Lochgilphead Parish Church. The LINK

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1 Lochgilphead Parish Church The Volume 14 Issue 5 Sept./Oct Scottish Charity SCO LINK Dear Friends, MESSAGE FROM THE MANSE It is hard to believe that it was eleven years ago on 1st September that I was inducted as your minister here in Lochgilphead. A lot has changed in that time, not just in my life but in the lives of many of you as well. Changes can be difficult but changes also present us with new opportunities, opportunities to widen our horizons and to move forward into unknown territory. It can be daunting but it can also be exciting. It is always exciting when we go on holiday and explore new places and do things that we wouldn t normally do. By the time you read this letter, I will probably be cruising up the west coast of Scotland heading to St Kilda and many other islands. Some of the islands will be familiar to me and others will be new. In life, the new always merges with the familiar. Much has changed in our Church life over the last eleven years. Some things go on as before but there have also been new developments, the familiar and the new merging together. We have Bumps, Babies and Toddlers, Messy Church, our Youth Group, which has just started, and our Drop-In Cafe. We have a fantastic new hall and we even come in a different door to worship! In recent months, we have also introduced a time for quiet reflection and prayer, an opportunity to focus our thoughts and still our minds before we head into morning worship. In addition, we have also started Mid-Week worship, once a month on a Wednesday, just so that we can take a short while to meet with each other and be still in God s presence in the midst of a busy working week. We have even held a cafe Church on a couple of occasions which was a bit different from our normal Sunday worship but well-received by the congregation. There is something for everyone, for young and old and all those in between and that is how it should be in a place of worship. It is so encouraging to see new developments among the familiar and my hope and prayer is that we will continue to broaden our horizons in terms of worship, bearing in mind that even when we return year after year to the same place on holiday, there is always something new to experience. If there wasn t, we would quickly become bored! Our congregational life needs that same injection of the new and the exciting to broaden our horizons and to prevent us from making our God too small. God has created a world with different seasons and with so much to see and experience. I can t imagine that He means us to stagnate in our congregational life and in our worship and we are certainly not doing that in the Parish Church which is so encouraging for me as your minister. Over the next few months, it is my hope that there will be other new developments which will allow us to build one another up in our faith and to support each other better but you will hear more about those plans in due course. Till the next time, may you know God s blessing on your lives. Hilda C. Smith Inside this Issue I Didn t Know I Was Lost Until You Found Me Keep the Faith Challenger Bus First Day at School A Prayer for Teachers Mid Week Reflection Sessions Notes Church Notices Kids Corner Crossword & Laughter Lines Rotas and What s On

2 Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep (Luke 15:6) Some readers may remember the media report one August, of a young secretary who went missing for some days, through a con-trick perpetrated by a deceiving businessman. Eventually she was found, in a somewhat confused state, at Basingstoke railway station. Evidently she had been completely unaware of the TV news and of the public concern. In her own words, at the resulting press conference, she confessed, I didn t know I was lost until I was found! In this famous fifteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost prodigal son, was basically making a single point the steadfast determination of the eternal Father to do everything possible to find and recover every stray individual even if they were taken by surprise at His seeking love. Years ago a minister was leading a hospital ward service one Sunday morning, with a little team around him. It was still politically okay to do so in those days! All I could see of one patient was a newspaper, firmly held up and a thin spiral of cigarette smoke that drifted up from behind the paper. Yes, back then it was still permitted to smoke in a hospital ward! Two days later he went visiting in the same ward, bed to bed. And there was the patient a woman in her early thirties. So you re the one who was speaking on Sunday morning! she exclaimed. I never looked in your direction once; I was determined to hide behind my paper and my cigarette. But I was listening all the time. And every word you said was for me. I want now to follow what you were talking about. How do I get started? This is the wonder of God s ways with us. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd; out on the hills looking, working, seeking for that one sheep that is missing from the safety of God s fold. And when, by the message of His sacrificial love, that single lost one is reclaimed, the angels are aglow with joy. Jesus said so. What happened to the other patients that Sunday morning? Who can tell? But Heaven itself was lit up that day over just one. CHALLENGER BUS IN LOCHGILPHEAD FROM 18TH - 30TH SEPTEMBER People With A Mission Ministries is a Christian organisation, based in Perth. Their principal purpose is to reach out with the core message of Jesus Christ in the villages, towns, and communities throughout Scotland. The central idea with the Challenger Bus Outreach is to take the Gospel message to today s generation using today s technology. Visitors to the new Challenger buses will be presented with many professional, multimedia Gospel presentations. What is important to the Challenger Outreach ministry is working with local congregations of all ages Therefore, the Challenger team will take the bus to work with congregations around the country who have a desire to see their community reached with the life-changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Information will follow soon as to where the bus will be parked and the times that are available for visits. If the audience at the First Night of the Proms this year had not heard the national news broadcasts that day, they would have been startled by an unscheduled addition to the programme. It opened with a rousing rendition of the French National Anthem. Scores of unsuspecting holidaymakers in the French resort of Nice had been mown down by a fanatical lorry driver; his was the latest in a chain of massacres perpetrated by Islamists in Europe and beyond. Ironically, it was Bastille Day, commemorating French unity. The playing of the Marseillaise in London s Albert Hall was a demonstration of solidarity with French people everywhere and a defiant message of hope. Church leaders the world over published their prayers the next day. An Anglican chaplain based near Nice said, Prayer is the thing. We can t do anything tangible or practical in support of the security service apart from our own vigilance... but we do have a very strong and a very powerful thing that we can do... and that is prayer... because with faith we trust in God s love and mercy for those who have died, but for the families left behind this is a most terrible time from which many may not recover. Terrorist acts of this kind are motivated by a deadly combination of false faith with hatred. No one is risk-free, and the nations leaders are hard-pressed to safeguard their people. St. Paul s advice to Timothy has never been more apt: I urge that prayers be offered to God for all in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct. We must be on our guard, but also trust God. In Nice churchyard is the grave of Henry Lyte, the writer of the hymn, Abide with me, which encourages us to disarm our fears by expressing confidence in God s purposes: I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death s sting? Where grave thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. An Invitation to the SUNDAY OCTOBER 16TH After the Church Service

3 Are you searching for the meaning of life? Do you wonder where Christianity fits in your life? Would you like to less formal way? worship in a Or are you just unable to get to Church on a Sunday?...the Monthly Midweek Reflection could be for you. Once a month, at 1.00pm for minutes A time of calm in the midst of a busy week Midweek Reflection is a relaxed, informal mini service lasting no more than 20 minutes, which offers a time for reflection, song and prayer. Wednesday 21 st September Wednesday 26 th October Wednesday 16 th November Wednesday 21 st December The Guild starts it s new session with a packed and varied programme. Meetings are held in the hall and start at 7.30pm October 11th - Bible Study with Rev. Hilda Smith October 25th - Fiona Fox from Mary s Meals New members will be made very welcome. No matter how old we are, we can probably remember our first day at school being left at the door, meeting children we did not know, separated from the adults we did know and had trusted since the day we were born. But on the other hand, there was the excitement: a big step along the road of life, new friends to make, another adult to become important in our lives. Yes, quite a lot to handle when you re rising five! And that s what hundreds of thousands of children are going to experience this month. Parents may have prepared them for it, and they may in a slightly apprehensive way be looking forward to it, but it must feel to the five year old like a massive step into the unknown. Not much less is the anxiety of mum, who leaves her precious child, proudly resplendent in their new school uniform, in the Reception class-room. Will he or she suddenly panic, and cry for that familiar parental cuddle? Will they feel abandoned in an alien setting? Will they like the teacher? Of course we ll be praying for them, and we know that like millions of others before them they will very probably eventually decide that their school-days were the best of their lives. But end of class can t come soon enough for mum on that first day! How wonderful when they come running out, laughing and excited, clutching a piece of paper with some obscure crayon marks on it written evidence of their first day s education. Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Mid Argyll In support of Mary s Meals Malawi Appeal To help feed those in drought stricken areas FLORAL ART DEMONSTRATION THURSDAY OCTOBER 13TH, 7.30PM In Lochgilphead Parish Church Hall The evening will include Floral Art Demonstrations from Morna Shaw and Allison Pearson Auction of Flower Displays A Competition and a Quiz Raffle Refreshments Malawi has declared a state of emergency over worsening food shortages caused by a severe drought and crop failure. Let us use this evening to raise money to support those in such desperate need. As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment can be expressed in one form or another from love to regret, from passion to friendship or just as an expression of support. LET S GIVE THOSE SUFFERING OUR SUPPORT Admission 5.00

4 SESSION NOTES from Sandy Taylor, Session Clerk August 2016 The Kirk Session news can I feel be just a little dull. Well the work of a Kirk Session is serious and carries a weight of responsibility, but what s good about our work on the Kirk Session, however, is that we can have fun doing it, with lots of chat and no little humour. Its good to be able to work in this. That said, here s the dry bit! Much Needed Repair and Desired Improvement Ian Davidson has his work cut out to keep the Church and to a lesser extend the Hall in good order. There are still issues regarding water penetration in the hall which are being addressed. But the leaks are not confined to the hall and Ian has reported to the Kirk Session the need for a lot of work needed to be done to the roof and walls of the church, to the lighting and heating. In addition we would want to see a good audio-visual system, which will support our worship and allow us to do things a little differently. As we move forward Ian will prepare an improvement plan for these work to the Church. The Session has agreed that we should seek the ideas of the entire congregation and to ensure that these are all considered in the preparation of this plan. We will do this in the form of a survey questionnaire to be included in The Link, with a Post Box for responses in the church. Unitary Constitution The New Ways of Working Group are still working on the way forward. The Session learned of some of the work in hand and ideas for the renewal of our congregation and worship, including the idea of a Back to Church Sunday and new ways of looking at our pastoral and other eldership work. The Last Word The Session was saddened to learn of Margaret Davidson s decision to give up the editorship of The Link. Margaret feels that The Link needs an injection of some fresh ideas. Margaret has kindly agreed to keep going until the end of the year, whilst we look for a new Editor. Is that you? Do you have knowledge of this type of work? Do you have ideas about how we could improve or simply keep it going as is? Have a word with Margaret if you want to find out more about The Link and how it is produced at present. Our Brothers and Sisters in Malawi Need Our Help Hilda reported on the deteriorating situation in Malawi with poor harvest and escalating food prices, which are beyond the means of many of the Kasamba congregation. The local Malawi Twinning Group have agreed to send 2,000 to the Kasamba congregation now, and to work to raise more funds to send on in due course. Together with other congregations in the area we will work to raise funds for Malawi in the next few weeks. Our Youth Group Hilda and Fiona Cameron reported a successful start to our new Youth Group. Hilda and Fiona spoke of their approach and the commitment of those youngsters who turned up at the Manse at the beginning of the month. The Youth Group will meet on Sundays from pm, in the hall, when Fiona Elder will join Hilda and Fiona from time to time. We wish them all success. Lunchtime Services We heard that some 9-10 people attended the first of our lunchtime worship services held on Wednesday 10 August. The next lunchtime service to be held on 14 September at 1.00pm to make it easy for those who said that they were unable to attend on the last occasion. Interestingly, the last service was used as the basis of an assessment of the worship leaders Ian Davidson and Margaret Jacobsen. Although this went well both are anxiously awaiting feedback from their tutor/assessor, the Rev. Catriona Hood. Social Programme September 24th Rotary Coffee Morning for Mary s Meals Malawi Project October 1st Church Coffee Morning October 13th Flower Power ; Rotary Floral Art Demonstration for Mary s Meals Malawi Project October 16th Harvest Lunch October 19th Quiz Night November Race Night (Date to be Arranged December 11th Christmas Lunch Jan/Feb Beetle Drive February 5th Burns Supper Taking the message to Our Community Reminder: Children, Youth and Adults will be invited to drop in on the Challenge Bus. The Challenge Bus will be here from September. Something for everyone; children, youths and adults. Every Sunday in the Church Hall that day for worship, for those who are ill and can t be there and also asking that God hears the prayer said in silence in our hearts. A short passage from the Bible is read. Just 15 minutes before attending worship to calm your mind and say a few private prayers with others. In the book of Acts we read many instances of the importance of people praying together. We then sit in silence, if anyone wishes to pray aloud for a moment, they can do so or we sit in silence and make our own prayers. At the end of the 15 minutes the person who opened will thank God for hearing our prayers and we leave feeling refreshed and ready for worship with the Church Family. Each week a corner of the Church Hall is set aside, a screen is put there and some people gather. One person will open with a prayer asking God to be with all those gathering Come and join us, you don t have to pray out loud, you don t have to come every week you will be made very welcome.

5 Bumps Babies and Toddlers Every Tuesday, pm (except school holidays) In the hall DATE OF MEETINGS September 20th October 27th FUN, FOOD AND WORSHIP Saturday October 1st This Coffee Morning is being organised by Joan and Arthur Barclay. If you can help on the day please let them know. Donations of home baking and raffle prizes welcome. Exciting Crafts, Stories, Songs & Activities Why not come along and give it a try. All children must be accompanied by an adult. DON T MISS IT! Dates of Meetings September 14th, 28th October 12th, 26th Let s get Knitting! WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19TH, 7.30pm Why not get a team of four together or just come along on the night and join in a team for an evening full of fun and laughter. Supper provided. Raffle per head + 1 for the prize pot Proceeds to Church Funds We meet fortnightly in various venues to knit, chat, laugh, learn new techniques and partake of a light supper. New members, both experienced and beginners are welcome to come along and join us. For more information contact Margaret on Drop In Café Every Wednesday Every Sunday 10.30am am in the hall We really need some more volunteers to help in the cafe for a couple of hours once or twice a month. The café is very busy at lunchtimes and extra hands would be much appreciated. If you would like to help please contact Margaret on

6 Crossword Died in the Services Little Alex was staring up at the large brass plaque that hung on the side wall of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and seemed to fascinate the seven- year old. All those names, he said to the minister. Who are they? Well, they were people who used to go to this church, explained the minister. This is a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the services." Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex s voice was barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9 o clock, or the 11 o clock? Across 8. Where the ark of the covenant was kept for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1) (7,6) 9. One of the parts of the body on which blood and oil were put in the ritual cleansing from infectious skin diseases (Leviticus 14:14 17) (3) 10. Uncomfortable (3,2,4) 11 Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have (Malachi 1:3) (5) 13. Where Paul said farewell to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17) (7) 16. Jesus bent down and to write on the ground with his finger (John 8:6) (7) 19. Prophet from Moresheth (Jeremiah 26:18) (5) 22. Comes between Exodus and Numbers (9) 24. and 2 Down Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under the (1 Samuel 2:11) (3,6) 25. There was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7) (4,3,6) Down 1. Rough drawing (2 Kings 16:10) (6) 2. See 24 Across 3. Underground literature (including Christian books) circulated in the Soviet Union (8) 4. Lo, mash (anag.) (6) 5. The Bible s shortest verse: Jesus (John 11:35) (4) 6. Can a mother forget the baby at her and have no compassion on the child she has borne? (Isaiah 49:15) (6) 7. Can be seen in a dying fire (Psalm 102:3) (6) 12. Send me, therefore, a man... experienced in the of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 2:7) (3) 14. Second city of Cyprus (8) 15. United Nations Association (1,1,1) 16. One of the women who first heard that Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark 16:1) (6) 17. Braved (anag.) (6) 18. of Evangelism, outreach initiative in the 1990s (6) 20. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and in their own sight (Isaiah 5:21) (6) 21. Neither nor depth... will be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39) (6) 23. What Jesus shed in 5 Down (4) Last chance? The vicar was very ill, and was told by his doctor not to have too many visitors. However, when his agnostic friend called, the unbeliever was ushered into the vicar s bedside. I do appreciate, said the agnostic, your seeing me when so many of your friends have not been able to see you. Well, it s like this, said the vicar. I feel confident that I shall see my friends in heaven, but I was worried that this might be my last chance to see you! Say that again? A woman telephoned her Bank and spoke to the Accountant who looked at her holdings, I want to make some changes, she said. The Accountant asked for more details. Are you interested in Conversion or Redemption? he asked. Good heavens, came the reply. I must have got the wrong number. I wanted the Bank of England, not the Church of England.. How will you pay? A elderly man is admitted to Mercy Hospital after an accident. When he opens his eyes he finds he is in a crisp clean bed, with a nun holding his hand to reassure him. Don t worry Mr Smith, you are recovering well she said, he smiled and she continued There is just one small question I have to ask, how will you pay your bill Mr Smith looked a little perplexed. By cash enquired the nun. Oh no, I have no cash A cheque perhaps? Not possible was the reply. May I suggest a credit card? the sister said calmly. Haven t got one the answer came So the sister continued to make suggestions and finally asked if Mr Smith had any relatives. I have just a spinster sister, who is a nun like yourself, she lives in Ireland, but has no funds at all Mr Smith, you must not call your sister a spinster, for if,she is a sister like myself, she is married to Our Father in heaven Smiling Mr Smith replied Well in that case sister, send the bill to my brother in law. New Technology The vicar at a local Methodist church experienced some technical problems with the sound system on Sunday. Instead of starting the service with The Lord be with you he said: There's something wrong with the microphone Not hearing this, the congregation responded with and also with you.

7 Kids Corner

8 Rotas for September/October 2016 Door Duty Prayers Flowers (Contact - E Armstrong) Readers Tea/Coffee Duty (Contact - M. Davidson) Sept. 4th F Fleming & P McGuire M Taylor A Hunter P McGuire M & I Davidson Sept. 11th J & R Morrison S Taylor E McCallum I Davidson S & M MacFadyen Sept. 18th J Kirk & K Thompson J Morrison M Davidson K Thompson J & R Morrison Sept. 25th M Jacobsen & J Barclay I Davidson A McLarty M Davidson S & M Taylor Oct. 2nd J & R Morrison M Jacobsen E Armstrong & M Killeen J Morrison P McGuire & K Thompson Oct. 9th M Taylor & C Gilmour M Davidson May Taylor M Taylor S Morrison & T Cameron Oct. 16th S Taylor & tba M Taylor tba S Taylor J Barclay & A Barclay Oct. 23rd M MacFadyen & E Munro S Taylor tba M MacFadyen F Elder & L Mochrie Oct. 30th M Davidson & S Morrison J Morrison tba F Elder A Pearson & E McCallum If you are unable to carry out any of these duties please arrange a replacement. Services (all at 11.00am except where stated) Services September 4th (all at 11.00am John Morrison except where stated) September 11th September 18th September 25th October 2nd October 9th October 16th October 23rd October 30th Other Events Every Tuesday (except school holidays) Other Every Wednesday Events September 14th, 28th March October 5th, 12th, 19th 26th April 2nd, 16th, 30th September 29th October 27th Sept. 21st; Oct. 26th October 1st October 11th & 25th October 13th October 16th October 18th Rev. John Hilda Morrison Smith John Morrison Harvest Service & Harvest Lunch Bumps, Babies and Toddlers pm Drop in Cafe, 10.00am pm Knit and Natter Group, 7.30pm Knit and Natter Group, 7.30pm Messy Church, 4.00pm 6.00pm Guild Meetings Christians Midweek in Reflections Lochgilphead Meetings, 7.00pm Coffee Morning Guild Meetings Floral Art Demonstration for Mary s Meals Malawi Appeal Harvest Lunch after the service Session Meeting, 7.00pm October CROSSWORD 19th ANSWERS Quiz Night, 7.30pm. and for your diary Oct. 1st, Nov. 26th Nov. 24th Nov. 9th, 23rd, Dec. 7th Nov. 16th; Dec. 21st December 11th February 4th 2017 Who s Who in LPC Minister Rev Hilda C Smith Session Clerk Sandy Taylor Treasurer Sally Stankey Gift Aid Convenor Edna Armstrong Roll Keeper Frances Fleming Fabric Convenor Ian Davidson Social Convenor Margaret Davidson Safeguarding Co-ordinators Worship Group Finance Committee Guild Contacts Coffee Mornings Messy Church Knit & Natter Jim Morrison Cathleen MacDonald Margaret Jacobsen Ian Davidson Jim Morrison Pat McGuire Sally Stankey Edna Armstrong Mary MacDonald Anne Hunter Jessie Cranston May Taylor Chris Stevenson Nannie Ward Mary MacDonald Midweek Reflections Christmas Lunch Burns Supper ACROSS: 8, Kiriath Jearim. 9, Toe. 10, Ill at ease. 11, Hated. 13, Miletus. 16, Started. 19, Micah. 22, Leviticus. 24, Eli. 25, Mary and Joseph. DOWN: 1, Sketch. 2, Priest. 3, Samizdat. 4, Shalom. 5, Wept. 6, Breast. 7, Embers. 12, Art. 14, Limassol. 15, UNA. 16, Salome. 17, Adverb. 18, Decade. 20, Clever. 21, Height. 23, Tear. Editor: Margaret Davidson, Inchbraoch, 7 Carnasserie Place, Lochgilphead, PA31 8TW: Tel: : inchbraoch@btinternet.com