When doing a bit of research for Sunday morning, I came across the Duke Chapel website, where William Willimon used to be chaplain. We came across him when we were visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, last year. There are numerous sermons and services which you can watch. The services are very traditional, but Willimon's preaching is quite exceptional.
DM
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Christmas Reflections
A few years ago, we were given The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder. For a number of years, it became a family tradition to read this zany story of the journey to Bethlehem with our children each day during advent. With no little children to read to any more, I felt the lack of a good book to focus my mind at Advent.
Beginnings and Endings by Maggie Dawn has changed that. A beautifully written book with countless gems from the Christmas story to think about, this is a book I can't recommend highly enough. You can read it at any time of the year, but I would recommend keeping it until advent in 2008 and using it on a daily basis then.
For those more into the Web than a book, I thought the small daily videos by Paperless Christmas were nothing short of outstanding. If you have some quiet moment this week, time spent watching the clips on this site would not be wasted time.
DM
Beginnings and Endings by Maggie Dawn has changed that. A beautifully written book with countless gems from the Christmas story to think about, this is a book I can't recommend highly enough. You can read it at any time of the year, but I would recommend keeping it until advent in 2008 and using it on a daily basis then.
For those more into the Web than a book, I thought the small daily videos by Paperless Christmas were nothing short of outstanding. If you have some quiet moment this week, time spent watching the clips on this site would not be wasted time.
DM
Christmas Surprise
The Services over Christmas were all very special. On Christmas Eve the church was packed and the singing was uplifting. My main reflection from that particular service was that if it was only people from our own congregation who were coming, it would be a very quiet service, as the vast majority present were visitors.
The Christmas morning service is normally a fairly quiet and intimate affair with 70 or 80 present. What a wondeful surprise this year to have around 100% increase in the numbers. People just kept coming and coming. Perhaps this change has something to do with the age profile of our congregation with many from our own congregation swapping watchnight for Christmas day with their young children. It was wonderful to celebrate Christmas morning in the company of so many children and to baptise Gavin William Thompson at the end of the service.
Back to some normality today as preparations need to be made for Sunday morning. There is communion at our first service at 10am. It's proving to be a weekly challenge to find musicians to lead the second service at 11.30am and this week is no different. I'll need to make one or two phone calls about that today.
DM
The Christmas morning service is normally a fairly quiet and intimate affair with 70 or 80 present. What a wondeful surprise this year to have around 100% increase in the numbers. People just kept coming and coming. Perhaps this change has something to do with the age profile of our congregation with many from our own congregation swapping watchnight for Christmas day with their young children. It was wonderful to celebrate Christmas morning in the company of so many children and to baptise Gavin William Thompson at the end of the service.
Back to some normality today as preparations need to be made for Sunday morning. There is communion at our first service at 10am. It's proving to be a weekly challenge to find musicians to lead the second service at 11.30am and this week is no different. I'll need to make one or two phone calls about that today.
DM
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Come and Join the Celebration
Christmas morning at Hilton. What a wonderful occassion and such a celebratory atmosphere.
Monday, 24 December 2007
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
It's Christmas Eve and in a few hours time (11.15pm) we will gather for our watchnight service to celebrate the birth of Jesus who we believe is the great hope for our world. This is always a magical service with many visitors joining us. Tomorrow we will be having a short service at 10.30am which is normally attended by many families with their children. During this service, Gavin Thompson will be baptised. After a period of intense activity, there is a sense of relief at being able to enter a few days of rest (hopefully!). For all those reading this blog, I hope you have a very happy Christmas. May the message of God coming into our world bring you hope and joy.DM
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Nativity Stars
Memorable service this morning with the entire Sunday club taking part in various dramas in the church. All the children played their parts brilliantly. Thanks to Morag Macritchie, the sunday club leaders, the musicians and all the children for making our time of worship so special today.
DM
DM
Double Parking
Last Sunday we announced that the back car park would be reserved for people with mobility problems. What happened this Sunday? The carpark was full of cars parked there by able bodied folk! I guess people just need to be reminded over a few weeks or someone needs to stand at the gate. Perhaps all who parked there weren't at the service last week. I didn't mention it from the front today because I didn't want to make a big issue of it. Something to work at in the New Year.
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Carols from Kabale
Tomorrow night, (6.30pm) we are having a candle lit carol service. We will seek to raise funds for Laurence and Mairi's work in Uganda. Laurence has sent more imformation and picutres about the community outreach work below.
DM
Rugarama Health Centre (RHC) is currently doing 4 community outreaches per month plus dental and eye outreaches. The community ones which are the most vital, are also the ones which are about to run out of funding. The government through its public health initiative is failing to come up with the money, and this service will be axed if funding is not found from elsewhere.
There is need for another 6 community outreaches per month for infant immunisation & Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMCT) PMCT has been shown to be crucial in not only educating, but treating HIV positive mums and reducing the number of infected children enormously.
The average cost of each outreach trip is 64,000UgSh which is about £18
During these community outreaches immunisations are carried out for 7 infectious diseases. Also Health Education talks are done on how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases eg. HIV, TB, Malaria, dysentery.
Before an outreach programme to an area, a Mobilisation Meeting is held to consult village elders, pastor, local coucil chairman, stretcher groups, traditional birth attendants, etc. on the medical needs of the area.
There is a need for subsidised mosquito bed-nets for prevention of malaria. This has been shown to reduce the rate of infection enormously. Distribution of them (for a small cost) during community outreach could drastically reduce the number of malarial deaths in an area. They can be purchased in bulk for around 10,000UgSh (£3) and distributed for about 3000 shillings.
Another function of outreach is to provide training 'workshops' for voluntary health mobilisers; health education on main problems/diseases of their area.
These are a few thoughts from someone whoo knows little about health, has never been on outreach, and famously never achieved even O-grade biology. I shall get mairi to update you when she returns from the office. I hope this is enough to be getting on with...
Many thanks for all your help,
Laurence
DM
Rugarama Health Centre (RHC) is currently doing 4 community outreaches per month plus dental and eye outreaches. The community ones which are the most vital, are also the ones which are about to run out of funding. The government through its public health initiative is failing to come up with the money, and this service will be axed if funding is not found from elsewhere.
There is need for another 6 community outreaches per month for infant immunisation & Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMCT) PMCT has been shown to be crucial in not only educating, but treating HIV positive mums and reducing the number of infected children enormously.
The average cost of each outreach trip is 64,000UgSh which is about £18
During these community outreaches immunisations are carried out for 7 infectious diseases. Also Health Education talks are done on how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases eg. HIV, TB, Malaria, dysentery.
Before an outreach programme to an area, a Mobilisation Meeting is held to consult village elders, pastor, local coucil chairman, stretcher groups, traditional birth attendants, etc. on the medical needs of the area.
There is a need for subsidised mosquito bed-nets for prevention of malaria. This has been shown to reduce the rate of infection enormously. Distribution of them (for a small cost) during community outreach could drastically reduce the number of malarial deaths in an area. They can be purchased in bulk for around 10,000UgSh (£3) and distributed for about 3000 shillings.
Another function of outreach is to provide training 'workshops' for voluntary health mobilisers; health education on main problems/diseases of their area.
These are a few thoughts from someone whoo knows little about health, has never been on outreach, and famously never achieved even O-grade biology. I shall get mairi to update you when she returns from the office. I hope this is enough to be getting on with...
Many thanks for all your help,
Laurence
Carols at Eastgate
A morning to get you feeling that Christmas is close. The musicians and singers from Hilton performed for 2 hours opposite Waterstones raising funds for the Vine Trust. The singing by the group was great and the puppeteers put on a show which drew a large crowd. Great to see so many people from the congregation working together for an event in the City Centre.Well done Ingrid Hutchison for organising such an outstanding morning. I saw quite a few folk taking photos and video. Hopefully they will post some of their pictures on the blog.
DM
DM
Christmas letter from Paul Clark, Peru
Dear Friends,
My Christmas story this year is about little Fernando; the one, and the ninety nine!
Dr. Bill Allen, MTW* missionary friend of ours wrote from Cusco wondering whether we might have room in one of our Lima homes for abandoned boys for just one more kid. He had come across Fernando, and the Judiciary in the famous old Inca Capital did not know what to do with this boy who had an incredible record for his age, in the streets and children's centres in the city. Bill was happy to hear that early next year we are opening a new Home in the nearby Sacred Valley and that yes, indeed, we would not only make a temporary home for him in Lima, but would soon move him back to the Cusco area as the first boy in the new Home!
We have all fallen in love with this boy. Given his track record, we have not only kept a special watch on him but also taken the time to understand this boy whose background is different from any other we have ever encountered.
It so happens that Fernando was brought up with animals - mainly sheep, rather that with other human beings. He was put out to live in the pens, sheep folds much like those of Bible times, very common in Peru's Andean slopes.
Some abandoned boys never cry, which is very sad. Others, like Fernando, can. Except that he does not cry like a little boy. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he bleats, just like a baby lamb.
We offered him shoes. "Please not like the ones these boys wear!" He pleaded. "I want ojotas". These are what shepherds on the Cusco hillsides wear - a sole and straps made of old car tires. Someone brought us a pair recently and you should have seen Fernando running and jumping once he had them on!
We were told by the police in Cusco that every time he was captured and taken to some institution, he would smash windows and escape. None of that has been done in our Girasol home.
We now look forward to taking him back to our new home in Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, near the world famous ruins of Machu Picchu.
Our desire now for this little one and for the other 'ninety-nine', is that they may feel safe in the arms of the Good Shepherd whose birth we celebrate during this Season. Pray that they may learn to recognize his voice and follow in his footsteps.
Paul & Marty
Los Cedros 470, Chaclacayo, Lima 08, Peru
My Christmas story this year is about little Fernando; the one, and the ninety nine!
Dr. Bill Allen, MTW* missionary friend of ours wrote from Cusco wondering whether we might have room in one of our Lima homes for abandoned boys for just one more kid. He had come across Fernando, and the Judiciary in the famous old Inca Capital did not know what to do with this boy who had an incredible record for his age, in the streets and children's centres in the city. Bill was happy to hear that early next year we are opening a new Home in the nearby Sacred Valley and that yes, indeed, we would not only make a temporary home for him in Lima, but would soon move him back to the Cusco area as the first boy in the new Home!
We have all fallen in love with this boy. Given his track record, we have not only kept a special watch on him but also taken the time to understand this boy whose background is different from any other we have ever encountered.
It so happens that Fernando was brought up with animals - mainly sheep, rather that with other human beings. He was put out to live in the pens, sheep folds much like those of Bible times, very common in Peru's Andean slopes.
Some abandoned boys never cry, which is very sad. Others, like Fernando, can. Except that he does not cry like a little boy. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he bleats, just like a baby lamb.
We offered him shoes. "Please not like the ones these boys wear!" He pleaded. "I want ojotas". These are what shepherds on the Cusco hillsides wear - a sole and straps made of old car tires. Someone brought us a pair recently and you should have seen Fernando running and jumping once he had them on!
We were told by the police in Cusco that every time he was captured and taken to some institution, he would smash windows and escape. None of that has been done in our Girasol home.
We now look forward to taking him back to our new home in Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, near the world famous ruins of Machu Picchu.
Our desire now for this little one and for the other 'ninety-nine', is that they may feel safe in the arms of the Good Shepherd whose birth we celebrate during this Season. Pray that they may learn to recognize his voice and follow in his footsteps.
Paul & Marty
Los Cedros 470, Chaclacayo, Lima 08, Peru
Friday, 21 December 2007
What Christmas Meant to C S Lewis
CS Lewis was one of the great Christian writers of the 20th century. I learnt today, that he died on the same day that JFK was assasinated. I wonder how you are feeling in this final run up to Christmas. I thought you might be interested, as I was to read here Lewis' take on Christmas.
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Reflections from Keri Fishlock
For those of you thinking and praying about the incident a few days ago at YWAM in the States, you'll find a moving update from Keri here.
DM
DM
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Advent Prayer
A wonderful Advent prayer by the theologian, Walter Brueggemann, that seems doubly apt as a prayer into a world of inter-religious conflict:
We give you thanks for the babe born in violence.
We give you thanks for the miracle of Bethlehem, born into the Jerusalem heritage.
We do not understand why the innocents must be slaughtered;
we know that your kingdom comes in violence and travail.
Our time would be a good time for your kingdom to come,
because we have had enough of violence and travail.
So we wait with eager longing,
and with enormous fear,
because your promises
do not coincide with our favourite injustices.
We pray for the coming of your kingdom on earth
as it is around your heavenly throne.
We are your people grown weary with waiting.
We dwell in the midst of cynical people,
and we have settled for what we can control.
We do not know that you hold initiative for our lives,
that your love planned our salvation
before we saw the light of day.
And so we wait for your coming,
in your vulnerable baby
in whom all things are made new.
Amen.
We give you thanks for the babe born in violence.
We give you thanks for the miracle of Bethlehem, born into the Jerusalem heritage.
We do not understand why the innocents must be slaughtered;
we know that your kingdom comes in violence and travail.
Our time would be a good time for your kingdom to come,
because we have had enough of violence and travail.
So we wait with eager longing,
and with enormous fear,
because your promises
do not coincide with our favourite injustices.
We pray for the coming of your kingdom on earth
as it is around your heavenly throne.
We are your people grown weary with waiting.
We dwell in the midst of cynical people,
and we have settled for what we can control.
We do not know that you hold initiative for our lives,
that your love planned our salvation
before we saw the light of day.
And so we wait for your coming,
in your vulnerable baby
in whom all things are made new.
Amen.
Christmas Frenzy
Today Chris Watt and I were doing the Christmas assemblies at Inverness Royal Academy. Last night, we were at the annual P7 Dance at Hilton Primary School and tomorrow, Chris will be taking the assemblies there. Yesterday, Catriona Patton had all the Nursery Classes from Hilton School in the church for a Nativity service. The church was packed for both services, morning and afternoon, and it was good to be able to offer hospitality to all the families who attended. Thanks to all those who helped with serving. On Saturday, we will be at the Eastgate Centre carol singing from 10 -12 noon, raising funds for the Vine Trust, and on Sunday evening, we are having a carol service for Kabale, which we hope will raise funds for Laurence and Mairi's work in Uganda. All in all it is a very full on time, but also a very exciting one, as we celebrate in many public spaces, the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the World.
DM
DM
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
SPIRITUAL Journey
I was pointed in the direction of this fascinating website today. The site is packed with resources around the themes of exploring, looking, asking, dreaming and doing.
"I am convinced if churches had more emphasis like this on connecting with spiritual seekers we'd be in better shape." Jonny Baker
DM
"I am convinced if churches had more emphasis like this on connecting with spiritual seekers we'd be in better shape." Jonny Baker
DM
Monday, 17 December 2007
Lesotho Night
Great to hear the stories at Church yesterday of so many people who were inspired and moved by the Concert for Lesotho on Friday night. We are delighted to hear from Julie Keen that the event raised nearly £1000. We hope that the figure raised will top the £1000 mark before Christmas, and pray that the money will make a positive difference to the lives of children in Lesotho.
DM
DM
Liverpool Nativity
I have just watched the Liverpool Nativity for the second time tonight. Wonderful! Amazing! If you didn't see it, try and catch before Christmas. The review which you can read here sums up my enthusiasm for it.
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