- 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 21 April 2024
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 1 Corinthians 15 v 3-4
It is good to have you share with us the latest Thought for Sunday.
Paul, inspired by God, wrote to the church in Corinth who were experiencing some challenging issues. They were being torn between different views, and some were being influenced by the more competent orators, at the expense of discovering God’s Word.
So, Paul takes time to remind the believers of the basis of their faith. This was not about good communicators but by the teaching of Jesus during His earthly ministry. It was, of course, based on His atoning death, which is the only way that we can be forgiven, and His resurrection, by which we worship One who is alive today. Paul reminds them that the cost of forgiveness was the physical death of Jesus – by His blood we are saved from the consequences of our disobedience (sin) to God. ‘He died that we might be forgiven.’ As we reflect on this essential aspect of the Gospel, we acknowledge that it is only when we confess our disobedience (sins) that God can extend His great love, mercy and grace to forgive us. Then as we invite Jesus to be our Saviour and Lord, we are admitted into His family. So, we receive His amazing peace and presence (through the Holy Spirit) in our lives to help us along life’s journey.im Jesus t
Once we are confident of these facts, then we can stand firm in our faith, confidence and trust in Jesus. I was reminded recently of Leah, who six years ago was kidnapped by extremists in Nigeria. (She was just 15 at the time). Many of her friends were released, but because Leah would not deny Jesus, she was kept. We know that she was forcibly ‘married’ to one of the extremists and has had at least three children. She remains in captivity. Leah is an inspiration and a challenge to us, who are asked if we would stand firm for Jesus with all the pressures around us today?
Be encouraged that our faith is in the only religious leader who does not have a grave – Jesus is alive today and wants to reach out to all who will put their trust and confidence in Him.