- Sunday 10 Sept
Services are at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage is John 2:1-12 and the theme, A Day is Coming. The same passage is explored in Sleeping Giant chapter 5, Every Bride is Beautiful. Once again stocks of book sold out last Sunday. More books have been sourced and will be on sale at coffee, priced £7.00.
Hunger Lunch will be held in the Church Hall beginning at noon. This is a great opportunity to have a more leisurely conversation over a bowl of soup and a roll. Whether you are new or old its an event that helps nurture a sense of belonging. At the same time, funds are raised for the Orphan Village in Malawi the congregation has supported for many years.
2) Praying for Revival
One of the themes to emerge from Sleeping Giant is the importance of prayer and the extra value of praying with others. The Kirk Session discussed this week and suggested I say a few words about this.
There is no one way to pray, no better way, no recommended way. Different approaches suit different personalities. Different commitments mean different patterns work for different people. Here are some ways you can join in praying with others.
– On Sunday mornings, during the reflection after the sermon, everyone might pray for revival. Use the words that come on the screen and make them your prayer for God to heal this land.
– Arrange with a few others to pray regularly. This week I heard of a prayer triplet. Three people get together weekly to pray. Schedules change so the day and time changes too. Each time they arrange when the next one will be.
– Come to one of the scheduled prayer gatherings – in room 1 at the church every Monday morning at 10 am, or online on Zoom on Wednesdays at 7.00 pm (login details below).
– Be creative. Start something else. If you let me know what you’re doing I’ll share it with others.
Did you know there is a Prayer Room in the church? It is one of the glass sided rooms off the chapel. Anytime the building is open (usually 8.30 am – 4.00 pm) you are very welcome to come into the building and use that space to pray. Why not invite someone else to join you? Then you could spend a few minutes asking God to bring revival to Scotland.
3) Guild Annual Gathering Sat 9 Sept
This is the biggest event of the Guild year, bringing over 1000 Guild members and friends together in Edinburgh for a day of worship, celebration and fellowship. This year the main speaker will be Jason Leitch well known from the daily TV briefings during Covid. The new National Convener of the Guild will also be sworn into office.
This event will be live streamed in the chapel on Saturday 9th September from 11am to 4pm and all are welcome to attend. Tea and coffee will be provided from 10.45am and throughout the day.
4) Presbytery Conferences
The Presbytery wants to energise and inspire congregations. To this end it has arranged two conferences. The first is on Mission. Tommy MacNeil, author of Sleeping Giant will speak. It is in Jedburgh on Friday 22 Sept. The second is on Worship and will be in Longniddry on Saturday 30 Sept. More details below.
5) Blythswood Boxes
Could you help cover Shoeboxes with Christmas paper? A group will be meeting in the chapel on Tuesday 12 at 2 pm. It’s a big job so if you can lend a hand it would be greatly appreciated.
6) Parking in North Berwick
The final proposals for changes to parking in North Berwick have now been published. I know a lot of people, for many different reasons, are unhappy with what is being proposed. If you are one of them, please don’t just moan to your friends about it. That will change nothing. You need to communicate with the Council. Objections to specific aspects of the plan can be made until 1 October. This link will take you to the proposals and explain how you can object. https://northberwickparking.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/document-library/step1
7) North Berwick Community Connections NBCC
This is a community group working to reduce isolation by connecting people who (for whatever reason) find themselves disconnected from others. It is really important work and some of you already support it in various ways. I’m delighted to say that NBCC is now using room 3 in the Church building as its ‘office’ three days a week. At other times the room is available for others to use.
8) Kirk Ports Tours
As part of Scottish Archaeology Month three tours of Kirk Ports will be held. Tours on Saturday 9th September at 11am, and Thursday 14th September at 11am will be led by local historian, Joy Dodd, and local archaeologist, Olwyn Owen. They will focus on the graveyard and some of the famous and infamous characters buried there. The tour on Thursday 21st September at 11am will be led by Olwyn Owen and conservation architect, Fraser Bell, and will focus on the campaign to conserve and enhance the site and make it available again for community use. Each tour will last 60 to 90 minutes, are open to all and free.
9) Prayer Gathering
Each Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.
Log in details are available from the office
Neil
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