Message from our Minister

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2 Message from our Minister Well here we are in the midst of the Advent season! Where have the last three months gone? They say time marches on but to many of late it would appear to be more of a sprint! But at any rate Christmas is fast approaching and no doubt so are the various preparations that go along with the season. This Advent we have been working our way through a series entitled Prepare The Way. Which has been looking each week, alongside the regular liturgical themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, to four elements of Jesus coming to Earth. During the first week of advent we turned our attention to Luke and the idea that He is Near with an emphasis on the birth of John the Baptist, who acted as a herald for his cousin and Christ. The second week of Advent saw our focus shift to He is Among Us, taking in Luke and the account of Gabriel s conversation with Mary and her response. Luke will continue to guide us through Advent as we explore the themes of He Finds Favour in Us and He is Glorified in the remaining weeks. A friend of mine with a bizarre sense of humour would annually seek with a twinkle in his eye to chastise me for always telling the same story every Christmas. I couldn t help but smile and threaten that if he did not mend his ways I would tell the same story of Jesus again the following year. It is true though, ministers and believers alike tell the same amazing story every year. The story of love come down to Earth to save us from our sins that we may escape the penalty of death. It is a story that has been told for the better part of two thousand years, standing the test of time to be sure but perhaps falling victim to the drone of familiarity and

3 routine. You will no doubt be aware of those for whom the story of the incarnation has little influence. Perhaps you yourself have been distracted by the busy-ness of the season in years past that the impact of the story of Jesus birth has not been at the forefront of your thoughts and actions. I for one can hold up my hand and confess that I have been there. This run up to Christmas is a busy one with extra functions, programmes for the kids, parties, services, and family gatherings and of course all these things are good and they should be enjoyed. But let us not forget to prepare ourselves in the process. Advent comes but once a year and its purpose is to allow us time to prepare. To see that we focus on the things that matter most and specifically on Christ and the plan of salvation initiated with His birth as a baby in a manger so many years ago. He was the gift that has been the catalyst for so many other gifts since. John 3.16 expresses that very sentiment that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. May we never tire of telling the story and may we find it easy to prepare our hearts and minds to focus on the reason for this particular season. May the Lord speak to us afresh through his living Word this year as we listen again to the lengths of which our Heavenly Father is willing to go in order to display his love for us. So from the Manse and the family within, (that is bouncing off the walls with Christmas excitement) we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you enjoy all the blessings the season can bring but more importantly may you know the peace, presence, person and love of Jesus Christ in the coming days and beyond. Amen Rev Drew Kuzma

4 Thank you to the congregations Prior to the induction of Rev. Drew Kuzma to be our full time minister, I had the privilege of being invited by both Kirk Sessions to be the Locum Minister for our parishes. There was no way of knowing then how long that would be for, and it turned out to be just a neat year. Much prayer and a great deal of good work by the nominating committee, has brought a very good result for us as congregations, for which we give thanks to God who knows all things. It was a great blessing to me to be so intensely involved in the early life of the Benbecula/ Clachan linkage, and carrying so much responsibility for all the work that parish life of two congregations involves. At this new and exciting stage of parish life, as our manse family settle in and we now enjoy the prospect of a settled time of ministry and growth in the Lord`s work here, I want to pass on my heartfelt thanks to all of the folk in the churches and community who have been so good to me. Since I was ordained here five years ago, I have had such wonderful support and encouragement and practical help from the Kirk Sessions of both churches, and I am very grateful for that. You as congregations have been wonderful to me, and your practical support is very much appreciated. The committee who organised the induction social had great inspiration, when they gifted me a beautiful Harris Tweed handbag in recognition of my input in the previous year. I am double proud when I take it around with me, and it`s admired, to be able to highlight the Harris connection, and make mention of the lovely congregations of Benbecula and Clachan and their generosity. Thank you, thank you, to you all!! Now I`ll continue, as OLM, to work alongside Drew in these parishes, and wherever else the Presbytery (who oversee my deployment), see fit. I am very excited to see, and be part of, where the Lord is leading us in these days. To Him be all the glory. Rev. Ishie Macdonald O.L.M.

5 The Tarbert Declaration On Saturday 10 th December members of Uist Presbytery, and people from the congregations wishing to do so, attended a church service of Thanksgiving and lunch at Tarbert church of Scotland. The initiative for this gathering has come from a desire for the Presbytery of Uist and the Presbytery of Lewis to meet together and share fellowship together from time to time through the year. It was arranged at a very positive gathering of representatives of both Presbyteries, in Tarbert on 25 th October. The undernoted declaration called The Tarbert Declaration, was made and subsequently agreed by both Presbyteries. The Tarbert Declaration The Presbyteries of Lewis and Uist undertake to strengthen fellowship between both Presbyteries and to develop opportunities between the two Presbyteries to work together in common areas of interest, utilising the skills present in both Presbyteries. An update of the day`s events will be given in our next newsletter. Ishie MacDonald Christmas Bazaar When I was 6, or 7, I recall a sense of mystery when I went with friends to a Christmas Bazaar in the Castle Hall in Bridgnorth. There was an exotic mix of colour and scents and strange names like The White Elephant Stall. Combined with the excitement of anticipated Christmas, it was an enticing cocktail of Ali Baba meets Father Christmas. I was reminded of this when I came across a character in one of my daily bible readings bearing a name not unlike bazaar. His name was Sheshbazzar. He is mentioned in Ezra chapters 1 and 5. God s people had strayed away from Him. They ended up in exile in Babylon. They recognised their sin and repented. God was merciful and turned the heart of King Cyrus to support their return to the Promised Land. The promise was not dead. On to the stage comes Sheshbazzar. He helped lay the foundation of the temple that was to be restored. In this role he was referred to as The Ruler, or The Prince of Judah. Some time later another Prince of Judah would come to lay foundations that would never crumble. So who was Sheshbazzar? We cannot be sure. And maybe this is part of the wisdom of God; to allow characters to appear and disappear from the narrative of His Word to show to us all that He is able to appoint and anoint any of us to do His will. Sheshbazzar was a real person in history. So are we. He was called by the king to help the people to return to the promise. So are we. He was given the resources to do this. So have we. Alastair Banks

6 BC : AD This was the moment when Before Turned into After, and the future s Uninvented timekeepers presented arms. This was the moment when nothing Happened. Only dull peace Sprawled boringly over the earth. This was the moment when even energetic Romans Could find nothing better to do Than counting heads in remote provinces. And this was the moment When a few farm workers and three Members of an obscure Persian sect Walked haphazard by starlight straight Into the kingdom of heaven. By U A Fanthorpe From Christmas Poems, published by Enitharmon Press Each year the poet U A Fanthorpe used to write a short poem to be sent in her Christmas cards to friends. They have been collected into a book, Christmas Poems.

7 Christmas Word Search S H R N E E P O D J K L S S I D M I O E D R A A D O N P L O F F H S H E P H E R D B N N I M L B S U P P E B F F A T P K E R I C Y T E F N N O B T S T S E L G G E S S E R I L L K E P B T Y A Y U U O R C A N D L E R E R E M R I G J F F B N J K L A T R K O O B U D Y N M O K M Y A H X S W E T A H P M A I B I K M L R T O L J N P H D N B B A N N E E A O B C S P V G G Y L W G C H M R P A D A E V O E S K H E M E G C K T A N O N J R I E D S E M N J O S T T D M I J P S V P E E H S M N L G F O G A B R I E L C H O E L Words to find: ADVENT FRANKINCENSE STAR CANDLE AUGUSTUS GABRIEL MAGI SHEEP JOSEPH MANGER STABLE DONKEY SHEPHERD INN BETHLEHEM

8 Church Office Bearers Minister: Rev Drew Kuzma Ordained Local Minister (OLM) : Rev Ishie Macdonald. Elders serving on the Kirk Session: Alastair Banks (Session Clerk); Donnie Johnson; Alasdair MacDonald; Roddy Macleod; Peter Matheson; Robin Wallace; Colin Rankin; John MacDonald; Tina Wakeling and Sarah Banks. Elder retired from the Kirk Session: John Macdonald (Sidinish). Members of the Congregational Board: Flora Matheson; Katherine Macleod; Betty Wallace; Donalda Haxby; Charlie Matheson; Alistair MacQuarrie; Margaret MacDonald; Anne Quarm; Christine Marshall and Ruth Owenson. Sunday School Superintendent and Church Safeguarding Officer: Karen MacIain Contacts Website: Rev Drew Kuzma: AKuzma@churchofscotland.org.uk Rev Ishie MacDonald: Ishie.Macdonald@churchofscotland.org.uk Session Clerk, Alastair Banks: banks@madasafish.com Benbecula linked with Carinish Church of Scotland We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the joy, peace and presence of Christ be with you this festive season. Benbecula Parish Services Griminish Carinish Parish Services Clachan Dec. 24 Watchnight Service 11.15pm Dec. 24 Watchnight Service 11.30pm Dec. 25 Christmas Day Service 11am Dec. 25 Christmas Day Service 11am Community Carol Service Dec. 18 Balivanich School 6pm Benbecula Church of Scotland Scottish Charity no. SC Carinish Church of Scotland - Scottish charity no. SC016461