roses are red

I used this song in the Service last Sunday morning. It's a song which challenges us to reflect on the way our lead can shape the lives of others, especially those setting out on the journey.

TED TALK

During Advent we are reminded of the pivotal role which God gives to women at critical times in history. Naomi Klein has an important message for the world today.

fischlock update

This is the time of year when emails and letters arrive from afar with news of happenings over the past 12 months. Hilton (and Inverness in general) is a church that many people have passed through en route to some where else. It's great to receive news of how people have grown and developed in their faith, and that's certainly the case with Keri, who with his wife Angie are serving with YWAM near Denver. Here's their Christmas letter.

60 plus

Our pastoral care team have been running a monthly afternoon tea for the 60 plus age range. This event has drawn in a lot of people for a blether and some company. Many of those who come have been living in the Hilton area for 50 plus years. We have plenty capacity for more folk to come to these gatherings in 2012, so we will need to work out ways in which we can make folk more aware of this opportunity for friendship and company.

plain song

ht to Sally

carol singing

At the moment, the rain is pouring outside and the wind is howling! I'm praying that by 6pm on Sunday it will be a calm star lit night and you'll be able to join us on a carol singing tour of Hilton. Let's take the joy of Christmas out onto the streets! I will try and organise some warming beverages in the Lighthouse for afters!

mission shaped evangelism

I have just finished reading MISSION SHAPED EVANGELISM by Steve Hollinghurst. I wish I had read it 2 years ago when it was first published. It's a book I would strongly recommend to anyone involved in church leadership. Personally I think churches in general are experiencing a missional crisis in the West today insofar as we seem largely incapable of impacting with our good news beyond the boundaries of the church and its culture. If you were to have a show of hands in any average church today, there would be practically no one present who hasn't had some kind of church background. "The vast majority of those our curent evangelism reaches come from the dwindling minority who have church backgrounds."We appear to be fishing in an ever decreasing pool. This reality is one which really troubles me, and so I'm glad to have read a book that looks at this very issue and asks how we might look at our situation today in Scotland as if we were cross cultural missionaries.

Hollinghurst doesn't offer any quick fixes. Indeed he writes, "We will need long term projects in the new foreign mission fields of the once Christian nations of the West."

The strength of the book lies in the fact that it is the fruit of a life rooted in experience as an evangelist in a post Christian culture. For any Christian leader who is becoming increasingly disillusioned today by the churches seeming irrelevance, this is a must read. The review on Amazon sums it up well:

This book is essential reading for all church leaders who have a passion to engage with the local community they serve. As the iceberg of Christendom melts, many still see the task of evangelism as catching the drips and freezing them back on to the iceberg! Steve Hollinghurst addresses the need for a new approach, rooted in the truth of the gospel and suited to the post modern culture that is emerging around us. Earthed in practical experience and careful research, this book encourages churches to 'wake up to the cultural changes around us' and points the way to an programme of evangelism which reflects the radical inclusivity of the kingdom. A must read!

music for joy

The 5th anual Christmas concert took place last Saturday evening in the Church. This musical evening organised by Julie and Jeremy Keen is an advent highlight for me. The numbers attending this year were slighly down on last year, which was probably due to the poor weather and the number of people who were ill. The quality of the concert is such that it's a pity that the building isn't absolutely packed out! Perhaps we need to get a little film of the event, so we can show a trailer of it at Church to encourage more folk to come along.

cloth for the cradle

What are you hoping and waiting for: for yourself? for your church? for the community in which you live? for the world?

We invited the congregation to reflect on these questions over 2 weeks and to write/draw their responses on a piece of cloth. It would probably have worked better if we had all done the exercise together rather than have a gap of 2 weeks, but it's difficult to do arty things with such a large number. I loved the creativity of some of the responses, especially the one where the cloth is wrapped around a candle.

nobel peace prize

Tomorrow morning I am preaching from the OT lectionary reading - Isaiah 61. During the sermon I am going to tell the story of this remarkable woman who today was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I have also ordered the film about her campaign called PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, and hope to show it soon.

storms

Scotland is being hit by the most almighty storm today. The wind was so strong that it was hard to keep the car straight on the road home this afternoon.

loft

Thank's to the team who installed additional insulation into the roof space above the church office. Hopefully it will lead to a warmer office and cheaper heating bills over the coming years.

strings

SNOW

The roads and pavements haven't been gritted following the overnight snow, and as a consequence are very dangerous. A recipe for broken bones for anyone who falls.

paradise

Paradise - Chelsey's Story from Central Online on Vimeo.

Barry Dennis is currently running a training course in the Lghthouse which we hope will lead to our community and Church being a place and a people where those facing various addictions can find love and compassion, and hopefully release. Here's a video which Steve Aisthorpe has just sent me which I hope will inspire and encourage

STRINGS @ HILTON

Last month, we had an all age time together at Hilton focused around bubbles with Philip Noble. This Sunday night at 5pm, it's an hour with string. It's not quite going to be all age since apparently it's a little difficult for under 7's, but I'm sure there will be some fun for them too in the midst.

ARE YOU IN THE PICTURE?

This week the Lighthouse has been offering free family/individual photographs taken in front of a Bethlehem tableau. Costumes have been provided and Chris Watt has been taking the photos.

Singing God's song

Come to the Launch of Singing God’s Song

70 of John Dempster’s Christian Viewpoint columns
from the Highland News, North Star and Lochaber News

@CLC Bookshop
23 Castle Street, Inverness
Monday 12th December 3pm All welcome!

Published on 12th December by the Merkinch-based
charity For the Right Reasons which supports people who are addressing and overcoming addiction problems.
All profits from the book will go to support the work of For the Right Reasons
Available from local bookshops - £6.00

advent

taize @ advent