Past and Future 7: The Lord sent them 

On Good Friday last year a group from St Andrew Blackadder carried a large wooden cross up from the harbour and along the High Street.  This will happen again this year.

In this series of reflections I have traced the history of St Andrew Blackadder from the calling of St Andrew right up to the present day. In the last one I focused on the Ministries Fair held last August. I commented on the number of people who are involved in the various ministries of the congregation.  It is because you give time, talents and money that every week about 1000 people pass through the church building. Some come to worship. Some come to one of the ministries. Some are visitors who looking at the building. Some come to one of the many groups who rent space in the church. All are welcomed in the name of Jesus. Our prayer is that every single person will be touched by the love of Jesus.

The space the building offers, the welcome and ministries of the congregation are a fantastic asset.

They are also a potential snare.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go (Luke 10:1).

The gospel is both ‘come’ and ‘go’. Jesus invites people to come to him. Jesus also sends his followers out. We are to be both gracious hosts and courageous guests.

 

Being a host feels safer than being a guest. We prefer to welcome people into our building. It is our territory. It is where we feel at home. We have a degree of control. We find going out more unsettling. We don’t know what will happen. We’re not sure what reaction we will get. We are not in control. St Andrew Blackadder is not alone. Throughout history the church has found being a host easier than being a guest.

That is why the current big idea the congregation has embraced is Guests as well as Hosts. While it is important that we continue to be generous hosts we are also called to be courageous guests. The Good Friday procession is an example of being guests. It is us taking the good news of Jesus outside the safety of the church building. We bear witness to Jesus knowing we cannot control what others will think, say and do. We do it both boldly and humbly. We neither apologise for our faith nor shove it in people’s faces.

The story of St Andrew Blackadder through the centuries is one of courageous guests and generous hosts. It is a tale of courage and humility.  As I hand on the baton to another minister I know this will continue. As a new chapter in the congregation’s life begins I look forward to hearing how you are working out how to be guests as well as hosts.

Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1)

Witness 1: St Andrew, who brought people to Jesus – Sermon 18/1/26

Witness 2: John Blackadder, who preached the word in season and out of season – All Age Talk 25/1/26

Witness 3: The people who founded the church of St Andrew in North Berwick.  ‘Make the most of every opportunity’ (Colossians 4:5).

Witness 4: St Andrew’s Church, Kirk Ports: ‘Hear the word of the Lord’ (Ezekiel 37:4)

Witness 5: Blackadder Free Church: ‘Go. I am sending you’ (Exodus 3:10)

Witness 6: The people behind the building we worship in today: ‘Let your light shine’ (Matthew 5:16)

Witness 7: 1990’s Congregation: Christ, our peace, who makes two groups one (Ephesians 2:14)

Witness 8: Since 2000: In Christ we, though many, form one body (Romans 12:5)

2026 and Beyond: Guests as well as hosts: The Lord sent them (Luke 10:1)

Neil

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