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February 2013 No 618 Magazine ‘Our aim is to draw closer to God and to each other, so that, through us, He can make known to all people the joys and challenges of following Jesus’ Vision Statement 2009 SeptemberFebruary 2013 2010 page 1 Libertonkirk.net 1 Web Address www.libertonkirk.net Scottish Charity Number SC011602 page page Behind the Films 13 Neighbourhood Scheme 29 Care Van 19 Our page 5 Castle Credit Union 11 Pram Praise 8 Change of Address form 30 Senior Citizens Club 14 Christmas Card - thanks 14 Sermon Recordings 21 Congregational News 13 Crèche Rota 18 Soup Pot 8 Crossword 12 South East Edinburgh Transition 9 Crossword - December answers 30 Take time to Pray 2 Elder’s Sunday Duties 15 Traidcraft 13 Energy Fair back cover Trip to Italy 21 February Diary 16 Useful ‘phone numbers 29 Flowers 15 Web Addresses 29 Fresh Start 6 Welcome Desk Rota 15 Gilmerton History - part 1 20/21 World Mission News 22 Gift Service - thanks 23 Your Magazine - Donations 19 Guild News 8 Youth Report 4 Lent Study Group 9 Adverts Liberton Names and addresses 31 Alan Johnstone Plumbing 27 Libbi's Café 30 Bluebird Care 26 Cello Lessons 20 Life and Work 14 Faith Seeking Understanding course 23 Livingstone’s Legacy 10 HCC Electrical 25 Magazine Delivery 9 Home Instead 28 March Diary 18 Jo Jingles 24 Messy Church 11 John Cameron Blacksmith 24 Mike and Helen Parker’s letter 6/7 Julie Bell Piano Care 25 Minister’s letter 3 Lemon Squeezy Driving School 26 Mission Aviation Fellowship 18 Local Garden Services 28 Monday Café News 6 Toddlers Groups 27 Take Time to Pray Help us, O Lord, never to nurse the grievance that separates us from you, and from one another. Grant us grace to forgive those who have wronged us. May we know that no sin is so great that it cannot be confessed; no wound so deep it cannot be healed and no sinner so lost that grace cannot bring them home. Amen. William Booth (1829-1912) O Lord our God, the life of all that look to you, and the help of those who fly to you; cleanse our hearts and our consciences, that we may venture forth with perfect love and pray to you with confidence and hope; through Christ our Lord. Amen. St Basil (c.330-379) 2 Page 2 Liberton Liberton Kirk Kirk Magazine Magazin Neo.596 No.618 From the Minister The extra-ordinary powers of Yeast There’s nothing quite like having The Kingdom he is talking about your own bread maker. We were here is his Kingdom – it is what be- given one a few years ago, and I soon comes possible when and wherever discovered I was not the only person people are willing to put their faith who enjoyed waking up to the smell in him. Faith is like yeast, it is possi- of lovely fresh bread, newly baked ble for a small quantity of faith in and ready for breakfast. I also discov- Jesus to spread throughout a whole ered how vital the presence (or community, setting us free from absence) of yeast was to the whole our burdens and fears, and giving us process. the strength to face the future My only experience with yeast up knowing we are loved by an ever- until that point had been limited to present God. the trials and frustrations of brewing Another occasion when Jesus my own beer, and it was only mentions yeast (in Matthew 16.6) is through the baking of bread that I to illustrate the very opposite. He began to fully appreciate its extra- had just fed the 5000, AND walked ordinary powers. It only takes just a on water, AND healed lots of people, little yeast (and a lot of kneading) to AND then fed another 4000, when enable the bread to rise. But woe the religious leaders of the day to you if it is forgotten! There is came up to him and conceded that nothing more disappointing than they might be willing to believe in wandering barefoot down to the him if he would only do kitchen first thing in the morning, for them. Shortly after- and opening the lid of your bread wards (in Matthew 16.6) he said to maker, only to discover a loaf that his disciples... has not risen. “Be on your guard against Awareness of the extraordinary the of the Pharisees powers of yeast has been around for and Sadducees.” a long time. Two thousand years ago Jesus was aware that yeast was Faith is like yeast – a little bit of something everyone could relate to, faith can quickly spread throughout and he used it as a powerful illustra- a large number of people, but so, tion to help him get some of his according to Jesus, can the lack of points across. On one occasion (in faith. We know this from our own Matthew 13) it was to emphasise experience. Just as it can take only something else that was remarkable: one enthusiastic individual to fire up a whole bunch of people, so it takes “The kingdom of heaven is only one gloom-monger to deflate like that a woman everyone. took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it To have faith is to walk around worked all through the with your eyes wide open to all the dough.” amazing and wonderful things that SeptemberFebruary 2013 2010 page 3 3 God is doing in our lives. inhibiters. So, here’s something to To lack faith, is to walk around ponder, the next time you bite into a with your eyes firmly shut to all good slice of bread: possibilities. God is looking for which one are you? faith-spreaders, not faith- Much love Youth Report from Alex Hey! I am back and as this is my first youth report of the year – Happy New Year!! I thought I would take this time to reflect a little bit about my time in America and how valuable it has been for my ministry here in Liberton Kirk. While I was there I spent 2 weeks having the full Young Life Experience. I stayed with a Young Life family, ran a program (program is all the activities which happen at a camp – both morning and evening clubs and activities) at a camp for 800 young people, saw how they run weekly clubs and bible studies, and met some incredible people who are on fire to spread the Gospel. The biggest thing that hit me while I was there was at the camp. With 800 teens aged between 15 – 18 and over 100 leaders, I was one of the two leaders who were paid to do youth work. This blew my mind. There were over 100 volunteers, mainly aged in their 20s, giving up their week- ends to be shining lights to the young people who they work with every week. Not only that, but almost all of these volunteers run a 2 hour club (like our Delta) every week, a bible study (like our Connection Groups) every week and give up their time to build relationships with kids in their own free evenings – all around a full time job. This sort of commitment and vision is there because many of them were Young Life kids themselves, and saw their YL leaders commit their lives to serving them in as many ways as possible. What struck me so hard is the amount they give every week to serve the lives of these kids. For me, this was inspirational. Youth work is way more than a job or a profession, for these volunteer leaders it is a way of life. Every meal is shared, every spare moment is filled, and every life they touch is one touched by Jesus. Imagine what this area would be if we, together, had this vision for our local teens. Imagine if every table had an extra space set, if every moment was a chance to share and if every teen was touched by Christ . Imagine. For some dates for your diary, through to the Summer, see box at the top of the next page. Alex 4 Page 4 Liberton Liberton Kirk Kirk Magazine Magazin Neo.596 No.618 Sunday 3rd February Sunday 3rd March Sunday 28th April . with fundraising for our friends in Brazil and . 8th to 12th July for those going into S1 to S6 20th to 26th July 5th to 11th August Holiday club for those who have attended primary school this year FIRE & ASHES ASH WEDNESDAY All of these Bible questions have 13th February answers to do with fire or ashes… The date of Ash Wednesday answers at the bottom of the page changes each year according to Who saw a burning bush in the the date of Easter. desert? (Exodus, chapter 3) The earliest possible date for According to Isaiah chapter 58, Ash Wednesday is 4th February what should you wear with and the latest possible date is 10th ashes when you fast? March. So this year it is quite early. In the second letter of Peter, what It is called Ash Wednesday be- cities does he say were turned cause of the church service where to ashes? palm crosses kept from last year How did an angel cook a cake for are burnt and their ashes mixed Elijah? (I Kings, chapter 19) with water to make a paste. In what year did the seraph touch This paste is used to make the Isaiah on the mouth with a live sign of the cross on peoples’ fore- coal? (Isaiah, chapter 6) heads.