news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
November 2009
'Year of Homecoming'

From the Manse

The other morning, I was lost in thought contemplating the finer points of a new sermon, whilst supposed to be minding the toaster. Then, 'er-indoors' said, "It will soon be Bonfire night again" I must admit to have been a little taken aback by this remark, until I noticed that my 'Tesco's sliced' would now only be recognized by carbon dating! "Remember, Remember the 5th of November" How could we ever forget the excitement of youth, the hiss of rocket and Catherine wheel (the latter incidentally named after an early Christian Saint, Catherine of Alexandria, who was martyred for her faith on a chariot wheel!) Like the first Easter eggs, (usually in the shops by January!), Bonfire night also seems to get earlier and earlier. Bangers and rockets startle and whizz into the night sky from late September, sending wildlife and domestic pets scuttling for shelter. It would seem that such pyrotechnic displays are becoming more and more frequent, so losing something of the excitement, and spark (sic) of the historic event.

Although Guy Fawkes may have felt he had a legitimate reason to restore Roman Catholicism in the land, he was in effect, a terrorist! Ironically, had he been successful, he could have blown up the Houses of Parliament while King James I and the entire Protestant, and even most of the Catholic aristocracy and nobility were inside!

Today at least, 'love or loathe em', we have a Parliament that is open and free. We are also able to enjoy freedom of speech, unlike many countries in the world. However, 'Lest we forget', we have these privileges solely due to those who have been, and who still are prepared to "fight the good fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6;12) in order that we may live in freedom and peace. Jesus also said, "Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15;13)

We will Remember them

May God bless you and keep you. Yours aye, Duncan
( Rev. Duncan Shaw - 4 Manse Road, Kinloss - 01309 690931 )

Remembrance Sunday 8th November

The annual Act of Remembrance will take place at Burghead War Memorial commencing at 11am with the Prayers, The Silence, the laying of Wreaths and thereafter a shortened service in the Church. All uniformed organisations welcome to attend. Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the event.

The Minister will also conduct an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying by the Alves War Memorial at 2 30pm.

A Pause for Thought

I was never young because I never dared to be young.

Is that where we are in our church? Are we scared to be young? Are we trying to be great without knowing what greatness is? What would it mean to be a childlike church? Not just child-friendly, but childlike. How can we become a place of imagination and daring and wonder and playfulness? When Jesus points towards the least he picks a child. He doesn't pick someone who is rubbish at everything and he doesn't pick the poorest and he doesn't make fun or embarrass anyone. He picks a child. A child who needs looked after and nurtured and encouraged and played with. . . and loved. Maybe that's a clue about what church should be like. . . (contributed)

Wishy-washy pleas will not get us back into church !

According to one Anglican Bishop, weekly attendances at church have now dropped to below one million. He writes, "How did it come to this?",in what was apparently supposed to be a positive contribution to a debate on attendance, "that we have come to be known as just the Marks and Spencer option when Jesus was probably more of an Aldi man !"

A commentator remarked, that whilst the Bishop was perhaps trying to broaden his religious base, he was going about it rather in the style of the infamous Gerald Ratner, who talked his product down! Would you ever hear a Pope say "The trouble with Catholicism is . . ." or a Mullah put forward the argument: "Here's what's wrong with Islam"? No, exactly, and funnily enough for them, business is booming!

Coffee Morning on 7th November

Patrick Glendinning and willing volunteers are organizing a coffee morning in aid of the annual Poppy Appeal in the Hall from 10 to 12 on Saturday 7th. If you don't come, he promises to come round and serenade you with his pipes!

We need to make our churches multi-purpose so they can be widely used by the community and not just for an hour on a Sunday morning.

So writes Tim Parker, General Trustees Deputy Secretary at the Church of Scotland Offices in Edinburgh. Well Tim, here in Alves and Findhorn we have not let the grass grow under our feet and we are way ahead of you.!

Faith & Hope for an Eritrean Refugee

Six years after he deserted the Eritrean army and crossed the Sudan border, 31-year-old Abraham Musa has found the freedom he was looking for. In Eritrea, he had been threatened with prison if he was ever found with a Bible, or met other Christians. In his new home in Cardiff, Mr Musa distributes Bibles to his fellow countrymen and is emerging as a leader in a flourishing refugee fellowship. In May 2002, a campaign of repression was unleashed on the country's new churches. Persecution was severe in the army, where Mr Musa was one of thousands already adapting to the imposition of indefinite National Service. He became a Christian through another Pentecostal Christian who was also doing his National Service. "In 2003, three of us were meeting secretly for fellowship in a cave - my friend, a woman soldier, and me. They put my friend in prison, and warned me and the woman that if they found us praying together, it would happen to us. I left after that." It was at an asylum-seekers' hostel in Hastings that Mr Musa was free, for the first time, from fear of arrest. Three years later, he moved on to Cardiff, where he found a spiritual home at a church linked to the South Wales Churches Refugee Network. Over the past two years, the Bible Society has supplied the Network with Bibles. Mr Musa has become a vital link. He takes Bibles to new arrivals from Eritrea at two asylum hostels in Cardiff. Mr Musa is grateful he no longer has to meet in caves. And he feels privileged to help others find an even deeper freedom.

(We take so much for granted in our church and community don't we ? Ed.)

Marriages

10th October in Alves Church - Robert Manson and Nicola Welsh

Funerals

9th October - Hamish Mustard - Cloves, Alves
19th October - Mary Goodall - Burghead

Free Will Offering Envelopes

Do you need more or wish to start ? Then please contact Jean Smith on 542635

Life & Work Magazine

If you wish to renew your subscription please contact Ann Milligan on 831598

Word Search in the Valley of Dry Bones (Eze. 37)

by Philologus © BibleQuizzes.org.uk 2009

V S A H W Y Z I S L G V P F K
E I L E A R S I F O D N A L X
E I L E A R S I F O D N A L X
E I L E A R S I F O D N A L X
R I S G Q D B H U K R D L R P
S P N I E D O G D R O L S A J
P M O F O E T R R B O W S R T
I U I G N N E Y U L E S K S S
R L T E F T N V U N M E I O T
I E C L X P T A I F K N N H Z
T C E K M Y L S A P B O V E B
P S R Q S E V A R G F B K R C
H P R E D L Y S O M A H E I W
R Q U M P L L T A B H A Z F X
T I S Z U A N N N G T V O V D
U S E X O V P U X H E U E N F
N O R P M B N P R O P H E C Y

BONES,BREATH,DRY,FLESH,GRAVES,LAND OF ISRAEL,LIFE, LORD GOD,PROPHECY,RESURRECTION,SINEWS,SKIN,SON OF MAN SPIRIT,VALLEY,VISION

And Finally . . . . .

An Army Captain was having his hair cut. "And how was Afghanistan?" asked the Barber. "Dull and routine" replied the Captain. "But surely there's a lot happening in Afghanistan" persists the Barber. "No nothing out of the ordinary" replied the Captain."But it must be exciting in Afghanistan" tries the Barber yet again. "Just why are you so curious about Afghanistan says the Captain?" "I'm not curious at all, but every time I mention Afghanistan your hair stands on end and it's much easier to cut" said the Barber!

*****

I am indebted for the above contribution to one who has seen active service in that theatre and so send our best wishes and God's blessing on all those who are still serving there at this time.

It just goes to prove that there is still 'humour in uniform'! Ed.