news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
January 2010

from the manse

As I look out from the Manse window there is a new world. One that is pure, clean and brilliant; one that is devoid of human detritus and shouts out,'O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth' (Psalm 8; 1). I know it won't last, and so I am drawn to it all the more and to the words and sentiment of the well known hymn by Edward Caswall, 'See amid the winter's snow !' The New Year of 2010 is upon us and the pristine, fresh, kitchen calendar reminds us (already!) of forthcoming life events that will inevitably touch our world and our own lives for good or ill. We can look forward this year to a General Election (!) and certainly, as Christians, we ought to vote earnestly seeking from our candidates their spiritual integrity, as much as their political aspirations.

Mind you, it is hard not to be reminded cynically of the saying by a French journalist and novelist, 'Plus ca change, plus la meme chose 'meaning 'The more things change, the more they are the same!' Lest we drift into what can become post-festive blues, let me remind you of words by Albert Camus who wrote, 'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.' Even now in the Manse garden, there are signs of growth and new life in the tiny shoots of snowdrops, as 'God's purposes' overcome our latent emptiness. 'When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars, which you have set in place. What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? ' (Psalm 8; 3-4) There is much for us to do this year in being mindful and caring for our community and bringing the light of God's love into the hearts of all whom we shall meet along the way. So it is in that light of His eternal presence and strength, that with you, your families and friends, I can joyfully and sincerely wish you a Happy New Year and God's eternal blessing.

A blessed and peaceful New Year to you all. - Duncan

Rev.Duncan Shaw 4 Manse Rd,Kinloss 01309 690931

From the darkness . . . there came Enlightenment!

In 1949, my home was a bell-tent, which I shared with eleven other young airmen, in the Egyptian desert. Under each bed-leg, was a small round tin half-filled with paraffin, to keep the scorpions at bay. We were permitted one candle each night and whilst it was lit, we lay on our beds and discussed various subjects until the candle expired! One night, we discussed the merits and demerits of the English, Scots, Welsh and Irish, as we were an admixture of all four nationalities. When the candle expired, there was complete darkness and silence. A few moments later, the silence was broken by the voice of a young Yorkshire airman who said,

Everyone heard, but no one responded to this soliloquy, yet I am sure, that like me, they will remember it for the rest of their lives.

(Our thanks to Tommy Cumming, RAF (retired) for this contribution - Ed)

'Herod then with fear was filled . . . .'

Eight miles south of Jerusalem, a hill rises abruptly. This is Herodium, one of the grand architectural creations of Herod the Great. Historians regard him as an astute and generous ruler, a brilliant general and one of the most creative builders of the ancient world. Today however, he is best known as the 'sleekit' and murderous monarch of Matthew's Gospel who slaughtered every male infant in Bethlehem in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the newborn Jesus and prophesied King of the Jews. Scholars now agree that he is more than likely innocent of the crime of which there is only St Matthew's account in the Bible. But he did kill children, including three of his own sons, along with his wife, his mother-in-law and numerous members of his Court. Throughout his reign he blended creativity, cruelty, harmony and chaos in equal measure. He was born in 73 BC in Judaea then a kingdom riven with civil war and strife. He quickly learned the benefits of being at peace with the Romans, though maintaining a delicate balance was all the more difficult because of his own background ; his mother was Arab and father an Edomite. Though raised a Jew he wasn't recognized as such. His outward grandeur concealed a complex family life managing a large fractious family of 10 wives and a dozen or more children! Fuelled by Salome, he executed his wife Mariamne, in spite of his love for her, and in later years dispatched three of his sons for alleged conspiracy to overthrow him!

What is Faith ?

Throughout much of the twentieth century, the idea of having faith was suspect and people of faith were placed on the defensive. Faith was often placed in opposition to knowledge, or seen as accepting the incredible, like the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland telling Alice she sometimes 'believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.' Others saw it as leaping into the unknown. Faith however is none of these things. It begins with becoming aware of something about which you were previously ignorant. But then it leads to assent, to accepting that the experience or understanding you now have is valid. Finally faith involves trust, which occurs when you entrust yourself to the understanding you have come to know and accept. For a Christian this means coming to understand what Jesus has shown us about God, and how to experience a healthy relationship with God. It means accepting that as true and finally trusting your life, both for now and the future, to follow the model of relationship with God provided through Jesus Christ.

'Souper Sunday'

(Coming soon to a Church you know!)

Churches around Scotland are joining in a 'Souper Sunday' Service in aid of World HIV/Aids projects. The idea is that elders and congregations conduct worship on the theme of the projects (the Minister sits in the pew that day!) and thereafter all join in a Soup an' Bread lunch for which a small donation would be requested. The theme of the day's worship will be 'Do not be afraid - I am with you' (Isaiah 43.5)

Watch out for the date and time

General Election 2010

The Minister has been approached by Moray Council officials requesting the use of the church hall to be used for voting during elections rather than at the school as is at present. This is in order to avoid the need to close schools and the resulting disruption it causes pupils and teachers alike. Our hall has been inspected and approved for the purpose and it will therefore be in use through the day of any local or national elections. The church will be duly recompensed for this by Moray Council. It does however mean that organizations that use the hall would have to find another location on a Polling day. Possible dates for a general Election are believed to be 25th March, 6th May or 3rd June but are as yet unconfirmed.

Funeral

Our sincere condolences to all those who mourn

December 18 - Eleanor Sutherland, Anderson's Home, late of Burghead.

Bible Wordsearch

The printed newsheet carried BibleWordsearch No 172 ; December 2009 If you're reading this, you have access to the puzzle (about the parable of the house divided). Just go to http://biblewordgames.com/wordsearchintropage.html and click the Dec. Wordsearch button. You will find the puzzle to download

. . . . . .Finally

As I was waiting for a bus I asked the lady standing next to me, 'Does your dog bite?' . She replied that it didn't , so I patted it and it almost bit my fingers off. I said, ' I thought you said your dog doesn't bite.'. She said. 'That's not my dog!' . Happy New Year !