MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
The month of November is marked by the church looking to remember: it begins with the celebration of All Saints when we give thanks for those who have gone before us in faith, serving God by serving humanity; we then move to Remembrance Sunday with the emphasis on the quest for peace as we remember those who gave their lives that we might live in peace and at the end of the month we celebrate our “Scottishness” in Andrew’s Day, that fisherman who brought not only his brother, but the little boy, with his picnic, and many others.
In some respects we see our identity in this month as Christians called to serve God in so many ways that reflects his love for others. In the great commemoration for the Armistice of the 1st World War we are placing that identity alongside those of our nation and Commonwealth who shared our values and in St Andrew we claim to be a people who live lives seeking a better world. All those motifs shape us and, actually, our politics today.
What kind of society do we want? The politicians, as I write this, are debating the way ahead for our people and are about to invite us to make yet another choice. Everyone wants a just society – that is a given. Everyone wants a society where people thrive and all are respected. This is not such a given. We have to decide who will shape the next five years for us and the direction we should travel. The Christian is called to serve, there is no other ministry. To serve God and humanity. Jesus called his disciples to follow on a road which would change the world and see the dawning of God’s kingdom here on earth. We are called to that same task.
In this month we will reflect this great responsibility in our Services so I would encourage you share in our worship of almighty God, giving thanks for his goodness toward us and our nation in times of trouble.
May God bless you all at this time.
Tom
The month of November is marked by the church looking to remember: it begins with the celebration of All Saints when we give thanks for those who have gone before us in faith, serving God by serving humanity; we then move to Remembrance Sunday with the emphasis on the quest for peace as we remember those who gave their lives that we might live in peace and at the end of the month we celebrate our “Scottishness” in Andrew’s Day, that fisherman who brought not only his brother, but the little boy, with his picnic, and many others.
In some respects we see our identity in this month as Christians called to serve God in so many ways that reflects his love for others. In the great commemoration for the Armistice of the 1st World War we are placing that identity alongside those of our nation and Commonwealth who shared our values and in St Andrew we claim to be a people who live lives seeking a better world. All those motifs shape us and, actually, our politics today.
What kind of society do we want? The politicians, as I write this, are debating the way ahead for our people and are about to invite us to make yet another choice. Everyone wants a just society – that is a given. Everyone wants a society where people thrive and all are respected. This is not such a given. We have to decide who will shape the next five years for us and the direction we should travel. The Christian is called to serve, there is no other ministry. To serve God and humanity. Jesus called his disciples to follow on a road which would change the world and see the dawning of God’s kingdom here on earth. We are called to that same task.
In this month we will reflect this great responsibility in our Services so I would encourage you share in our worship of almighty God, giving thanks for his goodness toward us and our nation in times of trouble.
May God bless you all at this time.
Tom