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BLAIRGOWRIE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Worship was held in person and online on Sunday.
Iain Craig began the service leading the congregation in singing ‘Light of the World’ and ‘I Love You Lord’.
After a time of prayer Acts ch 5, vv 12-16, was read.
The congregation then sang the unfamiliar song, ‘There Must Be More Than This’.
Pastor Derek Johnston spoke from the passage in Acts, which tells of the power of the apostles to perform signs and wonders that provoked awe and wonder and blessed many people.
He said: “The question the passage poses to us is: ‘Why do we not see such spectacular manifestations of the power of God today in Blairgowrie?’
“Some would argue that miracles were confined to the time of the apostles and have ceased since then.
“Some would argue that we should see miracles like this today but do not because of our lack of faith or because of our spiritual inadequacy.
“However, the Bible does not teach us that God has stopped working miracles nor does he tell us that we should expect to see them in the same concentration as the early church.
“The fact is God has not changed, therefore we should be open to him doing the miraculous and pray for him to do the miraculous.
“And if we are faithful to tell others about him, we may even see the greatest miracle of all, someone crossing from death to life and becoming a Christian.”
The service finished with the
congregation again singing ‘There Must Be More Than This’.
The service on Sunday this week starts at 11.15am.
For details regarding future services, see the website www.bechurch.co.uk.
BLAIRGOWRIE PARISH CHURCH
In his welcome to the congregation on Sunday, Rev Benjamin Abeledo asked: “Why do we come to church?”
He continued: “Why is it, we do what we do? Sometimes we perhaps don’t think of the rationale behind it.
“We are here not only to hear from God but also to give him the glory.”
The hymn, ‘Ye Servants of God’, was then sung and followed by prayer.
The scripture from Ephesians ch 5, vv 1-20 was read by Margaret Conroy and followed by the hymn ‘O Breath of Life’.
Commencing his sermon titled, ‘Be Careful How You Live’, Mr Abeledo said: “One way to describe the Christian life is to say it is made up of apparent contradictions.
“Things in our life that don’t make sense. Some of these paradoxes can be found in 2 Corinthians ch 6, vv 8-10.
“We can be sorrowful yet rejoice, we can be poor yet rich, we can have nothing yet possess everything. These are paradoxes of the Christian life. They are spiritual realities ordained by God.”
The minister continued: “Paul instructs us on how to live in faith, in the will of God, in spite of the many challenges we face in life.
“He tells us to watch our step, be careful how you live and set a good example.
“He also tells us to redeem our time, in other words make the most of the opportunity of the time we have.
“The moment of opportunity is now. How can we face today or tomorrow? Who is there to guide, comfort and to save us?
“Paul is not naïve about the world and its many problems, he wrestled with his own sin. He knew his power was made perfect in weakness.”
Mr Abeledo went on to say how revivals and the growth of the church have always happened in the midst of persecution and gave examples where this has happened in history, one of which was the Scottish Covenanters who were persecuted, put to death and martyred and yet revival happened.
He went on: “Watch your step, redeem the time. The final thing that Paul encourages the church to do, is to do God’s will.”
The minister gave an example of this by referring to the latter part of Martin Luther King’s final speech in Memphis on April 3, 1968 – the day before he was assassinated.
Dr King said he had been to the mountain top and seen the promised land, telling those gathered: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
He said he just wanted to do God’s will. The service closed with the hymn ‘May the Mind of Christ my Saviour’.
Family services are being held during the summer months.
For more information, and to book places, contact Susan Whiteford at messychurchblair@outlook.com.
All sermons can be accessed at the website: www.blairgowrieparishchurch. org.uk/sermons
RIVERSIDE METHODISTS
Sunday’s message was delivered by Rev Nik Wooller.
She said: “Imagine that, on entering a church for the first time, you heard the words of Jesus being read out declaring that: ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink’. Would there be any chance of your returning next Sunday?
“These words might have been a little easier to grasp for Jesus’ audience on a hillside in Galilee, in an age and context so different from our own.
“His contemporaries were familiar with the idea of sacrifice and the spilling of blood, something that was as much about shared meals as about tradition and symbolism.
“But his invitation to ‘eat my flesh’ would have been a shock, even for them.
“Within our own churches, our understanding of what happens when we celebrate Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, may be something that we take for granted, but it could seem as alarming to newcomers as Jesus’ first invitation.
“It is, of course, meant as a way of expressing or allowing Jesus to be as close to us as food is, to achieve a complete ‘oneness’ with us.
“And the purpose of this ‘allconsuming’ relationship is for our benefit: to feed us with all that is essential to life. Just as Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they are not to be filled with wine but with the Holy Spirit, so Jesus wants us to rely not on physical food alone, but to receive the nourishment of his life, his word.”
Rev Wooller continued: “We can all appreciate that some foods are more appetising than others, and we each have our own preferences.
“Have you ever felt bored with food and wished for a more varied diet, something new and tasty?
“The same will be true of our appetite for the Word, both in the way we worship together and in our private devotions.
“In Jesus’ time the faith of the Jews relied heavily on tradition, and perhaps had become dull and tasteless.
“He offered them something new, exotic and even risky. How is your appetite today? Is your spiritual diet balanced? Do you enjoy your meal of worship enough to invite others to the feast?”
For information and updates from the Riverside Methodist Church, see online at www.riverside-methodist-church. co.uk.
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
The churches are gradually getting back to normal, with the only difference being that masks still have to be worn even when singing.
There is no need to book a seat in either St Anne’s in Coupar Angus or St Ninian’s in Alyth.
However, anyone heading to St Catharine’s in Blairgowrie is asked to email sarah@thegammells.com in advance so Test and Protect procedures can be adhered to.
On Sunday, August 22, there will be Eucharists in St Catharine’s from 9.30am and St Ninian’s from 11.15am.
A Service of the Word will take place in St Anne’s from 11.15am.
There will only be one service on Sunday, August 29.
It will take the form of a joint eucharist at St Anne’s from 10.30am.
Further information, including the weekly pew leaflet, can be found on the church website www.abcsaints.co.uk.
Generally, services take place 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).
For further information about events and services at St Catharine’s telephone 01738 710440 or email sarah@ thegammells.com.
For St Ninian’s call 01828 640591 and for St Anne’s call 01828 650732.