news

This is the

churches' news-sheet

for for August 2010

From the Manse . . . .

Thankfully, praise God, in 'recovery mode' following a bout of ill-health, 'er-indoors' prescribed an away-day from the Manse. So on a bright sunny day we headed north following the A9 towards Caithness. No, it's not the end of the earth, but you can see it from there! Why on earth, you may ask? Why not? Shout many of the Caithness folk in our parish! Well, it goes back to our time when I was Assistant Minister at Dunblane Cathedral in the early 80s. Whilst there, we were priviliged to be presented to HM the Queen Mother who was paying a private visit to the then Minister.Her genuine warmth and kindness, along with her innate ability to put us and those around us at ease, was quite remarkable. She could have been my Granny! From that time on, we would aye watch out for her on TV with her winsome smile and yes, as always, putting others at their ease.

Time passes and she is on longer with us, save for a legacy of memories to so many. As you may (sic) guess, our say out was to the Castle of Mey, where her presence was still palpable throughout. The homely touches were everywhere, and far from the regal life into which she and her husband were to be dutifully led. One feels for the time when she and her husband must have felt so imprisoned by the heavy responsibility to the nation that was to follow the Abdication - a role for which her husband felt so unfit. Interestingly enough, when we did meet her, the Lady-in-Waiting was Lady Bassett, who was later to write a book called 'Each in his Prison'. It was an anthology of writings by people who had endured and overcome different kinds of captivity and describes what inspires people to rise above prisons of conscience, of mind, and of soul. It has echoes of Psalm 142 and the very telling phrase in verse 7:

Set me free from my prison , that I may praise your name

Amen to that! May the peace of God be with you all. Yours aye, Duncan.

The Ten Commandments - a Refresher *

4.Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. The Jews' Sabbath and the Christians' Sunday are a divine institution. To set one day in seven apart is not just a human arrangement or a social convenience. It is God's plan. He made the sabbath for man, Jesus emphasized, and since he also made man for whom he made the sabbath, he adapted it to man's need. Man's body and mind need rest, and man's spirit needs the opportunity for worship. The sabbath is therefore a day of rest and a day of worship. Not only are we to keep it as such for ourselves, for our own good, but we are to do all we can for the common good to ensure that other do not have to work unnecessarily. Sunday is a 'holy' day, set apart for God. It is the Lord's day, not ours, for his worship and service and not just for our selfish pleasure.

5. Honour your father and your mother This fifth commandment still belongs to the first part of the law which concerns our duty to God. Our parents, at least while we are children, stand towards us in loco Dei. They represent God's authority. Yet often it is in their own homes that people, young people especially, are at their most selfish and inconsiderate. It is all too easy to be ungrateful and neglectful, and to fail to show our parents due respect and affection. How often do we write to them or visit them? Or do they need financial support which we could give but deny them?

* Stott, J. (1958) 'The Ten Commandments' in Basic Christianity pp 73-4; Inter-Varsiy Press reprint 2007

New christian bookshop to open next to Kirk's HQ

A new christian bookshop is to open in the heart of Edinburgh, next to the Church of Scotland's headquarters.The Kirk has announced that a Living Oasis Bookshop will temporarily fill vacant premises on George Street where Wesley Owen used to be. It is being launched by the Nationwide Christian Trust. Angus Macpherson, convenor of the Church's Central Services Committee, said: 'The Central Services Committee is very pleased that Living Oasis is temporarily taking over the George Street bookshop. We warmly welcome them and wish them every success. This will continue the ministry to the Church and the wider community so faithfully carried out by the Wesley Owen bookshop for many years.'

Ray George, Chairman of Trustees for the nationwide Christian Trust, said he was delighted at the news: ' We believe there is an opportunity to serve the people of Edinburgh and indeed Scotland through Christian books and media and this has been sadly missing for the last six months. We are delighted that in two weeks time we shall be opening the doors again to a new bookshop.'

[IBS-STL UK, the company behind Wesley Owen, went into administration last year, and the premises have been unoccupied since the bookshop closed in February]

Treasurer's £ Note!

Our Treasurer, gently and tactfully reminds us that the cost of electricity in our churches rises just as much as it does in our own homes! Every church service, wedding, funeral, meeting or function in the building uses electricity, and has to be paid for. So please help us to keep our church open and witnessing in our community with your generous support.

Needin' a Rest

Seeing their Minister a bit 'rin-doon' The congregation votes him a long rest. A friend who 'd met him on the Continent said, 'I thocht he was lookin' his vera best.' 'That's mair than like, bit is wasna him, Twas the congregation was needin ' a rest!'

Bible Wordsearch

If you are reading this, you can probably find in puzzles at http://biblewordgames.com this month's puzzle on God's Armor(American spelling!) in Bible Wordsearch no 179

Blythswood

Collections are made from Burghead, outside the Church Hall (but not obstructing the door) between 1.00 and 1.30 pm on the certain Tuesdays [24 Aug, 21 Sep, 19 Oct, 16 Nov, 21 Dec] Please don't leave bags at other times.

Services

The service on Sunday 8th August will be conducted by the Rev David Anderson.

Parish Register

Our sincere condolences to all who are bereaved