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Sermon 22nd March 2015 Balaam & Balak
Submitted by liz.dyer on Wed, 01/04/2015 - 22:20File Attachments:
Sermon 8th March 2015 Jeremiah 29
Submitted by liz.dyer on Wed, 01/04/2015 - 20:03File Attachments:
April 2015 Letter
Submitted by nanda.groenewald on Tue, 31/03/2015 - 22:23Easter… A sad story – with a happy ending (Luke 22-24).
It’s not often that we can say that about things that happen in life. Most people think that it’s only in films where tragic situations turn into something good, where sad stories have happy endings. Real life doesn’t work like that.
And to a certain extent I agree – life here on earth very seldom reflect a boy-meets-girl and they lived happily ever after scenario. Life can sometimes be really hard. Sometimes we plan things and dream about things, and then it just doesn’t work out. Sometimes we are really happy, and then suddenly something happens that changes the course of our lives completely – like getting made redundant, or receiving a letter from the NHS saying that your test results didn’t come back clear, or losing somebody you love.
And very recently that happened to all of us when we unexpectedly lost out West Kirk Treasurer, Bill Calder. Bill made his mark in the community and the church, he made a big difference wherever he went, which resulted in a big hole being left within our church community now.
Apart from all the formal things Bill did for the church, the one thing I will always remember about him, is his beautiful singing voice. Sitting behind the communion table while celebrating Holy Communion without Bill sitting next to me will just never be the same again. Because for those two hymns, four times a year, I was actually able to sing in tune, because I could hear Bill singing next to me! And just like that I know that everybody will have their own memories of Bill… And of other people who are not here with us anymore.
It’s hard. Life is not a fairy-tale.
But… Easter happened. It really happened. That was not a film or a fairy-tale. Every gruesome detail of Jesus being mocked, whipped and then eventually dying on the cross, happened. And it happened for us. But the end of Jesus’ life wasn’t the end of the story, it really was the beginning. Because God rose him from the dead, so that all of us can live with God in all eternity.
And to be truthful – what more can we ask for? The years we have here on earth are a mere drop in the bucket in comparison to eternity.
In other words, if you believe in God, your story will always have a happy ending…
May you feel the presence of God in your life, in the easy and in the difficult times, this Easter, and forever.
Kinds regards, Nanda
Christian Aid Sponsored Forth Bridge Cross
Submitted by liz.dyer on Tue, 31/03/2015 - 22:14
Forth Bridge Sponsored Walk 26th April
The walk is good fun you meet lots of friendly people of all ages and of course the money raised for Christian Aid goes to help people living in some of the poorest countries of the world eg Ethiopia. This year there will be a ceilidh band playing at the start of the walk on the South Queensferry side of the bridge to liven us up for the walk.
Anyone who is physically fit enough can take part in the walk, the full length of the bridge is 2.5km and there are steps to go under the road at either end. This may seem a little daunting but actually there are some keen people who run or at least jog across the bridge. Most people just walk across the bridge talking to friends and waving to people. It is a very friendly event suitable for all ages- even babies can go.
Please consider taking part either by doing the walk yourself or by sponsoring other people: your support makes Christian Aid's life saving work possible.
Sponsor forms and information are available from David Hull, 19 Learmonth Crescent, West Calder. Tel: 01506873023. Email: David@frankandsense.plus.com
March Letter
Submitted by nanda.groenewald on Wed, 04/03/2015 - 19:14Dear Congregations
February was our Stewardship month, where we focused on time. Now we find ourselves in Lent, the time we use to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ suffering, his death on the cross, and then ultimately his resurrection.
What does Lent mean for you?
To me it’s a time of walking in Jesus’ footsteps, of trying to imagine what He’s been through for me, for all of us…
On the way to Calvary the cross Jesus had to carry was too heavy for him, literally (Luke 23:26-43). The soldiers had to summon someone else to carry it for him. And I think that that was almost the least of his troubles! Because the emotional cross he had to bear – the realization that his own people didn’t understand his message, that they would rather see him die on a cross than change their lives, open their eyes and see the bigger picture – that must have been much worse than trying to physically carry a heavy wooden cross with a broken body. That must have broken his heart.
Luckily Simon from Cyrene was there to carry Jesus’ cross up the hill for him. Simon was at the right place, at the right time. I am sure that it was all part of God’s plan. He still does it today. He sends people into our lives, on our paths, to be our Simons, helping us to carry our burdens through life. But He also sends us to be Simons for others, to help them carry their burdens.
The fact that we sometimes have to bear crosses, whether this be our own or that of others, shouldn’t ever make us feel hopeless, because although bearing that cross was really hard for Jesus to do, it was also the thing that led to our salvation.
May walking in Jesus’ footsteps this Lent help you to see your own life in perspective, and may God help you to realise that sometimes, even in carrying a cross there is a blessing.
Nanda