Let us all PRAY! NEWSLETTER. MARGARET KING DCS Presbytery Prayer Co-ordinator

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1 Let us all THE PRESBYTERY OF MORAY NEWSLETTER PRAY! MARGARET KING DCS Presbytery Prayer Co-ordinator AS PRESBYTERY Prayer Co-ordinator, I am well aware of the ease with which I pay lip service to prayer. Both personal and public prayer can so easily turn into a daily shopping or to do list. At the same time, I absolutely believe in a God who expects and wants us to pray and who answers prayer out of his sheer mercy and grace. I also believe there is a special power in praying together and agreeing together in prayer for something within the will of God. In addition, at this particular time in our history, the world seems to be in a very desperate state of unrest, confusion and instability. Our own nation is in the throes of major changes, with the attendant fears and worries they bring. Locally, Moray Council is under severe pressure financially, with many difficulties to face in terms of schools, roads, social care and associated health services. And within our own community of faith, the shortage of full-time ministers of Word and Sacrament is a source of great stress and concern locally and nationally. For all these reasons, Moray Presbytery has agreed to issue a special call to prayer over the Lenten period. We are asking churches to be open for prayer one day (or part-days) a week through Lent and to provide aids to encourage and guide people in their united praying for the world, our nation, Moray and the Church. We want to provide the sacred space where people can come apart, even for just a few minutes, to rest and reflect and bring their concerns specifically and intentionally to God. We will never all agree about what to do, even if we had any idea of what that should be! But we can unite in praying for our own and world leaders, whether we like them or not! We can unite in praying for gracious, tolerant attitudes and respectful dialogue; for evil to be restrained and brought to justice; for generous and kindly spirits in dealing with those in need; for a guard to be set on the lips and talk of influential people; for administrators and law-makers to seek God s wisdom in making their plans and coming to their decisions; for patience and calmness and persistence in prayer for all people of faith. Please check out your local church to see when they are open for prayer and join in. Let s make a difference! Let us pray! Known dates thus far: ABERLOUR Mondays pm Wednesdays am DYKE Every Wednesday starting on March 1 BIRNIE KIRK [incl Pluscarden] Saturdays 11am-1pm ELGIN HIGH CHURCH Wednesdays 2-4pm in the hall See prayer on page two

2 The following is a prayer we hope that churches and individuals will be able to unite in saying together. UNITED PRESBYTERY PRAYER Mighty God and King In fellowship with brothers and sisters across the Presbytery of Moray, and in obedience to your instruction to pray at all times and in every place, we present our petitions: for your world, hurt and divided by conflicts, poverty and injustice for the United Kingdom as it struggles with the Brexit vote and its aftermath; for local government in Moray, dealing with problems in many areas of concern; for the Church of Scotland nationally, and in Moray in particular. Powerful Lord, You tell us that if two of us on earth agree about anything we ask for, it will be done for us by you in heaven. Lord, increase our faith and help us to persevere in prayer! We agree together in asking that you would restrain the forces of evil and greed, humbly confessing our own and our nation s faults and excesses. Only you can change hearts and sustain new lives in Christ Jesus. God of Justice, Wisdom and Love, WE PUT OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN YOU. We agree together in asking for wisdom, humility and respect to be shown among international and local leaders. In complex disputes with many grey areas, grant your patience and long term solutions, which include and encourage those on the margins, at home and abroad. Only you are all-wise, knowing the end from the beginning. Your foolishness surpasses human wisdom. God of Justice, Wisdom and Love, WE PUT OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN YOU. We agree together in asking you to set a guard over the mouths of influential people in all walks of life, that folly and falsehoods, rudeness and disrespect might be reduced to a minimum. Keep watch over the door of our lips too and season all our political and personal conversations with the salt of your grace and hope. God of Justice, Wisdom and Love, WE PUT OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN YOU. We agree together in asking you to raise up many more workers for your harvest field. Envision and enable ministers to hear the call to come over and help us! Envision and empower the local leadership in every congregation to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and to continue sharing their gifts in your service. Head of the Church and Lord of the Harvest, WE PUT OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN YOU Dear heavenly Father, we look out on the problems of church and community, of our nation and the world beyond and we do not know what to do. But we know you and we put our hope and trust in you. Guide our minds and direct our steps in our present darkness and work all things together for your glory and the good of those who love you. We refuse to be anxious about anything, and instead present our requests to you through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives to intercede for us. Now by faith, we receive your peace which passes all human understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And by faith, we praise and thank you for hearing and answering prayer, presented in Jesus Name. Amen. Prayer may just be the most powerful tool mankind has Ted Dekker

3 MESSAGE FROM THE MODERATOR Rev ANNE ATTENBURROW Pilgrim s progress I AM WRITING this as I attempt to start my training to walk 94 miles in six days as part of the Pluscarden 1230 Pilgrimage. Trying to fit long walks into my busy schedule is a challenge, but I have found the effort worth it, as these have become times of prayer an opportunity to focus on God and to clear my head of all the rubbish that fills it so frequently. I can fully commend walking and praying just best not to close your eyes! We received our first lot of instructions recently, and the reality dawned that I would have to travel light. As anyone who has travelled with me will know, I tend to travel with everything but the kitchen sink. I have the what if mentality when it comes to packing. What if I splash my clothes with food? or What if these shoes don t match my dress? The result is a very heavy case! Now, I am going to have to manage with only two pairs of footwear, walking trousers and waterproofs and a few T-shirts! How will I cope? This reminds me of Jesus words when he sent the disciples out: Take no gold or silver or copper in your belts, no bag for the journey, or two tunics or sandals, or a staff. (Matthew 10:9) Pluscarden Abbey I will be faring better than that! For we do not need to listen to the what ifs in life, as God will provide what is necessary, and we do not need to be overburdened, for as Jesus said: Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). Walking the St Bartholomew Way IT IS hoped that the 1230 Pluscarden Pilgrimage, which marks the arrival of French Valliscaulian monks in Moray in 1230, and establishing the Abbey, will raise funds towards the 5 million rebuilding of the South Range. The 1300 mile journey, which begins in Val-des-Choues, will take 13 weeks to complete. Anne has chosen to walk the 94-mile St Bartholomew Way, starting at Prinknash Abbey and finishing at Melton Mowbray, from July 15-23, to raise funds for the project. The final leg of the pilgrimage will be from Fort Augustus on August 28 and end at Pluscarden on September 3.

4 Down memory lane A visit from the Moderator In 1968, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr J.B. Longmuir, visited Keith and Dufftown (which, I believe, was then in the Presbytery of Strathbogie and Fordyce) during his year in office. Above: Members of Mortlach and Cabrach Kirk Sessions pictured with the Moderator and ministers from neighbouring parishes. Below: The top table at a civic reception for Dr Longmuir when he visited Keith. Maybe there are one or two faces that some readers may recognise.

5 DYKE CHURCH ACCESS FOR THE FUTURE (SC000585) ROYAL AIR FORCE, LOSSIEMOUTH SWING BAND DYKE VILLAGE HALL on FRIDAY, MARCH 24 at 7.30pm Adults 8 :: Children 3 :: Includes light refreshments during the interval Tickets available from Mclachlan Opticians, 74 High Street, Forres, or by telephoning ALL WELCOME