In This New, Slimmer Spring Issue
Communions + Testimony + Directory + Ardoe Hall + Glebe Land + Minister’s Letter + Roll Review + Sunday School + What’s On
Sunday Morning, Evening & Communion Services: Spring ‘07
Regular Morning Services:
Banchory Devenick (South Deeside Road) 10.00am.
Maryculter Church (Kirkton of Maryculter) 11.30am.
Evening Service:
Maryculter Hall 5.00pm (Usually in the Upper Room).
[Note new time. Evening services are now at 5.00pm to accommodate families.]
Card Communion Services
Last Sunday in April: April 29th (B.D. – 10am);
First Sunday in May: May 6th (M.C. – 11.30am);
Evening Communion: May 6th (MC Hall: 5.00pm)
“How good and pleasant it is for God’s people to live together in unity. There the LORD commanded his blessing, life forever more.”[Ps 33:1,3]
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My Journey: Bryan Anderson
I was brought up in a Christian home, attending Sunday-School, Bible Class and Youth Fellowship at the West Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen and my parents are elders there. I enjoyed much of it, but there was an element of compulsion in my attendance, and no spiritual connection for me with God. From these and other experiences including the death of my brother I was intellectually convinced we live and we die, and that is all there is to life. So for years I believed religion to be a crutch and responsible for more harm than good. I would happily argue this with anyone who cared to debate. I now see how the Lord used three important women in my life to lead me on a journey towards Himself, calling me to follow him.
No 1: Ten years ago, my then fiancée, Pauline, visited a spiritualist medium and came home with a tape recording. This turned my world upside down for that tape made it clear either the spirit of my deceased brother was in the room, or (as I now believe) a spirit, who knew enough to convince me, was.[1] Two years later I went to the spiritualist myself and was even more convinced. My partner subsequently went to an Alpha course and became a Christian. She asked me to go with her, and I went to a couple of meetings, but I was strongly resistant. I did read many books she had, gradually becoming intellectually convinced of their truth. Pauline and I parted - to this day remaining friends - but for a few years I felt a bit lost. While I now believed that there was a spiritual world, I wasn’t very clear what to do next.
No2:
Four years ago, walking on a beautiful beach in
No 3: Slow to action, as you will have gathered - it was not until December 2005 that I finally reached a decision to actively seek the Lord, ‘prodded’ indirectly by another ‘woman in my life’. This time, I was worried about my mother who was going through a very bad time following a knee operation - my need to understand God was now greater than ever. I searched the internet for Alpha courses, found one starting a few weeks later at ‘BDMC’, my local church; went along met Bruce and the rest of the group. I have never looked back.
Unlike some, I can’t put a date on my conversion – it has been a slow and gradual process over all these years. The Holy Spirit’s work has grown in me and taught me a whole new view on right and wrong. While I’d always thought myself to be a reasonably ‘good person’, supporting charities and doing ‘my bit’, I had never realised how sinful my life was. The Bible is a constant live revelation and having quickly read it from cover to cover during the last year to ‘find my way around’, each time we study a passage during services, at house-group or prayer meetings, the connections of all the amazing detail starts to come alive. I have a lot of lost time to make up for, and now I have a hunger for knowledge and growth.
I initially resisted formally joining the church - for a number of reasons - but one day in November last year I suddenly realised that it was, and is, right. Having made the decision, that night during prayer I was over-whelmed with the love of Jesus. It’s not enough to believe – he wanted my public commitment! This walk with Jesus continues – the Holy Spirit guiding me and helping me to discern the right path, and affirming my decisions in life. Of course it’s easy in a human way to believe at times that He is affirming all that you want and hope for at that time, but reality soon shows he is affirming what is in His plans for you, which is not always the same thing! “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans for good and not for evil, to give you hope and a future” [Jeremiah 29:11-13].
I am humbled and excited to declare that Jesus is my Saviour and my Lord – He gives me a confidence in the future I never felt before – he has called me to follow Him – He died on the cross for me! - That’s an awesome and amazing realisation! And all I had to do was to seek Him, believe, and the rest is by His Grace.
The family have had worrying times in recent months, with my Dad being ill, and when I looked for comfort from the world it was there but didn’t quite hit the spot. But when I looked for comfort from Jesus He gave me His peace unconditionally!
[1]Spiritualism is not of God. So Bryan is right to doubt its authenticity: cf. Isaiah 8:19-22
HOUSE GROUPS: Banchory Devenick & Maryculter
The House Groups are still studying Mark’s gospel enthusiastically on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month. One group meets at the Brittens’ (BD), the other in Anne Massie’s (MC). Pot Luck Suppers are held on fifth Mondays in Maryculter Church Hall (next: April 30). Tough issues are talked through with Bruce’s help:
“…they received the Word with great eagerness and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed.” [Act 1711-:12]
Joan Thorne 01224 783834 (BD) and Christine Gardner 01224 735776 (MC)
View From the Manse Window:
By the Minister: Rev Dr. Bruce K. Gardner
The Kirk: An Ark of Faith in the Modern World
One of the great stories of the Bible is Noah’s Ark. We concentrate on the animals in children’s versions but the most important cargo were 8 people. They were not perfect, although the head of the family, Noah, was a friend of God. It was simply because they got on the ark by faith that they were saved while millions died. The most distraught were surely those who had seen the ark growing in their midst, in the heart of their own communities, and despised God. Through sin and fear these mocked Noah putting their trust in a crazy, sinful belief that this life lasts forever.
Rather than let us fall into the dark of that same Lost Eternity, God’s Eternal Son came down as a human being. We have lost our souls and we hate being reminded how we should be. Jesus said ‘they hated me without a cause’ [Jn 15:23-25]. They flattered Him with one face and spoke against Him with another. Yet, as He died, He said, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” How wonderful!
Our kirk is an Ark and I call you to Life’s Only Captain. Let us follow Him by His Spirit. We’re small. We may look amateur but the Ark was built by amateurs: The Titanic was made by smart professionals too clever to believe what the Bible said. >
Jesus’ Cross announces Amnesty and Heavenly Life to all who repent and believe in Him. It’s not how long we live, but for Whom, that determines our final destiny.
Your Minister and Friend, Bruce.
After The Roll Review
Last issue I wrote: “It is painful to see folk moved or removed but membership of Christ’s Church means something.” Accordingly, a letter was sent to the minority telling those who had defaulted that a reply deadline of March 24th had been set. It was with sadness but little surprise we found only a minority of defaulters wanted to restore a relationship with the Church. The remainder of them seemed to accept that a consistent lack of interest in the kirk, if they lived outside the parish, meant removal from the roll, and, for those within it, transfer to the Supplementary Roll. The latter have lost their vote and, more importantly, the right to take lawful Holy Communion. We do continue to pray for all that they would seek the Lord in His Church, as He commanded them to, praying their hearts will soften and let them: The writer to the Hebrews said: “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer. For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God.” [Hebrews 10:24-27] Overall, the benefits, from a congregational point of view, are manifold. First, we now know the names on our lists are basic supporters of the congregation and we will continue to monitor all our folk, to encourage them to grow in that respect. It means, secondly, we no longer have to send Elders onto indifferent doorsteps and thirdly, it will boost morale that self-respect is being restored to kirk membership and that those who take vows, but disrespect them, are no longer allowed to do so. Finally, we can start to concentrate on issues like training, caring and evangelism.
Ardoe Hall – the End of an Era.
The Board invested £6000 in new heating in the hall, but it made no difference to its use locally. A Sub-Committee, with folk from both ends of the parish, decided that the Hall, (given to the Church, and not ‘the community’ as such, in the early 20th century, by Mr. Ogston) was non-essential for our mission. As a result, it was decided not to modernise the Hall at a cost of £30,000+ but move for its disposal. Session, Board and Stated Annual Meeting all decided to sell the site. Gratitude is due to Hall-keeper Wattie Simpson, and to God for the Hall’s once-vibrant past. A scrapbook perused by Bruce showed a rich, if now lost heritage. It would seem to be appropriate to have a short service in the Ardoe Hall marking the end of an era.
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
The Sunday school teachers never cease to merit our admiration for their dogged persistence, making Christmas and Easter so special for all the congregation and teaching the Faith by example, as well as in Bible stories. The children contribute with answers to questions in a way that combines humour and touching faith. For Banchory Devenick, call Jane Ah-See at 01224-863301; for Maryculter call Helen Anderson at 01224-780352. Let our children’s life-foundations be strong in Jesus and let all those who have children lead them to Jesus by the precious gift of faith
Easter Proclaims the Uniqueness of Jesus Christ
Banchory Devenick Glebe: part of the patrimony of the united congregation.
Glebe Lands: The kirk owns over five acres near Banchory Devenick Kirk and nine acres at Maryculter. These are leased for grazing at present and valued as an inheritance. Despite our strong financial position (a surplus of £6,000+ this year with – still - over £110,000 held centrally), we could always have an option to sell land to finance new facilities by agreement, which would give attractive provision at both ends of the parish without compromising our essential heritage. However, no sales of Glebe Land are planned, for while a glebe is a substantial reserve asset, it is also a valuable historic patrimony that requires due sense of responsibility and so, accordingly, the Board has resisted all recent offers and overtures for our land.
Bryan Anderson: Building with a Purpose I long felt a strong desire to do something practical, not just ease my conscience by writing a cheque to charity. There are many opportunities out there, but most require skills I don’t possess or are pure fundraising activities – and I’ve done plenty of those in years gone by with the Scouts. Several weeks ago this was more strongly on my mind, and when gathering waste paper for re-cycling, a slip of paper fell out, a prayer for the homeless I’d picked up on a recent visit to Iona. I read it through and thought about this on and off during the day, but after prayer group that night I came home and read the UCB Newsletter – an article jumped at me – “Desmond Tutu Community Build ‘No More Shacks!’” - this spoke straight to my heart:
“Habitat for Humanity are looking for 20 teams of ten people each to spend one week in Cape Town building 20 homes for 20 families. You can be part of that team if you are prepared to give one week of your time to work alongside other volunteers and the homeowners … all you need is the desire to make a difference and plenty of enthusiasm!”
I phoned next morning and signed up! As my work keeps me travelling, I have a lot of BA miles so I said I’d make my own travel arrangements. I went on-line to find there was a mixture of availability but the BA on-line booking system wasn’t working. When I phoned later that day I was told return flights were all gone! So I resigned myself to paying the full fair but only days later a lady from the project called to say I hadn’t ticked the box on the form to show whether I wished to stay on for a 3 days’ mini-safari out of Johannesburg. It sounded a great opportunity so I asked for a place. Later, I wondered if I could get a flight back from “Jo’burg” instead and the only available date that week was the day the trip was due to end!
God’s hand was not only in
the overall plan but in the detail too! So I’ll be leaving on the 23rd May for
what I’m sure will be the opportunity of a lifetime The direct costs for
my trip – travel, accommodation etc I’m covering myself – the challenge is to
raise at least £560 of sponsorship which goes directly into the building fund.
The Board and Session of the church have already very kindly committed £200
from church funds to the project. In addition, those attending the recent
Stated Annual Meeting, very generously donated the evening’s collection - over
£60! – this has been a great boost and encouragement to me. To learn more about
the project please simply contact me at: bryan.r.anderson@bt.com Donations can
be made on-line, if you would like, at: http://www.justgiving.com/BryanAnderson
I’ve been blessed with a comfortable life: I have so much to be thankful for. This is God’s clear plan for me right now – to help some people who have not been as blessed in material ways as I have – but who will gain most from the experience!?
Some Facts About Habitat: Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit and non-governmental Christian housing organization dedicated to the elimination of poor housing worldwide. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 230,000 homes in 92 countries in a partnership with people in need of simple, decent homes. It is estimated they have already helped over a million people out of appalling poverty and into safe permanent shelter. The Desmond Tutu Community Build is a Habitat for Humanity project in South Africa in partnership with UCB (United Christian Broadcasters). Bryan will speak to all interested, on his return, at a Wednesday Evening Open Meeting of the Bible Study & Prayer Group.
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Watch out for the next
enthralling news BDMC letter!