WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY……

31 children (including Megan Kiln, Katy Walker, Finlay Maclauclan, Fergus Wilson and Iona Wilson) from across the Highlands, 10 leaders (including Chris and Elaine Watt and Andrew and Eilidh Wilson) from across Scotland and 3 cooks (including Christine Grant and Fiona Maclauchlan), from all walks of life, all together for five days during the Easter holidays at a wonderful place run by Scripture Union called Alltnacriche. Five days, having a wonderful holiday doing all sorts of different activities from crafts and games to crate climbing and at the same time being part of a Christian family learning more and more about Jesus……WHAT A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!!!
Elaine and Chris

Hilton Primary School Easter Service

Wow....it was amazing. The church was absolutely packed. The parents/grand parents etc of all the children started arriving at 12.45 for a 1.30pm start, and they just kept coming. At one point the queue to get in was half way up the path. We had to wait until all the kids were there first before we could start adding more chairs.

All the classes had a wee something to do during the service, there were a few poems, some songs and my favourite a class full of penny whistles....it was great. My talk was based on Jesus' story. For the past five assemblies since Christmas I have been focusing on Jesus... birth of Jesus, Jesus finding his disciples, Jesus doing miracles and then Jesus dying on the cross. At the service I focussed mainly on the fact that Jesus' story, like most stories, has a beginning a middle and an end. Although Jesus dying on the cross was not the end for three days later a new story begun, a story that even today continues and will continue forever 'cause Jesus' love for us never stops.

At the end of the service I was presented was a massive easter egg and a gift token, which I was very chuffed with. I really enjoy working in Hilton Primary School and working alongside all the children and teachers. Long may that story continue........

A BRIGHT FUTURE!

We had a very good AGM last night. Our new Treasurer, Scott Jeffrey gave a very detailed picture of the congregation's financial position. As a Church, we have high aspirations for what we would like to do in the coming year. Our plans involve considerable expenditure, and we will need to raise our income significantly in order "to keep our head above water." I am of the view that this challenging financial position is a gift to us as a church, as I believe it will test us, as to what we really want to see happening in our church and community. I think it will also gives us a fresh opportunity to see God in action.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4 v19)

One thing we haven't cracked as a congregation, is generating a greater level of interest in the AGM. We changed the AGM to a considerable extent this year. We shared in some times of extended worship and prayer as part of the meeting in order to affirm that this gathering was not simply a business meeting. We also had special times of prayer during the day. However, if you took the members of the Board & Kirk Session out of the equation, we had more in the band leading our worship than members of the congregation! Perhaps members are just happy to leave all the matters relating to finance and property to those who are considered to have the expertise in this area, and to get on with their own sphere of ministry within the church. I don't think we are alone in having a sparse attendance at these kinds of meetings.

The AGM was also encouraging in that we had a number of younger members of our congregation joining the Board. We really are thankful to God for all the many people who serve the congregation offering their gifts in administration, property and finance. The future may not be orange, but I do believe it is bright!
DMacP

Impact Cafe

Hello! Gwen Barlow here with news of last Sunday evening’s Impact Café which was just great! The team transformed the church sanctuary into the usual relaxed Impact Café style atmosphere. Our usual team of young (and some very young) helpers set about offering high quality waiter/waitress service to add to the “Starbucks style” evening. Background music courtesy of Scott and Heather’s band started about 6.20pm and gave time for people to relax and enjoy the refreshments including the now famous Impact Café “hot chocolate with everything”. Folks simply chatted.. I was in the kitchen but I could certainly here a lot of chat going on!


Chris Watt then got onto the theme of the evening with a quiz type competition and some multimedia which really aimed to knock the ‘stuffing’ out of the Easter bunny story! I even think that even Easter eggs came in for a good bashing as the team set about conveying the TRUE meaning of Easter with a vengeance that had to be seen to be believed! Of course, all done with the usual laughter over-laying that serious concern that we have for the Truth.


Scott McRoberts then stood up and gave a moving testimony and it was great to hear how the resurrection of Jesus, as told in the Gospels, has so inspired his life. The room was buzzing with young and old folk alike which, for me, makes Impact Café such a joy.


As one of the founders of this ‘event’, I have to say that it is good to see the vision being captured. The Gospel is meant to engage us and clearly the café style approach provides a warm and non-threatening environment where people are comfortable to ask questions and get answers. I just hope that more of our congregation will ask their friends along, especially those people who may not usually attend church but are spiritually seeking.

For more details on what Impact Café is all about, please take a look at the Impact Café section of the Hilton web-site.
Gwen

EARLY MORNING PRAYERS

"....prayer produces such a change in us as renders it consistent for God to do as it would not be consistent for Him to do otherwise." Charles Finney.

Encouraging words about what God can do in our lives through prayer.

The first time of group prayer took place in the church between 7 and 8am with five of us present. The hour went past really fast, as we prayed in particular for the work of the Congregational Board, the Stated Anual Meeting tonight and the plans for the re-development of the former manse next door to the church. We have big challenges ahead as a Church, but then again, we serve a BIG God! The prayers were marked by a sense of thanksgiving for God's presence and power in our lives, and a desire to see more of Him in our community and church.

Five is hardly an overwheming level of attendance, which provokes me to ask the question:

what styles of prayer are most likely to be helpful in the corporate life of our church, and what can we do to enhance the depth and effectiveness of these? Prayer events are more often than not pretty sparsely attended. What can we do to grow the corporate prayer life of our fellowship?

A DEPENDENT CHURCH

I have recently been reading Intelligent Church by Steve Chalke. How does a Church respond intelligently and biblically to our 21st century culture? The chapter I am currently reading asks, "does prayer make any difference?"

Chalke quotes, E.M. Bounds, a Christian writer of a former era in affirming that prayer really makes a difference.

God has of his own motion placed himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby he will do things through men as they pray, which he would not otherwise do. If prayer puts God to work on earth, then by the same token, prayerlessness rules God out of the world's affairs, and prevents him from working. The driving power, the conquering force in God's cause is God himself."Call on me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not," is God's challenge to prayer. Prayer puts God in full force into God's work.

The language is archaic, but I think it reflects succinctly the biblical witness, that prayer makes a difference and significantly influences the outcome of events.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a special day of prayer for Hilton Church. There are designated times of prayer in the church at 7am, 12.30pm and from 8pm as part of our Stated Anual Meeting. These words by E.M. Bounds will be in my mind when I head to the church much earlier than usual tomorrow morning. Whether you make it to these times of prayer or not, I would encourage you to spend a little time praying for Hilton Church and its life and witness.

Pray that we will be an Intelligent Church, responding creatively and positively to our culture? Pray that we will be a dependent church, one which demonstrates and develops a sense of its dependence on God.
DMacP

Toddlers Today

Church was busy today with mothers and toddlers. It is great to see the building full of life and hear all the sounds of youth.

HABLO ESPANOL?

After a significant gap period, I am back into learning Spanish. I am spending a few weeks at the moment going back over the course Espana Viva which I did in 2005. I mentioned my desire to speak Spanish fluently in a recent sermon and was overwhelmed with the offers of encouragement, support and advice. When I finish Espana Viva again, I intend to follow some of the advice I was given.

The desire to speak Spanish all began in 2004, when I visited Peru, and in particular went there to see the work of The Vine Trust. This led to a team of 33 from Hilton Church going to Peru in October 2005 to do some construction work at 2 Street Boy Homes. This was an amazing experience for all who took part. Since then, the interest of the Church in the work of the Vine Trust has deepened. A number of the Doctors in our Church are now committed to the medical work which the Trust are doing on the Amazon River and another workparty is heading out to Peru for some more construction work in October. I was back in Peru with the Vine Trust in January and was amazed to see how much progress had been made in the 15 months since my last visit. But my Spanish was still elementary to say the least!!

The pictures linked to this post are of Kusi, a village being built for Street Boys high up in the Andes. The money raised by our workparty in 2005 was used to build the school. A small church like Hilton reallly can make a difference in the world for good. There are now 20 former street boys living in the village and that number will slowly rise to 40.

I am sure there will be quite a number of posts about the Vine Trust over the coming months. If you are interested in a life changing experience, up Andean Mountains and down Amazon Rivers this October, helping the Street Boys of Peru, it is not too late to book. Just contact the Vine Trust for more details. The bigger the team, the more we can do to help the plight of these boys. Adios!

DMacP

THE FLAME BURNS BRIGHT!

For the last year, I have been part of a committee of Inverness Presbytery which seeks to encourage Mission. Last night I turned up for the regular meeting at North Kessock in good time. By 7.35pm, my only companion was Rob Barlow who had come as an observor! The flame of mission is clearly burning bright at Inverness Presbytery! There was, however, a positive consequence of a zero attendance. Rob and I headed for Borders Bookshop and in particular Starbucks, where we were able to join the small group from Hilton Church meeting there to discuss The Life you always wanted. They have been meeting every Tuesday night during Lent for a relaxed chat about the chapters of the book they have been reading that week. Small Groups linked to the congregation meet at a variety of locations across the city every week. One hour later, after a warming coffee and a very stimulating discussion about whether we can ever really know if it is God who is guiding us, and I was feeling considerably more positive about life.

I have been struck by the number of people who I see at Starbucks Tuesday after Tuesday. The Coffee and the cakes are exceptionally expensive, but the atmosphere of the Cafe clearly attracts people back again and again. Atmosphere, I guess, is very important. At Hilton Church, we have made serious efforts to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. A volunteer team has recently re-painted the interior of the church, and we have arranged the seating for worship services in a horseshoe shape. This Sunday night at 6.30pm we are running an Impact Cafe. It's not Starbucks, but it is a serious attempt to create a more dynamic and contemporary feel to our Church. Come along and see for yourself. We would value your involvement and feedback.
MacP

Blogs of Choice

I am delighted to see that Stuart MacQuarrie has set up this blog for Hilton Church. One year ago, blogging was something of a mystery to me. Now, as I scroll down my list of favourites I see a variety of blog sites which I read on a regular basis. One which I find particularly helpful and inspiring is Living Wittily. This records the thoughts and musings of Jim Gordon, who is the Principal of the Scottish Baptist College. Another very stimulating blog is Gadget Vicar. (alias David McCarthy, minister of St Silas Episcopal Church in Glasgow) He records many of the happenings at St Silas', a very lively church which Simon Varwell, a former Hiltonite, joined when he moved to Glasgow. As a matter of fact, my interest in blogs was ignited by news which filtered back back to Inverness from Glasgow, that Simon, in his effort to find a church in Glasgow began to give the various churches he visited a rating on his blog. His blog on the various churches makes very interesting reading. I was rather glad that his blog on churches wasn't operational until after he left Inverness! Then again, perhaps it would be a good idea to have a visitor writing a review of our congregation on a regular basis. I wonder what weaknesses they would highlight about our Sunday Services? In actual fact, every visitor who comes to our church is giving us a rating. Could we perhaps give a short questionaire to visitors from time to time to see if they can highlight issues which we need to reflect on? Happy blogging!
DMacP

Ceud Mìle Fàilte/Welcome

Welcome to Hilton Church Blog - a diary of our Church Family life.