PASTORAL LETTER November 2011

Dear friends,

By the time you receive this newsletter we will have held the first meeting of Messy Church on Tuesday 25 October. I will like to say a little bit more about this venture. Here is a direct quote from the book "Messy Church":
"Messy Church is a once-monthly time when families come together, eating together and celebrating God together through his word, through music and through prayer. It's different from a children's activity day because it's an event for children and their carers or parents together, and it's more than a local authority fun day because of the element of worship that underpins it. With messy church we are trying to be a worshipping community of all ages, centred on Christ . . .".      

Messy Church was conceived by a fairly ordinary congregation - St Wilfrid's in the suburbs of Portsmouth. What led them to introduce it? The answer is a scenario which is probably true of the majority of Christian congregations. It is encapsulated in another quote from the book: "Messy Church came out of the frustration of knowing that we had good premises, good leaders, some good ideas, but few children and families turning up on a Sunday. The realization that we simply weren't connecting was the starting point".  

We live in an age in which many people in our society have no background of regular church attendance and to whom the idea of a formal church service with a hymn prayer sandwich is foreign and possibly also a bit daunting and not something they would choose to participate in.. There is also the problem that Sunday is now a day when children and families are involved in a whole variety of activities which precludes their being free to attend church.

It could be that Messy Church will be the means of some people at present outside or on the fringes of the church finding faith in Jesus Christ and becoming regularly involved in the life and worship of the church. Meantime it is hoped that we who are already involved in the life and worship of the church will enjoy and benefit in many ways ourselves from Messy Church whilst recognising its importance as a tool to connect with the people of our community. It is to be hoped that members will keep an eye open for neighbours and friends and their families who may with a personal invitation be encouraged to come along on the last Tuesday of each month.

Yours faithfully

Cameron McPherson

CHURCH CALENDAR

October

Sun 30 Service Clinton House 2.30

November

Wed 09 Guild 7.15 Miss Kimberley Goodger The Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Sales Table).
Thurs 10 Focus 1.45 Martin Dudgeon, Asia Link
Sun 13 Remembrance Sunday Netherburn memorial 10.45, Ashgill memorial 11.00 Dalserf Church 11.30
Wed 23 Scots Night Jolly Beggars
Thurs 24 Focus 1.45 Rev Alan Telfer, Avendale Old Strathaven

Notice Board

Remembrance Sunday 13 November
Netherburn memorial 10.45, Ashgill memorial 11.00 Dalserf Church 11.30
Retiring Offering at Dalserf for the Earl Haig and RAF Benevolent Funds