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 Spring is with us, you can tell as the rain is wet and plentiful, let us see what has changed at Lonmay Church since the previous edition.
Although the weather is slightly warmer, please remember to wrap up warmly and try to avoid catching anything serious. This is especially true when taking part in the annual hedge cutting.
Although the plan from Presbytery was for Lonmay Church to close it’s doors by the end of 2024, that hasn’t happened. We plan to stay open for worship as long as we can, God willing. Services and Fellowship continue as normal until further notice.
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.
Blessings.
Lonmay Thought for Sunday 1 March 2026
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord – Psalm 150 v 6.
It is good to welcome you to the latest edition of Thought for Sunday.
As it is not only the first Sunday of the month, but also the 1st of March – so we celebrate with our Songs of Praise. It is a time for sharing together favourite hymns and songs and giving thanks to the Lord for so many blessings that He gives to us.
The last Psalm in the Bible reminds and challenges us to ‘praise the Lord.’ The Psalmist highlights the creation, His power and authority, and encourages us to use a range of musical instruments to lift our hearts and voices in praise to Him. Even in days past when the range of instruments were different from today, the Psalmist encourages us to make use of them. So today, we have music groups, using keyboards, drums, guitars and wind instruments leading worship. We have the more traditional organ and/or piano, small or large orchestras, brass bands just to name a few. All help us to present our lives as ‘a living sacrifice’ of praise to the Lord. We thank the Lord for leading men and women to create words and music which so effectively reflect our thoughts and delights in Jesus.
It is so easy to sing words without contemplating their meanings, and it just becomes part of the expectation of the format for a service. The Psalmist seeks to encourage us to think about what we are singing, and not simply to ‘like’ a hymn/song because of the tune. So, we can move to the words of a lively tune and be inspired, but likewise, a slower, softer, reflective hymn/song can draw us closer to the Lord.
As we share together with hymns and songs that mean a great deal to us, may we take time to reflect on the words and ‘make them our own’ as we lift our voices in praise, adoration and worship to Jesus.
