STUDY IN STOW

Every fortnight or so our minister has a Bible-study in a home in the pretty village of Stow, situated in the Scottish border hills, some 20 miles south of Edinburgh. Those who attend have been learning from the Shorter Catechism, an old document of 107 questions and answers which sets out the teaching of the Bible.

"What is the chief end of man?" is the 1st question. This is the age-old question: why am I here? And the answer brings us face to face with our Creator: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever".

The psalmist, King David knew this answer, when he said:

Whom have I in the heavens high
but thee, O Lord, alone?
And in the earth whom I desire
besides thee there is none.

Psalm 73:25

CUENCA 6

Encouraging news comes from Serge and Evelein in Spain. New families have started to attend morning meetings on Sundays. The children of one mother, Lidia, are also attending Sunday School. Quiril and Tania, a Bulgarian couple have come on different occasions to Morning services. Lucia, is a Rumanian Christian who has been attending the services for months, and would like to join the church. Another Rumanian girl, Lora, had stopped attending but has started to come again. Please pray for them all.

Uzo has 2 months of his interment to do as a teacher. He seems to be more stable. Serge still has weekly meetings with him, and asks for prayer that God will help him in his professional and spiritual life. He asks to be baptised.

Claudio, a church member, has been unemployed for some time now. If he doesn't get a job soon, he and his family may have to return to Rumania.

More children have begun to come to Sunday School. Pray for wisdom to present the gospel to them, especially thise whose parents are not Christian.

Please remember this couple as they seek the Lord's will for their future. The doctrinal series is finished and seems to have been useful. So they will continue with further studies on certain subject and spend time in prayer for God's guidance and blessing.

Serge and Evelein are grateful for your prayerful support.

PASTORAL

It's rather nice, because, despite living in the "Central Belt" where the densest population is, a short drive takes us into the country. Saturday saw us travelling just a few miles south and before long we were among the gentle hills and rolling fields. The earth seemed expectant, with buds fattening on the trees and bushes and, yes, lambs!! Spring is really here.

God, who covereth the heaven with clouds,
who prepareth rain for the earth,
who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse, he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalm 145:8-11

OUR NEW CHAIRS!

Our congregation is very excited as we are in the process of buying a building in which we can hold our services. For the last 11 years the congregation have had 5 different moves as they looked for places to rent. It is not easy to get property in Edinburgh.

The buying/selling process is taking longer than expected, which is why our lovely new chairs are having to be unloaded from this delivery van.......

and put into these storage boxes untill we can occupy our own property!

This helper looks a bit cold, in the early morning chill, but what a blessing the weather is dry!

Working together.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:1-3

VISITING ROBB

Robb who does such a good job as sound and production engineer for our psalm-singing CDs had to spend a couple of days in hospital, so we went to visit him.

After days of snow and rain it promised to be a beautiful day as the mist cleared and let the sunshine reach us.

We were glad to find Robb much better and spent some time chatting in his home

He suggested we go to the Retirement Village where he does some work, for a bite of lunch. Everyone we met seemed to know him. Here is one of his special friends - Anina

Although Anina has bad eye-sight, she colours in texts and then puts them on her cupboards.

An old friend of our own also lives in this place so we paid her a visit also. It was so sunny that we were able to sit in her little patio. May has served the Lord faithfully for many years, and has been a mother to many who found her home to be a refuge to them in their time of trouble or need.

Robbie, comfortable but not quite relaxed.

3 SCORE YEARS AND TEN

Bill and I are still going over the enjoyment of his birthday now more than 2 weeks ago already. So far there are no more photos. to show you. What we would like to have shared with you is a setting of the prose version of Psalm 96:11-13 which some of the members of the CD group sang at the closing of the evening.

"Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein:
Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the lord:
for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the world with righteousness,
and the people with his truth".

God created all things for His own glory. The Westminster Catechism tells us that "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever"

We are thankful to God for His kindness in giving Bill so many years and for the time He has given us together.

GIRLS' NIGHT

Our congregation in Edinburgh and other friends are thrilled about the engagement of Steven and Sandra.

Our dear friend Sandra McKay organised a surprise night for Sandra McAulay to wish her well.

The first surprise of the night was for Sandra to see her sister, Ann who travelled about 200 miles to be at the girls' get-together.

One of the "girls", Carol McLeod

For the "bottom drawer"

This will be useful!

Can't be much more in there!

What else?

A scrapbook with household hints and recipes from some of Sandra's friends

Esther, who with her mother, helped to put the scrapbook together.

Yes, Sandra and Steven, we pray God will bless and guide you as you prepare to start a new life together and in the Lord.

SURPRISE PARTY

Got you, Bill!

Yes! You have now reached the alotted span!

Mmmmm! You've changed since I last saw you!!!

Anything better at the next table?

What's all this about??

A traditional Scottish song from the Keddie family

Bill's sisters, "Glad we came!!"

All together again.