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THE DARK NIGHTS
When I open the curtains in the morning, I am always hoping for some sign that the short days are coming to an end. I am not a fan of the long winter nights, maybe I am just not a fan of darkness?
When I first started work, one of the older guys (probably younger than I am now!) used to say, ‘wait until winter comes, we’re like pit ponies’ I had no idea what he meant, so I had to ask my dad what it meant. Basically, he was saying that during the winter we wouldn’t really see daylight during the week, and boy he was right.
Anyhow, I am waiting for change to come, for the mornings to start to be a bit brighter, the light breaking through, till eventually the sunrise welcomes us to the new day. Then it feels like summer is on the way. Change is coming.
Then, the signs of spring, where the bulbs push through the earth the birds chatter and the year is on the turn. The thing is, there is nothing we can do to hurry things along.
We must be patient, we must watch and wait, there is no short cut, and there may even be a false dawn or two on the way, where the days feel warmer, only to be dashed with further cold weather. But the thing is, we know that spring will come.
I wonder if sometimes we feel that we are living in dark times in the church? There are stories all round our town of churches closing their doors, congregations moving, amalgamating. Some sense the opportunity of this, some are in despair as their church closes. These are the dark nights.
It’s so easy to get caught focussing on the darkness, but let’s be patient, spring will come, new days will come.
The light will break through, and it will be a new day.
Let’s be looking for signs of spring, of hope
Change will come
God bless
Your friend and minister
Alan
Christmas And The Turn Of The Year
Is it me, or do the years start to roll by quicker than they have before. My induction into the church feels like yesterday, but here we are in December already. As I am writing this (on the 12th of November) I have already seen Christmas Decorations up in houses. It feels like the Christmas Season starts earlier and earlier each year.
But I am never fully prepared, doesn’t matter how early the preparations have started, I can’t see this year being any different. But it is different in another way. This year I am spending it in this Church, with you. It’s a place I never expected to be at this time in my life, but I am thankful of the opportunity.
Christmas is a differing time of year for everyone. So much on out TV screens and all the adverts are about happiness and meals and presents.
For so many people Christmas is a confusing time as we navigate loss in our lives and reflect on those empty spaces at the table. It’s right to remember, it’s right to feel the love that we have for others. They should never be forgotten.
But at its essence, Christmas time is a time for everyone, the lost, the hungry, the hurting, the bereaved and yes, the happy. To be able to see past the hype of Christmas at the shops, to the Christmas at the crib.
Which is about hope and togetherness. Where the outsiders are being asked into the warmth of the stable to witness the babe in arms, where hope, love, and acceptance live, and everybody is welcome.
That to me is the true meaning of Christmas.
With Christmas comes New Year, and all the change that brings. And, the New Year’s Resolutions. How many have been broken over the years!
As a church what will our 2025 be? What is in store for us?
I believe that the church has a powerful witness in its history and its future. I believe we have something to offer our city, our community.
There will be no resolutions from me, because the same hope of the Christmas story is with me into the new year. We don’t need to make promises to do something different. We need to have hope in Jesus to make us something different.
I believe 2025 will be a year of change for the better.
God bless.
Your friend and minister,
Alan
Anniversary and Remembrance
As I sit writing this, it is a day after my birthday. This always leads me to be a bit reflective, even more so as the years roll on.
It is funny how perspectives change over the years. I remember being at school in the 1980’s and hearing about two things that stick in my mind. One was Hong Kong, being handed back to China, which was to be in 1997, and then the Millenium, in 2000 of course. That was going to be 20 years away! I remember thinking, ‘when that happens, I will be ancient!! I will be in my 30’s’.
As a teenager, my 30’s seemed light years away, I imagined myself to be an old man at 33. But here we are nearly 25 years after these events, and I am still not an old man, well I do not think so (although young people may disagree!). Time moves quickly, and the years go back quicker than you imagine. Anniversaries and remembrance become important, perhaps more so, with the passage of time.
We are coming up for two notable events in our churches calendar. The 40th Anniversary of Dundee Congregational Church (Ward Chapel and Panmure Trinity joining), the church, which has stood since 1833, so it’s 191st anniversary, and of course the church roots go back even further to the church being founded in 1809, some 215 years ago. I wonder back in 1809 they could imagine people worshiping here hundreds of years later?
Then, Remembrance Sunday in November, a poignant day as we remember those who have been lost in conflicts since the Great War. When I wander round our church, I am not only reminded of those from our church who paid the ultimate sacrifice, but that we are the custodians of memorials from many churches that are no longer there. Charged with remembering them. We are also custodians of many standards from our ex-services.
It is so important that with both services we are remembering the service of others. In October, for our church, and in November for freedom and peace.
Time passes quickly. To pause and remember is the right thing to do. Remembering those who have gone before. To remember those who have served, so that we might be here today. Without their service, for the church, and especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, who knows where we would be today.
On Remembrance Sunday, I will say the words ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.’
Because of those who have gone before, we have a tomorrow. Let us look forward to it, remembering, not forgetting, but seeing it as the gift that it is.
Your friend and minister.
Alan
Minister’s Visiting
Over the months of June and July, I started visiting on behalf of the church, guided by Elspeth. From August onwards, my working days for the church will usually be Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
If I am planning to visit you, I will call in advance to arrange a convenient time.
Thanks for your patience.
Alan
Sunday Services
Most weeks, morning worship will be conducted by myself.
Leading worship when I am off on 4th August and 15th September will be Rev Bob Wightman.
29th September – Pulpit exchange: Rev Gordon Campbell will be leading worship here whilst I lead worship in Perth Congregational Church.
Alan
What Ever Happened To Summer?
I don`t know about you, but I am patiently waiting for summer to begin before it`s too late. It is getting to the stage where I am resigned to the fact that every time I go out it`s layers that are required as a dress code. You literally could have four seasons in one day.
Summers were always a great time as a kid. Off we would go on our holidays to that well known holiday destination of New Pitsligo. The car journey seemed to take forever, but we were armed with our sweets, normally cream line toffees (I think, looking back, that they were designed just to keep us quiet) and a range of DC Thomson`s summer specials. It was an adventure.
A highlight of these holidays were the trips to the outdoor swimming at Tarlair. There was none of this heated water like at Stonehaven. It was truly the coldest water I have ever experienced, I mean ever. But this was where I learned to swim. It was also the time I found out that my sister`s patience with me had its limits. After trying hard to get me into the icy waters of the Moray Firth, which was disguised as a swimming pool, I felt a firm hand on my back as she firmly shoved me in. She was done with cajoling and with my excuses, it was literally sink or swim. So swim I did! After I got over the shock of the water, I swam, it was good – I could do it!
As an aside, these times at the water did not lead to a love of freezing water, but it did develop a love of the shore, sunsets and the soothing sound of the waves (the front cover has a picture of the sun setting over my favourite beach on the Isle of Harris).
I find it truly relaxing and inspiring, and I am reminded that we are part of something much bigger that we are aware of. We are like specks of sand in terms of the size of the universe and all that is in it.
I hope and pray that you have a place, near or far, that brings you peace and reminds you of the wonder of the world we live in.
Your friend and minister.
Alan