My Dear Friends,

When I wrote last to you we were recovering from the winter and looking forward to warmer weather with some sunshine and a return to the Church building. We are certainly back in the Church building but the heating is no closer to being fixed than it was when I wrote last [March]. We are discovering the complications of having a Schedule A building with all the attendant restrictions. We have hired a heating consultant and a conservation architect to ensure we do not break any rules and to steer us through the many steps we must take. We hope this will not take too long. It will be a costly business but should be worth it.

The weather is certainly sunnier but is not much warmer at the moment. We have a new government after the General Election though it took much longer than any of us expected. We do hope they will get on with the job of running the country as soon as possible. We just wonder what the future holds for us as a nation when we see what is going on in the rest of Europe.

the 450^th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation is well underway but we have not heard too much about it though it shaped the country we now live in.
The 100^th Anniversary of the World Missionary Conference is also this year and it is significant because shortly after its conclusion talks started between the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church to consider a proposed Union. No doubt this would have borne fruit sooner had it not been for the outbreak of First World War and so the Union was delayed until 1929. Irvine: Mure Church has a project under way through its youth forum to involve the other Irvine Churches in celebrating this event.

As I write this, the General Assembly is about to start and is facing making the most significant change to Ministry for many years with a reduction in Ministries to 1000. It is also considering a change to the Third Article Declaratory of the Church which gives sole responsibility for providing the offices of religion to the people of Scotland.

No matter what uncertainties we find in the world around us we have some certainty. This certainty lies in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. The Spirit is our comforter and advocate, and is the one who assures us of the love of God in Jesus Christ and affirms to us the truth of the Scriptures. We encounter the Spirit in our worship and in our daily lives. He is the indwelling presence of God with us. What more could we ask for than to have God within is as well as without.
Remember the first Pentecost when the Spirit came with the sound of rushing wind and with flames of fire and how the first disciples rushed out into the street to tell everyone about Jesus.
That was the moment the Church began to grow and it has not stopped since. Even though we fear decline in our country yet throughout the world, the church has never grown faster, So take courage, trust in the Lord and find hope.

Yours sincerely,
Robert Travers, Minister

                  

 Pastoral List

                                  Funerals

April   7^th      Catherine Cowan     Kiln Court
          22^nd       Peter Wilson            Thornwood Drive
          27^th      Jane Ingram              Fullarton Care Home
          27^th      Helen Young             Mill Crescent

  May    5^th     Isabella Blackley       Kirk Vennel
           6^th       Annie Stobie             Fullarton care Home
           7^th       Joyce Roulston         Malcolm Gardens
          20^th        Margaret Bond         Townhead

                                    Baptism

 March  14^th    Kobe Michael Lawless         Saltcoats
 April    16^th    Alexander Gordon Howie     Main Road Springside

                                    Marriage
 April     3^rd    Robert William Travers to Susan Kennefick

                                       ARMED FORCES DAY

ARMED FORCES DAY is Saturday, 26 June 2010 and is an opportunity for the nation to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community:  from current serving troops to Service families and from veterans to recruits. 
Events will be held across the country and a special service will be held in our Church at 11 a.m. on Sunday 27 June 2010.
ALL WELCOME

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

Wedding Anniversary Celebrations

Congratulations to Sam and Rita Chalmers of Kirk Vennel who celebrate their Diamond Wedding on 6 June 2010.  They were married in the Co-operative Hall, Montgomery Street by the Rev Alex Macara in 1950.

Congratulations to May & Ian Kerr of  Milgarholm Avenue who celebrate their Golden Wedding on 15^th June and Margaret & David Cook of Roseholm Avenue who celebrate their Golden Weddings on 2nd July.

Prayer: Worship & Healing

“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.
Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church
to come and pray over you.”  James 5:13

 On the morning of Saturday, 20^th March I [Session Clerk] attended the Presbytery’s Prayer Seminar in Kilmarnock. Unknown to me, this is an annual event attended by members of churches throughout the Presbytery. During the gathering time and over a cup of tea I met a few people I had previously met when leading worship in churches but it was my first meeting with the majority of the people attending.

It would appear that many churches throughout the Presbytery have prayer groups who meet regularly, usually weekly, to pray for each other, for the church and its congregation, and for the local, national and world-wide family.

After the introductory welcome and worship led by Rev David Cameron (Kilmarnock: New Laigh Kirk) we were introduced to Major Mel Robinson and his colleagues from Carlisle Salvation Army who were to lead the active part of the seminar.

After being split into 4 groups we were asked to provide what we thought was the reason for prayer. This was most interesting as each of us prays, perhaps communally, but to explain why! Reasons given were to give thanks and praise, to express our fear and to intercede on behalf of others but also to build a relationship with our Saviour (you can’t have a relationship with someone if you don’t talk and listen) and to tell Him what you perhaps can’t say to even the closest loved one. What is your reason for praying?

Each group was then given a question as to how we would pray when faced with a particular situation. Disharmony in a church was one. Death of British soldiers in Afghanistan another. My groups was the family of a 6 year old being told he had terminal cancer!!! It was suggested that shedding tears was a prayer. That prayers of anger were natural (we have all said “Why, God?”). The different reactions were most thought provoking. How would you and have you reacted in such situations?

The next part of the seminar was to pray with someone in our group on a matter of concern to them. This is outwith the ‘comfort zone’ of most of us and most of us thought it could only be done with a person we really trusted. Spontaneous prayer is not easy. However, we all carried out this task and indeed it was a very peaceful, spiritual and touching moment making us closer to this stranger.

The seminar ended with a healing session which Mel said is being carried out in many churches throughout the length and breadth of the country (even in the High Anglican).

He explained that healing was not only of the body and mind but also of relationships with other people and with God. Several people went forward for healing and each one of us knew and felt we were not an observer but an active participant praying for the Holy Spirit to be working amongst us. It was indeed very moving.

After concluding with the rousing Sally Army song “I’ll go in the name of the Lord”, I had the chance to speak to people from a few of the churches and found that those from the two Stewarton churches – St Columba’s and John Knox - all said they fervently believed it was the power of prayer that had sustained both congregations during the long period when they were without ministers and were under threat of union. Indeed, not only did the congregation numbers hold fast during that time but since the induction of both ministers the numbers have greatly increased. Perhaps it’s something we in Irvine Old need to think about!!      

After concluding with the rousing Sally Army song “I’ll go in the name of the Lord”, I had the chance to speak to people from a few of the churches and found that those from the two Stewarton churches – St Columba’s and John Knox - all said they fervently believed it was the power of prayer that had sustained both congregations during the long period when they were without ministers and were under threat of union. Indeed, not only did the congregation numbers hold fast during that time but since the induction of both ministers the numbers have greatly increased. Perhaps it’s something we in Irvine Old need to think about!!      

 

For latest report from the Guild, the Boys’ Brigade and the Guides, see their own section within the website.