- Video: Presbytery of Buchan – some congregational stories:
(Crimond and Lonmay represented by Mr Tim Barker)
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 Sunday
1 October 2023
‘And some fell on good soil’ – Luke 8 v 8
As we turn our minds to another Harvest safely gathered in, we stop to thank the Lord for His provision for us.
The parable of the Sower is frequently told at harvest services, so can become rather meaningless to some. But the parable Jesus told many years ago, still has relevance for us today.
The seed represents all humanity and therefore is worthy of taking action today.
We live in a society that has many demands and aspirations. In our instant lives we want things now and cannot wait for them to arrive. We expect that certain items will be available for us whenever we want them – water to drink, electricity to light our homes, food on the selves to be purchased, petrol/diesel for our cars etc. All of these are, of course, very important, but how much consideration do we give to those who provide these essentials? If we give little thought for them, how much less do we think about the One who provides for all our needs?
Harvest time is rightly a time for thanking farmers and many others for all their hard work which enables us to have all we need to eat and drink. However, it is also a time to reflect on God’s promise to Noah of old, when He promised that seedtime and harvest will never cease. Yes, sadly there are areas where there is no harvest due to lack of rain, suitable soil etc. but we need to remember that there is sufficient food to provide for everyone alive in the world today, and that comes from the gracious and loving Hand of God.
As we sing the great harvest hymns, old and new, let us ensure that our thanks to God comes not just from our voices but from our hearts. After all, the hymn reminds us that, ‘all good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love’.