news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
February 2010

from the manse

Following the Haiti Earthquake Disaster, and after an inevitable but frustratingly slow start, food aid is getting through to the hundreds of thousands left homeless and hungry. The scale of such disaster is beyond the ken of most of us, limited as we are to the selected scenes presented through the media. Heaven forbid, if we were caught up in such! Just where would you begin in order to to get assistance and aid? Thankfully there are many good Samaritans who, through recognized agencies and with trained expertise, military or civilian, begin to bring order out of chaos.

As Christians therefore, it is particularly galling for us to witness in recent days, the news of a group of American Baptists took it upon themselves to 'rescue and re-home' children in what has been described as kidnapping! 'Let the children come to me' ? I think not in their case! The group, however altruistic, appear to be oblivious to what they have done and have been quoted as saying 'God is our provider and God gives us strength and comfort. We have our Bibles and we are OK!' Fine! Just what planet have they come from? They stumble into a disaster area, tying up the time of officials who have more than enough to cope with. What is more, they were actually removing children who (it transpires) were not even orphans! Sadly, there are some Christians in the world whose self-possessed conviction makes it very hard for the majority of faithful, sensible and intelligent disciples to witness effectively. In my experience, they often do more harm than good.

It is therefore especially uplifting when a small community such as ours can in a very short time, quietly and reverently raise in excess of £ 2082.15 for the Haiti Fund. This will be forwarded to Christian Aid, who at these times provide essential aid with no strings. Our sincere thanks to all who contributed, and especially to our Christian Aid co-ordinator, Margaret Mackenzie.

May God bless and keep you - Duncan.

Michty Moderator! Oor Wullie mock-up for Kirk figurehead

CRIES of 'jings, crivvens, help ma boab!' are unlikely to be heard any time soon from a Church of Scotland pulpit, but it appears the Moderator has found a new seat of learning. As part of his visit to Dundee Presbytery, the Right Reverend Bill Hewitt, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, was meeting workers from DC Thomson at their Kingsway East site. Following a tour of the building, staff presented him with a special caricature to mark the occasion. It depicts the Moderator sitting on Oor Wullie's bucket, with his home church in Greenock (Westburn) in the background.

Mr Hewitt said: 'In Mark's gospel Jesus says unless we become more child-like in our faith we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. But I don't think this is what he had in mind. I will be hanging the sketch in my office, and perhaps the Moderator's new seat of learning will prove inspirational when it comes to writing Sunday's Sermon.

(Is this beyond the pail? - Ed.)

I'm getting married in the morning . . . . maybe!

AN ONLINE pressure group that called for the removal of billboard advertisements for a website that encouraged extra-marital affairs appears to have won a victory.

Jon Kuhrt, from Merton, in south London, started the campaign after he spotted a billboard advertising the website maritalaffair.co.uk. Mr Kuhrt, who worships at Streatham Baptist Church, wrote to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). But the ASA rejected his complaint, saying that the advertisement 'was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence'. Mr Kuhrt appealed against its decision: Their policy seems to be saying that the prevailing attitude of society is that extra-marital affairs are acceptable. . . .It may be only a small website, but it's a big issue. If it's allowed to be seen as normal, we're conceding more ground, and faith will be seen more as a 'private thing'. When you think of the trauma and suffering caused to individuals and communities by the damage of affairs - and the breakdown of relationships they cause - I can't think of anything more irresponsible.

More than 3400 people joined Mr Kuhrt's campaign on Facebook. A statement released by the website maritalaffair.co.uk said it had reviewed its advertising strategy and 'instructed our agency to remove billboard ads from our current campaign' However, it maintained that 'people have the right to choose their own lifestyle'. Mr Kuhrt said he would start a new campaign to close down the website.

Kirk convenor: Reclaim the Sabbath as a family day

Rev. Ian Galloway, convenor of the Kirk's Church and Society Council urges the Church of Scotland to reclaim Sunday as a family day. He questions whether people's hectic lifestyles are full of meaningful accomplishments or just busy activities to the detriment of personal relationships and family life. He believes that designating Sunday as a day for family time, and not for work, would benefit the whole nation.

On his blog, the convenor said: 'I've often spoken about poverty. But there is another kind of poverty - the lack of time spent with friends, family, and others you could be with. A couple of months ago I was in Germany and one Sunday I visited a town where not a single shop was open. People were out and about with their families. That is a value on Sunday that is above money. The truth is that business does not guarantee fruitfulness. It is the quality of what our lives produce that determines whether or not we are truly fruitful. It's time to be with those we care about and reclaim the Sabbath for what is'.

Let us know your views on the above for the next issue of the newsletter - anonymously, if you wish! - Ed

Church Roll

Candlemas

If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter'll have another flight
But if Candlemas Day be cold and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.

At the beginning of February the feast of Candlemas is celebrated to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary, an ancient rite following childbirth. It also recalls the presentation of Christ in the Temple. In some churches, candles are distributed and the Nunc Dimittis is sung, recalling that Christ came to be the Light of the World.

Simeon took the child up in his arms, and blessed God and said:

'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.'

And finally. . . . . a Conversation with God

Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: Can I ask you something?
God: Of course
Man: What is for you a million years?
God: A Second
Man: And a million Pounds?
God: A penny.
Man:God, can you give me a penny?
God: Wait a second!