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PASTORAL LETTER
Dear friends
 As we enter another year some do so with a sense of excitement and anticipation of good things others with a sense of foreboding and a heaviness of spirit. The extent to which one or other of these extremes applies depends on a combination of circumstances and temperament or we might say a mixture of internal and external factors.
We may be able to do little or nothing about the external factors but the internal factors - our emotions our expectations our mood etc. are more amenable to change. The Bible teaches in a number of places that our feelings should not be determined by our circumstances but rather our feelings should rise above our circumstances. It can be very easy of course to glibly state such a truth but not nearly so easy to live it out when we ourselves are immersed in vexing and painful circumstances. Nevertheless it should be a comfort to all of us to know that our circumstances need not and should not determine whether life is worth living or not. What then does the Bbile actually say about this? First of all we have in Romans chapter 8 the great truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. " neither death nor life neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future ...nor anything else in all creation" (vs 38,39). There can be nothing greater than to be loved by God and nothing that happens to us can alter that. Another truth from Romans chapter 8 is that the adverse circumstances of life are tools in Gods hand to form us into our true selves, in all things God (working) for the good of those who love him" (v.28). Finally, depending on the adverse circumstances in question God may deliver us from them in answer to our prayers. The writer of Psalm 40 said "I waited patiently for the Lord he turned to me and heard my cry He lifted me out of the slimy pit out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock" Even if he does not deliver us from adverse circumstances he will deliver us in them - from the mud and mire of despair and self pity, if we will only cry to him in faith.
I trust that every Dalserf member will do the best they can throughout 2012 trusting in God's enabling power, to do his work
as an indivual Christian and as a member of Dalserf Church and see Christ's kingdom expand locally nationally and globally.
Best wishes for 2012
Cameron McPherson
NOTICE BOARDJoint Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Sunday 22 Jan .Baptist Church 6.30
Guild Burns Supper Rorison Wed 25 Jan. 7.15
Open to all. Contact Sadie Newlands (Tel. 888376) or Ann Carson (Tel. 372275)
QUOTE OF THE MONTHLet nothing disturb thee, nothing afright thee;
All things are passing; God never changeth;
Patient endurance attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth In nothing is wanting
Alone God sufficeth
St Theresa's Bookmark
PRAYER OF THE MONTHJohn Calvin composed daily prayers for the ordinary people of Geneva. The following is one for the morning:-
My God Father and Preserver, who in your goodness has watched over me in this past night and brought me to this day, grant that I may spend the day wholly in your service. Let me not think or say or do a single thing that is not in obedience to your will; but rather let all my actions be directed to your glory and the salvation of others. Let me attempt nothing that is not pleasing to you; but rather let me seek happiness only in your grace and goodness. Grant also, that as I labour for the goods and clothing necessary for this life, I may constantly raise my mind upwards to the heavenly life which you promise to all your children.
Amen
CHURCH CALENDAR
JanuaryWed 11 Guild 7.15 Slide Show The Falkland Islands Mr George Duncan
Thurs 19 Focus 1.45
Sun 22 Joint service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Baptist Church 6.30
Wed 25 Guild 7.15 Burns Supper
February2 Focus 1.45
DEATHS24 Oct. Betty Williamson
25 Oct. Christine Higginson
10 Nov. Ann Holt
29 Nov. Jimmy Simpson
24 Dec Anne Falconer
29 Dec. Malcolm Cowan
WEDDINGS1 July Claire Stewart to Stephen McQuoney
20 July Marina Early to Ole Sorensen
21 July Margaret Baillie to Alexander Russell Gray
30 July Maria Woods to Joel Wilson
18 Nov. Elaine Fraser to Daniel Hood
COFFEE ROTA
January1 New Year's Day
8 Mrs Blair & Mrs Budgell
15 Mr & Mrs Archibald
22 Mrs McPherson & Mrs Kelly
29 Mrs Clarkson & Mrs Watt
February5 Mr & Mrs McPhee
CRECHE ROTA
January1 New Year's Day
8 Mrs Price & Mrs Hume
15 Mrs Hoey & Miss Hume
22 Mrs Budgell & Mrs Blair
29 Mrs Gilchrist & Mrs Pollok
February5 Mrs Manson & Mrs McCallum
FLOWER LIST
January1 Ann McHolm
8 Mr & Mrs McCallum
15 Mrs Lawson
22 Mr & Mrs Archibald
29 Mrs Carson
February5 Mr & Mrs Gold
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