news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
May 2009

From the Manse

The threat of a global pandemic has certainly been concentrating the minds of governments and health chiefs following an outbreak of Swine 'Flu in Mexico. The ready access to air travel certainly increases the rapid spread of infectious disease within today's 'global village'. Outbreaks of such diseases however, have been around for as long as humankind and are well documented.

The Plague at Eyam Derbyshire in 1665 for example, raged for 14 months and claimed the lives of at least 260. By 1st November 1666 it had run its course and claimed its last victim. Eyam's selfless villagers, with their strong Christian convictions, had shown immense personal courage and self sacrifice by closing off the village, thus preventing the plague from spreading to other parishes, but many paid the ultimate price for their commitment.

Diseases, and the fight to relieve them, have been part of human life since the dawn of history. The Bible frequently mentions personal illness and epidemics and of attempts to prevent or cure . In those days, Jewish medicine was regarded as better than many, largely as a result of its rigorous sanitary codes. The ultimate origin of the word 'uarantine' was the Jewish law setting 40 days segregation for certain illnesses. Today we can thank God for the skills of medical science that have evolved from past generations enabling us to live healthier lives, but let us also pray, especially at this time, for health, healing and wholeness in the world.

May God bless you and keep you. Yours aye, Duncan

Parish Register

We extend our condolences to members of the families:

3rd March Mr Robert Cormie, Lossiemouth (formerly Burghead)
13th March Mr J R Eckford, Grant Street, Burghead

Communion Service

A joint Communion Service will be held at Alves on Sunday, 7th June.

Blythswood

The monthly collection will be on Tuesday, 19th May. Please ensure that no bags are left until the day or the night before the collection.

Summer Mission

We are running a summer mission for everyone in Burghead between 19th and 26th July.

A morning holiday club is planned for all primary school children, some evenings with a teenage focus, and a final youth service on Sunday, 26th.

The mission will be based in the Community Hall. Lots of help will be required, so keep an eye on the notice board in the church vestibule.

Who's Who in the Bible - By Brian Miller

By leading a rebellion against his father, King David, Absalom seems to have have lived to contradict the meaning of his name. The King's third son Absalom was born during David's early reign over Judah at Hebron. His mother was Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, a nation northeast of the Sea of Galilee. David's second son, Chileab evidently died young, leaving the handsome, ambitious Absalom second in line of succession after his half brother Amnon.

The inevitable tensions between these royal sons of different mothers exploded into a mortal hatred while Absalom was still a youth. Amnon lured Tamar, Absalom's full sister, into his house and raped the girl. Devastated, Tamar went to Absalom for protection, while her father, David, though angry, did nothing to punish Amnon for his transgression. Absalom was filled with loathing for Amnon but patiently waited for two years before exacting revenge. He invited Amnon with David's other sons to a sheep-shearing festival and, when Amnon was merry with wine, had him murdered. Fearing blood vengeance, Absalom fled north to his grandfather's court in Geshur and remained for three years before Joab, commander of the army, was able to persuade David to allow the refugee a safe return.

Yet two more years passed before David was willing to meet with his son, and by that time Absalom's resentment had hardened into a determination to overthrow his father. The battle took place east of the Jordan river in the dense forest of Ephraim. As the contest turned against him, Absalom fled. His mule ran beneath a spreading oak tree and Absalom's head became wedged between the branches. Joab again intervened, but this time dispatched the dangling rebel with three darts through the chest. David, who in spite of everything loved his son, could not celebrate victory, but wept openly upon hearing the news - O my son Absalom, my son. Would I had died instead of you.

What is Back to Church Sunday?

Back to Church Sunday started in England in 2004 and has since spread around the world, bringing thousands of people back to church.

On the last Sunday of September, parishioners ask a friend or relative if they would like to go to church with them. If the answer is yes, they accompany the person to church and stay with them during the service and for coffee either before or after. "It's something everyone can do," says Bishop Philip Poole, who is heading up efforts in his diocese. "Our Diocesan Council has this year designated Sept. 27, 2009, as Back to Church Sunday and many churches are already preparing for the big day."

So how about it? Let's give it a try in our church. Start preparing for September 27th!

Guild scheme launched in Edinburgh

The Church of Scotland Guild has revealed the six organisations that will be part of its multi-million-pound charitable programme. Members gathered at St Cuthbert's Church, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, for the launch of the Project Partnership Scheme for 2009-12.

The six projects are:
1. On the Other Side; which helps prisoners' families (partnered with Crossreach.)
2. A New Hunger; an HIV charity (partnered with the Church's HIV/Aids Project)
3. Terrify No More; an organisation that rescues prostitutes and slaves in Cambodia (partnered with the International Justice mission)
4. A Place for Hope; an ecumenical centre for reconciliation in Scotland (Partnered with the Ministries Council)
5. Mission Run; which helps spread the Gospel in Madagascar (partnered with the Mission Aviation Fellowship)
6.Interfaith Support; a group that works for peace in Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in Israel and Palestine (partnered with the World Mission Council).

Guild members are encouraged to support the nominated projects through worship, prayer and action, as well as expanding their own knowledge of the underlying issues of concern in the world.

For more information see the presentation at:
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/councils/guild/downloads/gdresourcesactionpack.ppt

And finally if you send something by road it is called a shipment, but when you send it by sea it is called cargo?