Church News
Programme of virtual workshops on offer to help workforce’s wellbeing
Abbey/Bendochy Church
Due to the current government restrictions, all services at Bendochy and the Abbey Church are suspended until further notice.
See the website www.bandcachurch.org. uk for the daily reflections and for further information .
Blairgowrie Evangelical Church
Sunday’s online worship was conducted by pastor Derek Johnston.
The reading was from John ch 3, vv 22-36. Afterwards, the congregation met on Zoom for teas and coffees.
For details, see the website www. bechurch.co.uk.
The website also includes details of the next service.
Blairgowrie Parish Church
Sunday’s online worship was conducted by Rev Benjamin Abeledo, who continued his series of sermons on the book of Joshua – the latest theme being ‘Joshua: A Divine Encounter’.
His call to worship was based on Psalm 31, ‘Praise the Lord who has shown us the wonders of His unfailing love’.
The opening hymn ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation’ – from the recorded service on June 23, 2019 – was followed by prayers of approach and confession and The Lord’s Prayer.
The scripture reading by Colleen Joslin was from Joshua ch 5, vv 13-14, Joshua and the man with a sword, and ch 6, vv 1-5, The fall of Jericho.
The hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’ was from the recorded service on February 17, 2019, and was followed by prayers and Mr Abeledo’s sermon.
The minister said: “In our scripture reading we see Joshua on the eve of the biggest battle of his life.
“In front of him stands the city of Jericho. Its mighty walls rear up before him, reaching into the sky. Its fighting men guard the walls and gates. In front of him stands that city of Jericho, guarding the eastern entrance to the Promised Land.”
Mr Abeledo continued: “Since the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God had promised the land to Israel. But to take possession of that land and its cities and its people had to be taken over.
“Like all generals Joshua had many doubts and fears. He wonders if the reports from his spies were accurate. His big question before the battle begins was: will Israel be successful? And how big will be the price in Israel blood and death? Every good commander always ought to ask these questions.
“There is no doubt that Joshua was a gifted and godly leader. He had been obedient throughout his life and service to Moses and to the people of Israel.
“Unquestionably Joshua was a great leader. The people knew it. Joshua somehow in his own heart probably also knew it – and there lay the danger: the danger of misplaced confidence. And Joshua was about to learn a powerful lesson about leadership.
“Joshua went out to ascertain for himself what his spies had told him. He looked at the walls of the city and wondered if his plans would succeed.
“These are all very good questions and clearly from our point of view as Christians we always ought to ask for anything that we do in service for the Lord.
“We cannot assume that we know better. It doesn’t matter what our plans might be. We cannot just rely on them. We need to ask these questions.
And here we are told that suddenly
at that moment when he is asking these questions of himself Joshua looks up and right in front of him he sees a fierce warrior with sword already drawn in his hand.
“Joshua asks the warrior whose side is he on and the answer is one that Joshua could never have expected: ‘Neither’ the warrior replied, continuing, ‘But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’
“Joshua then fell down to the ground in reverence and called Him ‘My Lord’.”
Mr Abeledo added: “Joshua knew that God was speaking to him. And if only we stop and listen we will hear Him talking to us. The problem is we have too many distractions. Too many voices, rumours, and gossips. When God is speaking to us in the midst of the battles in front of us who are we listening to?
“Joshua had to learn to accept, as we must, that our faults and our ways are not God’s way. The real question is whether Israel was for or against the Lord. It is the Lord’s fight, the Lord’s battle. So who is on the Lord’s side? Who is in the Lord’s army?
“Every person wants God to be on their side. That is the wrong claim to make. The question is not whose side is the Lord on. The question is: who is on the Lord’s side?
“We need to be on God’s side because, as Abraham Lincoln said, God is always right.”
The service closed with prayers of intercession, the hymn ‘O Jesus, I Have Promised’ – from the recorded service on September 15, 2019 – and the benediction.
All sermons can be accessed through the website www.blairgowrieparishchurch.org. uk/sermons.
Cargill/Burrelton Church
As a result of the most recent Covid-19 restrictions, Cargill/Burrelton Church is closed to the public until further notice.
Kinclaven Church
Representatives from Kinclaven Church have said that government restrictions mean it is not advisable to have groups of people meeting in the church.
Riverside Methodist Church
Sunday’s message was delivered by Rev Nik Wooller.
She said: “This week we continue our journey into Lent with a look at Mark ch 8, vv 31-38.
“Has there been a time when you have been told by a friend, colleague, or a family member something which you have found hard to accept?
“It is not always easy or straightforward to accept such truths. It can leave us feeling hurt, upset, or rejected because we have either previously misunderstood the situation or have not been fully aware.
“This week Jesus is giving the disciples a training session and as a part of this had to share with them some difficult truths.
“Jesus explains the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the teachers of the law.
“Furthermore, He is to be killed and, after three days, rise again.
“The text tells us that He spoke plainly. This was probably so that they understood and grasped the enormity of the situation that He presented to them.
“Peter, though, is upset and instantly rebukes Jesus. As usual, Mark does not tell us what Peter says but we can begin to deduce what has been said by the response given to Peter and which is recorded.
“Jesus does not mince His words and sternly rebukes Peter by stating that famous line ‘get behind me, Satan!’
“At first glance this could seem harsh and uncaring but then Jesus gives a brief explanation as to why, saying: ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
“In other words, Peter is failing to grasp the bigger picture and see all what God will achieve through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
“This is a reminder of what we have been told throughout the pandemic. Look at the bigger picture, look at what we will achieve through the sacrifices we make now.”
Rev Wooller continued: “Peter’s reaction is because he already heard Jesus utter the words and probably does not understand or appreciate the ramifications such an action will have both on him and the rest of humanity.
“Wouldn’t it have been interesting to catch a glimpse of what happens next between Jesus and the disciples?
“Sadly, Mark moves on to further expanding about the cross and explains that a crowd had now gathered along with the disciples.
“Here, Jesus begins to set out some broad themes about what it means to be a disciple and the consequences of such.
“He challenges the gathered crowd by stating that to be His disciples we must deny oneself and each of us individually take up the cross.
“Jesus explains if you want to keep your life you will lose it, and if you lose it for the sake of the gospel you will save it.
“Jesus encourages us all to prioritise accepting the call because He gives the example of someone having everything then losing it all because they did not accept Jesus.
“If we are ashamed of Jesus now, He will be ashamed of us when He comes in glory for the final judgment.
“These are challenging words, but ones which make sense. If we follow Christ, we will discover life in all its fullness not just now but in eternity.
“This Lent let us make a special effort by recommitting our lives to His following and daily taking up our cross.”
For more information and updates from the Riverside Methodist Church, see the website www.riverside-methodist-church.co.uk.
Scottish Episcopal Churches
All services have been postponed until further notice.
Any changes will be announced in the Blairie and the churches’ website.
For more information, see www.abcsaints. co.uk.
An east Perthshire construction materials company has launched an ambitious programme which it hopes will help promote good mental health throughout its workforce.
Blairgowrie-based A Proctor Group Ltd (APG) has commissioned 14 mental health and fitness professionals to deliver a monthlong programme of virtual workshops throughout March.
The sessions cover a variety of topics, including mindfulness, visionboarding – designed to help people prioritise tasks in order to achieve certain goals – and one described as focusing on “the art of sleeping”.
Managing director Keira Proctor said issues associated with the global Covid-19 outbreak have highlighted the need for employers to create a supportive working environment.
She explained: “The health and wellbeing of the Proctor team has always been important to the business, which is why APG introduced a working-from-home policy very early in the pandemic.
“Of course, this has brought new challenges to our everyday lives and it has affected us all in different ways.
“It’s important to recognise these pressures exist, and to actively respond to them by staying positive and looking for new ways of supporting each other.”
The month-long series of activities is being promoted by A Proctor Group Ltd using the social media campaign ‘#SpringIntoMarch’, and the firm is encouraging other businesses and organisations to get involved.
Angela McIntyre, the local firm’s communications director, added: “This month’s aim is to support employees by letting them experience a variety of tools and strategies that reinforce a proactive and preventative approach to their health and wellbeing.
“It is OK not to be OK. No-one should be ashamed of mental health.”
A recently-released study from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that, in June 2020, nearly one
in five adults in the UK – some 19.2 per cent – were likely to have been experiencing some form of depression.
The ONS has said this represents a near doubling of the number of people said to be experiencing symptoms of depression before the pandemic. This was said to be 9.7 per cent.
A prominent contributing factor is the shift to home working, according to the research, as well as things such as isolation, increases in comfort eating and alcohol consumption, and decreases in exercise and hours of sleep.
Support information in relation to mental health issues can be found on the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) website, www.samh.
It’s important to recognise these pressures exist, and to actively respond to them by staying positive Keira Proctor
org.uk, or Mindspace Ltd via www. mindspacepk.com.
Alternatively, see the Scottish Government’s website.