Milton Methodist Church

October 2020

Dear Friends,

Greetings in this strangest of autumns.  Yet the trees are beginning to parade their autumn colours, the sunlight of the season has been stunning on the hillsides, the waterfalls cascade and thunder; the harvest is celebrated.  God’s grace is sufficient.  Yet we sense incompleteness, unable to connect physically with those who are dear to us, knowing that the creation is groaning in travail under the consequences of a rampant virus.

We have said goodbye to Tim and welcomed Bob into the staff team.  We have already laughed and cried together as we try to minister in Strathclyde, alongside so many of you who pray with and for us.  We are finding new ways to express worship, new avenues for service; we are learning at a new depth and finding opportunities to share the hope that is in us to new people.  5@5, YouTube on Sunday mornings, Zoom Bible studies, Online Love Feasts have become part of the rhythm of life.  I hope you are managing to tune in to some of them.  We want to make these online experiences more widely available.

Most of our churches are now open for physical worship – but it is not “the same”.  It cannot be.  Methodists not singing.  Preachers unable to “read” the faces of the congregation.  Neither a cup of tea nor a Tunnock caramel bar after worship.  Yet, in it all, God’s grace is sufficient.  Some of us are struggling to deal with all the uncertainty – the “not knowing” whether this is a comma, a semi-colon or a full stop (as the Secretary of the Conference remarked recently) is somehow disturbing.  We try to make plans . . . but are conscious that they may well come to nothing.

Perhaps we have become more aware of what does matter to us, what we have taken for granted; more aware of the world’s inter-connectedness and brokenness; more aware of the reality of the God who draws near to those who are the least, the last and the lost.  There is good news: that God in Christ has met us in our weakness and has proved love for us that goes beyond our imaginings.

Thanks to all those who will lead us in worship over the next few weeks.  We hardly dare imagine what Advent and Christmas may be like.  Thanks to those who have communicated kindness throughout the last six months – in emails, letters, cards, phone calls, in praying for each other.  This is a remarkable community of faith – and I am humbled to be part of it.

There has been a lot to learn, and our resources have been stretched.  We rejoice with East Kilbride in completing their renovations.  The building looks good.  We are thankful for those in our circuit who work in the NHS and in the nation’s schools and have done the work which is enabling us to function.  Our prayers are for the church in East Glasgow/Shettleston as they seek to find a new “home”, for the congregation at Clydebank after the fire and break-in one September night, for those in leadership in these islands.

Peace to you all.

Andrew

The circuit service is broadcast every Sunday morning at 11.00 am online Service

and you can pick it up there any time after the Sunday morning. I am continuing to broadcast for 5 minutes live at 5 pm (5@5)on Saturdays on Saturday 5 minutes at 5pm