From the Manse – Sept 2010

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 car, well stocked with food from home, and they travelled around Europe.This year, they came to the British Isles. The weather wasn’t the best, but that did not bother them too much. One day, they rode up to Loch Ness and back! Surely sunshine would have made their trip even more pleasant, but even so they made the most of the opportunity.

During the Olympic Games we could witness how athletes made the most of their opportunities, mentioning just a few, the swimmer Michael Phelps, the runner Usain Bolt, the Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy or, coming a bit closer to home, Stephen Park who had instrumental part in coaching the British sailing team to collect five medals (three of which are gold). The British Olympic Team made the most of the opportunity also. While initially hoping to be about the eighth on the medal table, they achieved an amazing fourth place! If you think about it the conditions at Beijing were not idyllic at all. The heat and the smog did not help the competitors. Still, what mattered was to make the most of the given opportunity. And they did! We hope that the British Paralympians will also make the most of their opportunity at the Paralympics (6-11 September), in which, together with Helensburgh, we will follow with great interest the progress of young Gordon Reid in the tennis tournament.

The rich young man did not make anything of the great opportunity he received (cf. Matthew 19:16-30)! And what an opportunity he had! He wanted to get eternal life and to his question he got the answer from Jesus. His quest was over, he had the answer. He even received an invitation from Jesus to follow Him (have you noticed that Jesus did not invite everybody to follow him?). But he turned it down.

At church, we are beginning a new season that will present us with new opportunities. The conditions will not be favourable all the time, but the opportunities will be there. Will we make the most of them? Besides the usual services (Easy Worship and Morning Worship) we will have our Harvest Celebration on the 14th of September, when our retiring offering will support the RNLI, that indeed make the most in saving lives in the most unfavourable conditions!

We will also have the opportunity to celebrate, together with the pupils of Hermitage Primary School, on the 21st of September, a unique opportunity to dedicate the new school year to God’s merciful love.

We also will have the opportunity to adopt a child in prayer, the details of which will follow shortly. Our God, the Lord of all seasons, brings opportunities to us, He gave us His Spirit to make the most of them. Trust in God and in Jesus Christ your Saviour and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to make the most of the opportunities you receive.

Thought of the week from Paul Dowie

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” Matthew 8 v 20

Where is home ? Do you feel at home ? We are trying to find a house to live in as a family. When you are without a permanent house, and know that you have to move on to a new house it reveals how much we draw on it for security and identity. It tells us how much and how little a house matters. Many never feel at home anywhere – and this may not be so bad if we are looking to our heavenly home.

In the meantime home, rather than a house, with all that comes with it – family, schools, neighbours, church – and the good and bad in all of these – is the place that we grow up in and continue to be shaped by. It is amazing and frightening as a parent to think of how much is moulded in the home. It is where we continue to discover our potential and our limitations. It is where we get a true measure of learning how to live with ourselves and others. Home and family is the workshop; I hope sometimes the artist’s studio; and too often the hospital where God has moulded us and is making us.

We continue to search for a house, a place to provide a roof over our home. As we do this  we seek to listen to what Jesus said so that “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7 v 24

Paul Dowie

Thought for the week from Douglas Sammon

Jesus answered them, “ Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be where I am.  And my Father will honour anyone who serves me.”
John’s Gospel – chapter 12, verse 26

So what is this event; this life we’ve entered?  Is it a modern decathlon, based on the ten commandments?

Fortunately, it is not: Jesus says it is a single discipline, a pursuit race – following Him.  The medals are for those who stay in His slipstream.

Douglas Sammon

Thought for the week from Melville Mathieson

Often, as we walk along the street looking at other people, we make assumptions regarding their relationships in life. We may assume contentment when we see a smiling face, happiness when we hear someone laugh: so many different observations with so many interpretations. Often this can make us feel less confident and it is not unusual to feel a degree of isolation when everyone around you seems to be in harmony with their surroundings and at ease within themselves.

When we experience this feeling of isolation, it is important to focus on the inner relationship we have with ourselves and God. Our relationship with God is unconditional, constantly supportive and freely available at all times. We truly have a constant source of energy to help us rise, with confidence, to the challenges of our daily lives.

Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whether soever thou goest.

Lord, help us to appreciate the many blessings you have given us to lead our daily lives. May we use them to the best of our abilities that others may share the joy of your presence.
Amen

Melville Mathieson

Thought for the week from John Stephen

I recently arrived at church rather earlier than usual for our 11am service. This allowed me precious time to sit quietly and contemplate the importance of my connection to St Columba. I realised that church plays a vital part in my life and rightly so.

Of course, when I think of the church I am thinking of more than just a building. The bible refers to the church as a body of people who are united in their devotion to Jesus rather than as a building or organisation. In fact early Christians met for worship in ordinary houses before Christian churches were built. St Columba gives us many important things. Among these is the precious opportunity to enjoy fellowship with closeness to God and  fellow Christians.

Like most people, I tend to take many of Gods blessings for granted. From now on I shall try to fully appreciate the importance of this fellowship. If you feel the same, perhaps you might like to say this shorty for the opportunity to come nearer to You in our church. Please help us to seek fellowship, coming together with fellow Christians in the name of Jesus. Please help us also to reach out to those who cannot always join us in church. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

John Stephen