WELCOME, ETHAN!

Here is the youngest member of our congregation, born 9th July  2012.

ALL-AGE HOLIDAY

The All-Age Holiday is just that, a lovely mixture of old and young. It is held in a lovely building belonging to the Boys' Brigade, which is a Christian-based organization.

 Despite all the rain there are lots of activities to keep everyone occupied. There are special times of worship morning and evening, and meals are an important time of their time together.

A boy likes a stick! (And he needs his wellies!)

May God bless all young people who attend Christian camps wherever they are held this Summer

BURNING BUSH

We know that some friends have been interested to hear that our congregation in Edinburgh was provided with a building which just suits our needs. The men, especially, have been working very hard - cleaning, painting and generally improving it and now it feels most comfortable.

Walking in to our Prayer meeting a week past Thursday, we couldn't but notice the latest acquisition - a picture of the burning bush, beautifully embroidered on a dark blue background.

The burning bush has been a symbol of the Presbyterian church in countries throughout the world since reformation times. Fire, in God's Word is a symbol of His holiness; that is why Moses was commanded to remove his shoes. But, here, there is something else; just as the bush was not consumed by the fire, God would keep His people in the fire of affliction. God spoke to Moses from the bush saying that He would deliver them from their suffering in Egypt.

God's Kingdom (His people) will never be destroyed. His Kingdom will last forever. The gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Down through the centuries, many of God's people have been persecuted, even unto death. Today, many suffer for love of Jesus Christ. One day they and their faith will be vindicated.

This is why the burning bush is such a suitable emblem to have: it does not just look back, but it looks forward.

God in the midst of her doth dwell
Nothing shall her remove
The Lord to her an helper will
And that right early, prove. Psalm 46:5

Read about the burning bush in the second book of the Bible - Exodus chapter 3

15TH MAY 2011

What a joy it was to have our first Lord's Day services in our new church! The Lord has indeed provided a beautiful building for us, and it is just right for our needs. Our minister preached a very appropriate word from 1Chronicles 7:1.

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

• The ark had been returned to its rightful place in the new temple. Return to biblical preaching should be given its rightful place at our services.

• We also need the spirit of prayer. Solomon prayed reverently at the opening of the temple He prayed to a personal God, and he pleaded God's promises. Over and above, he made his requests known to God.

Fire followed the prayer. The glory of the Lord filled the temple: God delights in the gathering of his people. Let us all be in our place in our building at the various services. See Jeremiah 20:9, "...his word was in my heart as a burning fire", and verse 29: "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.....".

The sacrifice show the need for the atonement of our sins, which was accomplished in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

The result of the fire was that the people worshiped, showing by their posture their humble and awed submission to God. We are not worthy of our building, but what a privilege to know God's blessing on us. At the opening of the temple the people were honoured to have the great King Solomon in their midst. Our guest is the one who is "greater than Solomon", the Lord Himself!

Then, Solomon and all the people celebrated the feast. At the end of that time, Solomon sent the people away joyful and glad of heart for the goodness of the Lord to them. One day God's people will also celebrate a special feast: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

WORKING TOGETHER

Those who were able came together to help clean our new church building. It is an exciting time for all of us.

Norman, you really are making such a good job of the pulpit!

Here is one happy pastor!

Refreshment time!

Hmmmm! Deep discussion here!

Donald, I think you have done this kind of thing before!

Keep your strength up, folks!

Just leave me to get on with what I am doing!

There are many prayers of thankfulness to our God for providing us with this building which is just right for our needs. We do pray that the Lord will be with us as we move forward into this new chapter of our congregational life, to bless us and enable us to witness for Him in this needy city of Edinburgh.

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

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