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PASTORAL LETTER
 Dear friends,
The frustration of our expected plans which I spoke about in last months Pastoral Letter in relation to the extreme weather conditions, continued for me well into January on account of a bout of flu. I am not sure I was quite as ill as I understand Dr Martin made out I was when he took the service on 16 January but nevertheless it floored me for ten days and frustrated some of my plans and planning for the first month of the new year. I am still trying to catch up to some extent. I am aware of a number of Dalserf members with health problems at present and would assure each one of our concern and our prayers. Each of the groups which meet weekly for Bible study devote some of the time to prayer and specifically prayer for the sick. Sometimes we only hear of a members illness after they have been ill for some time and only then by chance. I would urge you if you are unwell or are anxious about a situation in your life or that of a loved one and feel you can share it, to contact me or Rita Fairley or Lilias Eathorne with a view to being prayed for by the groups. If we truly believe that God exists and loves us do we not believe also that he hears and answers our prayers? In the book of James we are told to “pray for each other so that you may be healed”. Having our prayers answered however does not necessarily mean in cases of illness instant or even eventual physical healing although there have been many wonderful answers to prayer where unmistakable healing has occurred. Prayer involves placing the situation or problem in God’s hands and trusting him with the outcome even if it is not the one we would have chosen for ourselves. Prayer involves trusting God to do what is best.
Most members are probably not aware that at every Kirk Session meeting an elders district is singled out to be prayed for. meeting an elders district is singled out to be prayed for. Each member in that district is named and the elder and district prayed for not just by me but by several elders as well.. The most significant and powerful thing a Kirk Session can do is to pray for the members whose pastoral care is their responsibility because prayer is the most powerful tool we have as Christians in the war against evil. Pastoral care is superficial and inadequate without the element of prayer.
This is what the apostle Paul said about prayer in the sixth chapter of Ephesians where he addresses the subject of spiritual warfare: “...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”. (Eph.6:18)
Remember of course that “the saints” are not venerable church figures dead or alive but ordinary Christians.
Paul continues to say “Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains . Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should.”
Thank you for your prayers for me and bear in mind that if the great apostle Paul needed prayer for courage to say what he ought to say as a preacher of the gospel then I need it much more.
Yours faithfully
Cameron McPherson
Life & Work
The Life and Work subscription will be £18 for 2011, could money could be placed in an envelope with your name on it with cheques made payable to Dalserf Church . Due to copies not being collected from the front of the Church Life and Work will now be placed in your pew for collection, if you move seats can you let me know. Thank you
Ann Price
ROTAS
FLOWERS
February
6th Mr & Mrs Gold ,Ashgill
13th Mrs Anderson, Wishaw
20th Mrs Paul, Stonehouse
27th Mrs Paterson , Ashgill
March
6th Kay Love, Larkhall
COFFEE
Jan 30th Mrs McPherson & Mrs Jones
Feb. 6th Mr & Mrs Archibald
13th Mrs Clarkson & Mrs Watt
20th Mr & Mrs McPhee
27th Mr & Mrs Harvey
CRECHE
Jan 30 Mrs Budgell & Mrs Blair
Feb 6th Mrs Gilchrist & Mrs Pollok
13th Mrs Manson & Mrs McCallum
20th The Humes
27th Mrs Price & Miss Rodger
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