The farewell service for Rev Eddie Sykes and Rev Mary Patterson takes place at 3pm on Sunday 30th July at Grahamston United Church, Falkirk, Bute Street, FK2 7DH. All are welcome to attend. For those who can not make it to the church, the service will be livestreamed and available to view at https://www.youtube.com/@grahamstonunitedchurch/streams
We give thanks for the ministry of Eddie and Mary and wish them every blessing on their retirement.
On 18 July 2023, the government’s Illegal Migration Bill passed its final parliamentary stages and will shortly pass into law. Church leaders from JPIT’s denominations have joined with civil society groups and charities in a solidarity statement to mark this moment, and express their concern about the impact the Bill will have on people seeking asylum in the UK. The statement reads:
“We all deserve to live safe from harm. But this senselessly cruel Act will have a devastating impact on people’s lives. It turns our country’s back on people seeking safety, blocking them from protection, support, and justice at a time they need it most.
In abandoning the UK’s moral and legal obligations, the Act risks breaching multiple international human rights treaties including the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights while shielding the Government from accountability. The UK Government has admitted that it cannot confirm if the Act is compatible with the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Act will force people into situations that threaten their lives – whether by placing children in detention or sending people off to countries where their lives might be at grave risk. Moreover, the Act attacks the very core of human rights, which is the principle that we all have them regardless of who we are or where we are from. In stripping the most basic rights from people seeking safety and a better life, the Act dismantles human rights protections for all of us.
Either all of us have human rights, or none of us do. While the UK Government’s plans will harm those seeking safety the most, this is an attack on all of us and the values we hold dear.
The government has rushed through this law despite broad and deep opposition. But our fight is not over. As caring people, we will continue to fight for the right for people to seek safety and a better life without being forced to take dangerous journeys and without being punished for how they enter the UK. We will keep holding those in power to account for upholding the UK’s international obligations. We will strive for an asylum and immigration system that treats everyone with dignity and respect. We will stand in solidarity with and fight alongside everyone who makes the UK their home and build a society that treats everyone with compassion.”
Click here to read the statement with the full list of signatories.
Pam in Perth is again offering to place an order for the new Prayer Handbook (becoming available during August) for all the circuit’s congregations. Those in Dundee wishing to order a copy are asked to let Jenny E know by the end of July if possible and she will then liaise with Pam.
Cost (for 10+ orders) £4.15
Large print order – £4.50
Will be provided this week by Revs Phil and Marian Taylor.
The Methodist Conference, which met recently in Birmingham this week, voted overwhelmingly to recommit the Methodist Church to being a Justice-seeking Church.
The report received by the Conference hopes to encourage more Methodists in acting for justice, along with their local communities, and to focus efforts on contributing to change in key areas including poverty, refugees, the environment, discrimination and peace.
The report is the result of a two-year process of conversation and listening. This involved looking at how Methodists have worked for justice throughout their history and what is being done now, as well as hearing people’s experiences of injustice. The report involved churches, young people, communities and schools sharing their visions of what a just world looks like.
More information, and a link to the report.
Dear Friends
During the Easter season we rightly celebrate with joy.
The sense of new life bursting out and the hope and excitement that gave to the friends of Jesus. They were just beginning to learn that the whole world, indeed the whole of creation is now to be seen in a new light. Their lives were being turned upside down (again!) by Jesus.
In the church year, the celebration of Pentecost follows 50 days after the celebration of Easter. In Pentecost, we celebrate the Spirit bursting through the lives of people and the beginnings of the communities of those who wanted to follow in the way of Jesus (Church). In a movie it would be a good place to end with the words “and they all lived happily ever after” scrolling across (and sets it up for that all important
sequel!).
Of course they didn’t all live happily ever after as the New Testament Epistles testify. Indeed they found themselves in very challenging situations and when new people came along (Paul) there were very strong disagreements (eg with Peter) about the way forward. But in all things they kept finding themselves driven back to the grace of God revealed in the resurrected Christ.
In the ADP circuit, as in the other Scottish circuits, we are facing significant challenge and change and some things coming to an end. It may well feel as though our lives are being turned upside down and so much that was familiar is changing. At such times we remember to open our hearts to the Spirit and learn afresh/again to depend on the abundant grace of God. The early followers of Jesus may not have lived “happily ever after” but they did live in a new light, with a passion for the good news and today we are the witnesses to all these things. Together let us take time to pray depending on the grace of God in all things.
With love,
Nick
Just launched – a new Bible animation made in Lego! For a limited time you can download it completely free.
This short animation of the Good Samaritan would be ideal to use in church services, groups, schools or for personal/family use.
You can download it free either in 1) English with a Scottish accent or 2) Scottish Gaelic.
There’s also helpful teachers notes and a Lego schema to accompany the video.
Download free from this link: https://gochattervideos.com/the-good-samaritan-cos/
Massive thanks to Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Church of Scotland for making this project possible.From Dan Rackham and the rest of the Go Chatter team (We had the pleasure of creating the animation!)
The Learning Network is offering two possibilities.
Both of these are delivered online so it could be offered across our districts. For more information – please contact Lorraine.