The third Sunday and Advent and our Service was led by Rev Alan Gibson, this week we were looking at the Virgin girl Mary and the type of brutal life she would have had growing up in a small village Nazareth occupied by the Roman Empire at a time of at a time of poverty, arranged marriages and unions which by todays culture and standards wouldn’t be tolerated.
Mary’s story is so remarkable but what can we learn from her today, firstly Mary’s response to the Angel “I am a servant of the Lord Let it be unto me”.
I think that’s incredibly profound that she willingly submitted to this, it says so much about her and here in the Protestant Church we don’t glorify Mary the way the Catholic Church and yet here in these words we have this young woman who submits herself totally and utterly to God and I’m in Aww when I read these words.
The second thing is life wasn’t easy for Mary there was so many things that she couldn’t control in her life, yet God chose her, in spite of everything a child living in poverty God chose her. And much the same way he takes people who are broken people who have had problems in their past, people who are lost and empty and he chooses you and me and all he asks is that we respond as Mary did I am your Servant take me as you wish. Amen
We had readings several readings taken from different Gospels in the bible in which Mary is mentioned these were read by Duncan Currie.
Events Still to Come in December18th December – Time to Remember with Dundas Fyfe 7pm24th December – Family Service 6pm in Church24th December 10:30pm with Mulled Wine, Mince Pies, etc. 11:15pm for Carols 11:30pm Midnight Service25th December – Christmas Day Service 11am
Intimations –
The next Kerr Grieve Court Service is coming up in Tuesday the 17th at 1:30pm everyone is welcome to join us there to worship with the residents.
The Cinema Club Christmas Lunch is coming up at 12 noon on Thursday the 19th if you have not got your name down and want to come along please contact Aileen or Ruth. The film will start at 1:30pm
Tuesday the 17th will be the last Coffee Morning of the year, there will be home baking and mince pies. The Coffee Morning will resume on Tuesday the 7th of January, there will be no home baking but mince pies and shortbread. A big thank you to everyone who has baked, served, cleaned tables, moved tables and chairs or supported the coffee mornings in 2024, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
The Pastoral Team would like to thank everyone who donated in any way for the Gift Serviced towards Women’s Aid and Reachout. A total of £1620 was gifted towards Women’s Aid and many gifts for Reachout were received, thank you for your gifts of kindness helping others.
The Team that are due on Breakfast Duty on the 29th of December have decided NOT to have Breakfast on that day. Breakfast will resume at the end of January.
Could all organisations give their accounts to Elaine Johnstone for examination by Sunday the 12th of January please.
Our Hogmanay Ceilidh celebrations are warming up, tickets are still available at £10, bring your own food and refreshments, we have a ceilidh band and other entertainment. Please see Ruth or Aileen if you want a ticket.
Thanks this week
Martha and Joe Wright would like to thank their Church Family for the beautiful flowers. They would also like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, cards and prayers. Martha’s sister Agnes will be sadly missed.
Margaret and David Lindsay were so happy to receive the Church flowers last Sunday. Davis is now settled into his new home in Gavin Street and Margaret would like to thank everyone for thinking about them at this time. Your best wishes, prayers and kind thoughts are appreciated so much.
May Weir would like to say “thank you” to her Church Family for the beautiful Church flowers and also to thank everyone for their best wishes. May wishes everyone a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy 2025.
If you have any announcements, you wish to make to the church community this can be done by contacting David Macrae using the following methods by phone on 07464164093 or by email at dkmacrae@live.co.uk
May the blessing of God almighty be with you this day and for evermore. Amen