Congregational Newsletter Easter 2021
Stornoway High Church
CONGREGATIONAL NEWSLETTER: Easter 2021
Luke 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen.
The times are changing and we must not hold on to the past. For many, the past year has been one to let go, never to be experienced again. We are reminded of the Pandemic at every turn and it is hard to put it out of our minds. But the writer to the Hebrews asks us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us and we do that by looking ahead. Each one of us will have learned from our experience, we are more aware of what really matters and what doesn’t. We have come through it and we can look forward to the year ahead with fresh expectation. Yes we have some rough terrain ahead but we can see a smoother walk beyond that as we approach a new normal.
Easter time is a time for reflecting upon the cross, it is the central symbol of the Christian faith. What does it mean to you? For me, it means grace, love, hope and peace. It is a place where we surrender ourselves to Christ, a place where we trust in him for our present and our future. Looking ahead means looking to the cross. What about the past though?
As I write this, I’ve walked along the beach and have seen many footsteps in the sand. Each imprint is evidence of the mark someone has made as they pass by. The waves roll up the beach and wash over the footsteps. As they draw back there is nothing left of the imprint. The beach is clean ahead and behind. The action of the waves reminds me of the action of the cross.
The cross means forgiveness. We are saved by grace and the waves of grace that emanate from the cross wash our past, present and future sin away. The cross means complete forgiveness and complete Love. We may have made an awful mess in the sands of life but the cross means it’s gone.
Jesus appears many times after his death, he appeared to his disciples many times. He appears to you and to me through his Spirit even now and he walks with us beyond the cross, beyond Easter, across the rough road ahead and towards eternity. May you know the blessing of his forgiveness and his saving grace as you walk the Christian life with the Lord by your side.
CHURCH REOPENING: Church will open for an Easter Service on Sunday 4th April at 11am. Seats must be pre-booked in advance, contact Duncan Macinnes to book: duncanmacinnes@gmail.com or ‘phone / text 07748332595.
Midweek meetings will resume from Wednesday 7th April.
Monthly Gaelic services will resume from Sunday 18th April in the Church Hall.
Sunday morning services will resume from Sunday 2nd May (morning only). Pre-booking will be required for Sunday services.
BACK TO CHURCH: A separate note is enclosed outlining what to expect when you come back to Church, your responsibilities and the precautions to be taken. Please note the Scottish Government and Church of Scotland advice for those considered vulnerable is that they are to avoid crowded places. Kirk Session advice is that people in the vulnerable category should consider their own safety first and should not feel under any pressure to attend Church. The services will remain accessible to those that feel more comfortable worshipping at home.
WORSHIP RESOURCES: Our Sunday and Wednesday Services are livestreamed from the Church. Our worship Services are available on the Stornoway High Church Facebook page, on our Stornoway High Church YouTube channel and on our website, www.stornowayhighchurch.org.uk. You can also dial in by phone (03301 248483) to our live services at 11.00am Sundays and 7.30pm Wednesdays.
SERVE: As we get set for returning to the church building on Sundays, We have an ongoing requirement for church cleaning and door duty. If you are able to help out and willing to go on to a rota in any of these areas please contact Duncan Macinnes on 07748 332595.
THANKS: To the congregation for your continued financial support, it is truly humbling! We are so encouraged by your generosity, particularly at a time of financial hardship for many. Contact Our treasurer Annie Smith on 07972 935105 for any questions regarding giving.
ACCOUNTS: If you would like to view our 2020 financial accounts they are available at the church door for you to take away. If you require a link sent to view them please contact the Minister or Session Clerk.
PASTORAL CARE NETWORK: Our pastoral Visitation Teams continue to phone the housebound and vulnerable. If you would like a phone call or know of someone in our congregation that would benefit from a call or for any Pastoral issues or concerns, please contact the Minister on 07717 065739.
HIGH CHURCH FOOD BANK: Thank you for your generous contributions which allow this service to continue. The best way to support this is through cash donations deposited in our secure mailbox on the outside wall of the small Sanctuary (Goathill Road entrance). If you are in need, or if you are aware of others in need, please contact Jann Skelly, 07985 710410 or Fiona Morrison, 07484 844485.
A WORD FROM THE SESSION CLERK: 2020 was a strange year for Stornoway High Church. Although we were prevented from gathering together for worship, we were able to access online worship on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the pandemic. Our thanks to Gordon who opened God’s Word for us week in, week out and for those who made livestreaming from the Church possible. As light appears at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, and to borrow some Government terminology, the Kirk Session is determined to ‘build back better’. As we return to Church, we will continue to livestream services in parallel, catering for the many who have joined us online during the pandemic.
To quote from the Trustees’ Report, prepared by the Kirk Session for our 2020 Audited Accounts, we remain thankful for a congregation that has “proved to be stable, united, resilient, loyal and extremely generous”. Many congregations suffered catastrophic financial loss during 2020 and some will not recover but, due to our hard working team, led by Gordon’s Ministry of love and peace, we emerge from the pandemic on a solid financial footing, going into 2021 with no debt having refurbished the Manse and upgraded the heating and lighting system in the Church. We have so much to be thankful to God for; we can truly say, with the Psalmist, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage”.
PRAYER: God of grace, God of love, God of peace how lovely is your dwelling place. We are your people, the sheep of your pasture, and we thank you for your presence with us as a church over this past year. We look forward to the future Lord, however it might look because your promise to us is; ‘I will be with you to the end of time. I pray that your presence would abide with the good people of Stornoway High Church this day and forevermore. Walk with us as we walk out our faith and grant us wisdom and vision as we seek to be a blessing to a world in need. Help us to be a witness to the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we pray, AMEN.
Rev Gordon Macleod (Minister)
Mr John Cunningham (Session Clerk)