“We give thanks to you, O God. We give thanks, for your Name is near.” (Psalm 75.1)
Some of our people know a lot (without any coronavirus issue) about isolation and about the difficulty of physically getting around. We all of us are experiencing something of that. I am in touch with you to encourage you both to pray and to act – to do what you are able to do, within the love of God.
The church buildings may be closed but the church is you and me
- I would appreciate your prayers and I imagine others would too. Take what you know to God and trust Him to know the rest. Hold one another in love.
- How can we keep in touch with one another? I’m going to build up a little list of folk to phone and perhaps you could do that! Let’s support others. If for some reason no-one does get in touch (we are all of course susceptible to being ill!), the attached card encourages you to take the initiative.
- Also on the card is the thought that through the church you might get help if you need it in a practical way. Again of course this depends on health and wellbeing, but if we can that’s what we want to do. Some of you reading this may even wish to volunteer to be a helper – in which case contacting me would be the way to start.
- Can I underline two things! First, as we keep on being told, do observe all possible hygiene precautions, even after reading this letter! Make it as difficult as you can for that virus to affect you. Second, if you are giving over money, or asking someone to pick money up for you, use someone you already know if at all possible.
Now, some information on what we hope to be able to do
- to help people connect in worship. As well as worship programmes on Radio 4, Radio Scotland and television, I shall transmit a short service on a Sunday morning at 10.30 am, via the church websites (address above!). You can watch it live, or catch up later. P.S. for next week, we read three chapters of Matthew – chs. 20-22!
- We shall produce DVDs of this short (30 mins?) service
- We shall regularly update the church website with information.
- Also, via the Calderbank or Cairnlea Facebook pages, you can access a network called C ‘n’ C (that stands for Cairnlea and Calderbank) – for information, posts and also for social exchange. There’s also a youth network.
- To produce a regular mailshot so as to keep people in touch, even if you do not have access to the internet.
- Offerings paid by banker’s order are unaffected. For others, you may wish to fill envelopes or (given limited access to cash) simply keep a reminder to yourself of what to do when you can act
So any questions? Any good ideas? Do feel free to be in touch.
Peter 01236 753159 or 07453 359531 phdonald@outlook.com
Elaine 07894 728667
Philip 07985 625831
FOR THOUGHT (from Matthew chapter 16)
When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”, it was Peter who we are told responded and got it right. It was a very beautiful moment because Peter was more than capable of getting it wrong before that, and even after that. But we are asked to think about him getting it right because what was right was to stop in front of Jesus and admit that he, Jesus, was the Christ.
The most ready temptation in a crisis or also if you’re inclined to be a hero (and Peter himself was to learn it the hard way) is to act as if you are the Messiah. To act as if God is surely with you as much as with anyone, if not more so, and so you should have the answers, and the inner strength and the ability to do everything you can think of doing. It is not always so. What Peter learned through failure was that his faith was both strong and weak. He did believe in Jesus but he also so believed in himself that that put him in danger of sinking. The beautiful moment of him getting it right is that Jesus was saying to him, you are absolutely on track when you trust me to keep away even the gates of hell. And if you can trust me with that, says Jesus, then I can do something with you and for you. Jesus was not just speaking to Peter. He was speaking to us all. We are invited to take on the work of opening up heaven – which really means rejoicing in the truth and in hope; living by forgiveness and by being forgiven; becoming clear about the priorities of life which of course include looking to ourselves but also include looking out for others.
It is not our natural inclination to believe in Jesus Christ. To believe and to trust in one who went through being wounded and attacked and ultimately killed in the cause of God’s truth and love is a big ask. But healing and hope come from that One who was wounded for us, who died for us. May God write that on our hearts and give us the peace that we can share with others of knowing that it’s not all on us, for all that most certainly we have a part to play.
“so that Christ’s power may rest on me … “: I admit my weakness because then I can find in him, in Christ, strength (2 Corinthians 12. 9-10).
MOTHERING SUNDAY: Sunday 22nd March 2020
A day for prayer and opening our eyes to the nurturing and watching over of all the children of God
- giving thanks for those who have nurtured and watched over us – not forgetting when this extends to our mother’s mother or our mother’s mother’s mother!
- giving thanks for those who have taken on children not their own to love and support
- giving thanks for learning and growth through family life at home and church
- remembering those who are borne down by the strains of motherhood
- remembering children, young in years or carrying the scars, of a hurting childhood
- remembering the huge challenges before families and society in these coming weeks where there is no school; where they may be issues to do with providing good food or paying bills; and where holidays and parties and intergenerational contact won’t take place
- praying for those who govern, for their wisdom and charity