LIFE

Shona received a card this morning wishing her well for her trip to Peru, and on the front were the following words:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away."

These words gave me a real boost in terms of thoughts for Sunday morning worship. What are the moments in life which have taken your breath away?
DM

Compassion

On Sunday morning, we will be promoting the work of Compassion, a remarkable child sponsorship scheme which supports some 850,000 children in the developing world. I have just watched the main video clip for the day, and it is very moving and inspiring. A significant number of people in Hilton Church sponsor children and we hope that more will be inspired to do so after Sunday. As a family, we sponsor a girl called Angie who lives in Lima, Peru. Shona hopes to visit her at the end of the trip with the Vine Trust next month.
DM

The National Gathering

Church without Walls has been a significant shaping influence across the Church of Scotland during the past few years. Albert Bogle has posted the following blog which includes information about an exciting event planned for Ingleston Showground in May, 2008. Hopefully, this will be an event that we can key into at Hilton Church.
DM

Sunday Sermon

I've been trying to work on a sermon for tomorrow morning, and the following cartoon made me laugh!

Compassion

Here is a story from todays update from compassion which underlines the positive work they do.
DM

The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus

The Other Side of Air

This looks like a really interesting project. It would be good , if one or two of our more artistic folk were able to get along to the launch.

DM

Dad's Trip

Last weekend 32 dads & uncles, joined by their 52 children braved a weekend of camping at Badaguish, near Aviemore. Surrounded by the beautiful scots pine forest at the feet of the Cairngorms, we had a great time with lots of laughs and fun together. It was good to make new friends and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Kev

ALL ONE IN CHRIST

I wasn't leading or preaching this morning, so I had a little more time than normal to take in what was going on. I arrived early (circa 9.15am) and noticed that the old manse hedge (which has grown a bit unruly!) had been cut back. Thanks Murray for doing this. Kevin McPhee was already there getting organised for leading worship, and our church officer Mike Robertson was sorting out chairs, heating and various other important practical matters. Norma Fraser was working on the hospitality for after the service, and the welcome team arrived soon after.

Chris was in the sound desk preparing the multi media equipment and Morag Macritchie was in the large hall preparing for Sunday club. So many different people, most of them not mentioned here, working hard to get everything ready for worship at 10.30am. Today, one of our elders, David Whillis led the service based around the theme of Love from 1 Corinthians 13. A familiar passage, but one which spoke with fresh power to us, as David underlined the importance of not losing sight of our basic calling to love, as Jesus loved. Hopefully, the sermon will be on our website to listen to later this week. I came away from this morning, challenged by the message and encouraged by the sense of so many people sharing and serving together at Hilton. I count it a privilege to be part of all that is going on.
Duncan

Women’s retreat, September 14th and 15th

For 22 hours, some of the women of Hilton had a relaxing, refreshing time at Fairburn Centre. The food and home baking were lovely and everyone enjoyed having time to get to know each other better. We were a very mixed group of different ages, plus some who had been around Hilton a long time and others who were very new. Sheila MacLeod gave us food for thought. We sang and had readings. On the Saturday afternoon some of us learned archery, others played golf and more had a relaxation class. It all passed too quickly.

Ingrid

Second go at Life

The Bible says that Christians should build their house on rock, not on sand, but has nothing to say about building it in virtual reality. Taking that as a sign they should not be afraid to venture out there, Church leaders in Britain have bought an island in the virtual world of Second Life.
With the slogan 'Have a second go at life', the Churches' Advertising Network is encouraging young people and others with no experience of Christianity to sign up to Second Life and visit the island. READ MORE

DM

Radical Islam

Second Service Update

The team responsible for the new service at Hilton Church beginning at 11.30am on 28th October met last night to pray and to talk more about plans. The whole evening was very dynamic with many ideas being discussed and prayed about. We sense a hunger for a very simple style of worship together with the opportunity to experiment with a variety of different formats.

A team of three will be responsible for planning each week, and we hope it will provide a supportive enviroment, encouraging new faces to be involved in the services. We have planned in such a way that everything can proceed without the involvement of people currently attending the service at 10.30am. However, if the possibility of being involved in such an exciting new initiative appeals to you, we would be very happy to have you involved.

DM

Emergent Kiwi provokes again

Fantastic ideas for worship are coming thick and fast from Steve Taylor. I hope the posts from New Zealand this week will encourage you, like me, to favourite his blog, so that you can regularly receive the stimulus of a church leader thinking outside the box.
DM

Tasting the Kingdom

In response to Duncan's post, this is something the Evangelism Team would certainly support. However, I personally would like to be assured that we would all make a conscious effort to invite non-Christians. There must be lots of hungry people, who would like a nice dinner on a Sunday evening, hanging around the Hilton area. And who knows their souls might be hungry as well.
Doda

Allelon

If you warmed to the recent blog on hospitality within the kingdom, you can listen here to a conversation with Steve Taylor. The Allelon website has a vast array of resources which are well worth having a browse through.
DM

Latest earthquake news from Peru

Hello again,

A good number of you have been to Ica with us and will probably remember the trip to the Ballesta Islands and the beautiful Hotel Paracas from which we departed on the boats. That hotel is no longer. It crumbled during the two minute long earthquake and only minutes later was covered by the 20 ft. tidal wave. Perhaps from bits and pieces left, they can rebuild. Who knows?

You will be happy to know that our Ica well is working to capacity and with monies received the water truck continues giving away this precious commodity which people have little of at best of times. Some of you will remember having been, or having heard of Cachiche, the home to renowned witchdoctors and centre of demon worship. There is no evangelical church there. The priest closed down the Catholic Church. You will recall the palm tree with seven heads, the unscheduled porno play 10 year old kids put on in their school for a work team we took there and where we started an S.U. meeting. The earthquake tore the place apart. I asked Marco whether he and his team felt brave and confident enough to open an emergency feeding centre there if asked to. It took him, not two seconds to say 'claro que sí' ('of course'). So I consulted with Willie McPherson, Executive Director of our partners, the Vine Trust of Scotland, to see whether they would allow us to stretch the $50,000 they had sent for the 4 soup kitchens in order to add a 5th. His immediate response was met by great enthusiasm by Marco Cordova, our Ica-Pisco staff worker in charge of our Relief Efforts.. 100 more kids from no less than Cachiche! Praise God!I need to make a few clarifications. In Scripture Union we are all encouraged to be very careful about the facts we give out. That is why you often get a polite, I'm sorry, I don't really know when you ask for statistics. I quoted our local newspaper in giving 253,000 as the number of homeless. Last night I heard the BBC broadcast report over 200,000 so I now question the accuracy of my first report. Actually, I never know how people come up with any of these numbers. Guestimates, I should imagine. Second correction. My first report gave 8.0 as the magnitude of the earthquake. We now know that on the Richter scale it was 7.9. It is good to see some of our older and now trusted abandoned boys assisting in the Rescue-Relief efforts. They have the inside track on suffering, so are well suited for the part they play. I will be going to Ica this week and hopefully will be able to send you more up-to-date photos afterwards. Thanks again for your support during this time!

Paul & Marty

ASBO JESUS

Jon Birch is a talented cartoonist who regularly posts pictures on his blog, ASBO JESUS. The one below is well worth thinking about.

DM

Hospitality in the Kingdom

We had our first leadership team meeting (kirk session) since the summer, last night. The meeting primarily consisted of hearing reports from the various ministry teams and then praying together for the work. The evangelism team report reflected on the fact, that while the Impact Cafe's have been a very positive initiative, they have not achieved their intended purpose in terms of outreach. I have just read the following piece below from Steve Taylor in Christchurch, NZ and wonder if this is something we could try from time to time in the evening.What do you think Evangelis and worship team?
DM

Tasting the Kingdom
Church on Sunday, (that is Digestion, our evening church service) happened around a meal. People bring food and we sat at one long table, complete with tablecloth and candles and sparking grapejuice. We do this about once every 3 months.
Just as we started, there was a furtive movement in the foyer. I went out, and a man was huddled in a corner, and wanting a food parcel. "Sure", I said, "at the end of the service. But why not wash your hands and come and join us. We're eating here tonight and there's even roast chicken."
He sat among us, enjoying his share of first, seconds and thirds. He laughed with us, and listened as we broke bread and shared. He left with a full belly and a food parcel.
The regulars were curious. I told them he might just be an angel. I think we were more blessed than he. He got to eat food in human company. We got to taste the reality of the radical hospitality offered at the wedding banquet of the Kingdom.

TSUNAMI PRAYER

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice,oppression and exploitation of the people so that you will work for justice,equality and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

Audrey Whyte

China Today

At Hilton, we have been thinking about the remarkable growth of the church in China over the past 50 years. Alan Hirsch's blog contained the following information today:

LED BY A booming Pentecostal population, the number of Christians in China has mushroomed in the last half century to make it the third largest Christian nation in the world, behind only the United States and Brazil. About 900,000 Protestants lived in the country at the time of the Communist takeover in 1949. Today China has about 111 million Christians, about 90 percent Protestant and mostly Pentecostal, according to the World Christian Database, published by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.

Religious data is notoriously imprecise in an officially atheistic state, and other estimates go as low as 70 million and 40 million, in line with the CIA World Factbook. Even those conservative estimates, however, translate into Protestantism in China growing roughly 4,300 percent over the last half-century, most of it since the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s and 1970s.
By 2050, there will be 218 million Christians in China, 16 percent of the population, enough to make China the world's second-largest Christian nation, according to the center, which estimates 10,000 conversions in China every day.

This growth, however, has largely bypassed the Roman Catholic Church. Current estimates put the number of Chinese Catholics at 12 million, compared to 3.3 million in 1949, which means Catholicism has just kept pace with overall population growth.

Meaning of life?

Collecting books? No, read them!
Reading them? No, think about!
Thinking about? No, do something for God and for your neighbour!
Karl Barth, Basle, 2.11.1954

Brace Yourself

Three Weeks Today!

Three weeks today, the workparty of 35 from Hilton Church departs for Peru from Edinburgh airport at 5.50am. Ahead of them, 2 weeks of labouring at Puerto Alegria on the Amazon and Kusi in the Andres. An opportunity to make a difference in the lives of abandoned boys through their efforts. Last night, the team had a spanish themed pot luck supper in the old manse. Calum Munro from the Vine Trust was there to go over final arrangements and anwer any any questions. There is a great deal of excitement and anticipation amongst many of the team members together with a little anxiety about facing a new experience. Please pray for them all as they mke final arrangments for this adventure ahead of them.
DM

Scottish Northern Convention 2007

Jamie Grant will be speaking at the Sunday evening meeting of the Convention. During the week, one of the keynote speakers will be Bruce Milne from Vancouver. His daughter Maggie and son in law Jacob were in our congregation for a year sometime ago, when Jacob did a teacher exchange with Laurence Phin. Bruce is a gifted preacher - well worth a trip to Strathpeffer.
DM

THE FEEDING OF THE 400

Following the devastating earthquake in sourthern Peru, the Vine Trust funded several feeding stations. Some of the most vulnerable children are now receiving 2 good meals a day

Paul Clark writes, 'These children are being fed 2 good meals a day at our soup kitchens. Just an hour ago I had a phone call from Marco, our schools worker in charge of the distribution of food. He asked permission to move one of the four feeding centres, because the bulldozers have come into the area to remove the rubble. The Government is, I believe, in spite of the news contrary to this, doing its best. There always has been corruption here, and so it is sad, but not surprising to see donated food and clothing being sold.'

Caring for Ex-offenders

The will be a meeting on Wednesday 19th September 2007 at the King's Factory, Smithton, jointly sponsored by Prison Fellowship and Caring for Ex-offenders, to discuss how churches might help Ex-offenders. Caroline Crombie will speak on her experience in Aberdeen is running such a scheme. As a result of running Alpha courses in prisons many prisoners give their lives to Christ, when they are released it is all too easy for them to slip back into old bad company and habits. To try to break this cycle Holy Trinity Brompton (Alpha) has set up the Caring for Ex-offender Scheme as an independent operation. Churches are encouraged to sign up to the Caring for Ex-offender scheme, and the meeting is to explain what is involved. In the scheme someone will meet the prisoner at the prison gate on release and help them make contact with a church in the scheme in their home area. For the scheme to work the Church - not just one or two individuals in it - have to sign up for the scheme. Do you think your church would be interested? Come and hear more on the 19th. Contact for further questions David or Ruth Martin (Prison Fellowship Inverness) 01463 237949

Baptism

There are many babies and young children at Hilton these days. This leads to quite a number of inquiries about baptism. On Sunday afternoon we had a meeting to explore what baptism is all about with a number of parents. I had made 10 copies of my handout and was pleasantly surprised when I needed more. It looks like we might be quite busy on the baptismal front over the next few months.
DM

What Ever Parent has to know...

I spoke a few Sundays back about Rob Parson's new book "What Every Parent has to Know About Their Teenagers". You can read a bit more about the book here. If you want to get your hands on a copy it is available in the Church Library or from Wesley Owen, Castle Street.
Colm

Rojas Family

Here is the latest prayer letter from the Rojas family in Aberdeen. It includes a timely reminder that although the pictures may have disappeared from our t.v. screens there is still much rebuilding of lives going on in southern Peru following the earthquake there. Read more here...
Murray

TRADESMEN

Could any tradesmen or women in the church who would be willing to help with the upkeep of the church premises please make themselves known to Alan Brown (ph. 715 720). Local reliable contacts are also welcomed.
Alan

Hyphop...what a start to the new session!

Just wanted to let you all know how the first session of Hyphop went last Friday night.

A couple of children had turned up at 5.45pm, keen and ready to get started, which was great. We had four tables all lined up for registration being manned by five leaders, not really thinking we would need all five of them to be there....but....as 6pm approached we definitely needed them and a few more to help with the rush. It was amazing, 64 kids from the area registered and attended Hyphop that night (round about the same amount of kids we had at Holiday Club). It was so cool.

We played a wee game of duck duck goose (really need to find some different games, although the kids just love this game) in the large hall as folks were arriving, then we moved through to the church for some singing and Bible focus. Loads of fun.

We are now running Hyphop twice a month, on the first and third Friday of each month. If you would like to help out at Hyphop or any of the other Kids/Youth groups around the church then please just let me know. Thanks

Chris

Royal Preacher

News reached us this morning that Iain MacrRitchie, has been on royal duty today. The Queen spends her holidays at Balmoral and attends Crathie Church every Sunday. Iain was the guest preacher at Crathie this morning and is spending the weekend with the Royal family at Balmoral. We look forward to hearing all about the experience when he gets back.
DM

Coffee and Cakes

Today, we had a coffee and cakes day from 10-4pm in the old manse to raise funds for The Vine Trust. Many people donated baking which was wonderful, so much so, that we had enough to sell. We also sold plums, soap, some soft toys and Ruth Shepherd's beautiful homemade cards. Over 100 people called in and we raised £635 for the Vine Trust. We also have more baking and cards to sell in church tomorrow morning!
It was a very enjoyable day and so good to see so many folk and have time to chat!
My thanks go to all those who helped and all those who came and gave so generously.
Shona

WELCOME TO THE GIBBONS FAMILY

Although the Gibbons family have been in Greenville for several weeks, Sunday, 9th September will be there first formal day as part of the congregation. A welcome reception is taking place for them during their first Sunday morning as you can read here.
DM

agony vicar

Dear Blog Vicar,
My friend only ever uses the KJV of the bible whilst I use The Message, we often argue over whose is the most reliable version. I argued that if you do not want your ladder to slip then The Message is the most reliable version.
Manuscript Mike of Stornoway

Dear Mike from Stornoway,
May I say that coming from the Western Isles you should know the answer, when attempting to secure a ladder you should always use Songs of Fellowship Combined.
Blog Vicar

Listening

Over the next couple of months we are going to be focussing on a variety of pastoral issues during our Sunday evening services. On Sunday 24th August, the service was led by Ken Walker and centred around seeking and find rest and peace in our busy stressful lives.

Last Sunday evening, Maureen Wilson from The Acorn Christian Foundation highlighted the importance of listening - listening to God, listening to each other, listening to ourselves.

We are blest to have so many different folk either from within the congregation or living locally who have or wil be sharing in this Pastoral series over the next few weeks.
DM

second morning service

The kirk session have agreed to establish a new second service beginning on Sunday, 28th October. We are glad to see how full the existing morning service has been over the last few weeks, and we hope that the second service will lead to the continued growth of the congregation. You can read the Kirk Session's letter to the congregation about the new service here.
DM

GUILD SESSION 2007-2008

The new session of The Guild will start on Thursday 13th September. We will meet at 7pm in the Small Hall for Registration and payment of fees, which this year will be £7 per person. Thereafter we will meet on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm.

We have a very varied programme planned for this session and to see a list of dates for this session please go to The Blog where you can view this at your leisure.

Our theme this year continues with the second part of the three-year programme, Body, Mind & Soul

M meditate, mental health, memory

I intellect – thinking things through

N nerves, feelings – affecting our thoughts

D decision-making

JESUS: Teaches
Challenges
Consoles

New members are very welcome and we hope that you will enjoy the fellowship and warm companionship of those of us who try to follow our Lord Jesus’ teachings and example.

kindness, forgiveness and compassion

Wedding Bells!

Here's a few snaps of Jane and Gordon's big day last weekend. I'm sure you'll agree that Jane looks beautiful and Gordon looks very distinguished in his Kilt!

Family Ceilidh

A family ceilidh is to take place at Hilton Church Hall from 7pm on Saturday, 29th September. All the proceeds from the event will go towards the Vine Trust Earthquake Appeal. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £3-50 for children (a 3rd child is free!) For further information call (01463) 250891/233310.
DM