PASTORAL LETTER

Dear friends,
This is the time of year when we tend to take a deep breath and say "oh well summer holidays over back to the grind".  Many people seem to adopt the  approach to life which sees work as a means to earn money to enjoy their leisure I said in a sermon recently "the very purpose of  your existence as well as mine is to serve God  in some capacity - to work with him in his work in the world". If that is true then a healthier approach to life is to view leisure  rest and relaxation as the means to replenish our energy reserves in order to return to our God given work, refreshed and reinvigorated. I also said in the same sermon that to live for ourselves is dull and boring compared with living for God.  Not everyone enjoys their daily work but to see our lives including secular work as service to God where God uses us to promote and build his kingdom surely has the potential to lift the most mundane or disagreeable occupation  on to a higher level with a corresponding transformation in our emotional state. 

The Outreach Committee at its last meeting discussed having a Parish Mission during the last week of October. The Kirk Session have agreed to this. It will be held from Monday  25th to Sunday 31st. Members are being approached with a view to hosting a meeting in theihome to which friends and neighbours will be invited  and a speaker to give an epilogue supplied. There will be other eventssome specifically for young folk, possibly one specifically for men and one specifically for women.  In preparation there will be a prayer walk round the parish and a prayer breakfast on Sunday 24th. A complete timetable will be given in the October newsletter. The committee also considered at its last meeting how we might support the valuable work the Machan Trust are doing with many young folk in our parish.  Sharon prepared and distributed a letter on  this subject at church on Sunday. It was suggested that in order to share this invitation with the whole congregation that her letter (below) be included in the newsletter. I have therefore happily curtailed my Pastoral letter in order to accomodate this. The "form" referred to will be with the newsletter.

Yours faithfully,        

Cameron McPherson

Dear Friend and Fellow Member

During the last few months my thoughts have turned to the young folk in our church and parish.

Like many of you, I know that during past years the Machan Trust has been working with young people in Netherburn and Ashgill and my concern is that we can in someway harness this work so that it becomes an arm of outreach for our church.

The Machan Trust workers do the hard part, organising the programme of activities for the young folk.  I am looking for church folk (of any age) to join me inshowing the hand of friendship and care to these teenagers.  The kind of things wecan do are take the register, sell the tuck shop, make coffee, be a friend.  We can send birthday cards, make contact with parents and families about church events and perhaps the most important, pray.  Pray for the leaders, the young folk and their families.

If you are able to do any of the things I have mentioned please contact me.  I am not necessarily looking for a regular weekly involvement (except for prayer) but an hour or two a month, perhaps on a rota.

Last week I went to the Machan Trust Office and learnt that there are 29 young folk on the register in Netherburn and 15 on the register in Ashgill.  These are contacts with young folk and their families that we cannot, in fact, dare not allow to slip by.  Here are 45 teenagers in our parish and now is the time to bring them under the influence of our church.  We need to be Jesus in their midst showing His love and our friendship so they will be drawn to Him.

Please prayerfully think about these young folk and let me know what you can do in this area of church outreach.

Netherburn young folk meet in the community hall on Wednesday 7pm until 9pm.  Ashgill young folk meet in Rorison on Tuesday 7pm until 9pm.

Please phone me on 01698 882195 if interested in helping.

With Christian love

Sharon

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