- 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 31 May 2026
Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up Romans 15 v 2.
A very warm welcome to the latest edition of Thought for Sunday.
We continue to consider our actions to the difficult and demanding situations we face on a daily basis. There are evidences of many issues we are facing, with uncertainty and worry. This can lead to us dwelling on our problems at the expense of considering others. The New Testament has a number of illustrations where Christians demonstrated the transforming power of Jesus in their actions and words.
Out text today refers to ‘our neighbours’ and we may recall Jesus’ response when He was asked, ‘Who is my neighbour’? Jesus then told the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a Jew was robbed. The only person who stopped was a Samaritan. Jesus reminded the questioner that everyone is our neighbour.
So, what does the text say to us today? Whoever we meet today, we should treat them as ‘our neighbour,’ and we should seek to ‘build them up.’ In other words, it is so easy to criticise others – to blame others – to point out their mistakes – to ‘put them down,’ where Jesus is encouraging us to take the opposite action, by encouraging them – praising them – emphasizing their good points, thus increasing their self-esteem and confidence. It is easy to say or even write about, but much more demanding to put into practice. Indeed, it is virtually impossible to complete, without the help and assistance of Jesus.
What a vastly different community we would live in, if people sought to build each other up rather than ‘tearing them down’? Jesus remains ‘The way, the Truth and Life,’ that enables us to live above ourselves and reveal the power of Jesus working in our hearts and lives.
Let us seek, with the Lord’s help, to live out this verse of Scripture in the coming week, to give glory and honour to our Saviour and Lord.