Church News Jesus’ Christianity

I feel it is so necessary to tackle some of the wider social issues in our modern Scottish society

In tackling these wider issues, I seek not to be political, rather religious.

Currently, the Scottish Government’s Hate Crime and Public Order Bill is at the committee stage in government.

Opposition to the Bill has been voiced by the Scottish police, the Law Society and the Scottish Catholic bishops.

Among its many faults, this bill could be exploited to cause distress to churches and religious groups.

This is the point where the voices of religion should sound out with the united and clear voice of peace.

Christianity, Judaism and Islam see Abraham as their founder.

These three religions are spiritual movements for peace.

All three major Western religions should shout out with a clear, but courageous voice the message of peace and concord.

‘Concord’is a lovely word. It means being united in heart.

These three great religions may never be united in theology, but they can be, and must be, united in their care, concern, and

These social conditions should be unacceptable in the 21st century.

We must be feel a sense of social responsibility for our fellow citizens.

Thanks be to God for the countless responsible people, believers and non-believers, who serve in the foodbanks, care for neighbours and seek to ease the plight of others.

When I was a minister in Paisley, I was continually confronted with poverty, homelessness and personal distress. These devastating personal conditions can ruin many a fine life.

The only Christianity that can confront and overcome the challenges in our contemporary society is the Christianity that goes straight back to Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus’Christianity, through his Godly teaching, taught people the value of every individual.

You find this in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

Jesus’Christianity, through his healing, strengthened people by giving them a new chance.

Ask the healed leper (Mark 1.40-45), or blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10.46-52), or the paralysed man(John 5. 2-10).

Jesus’Christianity, by his passionate death and victorious rising, gave to men and women the eternal foundation for genuine life

Martin Luther King spoke of the need for a‘revolution of values’.

Jesus’Christianity tells us today of God’s revolution in the value and importance of ordinary people.

Let Jesus’Christianity convince the soul of humanity and win the hearts of ordinary people.

Jesus’Christianity always delivers God’s quality of life.

Jesus’Christianity can withstand without flinching every blow and assault life throws at us.

Jesus’Christianity will never be devalued by time’s corrosive decay.

Jesus Christianity is Cross-shaped, telling us Jesus was more concerned for people’s security and welfare, rather than for his own personal safety.

Jesus’Christianity emerged from the Emptied Tomb, firmly placing eternity in your heart and opening the way of salvation to your steps.

God wants to tell you in Jesus how important you are to him.

‘Be still and know personally that I am your God’(Psalms 46.10). website, social media channels and YouTube channel.

The web page for the broadcast is www.scotland.anglican.org/ broadcast-sunday-worship

These services will be broadcast at 11am on Sunday and, in advance of the broadcast of each service, the Liturgy – the Order of Service - will be available to download from the SEC website.

There will also be a Service of the Word broadcast on Thursdays at 6.30pm.

The St Vincent de Paul Ozanam Centre and StreetConnect/Cornerstone Paisley drop-in centre have also suspended their activities from our church hall.

If you are aware of anyone who uses that service, please do let them know.

We would like also to continue to offer what assistance we can to the vulnerable in our society, so, if you know of anyone in need of assistance – practical or spiritual – please reach out to us via our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/HTSBPaisley