Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.

Transcription

1 METHLICKPARISH October - December 2010 N O T E S Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart. 1

2 Faith & Doubt This summer in Seattle I had the honour of meeting with Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist who directs the Brain Center for Applied Research. He is the author of New York Times bestselling Brain Rules and, surprising to some, a christian. I wanted to talk about science and religion and to ask about a theory that seemed to prove God s existence. It took me awhile to explain the theory. It took Dr. Medina two seconds to disprove it. He smiled as he did so, and I felt embarrassed at first. But Dr. Medina wasn t smiling because he could see through my argument. He was smiling because he had a better one. There is not space to explain it here but there was something even more compelling than hearing Medina s scientific rationale for belief in God. I was reminded of a simple fact: There are people far smarter than me who believe in God, and people far smarter who don t. What does this mean? It means that belief in God is not simply a matter of the mind. It's also a matter of the heart. Dr. Medina knew he could change my mind with superior arguments, but he also knew he could not change me without changing my heart. Changed minds are still ruled by stubborn hearts. Medina s book Brain Rules explains this medically. Sadly, the book also shows how adult minds are ruled by wounded hearts. With tragic accuracy, Medina can predict the way a child will think as an adult based on the emotional history of their childhood. So I asked Medina, If so much of our present is shaped by the past... What is our hope? Again, laughing, he answered, The Holy Spirit. I have seen God rewire people in ways science cannot explain. What can we in Methlick do to let God speak to our wounded hearts? In November I am leading an unusual retreat to Plus- 2

3 carden Abbey. It s unusual because those coming will be a mix of sceptics and christians who gather together to wonder about God. Our last meeting surprised us all. To a man, each one of us heard from God. That doesn t always happen, but over time we're finding that God loves to speak to the hearts and minds of people who don t expect him to. Want to come? At the same time the men gather, November, Hilary Bridge will be leading our first women s retreat at the same place: Pluscarden Abbey. The two days are full of free time so prepare to exhale. Reflect. Pray. Walk in the woods. Wonder. It can be difficult to find God. Give him the chance to find you. Expectantly, Rev. Matt You are invited to join us for Holy Communion 7 November 11.00am & 6.30pm. Come taste & see God's grace. David Spence, 17 February Molly Burnett, 20 March Ethel Davidson, 25 March Mary Beaton, 1 April Michael Hall, 28 May Stephen Leslie, 29 May James Robb, 6 June Sandra Cowie, 7 July Cathie Gerrie, 13 July James Buchan, 28 July 3

4 C O N N E C T C R E A T I N G C O M M U N I T Y I N M E T H L I C K Café in the Kirk: Wednesdays 3-4:30pm; Fridays 10-11:30am Methlick Prayer Group: Tuesdays, 11am-12, for fellowship and prayer for our parish & world. The Marriage Course: A seven-session course set in a beautiful home designed to feel like a date! You will be served a candlelit dessert and coffee/tea, at a romantic table for two, while listening to practical talks that are informative and fun (played on DVD). There is NO GROUP WORK! Who should do the course? Are you married or in a long-term cohabiting relationship? Have you been together for one or more years? Would you like your relationship to be the best it can be? 'Some people wrongly think The Marriage Course is just for people who are in difficulty with their marriage. We have found the opposite - it's about investing because it's going well and we want it to stay that way.' The Marriage Course is for any couple, whether you have been together for one year or 61 years - whether you feel you have a strong relationship or are struggling. If you have a strong marriage, this course will help reinforce your good habits. If, on the other hand, your marriage is in difficulty, the course will help provide you with very practical tools to help you work through issues. Some couples who are separated have used the course as a way of trying to get back together. While The Marriage Course is based on Christian principles, it is designed for couples with or without a Christian faith. So please come and help boost romance in our parish! 4

5 D A T E S F O R Y O U R D I A R Y Youth Event: Breathe Breathe is designed for year olds, and is at last coming to Methlick! The programme includes music, games, & drama. It is for churched & unchurched youth, aiming to help each person have a relevant encounter with God. Saturday 13 Nov 7:00pm Fairtrade Bonnyton Anne Aspden hosts another extravagant Fairtrade Sale in her farmhouse from 3-7 November (Wednesday - Sunday), 10am - 10pm. Come browse, chat, and enjoy soup, cakes, and tea & coffee. [Editor's note: this is not to be missed! In one cozy location are gifts of every type - baby gifts, clothing, food, candles, instruments, textiles - and all fairly made and traded]. To reach Anne, call Dates to Note: 3 October Harvest Sunday 9 October Great Big Glorious Clean! Saturday 10am 26 October Kirk Session, November Fairtrade Open House, Bonnyton - Pitmedden 7 November Communion Sunday, 11am & 6:30pm 13 November Breathe! Event for youth, Saturday 7pm 14 November Remembrance Sunday November Pluscarden Retreats - Men's & Women's 28 November First Sunday of Advent 4 & 11 December Christmas Club for kids, Saturday 14 December Kirk Session, 7.30pm 17 December Family Christmas Carol Service, 6:30pm 24 December Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 11:15 pm Souper Sunday Results: Over 300 for HIV/AIDS. Special thanks to those who led worship, donated soup & bread, and served! 5

6 SUNDAY MORNINGS Worship: 11am (September - May) Morning Coffee and Refreshments Please join us after the morning service for tea, coffee, biscuits and a blether. Thank you to all who have supported and continued this vital part of our morning service. (Any who can help serve, please contact Aileen Duguid on ). Explore A group for youth P4 through Secondary. After a few songs and the children's address, we head up to Matt & Julie's house to ask questions about God and make plans to change the world! Godly Play for ages 4 8. Children begin the day with the adults in the sanctuary. After a few songs and short story from Matt, they are invited to the Godly Play room for more storytelling, singing, and artistic adventures. The children end their session with their own feast so parents can enjoy a quiet cup of tea after the service. Creche Available every service, year round, for infants & toddlers through age three. Feel free either to leave your children with those who are running the crèche, or stay with them in crèche (but you won t miss out on the service, because you can still see and hear it through the glass windows). If you prefer, you can also remain in the service with your child. At Methlick Parish Church, we encourage children to be an active part of our worship! Questions? Katherine Storey ( ) 'Taxi' Service Several people have offered to provide a lift to and from the church for Sunday Services. Please contact Ann Gardner (806267). Matt Canlis Minister - Colin Presly Session Clerk Ann Gardner Roll-Keeper - Ronald Storey Treasurer Martin Lomas Church Officer - Blair Smith Organist 6

7 M I N D & H E A R T Thoughts from Ben Patterson (visiting summer minister, 2008) Have you ever tried to stop worrying by stopping worry? It doesn t work, does it? It is like deciding not to think about something; the more you think about not thinking, the more thinking you do. The best way not to worry is by indirection: do something else, preferably something that is the opposite of worry. The opposite of worry is thankful prayer. What is it about prayer that is so effective against worry? The Latin words for prayer and anxiety offer a good picture of how it works. The Latin for anxiety is curare, a word used also to name a poison some South American tribes would put on the tips of their arrows. The poison works like anxiety; it so constricts the muscles of the body, especially the throat, that the victim suffocates. Isn t that the way worry feels? It is like hands around the throat, a weight on the chest. The Latin word for prayer is orare, which means to open the mouth and speak. Orare works against curare by opening us up and letting in the oxygen. That s a picture of how it works conceptually. Here is how it works practically: Tell God everything you re worried about, but as you tell him, give thanks. Give thanks that he hears you and answers prayer. Give thanks that your sins are forgiven and you will spend eternity in heaven. Give thanks that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. In short, give thanks that everything that matters has already been taken care of; all the rest are details like the things you re worrying about as you pray. And try this little spiritual discipline: When you re worried and someone asks you how you are, say something like, I m fundamentally sound. Or if you want a little laugh, say, Other than the fact that my sins are forgiven and I will spend an eternity of joy with God, I m not doing too well. PRAY: Dear Father! Thank you that all the things that nag at my peace of mind have no power to separate me from your love. 7

8 WORDS OF LIFE What's your life attitude: worry or gratitude? Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. New Testament letter to the Philippians, VILLAGE CHRIST- MAS EVENTS Christmas Craft Club! We will be helping the children prepare for Christmas with our usual schedule of Advent Wreath Making (Dec 4) and Lantern Making (Dec 11), in preparation for our Procession of Lights. Darkest Night of the Year - Family Carol Service 17 Dec. Lantern Procession at 6.20pm from the War Memorial. Bonfires. Candlelit readings. Children's prayers. Roast chestnuts. Apple cider & good cheer. 8