input.

Do you think the expenses issue will be good or bad for Parliament in the longer term?

It is bad that many MPs have been grabbing as much for themselves as they could. But it is good that much is now out in the open and the system

is being tightened up. However, no system is watertight and it highlights the need for politicians to have self control, one of the fruits of the Spirit.

The effect on the public has been to further undermine confidence in politicians and this may well lead to even lower turnouts at future elections.

I often meet people who are totally disillusioned with all politicians and refuse to engage with any of us. As in each of our individual lives, it shows that trust can be lost very easily and takes a long time to build up again.

What are your thoughts as a General Election comes along in the next few months?

Well, personally speaking it is a huge challenge for me to be re-elected as the SNP has never held a seat after winning from Labour in a by-election. So if I did it, I would be the first: no pressure there, then! More widely I do hope that voters, and especially Christian voters, will look at the character and personal beliefs of the candidates as well as their obvious party political affiliations. If we want to overcome the expenses problems, it is the individuals who will count. But above all we need to look to God for the outcome. Ultimately He is the one who decides who will win and who will lose.

We all have a responsibility to pray for His will to be done.

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one promise of regular attendance.

100% success on minimal effort! Not bad at all. What did Jesus say about leaving the ninety-nine and going after the one lost sheep?

INTRODUCING:

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

Back to Church Sunday has gradually spread throughout the UK and this year was taken up by at least three UF congregations.

After some background on the event, we hear from Wishaw and Lochwinnoch on their experiences.

Back to Church Sunday has grown beyond all expectations since it began, in Greater Manchester in 2004. 160 churches united around one ‘missing you’ message on one single Sunday in September.

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On that Sunday, BBC Radio 4 news bulletins carried the story of one day when more than 1,000 people came back to church again. The last Sunday in September was chosen because it tied in well with the idea of a new year, a new start and chimed with ‘back to school’. It also lent itself to Harvest festivals and the beginning of Christian enquiry events.

Those first 160 churches were spurred on by the Bishop of Manchester, Nigel McCulloch, who launched Back to Church Sunday at St Ann’s Church in the city centre. Children from Christ Church CofE Primary School in Ainsworth, joined the Bishop and sang ‘when the saints come marching in’ for the TV cameras.

Robert Hicks, an entrepreneur, helped develop the idea of one Sunday when people could try church again. With church numbers in decline, he wanted to encourage churches to invite people to come to church on one Sunday when a specially warm welcome was guaranteed. Robert supported Back to Church Sunday through its first two years and remains an enthusiastic encourager.

Since then, Back to Church Sunday has learned a lot more about what makes church an inviting and welcoming place to be. In 2005 it was taken up by another Church of England diocese, in Wakefield; then it spread to nine in 2006, and 20 in 2007. In 2008, 37,000 people came back to church through the prayerful invitation of a friend in 38 Church of England dioceses. In recent years it has been taken up throughout the UK by Action of Churches Together in Scotland; the Church in Wales; United Reformed Church; Methodist Church; the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Elim Pentecostal Churches.

Wishaw – Rev Peter de Villiers Of the approximate forty regular church attenders, I suspect less than ten actually took invitations to invite friends. I do not know whether the reason is that they do not have friends that are non-church-goers or whether it is just apathy, or a matter of “Why bother? Nothing’s gonna change anyway!”. Eventually only one person responded to an invitation accompanied by the neighbours who invited him. After a couple of weeks he was back and has indicated that he will be returning regularly. One response,

So, was it a worthwhile exercise?

Definitely! I believe it is not the number of invitations that go out but the number of responses and regular attendances that count. And there is always the hope that it might go better next year!

Lochwinnoch – Rev Archie Ford Calder Church participated in Back to Church Sunday for a second time in 2009. On the first three Sundays of September the congregation were reminded of the challenge and opportunity that presented itself to us in extending invitations to family and friends to come to worship on the last Sunday of the month. It is difficult to know whether the same number of invitations had been given out as in 2008. There were about 10 visitors that day and one person has been a regular attendee since then. There are two great benefits from this initiative.

Firstly we share the joy of welcoming every visitor who comes along and pray that God will bless them. The second is in encouraging us all to speak for God and to be ready to extend invitations to others at all times of the year. The more we do it the more it becomes a natural part of our life, faith and witness.

PS — There were additional visitors with us on Back to Church Sunday.

We were pleased to welcome three relatives of the late Rev John Black who was a former minister of Calder Church. Mr Black was the fifth minister of our congregation and served from 1878 until his death in 1889. This is surely taking Back to Church Sunday to a new level!

2010 Next year Back to Church Sunday will take place on Sunday 26th September.

Information is available from www.backtochurch.co.uk

Bibles and Bandages for Brazil

We were delighted by the response to this year’s Easter Scheme. At the ‘Celebrating the Word Afresh’ event at Dunblane at the end of August, a cheque for £13,380 was presented by Stefan to Elaine Duncan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Bible Society. The Bible Society are extremely grateful to all throughout the UF Church who contributed to the appeal and enabled us to reach such a fantastic amount!

Throughout 2009 the Scottish Bible Society has been celebrating 200 years of bringing the Bible to the peoples of the world. At the start of the year, in faith, they embarked upon their most ambitious overseas project ever when they launched ‘Bibles and bandages for Brazil’

to support the work of the Bible Society of Brazil, in reaching out to some of the poorest people in South America.

A multipurpose vehicle has been specially built to become a multifunctional mobile medical and spiritual care centre, travelling around the poor urban and rural regions of north-east Brazil.

Originally the Bible Society wanted to raise £200,000 to provide the vehicle and keep it on the road for one year. After an overwhelming response and reaching the target earlier than expected, they have now raised the bar to £250,000 and go that extra mile to keep reaching out to people in need for another year!

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Revs Peter de Villiers and Patrick Coltman

What Jesus means to me

today? Clean clothes, oh yes; casual? or something to impress? Some of us might even worry about the label, what’s in, what’s out. Or where did I put that top?

Waking up in the morning you might even ask the deeper question: Who do I want to be today?

FOCUS WEEK AT

MILNGAVIE Milngavie’s Christian Focus Week in October ran from Sunday to Sunday with evening meetings Monday to Friday.

It was in one sense ambitious, as we had not tackled anything like this for a long time. In another sense it was not so ambitious as the Word of God provides unlimited resources. The whole week was based on a brief passage in the Letter to the Colossians chapter 3 from verses 12 to 17. This extract from the blurb we put out gives the context: “Fashion week comes to Milngavie!

Now there’s a thought! But we’re not talking about the great fashion houses of London, Paris, Milan, but God’s made to measure clothes for each one of us!

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The Planning group for the week at Milngavie

Waking up in the morning, do you think: what am I going to wear

We can slip on an image as easy as slipping on a dress or a shirt, but however chic or second hand, they don’t really make us what we are, nor what we really want to be.

Well God has an answer to that question! He has ‘clothes’ he wants us to wear not just for one outing, but for life! He wants to weave quality thread into the fabric of our lives to make us new people, real people; he wants to dress us in Christ.”

So the overall theme was: “Clothe yourself in Christ”. Each evening had a sub-theme. For example: “Out with the Old – on with the New!”; “Are you wearing clothes that match or clothes that clash?”; “One piece of clothing you can’t be without”.

Speakers included the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rev Martin Keane, Patrick Coltman and Peter de Villiers, and three Church of Scotland ministers.

The week was planned primarily for our own members although others from Milngavie Churches attended. Wesley Owen provided us with a bookstall, and we adapted the Dunblane High School Big Day feedback form to help assess the week’s impact.

Special thanks must go to our friends at Cathcart UF and Drumchapel UF for their inspirational musical input and for setting the scene on the evenings they were with us.

This month two people from Lossiemouth UF Church share a little of ‘what Jesus means to me’.

Elaine Jack When I was 18 and very ill I had an out of body experience where I followed a white light to meet a figure in white who sent me back as it was not my time. Since then, I believe that I will go to that beautiful, peaceful place. I know that God has controlled my life and I give thanks for his love and feel a peace within my heart.

At times I have gone my own way but only feel complete when I ask the Lord for advice. Through illness and the loss of my parents and grandson I know that he carried me throughout my pain. I try never to forget him during the good times and thank him for my husband, my children and my job. I know that he will never ask anything of me that I cannot manage. I feel surrounded by his love at all times. No matter how upset I am, peace falls upon

me when I enter his house. At my lowest ebb after my heart attack, I gave my life to him again to do as he willed. I pray when the time comes, my family will understand that although sad at leaving them, my heart will be filed with joy at going home to my heavenly Father.

Peggy Edwards What a friend we have in Jesus…

He is a friend in all the situations of life, when heartbreak and life itself seem too hard to bear. He strengthens and upholds us, he hears the whispers of our prayers and comforts and encourages us.

He also blesses us with the support and love of friends here on earth, and surrounds us with his love and compassion. He rejoices with us and shares in our happiness.

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Overseas Partners

Harvest at stonehouse

These are a couple of pictures of our Harvest Thanksgiving Service held at Stonehouse Paterson UF Church on Sunday 4th October. We had the pleasure of Nathan Owens, Louise Milne, Lewis Campbell and Allan Brown’s company (part of the team which visited South Africa and Botswana in 2008). They all participated in the service and it was very interesting in what they had to contribute. They are all assets to our Church and wish them all the best in what they do in the future.

l. to r. : Moira Currie (Joint Mission Secretary), Patricia Johnston (Overseas Convener), Meegan Diergaardt, Kudzani Ndebele, Famie Crawford (Joint Mission Secretary), Chu Chaoyu, Wang Jing, Wellington Sibanda.

At their meeting in November, the Overseas Committee was delighted to welcome representatives of two of their overseas partners.

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There were two visitors from The Amity Foundation in China both of who are working in Nanjing. Chu Chaoyu is Director of their Social Service Centre and House of Blessings and he was accompanied by Wang Jing who specialises in working with children with autism. They were spending a fortnight in Scotland meeting with those here who are involved in similar work. A number of specialists from Scotland have spent time in China training people there to train others in working with those with autism and related needs. In the next issue we hope to have more information on the work of Amity.

Also present were three representatives of UCCSA (United Congregational Church of Southern Africa) who were here at the invitation of our Youth Committee to develop plans for the visit to Scotland of a group of young people from southern Africa in August 2011. The representatives were Wellington Sibanda, UCCSA Youth Convener, Meegan Diergaardt who is Youth Convener Elect and Rev Kudzani Ndebele’ representing UCCSA Mission Council. There is growing senese of anticipation within UCCSA and they shared this with us. More information about this will be in the next issue.

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