20th October 2023, Weekly update

1) Sunday 22 Oct
Worship at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage is Mark 2:1-12, and the theme is A nation that needs healing.   This is also the passage explored in ch 10 of Sleeping Giant, ’The challenge of having Jesus in your house.’

2) Israel and Gaza
All week the news has been filled with horrific details of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. There is no doubt that many ordinary people in both Israel and Gaza are caught up in a conflict they want no part in and are suffering terribly because of. Rev Sally Foster-Fulton in a message on the matter says ‘pray from your guts, not your lips’ because it’s one of those situations where it is hard to know what we should ask for. Please do this. Please pray for peace, for an end to the conflict and for a reducing of tension in the region. Make your prayer a heartfelt groan and don’t worry about knowing what exactly the right thing to pray for is.

Rev Muriel Pearson is a Church of Scotland Minister working in Israel, and is the sister of Stephen Pearson.  She has had to return to Scotland. Her perspective on the matter is much better informed than anything I might say. Attached is something she wrote.  Please bear in mind that it is more than a week old and much has happened since then.  You may also want to check out a message from Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, the Moderator, https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/articles/a-message-from-rev-sally-foster-fulton-moderator-of-the-general-assembly-of-the-church-of-scotland-on-the-israel-gaza-conflict

3)  Jean Hutchison
Jean died on Oct 3 aged 93. She was a very practical, down to earth, determined woman. Her whole life was undergirded by a deep faith in Jesus Christ. She made an immense contribution to the life of St Andrew Blackadder Church in so many ways over many decades.  There will be a service in the church on Friday 27 October at 10 am.

4) Blythswood Shoeboxes.
Sunday is the final day to return your filled boxes. Each box has a leaflet inside that includes a checklist to be completed.2Cunningham House. 

Each year at this time there is an opportunity to contribute new men’s socks, underpants and toiletries for the Church of Scotland’s hostel for the homeless at Cunningham House in the Cowgate.  Boxes are in the front and rear entrances and you are invited to use these for your donations.

5) Prayer Gatherings
Every Monday in Room 1 between 10 and 11 am.

Every Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88152470672?pwd=WHpUOVdWN3NpSTBCUjF3aDRhcE1Ldz09

Meeting ID: 881 5247 0672

Passcode: StABPrayer

 

Neil

Rev Dr Neil Dougall
ndougall@churchofscotland.org.uk
St Andrew Blackadder Church of Scotland, North Berwick, EH39 4NU    Scottish Charity SC006421