BOARD MATTERS

The Board also discussed the future shape of support for the various ministries in the congregation. At the moment, we don't have an administrator or a cleaner or a caretaker! In the interim we are going to seek to find volunteers to help clean the church, while we try and work out some kind of a long term strategy. Hilton Church had a caretaker for 37 years, but since Murdo's retiral we have had four, who have all only done the job for a relatively short time. The other thing we also felt we needed to do as a Board was to emphasise to the congregation at large that we all have a responsibility in terms of seeking to keep the buildings tidy and clean. If everyone is mindful of that, and tidies up after them, then the situation is much easier to manage. Alan Brown has volunteered to speak to the congregation about this on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see the response In general terms at Hilton, a few people do a great deal in terms of helping and tidying, while most people do very little or nothing. Hopefully, Alan's encouragement will widen the pool of those willing to help.

SOLAR PANELS

After several quiet years on the building front, suddenly we have 2 major projects. The disabled accesses are going in and all the doors are being renewed. This project is due to be completed by the end of March. We also have another project now which also requires to be completed by the end of March, and that's the installation of solar panels on the Lighthouse. At the Board meeting last night, we also agreed to install solar panels on the church building before 1st July. If all goes to plan, we should make huge savings on our energy bills over the next 25 years. When the possibility of putting solars panels on the buildings was mooted several months ago, the Board was generally sceptical about the viability financially of such a project. Last night the Board was unanimous in expressing gratitude to Anne Thomas for the remarkable amount of work she has done on this project. She was able to answer every concern that the Board had, and in the process change the ultimate decision.

new access ramps

The progress on the access ramps continues at a very fast pace. The front one is completed and the railings have also been attached (although not completed). The 2 ramps at the rear are also well advanced with the railings soon to go up as well. When the ramps and railings are completed, we are fitting new doors to all the entrance points. We hope that all the work will be completed within the next 3 weeks.

60 plus

60 PLUS enjoyed another good afternoon together on Wednesday. A major highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of a 90th birthday cake to Norma. The big day is next Monday. As a congregation, we are going to celebrate her birthday with a special lunch on Sunday 4th March.

leunig

A clip which reflects the frantic liives we often lead.

LENT 2012

It's hard to believe that we are at the beginning of Lent again. Here's a link which has given me a few ideas for what I would like to do over the 40 days.

EL GRUER

El Gruer shared this poem this morning as part of our worship. We are really looking forward to having El with us nexT Sunday at 6.30pm. Come along and bring a friend. It will be a cafe style evening and we are hoping that folk will bake cakes and bring along some other tasty biscuits.

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES

Life as a Christian is a journey and over the years different emphases and insights arise. Alpha has probably been one of the most significant, as we discovered the age old truth that it's good to sit down to talk and share food together. This practice had largely disappeared in the Church at large where folk in churches generally only met for worship services or other meetings. This was certainly my experience of Hilton when I first arrived. Over the past few years, one of the most promising insights for mission has centred around the experiences and the fruits of missional communities in Sheffield and then far beyond. Personally, I think this "newly discovered" insight is one of the most important developments in recent years. There is a lot of literature about it on the web, but I see that Mike Breen has just posted a summary on his blog. It's an amazing story. I spent a week seeing it in action in Sheffield several years ago, and last May several us spent 2 days with Mike Breen at a CLAN event in Stirling. Barry and Doda Dennis are now seeking to develop a new missional community in the Lighthouse, and we look forward to seeing how that emerges in the time ahead. If this interests you, Mike Breen is also going to be at CLAN this July, and will be teaching each day during the week.

LIGHTHOUSE DEEP CLEAN

Next Tuesday from 6pm onwards, we will be aiming to do a deep clean of the entire Lighthouse building. If you can help, your presence would be much appreciated. We have cleaning materials, but if you are able to bring along a bucket (if you have one) and a cloth/s that would be great (just in case we run out!)

CHURCH WORKS

The works began at the Church on Wednesday morning, and the level of progress since then has been quite extraordinary. Malcolm Urquart who is the main contractor was part of our team in Peru in 2005, and most of us had never experienced a work rate like that in our lives! He had us up working before 6am some mornings. To be fair, it was so hot on the Amazon by the middle of the day that it was impossible to work. Malcolm is aiming to have the front steps ready for Sunday morning.

National Prayer Breakfast

It's been a torrid 3 years for Obama at the Whitehouse. It must be pretty tough when your Presidency coincides with the biggest recession in living memory. I have just read his recent address to the National Prayer Breakfast, and found the insights he gives into his own Christain faith very illuminating. While Blair didn't "do God" in office, Obama clearly does, and not in a way that makes you cringe as many other US politicians in the past have done.

alive festival

Alive Festival – The Hudson Taylors in Concert.
This concert will be held on Friday 24 February at 7.30pm in the Culduthel Christian Centre.
Tickets are priced £9 for adults and £5 for Concessions and can be obtained from the CLC bookshop, Inverness, or online at www.alivefestival.co.uk

ISLAND CONVERSION - new book event

Myles Campbell (who has been called one of the most acclaimed and talented Gaelic poets of his generation) and his wife Margaret will be talking about their new book which is entitled Island Conversion, their spiritual journeys, their ‘glimpses of the glory of the Being behind all things’. This event will take place on Friday 10 February at 7.30pm at Inshes Church of Scotland. All welcome, admission free.

BUILDINGS

There are many positives to a congregation having its own buildings, but there are also a significant number of downsides too, especially as a buildings gets older. Many congregations can end up spending the majority of their money on simply keeping the buildings wind and water tight. Hilton Church was opened in 1958, and over the past couple of years we have spent significant sums of money in bringing it up to standard in relation to its electrical systems and fire safety. Next week, we are embarking on a further series of improvements providing disabled access at 3 major entry points to the buildings as well as installing new doors. These are much needed improvements and we look forward to having them done as soon as possible.

LIGHTHOUSE MANAGER

Adrienne Dempster began her new job as the manager of the Lighthouse yesterday. She will be in our prayers, as she takes on this significant role within the life of our community.

CONGREGATIONAL LUNCH

We are having a congregational lunch on Sunday 4th March to celebrate the 90th birthday of Norma Fraser. The lunch will be pot luck. There are sign up sheets in the church foyer. Norma retired from co-ordinating teas & coffees after the service last week! We look forward to celebrating this special birthday with her.

LIFE STREAMS

We had a really good evening reflecting on the benefits of LIFE STREAMS with Philip & Ros Noble on Sunday evening. The presentation can be found on the church website, if you would like to have a listen. There will be a follow up evening at 6.30pm on Sunday 19th February.

kiwi news

Eilidh got out of hospital today. Shona has booked flights and is going out to visit her next week.

el gruer

We are looking forward to hosting El Gruer. It will be a cafe style evening suitable for all ages.

eagles soaring

I have been doing some research today around the text above for Sunday, and in the process discovered the clip on sea eagles. The film brings back many happy memories as I spent my childhood and youth exploring these hills and cliffs. It is extraordinarily beautiful. The only challenge with the west coast is that you have to visit several times in order to get a dry day!

LIFE STREAMS

LENT 2012 -LIFE STREAMS

“What will help me to grow spiritually?

Life Streams provides practical ways to transform your life from the inside out.

During Lent there will be teaching on how to key into Life Streams, and the encouragement to find a friend or two to share in it with you.

SUNDAY 5th Feb @ 6.30pm An outline of what LIFE STREAMS is all about with Philip & Ros Noble.

SUNDAY 19th Feb @ 6.30pm A chance to experience a LIFE STREAMS group.

Our Lent Book for 2012 is called LIFE STREAMS and is available to purchase at the discount price of £5. We have 20 copies for sale, and after that you can purchase copies on line for £6-99.