INVERNESS FREE NORTH CHURCH NEWSLETTER March 2015 Dear friends, Time to Say Good Bye Sadly, it seems the time has come for me (Dan) to write my last letter in the monthly bulletin. It was 18 months ago that Penny and I moved to Inverness and started our ministry in the Free North and Madras Street. Since then, we have been encouraged, supported and loved by the congregations and we are so thankful to everyone for their friendship and support over this time. We have learned a lot over the last year. It has been a time of God s refining hand as he has taught us about full time pastoral ministry. These are lessons we will definitely carry into our future ministries. So we thank the congregation for calling us to be their assistant minister. We had no experience and you were willing to bring us into the flock and allow us to serve Christ among you. Working alongside Colin and Jessie has been a real delight for us. They are hard working and dedicated to the work of God. They have given us clear guidance and biblical teaching and we will forever be in their debt for the time they have spent with us. Take care of them, pray for them and carry on encouraging them. They are good servants of Christ with a love for you all. It has come as a surprise for many of us that now is the time God has changed the direction of our feet and called us to the Wild West! We are bound for the shores of Poolewe and Aultbea. We did not expect a move this quickly or this suddenly. However, we are always reminded that God s plans are best. So Sunday the 29th March is our last day but I hope we will be back! We would like to thank everyone for your generosity, kindness and love shown to our family since we arrived. We will forever hold the church here in our heart and we join with Paul when he says: 1
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3 6 Your Pastor Dan Paterson Rev Dan Paterson Assistant Minister Condolences We were saddened to hear of the death of Margaret Maciver on Sunday 15 th March. She was 92 years old. Margaret had lived for many years in Argyle Court before moving to the Isobel Fraser home around Christmas time. After her brother Kenneth died last year, her health seemed to deteriorate and was no longer able to live alone. The funeral took place on Thursday 19 th March from John Fraser s Funeral Home. We commend her brother William and his family, and her sister in law Sheena and her family, to the Lord s care and keeping. Baptism Colin baptised Eilidh Macarthur Smith, daughter of Calum and Lorna Smith on Sunday 8 th March in front of a big congregation. We pray that the Lord will bless the parents as they bring up Eilidh to follow Jesus herself and that we as a congregation would support this family in this in the years that lie ahead.... 2
Prayer Topics Please remember the following people in your prayers Illneses or Hospital Mrs Anna Cameron Mr Angus Morrison (RNI) Housebound Mrs Margaret Grant Mrs Margaret MacLeod Mrs Christine MacRae Mrs Mary MacDonald Mrs Effie MacIver Mr Archie MacArthur Mrs Effie MacArthur Residential Homes Mrs Christina Morrison Ach an Eas Mr John Ferguson - Aden House Miss Catriona Urquhart Ballifeary Miss Betty MacRae - Ballifeary Miss Nan MacDonald - Ballifeary Miss Morag MacDonald Cameron House Mrs Joan Macleman Fairfield Home Mrs Margaret MacAulay - Highview Mrs Joan Lamont - Highview Mrs Eila Macfarlane Isobel Fraser Home Mrs Ishbel Graham - Kingsmills Home Deacons Court News FREE NORTH CHURCH INCOME & EXPENDITURE for FEBRUARY 2015 GENERAL FUND FABRIC FUND INC 9,302.00 INC 131.00 EXP 12,415.00 EXP BALANCE - 3,113.00 BALANCE 131.00 MADRAS STREET MISSION FUND ROAD TO RECOVERY FUND INC 1,264.00 INC 3,417.00 EXP 628.00 53.00 BALANCE 636.00 BALANCE 3,364.00 DEVELOPMENT FUND INC 4,400.00 EXP 625.00 BALANCE 3,775.00 These are Fund Balances, not Bank Balances. Those who pay Tax on their salaries or pensions are able to claim Gift Aid up to the amount of Tax they pay. This benefits the funds of the Free North Church at no cost to the giver as the Church can reclaim the Tax. Anyone who wishes to start claiming Gift Aid, can get a form from Either Angus or Susan Fraser or Rena MacLean (Gift Aid Treasurer) 3
Congregational News and Activities 20 s/30 s Group The group meets every Sunday in the manse and follows a programme of discipleship training, praise meetings, testimonies and bible teaching on doctrine. We ve looked at the doctrine of Total Depravity and how that impacts our lives and are planning to addressing the other points of what is known as the Five points of Calvinism. In the praise evenings we ve been singing a variety of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and hope to lead the congregation in a time of worship on Sunday 22 nd at the congregational meeting. We also plan to have three of the group share something about an item of praise that is meaningful to them. We enjoy a time of prayer together at the end of the evening, concluding with food and chilling out also. If you are in the 20 s/30 s age group and you re free on a Sunday evening after the service, you re more than welcome to come along. 30 s/40 s Group This group meets every month in the Manse and is aimed at men in this age group who wish to learn more about being a disciple of Jesus. We use the Multiply material which is a series of 24 lessons on what the Bible says about being a disciple. The time together affords us an opportunity to study, share, ask questions and hopefully grow in faith and to know one another better. We usually meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, though our next meeting is on the 7 th April which is the first Tuesday. Any men in this age group are more than welcome to come along. 4
Women's Prayer Meeting The women s prayer meeting is needing to be reviewed. The attendance has dropped significantly with only a very few able to attend. Would a change of day/time/venue make a difference? Please speak to Jessie if you have suggestions regarding the future of the meeting. At present the meeting takes place on the 2 nd and 4 th Tuesday of the month. Newly Formed Young Women's Bible Study Newly Formed Young Women's Bible Study meeting in the church every second Friday at 10am (Entrance via side door). Please feel free to come along for a time of fellowship and an informal Bible study together with young women in the church. There will be a creche provided for those who have young children. The date of the next meeting is Friday 1st May at 10am. All young women welcome. Lorna Smith Church Transport We currently run two buses in the morning one on either side of the river to take people to church. If you think this would be helpful for you please speak to either Mike Casey or Sandy Finlay. At night we provide a taxi on either side of the river. If you need help in getting to church please speak to us. Other News Sandy Finlay Induction and ordination Rev Joe Barnard was ordained to the Ministry and inducted to the charge of Kiltarlity and Kirkhill on Friday 13 th March. Dan preached on the evening and Colin was moderator of Presbytery and officiated in the matter. It was a very well attended meeting and with a great reception in the community centre afterwards. We pray that the Lord will bless Joe, Anna and family as they continue a good work in Kiltarlity. 5
Adam's Ministry Congregations are being given the opportunity to support Adam in his work. There will be a collection for him at the beginning of April which we hope to pass on to him when he visits the area. He will speak in Fortrose on Tuesday 21st April and in Greyfriars on the 22nd. For more information speak to Sandy Finlay. Inverness & North Mission Support Group Current Project Update Below is an information update about the present project being supported by the Mission Support Group. COLEGIO SAN ANDRES, Lima, Peru Upgrade of their computing department. We have had two fund- raising events so far: In November 2014 a Coffee Morning in the Free North Church. Good baking and coffee, conversation and lots to buy...and 1050 was sent to the School following this event. This month a Lunch followed by a very informative and challenging talk about the School given by Catriona MacDonald...and 1800 was sent to Peru. A total of 2850... A Coffee Morning was also held in Tain earlier in March Our next event is a Coffee morning in Dingwall in May, and we do hope that you can come along and support that. More details to follow. Donations also come in after events. Gift Aid has pulled in 540 so far. Where does all this money come from? From YOU as Mission Supporters. Out of what the Lord provides for you, you GIVE so GENEROUSLY. May we all get his blessing. 6
Helpful Thoughts Learn from the mistakes of others. You will never live long enough to make them all yourself! Worldliness is not being in the world, but being like it. The Christian is to be the influencer, not the influenced. Difference- makers are different. If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you ll end up not doing anything for anybody. 7