- Video: Presbytery of Buchan – some congregational stories:
(Crimond and Lonmay represented by Mr Tim Barker)
https://youtu.be/k-GhD1vh_Gk
Lonmay Newsletter 24
Welcome to this edition of the Lonmay Newsletter.
It is fantastic news to share that, God Willing, next Sunday 30 August, we are able to meet at 12 noon for a service. Your district Elder will be updating you with all the details, so I will not duplicate them here. There are three points to share with you:
- It is quite understandable and acceptable that some people feel unable to attend at this stage due to the continuing impact of the virus.
- It is also understandable and acceptable that some people feel that they would rather wait until ‘normal’ service can be resumed.
- To those who are contemplating coming to church please be assured that the working party have and will continue to do all in their power to follow the government and Church of Scotland regulations and guidelines to provide a safe environment in which to worship the Lord. There will be changes but these have been made to meet the requirements and should not detract from drawing near to the Lord in worship and prayer.
At a recent Kirk Session following the agreement to seek re-opening of the Church the following was raised:
- The ‘Thought for Sunday’ will continue on the same basis.
- The Lonmay News will cease to be weekly but will be used to update people on important news.
Tim will produce the texts and ‘Thought for Sunday’ and will pass to David who will place them on the Lonmay Church Web site.
It has been a very long five months of ‘lockdown’, and your support, prayers and encouragement during this period has been really appreciated. Please continue to pray as we move into the next stage 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 on 30 August due to new regulations from the government and Church of Scotland.
Blessings.
Crimond and Lonmay Thought for Good Friday 2025.
It is finished – John 19 v 30.
Welcome to this edition of Thought for Good Friday 2025.
As we come to this most solemn yet tremendously important event in our Christian calendar, we are reminded that, without it there is no hope for the future. No forgiveness for our sins and disobedience to God’s laws, no relationship with Jesus and God, and no future place in heaven.
Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary was God’s amazing plan from the time of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. God cannot look upon sin, as He is holy, and needed a sinless sacrifice to provide the only way back to God. That sinless sacrifice was to be met in Jesus. The hymn-writer reminds us that ‘He died that we might be forgiven.’ It is through His death that we can have our sins forgiven and be restored to the relationship that God wants with everyone. Be in no doubt that ‘God so loves EVERYONE, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.’ No-one is excluded, and forgiveness is FREE – one only has to confess our sins, and God has promised to forgive us. Now that really is amazing!!!
So, are these final words of Jesus on the cross words of defeat or victory? After all, the religious leaders had won – Jesus was dead, and they could go back to living their lives without interference from Jesus. Jesus was now in a borrowed tomb, provided by two men Joseph and Nicodemus. Or was this the end. The cry ‘It is finished’ was no defeat, Jesus was stating the reason for coming into the world was completed – the plan had succeeded – forgiveness through His shed blood was secure, and a few days later, He was to be raised to live for ever.
No fairy-story – no myth – no invention of deluded individuals, but a fact of history. Supported by historians, some of whom are not Christians, and an event which has transformed the world. Why would people around the world risk being killed, maimed, displaced for a fairy-story. No Jesus provided the means of sins being forgiven and washed clean in His blood. Hallelujah, what a Saviour.