Easter 2021 Church Magazine
As we prepare for Easter here is the latest edition of the Church Magazine, full of interesting updates and articles. Enjoy!
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Intimations
Church re-opens for worship on Sunday 28 March 2021
REOPENING OF OUR CHURCH FOR WORSHIP
You will be aware from the First Minister’s recent announcement that, subject to a maximum attendance of 50 persons, churches may reopen for services of worship from 26 March 2021.
Following a Kirk Session meeting where there was unanimous agreement that we reopen, and having received the necessary approval by Presbytery that all required safety procedures are in place, we are pleased to intimate that the church will reopen for worship on Sunday 28 March 2021. The requirement for the church to be cleaned and sanitised following each service means that only one service can be held each Sunday – there will, until further notice, be no evening worship.
The format for morning worship will be the same as that which operated from October to December last year i.e.
- A maximum of 50 worshippers, all wearing face coverings, can be accommodated.
- Socially distanced seating arrangements must be followed.
- No singing of praise is permitted.
- Worshippers will be directed to and from their seats by the Elders in attendance.
The pattern of services will be as follows –
Sunday 28 March at 11.00 am – Sunday Morning Worship.
Friday 02 April (Good Friday) at 7.00 pm – Preparatory Service.
Sunday 04 April (Easter Sunday) at 11.00 am – Communion Service.
Tuesday 06 April at 7.00 pm – Prayer Service.
Those wishing to attend the Communion Service on Easter Sunday are asked to bring their own piece of bread as we are not permitted to distribute bread as we did previously. Individual disposable plastic glasses and a sealed container of Fellowship Cup will be provided at each seating place.
We hope and pray that this is the first step towards a return to our normal style of worship and the ability for us all to worship our Lord in His own house.
Bill Marshall
Session Clerk
Easter Church Magazine-update
Easter 2021Easter is traditionally the time of year when our first edition of the Church Magazine is issued. Whilst we are unable to consider the former method of delivering copies of the magazine to the doors of members of the congregation, through the Church Website we can still broadcast our news and messages. The last few editions of the magazine were produced during the period when the church was closed and, consequently, these magazines lacked the personal input from yourselves. Such articles have so much more meaning for and impact on our readers. Please remember that this is YOUR magazine, and your contributions are so important and welcomed. While we might think that there is nothing for us to write about why not consider writing even just 100 words on “A day in my life under lockdown” telling everyone how you spend your time at home, what you hate about it and what you actually like about it. Or how about 100 words on “The three things I most want to do when coronavirus is over” or even “Vaccination Day !” Now use some of that extra time we all have these days to share your thoughts and feelings with your friends from the church. Articles, poetry, favourite verses, or hymns share them with us all. Articles can be emailed to me at wwm74marl@hotmail.com or posted to me at 3A Balmeanach, The Braes, Portree IV51 9NH. Handwritten articles are perfectly acceptable – we have a typing service, if required. I’m pleased to say some articles have been received but more are always welcome, no matter how short, and to allow for that the deadline has been extended to Friday 19 March. Bill Marshall
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Grasping the Nettle: Christians and sceptics in discussion
If you’re interested in the debate between Christianity and science then these online events in March and April are available: do take a look!
https://www.graspingthenettle.org/assets/docs/GTN_Campaign_-_March_2021.pdf
Grasping the Nettle: Science and Faith discussions
Grasping the Nettle
organises discussions around science and Christianity, and there are online events coming up on 18 and 25 February that may be of interest to anyone grappling with the challenges posed by atheism. Find out more on this link
https://www.graspingthenettle.org/
Church Magazine
Easter 2021
Although our church doors remain closed during this further period of lockdown, the church is still alive, albeit through the internet and website. Easter is less than 2 months away with Sunday 04 April being Easter Sunday. Our sincere hope is that before that date our doors will once again open to allow our Sunday worship even if that is again the new format of socially distanced seating and a limit on the number of worshippers permitted to attend. If this comes to pass then we would hope that we might, once again, be able to gather at the Lord’s Table and celebrate communion together. Easter is traditionally the time of year when our first edition of the Church Magazine is issued. Whilst we are unable to consider the former method of delivering copies of the magazine to the doors of members of the congregation, through the Church Website we can still broadcast our news and messages. The last few editions of the magazine were produced during the period when the church was closed and, consequently, these magazines lacked the personal input from yourselves. Such articles have so much more meaning for and impact on our readers. Please remember that this is YOUR magazine, and your contributions are so important and welcomed. While we might think that there is nothing for us to write about why not consider writing even just 100 words on “A day in my life under lockdown” telling everyone how you spend your time at home, what you hate about it and what you actually like about it. Or how about 100 words on “The three things I most want to do when coronavirus is over” or even “Vaccination Day !” In all the phone calls we have been making recently most people have been saying “There’s no news” but remember that the Bible is full of news – GOOD NEWS! Good news and encouragement ”I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” Psalm 34:4 We can take our anxiety and depression to Him because He wants to help us. He will always listen to us and help us. Now use some of that extra time we all have these days to share your thoughts and feelings with your friends from the church. Articles, poetry, favourite verses, or hymns share them with us all. Articles can be emailed to me at wwm74marl@hotmail.com or posted to me at 3A Balmeanach, The Braes, Portree IV51 9NH. Handwritten articles are perfectly acceptable – we have a typing service, if required. It would be very much appreciated if contributions could be sent to me by Monday 8 March. Bill Marshall
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Life and Work
Life and Work, the monthly magazine of the Church of Scotland, is available online from £1.99 or take out a digital or print subscription. Thought provoking articles and a connection with the wider Church, more important than ever during the pandemic. Find out more on this link:
Poems for the New Year, 2021
HAPPY NEW YEAR
(An acrostic poem where the first letter of each line
spells out the title of the poem)
Heaven’s gift of another year
As the old departs and the new is born,
Plans for a future and a hope
Preparing us for each new dawn.
Yesterday has gone forever,
New days and ventures lie ahead,
Even darkness turns to light
When we make the Lord our head.
Yielding to the Holy Spirit
Ever mindful that He’s there,
As we live our lives before Him
Rejoicing in His loving care.
By Megan Carter
A New Year’s resolution-prayer – following in His footsteps
Almighty eternal, just and merciful God, grant us the desire to do only what pleases you, and the strength to do only what you command. Cleanse our souls, enlighten our minds, and inflame our hearts with your Holy Spirit, that we may follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
St Francis of Assisi (1182 – 1226)
As a New Year begins
A prayer by Karl Barth (1886 – 1968). This most prominent Protestant theologian of his time spent much of his life resisting the Nazi movement, and knew the importance of entering a New Year undaunted by troubles all around him.
O Lord, our Father! At the turn of the year… our hearts are filled with sombre thoughts… our ears are deafened by the voices of the radio and the newspapers, with their numerous predictions for the coming year. Instead we want to hear Your word, Your voice, Your assurance, Your guidance. We know that You are in our midst, and are eager to give us all that we need, whether we ask or not.
…We ask for one thing only: that you collect our scattered thoughts, getting rid of the confused and defiant thoughts that may distract us, and thus enable us to concentrate on your limitless generosity to us. You were abundantly generous to us last year, and will be no less generous to us next year, and in every year to come. Fill us with gratitude to you.
Collected by Bill Marshall, Session Clerk
Christmas and New Year Services 2020/2021
Regrettably due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic there will be no Watchnight or New Year’s Day services held in the church this year.
However, a video recorded service will be posted on the church website on Christmas Eve. This video will contain all aspects of our traditional service – Readings, carols, Minister’s Christmas message, lighting of the fifth Advent Candle. We hope that this will be an acceptable compromise given the exceptional circumstances which prevail at present.
As with the weekly Sunday Sermons, printed copies of the text of the Watchnight Service will be available to those without internet access. A Christmas Day service will also be posted on the website with printed copies made available.
Please note that as a printed copy cannot show all the details of the video it is possible, using a memory stick, to copy the item to the hard drive of a laptop or tablet which can then be used to view the service without internet access.
Christmas 2020 Church Magazine
Like everything else Christmas 2020 will be different this year with the ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic. But we can still rejoice and the magazine has details of the festive season services. Click on this link to read the magazine and if you would like a printed copy these are available from Sandor, our minister.
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