Reflections

On Sunday, at our Harvest Service, gifts were collected for Granton Food bank and there was a Fairtrade Stall afterwards to purchase goods from farmers in other countries at a fair price so that their lives were improved. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest collected a hazelnut to hold …

The recent Sunday evening talk on the 27th September is now available on video. Herod the Great in Legend and History given by Dr Margaret Williams.

This month we have been following the Exodus passages as the Israelites escaped from captivity in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea and continuing their challenging journey through wilderness places, often running out of food and especially water. But God provided. This has linked with Jesus promising the Living …

The water of life ….. In Exodus ch14 we read of the awful moment when the escaping Israelites realised that the armies of Pharoah were hot on their heels, coming up fast behind them in their chariots. Nowhere to go, trapped on the banks of the Red Sea, an uncrossable …

During this week, churches in many places are joining to pray especially for the world. Locally, we hope that folk will take some time at some part of the week to use this prayer. Church gardens are open as usual for prayer and sanctuaries are open at different times for …

the image of God…… On Sunday, we read from Deuteronomy ch4 vs 15 to 20 beginning,” On the day when the Lord spoke to you out of the fire on Mount Horeb, you saw no figure of any kind;” going on to warn against trying to make any image of …

Dusk to Dawn – our Sunday theme. Dusk in Finland – photo by Shahrukh Gill When navigating profound transitions and the collapse of familiar structures, it is easy to mistake the shifting landscape for the end of things—a terrifying dusk. However, what looks like ruin is actually the necessary clearing …

Keep the change …… This week we explored the story in Matthew 15 vs 21 to 28 where Jesus meets a Cannanite woman, a foreigner, who was asking him to heal her very sick daughter. Jesus met a new situation that challenged his understanding of who should be accepted to …

Not just for Christmas ….. This week we thought in art, in hymn and readings about God reaching out to humankind and our response. In Phillipians ch 2 vs 1 – 11 we read that ‘our bearing to one another should arise out of our life in Christ Jesus who …

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before him, and rejoice. When I was at school this was the hymn we always sang at the end of term assembly. One which we learnt by heart in music lesson so we …

We sang a new hymn this week which seems to capture why we come together each Sunday God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. Here, as in the world around us, …

“Go in peace. The mission you are on is under the eye of the Lord.” This week we read 2 passages from the Old Testament, the first from Judges in chapter 18, and the second from the Book of Nehemiah in chapter 1. Both talking of journeys taken, searches made, …

Jesus said,”Behold, I freely give the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink, and live.” As we look at passages from the bible over the summer Sundays which we do not often read, we dipped into the Old Testament in the Book of the prophet Ezekial; his call in …

Wednesday Reflection Paul lived in Rome for 2 whole years and welcomed all who came to him. Paul reached Rome at last after his dreadful sea journey. Here, he was under house arrest for the next 2 years. But even then he welcomed all who came to him and spoke …

Paul travels to Rome by sea and is shipwrecked. In Acts ch 27 we read of this difficult voyage. A fierce wind caught the ship and for 14 days they ran before the storm in fear, losing all hope of life. But Paul prayed to God, then broke bread, encouraging …

This week, as we near the time of year when many look forward to a summer holiday, we have a prayer to reflect on. Lord of creation, we thank you for the joy summer days bring us. For the joy of being part of your creation. The joy that lifts …

Wednesday Reflection Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, On Sunday, in Psalm 57, we read of challenging times in the life of the Psalm writer and heard of challenging times in lives today. We sang hymns that spoke of deep distress and calling to God, of listening for …

Christ is made the sure foundation In our worship this week in Exodus we read of the setting up of the tabernacle of God as the people of Israel escaped from captivity in Egypt and how much they donated towards their place of worship, especially the making of a wonderful …

Let there be light. Sunday was Trinity Sunday when we think about God, three persons in one; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Artists throughout the ages since this idea developed have painted representations, religious writers have looked for ways of explaining this in words, …

On this special Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after Jesus left them to ascend into heaven.

What is the church and what is it for? This week we discussed this question with each other; appropriate on this Sunday when we think again about the beginnings of the church; appropriate on this Sunday when we remember the Ascension of Christ and the disciples who were about to …

Creation spreads its springtime bloom; Life bursts like flame from death’s cold tomb. Words in a verse of an Easter hymn (420 in CH4) we started our service with last Sunday. A few weeks ago at the start of Lent we spoke of the ‘little springtimes’ of our lives, those …