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Scope.
March 2015
Scope. Penicuik South Church Newsletter.
Hello from the Manse,
The SU Bible Reading Notes later on this month take us through
the concluding chapters of the Acts of the Apostles – as many
have observed - a misnamed biblical book that should be called
the Acts of the Holy Spirit.
Tertullus goes head-to-head with Paul; with Felix playing the
referee. The politics is particularly direct in coming off the page.
Paul engages directly on political issues. Is he right to do so?
Good grief, Ian – not politics again – we’ve had enough after last
September. Paul keeps it focused on God, but he doesn’t shy
away from the politics of the accusations against him. Not
convinced?
Now depending on your theological inclinations, I can readily
imagine quoting some C. of E. bishops won’t really help to
convince you much of anything. But perhaps this is one situation
to make you think again. I do know the C. of E. was ‘caught’ not
paying all its employees the living wage, while urging British
business to do so. The fact remains the House of Bishops’
Pastoral Letter on the General Election had some good stuff in it
– I think even Paul might have approved.
They called on all political parties to discern "a fresh moral vision
of the kind of country we want to be, ahead of the General
Election in May of this year.” asking politicians to attempt to
"build the kind of society which many people say they want, but
which is not yet being expressed in the vision of any of the
parties?" But they didn’t just have a go at the politicians. They
also addressed the electorate: asking us to put aside self-interest
and vote for 'the common good'. "The privileges of living in a
democracy mean that we should use our votes thoughtfully,
prayerfully and with the good of others in mind, not just our own
interests."
And they directly spoke to the idea - one very common idea: "It
is not possible to separate the way a person perceives his or her
place in the created order from their beliefs, religious or
otherwise, about how the world's affairs ought to be arranged.
The claim that religion and political life must be kept separate is,
in any case, frequently disingenuous - most politicians and
pundits are happy enough for the churches to speak on political
issues, so long as the church agrees with their particular line."
"Unless we exercise the democratic rights that our ancestors
struggled for, we will share responsibility for the failures of the
political classes. It is the duty of every Christian adult to vote,
even though it may have to be a vote for something less than a
vision that inspires us." Wow! Direct stuff or what.
Nonetheless just about every assessment of the British
electorate makes it very, very plain: people are profoundly
disillusioned with politics in the UK today, moreover many
Christians (like most other people) feel let down and hesitant to
trust the promises of any politician from any party. Many folk feel
that none of the major parties support Christian values, and that
the secular political system is unfair to Christians. So should you
simply not vote at all at this election, as some Christians suggest.
Despite obvious disillusionment, what’s equally clear is that
Christians across the UK do engage in politics – and markedly
more than the general population. Whether that’s being a local
councillor, meeting regularly with their MP or signing petitions,
Christians are getting involved. Evangelicals are twice as likely
as the general population to say they are certain to vote on 7th
May 2015. There’s a Wilberforce spirit within Christians that
means folk engage more than most people.
Evangelicals clearly care about the common good and how
politics impacts the vulnerable in our society, considering poverty
and inequality to be the most important single issue facing the
UK today. Read some of the blogs listed our below. Don’t let
political weariness justify not engaging. This year’s chance to
vote is exactly what the bishop’s say it is: a Christian
responsibility that we should all fulfil.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Cathcart.
P.S. There are many election blogs / resources – consider
these:
http://www.eauk.org/church/resources/snapshot/faith-inpolitics.cfm
http://klice.co.uk/index.php/resources/election2015
https://churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2015/02/houseof-bishops%27-pastoral-letter-on-the-2015-generalelection.aspx
I have been thinking recently about friendship with God. That Jesus called us
His friends (John 15:15), and Holy Spirit dwells in us as our teacher (J
I have been thinking recently about friendship with God. That Jesus
called us His friends (John 15:15), and Holy Spirit dwells in us as our
teacher (John 14:26). I have been thinking about the basic elements of
friendship: love and communication, and how while much is taught of
God’s love for us and of how we are to love him and pray to him, not
so much is said about conversations with God. Perhaps we are all
having them and just not saying! Perhaps we are calling this ‘prayer’,
as it rightly could be classified, but I wonder if we are explaining that
to younger Christians?
About 10 years ago God sent me to someone who showed me how to
hear God speaking to me, in the many ways He does, and who showed
me how to ‘pray’, in the many ways we can, and so started the best
conversation of my life. A conversation that continues to this day and
gets better and better.
Prayer is so multifaceted and diverse, it can't be
limited to a definition or timescale because it fits
perfectly with every diversely created person. Paul said
he prayed without ceasing and urged us to do the same
(1 Thess 5:17). This is an overwhelming thought unless we know that
we are in an everlasting friendship with a creative conversational God,
through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ in us, the hope of glory!
Your prayerfully,
Hilary.
(CLAN Manager (and coffee maker)
CLAN Prayer Evening
Saturday 28th March from 4pm until 9.30pm
at Holy Trinity Church of Scotland, Wester Hailes,
Edinburgh.
This will be a time of joining together in worship, prayer and
proclamation.
Prayer Highlights
Our prayer co-ordinators, Steven and Angela Boler, are
hoping to increase the prayer base for our ministry and
will be sending out a CLAN Prayer Highlights every
few months. Any time commitment is welcome - bullet prayers while
you read to set aside time! All appreciated and needed. If you would
like to receive the letter please reply to this email and we will sign you
up.
Prayer Ministry is available at all our events and it is
also possible to be part of our Prayer Ministry team and
receive training in this. Join the team!
Become a Friend of CLAN
If you would like to support the work of CLAN
through regular financial contributions why not
consider becoming a Friend of CLAN? Whatever you
can give makes a real difference, and enables us to plan for the future.
Christian Aid Week- 10th-16th May 2015.
This year’s Christian Aid week considers one of the greatest injustices of our
time: discrimination against women. Women do two thirds of the world’s
work, earn one tenth of the world’s income and own only 1% of the world’s
property.
Loko lives in Ethiopia. With an absent husband and no
livestock, she is shunned by her community
Loko’s choice in life is simple: ‘If I can’t collect firewood,
my children will die.’
Four times a week, in a remote corner of Ethiopia, Loko
makes a back-breaking eight-hour trip to gather wood.
It’s a task she dreads, but she steels herself to do it
because if she doesn’t her children will starve.
Photo credit
Christian Aid/M Gonzalez-Noda
She prays to God as she walks. ‘I ask him to change my life and lead us out of
this,’ she says.
Just £5 could give Loko a loan to start her own business buying and selling
tea and coffee, freeing her from her desperate task and allowing her to
spend more time caring for her family . Jesus challenges us to love our
neighbour. Together, this Christian Aid Week, we can answer Jesus’ call to
walk with women like Loko, working hard to transform people’s lives now
and inspire lasting hope for the future.
Please prayerfully consider getting involved and doing something for women
like Loko and becoming a collector for Christian Aid this year.
Alternatively think about your own ideas for fundraising – all monies will be
gratefully received!
Contact: Ellen Walley -01968 672014.
World Day of Prayer - Friday 6th March, 2015
The World Day of Prayer will be held in Penicuik South
Church this year, on Friday 6th March, 2015 at 7.30p.m.
The Order of Service has been written by Christian women of
the Bahamas .
You are cordially invited to attend, and tea will be served
after the service.
Sheena Allan and Audrey Roy
THE RAVEN TRUST
Six more boxes of knitted goods, toiletries, pencils, pencil
cases etc were sent off to be dispatched on 14th Feb. Many
thanks to all the Penicuik ladies who are knitting, sewing or
contributing these goods. Knitted goods , especially mitts are
in great demand. Writing items are all sent in special
schoolpacks. Towels in good condition are also needed. If
you would like to help with this work, please call Jean
Thorburn ( North Kirk ) on 01968 672022
Debbie Hall
CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES
Thank you to all who contributed to the shoebox appeal, to
make up boxes with toys, sweets and toiletries for needy
children. While most of us don’t know where our boxes go,
we were pleased to hear from our visitors from Kiev, that
they were able to distribute some of these boxes amongst
children at their church and school programmes. It was
lovely, in their overhead slides, to see the joy on the
children’s faces, opening their boxes, showing us how
worthwhile a project this is. Hopefully you will all continue
to fill boxes next year.
Bill Bruce
March ‘15
Sun 1st 11.15am
Service Worship Themes
Readings
Lent with all our Heart, Soul, Mind &
Strength:
At the beginning of Lent let’s get behind the
Deut 1: 19Trypraying project – not so much do you know
33
of this booklet but have you gone into enemy
territory and used this booklet
- incl
Communion
Going through 2 Corinthians:
Sun 1st –
7pm
Sun 8th 11.15am
Sun 8th
Consistency is key to Paul’s non-defence of
his ministry in Corinth – called to a warts-&all honest lifestyle.
2 Cor 1:
1-14
Lent with all our Heart, Soul, Mind &
Strength:
Acts 24:
Britain is now fully into pre-election mode –
1-21
politics assails us every day. Paul as well has
to deal with the politics of the ancient world
but stay fully focused on the real issues – it’s
easy to lose focus.
Lent with all our Heart, Soul, Mind &
Strength: God intercedes for those who
intercede for Him
Acts 25:
13-27
– 3pm
Sun 8th 7pm
15th 11.15am
15th - 7pm
Worship Service
Lent with all our Heart, Soul, Mind &
Strength: Paul has been beaten, jailed
wholly rejected and is going to be martyred
but still simply goes into a situation to lay-on Acts 28:
hands and seek to heal in Jesus name. Don’t 1-10
over-complicate it – copy it. (Mother’s Day)
Healing Service
March 22nd 11.15am
Lent with all our Heart, Soul, Mind &
Strength:
Luke 6:
A service with a Barnabus Fund focus –
17-26
whither Syria specifically or the Middle East
generally, the call to bear one another’s
burdens remains, as Luke 6 shows clearly.
Going through 2 Corinthians:
22nd
–7pm
‘Let your yes be yes and your no be no’.
Respectful, plain, straight talking is what
Paul asks of us then and now.
2 Cor 1:
1-22
Easter Week
with all our Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength:
Palm Sun 29 March–Easter Sun 5 April
Palm Sunday – an All-Age Family Service –
remembering a most spontaneous of
celebrations (Note - British Summer times
begins today Aghh – we ‘lose’ an hour!)
Luke 19:
28-40
29th – 7pm
Palm Sunday Service – St Mungo’s
-
30th - 7pm
Holy Week Monday - Penicuik South
31st - 7pm
Holy Week Tuesday - Penicuik North
29th 11.15am
April 2015
1st - 7pm
Holy Week Wednesday - Sacred Heart
2nd - 8pm
Maundy Thursday – St James The Less
3rd - 7pm
Good Friday – Penicuik South –
Luke 23:
23-46
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP
Sun 5th8.00am
Penicuik South: Come and remember His
death and resurrection
incl Communion
Luke 24:
36-49
Sun 5th
9.30am
Howgate: Come celebrate the key event in
world history and worship your Saviour
Luke 24:
1-12
Sun 5th
11.15am
Penicuik South: Luke starts his gospel
addressing doubts and finishes the same
Luke 24:
1-12
Sun 5th
3.00pm
Penicuik South: A service of sung worship
with address and communion
Luke 24:
13-35
Sun 5th
7.30pm
Usher hall - Origin Easter Resurrection 2015
– (free – with an offering for event costs)
-
News from Maurice and his daughters.
Here is my dramatic news, I had a severe stroke on Tuesday evening
the tenth of February 2015.
I was watching an episode of CSI when about 11:30pm I noticed that
the vision in my right eye was impaired. My memory and
functionality then started to do strange things.
I can remember being close to the TV aerial and it seems I switched
the TV off at the wall.
I can remember seeing the contents of the coffee table being strewn
over the carpet.
I saw that the coffee table was broken , but no recollection of falling
on it.
I can remember trying to sit on the settee but not able to manage it
and just falling over, how may times I do not know.
I can remember getting to the bedroom, how I do not know.
I can remember lying on my hands and knees at the foot of the bed
and Mary starting to panic, she did not know anything until that point.
Somehow I got into bed with my trousers off, don't ask me how.
I was transported to the ERI by the paramedics where everything
becomes very very vague.
I had various tests, of which the only thing I can vaguely remember is
a CT scan.
During that time I was administered with a drug called Thrombolysis,
which has to be given within 4hours of the stroke, just made it by 30
minutes.
I am eternally grateful to everyone for being there for me. The doctor
who administered the drug came to seem me afterwards and said it
meant so much to him to see the positive results. Apparently only
about 1 in 8 are admitted and treated in the time period and not all of
those are successful. The one thing I can say about the drug is that it
preserved my life.
I should have been discharged on the Friday but there was a doubt
with my heart, which turned out to be old damage. I was eventually
discharged on Tuesday with full mobility and mental health and no
follow up treatment other than my local GP. Now it's rest and
recuperation and build up my confidence.
All thing being taken in, I am blessed to be still in 'functional health',
and am thankful for the support and prayers of my family and friends,
both social and the church. I am doubly indebted to the medical staff
for their care and attention. I was tended to by a league of nations
and bless all the Staff, of whom many were immigrants.
Maurice Dower.
Written by daughter Susie 11/02/15
Today, I am a thankful daughter. Thankful to our mum who realised
something wasn't right and called the doctor. Thankful to the
Paramedic crew who worked tirelessly to save a man's life. Thankful
to the on - call Consultant who answered the phone at 2am and made
a decision to still administer the wonder drug which was fast
approaching it's chance to work . Thankful to the Docs and Nursing
Staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for caring. Thankful that our Dad
is still alive after suffering a monumental stroke and cos of reasons
above has been so far left with little after effects. Lastly thankful for
my wonderful hubby, brother, sister and mum without whom I would
have really struggled to cope today. Yes - today I am thankful oh and
just a little tired & emotional xx
Written by daughter Elaine. 12/02/15
Stroke, what stroke?! Honestly, if you saw my dad now you would
not even believe that he even had a mini stroke, let alone a
monumental one which almost cost him his life. Thank you to the
staff at RIE for acting so quickly on my dad and administering the
wonder drug that has not only saved his life but pretty much
eradicated any side effects that usually come about with a stroke. Am
sure once we get him home, he will be back to the grumpy old man
we all know and love!!
WHAT’S ON IN MARCH.
Fri. 6th
World day of Prayer
7.30pm South Church
Sun. 22nd Thank Offering Day
Mon. 23rd South church AGM
7pm in West Street Hall
THANK OFFERING DAY Sunday 22nd March
The purpose of Thank Offering is to thank God for our blessings as a
fellowship, by blessing the community or other Christian projects.
Usually we divide the Thank Offering into 1/3 for a local project and
2/3 for worldwide charities. This year 1/3 of Thank Offering will go
to Penicuik YM, which is having financial difficulties to continue it’s
work in the community, and 2/3 will go to charities working with
persecuted Christians in Syria. You will get an envelope with Scope
to put your offering in, or you can pick up an envelope in church, if
you get Scope on line. If you are a tax payer, please fill in your
church Gift Aid number or your name and address, so that we can
increase your giving with Gift Aid.
SONGS FROM THE PAST
Thank you to the older members of the congregation, who
have thought long and hard to remember the choir members
, who led the Songs of Praise service at South church in 1969.
The names we have so far are : Ina Workman, Ella
Rutherford, Chris and Douglas Edie, Margaret Bennington,
Phyllis and Bob Wilson, William and Effie Lunn, Fred Watson,
Florence McNab and Rosemary ? Perhaps you can remember
some more ?
Mary Darling
Contact us ;
Minister ;
Rev Ian Cathcart.
01968 674692
reviac@yahoo.co.uk
Assistant;
Minister
Rev. Fred Harrison.
revfred@hotmail.co.uk
Session Clerk;
Rosie Townsley
01968 679103
r.townsley565@btinternet.com
Scope;
Mary Darling.
01968 660585
marydarling354@btinternet.com
01875 820908
and Lindsay Swan.
01968 661887
swanfamily@btinternet.com
House Group ; Ash Wood
01968 380450
ashleywood1@live.co.uk
and Kathleen Downey. 01968 672153
kathleen.downey@btinternet.com
Pastoral Care; Wilma Wilson.
07719 665 505
Safeguarding
Officer;
01968 675115
Jackie Ringan
THIS MAY 7TH
Scope. Penicuik South Church, www.penicuiksouthchurch.org.uk
Scottish Charity SCO11871.