CHURCH MAGAZINE EXTRACTS

June 2010

Dear Friends

'Is there anywhere I can go to avoid your Spirit, to be out of your sight God, asks the Psalmist?' Psalm 139:7

Journeys, love them or hate them we're all on one! Sometimes they go very smoothly, sometimes they come to an abrupt end, face delay or rerouting those of you who've been flying or not recently will know all too well!! Volcanic ash has had the capacity to disrupt the normal in recent weeks. So too has the election outcome as very different parties have had to journey together to form the government. From different perspectives, with different thinking and wishes for the country, they have worked together to provide a way forward; putting some of their own ideas to one side in an effort to gain unity and stability. That has not been easy for any of them, some feel hurt and betrayed, yet for the common good they work together.

You too as a church are on a journey, many different people with many different thoughts, feelings and wishes. I am privileged to be coming in to help you on the next stage of your journey but much more importantly each one of you as individuals and the church as a whole has the promise from God that as we turn to Him we will find Him and as we find Him we will find His Spirit there to help us work out the next stage of our journey. As Christine finishes her journey here at Whitburn South pray for her that she will know the presence of the Holy Spirit, healing, comforting, guiding and directing her. Pray too that, as we work together over the coming months, we too will know His presence leading us. Please feel free to contact me at any point if you have any concerns.

With every blessing
Margaret Steele

Prayer

Holy, Healing, Loving Lord,
Hear our prayers for our Minister, Christine, that you will restore her health and well-being, surround her with your love, and direct and guide her now and in the future. We pray to for her husband Brian and the family they they will know your peace. For ourselves Lord, we ask your forgiveness and mercy for any negative thoughts, words or actions, any ways you find us unworthy as the people of God. Lift us up in your love Lord, and cleanse us with your flowing blood we pray. Grant us wisdom and discernment to recognise the work of the Evil One who comes among us in many disguises. Protect us all, Lord, Minister, elders, office-bearers, and every member and friend of Whitburn South, as well as all other local Christian churches we lift up to you. Thinking especially of Rev Richard Darroch at this time. We pray to for the Church of Scotland, the work of the General Assembly, and your people world-wide that your Holy Spirit will move ever more powerfully among us to the glory of Your Name and that our Queen, the Royal Family, and all members of Government, past, present and future, will recognise yours as the Ultimate Authority and uphold the Christian heritage of our country. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. (D.A. Prayer Contact).

Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that You and I together can't handle.

Many thanks to all who kept Jam Jars for me. I do not need any more. Ellen Tennant

Sunday School

The Sunday School is nearing the end of another session ending with the prize giving service on 20th June. On behalf of the Sunday School teachers  I would like to thank all the children who come along on a Sunday and the parents and grandparents who come along with them.

Elizabeth Hamilton

The Word of God

For feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God
Nought else is worth believing.
I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever:
For, though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever.

Greetings from the Guild

Here we are again finishing another year of the guild. We had to cancel two of our meetings at the beginning of the year because of the dreaded snow but despite that we have had a good year of fellowship and we are looking forward to making up a new syllabus for our next session. Since the last update I gave you dear readers, we have had a soiree, which was a night of poems, readings and favourite hymns, one of the poems written about the guild, was by Dorothy, what a talent she has! In February we had Rev Dennis Rose who told us, hilariously, of his experience of prison chaplaincy. In March we had Jason Beck from the community police who opened our eyes on the goings on in the had a guest speaker Wilma McCrae, she gave a very funny talk on her life as a ministers wife. Our closing social was at Harringtons where members and friends had good food and good companionship. Our annual trip is going to Largs with an optional sail on the boat to the isle of Cumbrae and to a large garden centre, should be fun. We are losing two of our members, Christine and Brian who are retiring and going to Fife to live so we wish them well in their new life together. The Guild plays an important part in our church, we have a strong and willing to serve membership but it would be wonderful to have more, so please come and join us in our next session. May I take this opportunity to thank Andrew and Alex who have helped me with any printing we have needed and a big thank you to my members who have served me loyally this past year. Have a happy summer. God Bless, Margaret.

LIFE

Life is a story in volumes three
The past, the present and the yet to be
The first is finished and laid away
The second we are reading day by day
Third, and last of the volumes three, is locked from sight.
God keeps the key.

Girls Brigade

We are now approaching the end our last session. This has been a busy session, the Company attended the Division Service and our Junior/Brigaders sections were pleased to have been asked to sing 'Seek, serve and follow' as part of the service. The girls have been working on their songs and readings for parent's night, which took place on Tuesday 25th May. This year the girls performed 'Jonah Jazz' and following some dodgy dancing by the officers, the juniors showed us the correct way to dance 'Jia Ho'. We hope the parents and friends who came along had a wonderful night. A special thank you to Iain Scoular for presenting the awards.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of LOL403 for their kind donation to our company funds.

Sadly after 21 years of service within our Company, May Glen has decided the time is right to retire from Girls Brigade. May was one of the foundling officers of our company and during her 21 years service she also served on the Division Executive as a Commandant. May's commitment to our company is an example to all and I know I speak for everyone associated with 1st Whitburn, when I say she will be missed, I personally have valued her advice and help over the years. So on behalf of everyone I would like to thank May for everything she has done for our Company and wish her a long and happy retirement. Anne Cartwright, Captain.