From the Manse – March 2010

Dear Friends The other day I received an email from a friend in Romania. The email was about the Falkirk Wheel. My friend was so amazed how clever and simple the whole mechanism is that he wrote only three short sentences: ‘This is quite something.’ ‘It is well thought out.’ and ‘Who did invent it?’ I suppose he is not the only one who is so stunned by the construction. It is a piece of engineering... [Read More..]

From the Manse – February 2010

Dear Friends Count Your Blessings As slowly winter is withdrawing and the days begin to be a bit longer we can enjoy more brightness after the long dark days. Right now as I am writing these lines the weather outside is very much spring like. Apparently the Old English roots of the word for Lent mean ‘lengthen’ and relate to this lengthening of the days and the coming of spring. It is the season... [Read More..]

From the Manse – October 2009

Dear Friends It is almost predictable, isn’t it,that the Minister begins his letter with a reference to the weather. Well, I don’t want to disappoint you. We certainly had very changeable weather recently, having all four seasons in a day. Some mornings there were such heavy clouds and mist that you could not see further from the manse’s window than Millig Street. The mist was so thick and the... [Read More..]

From the Manse – April 2009

Flower Cross – embroidery by Mrs Sylvia Park During this Holy Week we look at the events of that week through the angle of the plants that are mentioned in the Easter story.  They are not key elements of the story, nevertheless they are part of it.  In one way or another they are woven into it and they come into touch with Jesus.  The palm branches symbolise the expectation of the people... [Read More..]

From the Manse – March 2009

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life A great new banner decorates our King Street Hall.  It is the handiwork of Kirstie Brown.  It is a powerful reminder that in Christ we can never get lost.  How often we lose our own ways! Not even up-to-date satnavs can always gide us to the right place.  For instance on our satnav our home address does not even exist!  Or have you ever got lost sight of the... [Read More..]

From the Manse – February 2009

  Oradea - Nagyvárad (Romania) Feb 2009 This wee blog comes from Romania, where we are spending our holiday (only one more day remained).  It was nice to see friends and family.  The kindness and the hospitality are as overwhelming as ever!  We need some serious exercise to lose weight again!  hospitality is still the most dangerous thing in Transylvania.  It was interesting to see how local... [Read More..]

From the Manse – December 2008

Bethlehem - Nativity “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) I was browsing through some Christmas images to use one as an appropriate illustration of the meaning of the occasion. Then I found this by a Hungarian artist Andras Simon. Somebody remarked it is a nice picture, but one hardly can see Jesus in it. He was right, indeed He is hardly visible on it,... [Read More..]

From the Manse – Oct 2008

My Dear Friends This summer has been as sunny and dry as many expected it to be. Nevertheless, did you have a nice summer? For a pleasant time depends a great deal upon what did you make of it? Even a wet, dreich time can be fulfilling and pleasant if one made the most of it. Last week, we had five students from Transylvania staying with us for a few days. For the last three summers they got into a... [Read More..]

From the Manse – June 2008

My Dear Friends Who said life in church is boring? Recently we had a number of opportunities to share with other churches and Christians; they either visited us or we met them at other churches and gatherings. It was very stimulating to realise afresh – for we need to be reminded of this again and again – that we are not alone in God’s... [Read More..]

From the Manse – Feb 2008

My Dear Friends In our post-modern politically correct culture, the traditional ways of life as we got to know them, learn them, are becoming more and more difficult. More and more regulations are coming from authorities that order our lives to flow between neat and controlled banks. They are supposed to make our lives easier, better and... [Read More..]

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