News and Thoughts for Sunday 22nd March.
Saturday 28 March 2020
Contact: Corinne Peddie
email: corinne@peddies.com
or telephone (01333) 311408
Dear Member
As you all know the Church of Scotland has advised that all Church worship and gatherings cease for the time being during the Coronavirus crisis.
The Kirk Session will pray for all during this difficult time, and look forward to our resuming worship together in the not too distant future.
In the meantime, we would like to set up a regular newsletter comprising some content relating to personal worship, personal news and items of interest.
It is important we keep in touch with one another, and retain that sense of Christian community which is so strong at Kilrenny .
I ask all of you to help by letting me have a contribution for the newsletter, something that can be circulated to the members, it might be something about what you are doing, how you are filling your time during 'isolation', recommendations for reading or activities, a TV programme you have enjoyed watching, news of your family or pets........pictures would be super, we may get a few from Ann of the new puppy and her adventures with him!
If you have anything you wish to circulate amongst the members please let me know, either by phone or email, or post and I will include it in the next edition. I warn you in advance I am a novice at this, but will do my best at producing a newsletter with everyone's help!
Tell us about things you would be chatting about over tea/coffee after worship - and help us all keep in touch.
Keep safe and God bless
Corinne
Worship and personal reflection:
''our homes are in a Real and Important way the places of worship''
Rev: Nigel Robb Presbytery Clerk.
Scripture Reading: John 15: 1 - 17 The Vine and the Branches.
Praise: CH4 604: v 2.
Vine of truth, in you we flourish;
by your grace we learn and grow.
May the word of Christ among us
shape our life, your will to know.
Joined to Christ in living, dying,
may we help the Church convey
witness to the saving gospel,
bearing fruit of faith today.
Message and reflection from Rev. Ian Hamilton.
Please convey our warmest wishes to the good folks at Kilrenny and assure them of our thoughts and prayers at this challenging, unsettling and upsetting time.
Reflection: A SPRINGTIME REFLECTION from REV. IAN W.F. HAMILTON
“THE GLORY OF THE SPRING!”
It was lyricist Joyce Kilmer who wrote the song words, “I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree”. When we lived in Nairn Old Manse we had a beautiful line of trees in our manse front garden. In springtime when in full blossom they were the most lovely sight and often cars would stop and people would photograph our cherry trees, Japanese Cherry Trees to be specific! In our home here in St Andrews we only have one such tree which is equally beautiful, and it evokes beautiful memories. Trees are part of God’s creation and are often mentioned in the bible, from Genesis in the beginning, right through the Psalms and the words of the great prophets to Jesus himself. In his classic parable Jesus compares himself to the Vine and he compares us to its branches, illustrating to his hearers that they cannot be Christians on their own. They need to be connected to each other and to Jesus. How true, immediately a twig cuts itself off from the rest of the tree it begins to wither and eventually it dies. It’s the same with our human lives, we owe these entirely to our connection with other people, families, friends, associates. We need each other. The same is true in terms of the Christian life, we need to be connected to and stimulated by others who share the faith and who have their roots firmly planted in the same holy ground. The songwriter was spot on! Trees are lovely to look at especially when they explode in seasonal blossom. However, when we dig deeper and contemplate Jesus’ teachings, we learn the wealth of meaning rooted in these wonderful gifts which are part of God’s creation!
Prayer: Message from Allan
With all the upheaval in our world at the moment it would be very easy to forget some of the special days in our lives. So, while I think we should all remember in our prayers those who are struggling with the coronavirus and the ways it affects us, let's not forget that this Sunday has a happier connection. I’m sure we all remember it's Mothering Sunday and so our prayer this morning is a prayer for all Mothers.
Let us Pray:
Thank you Lord that you fill a Mothers heart with love,
That you have instilled in her very being the need to protect her children at all costs,
Thank you for giving her the gift of nurturing her children, of teaching them, of comforting them,
for feeding them and making a safe place for them.
For guiding them to be all that God has created them to be,
Fill every Mother with love, wisdom and endurance,
with strength and patience and joy.
Give them the gift of time, time to listen, time to watch, time to wonder.
Give them the ability to forgive again and again but the wisdom to show the right path when the child has strayed too far.
Enable her to rely on You and call upon You because You will give her all she needs.
Amen
And let's not forget the Lord's Prayer, a prayer for every day, not just Sunday’
Our Father, who art in Heaven'
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever and ever
Amen.
You can listen to:
Sunday Worship on Radio 4 at 08:10
and watch and sing along:
Songs of Praise on BBC1 Sunday 1.15 pm.
National Day of Prayer.
A call from the Moderator of the Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland is supporting calls for a National Day of Prayer and Action on 22 March, which is also Mothering Sunday. Rt Rev Colin Sinclair is joining the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and other church leaders to issue a national call to prayer.
The Moderator said: “There are many different ways the Church can and should offer support and help to their communities at this time, but one way is through prayer. We believe in a God who hears and answers prayer. We are encouraged to come honestly in prayer, sharing openly our emotions, questions and concerns in the light of COVID 19. We have become aware in a new way of our frailty and need to renew our dependence on God. I welcome this call to prayer across the UK and encourage you to join in it this Sunday wherever you are.”
Light a candle **The call to prayer asks everyone to light a candle at 7pm on Sunday as ‘a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.’ Church leaders are seeking to quell fears and remind us of God’s presence and love. They write:
“At such a time as this, when so many are fearful and there is great uncertainty, we are reminded of our dependence on our loving Heavenly Father and the future that he holds.”
Pray for leaders, “We have the great privilege and freedom to be able to call upon God, wherever we are, individually and corporately, for healing in our nation. We would pray for all in leadership at this time, making decisions about the containment of the COVID-19 virus, for those working in health and social care, and especially for the most vulnerable, whether elderly or those with underlying health conditions.
“There are already stories being told of wonderful acts of kindness across neighbourhoods. Alongside your prayers, take the opportunity to telephone or email someone who is isolated, buy some additional food for your local foodbank, offer to deliver shopping for an elderly neighbour. We may not be able to touch physically, but we can make connections in so many other ways.
“At 7pm this Sunday, light a candle (or a lamp for safety sake!) in the windows of your homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.
Mothering Sunday, “We note that this call to prayer and action comes on Mothering Sunday: a time of thankfulness, remembering especially mothers that have served us, often in very costly ways. It is also a very mixed day for many.
"For some the remembrance is painful, and for others Mothering Sunday is a reminder of disappointment or loss. In many ways, this period under the shadow of the coronavirus will be prompting similarly diverse reactions and so it seems especially appropriate that the call to prayer is made this Sunday.
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.
CHURCH NEWS
Opening of the Church
The Kirk Session has given serious consideration as to whether the Church should be open for anyone who would find the peace and space for personal prayer especially during this period of closure for worship. St Andrews Presbytery has instructed that to do so is not a realistic possibility at this time, due to the serious issues that this would raise.
- Anyone in a vulnerable age or health group must not be involved in opening or closing or manning the Church.
- All surfaces must be cleaned after each time the Church is used. Because the virus lives for up to 72 hours on surfaces and any infected person may spread the virus through contact with furnishings, door handles etc. This would pose a risk to anyone visiting the Church, and I trust you will agree that we could not expect our members or our cleaner to do this extensive cleaning for the obvious reason of risk to any such person doing it.
We are reminded by St Andrews Presbytery that the Reformed Church theology of the Church of Scotland does not support the consecration of churches. Places of worship are only made holy by the presence of the people of God – and therefore our homes are in a Real and Important way the places of worship which may be used at this time.
East Neuk Foodbank @ Anstruther Church.
Currently remains open Tuesday 12-4 and Thursday 4-6. but is not providing teas and coffees, although phone and internet use is still available.
Collection and dropping off of donations is at 'the door'.
Anyone wishing to make a financial donation without having to go to the foodbank can do so by direct bank transfer to the Royal Bank of Scotland Account
"East Neuk foodbank"
Sort code 83-15-21
Acc no 00227490
Richard Wemyss thanks everyone for their continuing support.
NEWS FROM MEMBERS
Parental worry - no matter what the age of the child!
Well the Peddie household has been in a state of anxiety this past week as two of our daughters were abroad.
Both got caught up in the re-action of various governments' restrictions having followed foreign office guidance on travelling beforehand, and their holiday was brought to a pre-mature end. They discovered hotels suddenly only providing bed and no board, restaurants closed, with only supermarkets, pharmacy, and take away food outlets open, charging a fortune!
Fortunately, they both returned home safely, their tour operator acting quickly and responsibly, although it caused us some anxiety until the arrangements were made, and they now are in self isolation.
It brought home to us, as a family, the serious interruption to normal family life and the fact that our daughters cannot visit, as they normally do, is very sad.
Thank goodness for 'face-time' and 'WhatsApp', certainly technology will help us all get through this isolation from family and friends.
Corinne
ps. just had delivery of beautiful bouquet of flowers for Mothers Day. Only trouble is they were supposed to go to My Mum in York...oops!!
Doddie - Dog Diary & the Trials of Ann
Arrived chez Thomson on Monday 2nd March
Just like babies however many puppies or dogs you have had in your lifetime each one is different and definitely a relearning process! Doddie has entered our lives like a whirlwind and any excess weight I had gained after my op in December has vanished! The other bonus is that I have no knee or joint pain from sitting too much! I rather think that the more he feels at home the more he is going to argue, he is going to be a character.
Week ending 22nd March
We are pursuing the toilet training with moderate success and because he was anxious I have him in a cage at night in the bedroom. This means disturbed nights. Few words are spoken, mostly just, ‘wee Doddie’ at the appropriate juncture. At 2.00am this morning I heard the whine, hopped out of bed, my eyes half shut, down the stairs before I found that I had been talking to the dog’s bottom! I had grabbed the wrong end and was holding him upside down.
He has sharks teeth and nothing is safe – diversion is the key – I think!!
Ann
Doddie
A challenge from Allan.
How well do you know our local churches?
Can you identify the following six Churches?
Answers in the next newsletter!
Promise we won't ask you to tell us your score!!
Name our newsletter - competition time!
Please send me your ideas for a name / title that we can give to our newsletter as soon as possible.
I'm sure you can come up with something original and different!
The Kirk Session
Wish you a very safe, healthy and happy week ahead and
**Finally a safety warning.
Although the call has been to 'light a candle' please take all necessary fire precautions when using a lit candle. Ensure you remain with the lit candle at all times, and do not leave it to burn if you leave the room. Ensure there are no fabrics or materials such as curtains near the candle. If you are able to use a small electric ‘candle’ or lamp instead, that would be for the best.
With best wishes, and please let me have 'your news' for our next edition as soon as possible, together with any ideas about what kind of information you would like to have included.
Corinne (apprentice news editor!)