The Parish Record The quarterly magazine of Spring 2020 Skelmorlie & Wemyss Bay Parish Church “God proved his love on the cross, when Christ hung and bled and died, it was God saying I love you” Billy Graham MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTE R Over Christmas I watched the movie Evan Almighty. Have you seen the first movie Bruce Almighty? This first movie considers what it would be like to be God and the second, Evan Almighty explores what it would be like if God gave you a big task to carry out with his help. Both movies use humour to explore these questions. In Evan Almighty, the phrase “Acts of Random Kindness” is developed through the wooden Ark that Evan is asked to build by God. That phrase was first penned by the American writer Anne Herbert when she scribbled “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a placemat at a restaurant in 1982. The movie Evan Almighty has popularised that sentiment which has now become part of our vocabulary. Why should we practice “Acts of Random Kindness” well, the answer is clear if we consider the story of Noah and the Ark humankind was saved by the grace and mercy of God. When we follow Jesus and show kindness, we are showing the tender mercy and kindness of God. There is another Old Testament story that highlights this principle in the book of Ruth. Ruth is an immigrant from Moab. She was a foreigner, living in a strange land whose language and culture was so different from her own. Furthermore, she was destitute and dependent on the kindness of a people who took no notice of her. There was one Israelite who showed Ruth kindness and spoke to her heart. (Ruth 2:13). She was allowed to take some produce from the edges of his fields. Through this kindness Ruth saw the mercy of God and she marries Boaz and becomes part of the family of God and more importantly, one of the ancestors of Jesus, who would bring salvation to the whole world. (Matthew 1:1-16). We never know what one “Act of Random Kindness” done in Jesus name will achieve, but God does. This year we have an exciting time ahead, facing the challenges that are before us. The biggest being how do we show the grace and mercy of God in the “Acts of Kindness” we do in the name of Jesus. We are in the process of planning a major outreach event to try to touch the spiritual being that is in all of us. We will need to follow up and support those who express a desire to explore what Jesus means in our lives and how we express the love we are commanded to show to each other. “Acts of Random Kindness” which we hope will touch others by the grace and mercy of God. We are praying that our outreach will lead to both a new expression of church and add to our existing traditional expression of church. This year will also bring some changes for Christine and I as we prepare to move onto the next stage in our lives. We have been so blessed by two very wonderful congregations and the “Random Acts of Kindness” that have been extended to us over the seven years we have been with you. My greatest joy has been seeing the blessings that the two congregations working together have achieved. I believe, the future that the Lord is holding out to us, in Inverkip and Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay working even closer together. It was a bold step of faith creating together the post of pastoral assistant which brought Chris to us. Chris has been a joy to work with and it is just amazing how you have all taken him to heart and the “Acts of Random of Kindness” that you have shown him. My heart has been so uplifted knowing that the Lord has many more blessings for you as this new decade unfolds. Let’s look forward to this year, building together the kingdom, with the new things and changes that God is bringing. The word this year is ARK. Blessings to you all and those you love. Archie and Christine 1 Corinthians 12:14 The body of Christ, or God’s people, are a team. The body is not supported by one person, but by all of us. We are one, we are strongest working together in unity. Teamwork is the key to living life in harmony, so that we can do God's will. I am sure that Chris’ sermons have spoken to all of us about building one another up, in word and in deed This year we have shared together with St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s RC Church in an Alpha Course, a ‘Songs of Praise’ and a joint Carol service. Can we say how much we were blessed by coming together, Inverkip and Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay with St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s. The sense of togetherness shared over a cup of tea was just a wonderful blessing, but even more was the working together, the teamwork in making these special events such a success for all who attended. It was a wonder to behold, and the Lord will have delighted in our worship. It was a special moment to share with Father Berry in that Christian love that Jesus himself commanded us to show to one another. Our next time together with be the Monday of Holy Week, when we share a Christian celebration of the Passover meal, when Jesus gave his life for the whole world. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make these times together such a blessing to us all. MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTORAL ASSISTAN T As I reflect on these past 12 months as your Pastoral Assistant, I continue to give God thanks for allowing me to be a part of your work here at Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay and for the way in which you have all welcomed me into your lives. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year and hope that it is so blessed, as we continue to work together in the building of God’s kingdom. The new year is always a very good time to look forward with anticipation of what God will do for us, but more importantly, what we can do for God. It is also a great opportunity to reflect on the year just past, and also a time when everyone is looking back at what they have achieved. The fact I am still alive when so many of our own people have passed away this past year, is one of the greatest things that I give God thanks for. Our life is not about achievements, but gratitude. Being grateful is so vital and so important to us, because if we are grateful, we will realize the many things with which that God has blessed us. In the midst of what some would call challenging times for the Church, I want to express my gratitude to God for what he is doing at a local level in us and through us all. If I had a pound for every time I have heard that the Church is in decline, then I would probably be a millionaire. I don’t believe for one minute that God will ever let his Church die. There will always be Church. It might look very different in the future, but nothing will ever stop God from moving. I am so excited now to be part of the Church of Scotland at such a crucial time in its history, as it seeks to engage with a new generation of people in such need of the hope that Jesus offers. We do that so well here at Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay and you only need to read our Parish Record to see the amazing work that you all do for God. My prayer is that God continues to bless all of his work here in this coming year and bless any new opportunities that he gives us to engage with our local community. So, in this season of Spring when God provides the exact conditions in nature for growth, may we also continue to grow and thrive in our love and service for God and one another. God bless you all. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13-14) Chris Barlas PASTORAL CARE GROU P We visit church members in their home, when they are unable to make it out to Sunday Service. These visits are greatly appreciated by everyone. Currently we visit ten people. Our 'team' consist of Anne Organ, Morag Mackintosh, Gwen MacKenzie, Hugh Steele and myself. Please advise us if you can think of someone who would appreciate a visit. Contact any of the above and we would be happy to organise one. Brian Spence BIBLE STUDY Our weekly bible study is proving to be a great success, as we seek to study God’s word and how it relates to our lives and the world around us. Every Thursday afternoon in the Church Hall, we meet at 12.45pm for refreshments and fellowship, before starting our one-hour study at 1pm.