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The church was again filled to the capacity permitted under the current Covid-19 restrictions for worship on Sunday.
Pastor Derek Johnston said: “It was great to be able to meet and enjoy singing again on Sunday.
“We began the service with Iain leading worship on guitar with the songs ‘Behold Our God’ and ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’.
“After a time of prayer we read Acts ch 2, vv 42-47. We then learned a lovely new song, ‘The Goodness Of God’.
“During the sermon we looked at the passage from Acts which gives a summary of the early church in the days immediately after Pentecost.
“It paints an attractive picture of a joyful, harmonious and thriving church.
“People looked out for one another and shared what they had with others.
“It was the sort of community we would all love to be part of.
“But it raises the question of how the church of today can become more like that.
“In answering that question we saw that the passage lists the priorities of the early church.
“They gave themselves wholly and willingly to God’s word, to the fellowship, to cross-centred worship and to prayer.
“And this devotion arose from their love of God and their gratitude for what God had done for them through Christ.
“It was that which made this community so attractive and it’s those same things which are vital today.
“We concluded our service with the song ‘We Will Feast In The House Of Zion.’”
For details regarding attending services, see the website www.bechurch. co.uk.
BLAIRGOWRIE PARISH CHURCH
Rev Benjamin Abeledo conducted worship on Sunday and reminded the
congregation that communal singing is now permitted, albeit with a mask.
The first hymn was ‘Tell Out My Soul’ and the lesson from Joshua ch 8 was read by Elinor Smith.
This was followed by the hymn ‘Jesus Lover Of My Soul’.
The minister’s sermon concentrated on the reasons for the Israelites’ victory at Ai following an earlier defeat when they had disobeyed God.
Joshua was now reassured by God and not downhearted.
Mr Abeledo said people, too, must be encouraged, appreciate God’s promises of hope and be ready to stand up to the threats of evil.
Joshua’s victory, like people’s own challenges, is the Lord’s, not their own. They must learn from previous failures and follow His instructions.
The minister continued: “We too have to adhere to spiritual guidelines and not believe our ‘worldly weapons’.
“We face many worldly challenges and must address these using such spiritual weapons as faith, righteousness, peace, grace and, most importantly, prayer.
“We must not be disinclined or ashamed to use these old fashioned weapons to address the challenges of modern society.
“Sometimes the effects of God’s judgement can be bloody, indeed gruesome as in the death of the King at Ai.
“God decided his fate, our fate and also the cruel, but necessary, death of Christ on a cross.
“Jesus was punished for our sins. He gave us life in exchange for sin. We cannot judge such matters –we are not good enough but must appreciate and use his spiritual weapons.”
The service concluded with a prayer and the singing of the hymn ‘Make Me A Captive Lord’.
The organist was Martha Easton, who
accompanied the hymns and also played two voluntaries – ‘Melody in F’ by Rubinstein and ‘Marche Religieuse’ by Mozart.
Anyone wishing to donate flowers for a Sunday service is asked to get in touch with Yvonne Taylor.
There is still a limit of 60 people when it comes to the number of people who can attend services.
To book a place in advance, please call 01250 874715, 07716 510605 or send an email to pamela@thehowats.net.
Alternatively, see the website www. ticketsource.co.uk/ blairgowrieparishchurch.
RIVERSIDE METHODISTS
Sunday’s message was delivered by Rev Nik Wooller.
She asked: “How does faith grow? How does the body of Christ, the church, flourish? How do God’s people participate in the creative work of the reign of God? How in the world does any of this even happen?
“These are the questions running through my mind this week as I read Jesus’ parables of seeds, and just what does this mean to a 21st century disciple trying to make his or her counter-cultural way in a crazy world?
“I suspect it means getting out of our heads and into the divine heart through God made visible in Jesus.
“Granted, that’s still not a recipe yielding logical answers and step-by-step instructions for discipleship, but it is the way to live into the concept of becoming/ being a new creation – of shedding our shells so that the seed of faith can germinate in ways that are completely beyond our rational minds.
“I mean, who truly knows how Jesus cracks open a human heart so that a fragile shoot of faith can lean into the light of divine love, be watered in baptism, and fed on simple earthy elements of bread and wine?
“It’s not standard sowing and reaping methodology by any stretch of the imagination. This is not how God seems to roll.”
Rev Wooller went on: “Yet it happens. People of faith see with the eyes of the heart. Congregations flourish like mustard seeds, providing safe and nonjudgmental space for all sorts of new creations to find shelter and a place to be formed into new creations.
“What we hear is a reminder that God plants, waters, grows, and causes to flourish in strange and wonderful and nonsensical ways.
“All our mighty plans, initiatives, schemes, and even worthy dreams are for nothing if we are not open to and in relationship with the creator of the cosmos.
“We don’t have to understand how it all works, we just have to be willing participants in the process and stewards of mystery, wonder, and awe.
“We do not cause the growth, but we can sure impede the process when we are at odds with God’s plan and will, or when we think we have the corner on the faith market.”
She added: “Scripture is full of stories of how God uses improbable people in strange situations to accomplish the divine will, as well as plenty of stories about thwarted and redirected human notions of how God ought to do things.
“One would think we’d learn, right? Clearly we are people in process with thick heads, short memories, and a penchant for making messes.
“It’s a good thing we have a God who loves us, works with us, and refuses to give up on us!
“Somehow, with and through - and often in spite of - us, the seeds of faith are planted, and God gives the growth while we stand by with our mouths agape at divine abundance springing up all around.
“God is indeed good, and as the psalmist reminds us this week: ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord.’
“Indeed, we do walk and grow by faith that is pure gift and grace.”
For information and updates from the Riverside Methodist Church, see online at www.riverside-methodist-church. co.uk.
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
Sunday, June 20, sees the institution of Rev Kim Lafferty as Rector of the linked charges of St Anne’s, St Catharine’s, St Michael’s and St Ninian’s.
This will take place at 11am in St Michael’s and All Angels in Ballintuim.
The Bishop of the Diocese will preside assisted by the Acting Dean, who is also the Interim Priest in Charge.
There will be short services of welcome in the other churches that afternoon at the following times:
St Ninian’s in Alyth (3pm), St Catherine’s in Blairgowrie (4.30pm) and St Anne’s in Coupar Angus (6pm).
These services will be led by Canon Alasdair Coles, the Acting Dean.
Space is limited at the services and it is necessary to book in advance should people wish to attend.
Meanwhile, services are taking place as usual under lockdown rules in all the churches each Sunday at the following times:
St Catharine’s in Blairgowrie (9.30am), St Ninian’s in Alyth (11.15am) and St Anne’s in Coupar Angus (11.15am).
Because of Covid-19 social distancing rules, it is essential that worshippers reserve a place at services in advance.
For St Catharine’s ring 01738 710440 or email sarah@thegammells.com, for St Ninian’s call 01828 640591 and for St Anne’s call 01828 650732.
The number for St Anne’s has recently changed.