Communion Sunday and Lent 1

We begin our Lenten journey this week 

and share together in the Lord's Supper - 

join us, all welcome!

Worship Sun 9: pt 2 The Beatitudes - 'Blessed be'

picture - Jen Norton

READINGS 1 Cor 2:1-16; Matt 5:1-12

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 rock and our redeemer. Amen.

What helps us live a happy life –
a blessed life?

Before we begin to answer that, a short recap.
Last week, as we began thinking about the beatitudes, we did a little unpacking of the word itself –
‘beatitude’.
Basically, it means 'blessing'.
And we thought about Jesus, who blessed all who came to him –
regardless of age, status, gender, wealth, or health –
no-one was off limits from a blessing...
well, apart from those who refused to be blessed.
But what is it to be blessed?
A blessing can be:
a way of saying or doing something that encourages us to be an even better version of ourselves;
it can be a protection from harm,
it can be a guide and a guard on us to help keep us from doing wrong –
and in so doing, not being a blessing to others.
A blessing is a reminder that we don’t walk through this life alone –
that God is by our side...
when we are blessed it’s a reminder that God cares for, and loves us, and wants the best for us...

And, as we began exploring the text from Matthew last week, we saw in this, Jesus’ first sermon,
just who Jesus thought were particularly blessed within God’s kingdom.
We also thought about another way of translating the word ‘blessed’ –
some bibles use the word ‘happy’ instead...
So ‘happy are the poor in spirit’ and so on.

So, today, back to that question:
what helps us live a happy life –
a blessed life?
While the state of being blessed is a happy state of affairs –
the happiness isn’t just a wee fleeting feeling:
happiness is not always all wrapped up in a McDonald’s happy meal.
Happiness is not always a cigar called ‘Hamlet’.
And, controversial for some:
Disneyland may not always be the ‘happiest place on earth’ –
and at some point, you do have to leave the park and head out back into the world.
This definition of happiness moves on –
and the endless pursuit of this kind of short-term happiness fix can often lead to us feeling
well, just a little hollow, empty... always wanting more,
always chasing the next thing promising to give us another wee happiness fix.
And it can become a habit –
a way of being that isn’t particularly helpful.

Rabbi Harold Kushner – who wrote the very helpful book
‘When bad things happen to Good people’, which I really recommend –
Rabbi Kushner tells a great wee story about a young man who had managed to get
a much sough- after place in a very prestigious university.
He was studying medicine, and, having done exceptionally well in his first year,
his parents rewarded him with a trip to Asia over the summer break.
And so the young man travelled far and wide –
up into the deepest depths of river valleys that few human eyes had seen,
high into the highest heights where small villages hung precariously onto the sides of cliffs.
During his travels, he came upon a guru, and they spent time together.
The young man was keen to tell the ancient guru all about himself,
and what he’d accomplished,
and how he hoped to make his mark on the world.
It would take discipline, hard work, but his greatest desire was to be a success.
Success was all that really mattered.

The guru listened to the young man listing off his successes and ambitions,
and when the young man stopped there was a long silence between them.
Eventually, the guru said to him:
‘Helping others is good – and you will help others with your medicine. 
But, don't you see how you are poisoning your soul with this success-oriented way of life? 
Your idea of happiness is to stay up all night studying for an exam so you can get a 
better grade than your best friend. 
Your idea of a good marriage is not to find the woman who will make you whole, 
but to win the girl that everyone else wants.
Basically, your idea of happiness is not actually about helping others at all, 
it’s based on beating everyone else.
Following this path cannot truly lead to happiness – 
for there will always be another person to beat and you will never be satisfied.
My friend, that's not how people are supposed to live, let go of that idea of happiness; 
come join us in an atmosphere where we all share and love each other.'

The young man was shocked.
So caught up within a competitive culture, he had never thought of any other way of being.
After many days of reflection, he called his parents and told them that he would not be
coming home, and that he was dropping out of university to live with the guru and his community.
This would be his path to true happiness.

Six months later, his parents received a letter from their son:
‘Dear Mum and Dad,
I know you weren't happy with the decision I made last summer, 
but I want to tell you how happy it has made me. 
For the first time in my life, I am at peace. 
Here there is no competing, no hustling, 
no trying to get ahead of anyone else. 
Here we are all equal and we all share. 
This way of life is so much in harmony 
with the inner essence of my soul 
that in only six months I've become the number two disciple in the entire community, 
and I think I can be number one by June!

Jesus talks often about abundant life, about life in all its fullness,
life not just splashing in the shallows,
but life that dares explore and reflect,
a life that dares to stop,
and to challenge behaviour in ourselves that stops us from having life in all its fullness –
to pursue happiness rather than distractions...
that is the way to finding and to understanding just how truly blessed we are.
The kind of happiness talked about in the beatitudes is one that runs deep –
beatitudes comes from the Latin which means ‘a state of bliss’.
This kind of happiness is a state of being that runs right down to our core
so that no matter what may be going on in our lives, yet, we are blessed –
and we are blessed because we are God’s.
And that’s the whole point:
we are blessed,
we are happy,
we find our bliss
when we find our focus on God.

The beatitudes help us in finding that focus –
in the attitudes we see displayed in those who Jesus describes as blessed.
What are these attitudes?
Essentially:
1/ poverty of spirit – or simply, having humility;
2/ mourning – or, simply, dropping the mask and not being afraid to honestly express loss –
the mark that someone has made on your life - an expression of love;
3/ meekness – a little like humility – but the ability to put others first, to see their needs,
to hold yourself back and by doing so, allowing others their moment in the sun;
4/ a hunger and thirst for righteousness –
following God’s way of justice and fighting on behalf of those who have been treated
unjustly - speaking up on behalf of ‘the little ones’;
5/ mercy
6/ purity of heart
7/ being a peacemaker – a builder of bridges, a reconciler;
8/ not bowing to peer pressure – faithfully following God’s way despite the temptation to try to
take short cuts – it’s following the way of the cross;
and 9/ proclaiming whose you are no matter what.

These attitudes are ones that are about letting go, and, of taking on:
letting go of your ego;
letting go of your masks;
letting go of the need to compete so much that no others have a chance;
letting go of a desire for revenge;
or the desire for distractions and desires that would turn your focus from God;
there’s the letting go of the fear that would prefer to divide and conquer
rather than see and share common ground;
letting go of the need to fit in, no matter what you have to sacrifice...even God;
and... letting go of the notion that you don’t belong and taking on your identity as God’s own.

And, as you work through these nine different attitudes, and then take a wee step back,
you discover that they are best seen in one particular human being:
Jesus.
In his life, in his words and actions, he is the very flesh and blood that shows us the beatitudes –
the way to happiness,
bliss,
blessing.
It doesn’t come without a price –
but what is important,
what is of value,
rarely comes easily.
Keep looking at Jesus –
he is the beatitudes in motion,
showing us how to be fully human,
truly happy –
it is an attitude of being that is prepared, as Paul says,
to look foolish at times,
to look weak at times,
so that our faith, our very lives,
don’t rest on being hung up with the quick fix,
but rather, rest on God -
to be grounded and focused upon Him...
for it is God, and only God who can ever be our source
of true and lasting happiness,
blessing.
And the more we enter into God’s blessing,
the more we demonstrated those be-attitudes –
attitudes of being –
that not only bless us,
but bless our families, our neighbours, our communities, and our world.
Not only will our reward be great in heaven, we’ll see the reward even here,
for the God of heaven is present on earth in us, for we are Christ’s body.

So:
Blessed are you who make room at your table
for in that way even tax-collectors shall be redeemed;
Blessed are you who seek out lost sheep
for your seeking you find more than a lamb;
Blessed are you who touch the leper
for you make a home for the excluded;
Blessed are you who welcome the prodigal
for you express the fullness of the love 
that is God;
Blessed are the silenced
for you hear the cry of God;
Blessed are you who make friends 
with your enemy,
for you know the way to lasting peace;
Blessed are you who turn the other cheek
for you show more strength than the oppressor;
Blessed are you who break bread 
with the stranger,
you will have a foretaste of the kingdom;
Blessed are you who heal on the Sabbath,
you will reveal what is important to God;
Blessed are you who seek company 
with the outcast and unclean,
for you shall be accompanying Jesus;
Blessed are you who overturn the tables,
you are the freedom fighters of love.
Blessed are you who love your neighbour,
for you already live in the realm of God;
Blessed are you who walk the way,
for you shall move within the company of heaven;
Blessed are you who carry a cross,
for you shall see God’s wisdom;
And, blessed are you who wait for the morning,
for you shall see the renewal of life...*

What helps us live a happy life –
a blessed life?
In the end, simply...
to have God at our centre,
and Jesus as our example.
It’s no quick fix,
but it is the way to our true bliss.

Let’s pray:
Give us, O God, this day:
humility -
so we can see you in the most vulnerable;
a cup -
to catch the tears of all who weep;
an arm -
for the long-suffering to cling to as they walk through life;
a broken heart -
which can heal those who have harmed me;
purity -
which looks at another and sees your beloved;
friendship -
which embraces those we are taught to fear;         
hospitality -
which welcomes those who are mocked for following you;
words -
of hope, of comfort, of grace whispered in the ears of all who are slandered for your name;
Give us, O God, this day:
a heart –
that loves, and knows itself beloved...
We ask, in Jesus’ name,
who showed us how to be. Amen

*Roddy Hamilton

Worship Sun 2 Feb: 'Blessed are...' pt1 on The Beatitudes

This morning, the first of a two part mini-series exploring
the opening section of the Sermon on the Mount, known as 'The Beatitudes'.
This week, it's a case of 'who' - who are the blessed?
Next week, we reflect on the how - 'be' attitudes that help us to not only
live in to the gift of being blessed, but also, to cultivate a culture and
community of being a blessing to the lives of others and the life of the world.

READINGS/
1 Cor 1:18-31; Matt 5:1-12

SERMON/ ‘Blessed are...?’ Beatitudes, pt 1
Let’s pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts,
be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen

Every now and then, on a friend’s twitter feed, a photo of a coffee mug will randomly appear.
And a very handsome coffee mug it is, too –
lot’s of lovely multi-coloured stripes makes it positively cheerful,
but it’s the logo on the mug that always makes me laugh – it says:
‘too blessed to be stressed’
What a great attitude, tho, over time, I’ve noticed that the mug most often appears
when her life is at its most hectic...
I’m minded of the mug because, today, as you’ve already picked up,
we’re thinking about this idea of blessing –
of being blessed,
and of those who are blessed.

Over the last 6 weeks, we could all be forgiven for being left a little breathless
by the breakneck speed in which we’ve moved from preparing the way for
the promised Messiah, to the celebration of his birth in the manger at Bethlehem,
to his baptism, and then the call of those first disciples.
And in our gospel passage this morning, here at last, we meet Jesus in teaching mode –
and we’re introduced at last to his understanding of God and of God’s kingdom values
who God values,
and the type of actions that God values.

As people had flocked to see his cousin John, so people are now beginning to flock
to hear Jesus, who has started to inspire,
who has started to capture people’s imaginations.
While throughout his childhood he was largely kept in the shadows –
well, certainly by those who have written down the story of his life –
we see Jesus, now in the spotlight and talking about the blessed, or the happy:
blessed are they
is as easily translated into
happy are they.
And, as we sit alongside the great multitude listening to Jesus,
at the very beginning of what will be later called the Sermon on the Mount,
we start with the Beatitudes,
and we discover the ones in particular who Jesus believes are happy, are blessed.

So, in the framework of the Kingdom of heaven, just who does Jesus say are blessed?
The poor in spirit,
those who mourn,
the meek,
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
the merciful,
the pure in heart,
the peacemakers.
And then, the list of those who are blessed becomes even more interesting:
blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
those who are insulted, who are falsely accused of terrible things because of Jesus...

Let’s think about this wee list of the blessed.
What of those described as ‘poor in spirit’?
Here we have a nod to self worth,
or, more accurately to those who lack a sense of self worth...
On a positive reading, it could be interpreted as those not to bothered by a hungry ego.
On a different slant, perhaps the term could be extended to those particular folk who
find it hard to get their heads around the fact that they could possibly be loved.
Perhaps, these are the folk who have been so beaten down by the challenges of
and in the world, that it’s hard enough to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
But to these, the kingdom of heaven will be granted:
those who have viewed themselves as
not particularly valuable,
not particularly wanted,
those so weighed down by their harsh inner critical editor that they are not sure if next time
some difficulty happens, that they’ll be able to rise up once more and re-enter the fray.
The kingdom of heaven is given to these,
a demonstration and an offering of love –
these who value themselves so little are especially of value to God;
these who feel their lives amount to little, matter hugely to God.
They are blessed, as are we, as we open up our arms and accept God’s’ love –
a love that can’t be earned, because it’s a love that is freely given.
And, I will keep on saying this until the cows come home:
each and every one of us matters to God,
and is loved, so very much loved by God.
For those who feel worthless,
this opening volley in the Sermon on the Mount reminds them – reminds us that,
our true worth is found in simply accepting that we are God’s beloved –
We are important, for we are God’s.
That is all we need – and knowing that, then, whom shall we fear?
That love of God, is like putting on a great big comfort blanket.
For those of you here who may be feeling a little poor in Spirit remember this:
remember you are loved,
you matter,
and that you are not invisible but that you are seen by the One
who created the whole Universe...
Stop and pause, take a deep, deep breath, and as you breath in, may you feel the warmth
of God’s love for you –
God’s blessing for you.

Who is next on this list of the blessed?
The ones who mourn.
And, my word, even just over the last couple of days since I’ve been back from holiday,
I’m already in the midst of a lot of funerals –
Within our parish, and in the midst of our congregation, there are the folk who are
mourning the loss of friends or family.
And while being bereaved is a hard and hostile place to inhabit, even in the middle of the dark
and lonely space caused by grief, yet, there is hope, there is light –
the hostile land of bereavement doesn’t get the last say:
Jesus does.
Those who mourn are blessed,
for the ones who have chosen to throw in their lot with Jesus
will learn the language of restoration –
and again, there’s comfort –
God knows what the pain of loss and bereavement looks like –
he sent Jesus to live among us,
and eventually to die among us –
and the blessing is found in knowing that it doesn’t stop at death:
we are a resurrection people, after all.
Those who mourn will, in time, discover the comfort of resurrection’s song.

We also have the ones described as ‘meek’
The meek?
The ones who hang back,
who can be heard apologising a lot,
who are very easily trampled over.
At a dance, they’re the quiet ones -
but these ones are blessed
because they will never easily seduced by the siren sounds of power for power’s sake.
They are blessed, for they learn that with God,
they have all that they need, and more.
They are blessed, for they have learned that the path of contentment
is found in the God who supplies all their needs.

And, what of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
the merciful,
the pure in heart,
the peacemakers...
even those who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake?
They too, are blessed:
they walk the way of the kingdom of heaven,
letting go of the need to justify themselves –
to always be right no matter what...
finding instead that God is the only source of true righteousness;
the merciful have let go of the need for vengeance, trusting in God’s justice;
the pure of heart have let go of the strange human need to do almost the
exact opposite thing which lead to life –
but rather, can lead to self-destruction.
The peacemakers have let go of the habit of war –
spears have been turned to pruning hooks, in the desire to live into truly loving one’s neighbour:
they demonstrate to a world itching for a fight, that there are other ways to live –
to be a community of reconciliation;
...and, then, what of those who are persecuted?
They have let go of their fear of being seen as different for being a person of faith.

These ones, all, are blessed:
these ones, all,
whom are most often overlooked
or despised by others...
show again that sense of God’s upside-down
notions of the kingdom –
where love and honour and respect is extended to all...
a kingdom of blessing,
where all are blessed,
and from the experience of being blessed,
stretch out their hands to bless others.
because there’s plenty enough love in God’s limitless ocean of love for all to be blessed.

The Beatitudes tells of those who are on the margins being
brought into the centre and celebrated...
And in that telling, reminds us that we, too, are blessed –
too blessed to be stressed...
And, as we walk with God, so God walks with us –
just as, in flesh and blood,
Jesus walked with his first disciples,
shared conversation and communion with them,
and then, walked a little way ahead,
to the Cross, and beyond,
showing them, and now, us,
the way to glory and the promise of the resurrection.

Where will we see the beatitudes lived out today –
lives that are blessed and that bless the lives of others?
Where will we bear witness to the alternative kingdom full of those whom Christ calls blessed?
Will we recognise the poor in spirit or those who mourn?
Will we notice the meek and those who hunger for righteousness?
Will we be able to point out the merciful or the pure in heart?
Will we stand alongside the peacemakers and those who are treated unfairly,
close enough to attract some of their harassment?
When we can see and stay close to those whom Christ calls blessed,
we will learn how to live as a community of blessing
Today, and each day, let's live into that promise,
and be blessed,
and be a blessing to all:
as we find our true selves and our true worth, in God.

Let’s pray:
God of life and of truth,
Your Son invites us to see the world 
through your eyes
and we find ourselves disoriented:

You bless the poor
You bless the meek
You bless the pure in heart.
You turn our world and its values upside down.

We have signed on to follow your Son
but this is strange territory.
It doesn’t look anything like
the life we have been taught to yearn for,
to work for,
to believe will bring us happiness.

Yet, You know the despair that besets
so many of our young people
who fear that their future has been mortgaged
by our greed and carelessness.
You hear the cries of those who
have traded their souls for power and money
and now have emptiness as a friend.
You see those who are caught in lives that
lead only to weariness and anxiety.

Set us at Jesus’ feet
so we can learn to judge our lives differently.
Awaken in us that hunger and thirst for you
which will lead us to your will
and your peace.

Open our eyes to see your unexpected blessings.
Open our hearts to welcome you
when you come to us in strange ways.

Then make us into a community of blessedness
that beckons this neighbourhood
into your joy.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus
who blesses us with your living presence
and fills our lives with your life-changing truth. Amen.*
*prayer from 'Roots'

Upcoming funerals - information

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the following...
may those who have gone before us to God, rest in peace.

Sat 1, 10am: Fiona Rudder
   at Upper Clyde Parish Church, thereafter, Leadhills Cemetery
   Donations will be accepted for the work of Ayr Guinea Pig Sanctuary
   Funeral tea at the Hopetoun Hotel

Wed 5, 11.45: Agnes 'Nan' Teague
    at South Lanarkshire Crematorium
    Donations will be accepted for the work of Marie Curie
    Funeral tea at the Crown Hotel in Biggar.

Thurs 6, 10.30: Christine Johnstone
   at Upper Clyde Parish Church, thereafter, Lamington Cemetery

Sat 8, 10am: Allan Wilson
   at Upper Clyde Parish Church, thereafter Crawfordjohn Cemetery
   Funeral tea will be held in Crawfordjohn Village Hall

Church news Mon 20-Thurs 30 Jan

Rev. George Shand

 What's happening over the next wee while...

Minister’s time off:
Nikki is on annual leave from Mon 20th to Thur 30th Nov.
Urgent pastoral matters/ funeral cover will be provided by:
the 
For any ongoing parish queries, please contact: Heather Watt, our Session Clerk on 

Rev. Bill Buchan

Sun 26th Jan., 10.30: Morning Worship - we're delighted to welcome back the Rev. Bill Buchan who will be conducting worship this Sunday.

Sat 1 Feb, 2pm: Evening worship planning for Leadhills.  This is our annual meeting for all who attend/ are involved in any way with our 4th Sunday evening services in Leadhills. We'll be meeting in the Hopetoun Arms to review the year past, and to ponder and plan for this upcoming year's services which begin in March.

A sneak peek ahead to upcoming worship themes:
On the first two Sunday mornings of February, we'll be spending a little time on the Beatitudes, from
Matthew 5:1-12

Worship Sun 19 Jan 'Come and see'

This morning we moved from Jesus' baptism, to the days following, and reflected upon Jesus' invitation to 'come and see' who he is.
Our readings were:
Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Cor. 1:10-18; John 1:29-42

The sermon was split into two shorter reflections, with the first of these telling the story of 'Sean' who lived an ordinary life until one day, he lost his focus and found himself in a very dark hole indeed until someone posted a candle and some matches through his letterbox - and how the small, flickering light helped to pull him out of the hole. How might we bring light to dark places?

The second reflection told Pippa's story - who loved having visitors, and had a very different sland on viewing the world. She delighted in involving folk in her life - 'come and see', she would say after a bear hug of a welcome and you would enter into her world of odd cooking experiments, pottery blobs, and where rainbows were 'God hugs'...
Jesus too, invites his friends to 'come and see', and then 'go and tell' the good news of God's love.

Worship Sun 12 Jan: 'Beloved'

This morning, we thought about baptism, belonging, and what it is to be beloved as we heard the story of Jesus' baptism.

READINGS Isaiah 42:1-9; Matt 3:13-17

The descriptions given of John the Baptist in the bible, show a man who is ...
different.
Single-minded.
Focused.
Austere.
When the song ‘Dedicated follower of fashion’ was written, it was not with John in mind –
John wore basic garments – a tunic made of camel skin, held in place by a leather belt.
His was not the Michelin 5-star diet:
he lived on locusts and wild honey.
He was not the light and fluffy type:
he spoke of purifying fires and repentance.
A strange man, and yet many were curious:
this wild man of the desert somehow caught the imagination of folk, stirred them up,
so much so, that they left their places of comfort and travelled out into the wilderness
to hear him, to see him, and some, to even take the plunge and be baptised by him.
I wonder how he seemed to some of those standing by, watching...
and how he seems to us, living in the 21stC?

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.

I want to tell you all a story...
It was the 1930’s and times were hard –
harder still if you stood out from the crowd in any way and...young Mary Ann did.
She’d been born with a cleft palate before restorative surgery was an option,
and she was also deaf in one ear.
She couldn’t blow up a balloon without holding her nose,
and she struggled to drink from a water fountain.
At school, although she tried to keep her head down,
although she did her best not to stand out, or be singled out in any way,
nevertheless, her classmates would pick on her, zooming in on her vulnerable points,
clearly, she wasn’t going to amount to much.
They did their best to make her feel smaller, worthless, unlovable.
Time and time again, students would point to her mouth and ask:
‘Oh Mary Ann, what happened to your lip?’
Having been born with this, there was nothing she could do about changing it –
and the constant pointing out and teasing took its toll.
Not wanting to say that she’d been born this way,
not wanting to admit that she was different,
not seen as ‘normal’,
Mary Ann would sometimes tell a story –
‘Oh, I fell and cut it on some glass.'
School was something to get through,
a matter of endurance, and less a case of enjoyment.

The relentless teasing was hard enough,
but there was another endurance test that Mary Ann had to get through every year:
the annual hearing test.
Every year, each child was tested.
One by one, they were called to the teacher’s desk.
Each child would then be asked to cover first one ear, and then the other.
As an ear was covered, the teacher would whisper something to the child, like:
‘The sky is blue’;
‘You have new shoes’;
‘Apples grow on trees’;
‘Where is your pencil?’
The test was known as the ‘whisper test’.
If the child could hear the phrase and repeat it back, they would pass the test.

Not wanting to stand out,
not wanting to be teased for failing,
not wanting to feel worthless,
Mary Ann had found a small way of cheating –
instead of flattening her hand over her good ear,
she cupped it, so that she could still hear what the teacher had said.
But then came the year when Mary Ann found herself in Miss Leonard’s class.
Miss Leonard was a favourite teacher –
all the children thought she was wonderful,
all the children wanted to be in her class,
and all the children who were fortunate enough
to be in Miss Leonard’s class were desperate to be noticed by her,
wanted to be her ‘pet’.
And yet, even though Miss Leonard was lovely,
Mary Ann could not escape from the annual nightmare of the ‘whisper test’ –
her least favourite day at school.
And so the dreaded day came.
One by one, students were called to the desk.
One by one, phrases were whispered,
repeated, and the student, having done the test,
would march back to their desk.
Finally it was Mary Ann’s turn.
With dread in her stomach, she walked to the desk and hoped that she wouldn’t fail.
Cupping her hand over her good ear, she waited for the words ...
But this time, they were not ordinary words –
they were not words talking about
the colour of the sky,
or new shoes, or apples,
or finding a lost pencil –
for Mary Ann the seven words that Miss Leonard whispered that day changed her life.
Leaning as far forward as she could, to get as close as possible,
Miss Leonard whispered:
‘I wish you were my little girl.’

In just seven words, Miss Leonard had shown Mary Ann
that she was not worthless,
that she was not invisible,
that she didn’t have to make herself small –
Miss Leonard, through her words, gave Mary Ann the great gift of knowing
that she was worthy of love –
and that she was wanted and beloved.
The words transformed the way that Mary Ann looked at herself, and, the world around her.
With the power of encouragement, Mary Ann would grow up and become a journalist.
She was a reporter for a small town paper, she also wrote a weekly column
commenting on the every day happenings within the life of her community.
She had a long and happy marriage, had 4 children, 2 grandchildren,
and lived to see 2 great-grandchildren.
Mary Ann’s story is a story of how knowing you’re loved can transform your life...
and it’s also a story of how, each one of us can be a catalyst for change to others –
by offering even the smallest encouragement to someone...
letting them know they’re beloved, wanted, that they matter.

Just over two weeks ago now, we celebrated the birth of God’s beloved Son, Jesus –
Jesus, who, in his teaching,
in the way he interacted with people,
in the way he lived his life...
showed us what God would look like with skin on;
showed us how to live as one beloved by God.
We find that, in our reading, thirty years have passed –
and from the beginning of his life, we see Jesus at another beginning point:
the beginning of his ministry...
and it begins by the banks of the River Jordan as he stands among the many
who had come to see John in the wilderness and to take up his offer of baptism –
a baptism of repentance,
an act demonstrating a turning around and facing God
and commitment to walk in God’s ways.
And John, who has been encouraging the people to come for baptism, sees Jesus and says:
‘No, I can’t do this – you should be baptising me.’
John seems to see a lack of worthiness within himself to do this task...
Three years later, Peter will have a similar reaction when Jesus washes the disciples feet.
But is there more to baptism than John thinks?

Well, yes, yes there is.
While baptism is indeed about turning towards God – repentance –
and a new beginning, a fresh start...
it’s also about belonging.
In Jesus’ baptism, we hear God’s encouragement,
God’s affirmation of Jesus in those powerful words that boom from heaven,
that echo across the shimmering water of the Jordan:
‘this is my Son, the Beloved, 
with whom I am well pleased.’
This is God, through the Spirit, offering words of belonging –
‘this is my Son...’;
belonging based upon love –
‘my beloved’;
belonging not based upon deeds but upon relationship –
Jesus is at the beginning point of his ministry and even before he’s done a thing,
God shows the delight he has for this One – this Son – who is beloved:
God is pleased, so very pleased.

Baptism is about belonging – a sign and symbol of identity.
As those who follow in Christ’s footsteps,
we dip our toes, our selves, into the waters of baptism
and, as the Apostle Paul says, in that act, we clothe ourselves in Christ.
In baptism, our own belonging to God is demonstrated –
even though many of us may not remember our baptism...
In baptism, the words of God ripple across the water, and are given to each one of us:
as Jesus is God’s Son,
so too, each one of us is a child of God;
as Jesus is beloved,
so too, each one of us is beloved of God;
as Jesus delights and pleases God,
so too, each one of us is pleasing to God –
God delights in us...
And, as Jesus is named, affirmed, and is shown to belong to God
even before he has begun the work that he has been called to,
so too, with us –
it’s not about how many points we can score,
it’s not an exercise in keeping a record of good deeds versus the bad...
we’d never measure up in that kind of system.
In baptism, we have a new beginning,
and are simply known, named, and loved by God for the very fact of being who we are –
because that is what grace is:
love that is given freely and fully,
without any conditions placed upon it;
love that is the soil in which we can blossom and grow
and learn what it is to live fully –
and, perhaps even learn to get our heads around being so utterly loved,
even when at times we don’t think we’re particularly loveable.
Baptism is the visible demonstration of God’s love:
God first calls Jesus ‘beloved’
and extends that belovedness, that belonging, to us.

Sometimes, we can have a view of God that sees him as One who stands over us
with a big stick, ready to knock us down when we step out of line:
a fierce, stern punishing God.
In the story of Jesus’ baptism, however, we find the loving heart of One
who doesn’t beat us down,
but who lifts us up,
takes pleasure in us...
loves us for who we are –
even when we mess things up,
and who continues to call to us,
to encourage us, with words of love...
How much would our journey Godwards be transformed if we saw in God’s face
just how much we belong to him
and just how much we are loved?
We are God’s sons and daughters.
We are Beloved.
And God delights in, and is well pleased with us.

Beloved. 
Fact. 
Not ‘will become’. 
Not ‘will grow into.’ 
Not ‘has potential.’ 
But simply: beloved. 
Now. 
God calls us beloved, 
just as God called Jesus beloved. 
Whoever we are, 
whatever we do, 
wherever we go, 
God will find a way to assure us 
that we are beloved. 
We might as well get used to the idea 
and consider ourselves 
and those around us 
beloved of God 
What a way to live:
 a way to love, 
a way to grow, 
beloved of God.*
Amen.

*from 'Spill the Beans'

Starwards and star words

STAR WORDS, STARWARDS AND GODWARDS...

This week, the season of Christmas draws to a close with Epiphany, a time in which we think of walking starwards - walking with the Magi as they followed the star to Bethlehem.  At this beginning point in the year, how might we continue to look up, to see the star, and focus upon the One who is, as others have said, the 'reason for the season'?

To help our reflections as a community and individually, and keep us walking starwards over the course of the coming year I'm shamelessly borrowing an idea from a friend:
we'll be distributing star words during the service.
Literally, it does what it says on the tin - each star shape will have a different word on it.  You might stick your star on the refrigerator, put it on a mirror, or use it as a bible-marker - whatever best works for you.  When you look at it over these next days, weeks, months - and even year, think of the word you've been given: how does it relate to your own spiritual journey towards God?
What are some things about the word that are cause for rejoicing, or a reminder to help stay God-focused?
An example: if you received the star word 'kindness', you might reflect upon:
*times when you've experienced what felt like the kindness of God
*and...or/ the kindness of others
*and...or/ times when you have been kind to others
*and...or/ think about what makes a kind act or word
*and...or/ how many times can you find the word 'kindness' in scripture
*and related to that: how is God's loving-kindness shown in scripture -
*think of bible stories, or psalms that highlight God's kindness...

Over the time, should you make use of this particular spiritual tool, I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts over a cuppa!
In the meantime, remembering the words from scripture, as we journey starwards together this year:

'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you...

lift up your eyes and look about you'  

                                                                                                Isaiah 60:1, 4

Sun 29 Dec: worship - Lessons and Carols

Our traditional Lessons and Carols service this morning, where, through scripture, poetry, and song, we shared once more in the greatest love story ever told - that of God's love for us.
A gentle service for the end of the year, and an opportunity for singing a few more carols. After worship, mince pies abounded during morning tea, as did Christmas chocolate.

This coming Sunday will be the Twelfth Day of Christmas, and so we'll be thinking about Wise Men following a star,
and looking ahead at the start of a new year as we give out 'star words' - words to use for reflection and mediation over the year. There'll also be the chance to sing one or two stray carols before we pack up the season of Christmas, along with the decorations and the tree.

Meanwhile, a Christmas blessing...

When the presents are unwrapped 
and the living room strewn, 
I wish for you one more gift: 
God with us. 
When the visitors have arrived 
and finally gone home again, 
I wish for you one more guest: 
God with us. 
When ‘Merry Christmas’ has been exchanged 
in words of greeting, 
I wish for you one more word: 
Emmanuel, God with us. 
When the crackers are pulled 
in an explosion of disappointment, 
I wish for you a better surprise: 
God with us. 
When the carols have been sung 
and the angels return to heaven, 
I wish for you a louder song: 
Alleluia: 
God is with us. 
When the TV takes over 
and the sofa’s cushions beckon, 
I wish for you a deeper peace: 
God with us. 
When the day is complete 
and the festivities ending, 
I wish for you a new beginning 
of God with us. 
And when the Christmas tree lights go out 
and the dark of winter returns, 
I wish for you 
the eternal light of God now with us.

Lessons and Carols service

Join us tomorrow for our traditional service of Lessons and Carols

Worship Sun 22 Dec: Advent 4

A cheerful and busy day, with morning and evening services...
At our 10.30am service in the parish church at Abington, we:
compared Christmas jumpers [some amazing designs] and wondered what they might tell us about the true meaning of Christmas...
told the old, old story of the Nativity as together, we built a nativity set -
24 lucky people were handed a number as they entered, and as their number was called during the service, each came up to reveal what was hidden behind an Advent door,
which was then used to build up our Nativity set. We were, alas, missing a Wise Man,
and wondered if he'd taken a cheeky tea break at the last oasis before Bethlehem.
There were also issues with a 3-legged camel, and some very bad
'winky, wonky, plinky, plonky' donkey jokes.
A fun and busy service, with reflections, carols, and good humour.
A good number stayed on for morning tea - with the added gift of some excellent tablet.

In the evening, we held Scotland's highest carol service - accompanied by our
friends from Leadhills Silver Band. Some excellent playing and singing, followed
by mince pies and a cuppa.

At both services, a truly lovely atmosphere, as we entered into the season of good cheer
and good news for all.

Join us, from 11pm in the church hall at Abington for a pre-Watchnight service cuppa and mince pie...
and then come through into the church for our Watchnight service at 11.30pm

Christmas services at Upper Clyde Parish

'Tidings of comfort and joy' service...

A quieter time of worship where we remember those who are no longer with us...

All welcome. After our time of remembering tea and coffee will be available in the hall...

News and events: wk beg. 2 Dec

Week beginning 2 Dec:

Clydesdale Foodbank - Our Foodbank box is once again available in the vestibule
  and we'll happily receive donations over the upcoming Sundays. As we'd like folk
  to receive items before Christmas, the box will be uplifted and delivered on Sunday
   22 Dec. Thanks in advance for your continued, generous support of this project.

Tues 3 Dec, 7pm: Lanark Presbytery meets at Greyfriar's, Lanark

Sun 8 Dec. 10.30am: Morning worship pulpit swap - Worship this morning will be
   conducted by Mr Bill Love, Interim Moderator and Locum of Douglas Valley Church of Scotland.
   The Minister will be sharing in worship with the congregations at Douglas and Rigside.

Further ahead:
Wed 11 Dec., 2pm: Guild meeting in the church hall. Our guest this month is Mrs Poppy Brown,
   who will be sharing Christmas craft ideas with us.

Thurs 12 Dec., 7pm: 'Wordworks' writing group meets at the Colebrooke Arms. All welcome.

Sat 14 Dec., 2.30pm: 'Tidings of comfort and joy' service - a quiet, reflective time of worship
  as we meet together and remember those who may not be with us this Christmas.
  After the service, the hall will be open for a cuppa and space to chat.
   All welcome.

Sun Worship 1 Dec: Advent 1 - Shhh! Can you hear it? Listen...

This morning we shared together in the bread and wine of Communion.
Our Advent theme today: hope...
And, due to Communion and Advent candles, and such, a slightly shorter sermon.

READINGS Ps 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matt 24:36-44

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.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead…nah, let’s be blunt,
sometime a wee while back about the beginning of October
the relentlessness of the ‘Greatest hits of Christmas’
begins blasting from every shop –
a continuous loop of musical kitsch
with a wee backing track
of people passing by who chorus:
‘it’s waaaay too early!’

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead, not too far ahead,
a symphony of ‘pings’ on the pc
confirming purchases made,
and the rattle and hum of vans
with deliveries on their way.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere a little way ahead,
the rustle of paper as objects
are surreptitiously wrapped and hidden,
and ends with a flustered ‘phew’ of the giver
as they tick another name off their list.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead,
underneath the noise of tacky tunes,
of clicking keyboards,
of vans groaning under the weight of oh-too-many things,
even underneath the subdued whisper
of paper puckering at the touch
of small probing hands quietly exploring
the not quite so hidden depths of cupboards…
maybe
there’s something else for ears to hear.

Shhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead,
below the rustle of wings,
and a star’s glimmer –
to the ‘clink’ of coins being counted,
an Emperor takes stock of his empire,
of his lands,
of his subjects,
of his power…
And, in a backwater of that empire
in a crowded town,
footsteps sound
as a couple seek shelter for the night.

Shhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere further along the road,
there’s the sound of impending birth –
a young woman groans with the pain of it,
her man holds her hand
tries not to look panicked,
and offers quiet words of reassurance
while animals look on in a stable
and a mouse scuttles past in the hay.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere, ahead in the distance,
sounds:
the bleat of a startled sheep,
the quiet gasp of shock from shepherds in a field;

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere, up ahead,
there’s a vast choir of angels
singing in the heavens –
if you stretch yer ears,
you might just catch
a snatch of hallelujah’s song;

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere a wee bit further,
there’s the pad of camel hoof on sand,
a Wise Man yawning
as he watches heaven’s sign
and cradles a gift fit for a king.

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
these are the noises
alerting us to get ready,
to wake,
prepare.
These are the sounds –
for those with ears to hear –
that tell the beginnings of
a story stirring:
a story of a life –
the great story of new life.
Within the story
after the waiting,
after the watching,
there will be other sounds,
adding to the story
of the One born in the manger.
If you listen,
you may just hear
the crackle of crusty bread
being broken and shared,
the gush of wine
poured into cup...
and a little further on,
after more waiting,
and a little more watching,
the crack of a stone
rolling back
as a breath is taken
and death is done forever.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Time itself, is ticking
and the story has begun –
the story of hope
and of light in the darkness;
a story where we need not go up
to the House of the Lord,
for God, in Jesus,
has come down to us.
Rejoice,
...and prepare for his coming.

Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, 
we await your coming,
We wait filled with hope,
knowing your light 
will shine in the darkness.
We wait anticipating your peace,
believing that one day 
it will fill our world.
We wait, embracing your love:
may we reach out to share it 
with our neighbours.
We wait with joy bubbling within us
in expectation of your birth.
Lord we wait –
Come soon and fill us with your life. Amen.*
                                              *prayer - Christine Sine

Sun worship, 24 Nov: 'Christ the King'

READINGS/ Col. 1:13-23;  Luke 1:68-79; Luke 23:33-43

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.

It is an object of power –
small, and beautiful,
perfectly crafted, and pleasing to the eye.
Highly polished gold gleams, catching the light.
All who see it are overcome with desire for it –
they would move heaven and earth for it,
sacrifice all for the love and want of it...
It is an object of power –
small, and beautiful, and deadly
to all who wear it and wield it apart from its creator.
The ring was crafted long ago by one who desired above all else,
to have power over all things.
But the ring was lost during a great battle and over centuries a desperate search
has been taking place by its master,
and by those who would prevent the ring from ever being reunited with him.
It is an object of power –
small, and beautiful, and deadly
to all creatures and to all of creation should its master ever wear it.
In the past, some, who meant well, tried to master the ring –
hoping to use its power for good but it proved to be their undoing:
lured by its gleam, they were lost,
and were corrupted by its immense power.
The only hope, then, is to place this
small and beautiful and deadly object of power
out of harm’s way:
it must be destroyed...

Power.
If the great saga of The Lord of the Rings had to be described in one word,
then ‘power’ would be that word.
All the action, all the motivations, are driven by power –
the craving for it no matter the cost,
the fear of it –
how it can destroy, and how it can be misused.
The story is a cautionary tale of how absolute power can corrupt:
a tale giving us a glimpse of what leadership looks like when it is driven
by the fuel of power for power’s sake –
power without responsibility,
power used without accountability...
It shows, also, that, even with the best of intentions –
as the old saying goes:
absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Power is a seductive and dangerous thing.

In the Lord of the Rings, we get a sense of the character
of the maker of the ring of power –
there is nothing he will not do to get the ring back;
he rules by fear,
he uses violence to get what he wants,
he is a master of deception,
he is a bringer of war,
a sower of suspicion, mistrust, and division.
Those who follow him are expendable,
small beer to his great ambition for world domination.
He is a bringer of darkness and those who serve him live in the shadows.
His is a rule that brings despair and hopelessness.
If he were to get the ring back, he would rule the world,
and his reign would last forever
and it would be wholly awful.

Against this terrifying foe, the task to destroy the ring seems hopeless...
And here’s the counterpoint in the story:
we see another kind of power –
the power of hope, even in the darkest of situations.
Hope’s power brings with it the steely determination
to resist the darkness and to aim for the light –
to fight to make the world a better place:
to redeem power itself,
so that those who are in positions of power
lead not for their own sake, but for the sake of others...
not for selfish ambition, but in selfless service
so that the darkness disappears and all can stop living in the shadows,
and thrive in the glorious light together.
The writer of The Lord of the Rings,
J. R. R. Tolkien, was a man with a deep faith –
and his faith is the bedrock upon which the great themes
within his epic tale are built upon.

Power.
On this last day of the church year,
perhaps it is no coincidence that the readings we have,
that the theme we’re given,
is centred upon Christ as King.
At this end-point of the Christian year,
it is good to stop and reflect upon who we follow,
who it is we look to for meaning in our lives,
and for the strength to keep walking in faith.
And, as we think of Christ as King,
we find ourselves faced with quite a different
understanding of power, and of the way it’s used.

In Colossians, we see Jesus described as
‘firstborn over all creation’ –
for by him all things were created...
even those who themselves sit upon thrones of power owe that power to Jesus.
It is only by his power that all things are held together.
He is the Head of the church;
his power is such that he was the first to overcome death,
so that, through it, we too might live.
He uses his power to reconcile people to God.
Christ the King, as shown in Colossians,
reminds us that, without him, nothing would exist:
it is only through his power that we are here.
And, only his ongoing power keeps everything from falling
and shattering into nothingness.
In him, we live and breathe, and move,
and are reconciled with God.

In the first of our readings from Luke,
we hear Zechariah talk of his son John,
and speak of the coming of Jesus –
whose power is seen as something that delivers people;
and here, power is used with the word mercy.
With Christ’s coming, we see the power of light over darkness –
‘the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death’
and we see that his reign is one marked by guiding his people onto ‘the path of peace.’
At the end of the year, as we look back, so we look forward.
And in this first reading from Luke,
we see new beginnings, and we see the power of hope –
Christ, the King, delivers us from the darkness, brings us out of the shadows,
has the power to end conflict so that all are reconciled to one another.

In our second reading from Luke,
we find a strange kingship and power shown in a jolting, and disconcerting manner.
In contrast to the other two positive and glowing, hopeful readings,
we find ourselves... at the foot of the Cross.
We see Jesus, the King,
as political prisoner,
as religious outcast.
We see a man,
racked with pain,
looking down upon a crowd.
We see him watch those who take delight in his agony
and hear, as he does,
the harsh voices dripping with venom, spewing vitriol and hate
as they mock his mangled body.
We see him...
see his power seemingly stripped away;
we see him...
stripped of clothing,
stripped of dignity,
being stripped of life itself...
and even in the midst of the horror of it,
we see him,
hanging there, between two criminals,
and hear him speaking words of comfort,
words of reconciliation,
words of promise and blessing and Paradise,
to one of these companions in death...

Firstborn of all creation,
hope of our salvation,
sufferer of crucifixion...
This, this is our King –
stripping himself of power so that we might come out of the darkness
and into his marvellous light;
this is our King –
who gave of himself utterly, selflessly, for us...
This is our King –
who shows us that true power comes at a cost:
not at the expense of others,
but at the expense of self for others.
Here, at the very centre of this scene of utter powerlessness...
we find, strangely, the beating heart of where true power lives,
for only true power has the strength to choose to show such complete vulnerability....
This is our King –
who, even while suffering and exposed and vulnerable
can still offer words of comfort to another:
‘Today, you will be with me in Paradise.’

Power.
On this last day of the church year,
on this Christ the King Sunday,
we are reminded again of what true power is –
it’s about strength, but not about brute force;
it’s about using words to speak creation into being,
as well as speaking comfort from a Cross;
it’s about showing a different way,
breaking the cycle violence,
and finding the way of peace.
It’s about suffering and dying...
and it doesn’t end there –
for it’s about hope and new life, and the promise of new beginnings.

We are living – have been living – in challenging times.
We watch as governments seem broken,
as world leaders seem driven by power for the sake of power itself
and their own self-seeking ambitions...
we hear lies and false news
and wonder who is speaking truth to power –
where is the accountability,
the responsibility;
the stability?
We feel the divisions,
and sometimes experience a sense of living in the shadows not the light...

Who do we look to in such a time as this?
Who will show us what power – used well and wisely looks like?
Who will strengthen us and help us keep on going
with words of comfort, and blessing?
Who will encourage us to offer words of comfort and blessing to others?
Jesus Christ, our King:
firstborn of all creation,
hope of our salvation,
sufferer of crucifixion,
living proof of resurrection.
We look to him;
are strengthened by him,
are encouraged by our friends and companions in the faith to keep on going.
We find ways to walk as he walked through life,
for he is our King,
for he has shown us the way,
for he has faith in us that we can follow him.
As we listen to others,
as we protect, and comfort, reconcile, and bless...
as we live our lives using the power we have in service and care for others –
we find that the most radical manifesto ever imagined and dreamt of
is the power of love.

Power.
On this last day of the church year,
we remind ourselves of who our King is,
as we step forward into a new church year and, move into the season of Advent:
the season of watching and waiting,
of yearning and longing for Christ’s coming,
and, as we hold firm to God’s promise of deliverance,
we remember in hope that life, here and now,
and in the heavenly hereafter,
can be better than this.
We walk into Advent,
and wait for the coming of the light –
and for the coming of new life
as we strain to hear the first cries of the babe in the manger.
We walk into Advent
even though we live in uncertain times,
even though we may feel afraid and wonder what will come.
We walk into Advent,
and walk into each new day with confidence –
for even though we may not have confidence
in earthly powers,
we can have confidence in Christ, our King.
He is our hope.
And he is the one,
who speaks comfort to our fears,
reminds us that we are reconciled with God,
and who offers us
words of promise and blessing...
and who shows us the way to Paradise.

Let’s pray:
Christ our King –
Word of life...
you are God’s ‘good news’ story.
The daily news reads like bad news,
stories of death and destruction
litter the front pages,
crying for attention.

that we sometimes cannot bear to give.

The submitted ‘copy’
of the story in our world
is one of tyranny and oppression,
greed and a lack of care,
inhumanity and desperation
and makes our hearts cry:
‘God, where are you?’

Yet within us lies
the sovereign truth of love
which reminds that the past
has held atrocities that
the present does not know,
and the future holds a promise
that the present cannot crush.

And so, in your strength,
the strength of the
Word of the One
who walked the earth as the living God,
we will endure,
we will rejoice
and so, we will hold faith
that humanity will endure,
humanity will rejoice.
Christ, our King,
You came as a babe,
you lived and breathed,
that we can know that God lives
and that we too shall live.
What peace,
what hope,
what promise is this?
It is the promise of God,
the peace of God,
the promise of life,
the peace of life.
It is blessing. ...
It is your good news story,
Christ, our King,
and it is enough. Amen.

News, events, info: wk beg.11 Nov thru 20th Nov

What's happening over the next wee while...

Minister’s time off:
Nikki is using up her leftover annual leave before Advent and Christmas begin.
She’ll be off work from Tues 12th to Thur 20th Nov.
Urgent pastoral matters/ funeral cover will be provided by:
the 
For any ongoing parish queries, please contact: Heather Watt, our Session Clerk on 

Wednesday 13 Nov, 2pm:
the Guild meets in the Church hall and our speaker will be the Rev. Ali Pandian,
Hospital Chaplain at Wishaw General.

Thurs 14 Nov, 7pm: 
‘Wordworks’ writing group meets at the Colebrooke Arms Hotel in Crawfordjohn.
This group is open to anyone – bring something you may be writing, or something from a writer
you enjoy and would like to share.

Sunday 17 November, 10.30:
we welcome the Rev. Dr Anne Logan former Minister of Stockbridge Parish Church,
as she conducts worship for us in Nikki's absence.

Parish Magazine: volunteers needed for distribution.
The Christmas edition of the Parish Magazine is now back from the printers.
Over the last few editions, so many of you have kindly offered your time to help distribute
the magazine through the Parish. If you’re able to take some to drop through letter boxes
in your street, or wider village, or to some of the outlying farms, please see Dee,
who is co-ordinating this. And many thanks, as ever, for helping with this –
it can’t be done without you!

Sun worship, Nov 10: morning service, Remembrance Sunday

This from our service at 10.30 in the parish church at Abington...


READINGS/ Matt 5:43-48 and Eph 6:10-18


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’ve all heard the old saying:
‘Sticks and stones will break my bones,
but names will never hurt me.’

And you know, over the years,
I’ve come to look upon that particular saying with a healthy dose of scepticism.
While that may be the case that name-calling
won’t necessarily bruise your body or break a bone, that’s not the whole picture:
repeated, ongoing name-calling
can bruise the soul – can be soul-destroying;
it can break your sense of self down, bit by bit causing emotional and psychological harm.
It can be a powerful tool to dehumanise a person,
to effectively cause someone to become no one,
something other...
something other than human.
And when you’ve done that, you can justify any amount of bad behaviour...
Which is why name-calling is such a powerful weapon for those fighting wars:
it turns people into things –
faceless enemies that need to be destroyed at all costs.

And so, with the onset of the First World War, the propagandists got to work.
They produced countless recruitment posters
appealing to those who craved release from the humdrum of everyday life,
or to those who had been raised on heroic tales and wanted to be
noble and heroic themselves – fighters in a just and noble cause.
And in the midst of these, there were posters referring to those on the other side of the conflict as:
‘Murderers’
‘Barbarians’
‘Savages’
Posters designed to produce outrage,
urging their readers to avenge the dire doings of such ‘monsters’ –
posters trumpeting:
‘The Hun is at the gate!’
and
‘Destroy the mad brutes’
with depictions of the enemy as foul, slavering monsters devouring the innocent.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle lines,
the same thing was going on the other way around.
All sides in the conflict were at the same game:
doing their best to show the very worst in the other...
doing their best to demonstrate that they were not fighting normal, everyday human beings,
but terrifying beasts that needed to be destroyed -
dehumanising and othering the enemy.
In the end,
‘Sticks and stones will break my bones,
but names will never hurt me,’
is utter tosh:
as the propagandists knew and still know, name-calling can, ultimately, pave the way to killing.
Words matter –
words are powerful and need to be handled with care.
While meaning something else entirely, that old war saying ‘careless talk costs lives’
could be very readily re-purposed in this case.

In that great classic, ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’,
we see that tension between viewing the one
being fought as something other than human,
and realising, in the end, just how human they are...
During a raid across ‘no man’s land’, the main character in the novel, Paul,
dives for safety in a bomb crater to wait out a raid by the enemy.
At some point, someone falls into the crater with him.
Instinct takes over, and Paul immediately stabs the man.
He is now in the crater, for hours,
in the darkness,
in the mud,
with the man who takes a long time to die.
It is his first kill
and, it is ...traumatic.
Gradually, his own humanity asserts itself –
he helps his enemy,
makes him a little more comfortable, gives him water.
The wound, though, is mortal.
Eventually, the man dies.
As young Paul looks at his enemy up close,
the faceless enemy becomes human, just as he is.
Paul wonders about this man, his life, his loves.
‘I close his eyes. 
They are brown, his hair is black and a bit curly at the sides. 
The mouth is full and soft beneath his moustache; the nose is slightly arched, 
the skin brownish; it is now not so pale as it was before, when he was still alive....
No doubt his wife still thinks of him; she does not know what has happened. 
He looks as if he would have often have written to her;
she will still be getting mail from him.
To-morrow, in a week's time - perhaps even a stray letter a month hence. 
She will read it, and in it he will be speaking to her.’
As Paul effectively ‘re-humanises’ his enemy, he is filled with remorse
and a desire to apologise, make amends:
'I speak to him and say to him: 
"Comrade, I did not want to kill you. 
If you jumped in here again, I would not do it, 
if you would be sensible too. 
But you were only an idea to me before, 
an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. 
It was that abstraction I stabbed. 
But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me. 
I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle; 
now I see your wife and your face and our fellowship. 
Forgive me, comrade. 
We always see it too late. 
Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, 
that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, 
and that we have the same fear of death, 
and the same dying and the same agony. 
Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy? 
If we threw away these rifles and this uniform you could be my brother...’

Paul will later find the soldier’s pocket-book,
and learn more about this man through the letters and photographs
that fall from its open pages.
Paul learns his name – Gerard Duval;
learns his trade – printer;
learns that he does indeed have a wife, and a daughter
as he looks upon them standing by an ivy clad wall.
His enemy is not a beast, rather, he is a fragile human being:
so very human, so very normal.
Sticks and stones...
and names that can do terrible, terrible damage.

We know now, what those who entered into the First World War did not:
that it wasn’t to be the ‘war to end all wars.’
We know that other wars have followed,
we know other names that have been used within the machinery of war.
Yesterday marked the 81st anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom
against Jewish people in Germany and Austria.
90 Jews were murdered.
Hundreds of synagogues were burnt.
In the years preceding, and, in the war that would begin the following year,
a long campaign using words had been waged against those who were Jewish...
dehumanising words,
words describing Jewish people as:
‘sub-human’
‘parasites’
‘vermin’...
Words that lulled people into an acceptance of genocide.

Words have continued to be employed down the decades since,
in order to wear the cogs of conscience down to allow for horrors to continue.
And friends, as an aside, I am very concerned about the way words
are currently being used within political debates and in the reporting of them by the media:
politicians and journalists are playing a deadly game when using words such as:
‘surrenderers’
‘traitors’
‘mutineers’
‘enemies of the people’
‘fascists’...
these from all sides of the political fence.
It’s language that’s seen the rise in death threats to different politicians,
and, in the case of Jo Cox, her death.
It does feel like democracy is broken when we can’t
debate differences of opinion without ‘othering’ and name-calling.
Let’s get away from that:
it is entirely possible to hold different viewpoints and have a civilised discussion,
and even learn from each other.
There can be courtesy, listening, respect, even if you still strongly disagree at the end.
‘Help me understand why you think this...
talk me through it so I can see where you’re coming from,’ is always a good approach.

Wherever we may find ourselves –
in life,
on the political spectrum,
when faced with those who for whatever reason wish us harm –
what is our response to conflict of all kinds as followers of Jesus?
First, we look to scripture, and what we see in our reading from Matthew
is Jesus, the Word of life,
using words of love.
Words that rehumanise.
He calls upon us to not only love our neighbour,
but to ‘love our enemies’.
He calls upon us to pray for those who persecute us.
To actively attempt to love our enemies,
to do the work of praying for them...
involves imagination:
it is the work of seeing the person.
Trying to move past the fear,
to move past the hatred,
to move beyond bitterness,
and begin to imagine who they are,
what their motivations are,
their background, their families.
To see beyond the label,
even if what someone has done is horrific, is ‘beastly’ even, to see that they are human.
Sometimes, that’s a harder thing to work through than making monsters of them.
If this is indeed a human being, what was it that caused them to do
whatever it is they may have done?
‘Othering’ is almost too easy:
accepting that someone is human and has done awful things is hard and sobering work.
It makes us ask hard questions of ourselves:
if the same circumstances were to arise... might we, too, be capable of terrible things?
So:
Love.
Pray.
Break down the wall...
see the person.
To love is the hardest thing we do –
it is both a beautiful and terrible thing,
powerful and vulnerable.
There is nothing at all wishy-washy about love.

In calling us to love,
in calling us to pray,
Jesus asks us to break damaging and recurring patterns of human behaviour.
It is the work of peace-making, peace-building,
for God’s kingdom is one that is harmonious –
the peaceful, peaceable kingdom.
But how do we do this hard task of loving and of praying for those
who we may find it difficult to see as fellow human beings?
Again, we turn to God’s word.
Relying on our strength alone, it’s almost impossible.
And so the writer to those in the church in Ephesus effectively says:
‘no, no, beloved, not in your strength, do this relying on God’s strength.
Wear spiritual armour, for loving is hard and can feel like a great battle.
In God’s power, you will find that you can stand firm, and do this task of loving 
that you’ve been called to.’

As we remember today, all those who have fought in wars,
those who are currently fighting,
and all those who have been caught up in conflict over this last century...
may we put on love as our armour,
may we commit to breaking the cycle of conflict –
may love help us truly see each other:
as human,
as fragile,
as precious in God’s sight;
and may the power of God’s love, lived within our lives,
finally see an end to war,
where all can live in peace with one another,
and in doing,
not wither and perish, but rather,
where all may blossom and flourish. Amen.

Evening worship: simple Communion with music and reflection

After the busyness of Remembrance Sunday morning and afternoon, 

join us at Holy Trinity Chapel, Lamington, 

for a simplified Communion 

accompanied by music from the Taize Community.

A space to be still and listen for God's voice in the quietness.

Acts of Remembrance around the parish 10 Nov.

LEST WE FORGET...

Sun 10 Nov.:
A list of Acts of Remembrance
happening around the parish

And on Mon. 11 Nov.:
Leadhills Primary School meets at the Memorial
just before 11am ...
for an Act of Remembrance

News, events, info. for wk beg. 3 Nov

Thurs 7 Nov., 7pm: Kirk Session meets in the Church Hall.

Sun 10 Nov, 6.30pm: Evening worship:
Music and Meditation Communion service at Holy Trinity Chapel, Lamington
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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICES:
Sun 10 Nov, 10.30am, Morning Worship
12.30pm: Leadhills - Act of Remembrance at Village Memorial
1.30pm: Crawford - Act of Remembrance at the Village Memorial
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Centenary Poppies Project: 
The Centenary poppies are now available for purchase via donation
[min. £1] All monies raised will be given to both Help for Heroes and Poppy Scotland.
They can be found in the vestibule.

Minister’s time off this week: Wednesday

Moderator’s visit to Upper Clyde Parish: 
a very big thanks to all who were able to come along to parts of the Moderator’s flying visit around the parish. Special thanks for those who turned out at the church - who helped set up, serve, and clear away. The Moderator, Colin Sinclair, and his wife, Ruth, enjoyed their visit with us. An unexpected reunion occurred between Ruth Sinclair and Cathie Craig – who’d last seen each other many years before in Uganda, where Ruth’s father worked as a doctor. Small world indeed!

Food for the journey: spiritual nourishment for the rest of the week...
This week turn the words from Revelation into a mini-prayer: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Use it before meals, as you waken and go to sleep, as you hear news, as you meet people and say good-bye. It can become a small blessing, awareness of God in everything even the tarnished and grey.