- Sunday 25 June
Services in the building at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage is 1 Peter 3:1-7, and the theme, Share your life in Christ quietly and gently without a hint of pressure or self-righteousness.
In this passage Peter tells wives to submit to their husbands. Many people find this difficult because it jars with modern sensibilities. But is Peter actually saying what we hear?
don’t think he is. Peter talks about submission three times (to the Emperor 2:13, to masters 2:18, and husbands 3:1). To us it sounds as if Peter was big into authority. He wasn’t. I’m convinced that submission was a MEANS to an end, and not the END itself. Peter wanted people to believe in Jesus. Given the culture of his day submitting to the established order was a really important element in achieving this. Our society is very different. God still wants people to believe in Jesus. So the END hasn’t changed. But the way we do this (the MEANS) needs to reflect the society of today. I’ll unpack this more on Sunday. I’ll be interested to know what you think afterwards.
2) Gift Day
Sunday is our Gift Day when we give an additional offering as a way of expressing our thanks for all God has given us. Bring cash/cheque on Sunday or make a payment direct to St Andrew Blackadder at account 00228845, Sort Code 80-17-95.
Note: this is a different bank account from the one used for regular offerings.
One of the projects is to establish a midwifery training school at Tank Christian Hospital in Pakistan. Midwifery is an important part of the health care the hospital offers. At the moment however, it has not been permitted to train midwives. After years of waiting the government has just granted permission to establish a midwifery school. This will bring many benefits. Local women will train as midwives, meaning there will be help the hospital with staffing issues. Others will return to their town and villages increasing the number of community midwives there are. It will also give young Christian women (a marginalised minority) an opportunity to develop skills and use their talents. The total cost of training 50 midwives will be £10,000. By covering half of these costs it will be affordable for local families to send their daughters. That’s why we’ve committed to giving £6,000. Please give generously to this and the other projects detailed in the leaflet https://www.standrewblackadder.org.uk/gift-day-2023/
3) Scripture Union Prayer Meeting June 24
Derek Harley (who spoke at the Church Weekend) organises a regular prayer meeting for the work of Scripture Union. This moves around East Lothian. On Saturday 24 June it is coming to St Andrew Blackadder. It begins at 10.30 am and will have a particular focus on North Berwick High School and its feeder primaries. Please come and add you voice to others in prayer.
4) Unite, a cross church event for S1-S6, is happening this Sunday at 18.00 at St John’s and King’s church in Dalkeith. If you would like transportation, we will be leaving at 17.15 so be at StAB for 17.00 on Sunday. If you would like a lift please check with Andrew in advance to make sure we there are enough seats.
5) 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
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