There’s a lot happening in Bo’ness this weekend, especially around the churches. Its great when Christians from different felowships work together and come together for prayer and encouragement. This morning in St Catharine’s the little Scottish Episcopal Church on Cadzow Avenue there will be a joint morning of prayer. Its going to be lead by various people from all our congregations in Bo’ness. I also believe that there is a “Woman Only” event taking place in St Andrew’s. Erica Bonnar and Monica Kellock have been working hard to get the woman in St Andrew’s together for fellowship . I hope this goes well. Tomorrow evening we will have another joint service in St Andrew’s at 6.30pm. We’re delighted to welcome Dr Murdo MacDonald to come and lead our thoughts on the very controversial topic “End of Life Issues”

I think this is going to be a very informative service but also one in whicheople willbe enouraged to stay behind if they so desire and have some prayer and ministry. I think manypeople re carrying very heavy and difficult burdens. Too often people who are ill or who have family who are ill don’t talk about what is happening to them. This is an opportunity to begin to bring things out into the open and share some ofthese anxieties, but also receive some prayer and practical support.

I think the life of a parish minister must be one of the most engaging and priveleged of all professions. Now, that is if you really want to call what I do a profession. I think its a calling! You find yourself being opened up to new experiences and emotions snd situations because you’ve been given by the community a position of trust. What I’m getting round to say is I try hard not to take all that I’ve been given by this comminuty I work in for granted. I guess it is as you serve others you find yourelf becoming much much richer.

I had an interesting day yesterday. I spent part of the morning with a friend who has been bereaved recently. Later I looked in on our Tuesday Club. This is the church in action in the comminity. We have an amazing team of volunteers who give respite to those who are engaged in caring for family and friends who are suffering from memory loss. You know this little club is one of the happiest places in the parish on a Tuesday morning. Its also a place where you find yourself caught up in a conversation that is engaging and meaningful. I spoke with Lynn yesterday, she’s hoping to stand as a candidate in the local Council election. I think meeting her as a volunteer caring for those with dementia said more about her than a thousand words spoken or written on an election leaflet.

In the afternoon I spent three hours preparing a very intertesting service for this coming Sunday evening. We will be dealing with the very controversial subject ” End of Life Issues”. We’ve decided to engage with topical themes once a month. This month its about dying. I was glad to have the input of the local Baptist minister to help create a service that will be engaging and meaningful to many.

I’m looking forward to the keynote speaker Dr Murdo MacDonald who is coming to help us reflect on the whole topic. Remember it is an issue that concerns all of us. We as Christians need to reflect on the moral issues that surround our ministers, doctors and nurses and carers as they seek to help people die not only with dignity but with grace.

What of the evening? Well I attended the management group of our “Bounce Higher Programme” which is one of four social outreach programmes we run in the community. Last night we were writing up the job description for our vacant post of family worker in the church. All in a days work!

Oh yes in between all these experiences I managed to write a few emails, do a bit of thinking and praying and most of all sleeping. Have a good day! I intend to have a great day.

Have you heard the Ocean speak
It carries it’s sound on the wind
Like a great timpany of praise

Roaring a song of continual joy

encompassing the earth
Joy encircles
Waiting to land
Looking for a opening
A heart to respond
To the melody

The Ocean is weeping
Tears of laughter and joy
As another wave
Crashes
Smahed
Dashes
Lashes
Against the shoreline

Look to the horizon
The ocean is singing
Mystery and meaning
Hover over the horizon
There is more to come
More to know
More to be
More to see

Than a mere ech0

God is in all this
Moving your mind
Your eye
Your hand your feet
Your heart

Listen to the ocean in your heart

The last ten days have been pretty busy. I’ve been caught up in my parish work but also focused on writing the content for the new web site that we just launched from the church this week. i really enjoy doing this work. I hope others will get benefit from it. Last night I was writing the script for next week’s video podcast. Its going to be a really good little programme. We’ve got Pete Grieg of the 24/7 Prayer Movement speaking about the work of the Holy Spirit. we’ve got Bono singing about the Holy Spirit and we will be featuring the Orphanage Dwelling Places. I truly believe that Sanctuary First could become a real place of creative encounter for all of us who are looking to be stretched and challenged in our Christian lives. make sure you visit the site.

We had three very hectic days last weekend as we launched Sanctuary First in Perth Aberdeen and St Andrew’s as well as putting the service on here in Bo’ness. We were much encouraged by the support and enthusiasm that we found in all the venues.

This week hasn’t been much better as two members of Union Biblica’s Board in peru have been staying with us this week. They are over to help us been to plan pout a strategic vision for the work in Peru and South America over the next 5 years. Then this morning we received an email from our friends in India to say that the young people taking part in the proposed visit now have their passports, so I guess we’ll see tour Indian partners in Bo’ness within the next week or two. Who ever told you parish ministry was boring? next week I’m looking forward to a well earned break.

Today I’m doing some visits as well as attending the local Minister’s Fraternal. This morning I was conducting a funeral and also took part in a Sanctus Media staff meeting.