THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOUR’S CHURCH

The following blog from Gadget Vicar (alias Rev Dave McCarthy of St Silas's Church, Glasgow) is a reminder that the matter of reflecting on the uses of ones church buildings and improving them is a continual process, or at least it should be! As well as being in the midst of major plans to re-develop the former manse next door to Hilton Church, the Congregational Board has also instructed a local architect to look at our main buildings with a view to making plans for future improvements. It will be interesting to see what ideas the architect comes up with. Andrew Wilson is co-ordinating this project for the Board, and in due course (probably after the summer) plans will be available to the congregation for comment.

"I was at a meeting this morning in a neighbouring church (Partick Trinity). Afterwards, the minister, Stuart Smith, kindlyoffered to show me their shiny new, pewless sanctuary. It's an impressive space with huge potential, and I have to say I felt a little covetous.
Which is ironic really, as St Silas' sanctuary as served as a model for many other churches in terms of re-ordering. It happened before my time (in 1991). On reflection, I'm sure a few things could have been done differently and a little bit better.
The carpet wore down and got stained through the usage pattern of the building. Ceilidhs and children (ages 0-80+!) spilling food/coffee have taken their toll. It was replaced about eighteen months ago. We now factor in the likelihood of having to replace the carpet every ten years or so.
A dais (or stage) was put in. I'm not sure it's the right height, size or shape.
Our chairs, while attractive enough, are wooden, heavy and don't stack terribly high. They also break easily, especially as they are constantly being lifted and stacked. Though more comfortable than pews, I don't think they are as comfortable as our friends' at Partick Trinity. My sense is that for compulsive chair shifters like me, their chairs there would be an easier proposition.
Maybe we ought to begin thinking about replacing our chairs too, given the way we are using the building? Maybe reordering is something to consider more regularly than once every one hundred years or so? I'm sure that suggestion will make me popular."

News from Denver

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to Keri Fishlock, who was going to spend some time studying at a YWAM base in Denver, Colorado. Here are some excerpts from an email which has just come in.

So I've been here for almost 4 weeks now and I'm starting to settle into life at the YWAM base. The leadership course I'm doing has 13 people in it, mostly Americans but a couple of brits and a Korean and a pole. It's about half guys and half girls.

The base is about 30 mins from the centre of Denver. It's quite nice, we've got a volley ball court and a lake. The weather is pretty mixed up, we have had some really hot days and some snowy days too. I'm sharing a dorm with seven other guys, it is cosy but quite good fun. I played early morning football this morning, we have to leave at 6.45 in the morning.

Most days we have lectures in the morning and then work duties in the afternoon. I am working in the kitchen which I enjoy, today I fried a lot of chicken. I feel a bit like a monk being here, we have a prayer time every morning and worship three times a week. It is nice to take some time out of normal life. We have a different lecturer each week with subjects so far including public speaking, biblical counselling and peace under pressure. The lectures have been good and have been challenging.

One of the highlights so far was an evening we spent hanging out with homeless people in a park downtown. We gave them some hot drinks and food, I spent ages chatting to these twins called Brian and Ryan. They were good guys so hopefully I will see them again. We also went to a care home for the mentally ill. There was one guy in particular who was really funny, he had accidently shot himself in the head whilst cleaning his gun and he was a real character. This weekend I think we are sleeping in cardboard boxes as part of an event to raise awareness for child soldiers in Uganda. I got to go snowboarding at Vail last weekend which was pretty cool.

I am hoping that some kind of opportunity will open up in Denver once the course is over. Possibilities would be finding a job out here or staying on to do work with YWAM.

God bless and love from,

Keri

Eco Congregations

The Bible tells us that “the earth is the Lord’s” which surely must mean that a significant part of our worship must be aimed at looking after the created order. This is something the congregation is beginning to look at more closely with the help of eco congregation Scotland www.ecocongregation.org/scotland , a project which is a partnership between Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. In the coming months we will be doing a church check up as an aid to identifying the church’s current environmental practice and developing priorities for action. The item will be discussed at our next Leadership Team meeting (Kirk Session), and afterwards we hope to establish a small team to help the congregation to respond to this vital issue.

Churches Together

Over the past few years, Hilton Church has enjoyed a growing friendship with Holm Church, which is becoming known as CCC across Inverness. They have recently opened a fabulous new church centre which is doing great things in the fast growing communities of Culduthel and Slackbuie. This Sunday, their pastor, Max Donald is coming to preach at Hilton, and Duncan will be preaching at CCC. On Sunday, 27th May, we are going to share in a joint service at CCC when Karen Hutchison's team from NGM visit Inverness. More about this in a future blog. We also have Iain Jamieson, a member of the youth group at CCC joining us on our workparty to Peru in October.

The growing links across all the churches in Inverness are to be celebrated and is a powerful testimony to our unity in Christ. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4,

"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly." (The Message)

DM

THE BLUE BOOK

Yesterday, "The Blue Book" was squashed through my letter box. This Book which not surprisingly is blue in colour contains all the reports from the various Boards of the Church, which will be presented and debated at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which takes place in Edinburgh from 19th to 25th May.

About every four years, the minister and an elder from each congregation in Scotland attends the Assembly. You can even go to a Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace, if that is your sort of thing!

I haven't had time to read any of the Reports yet, but already it is becoming apparent that a Report by a Worship and Doctrine Task Group on human sexuality is likely to attract the most attention. The minister presenting this report will be Rev Dr Peter Donald, Minister of Crown Church, Inverness.

While the above report will probably get most of the attention, there will be many other fascinating reports on a whole variety of topics including Pastoral Care, Discipleship, Mission and Worship. You can read the reports for yourself as soon as they are released to the media on www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly During the Assembly it also possible to follow the debates via live streaming on this web page. I encourage you to take a look at the website, as it will give you a better idea of where Hilton Church fits into the bigger picture of the Church of Scotland.

DM

A LETTER FROM AMERICA

News has just reached our ears, that our very own Richard Gibbons will soon be leaving us for an exciting new challenge in South Carolina. Richard is an outstanding preacher and we have been blessed in many ways by his involvement within Hilton Church.
We'll let Richard tell you all about it himself. Prepare to be impressed when you read the link from First Presbyterian Church in Greenville's website announcing Richard's appointment!

Dear All
Warm greetings and I trust that u are well and not too busy.
This past Sunday, the 22nd April, the congregation at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, voted to call me as their tenth Senior Pastor and head of staff. The Foothills Presbytery’s Examination Commission, having examined me on the previous Thursday, invited me back for a full examination from the floor of Presbytery on Sunday afternoon and then ratified the congregation’s vote. I have been chatting to the congregation since Christmas and consider it an enormous privilege to be called of God to serve this congregation. If all goes according to plan, including immigration issues, we hope to move in mid to late August, taking up my new responsibilities in early September. For more information on the congregation see http://www.firstpresgreenville.org/
These last few months have been an incredibly exciting period for us as a family as we have wrestled with a number of issues relating to a change of this magnitude and I wanted to thank so many of you for your prayers.
With warmest Christian greetings
Richard

We will be remembering Richard along with Ruth and Michael in our prayers as they make plans for such a major change in their lives

D MacP

WITH LOVE FROM LESOTHO

Robyn Hammond, a member of Hilton Church and a teacher, moved to Lesotho last summer to work in a local school. It has been both wonderful and humbling to read of her experiences during her time there. In all the hardship of African life, there is an awareness of God that we know too little of in our own comfortable culture. Robyn has recently formally adopted a little girl called Palesa, and what follows is a short extract from a recent e-mail:

"Life is good with me, and Palesa has enriched my life to an amazing extent. God has truly blessed me! I am lucky to have strong Christian support from the friends I have here - a man who is a grandfather of nine and a father of four, and a family who work with me. They keep me right and are a great source of advice! When I think of how long I have waited to come to Africa, I see now how God's timing is perfect. Any earlier and I might not have been ready to adopt and it certainly would not have been Palesa. I also would not have met the people that I have met, who have been greatly influencial to me.
Life here is very slow - nothing is achieved quickly and so hours are taken up doing something that would take 30 minutes at home. I thank God daily for the blessings that are only mine through place of birth - so many here are sick and poor. There is such need here, and it is difficult to focus on any one thing.
I try to go to the orphanage once a week now - Palesa does not really like going back and so I usually leave her with someone, but I feel God is still calling me to be involved and find something practical to do to help. I have had offers of money from home, and am praying that we will use the money wisely for the benefit of the children that are still there. My evenings are usually spent playing games (my sister came to visit and brought Rummikub) with my neighbours - it is not safe to go out after dark and there is no-where to go anyway! Besides, I know have babysitting duties that are new to me!
Palesa is doing fine - she has suffered from malnutrition and has an inflamed liver and a HUGE tummy because of her poor diet, but the doctor tells me that her liver function is fine and her tummy will go away eventually with good diet and as she grows. Her muscle definition is poor due to a lack of protein, so the lucky girl is getting plenty of cheese, yoghurt and red meat, all of which she loves!
Better go - the bell has gone.
Love to all and thanks for your mail
Robyn "

D MacP

Baby news from Nepal

Well, James Alexander Macdonald is obviously a young man in a hurry! Not content with his section date being brought forward by a day, he decided that he really needed to make his grand entrance on Friday night!
Rachel was a bit worried yesterday afternoon as the baby, who had been very active throughout the pregnancy, hadn’t been moving very much. After a bit of umming and aahing (and attending a children’s birthday party!), we eventually decided that we should come in to Kathmandu at about 5pm, just to be on the safe side. It was a difficult journey- we were stuck in a traffic jam for 40 minutes, and only escaped by coming cross- country!
As soon as the consultant saw us, she said we were going straight down to theatre, as the baby was a bit distressed. So at 9.30pm last night, we were blessed with a 3.03kg (6lb 10oz) baby boy- a fairly respectable size for a 37 week baby. However, although he cried initially, he subsequently had a little bit of trouble breathing, so as a precaution he has been on oxygen and IV fluids in the nursery since then. Its been a bit frustrating, as we haven’t really been able to hold him (Murdo briefly held him en route between theatre and the nursery)- and it doesn’t look as though we’ll be able to until tomorrow (Sunday). He’s doing fine now, and is in fact off the oxygen, so there doesn’t seem to be too much to worry about
Rachel is doing OK- sore, and has had a little bit of bleeding, but more comfortable than she was after the previous section (even though the prescribed pain relief she's on amounts to 1 tablet of paracetamol every 4 hours…!). Esther is very exited about having a new baby brother- and very chuffed that her choice of name has been used! We expect to be in hospital till Tuesday, and will then be staying with Michael and Maureen for a few days. Our mobile number is 00977 9803 155 115 (and we’re GMT + 4.75 at the moment!)
Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes; photo of the star of the show ought to be attached!

Murdo, Rachel and Esther

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

Hilton Church has a long association with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Another meeting of Volunteers and Friends of MAF are invited to the Small Hall on Wednesday, 2nd May 2007 at 7.00pm. An open invitation is extended to all who would like to learn more of the vital work MAF does throughout the world. Jean Green would be happy to receive the contents of MAF boxes on Sunday 29th April at church. Jean would like to thank all those with an interested in this important ministry for their continued support.

How great is our God!

These words echoed again and again round the walls of our church santctuary as about 25 of us gathered today (Saturday 21 April) in church for a worship leaders training workshop. Capably led by Ben Sealey and Graham Dalton from the Worship Academy in Cheshire our day was spent in two parts: looking again at what qualities are needed to lead worship and a practical session where each of our four worship teams were critiqued by Ben and Graham.

Among the qualities that were highlighted as necessary for leading worship were
-to have a pure heart,
-to be a servant and at the same time have leadership skills, and
-being able to lead our congregations into the presence of God.

Most of us, if not all of us, had our comfort zones firmly challenged in the practical sessions. Ben encouraged us not to rush on from one song into the next one, but instead to leave space in each song and in between songs too for more intimate times of worship, for example where we might continue to play music, and then go back to sing some more of the same song. If you are reading this thinking "aye right! That is just a worship leader's "trip" " let me assure that was my first reaction too. It is not particularly comfortable being asked to sing "al fresco" without words or script. It's just not what we are used to, is it? And yet, in Hilton we have moved a long way from the traditional "hymn sandwich" so favoured in the Church of Scotland. Then, as each group took their turn to lead three songs that brought us into the heart of worship, we all experienced the blessing of taking our time, and not rushing away, linking the songs by a few chords, or "unscripted" singing.

Our day concluded with a mega worship time; "mega" because as we all played and sang together as one group, when God visited us with His power and His glory as we started to put into practice some of the things we had spoken of earlier in the day.

For a long time I have sensed that in our church we are just on the edge of something really special in our times of public worship; on the edge, in the sense that we are seeing just a glimpse of what Glory will be like, but also that, for now, whilst we are here, we are only experiencing a fraction of what our God wants to do in our times of worship. I suppose you would call it prophetic that Ben and Graham, both complete strangers came among us today, and showed us some things about ourselves that need changing. They also pin pointed lots of things we do well. But most of all, they emphasised that we are unique. It is not God's plan for us that we emulate a particular style of music and singing found in another "brand" of church (e.g. Hillsongs) but rather we are unique and it is for us to discover where God is leading us, together.

A few hours after this event I wonder how God is going to move amongst us next? I do not expect dramatic changes immediately, but we are told in so many places in the Psalms to "sing a new song"

Psalm 96. 1 " Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. "

I am left with a profound sense that God desires to do new things with us in our time of worship together. Singing new words is nothing particularly new for our church. But are we ready to sing a new song? Are we waiting expectantly for what God is going to do in us and through us? I also cannot overlook that there must be very good reasons why our church life is blessed by having four capable groups of musicians who lead our worship times. Raised hands in Hilton church! What are things coming to? And yet is it so much more that than that.
We experienced just a a little of God's presence with us today. I am excited as I ponder what lies ahead for us.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!" Revelation 5. 13



Murray McCheyne

PERU 2007

Last night we had our first team meeting for the Inverness Peru Workparty 2007. To date there are 34 team members ranging in age from 15 to 70 who will go out to Peru for 2 weeks from 5th October to help in the construction of accommodation for street children. Calum Munro, the Workparty Leader for the Vine Trust travelled up from Port Seton to help us in our planning and discussions. If you would like to join the workparty, there is still time to sign up.

In 3 weeks time, there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Paul Clark in Inverness. He is the Director of SU Peru and pioneered the Street Childrens work which our team will be sharing in during their visit in October. Paul will be speaking at Culduthel Christian Centre at 7.30pm on Saturday, 12th May. He is a remarkable speaker with an extraordinary story. An evening not to be missed!

Rev Canon Dr Philip Noble

As Presbyterians, we don't have bishops in our churches, at least not any official ones! We do, however, have a significant number of people within our congregation at Hilton from Anglican and Episcopalian backgrounds.
Tomorrow is a very significant day for Dorcas MacPhee and Peter's Noble's father, Philip, as along with three other candidates, he is being interviewed for the post of Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney.

The Candidates:
·The Very Rev Canon Dr Robert Gillies, Rector of St Andrew’s Church, St Andrews; Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth and Dean of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane
·The Rev Canon Timothy Morris, Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Edinburgh; Priest in Charge of St Salvador’s Church, Edinburgh and Honorary Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh
·The Rev Canon Dr Emsley Nimmo, Rector of St Margaret’s, Aberdeen and Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen
·The Rev Canon Dr Philip Noble, Rector of St Ninian’s, Prestwick and Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow

At Hilton, we would love to see the day when we could invite Bishop Philip Noble to come and preach! We do however believe in a God who knows the best path for all of us, and we pray that the Electoral Synod will be given godly wisdom to make the right choice among the 4 candidates.

L’ARCHE, INVERNESS.

One very welcome development at Hilton over the past couple of years has been the regular involvement of staff and residents of the L’Arche community in Sunday worship.

The L’Arche Community Inverness recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of building community with people with learning difficulties in the Highlands. Shona MacBryer, one of our members serves on the local committee.

The 28th April is a special day for L’Arche Inverness as it marks the official opening of their new Workshops Resource Centre. The proceedings will commence at 10.30am with the official opening declaration, to be given by David Sutherland CBE. There will then be an opportunity to see their wonderful new facilities. Visitors can also participate in a variety of activities such as candle making and woodcraft.

The Miracle of New Life

The news has just reached our ears that Gavin William Thomson arrived safely into the world at 2.45pm this afternoon weighing in at 9 pounds and 4 ounces. A son for Aileen and Geordo, a sister for Helen and a first grandson for Bill and Margaret. We are delighted to hear the good news and share in the Thomson family's joy today.

A place of work or a space to reflect?

One challenge which is never far away is that of striving for a good work/life balance. Congregational life often has the potential for making life even more pressurised. This is something we have sought to counter at Hilton Church, by encouraging our congregation to think about our work as one of the most significant dimensions of our worship and our Christian witness. What we do in the workplace really matters to God. Some time ago, two lawyers in our congregation, Murray McCheyne and Rod MacLean put this issue in the spotlight by running a course during our Sunday evening services called Christian Life and Work.

Murray and Rod have now taken their interest in this issue to a new level by entering into a legal partnership along with another colleague. They will be working as Murchison Law. They hope that the new website will be up and running from early May. We wish them well in their new business venture together.

Dot Walker

The verse at the top of our blog likens the Christian Church to a body with many parts. The same passage in Corinthians also describes some of the many gifts within the Body. At different times in the future, we would like to highlight some of the gifts within the fellowship at Hilton.

Dot Walker recently led a workparty which painted the interior of the Church. Dot's skills, however, go well beyond interior decorating. She is a very accomplished artist, and on Friday, 4th May, an exhibition of her new oil paintings begins at Tore art gallery. The preview takes place from 7pm and includes wine and music! Dot's work is also to be seen at Hilton Church on either side of the new screens.

EASTER FRENZY

EASTER FRIDAY

Easter Friday was a special day in the church. In the afternoon Fiona Butler married Scott. For the last two years, Fiona has been the co-ordinator for Youth Inclusive, a dynamic outreach project for young people in the Hilton area. The band from the local Pentecostal Church played for the service, and one of their pastors Sheila MacLauglin did the address to the newly married couple. It was a truly joyful occasion with many of the young people who Fiona has worked with sharing in the Service. Fiona has now moved on from her post as co-ordinator of the Youth Inclusive Project, and we wish her well in her new life together with Scott. Our very own Brian Irvine, is the new co-ordinator, and we will write more about this in a future post.

It was back to the Church at 7.30pm for our Good Friday Service. During our Service we thought together about the way that Jesus confronted the suffering of the Cross with silence. In the words of John Swinton,

“The silence of Jesus is a statement that God not only empathises with suffering 'from a distance', but also experiences it in all of its horror.”

The Service finished with communion. It is good to spend this evening each year, focussing on the reality of Jesus experiencing the darkness of the Cross, and sharing in our dark and difficult times.

"Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me." Psalm 23.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday wasn't a day for a long lie at Hilton Church. Some folk were up cooking bacon by 7am. Others were on the road to Loch Ness by 7.30am to prepare a camp fire. At 8.30am, there was a gathering of 100 on the beach at Dores to celebrate the resurection of Jesus Christ.

"Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again!"

What a beautiful setting for an Easter Celebration. It was cold, but unlike last year, there were no hailstones! We even had a few sunny spells.

The time of worship was led by one of our homegroups. With the waves crashing onto the shore behind us, it was sometimes hard to hear those leading the Service. Next year, perhaps we'll take a megaphone as well!After some prayers, some rousing singing and a short meditation, we all enjoyed hot drinks,bacon rolls, hot cross buns and even some easter eggs. We prepared for 100 and all the food was eaten. We started this service 6 years ago, and each year the number coming grows.

By 9.45am, it was time to head back to Hilton Church, so as to be there in good time for an all age worship service at 10.30am. I was struck this morning by how much our audio visual equipment has become an integral part of our worship services. We were able to show images of the early morning gathering at Dores as people were arriving at church, and during the service we had 2 presentations linked to the themes of resurrection and new life.

This afternoon some of us have been to Burnside Home in our Parish to lead an Easter Service, and at 6.30pm , there will be an Evening Service in the Church.

At a time when there often appears to be so much despondency in the churches across Scotland, it is a blessing to share in a vibrant fellowship with so many people who have a hunger to serve the Risen Christ in their life. Hallelujah! DMacP

POETRY OF THE PASSION

It is Easter Friday and below is a powerful poem, which I have extracted from Living Wittily, a blog which has become for me, a great source of spiritual sustenance over the past few months. Thank you, Jim Gordon.


“Morning glory, starlit sky”
W H Vanstone (1923-1999)


1. Morning glory, starlit sky,
soaring music, scholar’s truth,
flight of swallows, autumn leaves,
memory’s treasure, grace of youth:
.
2. Open are the gifts of God,
gifts of love to mind and sense;
hidden is love’s agony,
love’s endeavor, love’s expense.
.
3. Love that gives, gives ever more,
gives with zeal, with eager hands,
spares not, keeps not, all outpours,
ventures all its all expends.
.
4. Drained is love in making full,
bound in setting others free,
poor in making many rich,
weak in giving power to be.
.
5. Therefore he who shows us God
helpless hangs upon the tree;
and the nails and crown of thorns
tell of what God’s love must be.
.
6. Here is God: no monarch he,
throned in easy state to reign;
here is God, whose arms of love
aching, spent, the world sustain.

Tonight at 7.30pm, there is a Service in the Hilton Church. A time to quietly reflect on the momentous events related to Easter Friday.

Jesus who said that those who believed in him would never be thirsty, hangs on the Cross, and in the agony of his suffering he says, “I am thirsty.”

He has come to the place where everyone else is, so that he can do what only he can do.
DMacP

Make the Cross Count

INTERNATIONAL CHURCH on PALM SUNDAY

All age worship at Hilton Church was a very International affair on Sunday morning. During the Service, Kevin McPhee shared about the amazing welcome he received as a visitor to a very remote area of Papua New Guinea. Kevin and Dorcas, spent a year living in PNG and returned to Inverness in February. He encouraged us to think about the way that we welcome one another, and how we welcome Jesus into our lives.

On a day when we remembered Jesus of Nazereth entering Jerusalem, we also welcomed Fareed Shehadeh and his family to the church. Fareed is a Baptist Minister who lives in Haifa, but works in Nazareth. He is spending a week with Iain Macritchie learning about Chaplaincy at Raigmore Hospital. He brought us a word of encouragement. In Israel, at the end of the main course people are reminded “to keep the fork.” The fork is for the dessert, the sweet and tasty dish that is coming next. Palm Sunday, he told us, is about “keeping the fork”, looking forward to the great and sweet reality which Easter points to. KEEP THE FORK!

In our evening worship, we looked at the relationship between Christianity and Politics. CARE have produced an excellent dvd called Make the Cross Count, which encourages Christians to engage with the Scottish elections on 3rd May.

Jesus Rocks the World!

Colin Buchanan 29th March, Culduthel Christian Centre

I don’t know who was more excited before going to see Colin last Thursday night, Kevin and I, or our daughters Anya (4) and Cleo (2). We have been big fans for years and a one off gig in Inverness seemed too good to be true!

Colin has an amazing ministry; he has wonderful energy, great songs, humour and a real passion for Jesus and for sharing that with children.

There was a great turn out including many families from Hilton church. Some of the highlights were the bag of “deadly” inflatable animals, The Chooky and Her Chickies, two wombats, giant balls (which narrowly missed destroying CCCs lovely new stage-lights) and streamers.
After the concert we appreciated the time Colin took to chat and sign autographs with the kids (even the big ones). It was a great fun night.

If you missed it, we have heard that Colin will be back in the country in the summer and hopefully will come back to Inverness!? If you are interested, his web site may have more info on this, and is also the place to order his CD’s and DVD’s.

Dorcas McPhee

Farewell Keri

Keri Fishlock who has been worshipping at Hilton for a few years heads off to Denver in Colorado this weekend to start a 12 week leadership course with YWAM. This is actually the second time in the last 18 months that Keri has left us – in January 2006 he spent 6 months with Mercy Ships in Liberia and Ghana (see his blog here).

Keri has been an integral part of our home group during his time at Hilton so we held a farewell party at Angus & Rachel MacInneses on Wednesday evening to say goodbye. Theme was American food – cue burgers and chips and BBQ sauce!

Keri is a keen surfer but he’s going to struggle to find much surf in landlocked Denver. However he will be more than compensated by the company of his girlfriend Angie who lives in Denver.
Keri’s laid back approach will be much missed in our home group and by the teenagers in the church as he helped out with both Teenscene and Nitelife. Please remember him in prayer.

Rod & Jane MacLean

Curry Night

Friday night saw the 'boys' of Hilton tuck into some curry from Cinnamon Restaurant, Inverness. It was good to meet with old friends, become aquainted with new friends and at the same time tuck into a Tikka Masala. There must have been about 20 folks enjoying the evening together. This got me to thinking. With such a low attendance at the AGM earlier in the week, maybe the answer for next year is to have a curry night before the AGM....! Apologies for the dodgy photo but for all us dads with young 'uns, it is strange seeing the creche being used for a temporary restaurant!

Stuart MacQ