INVERNESS FREE NORTH CHURCH NEWSLETTER April 2017 Musings from the Manse Dear friends, Easter is almost upon us and it s made the main headlines in the News! It was reported that the Church of England is embroiled in a row with Cadbury and the National Trust after it was claimed the firms removed references to Christian holiday Easter in marketing for their annual egg hunt. The firms have been accused of airbrushing religious connotations out of the Easter event. Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, accused the chocolate giant of spitting on the grave of its religious founder by removing references to Christianity s most sacred festival. Even Prime Minister Theresa May stepped into the religious row, claiming a decision to drop the word Easter from a Cadbury and National Trust egg hunt would be absolutely ridiculous. Oh dear. Is this what it s all about? Egg hunts? Really? Or is it about painting eggs or simply enjoying another long weekend? What is Easter? We can best understand Easter by seeing what God has to say about it. After all, it was His greatest act of love that prompts this annual celebration: The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Looking at an acronym for the word Easter will give us insight into its meaning. E Everlasting life. That s the foundation of our celebration. In one of the most well-known Bible verses, we read: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) A Assurance. In a long heart-to-heart session with His followers shortly before His death, Jesus assured them (and us) Because I live, you will live also. (John 14:19) S Salvation. Before Jesus made his physical appearance on earth, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, announcing Christ s arrival. He said: You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) 1
T The Gift. Throughout the Bible, we are reminded that we are all sinners, deserving death. But we praise God that The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) E Enemies. That s what we were when Christ died for us. Because Jesus died, we are offered reconciliation. The apostle Paul explained it this way: when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. (Romans 5:10) R Resurrection. To a woman who was grieving the death of her brother, Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. (John 11:25,26) Go on an egg hunt, paint the eggs, enjoy the long weekend, but always remember God s greatest act of love, and let the reality of Christ s death and resurrection be the centre of your celebration. That s what Easter is all about! Your friend and Pastor Rev MacLeod... Please remember the following people in your prayers Illnesses or Hospital Miss Florence Williamson Housebound Mrs Anna Cameron Mrs Margaret Grant Mr Archie MacArthur Mrs Mary MacDonald Mrs Effie MacIver Mrs Christine MacRae Residential Homes Mrs Mary McCulloch Aden House Miss Betty MacRae - Ballifeary Miss Nan MacDonald - Ballifeary Mrs Joan Macleman Fairfield Home Mrs Margaret MacAulay - Highview Mrs Joan Lamont - Highview Mrs Dolly Campbell Isobel Fraser Home Mrs Anna MacLeod Isobel Fraser Home Mrs Ishbel Graham - Kingsmills Home 2
Condolences Eila Macfarlane passed away on 29 th March aged 98 years in the Isobel Fraser Home. She had been a resident there since 2009. The funeral took place in the Free North on Friday 7 th April at 1.45pm with interment in Tomnahurich Cemetery afterwards. We remember Eila s nieces Eda, Janet and Joyce, and her nephew Ian at this sad time. We mourn, but not as those without hope, for, as the hymn writer says, we have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to a rock that cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour s love. Congratulations Congratulations to Olivia Ross and David Fraser who got engaged recently. The couple plan to marry in the Free North on August 3 rd. We wish them every blessing. We also pray God s healing hand to be on Olivia who has undergone surgery recently. KIRK SESSION NEWS Communion Services Our April communion will be on the 30 th April. Ian Watson, Hope Church, Kirkmuirhill, will be preaching on Saturday and Sunday. Ian Morrison, Castle Street Baptist Church, will take the service on Friday. If you would like to profess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sit at the Table, please do speak to myself or one of the elders. CONGREGATIONAL NEWS AND ACTIVITIES Kidzone Kidzone celebrated its end-of-season with a night at Rollerbowl. 27 children and parents attended and a good time was had by all. Many thanks to those within the congregation who helped during the year. 3 Brian
Congregational Fellowship On Sunday 26 th March we enjoyed a time of fellowship, food and praise in the hall after the evening service. We sang Ps 130, Amazing Grace, Ps 1b to a tune new to us (St Petersburg), the new Getty song, The Lord is My Salvation, and ended with the wonderful old hymn, How Great Thou Art, all accompanied as ably as ever by Elaine Kirkham on piano and Olivia Ross on violin. We were very pleased to have Roddy Macleod with us giving a word of testimony and also sharing something of his work with SASRA (Soldiers and Airmen Scripture Readers Association). It was very encouraging to hear that through SASRA Roddy has freedom to openly and fully share the Gospel. So we pray for Roddy and the other Scripture Readers that as the Lord opens doors of opportunity to him, He would also open ears and eyes and hearts to embrace and obey the Good News of Jesus Christ. The next congregational fellowship is on Sunday 30 th April when Ian Watson will speak. Home Groups Our Home Group has enjoyed meeting for bible study and fellowship every month. We ve also met socially a few times and on these occasions have had a supper evening together at Anna Macritchie s, carol singing and mince pies at ours and a few Saturday s ago we met at John and Mairi Macaulay s where we had a lovely spread of food and Cathil and Olivia sang and played for us. It s great to meet in small groups and we certainly feel we have benefitted from them in so many ways: deeper friendships have been formed through sharing and meaningful conversations which is all cemented together in times of prayer. If you don t belong to a Home Group yet why don t you join one and discover the joy there is in being part of a friendly, caring and sharing group. Jessie Outreach Opportunities On Easter Sunday we look forward to Robin Gray being with us. We will be delivering invitations to houses in the immediate area of the church. There are sign-up sheets at the lane door. Do get involved and also invite friends along Sandy 4
Classic Car Event The Classic Car event takes place on Saturday, 13 th May. We would like to run a café as an outreach event. We will need baking and a welcome team to talk to people. Can you help? There will be a sign-up sheet in the kitchen. Sandy Cruise Liner Programme The Cruise Liner programme for Invergordon begins on the 12 th April, running through to September. It would be good if we were able to open the church when groups are taken to the city. If you would like to help, speak to Sandy. Visit of Duncan Peters Duncan Peters, who serves the Free Church in reaching ethnic minorities in Central Scotland is going to be with us on Wednesday, 10 th May. We expect other congregations to join us to hear about this important work. Do plan to come along. Acclaim Choir The Acclaim Choir will be back in the church on Saturday, 13 th May with a full musical programme, including May the Peoples Praise You, the Potter s Hand, I Will Rise, My Shepherd and Crown Him. Tickets will be available nearer the time and help will be required with stewarding and with catering Sandy Dates for the Diary April Wednesday 5 th Thursday 6 th Saturday 8 th Sunday 9 th Tuesday 11 th Sunday 16 th Tumbletots meets in the hall from 10-11.30am every Wednesday (closed for Easter break until 26 th April) Prayer round tables at 7.30pm in the hall Office Bearers prayer meeting at 8am KidzZone, for primary children, meets in the hall from 6-7pm every Thursday (closed for Easter Holidays) Likely Dads for Dads and male carers meets in the hall from 10.30am to 12 noon every second and fourth Saturday taking all 3 services Isobel Fraser service at 3pm Congregational lunch and devotional in the hall from 12.30 to 2pm Robin Gray (ETS) taking all 3 services Cameron House service at 3pm 5
Wednesday 19 th Sunday 23 rd Tuesday 25 th Friday 28 th Saturday 29 th Sunday 30 th May Wednesday 3 rd Thursday 4 th Friday 5 th Sunday 7 th Tuesday 9 th Wednesday 10 th Sunday 14 th Wednesday 17 th Sunday 21 st Monday 22 nd Sunday 28 th Home Groups at 7.30pm taking all 3 services Deacons Court at 7pm Communion preparatory service in the hall at 7.30pm taken by Ian Morrison, Castle Street Baptist Church Communion preparatory service in the hall at 7.30pm taken by Ian Watson (Hope Church, Kirkmuirhill) Ian Watson taking all 3 services including communion service at 11am Congregational Fellowship with Ian Watson Prayer round tables at 7.30pm in the hall Office Bearers prayer meeting at 8am 3:16 Teens for teenagers meets in the Manse from 6.30-8pm taking all 3 services Congregational lunch and devotional in the hall from 12.30 to 2pm Duncan Peters (AO) speaking at mid-week meeting at 7.30pm Sandy Finlay taking FN services and Ian Polwarth taking MS service Isobel Fraser service at 3pm House groups meet at 7.30pm taking all 3 services Cameron House service at 3pm General Assembly meets Monday to Thursday this week taking FN AM service, Martin Maclean taking the MS service and Alasdair Macleod (Smithton) taking the FN evening service MADRAS STREET NEWS 20 Schemes Update The Kirk Session have agreed to proceed with engaging with 20 Schemes in seeking the way forward with the work and witness in Madras Street. 20 Schemes is an organisation committed to building healthy Gospel-centred churches for Scotland s poorest communities. Their long term desire is to see Scotland s housing schemes transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ through 6
the revitalisation and planting of gospel-preaching churches, ultimately led by a future generation of indigenous church leaders. The name reflects the desire to see at least 20 churches planted, revitalised and growing in Scotland s housing schemes in the foreseeable future. Their Mission statement reads, To that end we will initiate a church planting and revitalisation effort by recruiting, training, supporting and sending church planters, female outreach workers, ministry apprentices, and short-term interns to work as part of church planting teams within Scotland s housing schemes. We believe that building healthy, gospel-preaching churches in Scotland s poorest communities will bring true, sustainable, and long-term renewal to Scotland s schemes. Goals: How will we do this? 1. Identify 20 schemes as priority areas 2. Identify, where possible, church revitalisation partners in those schemes 3. Recruit Church Planters, Female Outreach Workers, and Ministry Apprentices to send into those schemes 4. Develop Church Partners to support and resource our work in the schemes 5. Invest in indigenous leaders by providing training, resources, and support Mez McConnel, Director of 20 Schemes, is Senior Pastor at Niddrie Community Church, Edinburgh, a church which he has overseen a revitalisation programme over 10 years, and has founded a street children s charity and planted a church for street children in one of northern Brazil s poorest cities. He has been to Madras Street before and will return shortly to spend time assessing and analysing how best to put together a working agreement with us. He will put together a proposal with short, medium and long term goals and objectives with financial and personnel requirements and then the Session will decide whether to take this forward. Please do be in prayer about this, asking the Lord will guide and direct as He wills. 7
Road to Recovery One of our clients at Road to Recovery is in need of a fridge. If anyone has a fridge which they no longer need, could you please contact me. Ian Polworth Tel: 07917 147361 OTHER NEWS Invitation to Teaching Sessions CELT STREET EVANGELICAL CHURCH are pleased to announce that international Bible Teacher Jonathan Lamb will be with us from 19-21 May. Jonathan was the speaker at the 2016 Northern Convention and has spoken frequently at the Keswick convention as well as currently being involved in an executive capacity with Keswick Ministries. The author of several books, we feel privileged to have Jonathan visiting us and trust you will make the Weekend widely known and if possible, support it with your attendance. The times will be: Session 1 Friday 19th - 8:00 to 9:00 Session 2 Saturday 20th - 10:00-11:00 Tea/Coffee 11:00-11:30 Session 3 Saturday 11:30-12:30 Inverness & North Free Church Mission Support Group The Mission Support Group will be holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday, 6 May, from 10.30 am 12 noon in Dingwall Free Church Hall. Please come along and support our project the Lima Evangelical University Seminary. Helpful Thoughts Matthew concludes with the Resurrection. Mark concludes with the Ascension. Luke concludes with the promise of the Holy Spirit. John concludes with the promise of the Second Coming. The four Gospels funnel into the Book of Acts. Acts 1 brings all these four records together and mentions each of them. The Book of Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. 8