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With the Scottish Bible Society in Romania. cont. from

June/July 2010

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Rev Kenneth McNeish with one of the college lecturers in Bucharest.

....from the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, and Baptist communions who all accepted the new translation. We visited the Patriarchal Palace which had witnessed the communist takeover and the proclamation of atheistic rule and the demise of religious faith. Today this Patriarchal Palace has been restored to its rightful place as the seat of Orthodoxy in Romania. It now houses the Christian TV and radio stations run by the church – Trinitas TV Station and Trinitas Radio which transmits Christian programmes and teaching every day of the year.”

Stedfast readers may not be familiar with Orthodoxy, whether Russian, Greek, or Romanian. What were your impressions of the Romanian Orthodox Church? “We met a number of Orthodox priests while we were there. They took us to children’s homes, prisons, a theological college, and after school centres run by the church. They immerse themselves in the life of the community. Orthodox priests can marry while those called to the monastic life may not. All the priests we met had a word for the church in the West, and it was a challenging word. Comments we

With the Scottish Bible Society in Romania

heard included: “You come from a land with plenty of Bibles. What is wrong with your church and your voice?” “How can we make sure our country does not become as secular as yours?” “How can we avoid becoming like the church in the West?”; another strain we heard (from a worker with the Romanian Bible Society) was – “we lived with communism, now we live with corruption.”

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So the church in Romania, while being deeply rooted and persevering, is very much aware of the corrosive effects of materialism and secular influence.”

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Ready for the World Cup 2010

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The Holy Spirit and the Modern Church Page 14

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In this Issue...

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at Chryston

9 1

New Start at Chryston

Ready for World Cup 2010

Womens Home And Overseas Shetland Visit

Youth Assembly: March 2010

Gorebridge reaches Out to the community

Personal reflections on ‘going public with healing’

Darnley: Interview with new communicants

The Easter Code at Uddingston Park

The Holy Spirit and the Modern Church

Tributes

Bible study in The living room

With the Scottish Bible Society in Romania

Editorial S John Fulton

“Have you ever considered becoming a Pastor?” These were the words spoken to Stephen Marr by the Session Clerk at Chryston United Free Church one Sunday in the autumn of 2008. Steve had been a lay reader with a number of denominations for almost twenty years, and in that capacity had led worship at Chryston on many occasions. It was on one of those occasions in 2008 Steve politely tried to side-step the idea! However, the question was asked again at his next visit to Chryston. As a result, Steve decided to seek God’s will on the matter – thinking that such a door could not open because of his missionary commitments. Steve has been a missionary with BCM International (Bible Centered Ministries) since 1992. His work has focused on reaching children with the Gospel by running a number of Bible clubs in schools throughout the Glasgow area, providing summer camps for children aged 8–12, taking RE classes, speaking at school assemblies, and also being involved in training for those who want to run children’s outreach programmes right here in Scotland. He is married to Liz and together they have two teenage children – Nathanael and Bethany.

Steve accepted the challenge, and after meeting all the requirements of the United Free Church to be accepted as a Pastor, he was formally introduced to the congregation of Chryston in that role on the last Sunday of November, 2009. So what is he there to do and what does the future hold? Steve sees his part time ministry with the Church (he continues to serve with BCM) mainly falling into three areas – leading the worship, pastoral care and children’s work. The first two are fairly self-explanatory, while the latter draws upon his wealth of experience in that area. He is keen that the congregation is “well fed” from the Bible and has sought to provide messages from God’s Word in a consecutive, expositional and thought-provoking manner. He has set up a congregational visitation scheme for himself, planning to visit all of the members of the Church in an on-going, rolling programme. Steve has formed links with the local Parish church, taken one of their Holy Week services, and has been asked to speak at the opening meeting of their Women’s Guild.

He has also become part of a team providing a ministry at the local High School as well as making contacts with the Primary schools nearby, including the Roman Catholic ones. As to where he sees the Church in Chryston going is perhaps best expressed in his own words: “Growth is something that we can’t just hope for – it is a necessity. The alternative is stagnation and eventual extinction. We must reach out with the Salvation we have personally received ourselves, because only by doing things God’s way, and for His glory, can we be sure of heading in the right direction. It’s not just the job of the man or woman ‘up at the front’. We have to work together as a team of God’s people. I hope and pray that I can lead the flock that God has given me charge over. As it says in Star Trek (my favourite TV show!), ‘to boldly go!’ ” Chryston United Free Church has a new Pastor. The Church has embarked on a fresh chapter in its history. May God bless the members, its Pastor and the mission it has to fulfil.

Youth Assembly: March 2010

Liam Adamson, from Cunningsburgh reports on the Youth Assembly which took place in March. Toffees that chew themselves? At first this seemed like an odd opening for this year’s spring Youth Assembly. Had Robert and Laura finally gone bonkers? So it seemed, as on the Friday night we set about looking into how society has plunged into the depths of laziness and lethargy. We saw how far we have gone to avoid monotonous work at all cost, whether it is pre chopped vegetables or remote controlled everythings! Then we were set a task; we split into 3 groups and had to come up with an idea for an invention that would make some aspect of our lives that bit easier, and then make a prototype model of it. We pressed on with the task in hand with a truly Scottish sense of ingenuity but also, in the back of our minds, wondering how this could possibly be linked into some sort of constructive Bible teaching. Needless to say, my group won with an “Intravenous automatic food chewing machine”, which chewed food for you and injected it into your body, allowing you to get your 5-a-day intake of vegetables without needing to taste the green monsters.

After this we gathered together to find out what the point of this exercise

was, and amazingly found out it did have a point. We were going to spend the weekend looking at the first few chapters of the book of Daniel, which Robert Owens told us at the beginning is not just a book of nice stories for children. And right enough we were to have some truly challenging teaching over the next couple of days. We had all thought up devices that would make our life in some way easier, but when we started to look at the life of Daniel it became apparent that he did the very opposite. If there was an easy way to do something but that way went against his beliefs then he wasn’t going to do it. This was to be the focus of the weekend; Standing up for what you believe in, being seen to be different, and that God is in control. Robert explained there were certain themes found in the book of Daniel: Commitment, Courage, Conspiracy, Compromise (none!), and Control of the Future. These are all themes that are still relevant to the Christian today, as the world of the flesh seeks to work against us, a bias that we heard is illogical and will never make sense, but is the fruit of the hatred for God.

In chapter one Daniel and his three friends are taken into exile in Babylonia. They were expected to eat the food provided for them and enter the king’s service. And here we first see Daniel stand up for what he believed, he “resolved” not to defile himself with their food, but instead got the King’s official to give them vegetables and water to test how they looked. After the ten days they looked healthier than the others. God had been with them and rewarded their faithfulness, and the Official had been able to see the power of their faith. On into chapter two and we have Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue. He asked something impossible of all his advisors, magicians, and astrologers. To not only interpret the dream but also to tell him what the dream was. None of them was capable and the King vowed to have them all killed, including Daniel and his friends. We see Daniel’s wisdom as he goes to the King asking for time so that he may interpret the dream. He then returns to his friends and they plead for mercy, not from the King, but from God because they know he is the one in control. The Lord is faithful and reveals the dream to Daniel so that he can explain it to the King, who proclaims “Surely your God is the God of Gods...”. Daniel shares the credit with his friends who helped him at the beginning. In chapter three we have the story of the Image of Gold and the fiery furnace. After the king’s statement about God it can seem odd that he would do such a thing, but he didn’t ever say D aniel’s God was the one and only God, but the “God of Gods”. This time it is the three, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who stand up for their faith. They refuse to bow to the Kings image and are brought before the King to explain themselves. They show the extent of their faith by saying they won’t bow down even if he throws them into the furnace. God will save them, but even if he does not they still won’t bow. They are willing to die for doing the right thing. God does save them, and after this the King finally says that God is the only one to be worshipped.

We saw in these first 3 chapters the faith and commitment of these young men. I for one found this very challenging. These were young men who stood up for their beliefs not with pride or arrogance but with humble wisdom, they did everything with the correct attitude and mindset even when the consequences were known which was ultimately death. I found myself wondering how many times I back down, don’t say anything when I am challenged, don’t take up on opportunities to spread the word. I should know better, we can see here that God blesses those who are faithful, he is with those who do his will, but it is very hard to remember that at the time when you are struggling. It is helpful to recall the faithfulness of Daniel and the three and how they responded, with humility, wisdom and expectant prayer. As well as the teaching sessions we split into our groups and had times of discussion to answer various questions.

I found this very good and beneficial to my understanding of the passage, there was a great bunch of Christians present and I think we all benefitted from these sessions.

was all in good spirit. I was a bit of an odd one out, dressed all in black as Johnny Cash, with everyone else dressed in checked shirts and jeans but never mind!

Another first at this Youth Assembly was that Laura delegated out the opening and closing devotions of each teaching session to us, the “campers”. This was also very good, as different groups of people chose their favourite songs for us to sing and also shared a thought from the Bible. There was a good mix of readings but, as is Gods purpose, they regularly fitted in with one another and with the topic of the weekend, which was great to witness.

The weekend was fantastic, there maybe weren’t as many people as at Assemblies in the past but the teaching was excellent, the company and fellowship first class. The success of these weekend should not be judged by numbers but by the atmosphere, and this was that of blessing all round thanks to the work that Robert and Laura put into it, as well as the waistline expanding catering from the Lossiemouth ladies that was also well received.

The weekend was not all work and we had free time on Saturday afternoon when we went to the centre at Loch Inch for coffee and food. Then on the Saturday night we had an American themed “Barn Dance”, which featured country music, line dancing, silly games, songs and more and as usual

Please continue to remember the youth work in your prayers as the group who were present were very committed and a blessing to the church; other denominations may have more young people, but our’s are certainly making up for it with their commitment and passion for the work of God.

Licencing Service at Cathcart

Miss Ann Deacons was licensed by the Presbytery of the West at Cathcart on Tuesday 29th May. The church was packed for the service which was led by Rev Jim Marshall and charges were given by rev Andrew McMillan. It was an inspiring and encouraging evening for Ann and for all who shared the evening with her. In the photo Ann Deacons is in the centre with Lesley Mathieson, Session Clerk at Cathcart, and Rev Jim Neil who was formerly minister at Cathcart.

Darnley Interview with new communicants

our minister. Andrew Nicola and Ross have also been to a number of Church camps. What difference do you think being a member of the Church means? The fact that the Kirk Session have been willing to admit us makes as feel that although we are still young that we are valued as part of the congregation. Everyone in the Church has made us feel that way. At the meetings we had before we joined the importance of Communion was explained to us and taking part in this was very good. Standing in front of everyone when we took our vows emphasised how important this was. Apart from Church (and of course studying for highers) what other things are you involved in?

l. to r.: Paul Sutherland Nicola Young, Andrew Brown, Rev Colin Brown, Rev Ann Deacons and Ross McNaughton

What are your early memories of Darnley Church? Andrew and Ross – When we were small we were the Church Praise Band! During the children’s choruses we used to stand at the front of the Church and play toy guitars. Nicola - I was actually baptised in Langside and Shawlands Church but I came to Darnley Church when I was quite small. Paul - I was a little older but I grew up going to Sunday School in Darnley and Andrew, Nicola and I were in the same class in Primary School and I remember Mr Brown coming and telling us Bible stories. What aspects of Church life are you involved in now?

A, N, P - We go to a ‘youth group’ called ‘Check It Out’ every Wednesday evening. We have games and a time

of teaching led by the leaders Graham and Gordon. Sometimes we have someone else doing the teaching such as Laura Mackenzie. Andrew and Ross ran the fair trade stall every month but now Ross’s younger brother is going to do that. We also look after the sound equipment in the Church. Sometimes we welcome people when they arrive at Church and take the offering. We have been involved in planning and taking part in services. Recently along with some of the other young people in the Church we were asked to take the morning service based on the theme of this year’s Easter Scheme. Ross conducted the service and the rest of us took part. What influenced you growing up in the faith? Our famillies and the Church which are often the same thing, since our famillies are all involved in the Church. Our Sunday School teachers and youth leaders have helped and Mr Brown

R. I am Depute Head Boy at my school which involves quite a lot of responsibility, and I play golf. A. I help at a nearby Scout Group and I play a lot of sport. I am in the school football and basketball teams and I play golf with Ross and his brother. P. I like music and I have a part time job as a waiter in the local Indian restaurant. N I am in the Guides and sing in the school choir. I also enjoy going to concerts and shows. Do you have a favourite hymn and Bible passage? N. There are different passages I like to read depending on what is happening in my life and my favourite hymn is ‘O happy day’. A. My favourite hymn is, ‘ Be Thou my vision’. P. I like the story of how Saul became Paul because it shows how people’s lives can be changed. My favourite hymn is ‘Worthy is the Lamb’. R. My favourite hymn is ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ and my favourite Bible passage is the Easter story because it sums up what it is all about really.

Tribute to WILLIAM NAIRN ROBERTSON: Millerston Bill Robertson, the last of the ‘old brigade’ of Millerston, passed away peacefully on 8th March of this year, following a prolonged illness. He was born in Perth but moved to Glasgow as a child. He was the eldest of nine children and like many families during the nineteen thirties and forties, had a hard upbringing. Bill joined the Kings Own Scottish Borderers as a boy of seventeen during WW2 and his experiences moulded him into the man we all knew. He met the light of his life, Margaret in 1947 and they were married in 1949, celebrating their 60th Anniversary in September 2009. He spent most of his working life in the British Transport Police, where he enjoyed a long and rewarding career. Following retirement, he drove a Sunshine Variety Coach for the handicapped for 8 years, which he loved and his passengers loved his wit

Tribute to GEORGE LIVINGSTON: Wishaw After a short illness George passed away peacefully on 15 February 2010. He will be remembered for his unwavering faith, as a devoted father and family man, as well as a loyal friend. George served the Wishaw congregation as an elder for a little more than twenty years. During this time he endeared himself to his fellow elders and also to members in his district. He excelled in faithfulness – no task being too insignificant to be done with great devotion. For many years George and Annette have been a part of the group who meet every Thursday to clean the church for worship on Sundays. His unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus became very apparent during his short but severe illness. Not for one moment did he falter in his belief that, despite contradictory appearances, our loving God was still in control of his life. His courage in the face of death bore the strongest witness to his relationship with his Saviour.

and humour during their many trips together. Bill was an elder at Millerston for 36 years and was a dedicated, devoted and conscientious pastoral visitor. He was very supportive of the ministry in a quiet but encouraging way. His presence with the minister at home communions was always much appreciated. His friendship, care, interest and concern were a blessing to many. A good, supportive friend as well as a hard-working elder. We at Millerston, his family, and indeed all who had the privilege and pleasure of his friendship and the benefit of his wise counsel over the years, will miss him greatly, but we praise the Lord for him and the memories he leaves behind.

George adored his two daughters, Jacqueline and Gayle. To them he was not only a father but also a friend and handyman. They knew that he would be there to help them whenever they called; he was always ready with advice and practical help. Having gone on early retirement, he and Annette were inseparable, spending many joyous and exciting times together. George was also much loved by all members of the extended family in whom he took a lively interest. George will most certainly be remembered fondly by so many friends and acquaintances who had experienced his warm friendliness and kind-hearted generosity. The huge crowd of mourners that attended his funeral service bore ample testimony to the high regard people had for George. He always had a friendly word for everyone, whether he knew them or not. His friends will certainly miss his friendly smile and cheeky sense of humour. Yes, George Livingston, is sorely missed, not least by Annette, Jacqueline, Gayle and Laura (his ‘adopted’ daughter). 5

Free, True, One… in Christ

READY FOR WORLD CUP

2010

• The Reason Why: helping us give a reason for what we believe.

Leaflets about ‘Free, True, One… in Christ’ will shortly be circulated to congregations and to those who attended last year’s event at Dunblane and will give information on the range of topics being covered by a variety of speakers. We will meet in Dunblane High School on Saturday 28 August. It proved to be a very successful venue last year and we’re looking forward to another encouraging day!

Having ‘Celebrated the Word’ in 2008, when the focus was very much on the Bible, this year the focus is on the Gospel as we reflect on Jesus, who he is, what he has done and what he means for us today. The main teaching session in the morning will be led by David Miller, Vice-Principal of International Christian College in Glasgow. Using a variety of techniques he will help us reflect on the theme ‘One in Christ’ from Galatians and the need to hold on to the truth and not lose sight of the gospel. There can be a tension, then and now, between unity and truth, a tension we need to grapple with as we seek to serve Christ and be faithful to him. There will also be opportunity for us all to participate in praise and worship.

This will be followed by two series of workshops – each lasting for an hour. Among topics we hope to cover are: • Politics: Being faithful to Christ in the world of politics etc and the tensions of engaging in politics locally and nationally. • Biblefresh Initiaitve which will be taking place in 2011 to encourage Bible reading • Lecta Divina – a different approach to Bible reading/study which, for example, Steve Brown has begun to explore this and we will invite him to lead. • Mediation in the local church and reflecting on the tensions which can arise and how these can be prevented and/ or dealt with. • Uniqueness of Christ – what makes Christianity different/ unique to other faiths etc? How does the uniqueness affect us/ our lives? • Evangelism/ Working Together Locally: Helping people engage with those in the community and the value of cooperation where this is possible.

• Together in Mission: linked with the centenary of the Edinburgh 1910 World Mission Conference and helping us reflect on mission today with an opportunity to pray for those who are involved. • Asialink: Martin Dudgeon will receive the cheque for this year’s Easter Scheme and there will be an opportunity to learn more about work in North Korea and elsewhere , with the challenge to us all to engage in mission. • Music: a practical workshop on songs, especially those for children. •Is Scripture reliable?: Helping us think about the authority of the Bible which can be undermined so that people lose confidence in it. Fuller information will be given in the leaflet. There will be a short closing session to draw things together and the event will finish around 4.15. We encourage you to mark the date in your diary – Saturday 28 August, from 10.00 – 4.15 at Dunblane High School. Why not invite others to come with you – including your neighbours in churches of other denominations who might find the day of interest. As previously, there will be a crèche, children’s programme and teenage programme. Please pray for the event and for those involved in planning it!

by Rev Peter de Villiers With just a few more days to go, activities are reaching fever pitch in preparation for the first Football World Cup finals to be held on African soil. Uppermost in most South African minds will be the question: “Will we make a success of hosting this greatest of world sporting events?” That question will only be answered after everything is over. But if the fervent prayers of thousands of Christians have anything to do with it, and they certainly will, then World Cup 2010 will be a resounding success. On Monday 22 March, a public holiday in South Africa, approximately 44 000 Christians packed the newly completed Green Point stadium to pray for the tournament. Thousands of Christians from many different denominations and from all over the Cape Peninsula and beyond, streamed to the stadium

from 11.00am for the Cape Town For Jesus rally. It was reported that, everything, including the transport arrangements to and from the stadium, ran smoothly, and there were no crime related incidents. This was Cape Town’s third and largest trial run before the World Cup, and it proved that the Mother City is ready for the big event. Angus Buchan, a potato farmer, of Scottish descent, living in KwazuluNatal, was the main speaker. He pointed out that South Africans now had the opportunity to show the visitors how God improves people’s lives and how different faith groups could live harmoniously. This day of prayer was just one of many held on the World Cup stadiums throughout South Africa on that day. In Port Elizabeth the intercessors

surrounded the stadium just as the walls of Jericho were surrounded in Biblical times. At Loftus Versveld in Pretoria the prayer group gathered in the middle of the playing field, thanking God for the opportunity to be witnesses to the nations. These prayer actions are a part of a campaign under the banner “The Ultimate Goal”, by which Christians are encouraged to witness in various ways during the forthcoming tournament. The prayers of Christians throughout South Africa can be summed up in these words: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be gracious unto South Africa. Bless this nation and make us a blessing unto the nations.”

Gorebridge reaches Out to the community

The Easter Code at Uddingston Park

Gladys Robertson with Alison Napier who was ordained as an elder on 29th November.

We invited Zena Shand, Session Clerk at Gorebridge, to tell us something of what’s going on there.

When I was asked to write a “story” about our church in Gorebridge, I wasn’t quite sure what to write. Then I thought of all the positive things going on in Gorebridge UF, and how our Pastor, Gladys Robertson has such a burden for our village and surrounding area. It seemed as if it would be good to share some of these with other readers of Stedfast, just to keep in touch with what goes on.

Sundays are always busy. We have two services, our evening service taking on a slightly more informal structure with some extra praise items with our praise team. We have a good number of regular visitors at the evening services, who come from various places, and who always tell us they feel not only a warm welcome from us, but how they feel the warmth of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Praise the Lord we have a Pastor who preaches the true Word of God, and who feels the need for “a church without walls”. During all of our services, we have a time of “open prayer”, when members and visitors alike can pray openly for whoever or whatever is laid on their hearts. Last year Pastor Gladys felt led to have

healing services. These are held once a month during an evening service. We have had so many answers to prayer for people. There is no great outward show, but there is the very powerful presence of Jesus. Pastor Gladys often prays with folks in the vestry who come from all walks of life. Some need physical healing and others need more spiritual healing. People are encouraged to give their testimony, and the praise is very meaningful. Often, it’s during some of the meaningful congregational praise that folk feel a touch of the Holy Spirit. After the service we have a cup of tea so there can be some extra fellowship and sharing. We also have a strong prayer group on a Wednesday morning, where we pray for our community. Again, people from other areas join us, and there have been many answers to prayer. God is so merciful and faithful! Our youth group, Genesis, have changed their format in the last year. They meet now on a Monday evening. We have four teenagers from our own church, but since changing to a Monday, the group has grown. The others who come are not only from our own village, but from the surrounding areas. This has been an

Elizabeth McDowall reports on a fascinating visit from their local primary school encouragement for our three leaders who are very committed. We have a full time Youth Leader now in the village, and so our young folk are better catered for, which can only be a good thing! We are blessed in our church with a good few musicians and singers, and so our Praise Group play a large part in our praise. We also have a choir called “Gorebridge Voices”, and they sing usually at Easter, Harvest, Christmas etc. On reading this, it may sound as if we are blowing our own trumpet, but nothing could be further from the truth. All the blessings we have at Gorebridge have been given by our Lord Jesus, and He gets all the glory. We can never allow ourselves to be complacent. Our Pastor says “it doesn’t matter what we wear on the outside, it’s what or “who” we have in our heart that matters” I hope that this has given a little glimpse of what goes on in Gorebridge UF, and how by God’s grace we are able to reach out to the community around us. Jesus is in the business of saving souls and we all want to see our land of Scotland return to what it used to be - “the Land of the Book”.

At 9am on Monday of Holy Week a group of us gathered in the church hall, full of anticipation and expectation. We had issued an invitation to the local school to bring their two Primary 7 classes to the church to journey with us through the events of Holy Week, using a programme called The Easter Code. At 9.30am, the arrival time, there was no sign of the children. Had we mixed up the date? Had the school forgotten? Ten minutes later the children were sighted, walking slowly towards the church. No sign of enthusiasm there, then! In they came, somewhat reluctantly and hesitantly. We later found out that several of the children had been grumbling on the way, “Why do we have to go to church?!” Over the space of the next two hours it was amazing to see the transformation, as they engaged with the programme and left with smiling faces. An active introductory game livened everyone up, followed by a time of spontaneous drama, where the children re-enacted the healing of the paralysed man, Jesus’ stilling of the storm, and the Palm Sunday crowd. This was followed by a time in groups, where the children had a chance to chat with a leader and discuss three important

once more in spontaneous drama as they heard of the encounter with Jesus on the Emmaus Road. The empty cross and floral depiction of the empty tomb at the front of the church gave this whole scene vital visual impact. Finally, the children were invited to write on a small cross what they would like to say to Jesus. In a time of response they came forward to attach their crosses to a larger one made of stiff card, which they carried back to school. An Easter DVD and activity leaflet was given out to every child, together with a crème egg, to everyone’s delight!

questions: “Why do you think some people loved Jesus?”, “Why do you think some people hated Jesus?” and “What would you have thought of Jesus?” For the next hour they moved in groups round 5 multi-sensory areas, with a different key word to discover in each area. They had their feet washed as they learned Jesus’ example of serving. They entered the vestry and sat on the floor to experience the Last Supper and the sharing of the bread and wine, learning how Jesus was the Passover Lamb. In the hall they thought of the crowd that first Holy Week, shouting out “We want Barabbas!” and “Crucify him!” and left with a challenge to stand out and not follow the crowd. They entered a tent where pot plants and flowers led us to remember the Garden of Gethsemane; on the Miracle Maker DVD they watched Jesus struggling in prayer before his arrest in the garden. In the final area they thought about the meaning of sacrifice and why Jesus had to die on the cross, making bead and cross necklets, wrist bands or key rings to take away with them. Having considered the cross, we now moved to the wonderful news that Jesus is alive! The children took part

What struck us was how ignorant the children were of the Easter message, with some appearing to know more about Ramadan than Holy Week. Hopefully this was changed through their time at the Easter Code, as all left with a better understanding of Jesus, God’s purpose in the cross (not an accident!) and the power of the resurrection. Two of the card crosses that were left behind spoke volumes. One child had written, “Thank you for everything”, and another, “Thank you for sacrificing yourself.” The message of Easter indeed.

Bible study in The living room

their hands looking at God’s word together is amazing! Sometimes the questions are a challenge but it is such a privilege to be part of that! We were unsure of how it would go at first but people now remind you at half past one that its time and should we not be starting the bible study! One man who comes in regularly and has done for many years said one day, “You know, you lot should have been doing this from the start of this place”. Not everyone is there every day, but those who are ask questions and are reading God’s word. Some have even asked for a Bible to take home too. There is nothing fancy about what is happening, no programme or set reading list we are simply working through Mark and discussing what it means. It’s simple, sometimes it’s a challenge, sometimes it’s even hysterical as we realise that words mean different things in different places and cultures.

Laura Mackenzie reports on a new initiative at Drumchapel It was just over 6 years ago when the Living Room in Drumchapel opened its doors for the first time, offering people tea and coffee, a place to chat and the Gospel. Some came in looking to buy the furniture, some walked past quickly when they saw us waiting at the door but many accepted the offer to come in. For some of the people who came in over those first few weeks it would soon become part of their daily routine. Even now in the new building across the road from the original Living Room, they still come in almost every day. We have had the privilege of building relationships with people over the last 6 years, we have seen children born, children go to school, people move house, yet they still come in and share with us and hear the word of God.

God has been very good to us over the years, money has come when it was

needed, and biscuits are handed in just as we have run out! The furniture has all been given to us, people are friendly towards us (most of the time!) and we have been kept safe and able to carry on the work of sharing the Gospel with people who in some cases wouldn’t go into a church. The situation in society today is desperate and some of the people who come into the Living Room have had their share of difficulties. Some battle with addictions of various kinds and for many, life is very erratic. They can go from one crisis to the next. In recent months it has been difficult with tragic outcomes for some. Like all who live in this world and do not know Jesus, they need to hear the message of the Gospel; they need to know that Jesus died for them and that in faith and repentance their lives can be changed.

The work of the Living Room has always been about openly sharing with people the good news of Jesus, but recently we have been sharing in a Bible time daily from 1.30-2.00pm. Each day we sit down together as a group and invite all who are in to join in as we work our way through a book of the bible. At the moment we are working through Mark’s Gospel, taking a passage or a few passages at a time. The passage is read aloud by either one of us or someone who volunteers and then we discuss it and try to answer the questions that come from it. We were given a wonderful gift of bibles to use, so everyone who joins in has the same Bible to look at as we read and explore together. The time is opened and closed with prayer and no tea or coffee is served during that time to allow us to concentrate on what we are looking at. This Bible time has been a real blessing to us, to see 8 or sometimes even more people sitting down with a Bible in

For example, in Glasgow parlance ‘paralytic’ caused some confusion as people discovered it meant ‘unable to walk’ and not ‘drunk’ - that was an interesting study! But God is good and people are listening and asking questions. We have always been very open and obvious about what the Living Room is about and over the years we have shared in Bible studies with a few of the people but to be able to sit down at the same time each day as far as possible, and share in God’s word together is an amazing joy. In this day and age to see a group of people reading the bible together of different ages and backgrounds is something only God could do. Please continue to pray for this work; please pray for the staff and volunteers and for the people who come in. It has been an interesting 6 years and we look forward to seeing what God will do in the future!

WOMENS HOME AND OVERSEAS SHETLAND VISIT - 18th – 22nd March 2010 By Moira Patterson, Vice-Convener

The Convener, Mrs. Ann McFie and I flew from Glasgow to Shetland to visit with the ladies of our Sandwick and Cunningsburgh congregations. It was a lovely, bright, sunny day on our arrival in Shetland where we were met and warmly welcomed by the Rev. Martin Whitehead and his wife Isobel. It was a 30 minute drive to the manse and we spent the rest of the day settling in and getting to know Martin and Isobel who have been almost 2 years in Shetland. On Friday, we were to find out how quickly the weather can change and our proposed visit to Lerwick was put off due to high winds and horizontal rain! In the evening we met with the ladies of both congregations in the Church hall and had the opportunity to speak, and to thank them for their faithfulness and continuing support to the work of the Women’s Home and Overseas. We had tea and fellowship after the meeting. We visited Lerwick on Saturday, stopping at the former U.F. Manse where Mrs. McFie and her late husband Ian, ministered in the 1960’s. Having not been in Shetland for 23 years it was a voyage of rediscovery for me. We spent part of the afternoon visiting

Mrs. Meg Tait, almost 95 years old, in her home in Weasdale and had a lovely time of fellowship with her. She is a member of our Sandwick congregation and her late husband Peter was a former Session Clerk. On Saturday evening we had an informal supper evening in the manse with ladies from both congregations. We worshipped in Cunningsburgh on Sunday morning and brought the greetings of the Women’s Home and Overseas Committee. It was encouraging to see so many children and young people in the service and enjoyed their enthusiasm and lively participation in the choruses. The evening service was a joint one with the Church of Scotland. Held in the local community centre, it was conducted by the children and young people, with a programme based on the events of Easter. They had obviously put a lot of time and effort into their programme, and we were blessed and impressed by the talent and commitment of these young folk. All too soon our visit was over and we flew out on Monday back to Glasgow. We want to record our thanks to Rev Martin Whitehead and his wife for taking such good care of us, for the warmth of welcome we received by everyone we met, for the prayers that followed us and most of all to the Lord who blessed us so richly throughout this visit.

Personal reflections on ‘going public with healing’

‘Healing Rooms’ opens its doors in Burntisland for Healing. How did it come about in Erskine Church? Why is healing not given greater priority in today’s churches? Healing Rooms in Erskine When I came to Erskine Church, Burntisland in 2005, I was aware that there were many situations in the congregation and the community causing heartache and grief. It crossed my mind that in my earlier ministry I often wondered if the gift of healing might emerge in my pastoral work in a more noted way.

This ‘often neglected longing’ was pursued rather tentatively with the Kirk Session resulting in a sizeable delegation of the Elders visiting our West Calder Church where there was known to be a Healing Service. Could this be a way forward for Burntisland? Whilst the visit made a good and wholesome impression upon the Elders, my sense of inadequacy seemed to diminish such prospects.

However the Lord clearly was not going to let me off the hook so easily. He graciously brought me into contact with other local Christians who were passionate about prayer, meeting regularly in imaginative ways to uphold the local churches, their leaders and the community in prayer. During one prayer session one of the group spoke with excitement about a course she had attended run by ‘Healing Rooms’ on the subject of Healing. She reported on what she had observed on a healing ministry emerging from the churches working together in Kinross. The vision grew the more we talked about it. Suddenly I was aware of a connection I had failed to note in the past – a rather obvious and natural connection – the link between prayer and healing. My mind was cast back to a period in Cathcart when I sensed a spirit

of discouragement seemed to be overtaking local congregations. Ministries were being frustrated and the work regressing. I called upon the Rev. Steven Anderson who was heading up the work of Prayer for the City: Glasgow. He responded and invited me to join him and the local Baptist minister to pray for the Lord’s protection over our community, which at that stage had two parish churches undergoing an uneasy time in preparation for a union. Somehow I knew as we prayed together in our dining room that having identified ‘the enemy of discouragement’ in our midst the Lord would deliver His healing. From that moment I knew prayer would be a vital part of our community’s recovery. A midweek prayer group soon was formed and a prayer box left out at services. We engaged in prayer-walking round the

community in preparation for missions. There were some remarkable stories came out of these prayer walks but I can now look back and recognise that the Lord was revealing to me some vital lessons about prayer. Now, some years later, in a new community in Burntisland I was being made aware again, how God honours prayers earnestly lifted up to Him and that He is best pleased when He sees faith in action. God honoured Abraham for his faith and that same pleasure is recorded in Hebrew’s hall of fame (chapter 11) where we read of the roll of honour of the ‘faithful‘. Gradually a fresh vision was appearing to me out of the mist – a vision that saw anew the gift of Healing applied within the setting of prayer. The prayer group sensed there was a leading of the spirit directing them towards the formation of a Healing Room in the area. The Rev. Steven Anderson and his wife Helen accepted an invitation to speak at a public meeting in Kinghorn to give greater exposure to the vision and gather together those the Lord was drawing together for this work. From that day the momentum gathered and within a year the prayer group had sufficient trained volunteers prepared to go out in faith to establish a Prayer Room. God was good and gave a sure sign of His blessing on this work when a training conference on Healing in Kirkcaldy was attended by 70 people attended showing us an unexpected high level of interest in Healing. The Healing Room opened in Kirkcaldy in November in The St. Bryce Kirk Centre. Three months on another opened in Erskine Church, Burntisland. It seemed a natural place to host it with its imposing presence facing the main road. When the opportunity was given to the Session to approve the arrangement it was passed unreservedly - no doubt the seeds sown earlier made the decision easier. Healing Rooms is a prayer-based ministry. It brings together trained volunteers, from a wide spectrum of Christian traditions to offer healing to all who come seeking. The volunteers

have been specially prepared for this ministry through courses offered by ‘Healing Rooms’. Healing Rooms are simply places where people can come right off the street for prayer, no appointment necessary, no fee asked. It is open to all who come, no matter the condition, whether physical, spiritual or emotional), whether professing a faith or no faith. It is very much a team ministry continuing the tradition established in the early Church, exampled in the lives of our Lord Jesus and his followers. Does God really heal today? I have always believed that healing lies at the heart of God’s work. Without the Word, how can we truly understand the nature of our spiritual needs? And without the Spirit’s power how can that Word of Scripture leap off the pages to minister the graces of our Lord to bring healing and wholeness to broken lives? There are too many testimonies around to deny that healing is done today in Jesus’ name and too many trophies of grace evidenced down through the years of human history to deny that such powers have been released within the Body of Christ. I am often fascinated why it is that we get excited or agitated about spiritual healing today, especially in the context of the Church’s local ministry. To me it is a natural outworking of the Lord’s will for all people that each be fully healed and restored. Words like ‘Saviour’, ‘Salvation’,’ salutation’ all come from the same word derivation translated into English as Health and Healing. This surely is Good News that in Christ there is ‘Salvation’, that is, there is ‘Healing’. This healing ministry in many ways is just the tip of the iceberg. Put it another way, this healing ministry is a door that opens up so many other opportunities for God’s spirit to be poured out. Consider the two villages of Lydda and Sharon where it is recorded in Acts 16:32-42 that the towns of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord following Peter’s healing of Aeneas, paralysed for eight years. This was soon followed by the healing of Dorcas in Joppa. Following her healing ‘many people believed in the Lord’. (v42). Healing is a powerful

demonstration of the reality of God’s power released not only for the healing of individuals but even whole communities. The Healing Rooms are gradually becoming better known and it is clear it is appreciated for people do return for further prayer. There is a warmth generated within these rooms and an openness for the spirit of God to be at work. Gradually it is beginning to make an impression upon people of no profession of faith. Our hope is that we may yet see the community raised anew as testimonies of healing emerge from these Healing Rooms. Wanting ideas for Healing Ministry as an expression of Congregation Life? Some Congregations have actively placed a focus on healing ministry in the following ways, but not all of them at the one time! The list could be endless! • Prayer chains and intercessory prayer cells; • The laying on of hands, or anointing of the sick with oil by elders, deacons or members; • Visitation teams that give comfort and joy to the housebound, those in nursing homes and hospices, etc; • Prayers during worship, and prayeroriented special worship services for healing; • Holding forth the simple conviction that God answers prayer; • Providing safe spaces for people to express or confess their weaknesses and sins and learn of God’s forgiveness and healing; • Encouraging health care (eg, exercise, health education); • Promoting good personal health practices (diets and personal hygiene), discouraging use of harmful substances; • Encouraging Christians into caring or counselling careers or voluntary services; • Creating an atmosphere where joy, laughter, and fitting celebrations are a part of the healthy programme for a fellowship.

The Holy Spirit and the Modern Church. No one could disagree with the statement that the Church of the New Testament was a Church of dynamic life. The people of God then were powerful to do the works of God.

by Rev Joe McPhee People such as the blind man in Acts 3 were healed in full view of the public who were convinced of the truth of the Gospel the Apostles preached. That extraordinary day called Pentecost when the people were gathered to celebrate the harvest, was the day the disciples of Jesus came alive to the things of God. The story is extraordinary. The disciples were all together and while waiting as Christ had told them, they were at prayer and things happened. a. There was a sound like a mighty wind. The Scripture does not say there was a wind, but that there was the sound of a mighty wind. People were not being blown about. There was however, the sound of a mighty wind. The wind came from heaven and it filled the whole house. Acts 2. That is a historic and powerful moment in the History of Salvation. God the Spirit had come to His people. b. The description goes further. Along with the wind there appeared to be what were like cloven tongues of fire. It rested on each of the disciples. It was not fire for no one was burned but those cloven tongues that appeared as fire was the fire of the Spirit of God. The sound of the wind filled the whole house. The fire rested on each of the servants of Christ.

c. Then there comes this statement, “They were all filled with

the Holy Spirit.” The Lord Jesus had fulfilled His promise. He said, “If I do not go away, the Spirit will not come. But if I go away, I will send Him to you.” That is exactly what is happening here in Acts 2. The Spirit of God came on His people according to the promise of Christ. d. Everyone there heard the Apostles tell the good news of Christ each in his/her own language. The tongues that day spoke the understandable language of those who were present and three thousand people were gathered into the Kingdom that day. Here in this revelation of that great day there is great mystery that cannot be understood fully by human minds but is enfolded into the hearts of all who have faith in Christ.

was the power of God in them that if Peter’s shadow but spread over a sick person, they were healed. The people who saw all this were amazed, dumfounded, excited and of course responsive to what they had seen and heard. The main thing that happened was that thousands came to Christ and were baptised in His name.

were afraid and sorely troubled. Jesus still had work to do however and it will all be accomplished by the Cross and Resurrection. His departure that would come when His work was finished was for their good, both in what He would accomplish for them, and for the one whom He would send to them namely the Holy Spirit.

The Church of the 1st Century could not be ignored. A Roman Consul wrote, “I do not know what is happening to these people. All I do know is they cannot be stopped.”

It is clear the Holy Spirit was to take Christ’s place in the Church. Christ would send Him and while the world could neither see Him nor know Him, they would know him, because they would receive Him and He would live in them. John 14:15ff.

They were persecuted, beaten, put in prison and even put to death. When they prayed the place where they were was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly. (Acts 4) It was all in the open demonstrating the power of the presence of God.. Later Paul was to tell Agrippa, “This thing was not done in a corner.” Indeed it was not. They had power from God; they had fearlessness of heart and confidence in their message. Reading the narrative of the early Church the conclusion is that they were undefeatable. They were on fire. They were transformed from weakness to strength, from fear to courage, from wavering belief to strong confident faith. They had confidence in the Lord and knew that what was in them now could never be overcome.

“I will send Him to you.” This is the promise believers are called upon to trust. This a call to you reader, believe the promise of Christ. The Spirit is not an influence, nor is He just a feeling. He is a person. He is the Third Person of the Trinity. He has been sent from the Father. He has been given by the Son. He has come from Heaven and He lives in the life of everyone who believes in Jesus as Saviour. He responds to our faith in Christ and in the promise of Christ and thus are we born of God.

Several things happened and these determined the course and the purpose of the early Church and gave them power to be the people of God and power to do His work. Read the Acts of the Apostles on reaching the end of this article and see and believe the wonderful works of God done by ordinary people who were effective to do the work of God.

What then has happened to the modern Church? That is an easy question to pose. The answer is much more difficult. A learned man was once asked the question, “Why does God not use us the same way He used those people in the early Church.” He answered, “When you have given yourself to Christ the way they have done, then He will use you as he did those people of the past.” James Stewart said to students, “When you have gone as far as these did with Christ, He will go further with you.” Pentecost goes back to the first principles Christ laid down for His disciples in every generation.

2. Accept through faith that you are born of the Spirit. This is the spiritual life the people of God must nourish in themselves and seek to bring to the lives of others. Men and women who are redeemed in Christ are indeed born of the Spirit who bears witness to Christ in them (John 15:26). These words, “He shall testify of me,” resound in the souls of all who have faith in Christ. “How do I know I am a Christian?” The Spirit witnesses to the believer that Christ is within. He the Spirit, will do all of that and will glorify Christ in you and through you. John 16:14 - “He will bring glory to me by taking what is mine and make it known to you.” This is the meaning of Pentecost. Born of the Spirit, Christ lives within His people. It is time to believe the promises of Christ and seek everyday to live by them.

The main thing this article seeks to emphasise is that when the Church lived in the Spirit and worked by the Spirit, things happened. Such

1. Believe the Promise of Christ. John 16:7. The immediate difficulty for those early disciples was that Jesus was going to leave them. Of course they

3. Presence. The teaching of Christ is that by the Holy Spirit, the Father and He will come and live within us. John 14:15-22. Read that and let

your soul know Him. The result of Pentecost, among many other things, is His Presence in you. The Presence of God the Father and the Presence of God the Son are brought to His people by the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Of course there is the promise of power. The Lord told His disciples they would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Apostles had power to do great things. It is always to be remembered that it is all of Grace in God’s Sovereignty. Other people were filled with the Spirit and never spoke in any language save their own and never healed anyone. Their lot was that they knew the Lord and knew His presence and it filled them with hope so that they gave witness to Christ and gathered many to the Lord. This is where the fire is kindled in us. This is how we will know power in the modern Church. Great praise and music are wonderful. An expression of joy and hope in worship is always appropriate and desirable, but when power is our longing, remember we first need the Lord. Power without him is not possible nor is it good. The Spirit of God is given that we might know Him through the witness of the Spirit. 4. Inwardly respond to His Presence. This is an appeal for the quickening of your faith and the deepening of your spiritual life. The individual believer must learn the difficult art of the Practice of His Presence. Joseph Parker wrote a booklet by that name. He appealed to the Church to seek to know the Living God within. The early Church seemed to have that immediately they received Christ and were filled with the Spirit. It is this sense - deep sense of the Lord that makes His people alive. It is this that will lead to all the rest. Will God give us miracles? It is impossible to say. Our desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit should be our desire to know Him and leave the rest to His purpose in us. Some may be enabled to do great things. Some may be able to speak in tongues and so on. Why not leave that matter to Him and simply seek Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.

With the Scottish Bible Society in Romania

Tribute to ELIZABETH SCOTT Dundee: Caird Avenue Betty as she was familiarly known to family, friends and members of Caird Avenue congregation alike will be a sad loss to all. With Betty’s passing it is as if an era at Caird Avenue Congregation has come to an end because Betty was an active member and treasurer of the Church there for almost 52 years. Betty will be missed most of all by her close family, her daughter Margaret and son David and their family Nicola and David. She leaves behind her own twin sister Peggy and sister Ina. As well as the loss felt by the family and congregation at this time, Betty had made many friends in the wider denomination of the UF Church and will be missed by them also. She was an elder on Presbytery , active in the Woman’s Presbyterial Association, active supporter of the Prayer Fellowship and active in the community, Betty was fully engaged serving her Lord and was the

personal friend of many. Born in Glasgow, it was following the second World War that Betty came to Dundee to settle with her husband David. Betty had many gifts and could make herself at home in any company , her spirit was infectious , responding to any situation, she could and would challenge us, and would cheer us up with her humour and joyousness, and her natural ability with figures and a balance sheet was legendary. There was nothing Betty Iiked better than to tuck up in bed of an evening with her electric blanket on and a balance sheet to read. Betty’s greatest wish would be to be remembered as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, serving her Lord as best as she was able. This she djd: in. her life and church and .we give .thanks to God for her witness.

Rev Kenneth McNeish and his wife Sandra were part of a small team visiting Romania with the Scottish Bible Society. Andrew Scott interviewed them in their home in Milngavie.

Tribute to BILL SAMSON: Duntocher West Bill was born in Glasgow in 1928 but grew up in Clydebank. After school he became an apprentice joiner with Clydebank Council. After a spell working in the shipyard he returned to work for the Council as Housing Inspector till he retired. As a teenager he was involved in the Boys brigade in Dalmuir Parish Church where he went on to become an officer. He was asked to help out the 1st Duntocher Company as leader of the Life Boys. It was there he met his late wife Sadie. Their whole life centred on the church and its worship and social life. The family was complete with the birth of his daughters Ruth and Wilma. Apart from raising the family, and having a demanding job, there was all the work in the church and with the Boys Brigade as captain of the 1st Duntocher Company. Family holidays were spent at BB camps. 16

Bill was a champion of the cause to keep the church open when it was threatened with closure by the Church of Scotland presbytery. The congregation had to leave the church building but continued to meet in the community centre. It became a congregation of the United Free Church in June 1976 and the church building was retuned to them in 1977. Bill and his faithful band in the fabric committee worked tireless to refurbish the building. He was a faithful servant and served as an elder, session clerk and presbytery elder and attended the General Assembly as a commissioner. As his health deteriorated, these last years have been a further revelation of his personality and inner strength and faith. Hand in hand with our sense of loss and sorrow goes an awareness of great gain; for Bill Samson has been an inspiration to us all and brought friendship, genuine commitment and enthusiasm, to the cause of the Kingdom of God.

Kenneth and Sandra: You are well known to the Milngavie Congregation having served us well during our time of vacancy, but tell Stedfast readers about yourself and how you came to be in Bucharest celebrating with the church in Romania the launch of a new translation of the New Testament. “I started my ministry in the Baptist Church in Kirkwall in 1967. We have had an interest in Romania through Open Doors over many years. After retirement from my last ministry in Helensburgh my wife and I settled in Milngavie and became involved with the Scottish Bible Society where we now have a supporting ministry. The Development Officer, Alan Campbell, invited us to accompany him to Romania in February at the invitation of the Romanian Bible Society who with support from Scotland and other countries had been working over some 12 years on a project to produce a new version of the New Testament in Romanian.”

There is something remarkable about the project, is there not, in Romanian terms? “Yes. Believers in Romania, as in other countries, have been very attached to their own revered translations of the Scriptures. There is also the historical division between the Romanian Orthodox Church (the largest denomination), the Roman Catholic Church, and the Protestant denominations. What is remarkable about this translation is that it came about through the oversight of the Romanian Bible Society, which is a very small organisation working out of a flat in Bucharest. Furthermore the Society managed to bring together representatives of all the churches in Romania and create a New Testament in modern idiom that was acceptable to all the churches. I understand The Scottish Bible Society also helped to fund a related venture.

“Yes. A project headed by Alan Campbell called Megavoice helped to create an aid for people with sight problems and reading problems. The Megavoice is an audio facility using solar power small in size and easily put in a pocket. The Romanian Bible Society were responsible for putting together the recording of the New Testament with the help of local actors for the different voices in the New Testament narratives. Some of these actors became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ through participating in this project.” What did you do in Romania? “We took part in the inauguration ceremony at the University of Bucharest along with representatives...

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