11th August 2023, Weekly Update

1. Sunday 13 August

Services are at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed).  The passage is Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the theme Can the Sleeping Giant Waken? This comes from the title of a fascinating book – more of that below.

Hunger Lunch

At 12 noon, in the hall, Hunger Lunch happens. This is a simple meal of soup, rolls and coffee/tea. Through this money is raised that goes to help some people who live with hunger. This year it is the families who live in the Orphan Village in Malawi. It’s also a great time and place to get to know one another better.

2)   Sleeping Giant

Tommy MacNeill is a Church of Scotland minister in Stornoway on the Island of Lewis. He has written a very readable and challenging book that has a been creating waves within the Church of Scotland during the last year. Some of you read it and said, ’Neil, this would be a great book for the congregation to read.’ So I read it and was convinced they were right.

In coming weeks we will read Sleeping Giant  together.  Each chapter focuses on a bible passage. I will preach on that passage on Sundays. I am certain you will find it useful to do two things as I do this. First, to read Tommy’s thoughts. Second, to ponder the questions  at the end of each chapter. You can do it on your own, or even better, you can chat with others about it. No one, least of all me, is expecting you to agree with everything Tommy says. What I expect is that reading, thinking and praying will stimulate your thinking, prompt your praying and stir you to be part of what God is doing in Scotland.

Copies of the Sleeping Giant will be on sale in church beside coffee priced £7.00. Card payments will be accepted (For some time I have wondered if there is a way for StAB to accept card payments and this is an ideal opportunity to test a system.) If you prefer it as an ebook, Amazon are selling it for £5.99 (and paper copies at £8.99) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleeping-Giant-Church-Awake-Arise-ebook/dp/B09LVQCW1B/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1691578283&sr=8-1

So can I ask you to 1) buy a copy of the book, 2) think about who you might meet up with to chat about it with.  If you’re not sure who you could do that with, why not come to Hunger Lunch, chat to some people there and see if there is someone else who is looking for a conversation partner.

3)   Gift Day 23

The total for this year’s Gift Day stands at £34,218.  The intention had been to give each of the five projects £6,000. As a result of your generosity all the projects will get a minimum of £6,600. (Some specified donating means the amount varies slightly for each project).  A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed and made this possible.

Gift Day will close at the end of August so that funds can be distributed to the projects. If you are intending to, but have not get given, please could you do so within the next two weeks.

4)   Sustainability Disadvantaged Action Group:

Those who have the least are most often those most affected by climate change and yet least equipped to do anything about it. This working party aims, firstly, to identify areas where we as individuals and as a congregation can help and then, secondly, to take action to ensure that that help is given. Can you help? Are you interested? We’re going to meet for half an hour after Church on Sunday 20 August at 11:45 to discuss the way forward. It would be wonderful to see you there!

5)   Prayer Gathering

Each Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm. Contact the office for log on details.

 

Neil