Fifty Acts Continued. Fifty-one, Another Corner of Airside

For a town of 15,000, Airside parish is under-represented in terms of religion.  Mrs Gerbil's summer placement had six other places of worship serving a town of 1,400, yet Airside has just two.

So this morning I went to the Gospel Church at the other end of town.  It meets in the building that the parish church vacated in the seventies, and while I have been before, that was twenty years and another pastor ago. 

There was a lot this morning that I found refreshing.  Just being able to sit back and enjoy worship, and not have to think about making my own contribution was great.  This was something that the pastor and I agreed upon, that it is a luxury to be able to sit back and listen.  And it was nice not to turn up at a church where the first thing I am asked is "are you saved?"  This time the question was "can I get you a bible?"  And as communion was shared, one of the poeple at the door let me know that we take the bread but save it and eat together.  It's refreshing that churches think to let people know about the small details that have an impact on how we share worship together.

This was a small congregation (although it is the local school holidays and many people were missing) but there was a genuine welcome and a community feeling.  I may even make a return visit, if the chance arises.

So for the moment, the fifty acts have resumed.  How long it takes me to do the second fifty remains to be seen.

Fifty Acts of Worship. A Review.

I have spent the last year trying to attend as many different acts of worship as possible.  For most churchgoers, fifty acts in a year is not that hard, after all, you will probably attend church most weeks, with additional services at Easter, Christmas, and if you are lucky a wedding, or unlucky a funeral.  The problem I have is that I'm supposed to be training for the ministry, so my attendance at worship is going to be pretty limited from now on.  Next month I start my first placement, and while I will be present during worship, I'm going to be working.  I've been lucky to have been in a position where I can devote a year to observing such a variety of worship.

I'm in a fortunate position to be in the central belt, about an hour from Glasgow and half an hour from Edinburgh.  The time I have spent up north recently has shown that some people take having an abundance of churches for granted. In the central belt, often if you think your local church is too liberal or conservative for your tastes, you can go over the road to another.  Go outwith the central belt, and you may already have to travel some miles to get to a church.  While it is sad to see empty churches in rural areas, I visited a couple of clearance villages over the summer, and these would have had many hundreds in their population, and all attending the local church.  Once the land was cleared for sheep farming, the houses were demolished, the people relocated to the coastal fringes or beyond, and all that is left to show there was once a thriving population is a disused church. 

If the church, and not just the Church of Scotland, wishes to continue to serve the most vulnerable in our society, then it should be ensuring that there are flexible and dynamic forms of ministry that will serve those who are in need of the help of the church.  I'm not entirely sure if I'm being called to a rural area, and in some ways I hope not, but I'd at least like to be able to work with other denominations to bring God's church to our communities.  This year has demonstrated that there are congregations from all backgrounds who wish to work together, not just in rural areas, but in our towns as well.  Street pastors and food banks are operated by churches for the welfare of our entire communities.  It's a joy to see people working as a team, regardless of their faith background.

When it comes to worship, we are not that different.  We may think that the Catholic and Episcopal churches are very structured, and that the reformed churches have done away with all that.  In actual fact, we have our own structures, and there will be complaints if the running order changes from one week to the next..   If you want to keep a congregation on its toes, thrown in an extra hymn.  What about the independent churches?  Well they are roughly the same, and while the music may be more modern, and the songs tend to come in groups of three, you are still prayerfully lead towards a sermon, and remember in prayer those in the world around us.  And somewhere, the offering will be received.

Throughout the year, I've been made exceptionally welcome. In a year where the Church of Scotland has continued its debates on sexuality, the fact that I am a part of the CofS has not caused me to be shunned by those I have met.  I have had the question "Are you saved???" asked of me a few times, and while I have often been tempted to answer with "Well I'll be fracked if I know.  How about you?" I'm pretty confident that I'm not the worst person that will ever approach the  pearly gates.  Perhaps a couple of people may have seemed a little convinced that their attendance at a particular congregation gets them some extra heavenly brownie points, but other members of these congregations as a whole are not so hard-line in their attitudes.

I have seen some great examples of community action.  In a small independent congregation I heard about the mission work they support, but also from within the congregation how they would pull together to give practical help to those in need, in particular with organising a flitting for a young mother who had been granted a housing association flat.  I'd like to take the community spirit that often exists amongst smaller congregations and try to ensure this till takes place in larger ones.  That people can feel a part of a community, without feeling they are in too big a group to be helped.

Church tea is a bit hit or miss, wherever you go.  Honestly, I'm not going to spill it, so please fill my small cup more than half full.  And you will need more than one teabag for that gallon teabag.  Tea leaves are hand picked by hard working women, so their careful effort should not be vain. 

Church pews are often a pain in the proverbials, regardless where you go.  I may invest in a comfy cushion. 

In general though, it's ben a year of hope.  Church attendance may be down, but what is left is a strong core that is a good guide to the local demographics.  I was pleased to attend a church the other week that was full of young families, and the church was at the centre of a new and growing community.  And that's where churches are and should continue to be God's church should be grounded in fait, at the heart of our communities, while reaching out to those on the fringes of society and giving care.  We shouldn't be doing this with an aim to get bums on seats, but instead sharing the love because God first loved us.  Fifty acts of worship later has shown that the worship isn't actually the important thing, but instead it's how we take that message out into the communities, and work together as one church for the benefit of all those around us.

The new project starts in September. Watch this space...

Fifty Acts 50. At Last, The Methodists.

I've been trying to fit the Methodists into my schedule for a long time, but other congregations got in the way.  The Methodists have the honour of being the fiftieth act.

The reason I wanted to go to this congregation came from an event a few years ago.  I was delivering church flyers round a new housing estate,, and was getting a good response.  Lots of young families interested in the playgroup, toddlers groups and Scouts that were running in the church.  But when we got to one door, the owner was pretty grumpy.  He said...

"I tried Lane End church, and you weren't friendly.  Then I tried the Methodists, but they were too friendly.  Now we don't go at all!"

Well this got me interested and I had to do something.  Not about the unfriendliness of my own church, but instead, I wanted to find out how a church could be branded as too friendly.  So with that gauntlet laid down, I deided to visit the Methodists, albeit with about four years of procrastination. You shouldn't rush these things.

So the welcome was friendly.  Not over friendly, just friendly.  Perhaps they have mellowed...    We were certainly made to feel part of the congregation.  Typically, like so many of the preceding acts, the real minister was elsewhere, so it was a URC minister that lead worship.  Communion was celebrated, and we all gathered round the table, a nice gathering, but may draw attention to those who don't feel they can join in.  Everything seemed to be going well.

Except, it almost went wrong.  The minister had lost her car keys and she arrived very close to the start of the service, apologising to us for the delay. She was sharp, but not late.  And then someone came over to talk to the person behind me to ask if they could remember to pick up a bottle of Communion wine as they had run out.  Someone had been sent out to get a bottle of Ribena which was a blessing, as alcohol free Communion wine is howfing.Grape juice does not need sugar added to it, and yet the last time I had alcohol free wine, this is what it tasted like.

While the minister read from her Ipad, one of the readers used the bible on her phone.  I think I would advise against this, as it meant her reading was a little disjointed and didn't flow.  Although to her credit, at least she was taking an active part in the service, something many people do not feel confident in doing.

So in all, it was a nice congregation, a pleasant service, and a reasonably good cup of tea afterwards.

Fifty Acts 49. When Spot went to Dover.

I remember when all this was fields.  In fact, I remember when my driving instructor was telling me to get the car up towards 60 on a the fun bit of country road.  Now the road has been tamed, and it's a 30 limit and there's shops where there once was fields.  They really have paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

So the church is a brand new building situated in the middle of a new(ish) town.  The church reflects the demographics of the area, so there's a lot of young families, and even though this was a family service following the holiday club, its attendance was pretty typical.  Someone told me of the problems they have on Sunday mornings actually fitting all the children into the Sunday School space, so much so that they use a community centre down the road.

And another thing.  The summer holiday club was run in association with another denomination up the road.  I've heard tales of holicday clubs that will not invite other congregations for fear that the children end up going to the other church.  Isn't there only one church?

This was a fun place to be.People stopped and talked.  People had a brew afterwards.  The praise band was off to one side and not intrusive, and they even had a drummer.  The noticeboards and information table showed a church that had a world view yet were firmly part of their community.

My only concern for a church like this is the evolution of the community.  Right now it is a vibrant young place, but the same was once said about two nearby towns.  The were settled on mass by young families, and pretty soon the schools were full to overflowing, and the church had a massive youth group.  But as the community ages, it is unlikely there will be another mass influx of young families to the area.  At least one of the schools in the area is under threat of closure, while the other has removed all the additional temporary classrooms.  Can a church continue to reach out to new arrivals to the community as the original group of young families gets older?

So in all, a nice place, and perhaps a place I might find myself returning to.

One more to go...

Fifty Acts. A Learning Point

Not exactly one of the official acts, but here goes.

The phone rings.  It's my Minister. 

We exchange pleasantries, although having seen each other the night before, there's not a lot to add.  Nice change in the weather etc.  So then the real reason for the call...

"Are you going to the concert tonight?"  "Yes" says I, guessing what's about to come next...

"Can you please do the evening prayers?" "No problems.  Happy to play my part."

We have a band visiting from Germany, people we have came to know over the years, and they are a really good bunch.  One of them liked the place so much she came back as a youth worker, and was very good at it too.  This time they visited fellow blogger Shuna up in Aberlour.  I am sure they behaved themselves and only visited the nearby shortbread factory, and in now way attempted to sample the local waters...

I had heard the band the night before in Lane End, but I wanted to hear them in the smaller, older space of Fieldside.

But back to the evening.  It's 5.30, the show is at 7.00 and I've not eaten yet.  I throw food at the microwave, hoping for the best.  Meanwhile, I go into my extensive archive of prayers for all occasions.  200 words should do it, nothing too fancy, as the language may be a barrier - for the locals - the Germans speak perfect English... :-)

I transfer the file to an Android tablet that I got today for a ridiculously low price in a charity shop, throw on a shirt, and I'm out the door for 6.35.  10 minutes down the road and I'm there in time to get a seat.  Throwing caution to the wind, I pay a short visit to the chemical toilet, which, despite being the only local sanitation for a traveling band wasn't too smelly.  Remember, if you can't complete the task whilst holding your breath, a portaloo isn't the place for you.

So the lesson for tonight.  If you are even a pretend minister like myself, you may be suddenly asked to pull a prayer or a grace before a meal out of the bag.  1.5 hours is much more time than I may get in the future.    And you can get away with a lot, as long as your shirt is ironed.

The concert was amazing, and I hope they are back again soon.

Fifty Acts 48. Doing Things Right.

Today saw me driving into the big city to visit yet another church that I've walked past on a number of occasions but never actually crossed the door.  So today I visited Augustine United Church which is off George IV Bridge.  It's location means that, like so many buildings in Edinburgh, there are a number of levels below that which you would actually consider to be the street level.  How many I didn't, but there's at least two that I know of, although in the middle of Edinburgh, people have been known to find basements they didn't know existed.

So like a number of my visits this year, people have said that the minister is really good, and I really have to visit.  And like all those other occasions, the minister was away that weekend.  Still, this morning's minister was very good.  The act of Communion had little details that made it all the more inclusive.  The bread was circulated on a tray with a separate dish for gluten free bread, and the elders and minister did not take until all had been served.  One of the elders left the sanctuary, and I believe this was to include the Sunday School leaders in Communion.  We were all served with wine, and then all drank together.  And the wine, like so many churches was alcohol free.  It tasted like plain grape juice, which was pleasant.  I have had an experience with commercial non-alcoholic communion wine, which was grape juice with a lot of sugar added.  Even to my sweet tooth it tasted vile, and tasted sweeter than the concentrated grape juice used for home winemaking. 

Unlike some of the churches I have visited this year, this church makes it very clear that LGBT Christians are very welcome, and very much a part of the community.  Having seen the efforts that some "christians" have went to to declare LGBT folk as unclean, I'm surprised they would want anything to do with church.  In addition, the church has facilities for the mentally ill,has good links with other churches in the area of many denominations, and is very outward looking, involved in a number of campaigns.

So far, this seems to be the church that ticks most of my boxes.  I'm aware that as an OLM, I may not have much of a choice where I'm placed and for how long, but I'd like to use this church as an example of how a church can work as a community and also with the world around it..  

In other news, the seagulls have returned from the golf course and seem quite content in the garden.

Fifty Acts 47. Pick up Your Church and Walk

The church I was in this morning has a bit of a history.  It's a Tin Tabernacle, one of the many prefabricated buildings that were made out of corrugated iron in the late Victorian era and were exported throughout the world.  It's not just ships and trains that Glasgow exported to the world.  Schools, hospitals and churches were made flat packed and shipped everywhere.  The church I was in this morning was originally located 15 miles down the road, and was moved in the early 1900's.  The church is still very original inside, and is in very good condition.

The church is Episcopal, and the service was a quiet reflection.  Some parts were communal from a service sheet, there was a short reflection on the Good Samaritan, with a long period of silence.  I like being given a bit of time to find my space, and despite the traffic thundering past on the main road outside, and the persistent ticking of the electric meter, it was pleasant.

Afterwards, we had a brew with the local priest.  While we have joked about the size of Mrs Gerbil's combined parishes, Steve is responsible for an area that,(as best as I can work out) if it was a country, it would be larger than many countries that are UN members and who have their own international dialing codes.  This includes (+670) and (+1-242), although not quite as large as (+268)*1.  The City of Edinburgh is tiny by comparison, about the size of (+1-345).

Steve has lived here for a few years and gave us a fresh insight into the community.  There were some things we agreed upon that the local communities could benefit from, and he let us know about recent developments in the community, and how events and decisions taken many years ago still have an impact on a community, and can still be hurtful.  The three of us could certainly see that there are times that all the various denominations could work together within a community, although we also agreed that there were people who may disagree with this approach.

Steve is a genuinely nice guy, someone with a genuine concern for his communities, and someone with vision that it would be a pleasure to work with.

And as we sat there drinking our tea, and discussing God's work, this came on the Jukebox... You've got to laugh...


*1 I worked it out to be 15,000 square km putting him 159th on the list.

Fifty Acts 46.When Spot met Leah.

Yesterday there was a massacre.  I had the chance to play on the bike for a couple of hundred miles, and along the way I must have killed a couple of hundred thousand midges, which is sod all compared to the 1,684,000 midges caught in a single trap at Loch Ness.  Still, it's pretty satisfying, and I also recorded the wanton destruction of a few moths, which make a large thud when they hit the windscreen.  And we all know what the last thing to go through its mind was...*1    The bike now needs scrubbed so I'm hoping there's a charity car wash near me this weekend.

So after a short stop at a very large sweetie shop, where three teenage girls were being told by their mother to "be sensible" just when I walked towards the counter carrying four large jars of boilings.  Then another stop to catch up with a friend who lives near my planned route, I headed off to my destination.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the ordination of Leahthedog from Clarinda's Journey.  I've been following her blog since the start, so it's nice to finally be able to put the name and the face together. Because we are at different stages in our training, we've not encountered each other at church conferences before.

The church was full, and on a day as hot as yesterday, it made the building absolutely roasting.  I was glad I was positioned near the door to benefit from some of the breeze.  The lady I was sitting next to had made a 120 mile journey to be there, leaving her son behind on his fiftieth birthday, and I heard similar tales from people who had made an effort to be there.  Such was the love they felt for Leah, and the contribution she had made to their lives. 

In the sermon, the minister made reference to the 1978 TV series Connections, asking if we were old enough to remember it.  It's either showing my age, or the fact that I was watching science programming when I was very young, but I remember the series, if not the actual content.  The connections quoted managed to include Bonnie Prince Charlie (The king named after three dogs) the Ordnance Survey and the electric light bulb, with a change in track to include Billy Graham. This was a graphic demonstration of how our actions will serve to influence others, in a long chain of connections that we are unaware of, and through the laying on of hands, shows a connection to a long line of ministers, all the way back to 2,000 years ago.

Going back up the road, i was hit with a feeling of how very real this all is.  I've not even given thought to ordination.

The spread afterwards was very nice, and I was able to catch up with one of the ministers who was my interviewer at my selection, and who I tend to keep bumping into on occasion.

Leah isn't going to be able to put her feet up, as she is going straight into locum this weekend.  So I pray that the future keeps being fresh, and there are plenty of challenges ahead.


*1 Do I really have to explain it?*2

*2. Ok then, I might explain in the comments.

Fifty Acts 45. Nice Service. Ugly Church.

The church I visited today looks like a nice place.  Built in the late 1700's, it stands in a prominent place in the town, amidst a graveyard that has some famous residents.  I have visited here briefly a couple of times, but never really sat and appreciated the place.  On the outside it's quite pleasant, but on the inside, it has a few issues.  Some time in the seventies, the interior was thrown at the ugly tree and it hit every branch when it came down.  The old interior was mostly ripped out, and replaced with something that would have looked cutting edge for the period, and now looks dated, and clashes with the rest of the building. Underneath long expanses of wooden panels, some original cornicing shows through in places, with the cladding round the organ and the pews all matching.  It's actually quite depressing, and I find it hard to believe that someone thought this would be a good idea.

But the service itself was very good.  I've met the minister socially on a number of occasions but never sat through one of her services.  She did the whole lot, sermon, readings, prayers and intimations herself, while I'm more used to seeing some members of the congregation having some sort of involvement.  The service actually flowed very well, and she kept a god pace throughout.  This service flowed along very nicely without the occasional interrruption that can be had when there is a change of speaker for example.

When I spoke to the minister afterwards, she told me that while the congregation are the sort of people that will happily get involved in the life of the church community, there was something about their background as mainly retired professionals that made them unwilling to be involved in worship.  It was their belief that the content and conduct of the service was wholly the responsibility of the minister.

So my lesson from today is that I need to be prepared for congregations that would prefer to sit and listen.  They are still participating, just in their own way. And I'll need to be prepared to make my voice last, as there are two services in this church each Sunday.

Only five more acts to go.  where next...?

Fifty Acts 44. Homeward bound.

Today I had thought about visiting potential placement minister A at church B but instead went to my home church C where I found minister A sitting at the end of pew D of church C on a bit of study leave.  So we passed the time of day, discussing church projects relating to alzheimers. 

It's been ages since I've sat through an ordinary Sunday service at Lane End, so it was good to see the usual faces.  And I've got another idea for a children's address which involves two funnels and 100 foot of garden hose.  While effective in it's message, I'm just not entirely sure how it's going to work when it's on the hospital radio later.

It was afterwards the the conversation got a bit surreal.  I was having a brew with a huddle of little old ladies who were discussing the health of Prince Philip, when the subject of the Queen's coronation celebration came up.  "What i want to know..." asked one lady, "...is how all those old men managed to sit through that service without needing a leak.  Did they all have a bag or something?"  I did note that they would have been forbidden to use the umbrella stand as it is currently the asparagus season.

The conversation then descended, or ascended, into:

•  a graphic account of why peas and colostomy bags can have explosive results.
• The tale of a local lady who was on the throne when a builder stuck a pressure hose up the main sewer.
• The importance to fighter pilots of ensuring you do not mix up your oxygen pipe and your relief tube.
• The necessity of bagging urine and other matter during the Apollo 13 flight, for fear of causing course alterations.
• The legend of someone who was in an aircraft loo when severe turbulence struck, causing them to be covered in blue toilet liquid (amongst other things...)

I'm only taking credit for the Apollo story.

You've got to love the little old ladies!

Fifty Acts 43 Communion in three parts.

Coming from the central belt, Communion is something carried out four times a year on set Sundays, so i was keen to see how it's done elsewhere.

On Friday I went along to see preparation for Communion, which was to take place on the coming Sunday.  What I was expecting was a group of Elders discussing who will carry the bread, who will carry the wine etc.  What I wasn't expecting was a formal, public act of worship.

Communion is taken very seriously up here, so much so that when Commuion Sunday rolls round, church attendance actually drops, as the adherents decide not to attend.  While I understand that nowadays they are welcome, traditionally you had to be a full member to be at the top table, so only full members will turn out.

Communion weekend starts on the Friday with a short service which is intended as a start to the weekend.  The Sunday commences with the session being convened before the service, and while nobody appeared to have been turned away, it is my understanding that traditionally if you hadn't been at the Friday service, or if there was some other questionable stain on your character, then you would be barred from receiving Communion.  Nobody at the door asked for proof of my moral or spiritual fibre.  This is probably a good thing.  Finally, Sunday evening had another service to bring the weekend to a close.

In amongst the tradition, there was certainly a reverence for the occasion, from members and adherents alike.  Should there be more ceremony around Communion?  Or more reverence? Certainly there's a lot to be taken in about the importance the congregation places in the Sacraments. 

Interesting indeed.

Fifty Acts 42. WTF? at Airside

OK, the usual bit out of the way first. Nice building at Airside Church, friendly people. Talented Minister with an appropriate and well delivered sermon.  We've been to this church before, so no surprises.

So as the service finished, I saw someone I've not seen for about 10 years.  We were at college together so I said Hi to Brian and we exchanged plesantries about what we'd both been up to.  We were discussing the merits of various bible colleges in Scotland and their apparent theologies when Monday's General Assembly debate came up.  Then the conversation got decidedly frosty, almost hostile.

I was treated to someone with an entrenched position on the idea of gay ministers.  He's considering leaving the CofS because the church may be advocating gay clergy.  Now the first thing is the motion from the GA has not been passed to presbyteries yet, so we've got nothing to debate.  But Brian had a position and it wasn't for debate.  I'll not re-hash the rant, but it's probable you've heard it, or a variety of it.  It was a re-hash of the inaccurate parts of the reporting that followed the GA debate on Monday, which convenieltly fit his position.  It certainly did not reflet the motion agreed by the Assembly.  On top of that, Jesus wasn't Jewish, and  eventually stopped preaching in temples.  Seriously?

I've been to some varied congregations this year,but this was by far the most hostile reaction I've had so far.  I wasn' expecting this from within a CofS building.

My problem is that Brian is an Elder of the church.The Eldership promise in part is "...To seek the unity and peace of the church; To uphold its doctrine, worship, Government and discipline...”  There may be things about the church that I'm not keen on, but I have the option of contributing to the debate, accepting I'll not win every debate and moving on, or I can resign from the church.  Brian made it clear that he did not want to leave the church because he was there at the construction of the church premises.  But he was considering going to another denomination.

Perhaps I tend to take an over-simplified view of the world, but if an elder apparently is not willing to seek unity in the church, or to uphold the Government of the church, then they should not be in the role.  They have ceased to represent me.  In his position, Brian does not appear to be willing to negotiate, and sees his time in the church as in some way making his viewpoint more important. 

At a point in a debate involving young people, someone will express the opinion that the children are the future of the church.  So when are those members of the old guard who have entrenched opinions going to hand over the reigns of the church?  When they have bled the life out of it, and the young are given the drained corpse of a once great institution?  If those responsible for the leadership and pastoral care of congregations are not prepared to engage in debate, then the church has no future.

It is the debate that makes the Church of Scotland the solid organisaton it is.  We don't rush into things.  We talk about them. I accept that people will have firm, well reasoned opinions, on both sides of every debate.  But when the courts of the Church have made a decision, then we have to move on and work together.

So why is it, that there's some of us who are prepared to be flexible, and to listen to the opinions of others, and to work with those who we may not actually agree with?  But on the other hand, why has this issue has caused some people to dig their heels in and not engage in debate?  I don't actually want Brian to leave the church.   I'm not going to wish he leaves.  But I do want him to use his experience to be an effective representative in the courts of the church.  And that means listening, prayerfuly reflecting, contributing based on his knowledge of the facts, and then moving on when the debate doesn't go his way.

Fifty Acts 41. Small Act at the Big Kirk

I was asked by a friend if I would be able to do their lunchtime prayer service this week as they are off to the General Assembly.  Well I was flattered to be asked, it's the biggest building I've ever spoken in, and I particularly like shorter acts of worship.  Last week I went along to hear the normal service, so i had a pattern to work from.

Today met with the Church officer who set me up with the radio mic.  I then had a few minutes to wait before noon.  I was informed that a tour group was going to be visiting, so of course, one of them cornered me and started asking questions about the history of the building.  I bluffed a couple (Is it still a church? Yes. Do they do weddings? Yes. etc) of answers before handing over to Mrs G for the finer points of Scottish church history.

12 noon arrived and I started off.  It was a small audience in the side chapel, but I was aware that I was also preaching to some people who were in the main part of the church, and the radio mic covered the whole building.  It's just a bit unusual to be in a position where you don't have the undivided attention of everyone present. 

So I think it went well, and I was thanked by a couple of those present - I've not been there often enough to know if they were regulars or just visiting.  I'm certainly grateful for the experience.

My rough script is below.

**************************************************************

Every Wednesday at twelve noon there is a short service of prayer and reflection in the memorial chapel, to the right of the pulpit.  You are invited to join with us or to continue to explore and absorb the atmosphere of the building.

Good afternoon,

Our minister is attending the General Assembly in Edinburgh today, and I am privileged to have been asked to lead worship this morning.  My name is [spotthegerbil] and I am currently training for ministry within the church.

Let us come before God in prayer.

Almighty and eternal God,

You are great beyond our understanding, we cannot seek to understand your magnificence.

All glorious God,  We give you thanks that,

You chose us as your holy people, even before the world was made.

You adopted us as your children in Christ, and through his blood, you set us free from the burden of sin.   All praise and glory be to you o God.

And yet we know that we fall far short from the example that Christ showed us.

We fail to live up to his standards

We have not loved our neighbours

And we have not honoured your holy name.

We struggle with the pressures of life, when,

You would unburden us if only we turned to you in prayer.

So Lord,  Help us to change what we have been,

And set us on a new path

That we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways.

To the greater glory of your name.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

We hear from Psalm 119:

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause,
    but my heart trembles at your word.
¹⁶² I rejoice in your promise
    like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and detest falsehood
    but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous laws.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, Lord,
    and I follow your commands.
¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes,
    for I love them greatly.
¹⁶⁸ I obey your precepts and your statutes,
    for all my ways are known to you.

And from the Gospel according to Mark, chapter nine, verses 38 to 40:

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

And may God add his blessing to these readings from His holy word.

Let us come again before God in prayer.

We give thanks this week for all those you have called to serve your church.  To the parish workers, Missionaries, Deacons, Readers, Ministers, Priests and lay members, regardless of their denomination.  Bless the work they undertake, and help us to recognise that anyone who works in your name is not against you. 

And as our Ministers gather in Edinburgh for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, bless the Church as it struggles with all the conflicting cries upon it and within it. Ease its tensions. Calm its fears. Give it strength. Bring reconciliation where personalities argue and differences of opinion distract it from its purpose of showing Your grace to the world. Help it to find true unity in Christ and, where there is division bring healing and the ability to live in Christ’s love in harmony with those who hold alternative views.

May the Church be truly the Body of Christ, continuing to hold his love and forgiveness out to a world desperately in need of them.

Lord, we pray for those in the community around us who may not realise this church exists not just for those in the congregation, but for everyone that is in the parish.  Bless those who live around us, those who work in offices or shops, or those who have their own reasons for visiting this place of pilgrimage.  May this place be truly somewhere they may receive comfort.

Lord, look after those in our communities who suffer illness, whether they are in hospital, or bearing up at home.  Support those who care for the sick and frail in our communities and bring comfort and strength to all who are affected by illness.

We remember those who at some times feel

detached from you at this moment. Those who feel that
you may not be present in their daily lives, or find it difficult to
turn their thoughts towards to you. We pray that they are able to once
again experience your ever present and glorifying nature and realise
that you had never left them, but were always there waiting.

We remember today the families in Oklahoma affected by the Monday’s tornado, and also those affected by the cyclone in southeast Asia. Bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones, and give strength to those involved in the rescue operation. 

And as we are here gathered, Lord, we pause together in silence to reflect on the troubles laid heavy on our hearts and known unto you. 

Paws

Heavenly Father, help us to remember, that, even in our darkest times, of worry, doubt and pain, you are there for us, and you are accompanying us at all times along life’s journey. 

These and all our prayers are offered in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who taught us when we pray to say :

Our Father, who art in heaven,           hallowed by thy name;            thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;          on earth as it is in heaven.      Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,        as we forgive our debtors.      And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.            For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,             for ever.          Amen.

I was given this prayer card at the Heart and Soul event and asked to pass it on....

May God watch over you
and be your shade and shelter
so that the sun may not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

May God guard you from all harm
and watch over you
all the dayys of your life
both now and forever more
amen. 

Fifty Acts 40. Heart and Soul

Apparently we are all falling out.  Apparently we are a church divided.  Well it wasn't in evidence on Sunday at Heart and Soul.

This being the third time the Kirk has run an event on the General assembly Sunday, Mrs G and I were prepared.  First off to the HIV/Aids programme for a soup lunch.  We had our sandwiches by the Ross Fountain, a very nice bit of cake from Dunfermline Abbey, then of to Church and Society for a brew and Bun.  We declined fudge and cheese from the Orkney stall.  On top of all this, we went out for dinner afterwards.  On Monday I dieted...

After seeing some wonderful presentations from gathered congregations and organisations, and getting to catch up with ministers and kirk members that we have crossed paths with, we hardly had time to walk the length of the event and back before the final act of worship.  At one point we had four bloggers blethering in a circle when a fifth walked by - perhaps there needs to be a bloggers tent.  There really was a lot crammed into the park, including a couple of penguins....

The final act of worship takes place on the Ross Bandstand.  It's a big, public act of worship that is popen to all, and is visible to all in Edinburgh, from the Castle to Primark.  We are a big Kirk, and it's good that a large representative body of ministers and members can gather and show that we have more in common than we have differences.  I'm glad this appears to have become a permanent fixture on the kirk calendar. 

Fifty Acts 39. OK I suppose

Sunday saw me following Mrs G again for a bit of probation research.  I've not got a lot to add to what she said.  It was just not really me.  It was a pleasant enough looking church, but with the regular minister being absent, that does make the dynamic of the congregation somewhat different, so perhaps this one is worth a re-visit. 

Fifty Acts 38. Research (Part One)

Ditto

I wasn't that keen either.  Nice stained glass though.)

Fifty Acts 37. A Look Behind 3:16

I've been to the Salvation Army's 3:16 cafe in Perth on a number of occasions, but I've never worshipped with them until yesterday.  Now Mrs G is off placement, she was able to come along for the ride.

The building is fairly modern, sitting to the back of the cafe and shop.  We had a warm welcome at the door and were taken through to a bright and airy sanctuary.  It wasn't the largest of congregations, although it was the bank holiday weekend. They were certainly welcoming and genuinely friendly.

The service was a good mix of old and new tunes, some new to us, some favourites, and one in particular that has a "special" significance for Mrs G and I.  The preacher spoke with a consistent theme throughout the service and sermon and was genuinely enthused by her subject of "When Worlds Collide*" about the coming together of Heaven and Earth based on Acts 1:1-8

Of particular note was the use of hymns within a prayer setting as a mens to establish a mood.  As with so many things, it's something that depends on the congregation.  The same with the open prayer section.  Open prayer is good for some groups, preferably small ones.  In a large group, you may not be able to hear what someone is saying, and it could be distracting.

My only criticism, and I would level this at many congregations that I've visited, is that your website should list the times of your regular meetings.  Not everywhere meets at 11am on a Sunday.

In speaking to people after the service, it was noted that congregations are getting smaller, and there are not as many people coming through to leadership roles.  Nothing different from the CofS then.  But what is clear about the Salvation Army is that they have a strong brand, and it is the place where people come to in an emergency.  There's a lot to be learned from the Salvation Army about doing God's work on earth.

And I'msure Mrs G will be along soon with her thoughts...

* When Worlds Collide, is also a 1951 sci-fi film about the end of the world through a rogue star passing through the galaxy and hitting the earth.  It considers the collapse of society at the end of the world, and the saving of a select group of people.  There's a sermon in there somewhere...

Fifty Acts 36. It's Like The Burlesque Show...

I'll explain the title later...

Today I revisited a church I visited at the start of this project.  To gain an extra perspective on things, I took along select members of the Gerbil Appreciation Society.  My Mum, Mum's friend, my Mother in Law, and my Godmother.

We all agreed that the guest preacher was outstanding.  Clear, with a no nonsense preaching style who was clearly capable of making even the most assured Christian re-examine their chances of salvation and to make them turn from their wicked ways.

And while the welcome on the door was friendly, there was no clear start to the service.  Atr the front of the church, between the pews and the pulpit, the raised floor was fully occupied by two guitarists and three singers, with the communion table shoved off into a corner.  It felt more like a concert than an act of worship.  Now I've seen many praise bands on this trip, and they have mainly been off to one side, or felt part of the worship.  This just felt disjointed.  After each couple of songs, the guitarist felt he needed to tell us what we should be thinking about.  Then after the sermon, he took it upon himself to explain exactly what we should now be thinking after listening to the preacher's message.  Really?  I'll decide what I want to think, thanks very much.

As the Gerbil Appreciation Society put it.  "it was like that burlesque show I went to see.  I've seen it once, and that was enough."

I never thought the comparison could be made between worship and a burlesque show.  I'm glad everyone this morning remained fully clad...

Next week I'm heading north.

Fifty Acts 35. Up a Close.

"Hello, have you been before?  Would you like a cup of tea?"

So that's two criteria ticked off the list.  Warm welcome and a pleasant brew. 

I've been aware of this church for quite some time, as it's off a close between the high street and a pleasant coffee shop.  I wasn't aware it had been there for so long, as it looks like next year they will celebrate their centenary.  They follow the Brethren tradition of worship, although what that is exactly, I'm yet to find out.  Certainly the service was familiar, with hymns from Mission Praise, Gospel readings and a lesson, this morning from a guest speaker.  As I understand it, there's no minister, as the preachers are drawn from the congregations.

The demographic was broadly similar to that of an average CofS gathering.  Older, with a sprinkling of young families.  What you noticed immediately was the sense of community, with people circulating ad chatting. 

I was feeling a little under-dressed.  Everyone was in their Sunday best.  The women mostly wore hats, and the men were mainly in suits.  I was in my Sunday comfortable, which bears a striking similarity to the rest of my wardrobe.   Besides, I only wear a suit when I'm using the Halo effect to skew a situation in my favour. 

I did get one of my favourite questions this morning.  When you mention a CofS connection, occasionally someone will ask "Oh...  Are you saved?"  Apparently there is a perception that some ministers aren't, although isn't it God that's the judge of all that?  Do people think we're in this gig for the money or something?

I would have liked to have had a bit more time to chat this morning, but after the service, people headed off to the rest of their Sunday. I was asked to their bible study, but unfortunately I had other plans for this evening.  Perhaps that's an act for another time.

Fifty Acts 34. Opening Up

This was the second of my two stints at Fieldside and Lane End.

Today just seemed to flow, everything felt right, and I felt that God really had a role for me this morning.  Yes, the rain and wind mad the ride on the bike unpleasant, but after I had got into Fieldside, something just lifted.  If there's one thing I need to do, it's to remember to remove the chair from the pulpit in Fieldside.  The lectern sits quite low, and the height adjuster seems to have went astray.  So you are forced to look down on your notes.  By removing the chair I'd be able to stand back and feel less like I'm looking down.

But it was after Lane End that something odd happened.  As I met people after the service, one person asked if he could have a quiet word.   I invited him to stay for a brew and we got talking.  He was aware that I wasn't the real minister, and we agreed that the real minister would be better placed to help him out.  The actual content of the conversation is one of those pastoral things, so it's not getting written down, but it was a privilege that he trusted me with his story. 

So while I'd like to be able to help more, with his consent, I've put him in contact with the people best placed to give him the advice he needs.  The important part of today was not me talking at 200+ folk, but in listening to 1 person.  I pray he finds the answer he needs.