Let’s give thanks to family and friends in these difficult and uncertain times

In our usual church service, and indeed in our current on l i ne s er vi ce, t here are two Bible passages selected by me which are read every week and people often ask me how these passages are chosen.

Are they chosen depending on the events of the week in our world, in our community or in our church?

Are they chosen because they’re my favourite passages and I like to hear them? Or do I simply open the bible randomly and see which page I come to?

Well, the answer is that it is none of these methods.

In East Kilbride Old Parish Church we use the passages set out in “The Revised Common Lectionary” which means that a group of more learned s c h o l a r s t ha n me, hav e s e t o u t passages on a three year cycle which help us navigate our way around the important themes of the bible.

It is the same lectionary used by the Roman Catholic Church, so there is unity with our neighbours as the same passages will be read in East Kilbride Old, as are read in St Bride’s.

Obviously there are weeks when weaving t ogether a message i s a relatively easy task, and then there are the weeks when it is more difficult to find a way to discern what the passages are saying to us.

Sunday past was an easy one. The first passage was from Paul’s letter to the Romans where St Paul was telling us to love one another, as love is the fulfilment of all the laws.

The second passage was from St Matthew’s gospel where we hear the words of Jesus reminding us that relationships are the most important things in our lives.

Loving each other, and building healthy relationships are vital, not just for the Christian community, but for us all.

John Donne once wrote that no man is an island, and that is true for all of us. We do not travel through this life on our own for we need other people on our journey.

I’m sure all of us can identify the people who have s haped us, t he people who have been there for us through the good times and bad.

We hopefully have our families, although sometimes they come with all the characteristics which make us the unique human beings that we are, I think you know what I mean.

We also are blessed with many good friends.

One of the most exciting things is when we encounter a new friendship or relationship on our journey of life.

Last week was a milestone for me as a new grandparent when I was able to finally after all these months look after my grandson on my own for the first time.

He is almost six months old now, a n d I c o u l d s e e h i s p e r s o na l i t y begin to develop, and I delighted in everything he did.

In the midst of these difficult times, it is family and friends who have got us through, so let’s give thanks for them.