- Video: Presbytery of Buchan – some congregational stories:
(Crimond and Lonmay represented by Mr Tim Barker)
Lonmay Newsletter
Welcome to this edition of the Lonmay Newsletter.
Now that Summer is with us, you can tell as the rain is warmer, let us see what has changed at Lonmay Church since the previous edition.
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Covid is no longer the driving force in our lives and has now the same status as a head cold. Not man-flu as that is really serious.
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Although the plan from Presbytery was for Lonmay Church to close it’s doors by the end of last year, that hasn’t happened. We plan to stay open for worship as long as we can, God willing.
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Please continue to come along to the weekly Sunday Service at 12:00 o’clock and be ready to sing along to the varied selection of hymns. These are either sung along to the wonderful organ accompaniment provided by Alice or by recordings provided by Tim.
Tim also produces the texts and ‘Thought for Sunday’ which is posted weekly below this newsletter. In addition, Tim sends them out to a distribution list every week. If you wish to be included in the distribution, let one of the session know or ask Tim directly.
It has been a difficult period of uncertainty, and your support, prayers and encouragement during this period has been really appreciated. Please continue to pray as we move into the next stage of the Presbytery Plan and ask the Lord to continue to lead and guide decisions which have to be made.
Just to let you know that Sunday School will NOT be re-opening due to the retirement of Lorna and Yvonne. Many thanks to Lorna and Yvonne for their dedication and commitment to the Sunday School over the last number of years. You are all invited to come along to the Sunday School Picnic (See events page for details).
Blessings.
Crimond and Lonmay Thought for Sunday 14 September 2025
‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching – John 14 v 23.
A very warm welcome to the latest edition of Thought for Sunday.
My earliest memory of Sunday School was my teacher, Mrs Talbot, seemingly teaching every week of the importance of obedience!!! I used to go home and when asked what Mrs Talbot had taught about at Sunday School, I would respond, ‘Obedience, obedience, obedience, the same every week.’ As a near-teenager, it did not go down very well!!!!
It seems that little has changed over the years, as there is an increased resentment to anything which asks us to listen and act upon the advice or instruction. Perhaps there is an inbuilt emotion which resists being told what to do!!! Let’s face it that if we are asked to do something, or told to do it, we are more likely to respond positively to the former rather than the latter!!
In this verse, Jesus shares with us that our motivation for obeying Him is not based on being told, but out of a heart of love. If we really love Jesus and want to please Him, then we will want to obey His commands and instructions. After all, He is not wanting us to be robots, who simply do what we are told to do, but to want to take action because of our genuine love or Him.
This transforms obedience from a task to be done, to an action demonstrating that we belong to Jesus, and as He is our Saviour and Lord, we are in a loving relationship with Him. So often we can see people responding to a task simply because they must, otherwise they might lose their employment or important relationship, and therefore it is a duty rather than a desire to please.
As we face a new week, with many demands and challenges on our lives, may we seek to acknowledge our Lord’s commands to us, by responding with hearts full of love and devotion to our amazing Saviour and Lord.