3rd March 2023, Weekly Update

1. Sunday 5 March

Morning services at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage will be Matthew 6:1-18, the theme Virtue Signalling.

Messy Church

Messy Church takes place between 4pm and 6pm. The subject this month is ‘Jesus calms the storm’. Messy Church is a way of being Church for families and others. It is Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. Please consider bringing along and supporting someone this Lent time. Further details from Alison Singleton whose details are in the Church Directory.

2)  The Guild

There will be a Guild Meeting on Tuesday 7 March at 2.30pm in the Chapel. Ann Cubitt will be speaking about her Faith Journey. Everyone is welcome to share in worship and fellowship. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served afterwards.

3)   Leading Prayer Workshop Thursday 9 March at 7 pm

Neil will be leading a workshop that will explore and equip people to lead prayer during Sunday services.  It will last about 90 minutes. If you are interested please come along. It will be in Room 1.

4)   Book group

Next book: When the Lights Go Out by Carys Bray, Friday 10 March. For more details please contact the Church Office.

5)   North Berwick Gospel Choir

Date correction: The North Berwick Gospel Choir concert dates in the Kaleidoscope are incorrect. The concerts will be held on 28th & 29th of April, not in March.

6)   SU group in Law Primary – could you help run it?

The SU group at Law Primary stopped at the beginning of the Pandemic and was due to be restarted by Hazel Gray. Hazel has now left her role with Abbey church. The group can be run at lunchtime or after school on a day that is convenient. Anyone that would like to help should contact Derek Harley, the SU worker in East Lothian, derek.harley@suscotland.org.uk

7)   Scotland’s Next First Minister

Unless you are a member of the SNP you will have no direct say. Can I remind you however, of Paul’s encouragement to pray ‘for kings, and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives’ (2 Timothy 2:3)?  Rather than praying for a particular outcome I would encourage you to ask God to work in and through this process.

The Church of Scotland have issued this comment which I find wise and helpful.

The prospect of Kate Forbes taking on the role of First Minister has engendered much debate about her beliefs as a member of the Free Church of Scotland and the impact of those beliefs on any political decisions she may take.

 As fellow Christians, we support Ms Forbes’ right to hold her beliefs, as we would for any one else. We deplore comments which suggest that holding views because of religion, faith or belief would impair her suitability as a candidate for First Minister. Freedom of religion and belief is a human right and a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. Scotland is a diverse, pluralist society that includes people of many faiths and beliefs, and it is right that we seek to treat one another with fairness and respect, especially when we hold a different opinion.

 In a democratic society it is important for our political leaders to uphold the decisions of the Scottish Parliament, even when they do not personally agree with them. There is a longstanding tradition of politicians being able to exercise their own conscience on moral issues, where they are given ‘free votes’ rather than have to follow a party line.

 We urge those involved in choosing a potential leader to examine what positive qualities they can contribute, such as a commitment to public service, a willingness to work for the benefit of the country as a whole, and those personal qualities of honesty and integrity which we all expect from those in high office.

 We also appeal to people to consider their own words and actions as they engage in the debate about Scotland’s next First Minister. The political arena is all too often an environment that can see highly damaging personal attacks made on those in public office. Our politicians are human beings first and foremost who volunteer to serve the public and in doing so accept the scrutiny that comes with that role but all too often this sadly falls into a level of abuse that should never be acceptable.

8)   Prayer Gathering

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

Please contact the office for log on details.

 

 

Neil

Rev Dr Neil Dougall