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Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, adminscottishbaptist.org.uk. Charity Registration No:SC004960
1anuary 2013
It's easy to be a grumpy Christian at
Christmas. The whole season has
become so commercialised and Iake
that cotton-wool beards and red
suits are more in evidence than the
Christ-child - and so we Christians
grumble. This has been going on Ior
some time now, and our towns and
villages ring with our moans Irom
November onward. And so, we
proclaim to Scotland that Christians
have no Christmas spirit; while the
rest oI the Iolk are getting on with
the celebrations, those miserable
Christians Ience themselves oII in a
corner and grouse. Joy to the world?
Not so much.
This year, in Girvan, we tried
another approach. Our moping and
grumbling doesn't seem to have
convinced many oI the transcendent
joy oI the Incarnation: so why not
try getting into the celebration? So
we signed up Ior a stall at Girvan's
(secular) Christmas Street Party.
Was there a manger? No. Was there a
stable? No. And I'm aIraid there was
a Iat bloke in a Santa suit (with
actual reindeer!), and there were
elves and magicians, raIIles, lots oI
presents Ior sale and Iairground-
style rides. And there were
hundreds oI people - children and
adults - all smiling and Iull oI joy.
And, right in the middle oI it all,
there was a wee stall serving mulled
wine and ginger Yule-ade,
distributing Christmas goodie bags
and our very own 'Milestone Real
Christmas DVD' - a presentation oI
the Christmas story through
Scripture, reIlections and carols Ior
people who aren't bothered with
church, even at Christmas.
Were we in the world? Oh yes!
Could you tell us apart Irom the
world? For sure! Unlike everyone
else on the street, we were giving
away everything we had to oIIer. We
had hundreds oI double-takes and
incredulous conversations like this:
"Oh, that's good - just like ma
Granny used to make! How much is
it?"
"It's Iree! A wee Christmas
present Irom the church!"
"Oh! Well, where can I make a
donation?"
"Sorry, no donations! Merry
Christmas!"
"But why are you doing this?"
"Because Jesus loves you, and so
lt's a November evening in
Middlebury lndiana and l am
sitting under the gas light of an
Amish living room asking Lzra
ersohberger, my bearded host,
and his family questions about
Amish oommunion praotioe. l
never suspeoted that an
inauspioious meeting with Andrew
Rollinson in a Morningside oafe a
few years ago would have set me
on suoh a trajeotory! l had just
returned from my gap year and
was thinking about pastoral
ministry, he suggested l explore
options at the 3oottish
Baptist College, the plot thiokens.
A oouple of years and many
oourses later l am in a olass on
'Baptist ldentity' and 3tuart Blythe
is talking about the Anabaptists.
1hey were new to me but
something about them stuok in
my head. 0n my gap year l
experienoed oommunity in
a way whioh made the gospel alive
and as 3tuart was talking about
the reformation Anabaptists, and
the Mennonites and Amish who
are desoended from them, a
ouriosity was aroused.
After graduating from the 3oottish
Baptist College, l took an
unexpeoted digression into
postgraduate studies at 0lasgow
university, seeking to tap the
Anabaptist tradition for resouroes
to enrioh ohuroh oommunity life.
Now on an unexpeoted researoh
trip in the united 3tates, l am
looking at oommunion as a
praotioe that shapes the
oommunity dynamios of ohurohes
and l hope to be able to make
some suggestions for better
understanding, integration and
praotioe of oommunion in our
lives together.
1his unexpeoted journey is a
good one. Before we left the
ersohbergers that evening they
blessed us with a song from their
hymnbook the 'Ausbund', whioh l
do we, and this is his party!"
We gave away 240 bags oI
sweeties to kids, handed out 300
DVDs, and served about 400 hot
drinks (ginger and mulled wine). A
lot oI people went away baIIled but
smiling - and, this year at least, the
name oI Jesus is on the streets oI
Girvan at Christmas-time.
In our wee Iellowship in Girvan,
we can't do highly-polished worship
services. We don't have money Ior
big, impressive events. We don't
have the resources to compete with
clubs or movies or media (our own
Christmas DVD is quite rough
around the edges). But it's beginning
to look like we don't even have to
try and Iake it.
Those Iirst Christmasses, Jesus
had even Iewer resources than we
do: but, Ior his parents, Ior the
shepherds and their choirs oI angels,
Ior the Oriental sages and their
treasures - aye, and even Ior Herod
and his court - it was enough that he
was that baby in Bethlehem. Maybe
it's enough Ior us to be who we are -
who God is making us by His Spirit
- iI we will do our 'being' out where
Girvan can see it, and be surprised
by a church that can smile.
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first heard about at the 3BC, it
was an unprediotable moment
and one that l am glad to have had
under the gaslight in Middlebury
that evening. 3HWHU$WNLQV
5HDO chrlstmas 6plrlt at 0lrvan 6treet Party
Morningside to Middlebury via the Scottish Baptist College
Peter and Natalle Atklns
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&RQQHFW 1anuary 2013
Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, adminscottishbaptist.org.uk. Charity Registration No:SC004960
An appreciative clientl
Dave Bookless
Prayer Llnk
for 1anuary
8unday 6th
1ohn Craib: Part-time Chaplain at Low Moss
Prison (and minister of Bearsden Baptist
Church) John has taken up a commitment to 8
hours oI chaplaincy at Low Moss Prison on the
edge oI Bishopbriggs. He has settled well and is
encouraged by the team spirit in the cross-
denominational chaplaincy team. Pray Ior him as
he works out how best to engage with the
prisoners and share the gospel most eIIectively.
He will be experimenting with a new short course
on 'Lessons Irom the liIe oI Joseph' in the New
Year.
Back at his church, they have a new deacons'
court and a new Youth Development Worker,
Estelle McKean, has settled in to her role with the
young people in the church and with work in the
local schools. New Administrator, John Tainsh, is
taking on some oI the regular administrative tasks.
Along with caretaker Hamish, and cleaner Lynne
they make up an enlarged team, which is working
well together.
Further blessing came with baptisms on 4th
November Ior Maddie and Craig: both became
Christians on Alpha Courses. As well as
discovering a Iaith in Jesus, in the lead up to her
baptism Maddie was also blessed with healing
aIter several years oI leg pain and weakness. Craig
moved to Bearsden with his Iamily a year or so
ago and has since Ielt the call to express his Iaith
in this public act oI witness. Another two
baptisms are coming up over Christmas - two
teenage girls, Alice and Tasha, who also want to
express their obedience to the Lord in this way.
Please pray Ior them as they prepare Ior that
with Estelle's help.
David Vogan: Part-time Chaplain at
Nethervale Care Home, Auchlochan, (and
minister of Harestanes Baptist Church) Pray
Ior David as he continues to adjust to ministering
in two diIIerent areas.
Queen's Park, Glasgow: Pray Ior Rev Iain
MacAulay and the ministry team at this large
church in a cosmopolitan area.
8unday 13th
Renfrew: Rev Brian Luse. We would like to
simply praise God Ior a Iew things that He has
done: we recently welcomed a new elder, Iain
Kennedy; we baptized 12 people at a church
BBQ, with over 100 in attendance at Loch
Lomond in September; we received the donation
oI a Portakabin Ior Iree; we have welcomed a
number oI new members over the last Iew
months; our Sunday attendance consists oI a Iull
1/3 children; sacriIicial giving increased last year;
the church was painted and turned Irom pink to a
very nice tan; we continued to care Ior our
Catholic nursery and primary school across the
street in prayer and in school grounds clean up
days; we have a committed young man, David
Berry, as our worship leader; we have made the
recent decision to move ahead in Iaith and begin to
remove pews in order to create a multi-purpose
space as we grow. God has done, and is doing,
many other things but iI we wrote them all down
they could not be contained in this news letter!
Thank you Ior praising our God together with us.
8unday 20th
Rosyth: Rev Gilmour Lilly. AIter several
months oI building work, we can use our whole
premises again. The older part oI our building,
where we hold our Sunday Services, now has a
new ceiling and rooI and should be much warmer!
Pray Ior wisdom and creative thinking about the
next phase in developing our building.
Our vision statement says we're 'Learning to
show the Father`s love. Pray Ior the creativity,
the will and the power to make God's grace visible
in Iresh ways to one another and to our
neighbours.
Family and work pressures among our young
Mums has made their discipleship group hard to
keep going. It has also leIt gaps in our Kids'
ministry which need to be Iilled.
We are planning to run a 'School oI Prayer
during Lent. We hope this will be a genuine point
oI growth Ior the whole Church.
Rothesay (Ardbeg): Rev Ron Rye. It has been
just over a year since Ardbeg Baptist Church and
their new Pastor have come together. In our Iirst
year we have been blessed with 5 new members
and 1 baptism (that took place in the Clyde!)
which has been oI great encouragement. A couple
oI our Iriends have also been called home, but
even in the midst oI sadness, the certainty oI their
Iuture has allowed people to glory in Christ and
His will.
AIter a time oI bedding in with each other (a
necessity when a congregation calls a 28 year old
into ministry) we are now beginning to ask the
questions oI God as to what His purposes and
direction is Ior us. These tentative steps into the
missional Ioray are uncertain, but we believe they
are necessary because our primary aim is to see
the gloriIication oI God on this little Island oI
Bute. Under the banner oI "God to Build, God to
Guard and God at the Centre" Irom Psalm 127,
we have seen some remarkable opportunities
begin to open: the local high school, once closed
to churches on the island except Irom the odd
assembly, has now allowed Ron to help in their
RE classes in both Primary and Secondary as well
as inviting him to be involved in the liIe oI both
the pupils and parents; more ventures are being
made to invite people to share in our Iellowship
and community and as a consequence we are
seeing people come to our little hall who have
never been beIore; a new deacons court has been
called into ministry and more and more people are
trying to Iind their niche in this growing image oI
Christ.
Please pray Ior us on Bute - we are trying to
connect with churches on the mainland (Cathcart
Baptist have already come to visit us, as well as
the staII Irom BUS) but we still Ieel very isolated.
We are also aware that as we begin to ask
questions oI how to progress in the journey
empowered by the Spirit, Satan will begin, and
already has begun, to try and get under our skin.
We are not a big or young Iellowship, but we
want to serve and use all the giIts placed beIore
us. We ask that God would lead us and that the
vision oI Christ we seek would become clearer
day by day. And oI course, we send our love to all
our Baptist brothers and sisters in Scotland - iI
anyone wants to come visit, we would love to
have you!
8unday 27th
Saltcoats (South Beach). During our time oI
vacancy the South Beach Iellowship has been
appreciative oI support provided by the Baptist
Union and Scottish Baptist College.
We recently welcomed 12 people into
membership and are encouraged by the
enthusiasm and desire oI a number oI people to
become more involved in the work oI the church,
using their giIts and talents.
Following a period oI review, reIlection and
planning we have recently Iormed a search group
and welcomed Rev Colin Mutch as our interim
moderator.
Sanquhar: Please pray Ior the church and Ior
evangelist Philip Usher as he works with them.
3-4 Alan Donaldson, Jacqueline Primrose and
Jim Purves attend meetings oI the Fellowship
oI Baptists in Britain and Ireland.
7-8 John Greenshields attends National
Settlement Team meetings.
10 The National Team meets.
14 The Scottish Baptist Women`s Fellowship
(SBWF) President Christine Heron visits
Glenrothes Women`s Fellowship.
16-17 The Pre- Accredited Ministers`
ConIerence takes place.
17 The National Team meets.
18 This weekend, Mo Gibbs attends the Deep
Impact conIerence.
19 The Initiate training course has its monthly
session today.
20 Alan Donaldson preaches in Stenhouse/
Gorgie Baptist Church.
21 The SBWF leaders meet.
22 Our Union`s Council meets today.
23-24 Alan Donaldson attends the Mission
Forum. Our Board oI Ministry meets.
27 Alan Donaldson preaches at Bearsden
Baptist`s Anniversary Services.
28 John Greenshields is at a Careers Fair in
International Christian College. Christine
Heron visits Kirkintilloch WF this evening.
31 The National Team meets.
Engagement 0lary
for 1anuary
100Y WRl1E beglns a BM5 vlslt
te Neal frem 11-19 January
then meves te Kelkata untll 26th.
Please ray artlcularly fer her
as she travels and meets new
eele. Pray that she'll be an
eneuragement te them and be
bullt u ln her ewn falth as she
learns frem ethers.