Sun 10 May Christian Aid Week 'Good news'

It's Christian Aid Week and this was reflected in our time of worship. 

Our readings were:

Isaiah 61:1-8; Acts 17:16-31; and John 14:15-21 and we were thinking about the words 'good news'.

The Isaiah reading is a bit of a nod to our service last week, in which we went back to the beginnings of Jesus' ministry when he travelled to his home town of Nazareth. It's the first record of Jesus preaching and the text he chose to speak on was today's passage from the Book of Isaiah. The text itself is a manifesto of good news to the oppressed, the captives, the broken-hearted, prisoners, those who mourn - essentially, all who are struggling, whether because of systemic injustice or personal circumstance.
And the good news is that God is with them, God hears their cry; their struggles will end. Out of ruins will come restoration; peace will come; injustices will be righted.
Good news.
God will send one who is anointed, chosen, to not only bring the good news in word, but also through action.
In him, unjust structures will be overcome, as seen in v.8 ‘I the Lord, love justice and hate robbery and wrongdoing.’

To the devastated people of Israel, many of whom were living in captivity in Babylon, and having experienced the loss of home and most of what they had, Isaiah’s message is one of hope.

Of good news.

Jesus chooses this text to read out to those in the synagogue - it is his manifesto:

Isaiah is describing what Jesus is here to do.
But it goes beyond doing:

Jesus is the living embodiment of God's justice, love, and mercy.

He is the good news.

Which leads us to today's gospel passage, in which Jesus instructs them to love:

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.'

This is a love that endures - for God is faithful.

Those who put their trust in God, those who follow Jesus' instruction to love, will never be orphaned.

As God loves, so too, God's people - the love is to be shared.

Which is something that Paul takes on in such a way, that he ends up travelling the best part of the then known world to share good news -

the good news of God’s love, found in the person of Jesus…

encouraging those who take in this message of love to heart to go and do likewise -

sharing love in both word and in action, and through doing this, transform the world around us.

Good news.

Sharing good news, sharing God’s love, is very much at the heart of what drives the work of Christian Aid. Imagination, sanctified by God's love, saw a very real problem in urban, overcrowded Nairobi and found a creative, life-giving way to share that love through the Beacon of Hope project. One person who has been helped is Fridah. Her story is here in the clip below:

Through this project, Fridah has learnt new skills that not only provides food for her family, but also a steady stream of income from selling what she grows - which helps to pay for schooling and other necessary living costs.

Good news.

What might we do in our own small corner of the world, as we put love into action?

After all, love can change the world, and in a world that's crying out for good news, so it is ours to share God's love - for God's love is the good news for the world.

Let's pray:

Gracious God, 

when we stand on the plains of uncertainty, 

with no path before us, we look to you. 

We remember what you have done before 

and our anxious hearts are comforted.  

Showing mercy, you delivered us then; 

in your love and faithfulness, you will do it again. 

Give us the strength to step forward in hope.  

Give us faith that changes us, 

hope that feeds us,  

love that moves us.  

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you would like to donate to the work of Christian Aid, you can find their site HERE

'The Shepherd' worship reflections and church notices

Hi folks, today in various places around the world, the Church celebrates what has come to be known as 'Good Shepherd' Sunday. It's an opportunity to reflect on Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to pause and consider the words from John 10:1-10, and Psalm 23. And, given our very rural context and that we're in the midst of lambing season, it's very apposite.

On site, we are also learning a new - to us - song from the group New Scottish Hymns Band called 'You're the Shepherd'.
So, in our time here, let's begin with that.

CALL TO WORSHIP 
Come as you are – known and loved.
Come with joy, come with hope.
Come with your burdens, come with your doubts.
Come with your dreams, come with your fears.
For God calls you by name and rejoices....

PRAYER 
God of new life,
planting grassy meadows for picnics,
pooling clear waters for floating,
making starry skies for gazing:
you shaped us in your image so we might not ever want;
you sent women and men of faith to us,
sharing their experience of you,
encouraging us to look up to listen, to follow you.
Loving us, You sent Jesus to us,
that we might hear his voice and believe his plain spoken words:
and so we give you our praise and worship.

Loving God, when we are quiet in your presence,
when we try to pray and when we reflect on your word...
when we are surrounded by noise and bustle,
when people compete for our attention and we have too much to do:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are happy and secure in the love of friends and family
and at peace with ourselves...
when we are overwhelmed by regrets for the past,
disappointment in the present, 
and fears for the future...
when we are confident in our decisions and sure of our plans:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are bewildered by many choices
and confused about the right way to go,
in the day and at night, at home and at work,
in company and alone, teach us to listen...
help us to hear your voice. 

Lord, where the waters of our life have been troubled,
you still our hearts and minds.
Where we have walked in strange and difficult ways,
you guide us in the right paths.
Where we have walked even through the valley of death,
you have been beside us.

…In your mercy, restore our souls.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

REFLECTION: 
It was one of those stunningly gorgeous days – hardly a breeze; the sun, beaming down on the hills and along the glen, and I’d taken myself off down to the end of the garden with a cuppa, to sit on my wee stool and just watch the world go by for a bit. The river was all diamond-sparkly and everything felt right with the world. Looking across the river, I saw a shepherd, with his dogs, guiding some sheep down the slope towards it. I admired the relationship between man and dog, as they worked together to lead the sheep down and  then under the bridge to get to the field just along.
A good shepherd, thought I.
But it was time to head back inside and crack on with some work.
So, a little reluctantly, I did.

A couple of days later, I met up with someone who knew that particular shepherd very well, and I mentioned how much I admired his skill.

This was met with a huge grin.

Apparently, if I’d stayed watching, I’d have seen five minutes later, that same shepherd, in the river, wading across to the other side in pursuit of a small group of rogue sheep who’d decided that they weren’t going to pay any notice to his instructions. 

I guess they thought that the grass really was greener on the other side..

So… a good shepherd, yes…

but not THE Good Shepherd that our bible passages refer to –

the one who says to his assorted group of listeners:

‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’

In a busy, busy, rush, rush world where too often the voice that is listened to is telling us all that our value is found only in what we can produce, and which calls us to be continually, relentlessly doing in order just to survive…

in an unquiet, fractured, and fearful world, where too often fear is weaponised and it seems that the only voices we hear are those that divide and create discontent and where difference is seen as suspect…

in a world that too often feels as if everyone and everything is broken or breaking, as we listen to the voices of doom in an endless cycle of news…

perhaps it’s time to press the pause button and spend a little time thinking about Jesus our shepherd, to listen to his voice,  and to think about life beyond mere survival –

about life that is…abundant.

So, what is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?
Some of the answer to both questions are seen within the words of the Psalmist.

Who's voice are we listening to?
In the early part of the psalm, the Psalmist talks of God as the shepherd in whom we have all we need.

God is our abundance, our provider – the One who is more than enough.
If we listen to his voice, and follow where he leads, our needs will be met.
I wonder: what are the voices we might listen to that can prevent us from following the Shepherd?
And, what might we do - what small changes could we make - to help us better hear our Shepherd's voice?

And another question for reflection: 

take some time now to think about where God is leading you;

where he has led you in the past;

where he’s led you to now.

Pray about where he may be leading you in the future…

 

Work / life balance is not a new concept: it's in the Bible.
The Psalmist also reminds us that the Shepherd leads his flock to places of refreshing, places of stillness, quiet, where we can find rest. It's the very antidote to our hyper-consumerist society where, too often people are valued only by 'what they can contribute' - 

what they can produce... where they are seen as just expendable cogs in the machine of industry.
The 'shepherds' of industry are often too ready to fleece their sheep, rather than to tend them.
The Good Shepherd knows the wisdom to be found in giving his flock space to be, and to breathe, and to enjoy life. Which is also a better strategy for both a contented flock, and a way of ensuring that they are at their best... 

In the end, rather than rest, creative space, times of stillness, reducing productivity, it enhances it.
God, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, instituted the concept of rest right at the beginning of Creation:

after the sixth day, God rested. 

And later, God codified it: Sabbath rest. 

If resting is good enough for God, then... let's take the hint and rest.

Dark valleys.

It’s often been said that you don’t find many atheists in foxholes –

basically, when dark times come, in moments of crisis, that’s often when we turn to God for help and comfort. But even when we might not be quite with God, God our shepherd is always faithful and always with us:

there for us in our deepest point of need,

there when all other hope is gone.

He is the one who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, and out the other side of it.

If we pause, if we’re still, if we call…

we find that God is near.

Again, an opportunity for some reflection: 

stop and think about those times in your own life when things seemed darkest, and when you felt God’s presence close to you.

And, if in the present, there are difficult times that you’re navigating, why not use this time to offer your particular situation up to the One who listens and who knows your name…

We come full circle and ask again:

What is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?

Well, we do the work of listening to the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus –

who will show us the right way to go –

who will lead us to the paths of peace, of refreshing,

of quiet space apart from the noise and busyness that so often fills our lives –

a space in which we remember again whose we are and who we are:

called to be his.

As we follow, so his goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

And, knowing ourselves loved, knowing God’s goodness and mercy, we go ahead:

widening the path so that goodness and mercy will not just bless us, but others -

knowing that as we do:

we need not fear, 

we shall not want -

for there is more than enough:

overflowing cups of goodness and mercy and God’s abundance all the days of our lives.

And also knowing that the one who calls us

guards us and guides us, leads us and loves us

and never, ever lets us go.  Amen.

A blessing for this week:

BLESSING

We belong here with God’s family, 

but we also belong in his world. 

Called by God, he sends you to turn belief into action –

to be his hands, his feet, his loving heart, in the world.

As God’s own, 

as you go about your lives this week,,

God, our shepherd, goes with you, guarding and guiding you.

May the blessing of God, 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

be with you all, evermore... Amen.

NOTICES

Sun 3 May: Kirk Session meeting - 

after worship and morning tea this coming Sunday, Session will be meeting over a 'bring and share' lunch. This is an open meeting, and those who are not on the Session are most welcome to stay. The main business will be exploring our future within the cluster, now that we are officially in a deferred union with the newly united cluster parishes of Cairngryffe and Douglas Valley - now Clydesdale Trinity. It's an opportunity for looking, and planning, ahead. 

Added to this, Presbytery have asked that all parishes prepare a mission plan to be ready for attestation 2027. Having asked Presbytery on Saturday, we are able to do this particular exercise jointly with the Clydesdale Trinity Session - given it ultimately affects all of us, and saves us all doing this twice!

Sun 10 May, 10:30am : Christian Aid service -

It's coming up to that time of year again, an opportunity to remember the excellent work of Christian Aid, and, as we can, to support them. Along with our regular offering, there will be a bowl as you leave the church should you wish to make any donations to Christian Aid.

Looking further ahead:

Sun 24 May, 10:30am: Pentecost -

The day we celebrate the 'birthday' of the Church. The traditional colour of Pentecost is red, so, if you're coming to our on-site service, why not wear something red! 

Church notices for 7th - 16th May

CHURCH NEWS, UPDATES, INFO... 7th May - 16th May

Sunday 11 May - Christian Aid Week begins: just a reminder that this coming Sunday, the 11th, is Christian Aid Sunday. There will be the opportunity to support their excellent work with a special collection - there'll be a plate for this as you leave the service. Thanks in advance.
10.30am - Christian Aid worship service led by Dr Rosmairi Galloway, from Cairngryffe Parish Church.

Minister on extended leave: due to unforeseen circumstances, Nikki will now be away until Friday the 16th. During this time: 
for general parish matters, please contact - Dr Dee Yates, 
Ms Heather Watt, 

And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: 

Saturday 17th May - Kirk Session: just to note that this has been postponed with an alternative date tbc.

Parish newsletter: Huge apologies, the newsletter has been delayed. Hopefully this will be ready in the next few weeks. Thanks for your patience.

Christian Aid Sunday - worship for Sun 12 May

Welcome to worship and huge apologies for the delay. Busy time at the moment. 

Today marks the beginning of Christian Aid Week and we'll be hearing the story of Aline Nibogora from Burundi, and how Christian Aid have helped transform her life and the lives of people in her village.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Church notices/
Christian Aid Week 12-18 May: If you would like to make a donation to the work of Christian Aid, click on THIS LINK to take you to their website.

Sun 17 May is Pentecost Sunday. If you're planning on attending on site, it would be great if you could wear something red - it's the colour for Pentecost. Given Pentecost is traditionally thought of as the birthday of the church, there may be something in addition to the usual biscuits after the service!

Funeral notices/
Some sad news once again this week, as we learnt of the death of Ian Wilson. Please do remember Bertha and the family in your prayers, along with Netta Wight and her family, and Andrew Craig and his family at this time. Details of the funerals are as follows:

Mary Craig: 2pm Thursday 16th of May, at the parish church in Abington, followed by the committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Thereafter, back to the church for the funeral tea.

John Wight: 1pm Friday 17th May, to be held in Biggar Kirk, followed by funeral tea at the Biggar Municipal Hall. Prior to the funeral service there will be a private family committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Many thanks to the Rev. Mike Fucella for enabling us to use the church building.

Ian Wilson: 2pm Tues 28th of May, at the parish church in Abington, followed by the committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Details for the funeral tea to be confirmed.

'What gives you joy?' Worship for Sun 5 May

Welcome to worship for this week. Apologies once again for a delay in uploading the service and thanks for your patience.  Our service this week picks up the theme of joy asking the question 'what gives you joy?' and exploring the answer by way of looking at Ps 16. To go straight to the service click on the WORSHIP LINK HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
12 May Christian Aid Sunday: just to note that this coming Sunday begins Christian Aid Week 2024. On site, there'll be a special collection for their ongoing work. Online, you can make a donation by going to their website HERE

Funeral notices:
Mary Craig - Mary's funeral will be held at 2pm on Thursday the 16th of May at Upper Clyde Church followed by her committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery at 2.45. Thereafter, all are welcome back to the church hall for the funeral tea.

John Wight - John's funeral will be held at 1pm on Friday the 17th of May at Biggar Kirk. Many thanks to the minister, Mike Fucella for enabling us to have the service there. Details for funeral tea tbc

Our thoughts and our prayers are with both families at this difficult time.

As you go through this week, may you know God's love surrounding you,
God bless,

Nikki

Worship - Christian Aid Sunday 2023

WELCOME to our time of worship, on this Christian Aid Sunday. 
If you want to go straight to the service, the  
WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Church notices are below...

CHURCH NOTICES
Funeral of John Rudder: for those who've not heard, just to say that our friend, John Rudder has recently died. There’s been a little delay around a date for his funeral but I can confirm that it will now be held in the church on Tuesday the 23^rd, at 2pm, and thereafter, his committal will be at 3pm in Leadhills cemetery. If you’re able to come along to the service, I’m sure his family would very much appreciate your support.

 Car boot sale and coffee morning: Looking further ahead: a date for the social diary – a wee community event. We’ll be having a car boot sale and coffee morning on Saturday, the 17^th of June from 10am to 1pm. I’ll be getting posters printed shortly for this. If you know of anyone who might like a pitch, Heather Craig will be coordinating that. And, a wee request to our bakers… if you’d be willing to do some baking for this, that would be very much appreciated!! Also, if you happen to have any items you’d be willing to donate towards a tombola, that would be great. As with last time we did this, monies raised will be split between Clydesdale foodbank and the church. 

Have a great week, 
God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 7 May: 'Living Stones'

WELCOME to worship on this coronation weekend. This week, we'll be exploring the theme of 'living stones' - Christ as the living stone, and the call to us to be his living stones. What might that look like in our everyday lives... and what might the coronation have to do with any of this?

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES
Guild AGM - the Guild meets in the church this week, on Wed.  at 2pm for its AGM. All are welcome to come along for this final meeting of the Guild for this session. Refreshments in the hall afterwards.

Christian Aid Sunday - this coming Sunday is Christian Aid Sunday, which we'll be marking with a special service both onsite and online. There'll also be opportunities to donate to this great organisation to help with the work they do on behalf of some of the most vulnerable people at home and abroad.

No other notices this week. As you move into a new week, may you know God walking alongside you.
Until next time, God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 9 May - Christian Aid service

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to worship. This week we're marking the beginning of Christian Aid week. This year, the focus is on the climate crisis. While the climate crisis affects us all, it impacts most heavily on those with fewer resources and so our online and in person services will feature stories from people who Christian Aid has been helping.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Very few notices this week, but just to say a huge thank you to Heather and Ursula, who did an excellent job leading in person worship last week, while I was away on leave. 
It's been great to see how many folk have signed up for our community growing project - and I caught a wee glimpse of photos of Lamington Primary students busily planting their tatties, and looking like they were having a good time of it as well. Thanks to all our other schools, and those of you in the community who've jumped on board with this project. I'm excited to see just how many potatoes we can grow, and give to the food bank.
As it's Christian Aid Week, should you wish to make a donation to their very good work, you can find a LINK HERE that will take you to their online donations page.

These are all the notices, so, may you all know God's blessing this week, and may this time of worship inspire and encourage you.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Worship/ Sun 10 May: Christian Aid Week

     

Welcome/

Hello and welcome to worship at UCPC. It's great that we can gather, even as we're scattered,
and continue as a community, and as followers of Jesus, to worship. As one of our readings for
today reminds us, we are the church, for we are 'living stones' and with that in mind, picking up
on our other reading, 'do not let your hearts be troubled' - wherever we are, so, too, is God.

I hope that despite the current lockdown that you’re safe and well - and if not, then may
you know the comfort of the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.
As we've done over the last couple of weeks, our service of worship today is via our YouTube
channel, through the playlist for 'worship 10 May' and done in a rolling format of clips.
But before you click on the link [below] that which will take you to the playlist, just a couple
of notices:

For those of you with younger people in the house, we have some all-age-friendly worship
resources that you can use – just click on THIS LINK and you can download at your leisure.

Also:
this is Christian Aid Sunday, you’ll find a link to the Christian Aid donations page:
If you’re feeling as if your stuck at home and not easily able to lend a helping hand, this is one
way that you can be of immense help in peoples’ lives.
To support the good work of Christian Aid, just click on THIS LINK, which will take you directly to their donate page.

On a pastoral note: if you know of anyone who could do with a listening ear and might appreciate
a phone call – please, do let me know. Also, I am able to do food bank referrals, so again, if you
know of someone who might need a hand in that way, encourage them to get in touch with me -
01864 502139 or to send an email using the 'contact us' space on the side bar of the blog.
Also on the side bar, you'll find a 'links' section that may be helpful, such as Clydesdale Food Bank,
and the Samaritans.

And, with all those notices, so, let's worship God - HERE'S THE YOUTUBE LINK for our
worship today... or whenever you choose to watch. See you over there...

Sermon, Sun 12 May - Christian Aid Sunday

Christian Aid Week begins today and our service picked up the CA focus on Sierra Leone, and of encouraging and supporting girls to gain equal access to education... and also, of supporting mums to be in gaining access to better care - especially when in labour.
We heard the stories - and dreams - of schoolgirls Kadiatu and Patricia. Thereafter, we heard Tennah's story about the loss of her first child, and the subsequent safe delivery of her second, due to having access to a properly trained nurse - Judith....

READINGS/ John 10.22-30; Acts 9.36-43; Revelation 7.9-17

SERMON
Let’s pray:
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts,
be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

‘We believe in life before death.’
It’s the great tag-line or motto of Christian Aid –
and it’s an excellent reminder that our faith is a living faith:
Christianity is not just about ‘pie in the sky when you die’;
it’s not like some great golden ticket you get
and tuck away out of sight in a safe place,
until the day you hand over to St Peter at the pearly gates;
it’s not just eternal life insurance for the future.
Christianity is about the now
as well as the not yet.

Jesus’ first recorded sermon, in Luke, chapter 4,
is to the people of his home town of Nazareth.
He first reads a passage from the prophet Isaiah about the coming of God’s kingdom –
which, incidentally, bears an uncanny resemblance to our reading from Revelation.
Having done so, he looks at the gathered company in the synagogue and says:
‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
Basically, he’s explaining to them that, the kingdom is here
because he is here among them.
In the act of God becoming human and living among us,
so the beginning of the kingdom begins:
the kingdom is now...
and, it’s also not yet fulfilled:
it’s a process –
one that’s crossed the starting line
and hasn’t yet reached the finish line.

If you like, ever since Jesus walked the dusty roads of the Holy Land,
ever since God took upon God's self what it was to be fully human,
those who have followed in faith have been working within
two different time zones at the very same time:
There’s the heavenly time zone, and focusing upon what’s to come –
the fulfilment of all things when the kingdom is fully established...
And then, there’s the earthly, or human, time zone, looking at the now –
and seeing the good things, delighting in them...
but also seeing the hard things such as the many kinds of injustice at work in the world.
Seeing things like poverty, and the way it stops people from living life fully.
In seeing the now, we see how far we are from the vision of God’s kingdom.
We see how people’s lives are stunted;
we see how poverty prevents people from blossoming and flourishing,
prevents them from daring to dream,
prevents them from being able to reach their full potential –
and benefit not just themselves but the lives of others.
By seeing injustice, by seeing poverty and its effects in the present,
it’s the promise of what will be
that inspires us to find ways of working to see signs of the kingdom now
and not just at the end of all things.
The future glory, as seen in our passage from Revelation,
inspires us to find a little of that glory within our present reality.
How can we be builders of God’s kingdom
in our homes, in our communities, in our world?

So often in his encounters with people, Jesus spoke of life in all its abundance:
living life to its fullness rather than seeing life as just merely existing.
Having spoken of a life lived fully,
so he assured those who believed that, no matter what they endured,
God would be with them –
holding them through all the storms of life, not letting them go –
as Jesus says in John chapter 10:
nothing would be able to snatch them away from the Father’s hand.
With that assurance, so followers are given the strength
not just to sit back and wait for the not yet
but to move out from the places of comfort and explore
what life in all its fullness looks like:
life before death,
not just life in the kingdom to come.

It’s a balancing act.
For as much as we’re called to prayer and reflection,
so Jesus calls us to live out our faith in action on behalf of, and in service to, others.
Not just ‘sending thoughts and prayers’ but perhaps being the answer to prayer
through the work of our hands or the way we make use of
our money, our gifts, our time, and our skills.
As Teresa of Avila once said:
our hands are God’s hands in the world...
We are Christ’s body.

We see something of this in our passage from the Book of Acts:
let’s think of the people mentioned.
There’s Tabitha – also known as Dorcas.
She is well known in Joppa for doing good – she helps the poor.
Clearly, she is well-loved, for when she dies,
her friends and neighbours gather round, and mourn her passing with tears.
So, the practical outworking of Tabitha’s faith
to help others -
to love her neighbours –
has impacted positively upon their lives.

Also in the story, there’s the two fellow-believers:
they know that Peter is in the area,
and so, their faith draws them to act –
they go off to find him, and, bring him back, if possible.

We also have Simon – we see him living out his faith – his love for God –
through his act of offering hospitality.

Then there’s Peter.
When asked to come, he does so immediately.
He goes to Tabitha’s room, and prays –
and, extraordinarily, miraculously,
she, like Lazarus, is brought back from death.
Each person in the story enabling an astonishing ending to it – or rather, new beginning:
new life, to God’s praise and glory.

Loving God, following in the way of Jesus,
is a little like watching ripples in a pond.
We love God, and from that love, we act –
by loving one another...
love rippling from family,
to friends,
to neighbours,
to the world –
love reaching like hands across the world;
love in words,
and love in practical hands-on care and kindness.
Many of us can’t go to places like Sierra Leone – don’t have the skill sets required to be of help.
But others do – and we can help them with what we do have:
using our voices to raise awareness,
using our money to help fund projects.
So, we can help projects that enable young girls to get an education:
to have an equal chance at dreaming of the future,
of opening up their horizons,
of fulfilling their potential.
We can help projects that help women deliver their children safely –
that train midwives,
that bring in community workers to teach basic, life-saving hygiene;
that create essential basic buildings that are sanitary and safe
for mums-to-be and their babies.

Every year, organisations like Christian Aid
help with the wider vision of bringing in God’s kingdom in the present –
a vision born out of love and compassion,
a vision inspired by that great vision of the future –
when God’s kingdom has reached the goal, the finish line, and the kingdom has been brought in.
It's a vision we get a wee glimpse of when we read the Book of Revelation,
where we see a scene of what worship looks like:
endless praise of God arising from a full understanding of who God is and
what God has done, is doing...
a vision where we see those who have undergone suffering being lifted up by God,
being honoured, by God.
Those who, having undergone much, have not been snatched from God’s hands.
We see a vision in which there is:
no more suffering,
no more hunger...
of not being beaten down or burnt by ‘the elements’/ sun or heat,
but rather, of being led to springs of living water where there will be no more thirst.
And in the end, we also see that every tear will be wiped away.

The kingdom of heaven is the place where humanity finds life in abundance:
no longer broken,
no longer suffering,
but life in all its wholeness.
The vision we see in Revelation is the work that Jesus
set about to do as he brought in the kingdom –
and which he asks his followers to continue to do:
for we believe in the now and the not yet;
we believe in eternal life,
and, we believe in life before death. Amen.

Christian Aid Week 2018

Sunday saw the start of Christian Aid Week 2018.
During our time of worship we played the following clip as we reflected on the
excellent work that Christian Aid does, sharing God's love in practical, life-giving ways.
This Christian Aid Week, what ways can we share God's love?

Sunday sermon - Christian Aid Week 2017

READINGS/ 1 Peter 2:4-10; John 14:1-14

SERMON
Let’s pray: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. amen.

The palm trees have gone,
our ‘Alleluias’ have been taken down...
and over the last weeks, since Easter, we’ve been hearing stories of resurrection:
of new life;
of hope reborn;
of renewed commitment on the part of Jesus’ friends –
to love and to follow him wherever he may call,
and to do whatever he may ask.

In our gospel reading for this morning, we see Jesus in conversation with his disciples.
In answer to Thomas’ question:
‘we don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know the way?’
Jesus responds with:
‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’
And then, reminds his disciples that whoever sees him, sees the Father.
That the Father lives in him...
and, that ‘anyone who has faith’ in Jesus, will do what Jesus has been doing.

Let’s remind ourselves of some of what Jesus had been doing:
teaching – about God’s kingdom:
what life would be like with God at the centre...
no more war,
no more suffering,
no more injustice...
a place where everyone
had their own place
to be,
and to rest,
and to find safety, peace, and love.
God’s kingdom
and
God’s kin – dom:
a place of belonging,
of community,
of kinship to God as beloved sons and daughters,
and of kinship to one another,
as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Jesus not only taught of the kingdom, and of kin-dom,
he showed it:
in the way he lived his life –
one of compassion...
tending to wounds both physical, and spiritual;
extending the boundaries of God’s grace by welcoming and eating
with those who were considered outcasts;
by feeding the hungry;
and caring for the poor...
Showing God’s justice in action
and challenging injustice;
speaking up for those whose voices had been crushed.
Reaching out,
restoring, redeeming...
rescuing the lost.

As the writer of 1st Peter reminds us:
Jesus is the cornerstone,
the living stone...
and as his friends,
as those who profess to follow him,
we are chips off the block, if you like:
we are his living stones –
people who have been
rescued,
restored,
redeemed...
called out of the darkness and into his marvellous light...
people who have received God’s mercy,
and who continue to live in God’s mercy and grace...
people who are called to be like Jesus:
called to do the work
of welcoming,
of restoring and rescuing...
called to bring others out of the darkness
and into the light...
called to see the image of God in every human being;
called to see Christ in the stranger’s guise.

In the gospel of John, Jesus talks of preparing a place for us:
‘In my Father’s house, are many rooms,’ he says.
Room enough for all.
Welcome...for all.
Enough...for all.
At the beginning of this Christian Aid Week,
we’re reminded once more, of the many who have no place to call home,
of the millions forced into making the fearful, awful choice
to journey into an uncertain future,
rather than live with the certainty of death, poverty, or starvation
should they remain where they are.
And, let’s make no bones about this:
unlike some self-serving politicians who wilfully and appallingly
conflate immigration with asylum seekers and refugees –
as Christ’s followers,
we
will
not.
There’s a world of difference between someone moving to a new country
for a change of job, and someone having to flee for their life,
who would, in other circumstances, prefer to stay in their homeland.
Let’s be those people who take our politicians to task each time they make such
reprehensible and inhumane comments
just to stir up fear and unrest for their own political purposes.
For we are called to speak truth to power.

As we think of the refugee crisis, however,
we’re reminded of the scale of it all, and hear of countless millions...
and it can all feel ... overwhelming:
‘What can one person do?’ 
‘How can one person ever make a difference?’
we sometimes find ourselves asking.
You may have heard this story, but it’s a good one, so bear with me:
Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work.
Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed
and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see,
stretching in both directions.
Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching.
As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer,
the man could see that he was occasionally bending down
to pick up an object and throw it into the sea.
The boy came closer still and the man called out,
“Good morning!  May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young boy paused, looked up, and replied
“Throwing starfish into the ocean. 
The tide’s washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves. 
When the sun gets high, they’ll die, unless I throw them back into the water.”
The old man replied,
“But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. 
I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish
and threw it as far as he could into the ocean.
Then he turned, smiled and said,
“It made a difference to that one!”

As God’s people,
as followers of Jesus,
we are called to make a difference.
As the saying goes:
‘be the change you want to see’,
in Jesus’ name, amen.

Christian Aid Week 2017

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2017: 14 - 20 MAY

Join us as we mark the 60th Anniversary of Christian Aid Week.

Reflecting the first CA Week in 1957, this year, CA focuses once more on the plight of refugees....

This Sunday and the following Sunday, there'll be opportunities to make a donation via the CA collection boxes in the vestibule and hall. Please give generously to support the great work that CA continues to do, 60 years on. 

Also in the vestibule: for reflection and prayer, CA have produced a 7 day                                   devotional booklet for the week. Feel free to collect one - or more - as you leave church...

In the meantime, why not watch Theodor's story...

Christian Aid Week update: 'Wonderful Worms'

It's Christian Aid Week. Here's some of what we've been doing so far:

On Sunday, during worship, 
we celebrated both Pentecost and Christian Aid Week - with plenty of red splashed about the worship space.
A small team had tiptoed in on Friday night, and blew up nearly 100 balloons, and hung up Christian Aid bunting. After all those balloons, we were getting a little light-headed!

In the weeks leading up to the service, the minister had asked people, if possible, to wear something red on the day - so along with our decorations, we also had Pentecost/ Christian Aid people. There was also a rather large birthday cake to celebrate the 'birthday' of the church - which we enjoyed at morning tea after the service. We have a special collection bucket at the door for both Sundays, and hopefully will raise some money to help folk living in difficult conditions in Bangladesh... including providing worms...

which we've been learning about in Leadhills and Lamingon Primary Schools.  We've been thinking about people who live on the river islands in Bangladesh, and a strange kind of 'buried treasure' - wonderful worms. The worms are part of a project by Christian Aid to help people living in the river islands enrich what is quite poor soil - the worms help to make good compost, and in turn, encourages good, healthy food to be grown. You can watch the video here:

Sunday preview: the difference a cow makes - Christian Aid Week 2015

Meet Adi and the cow that's changed her life.  Theirs is a story about why you should support Christian Aid Week this year and get behind the hundreds of women just like Adi.  It's a story of hope, action, and changing the world!

We'll be hearing more of Adi's story this Sunday during worship, at 10.30am, UCPC, Abington,
and we'll be having a special collection to support the work of Christian Aid.
Come and join us!

Our readings this week are:
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-12
Vines, branches, and abiding - having looked at remaining connected to Jesus the vine, this week, we explore how we look after one another as branches connected to the vine.  We link this into the great work that Christian Aid does for those who live in, and are affected by, poverty.

For other ways you can support the work of Christian Aid, click on this link to take you to their page.
In the meantime, here's the Christian Aid prayer for this year:

Let your hand rest upon your people of Ethiopia - 

widows and orphans, aged and children, strangers and wanderers -

and join us also with them.

Protect and strengthen us,

from all evil works keep us apart,

and in all good works unite us.

You are life for our souls.

You are the life of the world.

Amen