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ABBEY CHURCH/BENDOCHY CHURCH
Rev Andy Graham conducted morning worship at the Abbey Church on Sunday.
At the start of the service, Mr Graham paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on Friday last week at the age of 99.
The congregation was asked to observe a two-minute silence and remember the Royal family at this sad time.
The call to worship was from Psalm 27, ‘The Lord is my Strength and Salvation’.
This was followed by prayers, especially for those who have lost loved ones.
Esther Jack played ‘How Deep the Father’s Love For Us’ and ‘Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean’.
The Bible reading was John ch 20, vv 19-29.
This tells of Jesus, after His death and resurrection, appearing to His disciples, except Thomas, who were gathered together in a locked room fearful of the Jews.
Fear is a powerful emotion which can take over and impact lives, and this was the situation the disciples of Jesus found themselves in after He had left them.
He tried to put them at their ease by saying “peace be with you” and showing them the marks on His hands and side.
Jesus then sets out a purpose for them to go and spread God’s word to all people.
In the same way He will come to us when we need Him and show us the path to follow.
Thomas was not there with the other disciples in the room and did not believe them that Jesus had appeared.
He has become known as Doubting Thomas, which was said to be perhaps a bit unfair because when Jesus appeared again he believed and he went on to do great things in Jesus’ name.
He needed that personal interaction with Jesus in the same way that people do to give them the courage to go out and proclaim the gospel message.
The service ended with the hymns ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ and ‘We Have Heard A Joyful Sound’.
Following the benediction, Jenny Whyte played organ music.
There will be services in both Bendochy Church, at 10am, and the Abbey Church, at 11.15am, on Sunday this week.
BLAIRGOWRIE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The congregation met in person on Sunday morning and also broadcasted the service live online for those unable to attend.
For more details, see the website www. bechurch.co.uk
BLAIRGOWRIE PARISH CHURCH
Due to the illness of Rev Benjamin Abeledo, morning worship at Blairgowrie Parish Church on Sunday was conducted by David Howat, an elder and Church of Scotland reader.
In his welcome Mr Howat said this was the Second Sunday of Easter, often called Low Sunday.
After the call to worship Mr Howat announced the opening hymn, ‘Praise to the Lord,’ which was followed by prayers of approach and confession and the Lord’s Prayer.
The scripture reading by Colleen Joslin was from Psalm 22, ‘A cry of anguish and a song of praise’, and was followed by the hymn, ‘Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,’ and Mr Howat’s sermon, titled ‘Abandonment: When You Feel God-forsaken.’
Mr Howat said it may seem rather surprising to have an Old Testament Psalm as the reading for the Second Sunday of Easter.
He said: “On Low Sunday we imagine the followers of Jesus, hidden away, fearful for their lives, and again Jesus came to them.
“Jesus came into this world as a human, He did wondrous things that only God could do, proving Himself to be the Son of God.
“Psalm 22 has been called the Psalm of the Cross. Here is the prophesy that would be fulfilled about 1000 years after having been made.”
Mr Howat recounted the Covid-19related events which have restricted worship over the past year when it would have been easy to think that God had forsaken us.
He continued: “A key feature of our worship is that we meet together with others.
“We are the Church, the Body of Christ, here to do His work on His earth, a partnership created when Jesus died on the cross.
“But we could no longer worship together or share Communion. Our world was changing.
“Working from home - or not working. Going out only when necessary. We all have our own personal stories about how life has changed. For some things were much harder.
“Even with the roll-out of vaccinations it is going to take a while until we get back to what is termed ‘the new normal.’ A new way of thinking. A new way of worship.”
David was never in a situation as described in this Psalm.
The only way he could imagine this situation was because he was a prophet and knew what God had promised him. God had made a vow that He would make one of David’s descendants a king, just as David was.
David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said: “He was not abandoned in the world of the dead. His body did not rot in the grave.”
Mr Howat continued by saying it is quite easy to question God.
He went on: “When we see something on the news or in a newspaper we ask: ‘Why does God let that happen?’ We don’t know.
“The Psalmist is at a loss. He is ridiculed because of his faith, but his faith remains strong.
“We sometimes get the feeling that it is uncool to have a faith in God. The question asked is: ‘How does God help you in this modern day and age, when you are judged, not by what you can contribute to society, but what you can get out of it.’
“The Psalmist knew that God was with him from birth, but now he felt abandoned.
“The Psalmist goes from self to God. His life is firmly rooted in his faith, although he feels abandoned. His tormentors ask: ‘You relied on the Lord, why doesn’t He save you?’ We heard that from Jesus on the Cross.
“The Psalmist is beset by people all around him, so with Jesus. Everyone is waiting for Him to die. He had been beaten and ridiculed.
“Through the death of Jesus we are invited to this feast, Holy Communion.
“In the same way that the Psalmist’s life and attitude changed when he realised that God was there for him, so too must our life and attitude change when we accept what Jesus has done to make us right with God.
“People may question where God is at these difficult times, and that is why it is more important than ever to say where He in fact is with those who are suffering in hospital, those caring for them. He is wherever there is need, if we just open ourselves to Him.
“Some people may feel that we have lost control of our lives. But we are at a stage when we can praise God, and pray that what we did not understand a year ago, we now understand, and we have the ability to overcome, if we think about others and not solely about ourselves and our personal wishes.
“We are not alone or abandoned. It may be a testing time, but testing makes our faith stronger.
“We must ensure that the losses, heartache, and experiences over the past year are not forgotten, but used to build a better society.
Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession were followed by the hymn, ‘And Can It Be That I Should Gain?’ to the tune Sagina.
The service closed with the benediction.
All sermons can be accessed at the website: www.blairgowrieparishchurch. org.uk/sermons.
The number of people permitted to attend services is limited to 50 people as a result of Covid-19 restrictions and places must be booked in advance.
Call 01250 874715, 07716 510605, email pamela@thehowats.net or see the website www.ticketsource.co.uk/ blairgowrieparishchurch.
CARGILL/BURRELTON CHURCH
Morning worship on Sunday was led by Rev Stevie Thomson, with Lynne Mitchell as organist.
Those wishing to attend worship on Sunday should contact Sheena McNaughton 01828 627773 as places are limited owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
KINCLAVEN CHURCH
Rev Harry Mowbray conducted the service on the second Sunday of Easter.
The scripture readings from 1 Peter ch 3-9 and St John ch 20, vv 19-31, were read by Elizabeth Brown.
The organist was Janet Coyle.
The funeral service for Rev Tom Tait will be held in the church on Wednesday at 11am.
Due to current Covid restrictions the service will be private but a link will be available to view online.
To receive the link, contact Mr Mowbray by calling 01250 873479 or using the Alyth Parish Church Facebook page.
The service on Sunday this week will be from 9.45am and will be conducted by Mr Mowbray. All welcome, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
RIVERSIDE METHODISTS
Sunday’s message was delivered by Rev Nik Wooller.
She said: “It is quite normal to have doubts from time to time, or to question things. In fact, that is healthy.
“This week we examine the account of Thomas after the resurrection. The reading comes from John ch 20, vv 19-31.
“I do feel sorry for Thomas as he received bad press for asking probing questions and wanting to be sure in his own mind.
“When someone does not believe something, we tend to call them a ‘doubting Thomas’ after the poor disciple!
The disciples were fearful of reprisals from the authorities after the resurrection of Jesus and were keeping a low profile by locking themselves away.
“Unexpectedly, Jesus then appears amongst them and declares: ‘Peace be with you’.
“He then begins to show them His hands and feet to prove that it is Him and demonstrate that He has risen.
“Thomas is not present for whatever reason and, when he returns, the other disciples explain that they have seen Jesus.
“Thomas is not convinced and tells them all quite clearly that he will not believe unless he sees it for himself.
“However, a week later, there is a repetition and immediately after the same initial greeting Jesus invites Thomas to put his finger into the nail marks and his hand into His side.
“Thomas then has the realisation that this is Jesus and exclaims ‘my Lord and my God’.
“Jesus explains to him that because he has seen with his own eyes, he has believed but blessed are those people who have not seen and yet still believe.”
Rev Wooller continued: “I really find encouragement in this passage because firstly it admits it is okay to have doubts and question and that is perfectly normal behaviour and part of the human condition.
“But also, that for those of us who have not seen Jesus and yet still believe we are blessed through doing so.
“Let us claim this truth for ourselves and use it when we are talking with relatives, friends, and neighbours about the truth of Jesus Christ, who He was and what He came to do.
“We are now firmly in the season of hope, let us embrace it as we look to longer days, brighter weather and increasingly more fellowship and interaction together.”
For more information and updates from the Riverside Methodist Church, see the website www.riverside-methodistchurch.co.uk.
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
St Catharine’s (9.30am), St Ninian’s (11.15am) and St Anne’s (11.15am) will now be open every week.
Because of Covid-19 social distancing rules, it is essential that worshippers reserve a place.
For St Catharine’s ring 01738 710440 or email sarah@thegammells.com.
For St Ninian’s, ring 01828 640591, St Anne’s ring 01828 640452 and for St Michael’s call 01250 886320.