THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Bible a Month
John Hood
Page 8
DEC/JAN 2011/12
Perth Flower Festival
The Right Time for Christmas Page 15–16
50 Years Service ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Southern Africa Visit – Reflections St Andrews 250th Celebrations The Darnley Story St Matthews Church of Scotland in Tay Street, Perth organised floral and other displays for Harvest Thanksgiving and invited other churches to join them by placing displays in some of their windows. We chose St Peter as our theme with a fishing boat, a cockerel and a cross among the flowers. We are members of Perth Action of Churches Together, a loose grouping of churches and religious bodies in Perth which cooperate with one another and resulted in us getting together in this way.
Moderator-Designate Rev Ian F R Lloyd B.Sc., B.D., Minister of Aberdeen: Torry, has been appointed as the Moderator-Designate of General Assembly 2012. We know that you will rejoice with him in this appointment and will remember Ian and Jane in your prayers over the coming months. There will be more in a future issue!
John Hood receiving his certificate for 50yrs service as an elder. The other person in the photograph is John’s wife Maida. The date of presentation was 4th Sept which was exactly 50yrs to the day of when he had been ordained at St Andrew’s.
Editorial Policy All Editorial Correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor – United Free Church of Scotland, 11 Newton Place, Glasgow G3 7PR Telephone: 0141-332-3435 Email: Stedfast@ufcos.org.uk
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N.B. The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews are not necessarily those of the editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.
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Copy is required not later than the 5th February, April, June, August, October and December, and should be written or typed on one side only.
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Price £1.25
Contents 2–5
Southern Africa Visit – Reflections
5
Tribute – Robert Shivas
6/7
Mission Accomplished?
8
Bible a Month
9/10
UCCSA Assembly
Southern Africa Visit
11/12 St Andrews 250th Celebrations 12
2–5
UF response same sex marriage
13/14 The Darnley Story 15/16 The Right Time for Christmas 17/18 Salvation Army 19
Perth Flower Festival
19
Moderator-Designate
19
John Hood 50 years service
6/7
12
9/10
17/18
Editorial Well it’s that time of year again when, if like me, its so easy to feel were being swept along by the hustle and bustle of the festivities. In this edition of Stedfast the Rev Alexander Ritchie provides a timely reminder that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” and that in Christ we don’t have to be overwhelmed by the world’s idea of what Christmas is all about. In the October issue we focused on the personal reflections of the those taking part in Mission Scotland 2011. In this edition we switch our attention to what the mission meant to the congregations taking part. Hopefully these reflections will encourage us all to plan for the year ahead so that more congregations are ready to share in the “fellowship, fun and faith of stepping out for the Lord in Mission 2012. By way of correction, we omitted Dudu Molathegi’s story from the October issue so its been included this time. One smiling face that will be sadly missed around Scotland in 2012 is that of the Rev Peter De Villiers who returns with his wife Welda to South Africa. After six years serving with the congregation at Wishaw he reflects on what has been an eventful journey. Hopefully Peter realises that he can’t escape that easily and we’re looking forward to hearing more from him in the future. This time of year is also about reflecting on God’s great faithfulness as we look forward to the New Year. In the articles on the Darnley Story and the planned 250th Celebrations at St Andrews, Bellshill there is much to thank God for. As we step joyfully into 2012 it is good to be assured that we worship a loving and wonderful God who cares for us all the way! May you have a blessed Christmas and New Year!
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Alastair Wright Stedfast Secretary
Reflections Boness: Craigmailen
Aberdeen: Torry
Glasgow: Croftfoot
The Craigmailen family and the Bo’ness Community have been blessed by The Lord as He has sent the Youth Mission Team into our midst to help take our Craigmailen Tomorrow mission project to its next stage.
The Torry Mission to young teens didn’t have the best of starts when a fortnight before the Team was due to arrive; we still didn’t know if we could use the Community Centre coffee bar. We got it; the team arrived – and the first task was to drum up customers for “Café Royal”. Afternoons on the streets of Torry, chatting to people – publicising, yes – but also just making contact.
The Team joined us for three days of Olympic events at ‘Champions Challenge’. Cheers and laughter, by both adults and children, echoed through the church as we split into Olympic countries for wellie boot throwing, target shots, netball shooting and parachute sharks! Medals were handed out at the end of the day and National Anthems played as flags were raised. Three days of organised chaos – fun, exhilarating, exciting... exhausting!
Door to door work, shopping centre, hospital, primary and secondary schools, radio stations, railway stations and castles were all transformed into mission opportunities by a very talented and willing team. Our church has been encouraged and I personally have been enthused by their joy in the Lord. As their mini bus disappeared along the road, with the sound of their praising diminishing, there were many tearful eyes. Our ladies were tearful too!
The evenings were Film, Food, Faith, and Fun – with short film clips and stories of people Jesus met, we met Jesus Himself as Saviour and King. We started on Monday with 7 teens – and ended with 20. We were so encouraged to reach an area where there is little for young people; by the enthusiasm of the team – and the chance to chat quietly with the young folk over hot chocolate or table-tennis at the end.
We found an artist in Andrew Brown as he helped to create the best frieze for Italy; we found a dancer in Kirsten Boettcher as she led the ‘cha cha slide’ and we found the competitive nature of Wellington and Thamiso as they battled against one another in the parachute football! The words of one child summed up our week, “It was magic, will you have another one?” Wednesday evening was a ‘Flavour of Southern Africa and Scotland” with people from the surrounding churches. The evening included song, drama, testimony, a piper and several flavours of food from around the world. The members of Croftfoot really enjoyed the three days of the mission with the team. We pray that God will use this experience in their lives as they return to their own churches, that the Holy Spirit will work through them as they continue to grow in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Lochwinnoch: Calder I remember as a wee girl hearing about Molepolole and although I couldn’t have placed it on a map I knew it was in Africa and that the church I went to had some connection with them. When it was announced that a team of young people from Scotland and Southern Africa would be coming this summer I was naturally delighted – it was to be during the week of the children’s summer club, and the Mission Team would take part in the activities. I can’t explain the amazement I felt on the first Sunday when the visitors stood up in church to introduce themselves, and there was a young man named Macmillan from Molepolole in Botswana. I sat in church with a huge smile on my face, astonished – quite moved actually – here is someone from a place with which I have always known a connection, but most likely I will never go there. Towards the end of the week in Lochwinnoch, I remembered I had my book ‘Hospital in the Desert’ and got it out to have a look at for the first time in years. I took it with me to church on the final evening before the Mission Team moved on to their next placement and Macmillan looked though it, pointing out the church where he worships and naming some of the people in the photos. I am really pleased to have met him, and to have been reminded of the connection we share because of our shared church history. 3
Julie Graham
Cunningsburgh: Shetland About 15 young people came every evening for a whole week to do different activities. I enjoyed it when we went to the park and played nonstop cricket because it was lots of fun but it was good because no-one really took it seriously. I also enjoyed the DJ and craft night – it was really good because we all made lots of crafts and the DJ was busy all night when we all wanted a go! The cultural evening was amazing – I have never seen African dancing before and it was very exciting. I really hope they come again to Lochwinnoch summer club because it made it really exciting with them there. Angela Graham
Cumnock: St Andrew’s
It might quite possibly have been quicker to send a Mission team to Southern Africa from Scotland than up to the rarefied Arctic of Shetland. Yet on Sunday night when the team of Martin and Jennifer Paterson, Alistair Keane, Tamiso, Wellington, Loreen and Nobuchle finally arrived in Shetland after a very long day travelling they were met by a very warm welcome.
over 20 each night not counting the team and over 40 on the last night. We had fellowship with youngsters from Baptist, Methodist, COS, and gospel hall backgrounds and all seemed to have a good time. Each night ended with someone sharing a thought or testimony. Tamiso spoke a very challenging message to the teenagers there about following Christ wholeheartedly.
It was considered an early start for some on Monday when we gathered at Douglas & Sheila Halcrow’s at 8:30. This was to be our base during the day through the week and we were very grateful for the space and food made available for us. We had an early start as the first item on the agenda was a visit to the Cunningsburgh Primary School. Our main aim of the morning though was to encourage the children to come to the after-school club we were having on Monday – Thursday. Based on the Land Lubbers holiday club which is pirate and desert island themed and was great fun to go through, lots of wigs, hats, swords and Aaaaarghs! After our visit to school in the morning though the roll increased to 28 on the first day, rising to 34 on the Thursday, with 37 different children over the week. This was amazing from a school with a roll of approx. 74.
Also on the Tuesday we held a meal for over 60 s in the church in the church hall. This group was affectionately referred too by Mr Whitehead as “crumblies”, much to our amusement. A meal of soup and various puddings was served followed by tea and home bakes again. They also heard some African singing and Wellington shared an excellent message about the importance of the older wiser members of our congregations and the work they have put in for us to follow.
Each evening from Monday – Thursday we had a Youth Cafe in the local hall for secondary school age and up. We invited all the different youth groups from different churches in Shetland to come when they could, as well as any friends that wanted to come. The turnout was excellent, with
We had a fantastic week of outreach which we hope to continue what was started in the months ahead, by having an after-school club some week of each term, and more fun nights in the Hall. Our week was blessed with very nice weather which made all arrangements easier and left the team wondering why people had told them Shetland would be wild! A big thank you to all who helped with the events and were hosts to our visitors as well as all who prayed for the work. Everything added up to a great week for the church. Liam Adamson
The team came to Cumnock in the third week of the mission. Much of their time was given to the five local schools, although the first two mornings were spent in the shopping precinct, singing and chatting to folks as they passed by. This was an excellent opportunity to hand out invitations to the cultural evening to be held at the church on the Wednesday evening. Many people stopped to listen, some were keen to join in, others interested to know more about where the team were from. The most difficult task for the team in the precinct was to explain that they didn’t want any financial donations!
The team appreciated a visit to Yipworld a local drop in centre. There was an overwhelming sense of amazement at the facilities and resources available to assist and support all sorts of challenges faced by young people in the community. A recording was made of the team singing Amen siakudumisa. The visit to Hillside, a school for pupils with wide ranging special needs was extremely worthwhile. As music plays a big part in such a school they were glad to sing for the pupils and they reciprocated by singing their favourite choruses. The team finished off their week by singing at the farmers market in The Square. The singing could be heard in amongst the stall-holders and again many folks stopped to listen and enjoy.
During the school visits the pupils asked all sorts of questions… ranging from how hot it was in Botswana to how many babies die every day in Southern Africa. The team also helped at the assemblies, which gave an opportunity for singing, drama and playing the drums. The young people thoroughly enjoyed the music and were anxious to get a chance to sing for their visitors. The music department of Cumnock Academy invited the team to share ideas and a good exchange took place between all the young people.
The Cultural evening at the church was a super night with an input from the team and the young people of St Andrew’s. The congregation asked a variety of questions as they were interested to learn more about life back home. The team taught a new chorus in Afrikaans… so it seemed only right that a wee taste of Ayrshire be served for supper… as haggis was piped in and neeps and tatties accompanied it! Overall the visit of the team has been a tremendous blessing to all in St Andrew’s and the wider community. Many folks are still talking about the young people from Southern Africa and our prayer is that seeds have been sown which will bear much fruit.
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Tribute:
Roger Shivas (1940-2011) Glasgow: Drumchapel Having a joint team of young people from Scotland and Southern Africa gave the congregation at Drumchapel the opportunity to carry out a variety of programmes in the church, the ‘Living Room’ and the Shopping Centre. For many on the team it was a sharplearning curve – trying to understand the local dialect and the local culture! A few things were lost in translation! It was interesting and encouraging to see how the young people developed and became more confident when engaging with people and sharing the Gospel of Christ with them, and also so good to see how this led to a growth in their own faith and trust in the Lord. The impromptu singing in the Shopping Centre brought an amazing response from the shoppers. It even stopped the traffic at one point with bus passengers straining to see and hear what was happening. While some gathered around to listen others tried to make themselves inconspicuous! One local who is pretty tough and notorious remarked, “They have a lot of bottle to come out here and do that – I could never do it!” These out-door programmes gave us the opportunity to speak to those standing around and we still have opportunities to refer back to the mission and speak about the team in the conversations we have.
The team also had the opportunity to go into a local school and do a programme during the lunch break, the response to the singing was amazing and was a door-way into many conversations. These conversations that followed were most encouraging and the team were able to speak about their reasons for being in Drumchapel, [some of the students even requested autographs from the team members!!] One interesting observation was the challenge of the ‘Christiancommitment’ of the team. Some of the folk who were contacted openly admitted that they felt that the commitment was too much for them. As they watched and spoke to the team members they saw young people wholly committed to Christ and who were willing to follow Him, so different from the world and its standards! This commitment was also seen in other acts of humility and sacrifice – which spoke volumes to those who were present in the Living Room at the time.
Our congregation really enjoyed the experience of having the team among us. The fellowship and friendship was good as were the times of fun we had! Everyone appreciated the team being with us – a big thank you from us all!
Roger Shivas and his sister were brought up in Tain where their father had a business. He studied at Tain Royal Academy and the University of Edinburgh. There he met Isobel whom he married. They went to the United States where Yvonne and Michael were born. The family returned to Scotland in 1971. They bought a house in Kirkbank Road, and settled in Burntisland. Roger worked at the Marconi Company at Hillend. He was involved in local matters. He was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Burntisland and Kinghorn, and was involved in the Youth Theatre. He loved gardening and participated in the local Flower Show. Roger enjoyed music and dancing. He was a member of Kinghorn Singers. He built a computer when PCs were most uncommon. People in the town would ask him to fix all kinds of things. Roger was a founder member of The Museum of Communications and he had an enormous collection of radios. Roger Shivas was a great blessing to Erskine Church. He sang in the choir and with a small group of friends. He was an elder and Roll Keeper. He made the sound system work efficiently. He rejoiced in his family. He was a good husband, father and father-in-law. He delighted in his grandson, Aidan who will be 6 in November. Roger was a great friend to us all. People admired and respected him. He was always honourable, dependable, diligent, sincere, kind and friendly. There were many facets to his life, such as science, technology and music. He was a man of faith and love. We will miss Roger. We give thanks for this gracious Christian gentleman, and for the privilege of calling him friend.
Dudu Molathegi: Botswana
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For me this whole mission trip had many challenges – to my way of thinking and basically to the way I am used to doing things. Despite all that, God was reminding me not to fear, for He is with me and that this mission is in line with my calling. Jeremiah 1:5. From the first day I felt so humbled. That God has chosen me a totally nobody to be in this beautiful country with all these beautiful and amazing
people. The weekend was training and getting to know the rest of the guys in the team. It was really wonderful. Mission began with honestly looking at the programme and the people we were reaching out to in Aberdeen. He taught me that He knows the people that He wants to reach and how. I’m just a vessel in His hand. In every week God showed me something new and I saw Him do
something in me. First week I learnt to work in a team, Second week in Corstorphine I learnt that we come from different cultures and backgrounds of faith but God is God, Third week I got to experience the love of God and be able to bring a smile to people who were not respected much in society. Being celebrated by people of Bo’ness was just humbling. At the end of it all, I give glory to God and I do realise that people need God.
Mission Accomplished? “Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride!” This was the punch line of a Japanese motor car advertisement a number of years ago. When I look back on the past six years in this beautiful country, I can only exclaim: “What a journey! What a ride!” It has indeed been, for Welda and I, not only an exciting and eventful personal journey, but also an uplifting and enriching journey of faith. When three ministers from South Africa came to Scotland in late 2005 / early 2006, they were hailed as “missionaries” coming from a country where Christianity was planted by missionaries, a number of whom came from Scotland. We were seen as people who had ‘inherited’ the Christian faith from the missionaries and had now come to share that same faith with the countrymen and -women of those missionaries. However, we were just ordinary people trying to serve God in a foreign country. And foreign it was indeed! Talk about a culture shock! More like culture shocks! Settling down in a secular environment which was intolerant of, if not openly hostile to Christians, was not an easy thing to do. It also did not help that the Christians here were not so forthcoming in testifying to their faith as we were accustomed to in South Africa. We found, and still find, this view of one’s faith as being something ‘personal’ that you do not talk about, rather strange. Isn’t knowing the Lord Jesus Christ something you would want to shout about and let the whole world know? Isn’t that what mission is all about?
As South Africans whose church came into existence as a result of the tireless work of missionaries, we stand in awe of the huge support that congregations and the denomination still give to their missionaries. They also have a great heart for and commitment to missionary projects with which they have been connected to for many decades. It is indeed very encouraging to know that there are people praying for and supporting projects that make an enormous difference to the lives of children and communities that form part of the United Congregational family in Southern Africa. The concern, compassion and commitment of the Overseas Committee of the United Free Church of Scotland contribute immensely to the continued support of missionaries and mission projects overseas.
However, while there is a warm heart for and interest in overseas missionary work, very little seems to be happening by way of local mission work. It seems as if members and congregations regard mission as something that is only done by special people (called missionaries) in countries far away. This is interesting because, in Southern Africa, churches used to have the notion that mission was something that people from overseas (called missionaries) would come to do. It has taken and is still taking a concerted effort and continuing education to change the mindset of our home congregations. Over the years many mission plans have been launched to help members understand that mission is not something that is done by other people who come from afar and who have a special calling. Mission is at the very heart of the gospel: “Go and make people my disciples,” is what Jesus told his followers in Matthew 28.20.
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Mission Accomplished? (cont.) Even though mission is an integral part of being the Church of Christ in the world, it is not something that comes naturally. People need to be educated in mission – not only to change mindsets but also to equip them and enable them to be missionaries in the place where God has placed them to be builders of God’s kingdom. To this end efforts have been made by the Christian Education Committee to encourage UF churches to avail themselves of the expertise and resources available. But year after year this committee reported to General Assembly the complete lack of interest shown by churches to any kind of education or training whatsoever. It seems that UF congregations just do not see the need to be trained in mission! Of course, this is not a problem exclusive to UF congregations. But, in my opinion, something as important as training in mission should not be treated as if it is optional. In the “business” matters of the church, finance for instance, nothing is left to chance – there is strict control by presbytery and relevant committees
of General Assembly. Why, then, is this not the case in a matter as important as the MISSION of the Church? Surely, presbyteries and General Assembly can make decisions on spiritual matters that are as compulsory as decisions on business matters (like ministers’ stipends and targets)? Why is this not happening? Various committees are appointed by the General Assembly to attend to the work and witness of the denomination. Yet there is no committee which specifically attends to the mission of the church. There is thus no committee which can ensure that mission and issues concerning local church involvement in community life are constantly on the agenda of Assembly and presbyteries. Local churches involved in outreach do so on own initiative and have to see to funding such projects themselves. At the 2011 General Assembly an excellent attempt was made to place mission on the agenda by inviting someone from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to speak on and present resources relating to their Mission Plan.
Sadly, however, what could have been an exciting new venture, became just another intellectual exercise, another talk shop. The intention, probably, was to get the Church moving in mission but this did not and could not happen because there is no vehicle to get the Church moving. There is no committee which can take the plan presented forward and come back to Assembly with deliverances that would implement a plan of action. To engage in mission requires faith, the kind of faith that is not afraid to take risks. Unfortunately, it seems that my brothers and sisters in the United Free Church are not huge on taking risks. They feel more comfortable if they are able to control the process and the outcomes. However, in matters of faith, if you try to control too much, you do not leave much room for the Holy Spirit to do its work. And without the Holy Spirit, mission is impossible. Therefore, my prayer is that my brothers and sisters will learn to “let go and let God” so that God’s Mission can be accomplished. Shalom!
Bible
a Month
The history of the KJV is fascinating. The idea of a new translation of the Bible was first mentioned at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland held in Burntisland in 1601 at which King James VI was present. The idea came to fruition in 1611 with the publishing of the KJV. At that time no-one knew what an impact the KJV was going to have on societies throughout the world over the next 400 years. We can look back in our own country and see the influence that the KJV has had on education, legal systems, health care – many of these essential services having their strong foundations within God’s Word. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the KJV. We all have so much to be thankful for and many churches have celebrated with special events this year. But what about societies that have never had the luxury of 400 years and more of a Bible in a language they could understand? In Ethiopia there are 80 languages. So far there are only translations of the full Bible in 5 of those 80 languages. Ethiopia has a strong biblical history appearing throughout the Bible as the land of Cush, as well as making appearances in the Queen of Sheba and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Ethiopia is proud of its Christian heritage but many of the Christian still don’t have access to a Bible in their own language. Ethiopia is still suffering from poverty and famine. It is a struggle for many people to survive. But the other side of the coin is that Ethiopia and Addis Adeba receives much foreign aid to develop and build a modern country based on the stability of their democratic government.
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There are many reports of people coming to Christ through the witness of the local churches. Not only is the country developing so are the churches, but many Christians and some churches lack one vital ingredient – a Bible in their ‘heart’ language.
On March 11th 2011 a new translation of the Bible into the Gurage language was presented to the three main denominations, based in and around Endibir, south of Addis. Many of the ministers and those involved in the translation process had tears in their eyes as they realised what a major event this was for those who spoke Gurage. This people group numbers about 5 million people, about the same size as Scotland, and this was the first time they had a Bible in their own language. Where would Scotland be if there had never been a Bible in English until today? But there are still many Christians throughout the world who don’t have a copy of the Bible in their own language. Some groups have to share their Bible around perhaps 5 families and whilst we here in the West have more copies and translations on our shelves than we know what to do with. Apparently, to date, there have been 400 English translations of the Bible, whereas some people in other parts of the world are still waiting for their first translation.
The Bible is also a great incentive to encourage people to read. A group of Kenyan pastors who were unable to read approached their local Bible Society to ask them for literature classes so that they could learn to read. They had their big black Bibles, but it was virtually a closed book to them. But now they can read a whole new world opened up to them. What a great way to conclude this 400th anniversary year by providing a Bible to one of these groups of people by signing up to the Bible-a-month programme run by the Scottish Bible Society at just £4 a month secures each month for someone who would love a Bible but can’t get hold of one.
Details from Peter Chirnside at Scottish Bible Society info@scottishbiblesociety.org or phone 0131 337 9701
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Visit to the 36th Assembly of the UCCSA Held in MATOLA, MOZAMBIQUE 22nd–27th September, 2011
I count it a great privilege to have been given the opportunity, along with Rev Patricia Johnston, to go as a delegate to the Assembly of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa. This was held, for the first time, in the Mozambique Synod. As I reflect on our time at the Assembly I think of very ‘packed’ days, with little spare time. We were picked up from the motel, where overseas delegates, the President, General Secretary and other officials were given accommodation, at or before 7am and delivered back there around 10pm! We became aware as we were driven back and forth to our accommodation of the great poverty around us. We were told of the substantial gap between the rich and the poor. The Assembly venue was Frelimo Party School. The UCCSA delegates from Botswana, Namibia Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique (around 300) were accommodated in the dormitories. Some had travelled a very long distance by bus to be at the Assembly. Our food was prepared and served to us from a large kitchen and dining area, by women from local churches. I have memories of long queues as we waited for our meals! Although the menu was limited the ladies did very well in getting us all fed with more than enough food.
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By Mary Macintyre
The Bible Studies were led by Rev Easter Johnston, whose topic introductions set the scene for discussion and feedback. The subjects were:
The first day was taken up with the Constitution of the Assembly, preliminary business, welcoming addresses on behalf of the Mozambique Synod and very formal greetings from Government Officials (including the Governor of Maputo), reception of fraternal delegates (we were individually warmly welcomed), the reception of newly ordained ministers (13 since last Assembly) and the President, Rev Hendrick Pillays’ address based on the text from Genesis chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4.
3 Human trafficking – Bible ref: Gen.37:1–28 mainly v 27 & 28
The Bible Study subjects were very relevant to the theme of the Assembly and issues for concern in Africa. We were asked to consider the Church’s responsibility in relation to these suffering people?
Christ is calling us – Participating in Suffering and Struggle.
The Assembly Sessions were held in a very large assembly hall and apart from the formal services (Opening Service, Sunday Rally where people from local churches attended and the Closing Communion Service) we sat at a numbered table to which we were allocated. This meant that we each got to know the group at our table as we had opportunities to discuss and debate issues related to the Bible studies or business sessions.
With the exception of Sunday, each day began at 8am (or there about!!) with Worship and then, Bible Study. Worship usually included very spontaneous, joyful singing in various languages and often led to worshipful movement and dance!
Theme:
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Babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) because of their mother’s alcohol problem. Bible ref: Matthew 18:1–6
2 Drugs related story – Ellen Pakkies and her family – Bible ref: 1Cor.12:12-28 mainly v 26
4 Relatives of those in Prison. How can we help these families? – Bible ref. Matt.25:41–47 The business sessions where common to most church assemblies but there were some particular issues – the case for a new UCCSA structure mainly because of the inequality of minister’s stipends; the conflicts between minister and Synod/UCCSA headquarters that end up in court; and the non-involvement of ministers in the life of the church. Other concerns mentioned were the increasing gap between the rich and the poor in all five countries, women’s roles and the continuing discrimination against women. Discussions were often lively and delegates not slow to come to the microphone to make their point. On Saturday afternoon we had some free time and were taken to sample an enjoyable Mozambique meal and then to see something of Matola, including a market.
That evening, an interesting concert was hosted by the Mozambique Synod. This was mainly of music and drama and involved participation by all Synods. One highlight was a Mozambique youth choir who entertained us with a wide variety of music accompanied by drums and at a guitar. Wellington and his ‘whistle’ took centre stage a number of times!! One of the highlights for me was the Sunday morning visit to a ‘local’ church of our choice. I attended Mavalane Church. As we arrived (by mini bus) we could smell and see our lunch being cooked by the ladies! The Service lasted around two and a half hours which is quite ‘normal’ for African churches. Despite the language difference, it did not seem long as there was so much going on with each age group taking part. A group of young girls gave us an African dance, the children and youth offered very lively singing accompanied by the traditional drums and harmonica. Their enthusiasm and talent were obvious and infectious. Even the ‘cooks’ appeared at the open side door to join other ladies and give us a song!
The preacher was Rev Susan Valiquette (a delegate) an American who, with her husband and young family, is serving in South Africa with Global Ministries. She gave us a message of hope taken from the text in Acts 2:36-37, “Christ calls us to share our gifts now.” As the sermon in English the translation into Portuguese took extra time! We were made most welcome, served lunch and, all in all, it was a memorable experience. It was also great to meet up with Gastina and Thelma, from the Bongani Project, who do such marvellous work overseeing the care of so many orphans in Zimbabwe. Our Overseas committee still supports them and it was good to get an update on their work. On the last day we were presented with gifts from the Assembly in memory of our time with them. These were items made as part of an income generation venture started in connection with and for the ministerial training carried out in Kuruman Moffat Mission.
The Assembly was a unique and special experience giving me insight into some aspects of Southern African culture and into the challenges and difficulties the UCCSA faces as they reach out to surrounding communities with the Christian message.
KNITTING for the REROTLHE DAY CARE children A note from Mary Macintyre I would like to say a big THANK YOU to the ladies of the UF Church and their friends who responded to the ‘call’, at very short notice, to knit a jumper for the children’s Christmas. The response has been amazing and so each child should have a knitted garment, thank you. Thought you might like to see a picture or two of the children at the programme that provides feeding, education and play. 10
UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Church and Society Committee
St Andrews 250th Celebrations
Response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on the Registration of Civil Partnerships and Same Sex Marriage.
St. Andrews UF Church, Bellshill is delighted to announce the start of its 250th anniversary celebrations: On 26 October 2012 we are officially 250 years old! We have just launched a year of celebration leading up to this date, with a number of events already underway, and others in the pipeline. We are the oldest Church (and building) in Bellshill, which makes it such a special time in our history. To help commemorate the event, over the coming year we will be holding exhibitions, cultural days, concerts and other activities that will allow us to share the history and fellowship of our Church with the wider community. Our congregation was founded in October 1762 and has been serving our community since that time. It is amazing to think that the congregation was formed approximately 27 years before the French Revolution, and around the time Captain James Cook claimed New South Wales, Australia, for Britain! St Andrews has always tried to provide guidance and support to the community and to share in the love of God. Being – literally – ‘the Church at the Cross’ in more recent times we decided to open up the Church every day, and now run the Saltire Café, Monday–Friday, 11am–1pm. This serves local people and provides an opportunity to access the sanctuary of the Church for personal prayer and meditation. It is an important part of our outreach, and we have made many new friends and shared the word of the Lord through our dedicated volunteers.
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We believe that this anniversary is a momentous occasion for us to celebrate and give thanks, and we intend to do so in a variety of ways including: Leaflet Drop We circulated 5000 information leaflets throughout the town during October (a lot of shoe leather was involved…). Table Top Sale We raised £365 at our sale on 1 October to help support our anniversary activities. This was so successful we have planned a further sale on 3 December. Dedication Service Sunday 23 October. Rev Tricia Johnston officiated at this service to begin our year of celebration. She gave an enlightening account of the origins of Bellshill, and reflected on St Andrews’ congregational history and development. She also presented the congregation with the gift of a beautiful Chinese Scroll illustrated by a translation of John 3:16 in ancient Chinese characters: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life”. Opening Concert / Social Wednesday 26 October. Musical entertainment was provided by ‘Trinity Chorale’, a local ecumenical choir (our very own Ian Munro is a member). They gave an outstanding performance, with a varied programme of hymns and other well-loved tunes. Nan Riley’s solo rendition of ‘Summertime’ and ‘Villia’ was just superb. Mary Riley recited ‘The Liberty Bodice’ and ‘The Christmas Present’: great fun! You could have heard a pin drop throughout the entire performance, we were so enthralled. With an audience of around 120, it was wonderful to see the Church nearly full, and it was lovely to spend time with friends old and new. We were also treated to a smashing tea and home baking provided by the ladies of the Church. Everyone enjoyed the evening so much we are currently in the throes of arranging a Trinity Chorale Christmas Concert, with the proceeds going to charity. Fundraising We have raised nearly £1200 to date, and all funds raised will be used to finance our anniversary activities. An added benefit of our fundraising events has been the new outreach opportunities they have provided. Other Events We are currently trawling through the archives to compile a Church history and will also be publishing a yearbook post-October 2012 that will record our activities throughout the year. So our year of celebration is really shaping up, and will culminate in a Fun Day and Open Air Service in October 2012.
Needless to say, we are trying to get in touch with anyone who has visited and supported us over the years to let them know what is happening and to share in our celebrations. Please pass on our details if you know of any folk who may be interested in what’s going on in Bellshill, or contact us if you have any information that we could include in our activities. Our Congregation would like to thank the UF Church for its continued support, and we hope you will be able to join us at some of our events over the next year. We would also ask you to remember us in your prayers at this special time.
Please visit our website for updated information: www.standrewsufchurch.co.uk Contact us via: enquiries@standrewsufchurch.co.uk or Tel: 0790 6830542 (Karen Barbour). \STV local have also been promoting our events, so you may also log on to: http://local.stv.tv/bellshill/ and enter ‘St Andrews Church’ on the search button for their latest
As the Church and Society Committee of the United Free Church of Scotland we would express our concern over the proposed legislation and its effects on Marriage in Scotland and our religious freedom.
We believe the proposed legislation would change marriage irretrievably. Marriage has been universally embraced by societies and cultures from the beginning of the human race as the union between a man and a woman which has proved to be beneficial both to the individuals in the union and to society as a whole. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights has affirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman. The Scottish Government’s proposals would fundamentally change our understanding of marriage in our Scottish society as an institution with defined functions and social purposes to merely being an individual’s right or entitlement. Once this precedent was established, marriage would then be subject to reappraisal, review and further change as minority groups seek “equality” for their own views and positions. The United Free Church of Scotland has consistently opposed persecution or discrimination against any religious or secular group. We strongly disapprove and condemn unfair treatment or violence directed against anyone on account of their sexual orientation. Accordingly we accept the right of same sex couples to enter into partnerships recognised by the state. However the extension of that right to include marriage imposes changes on the rest of
society. The Committee does not regard same sex marriage as an equality issue as the existing Civil Partnership legislation bestows on same sex couples all the existing rights extended to married couples The consultation document confuses the significant differences between solemnisation and registration practiced in Scotland with the system in England and Wales. Any suggestion that celebrants will be required to solemnise or offer the use of Church facilities for the solemnising of same sex marriages or risk falling foul of equality legislation would be regarded as an attack on our religious liberty. At present no celebrant is required to solemnise any marriage but acts according to his or her conscience. The Committee considers that this legislation which will redefine marriage is a reckless and dangerous social experiment that may have untold repercussions on our society and family life. We do not accept that the Government has the right to redefine such an important institution in society as marriage. The Committee along with other mainstream Churches in Scotland call on the Scottish Government to depart from the proposals in its Consultation document on the Registration of Civil Partnership and Same Sex Marriage.
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The Darnley Story By Rev. Colin Brown
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It was on the first Sunday of October 1976 that Rev. John Banks invited the handful of people who had gathered in Darnley Primary School, to join him in worship of God and the story of Darnley Church started. He had been unsure as to how many people would turn up for the service which was held at three o’clock in the afternoon, and he was far from convinced that much would come of the idea. However Renee Wotherspoon, then Head Teacher of the school had assured him that local people were keen to have Church services in Darnley and children from the school had distributed leaflets to homes in the area inviting people to come to the first service. Darnley was a new community on the southern edge of the City of Glasgow with few local amenities and no Church. However, a new Primary School had been opened and Renee appointed as Head Teacher. With no local minister, John, at that time minister of Cathcart UF Church had agreed to act as school chaplain but initially with no thought of holding weekly services, far less of establishing a congregation. When very few had gathered for that first service he must have wondered if even that was worthwhile.
more and more people kept arriving, adults and children, until around thirty people were present. Initially the services were to be held for a trial period of one month but it was evident that there were quite a number of people in Darnley looking for a place to worship and so the services continued. In those early days there were a lot of children attending and a happy informal style of worship developed, but it was clear that some kind of Sunday School was needed. The only person present at the very first service who is still active in the life of the congregation was Mrs Elizabeth McNaughton. She took on the role of Sunday School superintendent and acted as a treasurer. Moira Banks assisted with the Sunday School and started a woman’s meeting. A vision of a new Church in a new community began to emerge in John Banks’ mind but how could such a vision become a reality? What was possible? Any kind of church extension project would cost a lot of money and there were very few resources locally.
However, as the service progressed
to run a midweek children’s club and
As the work progressed, people from other congregations came to help. John Cross came over from Croftfoot
a young girl from Cathcart called Jan Mathieson, who occasionally played the piano at the Sunday services, also came to help with the club. From the very beginning, working in Darnley has had some unexpected consequences! Establishing a congregation in Darnley was one thing but providing a building and a minister were quite another but at the General Assembly of 1977; the vision of a new Church in Darnley was presented. Of course there were those with reservations about the viability of such a project and that was understandable. Building a new Church and providing a minister for the new congregation would cost a lot of money. Darnley was not an affluent area and other denominations had already indicated that they would not be doing anything there. How would the new congregation be sustained? Where would leadership come from? There were very real questions to be addressed but there was also a real need. During the debate at the General Assembly of 1977, Rev Gordon Cowan made this point with reference to Darnley, ‘…it is always going to be a difficult area in which to work, but surely that is all the more reason why we should be there’. Here was an important point made at the launch of the Darnley project. Concerns about how big the membership might become or how strong the congregation would be financially had to be of secondary concern, the first priority was the spiritual need of the people of the area. So the General Assembly and launched an appeal to support the new project and the Church had to rise to the challenge. Many gave
generously and there was a great deal of hard work both locally in Darnley and across the denomination, but raising the finance proved a difficult challenge and the full cost of the new building could not be met. The original plans had to be amended and instead of a separate Church and hall, there would be just one multipurpose hall. We had to wait until 2004 before the original plan became a reality. Finding a minister also proved to be difficult. No-one it seemed wanted to take up the challenge and go and live in a council flat in Darnley. Eventually, I suppose, in desperation the Committee responsible for the Darnley project found a very young and inexperienced young man finishing his course of studies at University. He would be appointed to Darnley but John Banks would continue as interim Moderator, for a while and if nothing else it would be a stop gap measure. And that is what it has turned out to be, although the gap may have been a little longer that at first anticipated! A site for the new building was purchased and in the spring of 1980 the plot was dedicated by the Moderator of the General Assembly of 1979, Rev. Dr Alfred Merriweather. On the same day I was inducted as the minister of Darnley Congregation. The official opening of the new Darnley Church took place on a memorable day in January 1981. Such was the demand, both locally and throughout the denomination, that two almost identical services were held and the Church designed to seat around 120 people welcomed over 400 for the occasion. The Church now had a visible presence in the
community. There was a new building and a minister in place so in a sense the Darnley project had achieved its goal, but of course for the congregation, far from being the end, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. The story of Darnley Church has had a few more twists and turns over the years but more than thirty five years on the work and witness continues. Darnley has changed dramatically over the years and has been transformed from an unattractive, socially deprived area into a pleasant Glasgow suburb. These changes in the community have, of course been reflected in changes in the congregation. Darnley Church situated in the heart of the community is a busy place and home to a vibrant and growing congregation. The full story has been told and the telling of it has been an interesting and thought provoking exercise and I am grateful to those who have encouraged me to undertake the task, but what of the lessons it has to teach us. Darnley was not and is not unique. All over Scotland there are new housing developments, new communities but where is the Church in these places? Some new areas do have a Church presence but not everywhere. Some, perhaps the smaller or more rural developments can be overlooked just as Darnley could have been. There are other new developments planned but where will the Church be in those places? Providing a place of worship is unlikely to be in the developer’s mind and unless the Church is ready to be involved at the planning stage
it may well miss out. In some planned new towns and villages such as Forestmill in Clackmannanshire and Chalepelton of Elswick in Aberdeenshire the Churches are involved in the planning process but that is not the case everywhere. Unless we get involved there may be no Christian witness. This is not only an issue for future areas of development but is already a reality in many communities. These are not easy times for the Church in Scotland but we need to rise to the challenge. There were plenty of good reasons for not trying to do anything in Darnley. We can always find reasons not to do something. We could not do Darnley again. So what happens to the new Darnley’s or the rural places where providing ministry seems so difficult and the upkeep of buildings, impossible? ‘With God all things are possible’. New congregations will not happen according to the Darnley model. Times have changed no two situations are the same in any case. We do need to do things differently and the Church will not operate in the future as it has in the past but we need to be there .It not just an issue for the United Free Church but for the whole of the Church in our land. It is not just about increasing the size of our denomination or about making us feel better about ourselves but about doing what Christ commanded us and about being there because there is a need. 14
The Right Time for Christmas
Today
A Seasonal Reflection By Rev. Alexander Ritchie
As I’m writing October is almost over and the start of the seasonal run-in to Christmas will begin very shortly. One of my favourite NT verses reminds us of the constancy of Christ in the midst of changing circumstances and uncertain times, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13.8). Much of our stress at this time of year is self-imposed and emerges out of the pressure to buy and the tyranny of commercialisation. I’d like to try and remind you of some of the timeless truths which resonate each Christmas, in the hope that when things do get fraught and chances to shop become even more limited you will take and make quality time for the baby of Bethlehem’s unique story.
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At this time of year I think in a Dickensian way about Christmaspast, present and future. Faith is minimised by our postmodern culture, because it is built upon that which cannot be proved and viewed as deeply subjective. Is there no truth left? The simple vulnerability and humanity of the Christmas story draws us to something else, a dimension of loving hope and value for all time in a world of seeming randomness and decline. The birth of Jesus confirms all that was faithful and loving about the covenant God of Israel, but he (Jesus) introduces the x-factor of a new way to relate to God by embodying that love in a human form. Someone we can believe in...
Yesterday Let me invite you to reflect firstly on what happened before the baby of Bethlehem’s arrival. OT prophecy highlighted the messianic figure to come (e.g., Isaiah 7.13-14, 9.2-7; Micah 5.2-5) and the essence of the promise was that he would gloriously unify and bring peace (in the full Hebraic sense of shalom) to God’s covenant people. But as events kick in, we observe the moral dilemmas and very human reactions of Mary & Joseph to their fragile relationship and the effect upon it of a child’s arrival (Matthew 1.18-25; Luke 1.26-38, 46-56). It is a uniquely Christian trait to discern in our own weakness the power, promise and strength of God. Within the overall Biblical narrative here now we witness the fulfilment of all that God has promised, and in the lives of Mary & Joseph, we see the cohesive force of those promises overcoming doubt and fear as the moment of truth is about to arrive. We can only marvel at the sovereignty of God over the potential chaos of these events, and it is equally true for us that the same Lord will take us through the uncertainty of yesterday into the clarity and hope of today. The will of
God was that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, just as he had planned. How many times have you felt those doubts about the past? And then today brings the answer of what God has been doing in your life and why it was necessary to wait for his time-and never our own. Christmas is a time for memories of yesterday-we remember loved ones no longer with us, that 1st Christmas as a married couple or a special year with our young children. 2011 will evoke the same thoughts, yet it must be right to look for the hand of God at work yesterday in the shaping not only of our individual lives but in his great plan for salvation in the coming of Jesus Christ.
Let me invite you to reflect now on the immediate presence of Christmas, not just at the actual time of Jesus’ birth but as we celebrate it year after year. Luke 2.11 says, “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” It is one of the enduring values of Luke’s meticulous account that he locates and verifies a distinct time-frame of history within which Jesus was born. This means that we can identify a point of breaking-in, when the divine enters the human world in a human form. The God who created us in that moment of birth’s first cry now becomes a present reality for all time and people to come. This truth brings Creator & created into a richer context for relationship and understanding. God’s love for us is confirmed by his physical presence amongst us, embodied in Jesus, and it is this that we celebrate when Christmas finally arrives-today. Christians derive much of their closeness to God in Christ by celebrating Communion, when in the symbolic elements of bread & wine it is possible to discern the real presence of the divine. The apostle Paul invites the followers of Jesus at Corinth to, “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11.26). I’d argue that at Christmas we proclaim something of equally profound and present meaning, nothing less than the Lord’s birth until he comes. It remains almost unimaginable to think that a holy God would enter a sinful world, but he does in the coming of Christ. The rationale has to emanate from the loving heart of our Father, One who longs to communicate with us more deeply and personally in a way we can understand. There is perfection and completeness in this narrative, the story of Immanuel (God with us, Isaiah 7.14 and Matthew 1.22-23) and of the Word uniquely made flesh (John 1.14). As human beings we strive for perfection within ourselves, yet find that we are constantly frustrated by our limitations and mistakes. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, strove to
harness his genius to give us devices which have changed not only the way we live and work, but the way we are. Those iPhones, MacBooks and iPads are premised on being intuitively simple to use and aesthetically perfect to look at. And yet they cannot overcome or understand the deepest questions of all, those which seek to discover otherness, beyond self and into the realms of eternity where God is, and why we all fail and fall every day. It is the breaking-in of God in Christ, the Christmas story, which bridges that gap and addresses those issues, most profoundly of all because God comes to us in the vulnerable form which we bear ourselves and which he originally gave to us as his children. This year (2011) may be business as usual for you and the family-turkey dinner, Queen’s Speech, opening those stressfully-bought and carefullychosen presents, then a well-earned snooze in front of the TV. But the present of Christmas will always be in the presence of Jesus, as he is born and as we contemplate the amazing truth of what God has done to work out our salvation-and perhaps most wonderfully of all, just how he has chosen to do it!
Forever Let me invite you to reflect finally on the future. It is wise indeed to keep in perspective that nothing lasts forever. I recently visited California, a part of the world linked in popular imagination with dreams and hope. But the reality across the USA and beyond is high unemployment, huge debt and little immediate prospect for change. People are beginning to question more than just the popularity
of leaders, but beyond to the institutions and structures which govern us. The Christmas story initiated a very certain future, one which was rooted in its affirmation of the love and compassion of God. Jesus teaches us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6.25-34), not because tomorrow doesn’t matter but rather since God will provide. Events across the Arab world, most recently in Libya, have shown us again that even the most stubborn and entrenched of regimes will eventually fall and be consigned to history. The only certain hope is to be found in the purposes and promises of God. I find it rather uncomfortable to note that Jesus mentions food, drink & clothes as the kind of things not to worry about (Matthew 6.25). Aren’t these the very things that we make such a fuss about every Christmas? He speaks about Solomon dressed in all of his splendour; for comparison think about us kitted out with our Christmas wish lists and must-have accessories, all is well for the future-or so we may think... The Bible ends with the end of time itself, standing at the gateway to eternity. God the Father utters these words from his throne, “I am making everything new” (Revelation 21.5). It is the Alpha & Omega who speaks, the One who bookends history and thus assures a rich inheritance for those who follow his beloved son, Jesus Christ. As Christmas 2011 comes, and as another year ends, please don’t let the pressures of it overwhelm you. The covenant faithfulness of God in past and present days secures our future and there will be nothing capable of wrenching us from his loving care. I’d encourage you to discover something new as you read and hear the nativity story again. Allow God to speak through the narrative of his past promises, present reality and future glory. Jesus’ birth proves beyond all doubt that God’s eternal peace has (and will) come.
Let me wish you a joyful and stress-free Christmas! 16
The Salvation Army in Scotland By Lieut. Colonel Alan Burns, Scotland Secretary of the Salvation Army
It is two years now since Alison (my wife) and I moved to Scotland to take up our responsibilities in new appointments. Currently our roles are as Divisional Leaders in the East Scotland Division, as well as Scotland Secretary (Alan) and Scotland Safeguarding Officer (Alison). As Scotland Secretary I speak for The Salvation Army on matters relating to Scotland, deal with our parliamentary interface, represent us ecumenically on ACTS and with Church Leaders, and I am the media spokes-person in Scotland. There is quite enough work to keep us busy! The Salvation Army in Scotland faces the challenges of future with optimism and confidence that God is at work in our nation. Our ambition is to be part of what God is doing in our nation – and together with the rest of the Body of Christ, realise that we are created for God’s mission in the world. We are placing an emphasis is on discipleship and disciple making as our Kingdom ambition! A good place to start this article would be with the mission statement of The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we exist to:
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• Save souls • Grow saints • Serve suffering humanity
It is this statement that gives The Salvation Army its distinctive place with the Body of Christ, and outlines the blend of its contribution. We have a long history of demonstrating our Christian belief by offering practical support to people who are vulnerable or in need. We don’t judge or condemn. We just help.
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with a ‘mission of God’ agenda, seeking to chart a way forward for The SA in Scotland. The task is about mission and vision. At our first residential weekend in April 2012, we experienced a great sense of excitement and unity as we prayed and worked our way through the agenda! Since then our groups have worked on establishing their specific priorities. In this way the agenda for the future is set.
A brief Overview of the Salvation Army (Scotland) key issues:
Over the past two years one our first tasks has been to put together a Scotland Mission Strategy Group (SMSG) to drive this agenda forward. The challenge of mission and spiritual renewal is one that I perceive is felt by the whole church in Scotland. In The Salvation Army we recognise our need to reflect on how we develop our mission in a 21st context, particularly if we are to inspire emerging generations to own the future and be inspired to move the church forward. A church that has been in existence for 140 years realises that the Holy Spirit must be constantly renewing it from within so that it can constantly participate in the mission of God in a relevant manner. We have assembled a group of about 50 ‘stakeholders’ who are prayerfully,
In order to give the work of the SMSG some direction, we are focussing on 5 key areas which relate to the mission of The SA in Scotland. It is vital that the SMSG adopts a holistic approach to mission and that the ‘mission of God’ foundation be the guiding principle in all aspects of its work.
Fresh Expression and Church Planting New Opportunities & possibilities should be the foremost task in order to generate fresh mission opportunities. Planting churches remains the best method of evangelism! The focus is on church planting, fresh expressions & mission development. Intelligent experiment is encouraged, networking with other credible church planters in Scotland will be vital.
Church-based Community Service – Including community partnership etc. with local authorities. Many of our churches are engaged in providing social and community based services to the poor, the marginalised and voiceless people in our communities. • To develop appropriate mission opportunities that arise from our community engagement. The church has the potential to transform communities across Scotland! • To create opportunities to share the story of Jesus in appropriate ways with people as we engage in relationships with them • To understand that the church serves the community as part of the community. The church will be developed as community as it engages in ministry. This will help the church to avoid the pitfall of adopting a condescending or patronising stance.
Our Inherited Churches – towards missionary church Many of our churches have inherited traditions and values from succeeding generations of salvationists. Their story is rich and their history is valued and vital. A major piece of work for us involves identifying influential and well known existing churches and transitioning them towards a missional focus, so that they become role models and standard setters. This is not about the old ‘traditional vs. contemporary’ issue, where we argue over those polarities! This is about helping both to
focus on disciple making! The maxim that ‘it takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people’ is most apt! The journey envisaged here is one that directs the attention of every church, and type of church, towards mission.
Social Services (residential centres for the homeless and for older people) Can we develop the social and spiritual programmes in our social residential centres in ways which balance the concepts of ‘ultimate’ mission with ‘immediate’ mission (i.e. spiritual matters with practical ones – both vital to mission in these settings)? Christ’s mission to the poor focuses on their physical health and well-being. He was also concerned with the souls and their relationship with God. Can we develop a theological précis which could guide and help us? We have recently changed the name ‘hostel’ to ‘Lifehouse’. This is more than a semantic change. We understand that the job of our centres is not simply about food, warmth and shelter. It is actually about people recovering their lives – and supporting them through the process. The key words/ideas behind the Lifehouse theme are: meaning, relationships and purpose. People who come to our Lifehouses need to be given hope that their life can be different and better! We understand that the job of our centres is not simply about food and a bed for the night, we give people a reason to get up in the morning. Changing lives is our business.
Children’s Ministry We acknowledge that any group concerned about the future of the church must include children as a priority. Salvation Army congregational demographic in Scotland is worrying! How we share the story of Jesus with emerging generations is an enormous challenge. Who will tell them the story? Each of the above groups has a member who is a children’s advocate. Their voice must be heard in all that we do!
Youth Work I would refer the reader to the paragraph above. Our youth need to own the agenda, the vision and mission of our church. How do we go about giving it to them? Can we give our church away to our young people?
Conclusion Our passion for God’s mission is deeply embedded in a conviction that spiritual renewal and mission are inextricably intertwined. As a result of, we have set up a prayer network throughout Scotland and we understand that any mission focus must be Holy Spirit inspired and directed. Our people have had enough of new schemes, strategic plans, campaigns and the like. In the old days we’d call it praying for revival and renewal. Maybe that’s what we’re doing!
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