Hello everyone,
Apologies for this being a day late, been working through the holiday emails and although I intended to write this last night, life got in the way. Whilst going down a local cycle path last night we came across a lady who had been knocked off her bicycle and was in obvious distress. She could not move her arm or initially stand up. A young man and a young woman had both stopped already to offer assistance. Together we managed to stabilise her and help her up when she felt strong enough, then arranged for an ambulance to meet us further down the cycle path. Another man stopped to offer help, quite a few people stopped, checked there was enough help and only then moved on. I am glad to say that very few people either walked past or rode past without a word. Once she was safe in the ambulance, her son came to collect and take home her bike and everyone then left and went their way. We did not even get each other’s names as the thing that brought us together was the opportunity to help the poor lady.
It was only when home I realised this encounter was a parable on the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus told. Just to be clear, the real good Samaritans here were the young man and woman who were first on the scene. They were the ones who stopped when no one else had. It was much easier for the rest of us to help when others were already helping.
Were they Christians? Don’t know, it never came up in conversation. Were they gracious to a stranger? Absolutely.
Not everyone who is gracious is a Christian but all Christians should be gracious to others because we are fully aware of how gracious God is towards us. In a world that seems to get less gracious by the day, it is imperative we Christians live lives of grace and show the world what it means to follow Jesus.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Luke 10
We mourn the passing of Rev Marion Dodd who was known to many. As Peter previously emailed, there will be a service of thanksgiving for Marion’s life in Melrose Parish Church on Tuesday 27th August at 1pm. For those who cannot make it in person the funeral will be live streamed and a recording will be available afterwards at: https://www.youtube.com/live/T5pJMNahzWY
Sadly Marion is not the only person of our church family who has so recently passed away. Mary Cartwright, wife of Rev Alan Cartwright, died peacefully in BGH on Monday 29th July, having had 2 or 3 weeks there being nursed with wonderful care in the Margaret Kerr unit. Mary’s funeral will be at Ladykirk Church, Monday 19th August at 12.45pm Do pray for Alan and for his and Mary’s 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
Both of these ladies were women of faith and we trust in the Lord that one day we shall see them again.
Please remember to uphold each other in prayer this week. Presbytery is this week particularly remembering the congregations of Hawick: Wilton and Teviothead.
Week beginning August 11th Hawick: Wilton linked with Teviothead
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
community. Pray for our Girls Brigade, the only company left in Hawick; for our Fellowship who have a varied programme of events; for a successful Harvest worship walk at Teviothead in early October; for our school work over two primarys and for new missional opportunities.
Readings for Read, Think, Pray Act this week are as follows:
Monday, August 5, 2024: Ephesians 4:17-24
Tuesday, August 6, 2024: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Wednesday, August 7, 2024: Mark 8:1-10
Thursday, August 8, 2024: Romans 15:1-6
Friday, August 9, 2024: Galatians 6:1-10
Saturday, August 10, 2024: Matthew 7:7-11
Sunday, August 11, 2024: No readings, we worship with others in church
Creative Writing as Spiritual Practice | Trinity College Glasgow | Scotland
This course on Spiritual creative writing is being taught by Liz Smith a frequent worshipper at Skirling. Click the link for more details.
To all Ministers, Session Clerks, Presbytery Clerks, Presbytery Mission Staff, Treasurers, OLM & Auxiliary Ministers and MDS.
Next Grant Funding Webinar: Benefact Trust
7–8pm, Wednesday 21 August
Our next webinar will feature Benefact Trust which since 1972 has awarded grants of over £256 million to churches, Christian charities and the communities they serve – with over £250,000 for Church of Scotland congregations in the last year alone.
They provide both Community Impact Grants as well as Building Improvement Grants alongside some others such as Heritage Skills and Roof Alarm grants to protect from metal theft. This is likely to be a very popular webinar and you can reserve a place by filling in this form If you have already registered that you want to attend and we have acknowledged your email you do not need to take any further action.
If you have any questions please contact the Grants Unit at grants@churchofscotland.org.uk
To book your attendance please fill in this form
PLEASE FILL IN DETAILS FOR EACH ATTENDEE – if you are registering for several people to attend fill in the form for the first person and click “Submit” then click “Submit another response” (about two thirds of the way down the screen) and repeat as required.
Data Protection - Privacy Notice
Lastly today the congregations of Dryburgh and District would like to thank everyone from Presbytery who supported their Strawberry Tea a couple of weeks ago. They were delighted to welcome local people and visitors from further afield who enjoyed a cream scone and a selection of cakes from the trolley. See attached photos of proof of the nice pieces!!!
God Bless and have a good week!
Norman
