Year: 2021

Christmas worship in the circuit

Pre-recorded devotional Services will be available on YouTube for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day; these will also be sent in DVD form to the usual recipients.

On Christmas Day gathered public worship will be held only in Perth, jointly with and in Perth Congregational Church at 10 am; please note that the Christmas Eve Service in Arbroath, indicated on the Plan, will not now take place.

All We Can update

The latest newsletter reports that, in addition to addressing the impact of Covid 19, the Methodist Relief and Development charity has continued its work with and to support communities addressing drought and water-supply issues in Zimbabwe; the rebuilding of Rohingya refugees’ homes after a fire in the Kutupalong Camp in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh; relief & rehabilitation from the August earthquake in Haiti; and restoration after cyclones’ devastation affected over 3 million people across southern Africa.

See the blog for more details and articles.

Advent Reflections

Nativity, a painting by Dr He Qi – a Chinese artist living in California, USA.

Nativity, a painting by Dr He Qi – a Chinese artist living in California, USA.

The Methodist Church is producing short reflections on video for Advent. See those posted to date. The Reflection for 5th December is by Rev Mark Slaney, chair of the Scottish District.

 

Community Fridge, Broughty Ferry

Following a discussion last year in Broughty Ferry Churches Group leading to contact with the Ferry Community Council, Rotary, and other local groups & individuals, a Steering Group has been formed for a Ferry Community Fridge project. Work is in the preparatory stages but it is hoped a Community Fridge will be “up and running” as soon as feasible.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Broughty Ferry

The Week of Payer for Christian Unity will be marked with an online Act of Worship, using liturgical material from Churches in the Middle East on the theme “We saw the star”- this is likely to be on Saturday 22nd January from 10.15 am (for 10.30 am start). All are welcome – more details to follow.

Show your Heart for Asylum Seekers

The Nationality and Borders Bill is continuing to progress through the House of Commons. At the next stage, expected to begin in the coming weeks, MPs will have the chance to offer and vote on amendments to the bill.

JPIT have produced a new campaign pack to help you:

  • Raise your voice on the bill to Show Your Heart for asylum seekers and refugees
  • Work directly with your MP to influence them to vote for amendments

The resources help individuals and churches to prepare, pray, persuade and participate around the bill.

Click here to find our Show Your Heart Campaign Pack

Call to Prayer 21st November 2021

Print version

‘So you are a king?’ We can picture the scene as Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate asks: ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’

In response, Jesus speaks of a kingdom ‘not from this world’ and ‘not from here’. Pilate, perhaps perplexed, asks: ‘So you are a king?’ (John 18: 33-37)

In the exchange between Pilate and Jesus, we sense the contrasting understandings of what a ‘king’ will be and what a ‘kingdom’ will look like. We can well imagine that Pilate had a clear understanding of what these were at that time.

However, when faced by a Jesus whose kingdom is ‘not from this world’, Pilate struggles to comprehend how he might be a ‘king’.

Nevertheless, in time, Pilate will crucify: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’. (John 19: 19)

The Jesus who is present before Pilate is a King whose Kingdom is to come and is already present in his life lived out in this world.

We respond in faith to the King who is present in our midst, crowned with thorns and robed in purple, and pray that the Kingdom will come…

We pray:

Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As a King whose kingdom is not from this world.
May we respond to His presence
With faith and trust as we pray for the kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As the One who very life is a sign of the kingdom.
May we recognise the signs of the kingdom in our midst
And live as those who await its coming with expectation.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As a King whose reign resembles not the rulers of this world.
May we follow in His way
And seek to live in the light of His coming kingdom.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, who reigns on high
And who is robed in majesty,
We see Your Son come amongst us
As the bearer of truth and as the light of the world.
May Christ the King reign amongst His people
And His way be known to all who seek Him in spirit and in truth.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Signed by:

  • Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
  • Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
  • Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
  • Rev. Dr David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
  • Rev. Neil MacMillan, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
  • Rev. Paul Whittle, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
  • Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
  • Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
  • Rev. Thomas R. Wilson, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
  • Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
  • Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
  • Rev. Ruth Turner, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
  • Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
  • Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
  • Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)