From the Manse – June 2008

 

(Reproduced from the latest edition of 'The Bridge')

 

 

Summertime – is the livin’ easy?

Winter seemed to drag out a bit this year, even if it wasn’t particularly harsh, and it’s hard to believe that we are about to hit the summer when congregational activities reduce to give us all some time to recover. Sunday Club finishes on 22 June, and we end the session with a service that celebrates the children and the ministry of the teachers who have given of their time and gifts to the children in their care. A number of them retire at that time and we will mark their retirement with a Church ‘party’ immediately after the service. The Summer services continue at 10am with Kidz Club beginning in the middle of July.

 

In one of his reflections at the General Assembly, the Moderator, David Lunan, spoke of Mark 1:35 – 39 (p1147 in the Church Bibles) where Jesus is up and out early in the morning for some solitude and prayer, living out by example two crucial elements of the spiritual life: Sabbath and prayer. We tend to be good at neither of these things, but perhaps the summer is an opportunity to experience more of God’s Sabbath rest, given to us for spiritual and physical refreshment. Wherever you spend the summer weeks, I hope that you will be able to take ‘time out’ to slow down and enjoy God and his creation.

 

The other spiritual practice Jesus exemplifies here is prayer. We are not told what kind of prayer, but elsewhere he prays as part of the worship of God his Father, and also he prays for the disciple community that was forming around him. These are two basic elements of prayer for us – reflecting on the greatness of God and the needs of the Church. When we are on holiday near Saumur, sometimes I cycle into the little village of Varennes, quite near us, just to sit and be quiet in the presence of God in a place where people have worshipped for many years. And I think of the people we have left behind in Balerno, some of whom are in special need. David Lunan observed, ‘Without prayer we are believers in God by profession, but atheists in practice.’ He said prayer is essentially three words: sorry, thank-you, please. (We might also add silence to that list, when words are not enough to express what is within us.) We seek forgiveness, we show gratitude and we seek help.

 

Prayer is an aspect of our corporate life in Balerno that needs to be developed and after the summer, when we have been refreshed by God’s rest, additional regular prayer times will be arranged, hopefully to link in with Peace and Prayer.

National Gathering 2008 – Ingliston 3/4 May

Call me a sceptic if you like, but before the National Gathering I was very doubtful about the value of the village of tents where members were to tell the stories of their congregation’s life. BUT, I was converted! It was one of the highlights of the short time I spent at the Gathering, and so good to hear stories from other congregations about successes and struggles. There were around a dozen folks from Balerno attending the NG on the Saturday, and some returned on the Sunday. All spoke appreciatively of the event with its worship and seminars, and the Archbishop of York brought enthusiasm and challenge. There were lots of recordings made, so, when they are loaded on to a website, we’ll let you know where to find the material.

 

 

General Assembly 15 – 21 May

General Assemblies are not noted for excitement, and sometimes even important reports can be a bit tedious. This last GA followed the same sort of pattern, but there were exciting things happening. William Wallace has written his reflections as a first time commissioner for this edition of The Bridge.

 

Monday was, without doubt, the longest day, with a Communion Service, the Report of the Special Commission on Structure and Change, and the Ministries Council. My particular interest is in the latter, because I sit on it, but the Special Commission brought to the GA some important changes to the way in which the Church of Scotland organises its life, and the questioning of some aspects of the Church’s tradition that are deeply embedded, including what could be called its Mission Statement known as The Third Article Declaratory. To find out more about this and the whole GA, visit

 

http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/index.htm

 

Included in the Ministries Council Report was the establishment of a special Fund for Emerging Ministries, totalling £1.5M over five years. The purpose of this Fund is to help resource people who are intentionally seeking to establish ‘emerging’ congregations in different parts of Scotland. I convene the Task Group overseeing that Fund so I would value your prayers that we might have the wisdom needed to disburse grants to people and situations that would really benefit from them. I hope to share in Balerno some of the lessons learned by the Task Group.

 

Music Festival

I want to remind you that the booking system for the Music Festival in October is now up and running, and that you can find more information at    http://www.balerno-communitycouncil.org.uk/balernomusicfestival  .

 

Fabric Committee Garden Party – Saturday 7th June

Remember too that you are warmly invited to the Fabric Committee Garden Party on the morning of 7 June. There will be lots to do including painting fences (with spray paint) and the Church Hall, tending the garden, odd bits of cleaning etc. Wear old clothes and a smile, we’ll try to make it fun. Refreshments will be provided mid morning.

 

Currie Parish Church – induction of Rev Lezley Kennedy

The Presbytery of Edinburgh has arranged the induction of Rev Lezley Kennedy for 24 July. The service will begin at 7pm. Let’s remember and celebrate with our friends in Currie Parish Church as they open a new chapter in the story of the congregation.

 

Jane Petty – ‘Thank you’

Before she left for Darfur, Jane sent us a card that reads:

To all at Balerno Parish Church,

Many thanks for your generous gift towards my work in Congo. I note that this was raised at the Christmas Fair. I have forwarded your gift to HEAL Africa, a Tearfund partner who support, among other things, the orphan project run by Pastor Jeanne. I thank you for your continued support for my work and I look forward to being able to share with you about my work in Sudan.

 

Take care and God Bless, Jane.

 

May Special Collection – Burma and China

While over the summer the livin’ might become a little easier for us, it will not be so in the Irrawaddy Delta, or the Sichuan Province of China. It may be a drop in the ocean as far as the greatness of the need, but our special collection in May raised £430.70, and this will be divided equally between the two relief operations. If you missed the opportunity to give through this offering you can make donations through the Disasters Emergency Committee at banks, post offices or online at http://www.dec.org.uk/ .

 

Wherever you are, whatever you are planning for this summer, may you know God’s peace and rest.

 

Blessings,

 

Jared.