No.30 24th January 2025
Hi,
Alongside the weekly updates and church info Scott has some really big news for us in his letter.
Great news for those who want to see the church grow and the ministry at Mearns Free thrive...and especially good news for those not good at learning new names.
Hope that you have survived the worst of the windy weather - look at it as an opportunity to meet neighbours from along the street you haven't ever spoken too as you ask if you can retrieve your bins from off the roof of their shed.
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Sunday 26th January
Morning service- 10.30am
Rev Scott Kirkland - Genesis ch3:22-24; Revelation ch22:12-21
Joint Evening Service
6.30 for 7pm @ NMBC
Wednesday - PULSE Prayer Meeting
7.15pm - at the Coopers
Letter From The Manse
Dear Congregation,
I am delighted to announce that Scott Hamilton has agreed to take up the position of Associate Minister with us from the summer.
We are still completing the final details with Scott, however, we are aware that this appointment is becoming widely known in Free Church circles. We wanted you to hear of it from us first!
The Process: Let me share with you, in a little detail, the process we have been walking through with Scott and also something about him.
You have met Scott! Scott helped lead worship at MFC on 13th October last year. You can remind yourself of Scott’s time with us here.
On entering the Free Church last May we became aware of the fact that Scott was now in a “Ministers in training” in the Free Church. A number of our elders (and congregation) already knew Scott from his ministry among university students in Edinburgh and latterly his ministry at St Andrews Free Church. We had some informal conversations with Scott at that time about how he saw the Lord leading him.
When Jacob announced his departure after the summer, we began a more intentional conversation with Scott. Three elders met with him and we were greatly encouraged by that conversation. We invited Scott to preach in October at Mearns Free Church. The Kirk Session and a few other members of the congregation met with Scott for an extended period over lunch that day. With our previous knowledge of Scott, our more recent conversations and observations, we came to believe Scott demonstrated gifts, experience and a personal manner that would fit well a ministry at MFC.
The elders concluded we should advance our informal conversations to a formal interview procedure. We received a CV from Scott and three excellent references. Two of our elders and two of our Finance Committee members interviewed Scott. (We thought it beneficial that each of the interview team had children in their teens and/or twenties.) After prayerful review of this process and discussion at the Finance Committee, Scott was offered the role of Associate Minister. We are delighted that he has now agreed to accept this invitation.
The role: Scott’s role will very much parallel my own current responsibilities. He will have some specific responsibilities including oversight of (and participation in) our children’s/youth/young-adult ministry. Scott will come to us with sufficient experience and training to lead worship, undertake pastoral care (including the conducting of funerals and weddings) and young people’s work. The only aspect of ministry he will not be able to undertake by the rules of the Free Church is the administration of the sacraments. (The administration of the sacraments is reserved for ordained ministry.)
Scott has accumulated considerable training and Christian ministry experience over the last 13 years since leaving University:
When Scott completed his own degree he took a year out as a UCCF Relay Worker (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship). This encouraged him to then undertake a two year Ministry Associate Programme with Chalmers Church in Edinburgh. Part of that course meant undertaking training at Cornhill in preaching. On completion of these, he then moved back into ministry with university students and UCCF. Scott was appointed Field Staff-Worker in the Edinburgh area. Scott ministered amongst university students for the next four years. Believing he was being called by God into a congregational ministry, Scott then returned to Chalmers Church Edinburgh and over the next three years completed their Minister in Training programme. However, on transitioning into the Free Church, Scott was obligated to complete a further three years as a Minister in Training within a Free Church congregation. He was placed at St Andrews. Scott had competed an MA in Christian studies but was also required by the Free Church to complete various additional courses at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.
Scott will have completed these obligations by the summer of 2025 and Lord willing will be “licenced” by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth. In Presbyterian practice, licensing is when a student graduates to become a probationer minister (and in the language of Presbyterianism is considered a “Reverend” – “Rev”). The licenced minister is eligible to be called to a congregation and ordained. Though Scott should be licenced as he takes up his appointment with us, we will not proceed to ordination immediately. However, Scott’s ordination would be the natural next step.
Financing: Although Scott will work with us at Mearns Free Church, Scott will technically be employed by our Trust (see the article below). You will recall that the purpose of our Trust has now been revised from being a church to being a support for the staffing and property costs of Mearns Free Church. We will be happy to explain the financial implications of Scott’s appointment at a later time.
Conclusion: Much prayer has been given to this journey by the elders, Finance Committee members and those of you who have taken up the invitation to pray with us. This is an important step forward in the life of MFC.
We are not viewing Scott’s appointment as necessary to maintain the status quo of MFC. We believe that the gifts and experience Scott will bring will help journey forward into the next chapter of life here at Mearns Free Church.
Let’s pray for Scott as he continues to gain experience in St Andrews, successfully conclude his studies at ETS and then pass his trials for licence. Let’s also pray for us here at MFC as we ready ourselves for Scott’s arrival. I believe I can say on behalf of the elders and the Finance Committee that we are truly thankful to God (and excited?) at the opportunity God is giving us in Scott’s appointment. Let’s pray for what the Lord has in store for MFC and that it will result in His glory.
Warmest regards,
Scott
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
The young people have a full programme of events already planned for the first half of 2025.
This is a snap shot of their programme for Sunday evenings and other times and lets those not directly involved see what is happening and to inform their pray for the teens and leaders involved.
The work
of
SU Scotland is wide ranging both in terms of weekly school groups, residential weekends and holidays and also Equip which meets in Glasgow on the last Friday evening of the month.
SU Scotland’s Equip events aim to help young people think through their Christian faith in the face of the big questions of today and live it out each day. This month -ie NEXT Friday! - "Good News People in a Bad News World" by Phil Knox (Evangelical Alliance)
We asked for your views on how you thought the administration of communion is most helpfully administered here in the gym at Belmont. We appreciated a number of you taking the time to think this through and express back to us your experience. There was significant agreement that it is more beneficial for you to come forward to receive the elements of bread and wine than have them distributed along the rows to you seated.
In response to your comments, we will now allocate servers to present the elements to the congregation rather than you take them from a table.
We shall serve both sides of the hall simultaneously. As we did before, we will come down the outside of the two banks of chairs before returning to our seats down the middle aisle.
We shall hold the bread and wine and wait for one another to be served and when instructed eat and drink together. Scott will also receive the elements in a similar manner to the congregation.
We shall use glass cups for the wine. Please hold onto these till the end of the service. Someone will help remove these from you (or you can simply return them to the trays at the front) at the end of the service. Please do not put them on the floor.
We shall begin this new practice this Sunday at as we share in the Lord’s Supper.
Scott
Address of parliament by Free Church Moderator
You can watch the address by Rev Malcolm Macleod, Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland
from 14th January
HERE
This short book from Don Carson helps us see what Paul prioritised in his prayers, and encourages us to shape our prayer lives thoughtfully.
Prayer is a battle for many of us - when?, where?, why can't I concentrate? what to say?, what not to say!? Is this making sense? making a difference?
For the next few weeks we will have some extracts for our encouragement and guidance.
MB
Lessons from the School of Prayer
Throughout my spiritual pilgrimage, two sources have largely shaped, and continue to shape, my own prayer life: the Scriptures and more mature Christians. The less authoritative of these two has been the advice, wisdom, and example of senior saints. I confess I am not a very good student in the school of prayer. Still, devoting a few pages to their advice and values may be worthwhile before I turn to the more important and more authoritative of the two sources that have taught me to pray. Among the lessons more mature Christians have taught me, then, are these.
1. Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray.
We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray. What we actually do reflects our highest priorities. That means we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words.
This is the fundamental reason why set times for prayer are important: they ensure that vague desires for prayer are concretized in regular practice. Paul’s many references to his “prayers” (e.g., Rom. 1:10; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:2) suggest that he set aside specific times for prayer—as apparently Jesus himself did (Luke 5:16). Of course, mere regularity in such matters does not ensure that effective praying takes place: genuine godliness is so easily aped, its place usurped by its barren cousin, formal religion. It is also true that different lifestyles demand different patterns: a shift worker, for instance, will have to keep changing the scheduled prayer times, while a mother of twin two-year-olds will enjoy neither the energy nor the leisure of someone living in less constrained circumstances. But after all the difficulties have been duly recognized and all the dangers of legalism properly acknowledged, the fact remains that unless we plan to pray we will not pray. The reason we pray so little is that we do not plan to pray. Wise planning will ensure that we devote ourselves to prayer often, even if for brief periods: it is better to pray often with brevity than rarely but at length. But the worst option is simply not to pray—and that will be the controlling pattern unless we plan to pray. If we intend to change our habits, we must start here.
2. Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift. Anyone who has been on the Christian way for a while knows there are times when our private prayers run something like this: “Dear Lord, I thank you for the opportunity of coming into your presence by the merits of Jesus. It is a wonderful blessing to call you Father. . . . I wonder where I left my car keys? [No, no! Back to business.] ...Heavenly Father, I began by asking that you will watch over my family—not just in the physical sphere, but in the moral and spiritual dimensions of our lives. . . . Boy, last Sunday’s sermon was sure bad. I wonder if I’ll get that report written on time? [No, no!] Father, give real fruitfulness to that missionary couple we support, whatever their name is. . . .
continued next week
and
“NMNC Trust Limited”
The elders and Finance Committee members of Mearns Free Church have now repositioned NMNC as a “Trust” rather than a church.
The object of the Trust is to financially assist Mearns Free Church (MFC) and the work of the Gospel more generally as determined by the trustees of The Trust. That support will be chiefly assisting MFC with the financing of ministry staff and one day, property.
The aim is to keep the leadership of Mearns Free Church and the trustees of NMNC Trust Ltd the same. Every elder and Finance Committee member will be invited to become trustees of NMNC Trust Ltd. Occasionally because of personal circumstances, an elder or FC member may not be able to be a Trustee in both – but our aim is to keep the Trustees of both entities the same. (Presently our minister Scott is not permitted to be a trustee of The Trust because part of his stipend is currently paid by the Trust. A trustee must not gain financially from the Trust in which he or she is a trustee.)
We will have a congregational meeting before the end of March at which our Treasurer Sandy McDougall will present the annual accounts for both MFC and NMNC Trust Ltd. Sandy will happily address all questions about this inter-relationship between MFC and NMNC Trust Ltd at that time. (However, you are of course welcome to speak to Sandy or any of the office bearers about this at any time.)
Looking for direction...?
Called to Serve | March 22, 10-4pm | UFM, Swindon
If you are considering cross-cultural mission for the first time, praying for God’s leading or making the final preparations before you go - Called to Serve is for you!
More info
here
Every year SU Scotland holds a special Day of Prayer.
Why? Because prayer is absolutely essential. Not only does it fulfil our values of dependence on God and deepening relationships, it releases God's power and brings him glory. We would love you to join in!
Can you pray for SU Scotland on Wednesday 29 January or at another point that week? If you follow this link you'll find an e-Prayer Guide, a Video Guide, and where and when Regional Prayer Gatherings are happening.
This is advance notice of a lunch EVERYONE is invited to!
After the morning service on 23rd February.
More info to follow in next few weeks but take a note just now.
Opportunities to join a Work Party at SU campsites at Scoughall and Kingscross are available.
Lots of fun can be had working with others to improve our campsites in time for Easter and summer events which hundreds of young people stay at and have the opportunity to hear the gospel.
Forthcoming dates are 25 January; 22 February; 15 March; 29 March. Email gary.pews@suscotland.org.uk to find out more.
Heart Start!
Did you know there is a Defibrillator available in the school hall on a Sunday morning.
Look out for details on explanations on use in coming weeks - this can be used easily by ordinary people in extraordinary moments.
World Watch List 2025: now live
Where do Christians face the most extreme persecution for following Jesus? Every year, the World Watch List uses extensive, expert research to rank the countries where loving Jesus comes at the highest price - places where you could be ostracised, attacked, imprisoned or even murdered.
Explore the list - click HERE
There are weekly prayer points provided by the Free Church - these are available
here each week.
This week you can read them below and some weeks the magazine will just provide the link...you can see how you can sign up for these at the link provided.
Prayer Points 27th January - 2nd February 2025
Monday 27th January - Free North
Pray for stamina, unity and joy in the Lord for our church family serving in the city centre of Inverness. Pray for wisdom to make best use of our location and resources. Pray for peace and protection from disruptions.
Tuesday 28th January - Charleston
New Venue: For the past few months our Sunday service has moved out of the old post office, and we are now in the community centre. Give thanks ...
Wednesday 29th January - Dornoch
Give thanks for the nomination of additional office bearers, and pray for unity, wisdom, and spiritual growth across the leadership and congregation as we seek to follow Christ and reach our rural communities with the gospel.
Thursday 30th January -Charleston
Addiction work: ...Please pray ...
Friday 31st January - Dornoch
Pray for God to raise up additional leaders to help coordinate outreach opportunities...
Saturday 1st February - Free North
Pray for a growing team of workers to share in ministries such as youth work, hospitality and leading praise. Pray that our kids and young people ...
Sunday 2nd February -Charleston
Growth in Christ: Give thanks for how some of our members are just growing in their godliness. It’s been very encouraging to see how people in the church have dealt with various trials and difficulties these past few months. Pray that we would continue to disciple and love one another.
LARGE
PRINT - SONG WORDS
If you find viewing the song-words on the screen in Sunday worship a problem, we currently print a limited number of large-print song sheets for specific people.
We don't want to print unnecessary copies so please speak with the door team and we will begin to make these available for you each week.
Mearns Free Church has a What's App Group for Prayer -The "PRAY NOW" Group
Purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.
How to connect: Speak to Margaret Boyd if you would like to be added to this group or email Margaret at: mandmboyd@hotmail.co.uk
What tech do I need?: You need to have a Smart Phone with WhatsApp to get set up.
Emailing The Minister
Please be careful when emailing Scott that you are using the correct current email address minister@mearnsfree.org. A number of emails continue to be sent to accounts no longer in use. Please be doubly careful when sending from a device that is not your normal communication device (like a phone) or if you use “reply to all”.
Email Addresses For Mearns Free Church
Please make sure you change your email address list now we are part of the Free Church.
Tom Brown (Office): office@mearnsfree.org
Scott Kirkland (Minister): minister@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org