Notices

Watch and Wait and Pray

sheumais Events, Local, Notices, Services

The Watch in the Garden

Today is Maundy Thursday, when Jesus met with His Disciples and shared a Last Supper with them.  Normally on Maundy Thursday, we meet for a very moving service in one of our Churches and we do a number of things that commemorate that last evening together:

Washing the Disciples’ Feet:

“During supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.” (John 13:3-5)

Sharing the Last Supper:

“While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

Watching, Waiting and Praying at Gethsemane:

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’  … Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:36, 40-41)

The first two of these we can only do when we can be together, but the third is something that we can all do at home – watch and wait and pray with Jesus in His anguish.  Normally some of the congregation would gather in St Andrew’s Hall and pray silently in front of the small altar on which the Sacrament is placed, surrounded by greenery and candles.

Tonight, Simon and I will both celebrate the Last Supper alone in one of our Churches, “with the people on our hearts”, but at 9pm, we invite each of you to join us sitting in a suitably prepared space with greenery and candles, to pray quietly for one hour.  Praying for our families, our friends, our neighbours, our governments, those who work in the NHS and in other essential services and particularly those in our land and far away who are anxious, unwell or grieving. Pray also for yourselves.

Strew His Way on Palm Sunday

sheumais Events, Notices

Image may contain: plant

This idea comes from the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in Oregon.

What if everyone on Sunday April 5 in the morning, puts a branch on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday.

It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks.

We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the members of the body of Christ. We are the Church.

Light a Candle on Sundays

sheumais Events, Notices

Scottish Christians* are encouraged to light a candle and place it in their window at 7pm** each Sunday in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are urged to “join in prayerful solidarity with this witness”, describing the candle as “a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, the source of hope in this life.”

The following prayer can be used when lighting the candle:

For all that is good in life, thank you,
For the love of family and friends, thank you,
For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you.

May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support,
May those who are sick, know healing,
May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort.

Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom,
Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being,
Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living.

And may the light shining from our windows,
across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle,
be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

* These include the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Scotland, the United Free Church, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the Society of Friends (Quakers), Congregational Federation in Scotland, the Salvation Army, the Church of the Nazarene, and Redeemed Christian Church of God.

** Please take all necessary fire precautions when using a lit candle. Ensure you remain with the lit candle at all times, and do not leave it to burn if you leave the room. Ensure there are no fabrics or materials such as curtains near the candle.

Churches Now Closed

sheumais Diocese, Local, News, Notices, SEI

Following the directive from Boris Johnson this evening (23rd March) and updated guidance from the College of Bishops, our Churches will no longer be open to the public for either services or private prayer.  So from now on we must all pray at home.

Two prayers from the Scottish Prayer Book

In the time of any common Plague or Sickness.

O ALMIGHTY and merciful God, with whom are the issues of life and death: Grant us, we beseech thee, help and deliverance in this time of grievous sickness and mortality, and sanctify to us this affliction, that in our sore distress we may turn our hearts unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For Hospitals and Infirmaries.

ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ went about doing good, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people: Continue, we beseech thee, his gracious work among us in all hospitals and infirmaries; console and heal the sufferers; grant to the physicians, surgeons, and nurses, wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience; prosper their work, O Lord, with thy continual blessing; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

National Day of Prayer – Sunday 22nd March 2020

sheumais Events, Notices

Churches in Scotland* have joined together to Call for a National Day of Prayer in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taking place on Sunday 22 March, people of faith are being encouraged to light a candle and place it in their window at 7pm.**

We are urged to “join in prayerful solidarity with this witness”, describing the candle as “a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, the source of hope in this life.”

The following prayer can be used when lighting the candle:

For all that is good in life, thank you,
For the love of family and friends, thank you,
For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you.

May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support,
May those who are sick, know healing,
May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort.

Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom,
Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being,
Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living.

And may the light shining from our windows,
across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle,
be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

* These include the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Scotland, the United Free Church, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the Society of Friends (Quakers), Congregational Federation in Scotland, the Salvation Army, the Church of the Nazarene, and Redeemed Christian Church of God.

** Please take all necessary fire precautions when using a lit candle. Ensure you remain with the lit candle at all times, and do not leave it to burn if you leave the room. Ensure there are no fabrics or materials such as curtains near the candle.

Gender and Liturgy in Conversation – 29th-30th May 2020

sheumais Events, Notices

Responding to the Sacred:

Gender & Liturgy in Conversation

A two day conference bringing together liturgists and theologians, activists and academics to discuss directions for liturgical revision.

Speakers include:

  • Dr Bridget Nichols,
  • Professor Lisa Isherwood,
  • Dr Bill Paterson and
  • Dr Armand Léon Van Ommen.

12pm Friday 29th – 4pm Saturday 30th May

Iris Murdoch Suite University of Stirling

For more information there is a facebook page:  Gender and Liturgy Conference

To purchase tickets visit:  eventbrite.co.uk

If you wish to know more about what is envisaged, consult the current draft programme (subject to revision) or speak to James.

Lament for Lent

sheumais Notices

Lent is only a couple of weeks away and during Lent you might like to consider this resource from the Church Mission Society…

Church Mission Society has announced a “Lament for Lent” campaign with free resources to help the church to lament in the face of increasing unrest and uncertainty as persecution against Christians, war, racism, are on the rise together with the climate crisis and other threats to the wellbeing of the world.

The campaign’s key free six-week resource, Only With Eyes That Have Cried, is written by leading theologian and missiologist Dr Cathy Ross, who heads up CMS’s Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Centre in Oxford. She said: “There is much to lament in our world and we need the space and the permission to do so. We need to take time to lament violence, war, racism, exploitation of women and trafficking, the state of our planet and the climate crisis. As Greta Thunberg says, ‘Our house is still on fire’.”

Through the campaign CMS hopes Christians will learn to embrace, rather than move on too quickly from personal or collective grief, by developing a deeper trust and confidence in God. The campaign draws upon ideas expressed by Ugandan theologian Emmanuel Katongole in his book, Born from Lament: the Theology and Politics of Hope in Africa, wherein he examines the violence and suffering that beset DR Congo in recent years and asked, “How does one live with this?”, “Can there be a future and if so, what kind?” and “Where is God?”.

As well as using examples from the Psalms, ‘Only With Eyes That Have Cried’ relays the experience of CMS mission partners such as Ruth Radley who experienced the power of lament while serving in South Sudan. Through stories like Ruth’s, people will read about lament as resistance, lament as innovation, lament as activism and lament as hope.

To help people Lament for Lent, CMS is offering the six-week Only With Eyes That Have Cried resource for free to individuals and churches. Written by Cathy Ross, it also contains prayers by Ian Adams, chaplain of Ridley College, Cambridge and CMS mission spirituality adviser, as well as creative suggestions to help people embrace lament as a spiritual discipline that can deepen their experience of God.

Dr Ross concludes: “Through Lent this year we hope that you will learn not only to lament but also to take action – this is what is profound about lament – it moves us from grief to action.”

Copies may be obtained through the Church Mission Society Website or by phoning 01865 787519.

No midweek services over New Year

sheumais Notices, Services

Folks,

There are no midweek services on Wednesday 1st January at 10:30am in St Finnbarr’s or Thursday 2nd January at 6:00pm in St Andrew’s.  There is also no Crask service on Saturday 4th January at 5:00pm.  Normal service will be resumed thereafter.

Blessings
James