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“God is light; In him there is no darkness...”  

[1 John 1:5]

Dull and Weem Parish, Church of Scotland

Sunday Service 9 30 am.

Minister : Rev. Neil M Glover

Senior Elder : Mr C. Thom

Phone 01887 820174   e mail

Roll Keeper : Mr T. Pringle

Phone 01887 820931   e mail

Session Clerk : Mr P. Hobbs

Mobile 07967 226824   e mail

Treasurer : Mr R. Chadburn

Youth Worker : Jamie Pringle

Mobile 07399 589422   e mail

PA to Rev Neil Glover : Judy Ewer

Mobile 07836 565528  e mail

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Link to Church of Scotland Congregations of the Upper Tay, and of Tenandry Good Friday and Sunday Service 11th  April 2021

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Recorded Service – Sunday 18 April 2021

for Church of Scotland Congregations in Upper Tay Valley and Tenandry

(Rev. Robert Nicol)

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Welcome to this week’s on-line service, for the congregations and friends of the churches in the Upper Tay Valley and Tenandry. I am assisted today by the Worship Team of Kenmore and Fortingall Churches.

We are surrounded by signs of Spring, and we can feel a renewed optimism about the future, as the country prepares to open up again. But the price of our freedom has not been cheap: we have all lost something over the past year, whether it has been life-events; travel; concerts; theatre – whatever it was that we used to enjoy. More than those things, we have lost unrecoverable time with those who matter most to us; and some have lost loved ones in a year when it has been very hard to grieve and mark their passing as we would have wished. So today we are going to be acknowledging the time and people we have lost, and asking how we should take this to God. Do we endure stoically and wait patiently, or are we allowed to cry out to God in our frustration, and hurt and anger?

We are very much still in the period of Easter, so we begin where we should begin, with praise to God who has given us victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter hymn:

“Earth, earth, awake; your praises sing: Alleluia!” (CH4 420)

(sung by the Edinburgh University Singers)

1. Earth, earth, awake; your praises sing: Alleluia!

Greet with the dawn your risen King: Alleluia!

Bright suns and stars, your homage pay: Alleluia!

Life reigns again this Easter day: Alleluia!

2. All nature sings of hope reborn: Alleluia!

Christ lives to comfort those who mourn: Alleluia!

First fruit of all the dead who sleep: Alleluia!

Promise of joy for all who weep: Alleluia!

3. Winter is past, the night is gone: Alleluia!

Christ’s light, triumphant, pales the dawn: Alleluia!

Creation spreads its springtime bloom: Alleluia!

Life bursts like flame from death’s cold tomb: Alleluia!

4. Praise we the Father, Spirit, Son: Alleluia!

Praise we the victory God has won: Alleluia!

Praise we the Lamb who reigns above: Alleluia!

Praise we the King who rules above: Alleluia!

Prayer (Elaine Melrose)

Let us pray.

Gracious God, in these strangest of times, we praise you that you welcome us into your presence, wherever we are.  Reach out to us through this hour of worship today and touch our lives with your cleansing, healing, restoring and renewing power in this, our time of need.

Lord, we acknowledge that the past year of pandemic has been a year like no other for us.

We thank you for the good things that have happened:

          We bless you for our greater awareness of your creation – reduced pollution; clear skies; fresh air; bird song and garden visits by wildlife even in cities, and much more.

          We bless and thank you for the development of the technology, which makes possible this service and the countless others happening today.

          We also thank you for the roll out of the vaccination programme designed as one of the pillars of allowing the containment of the deadly virus that we know as Covid 19.

However, we bring before you the anxieties and concerns that have weighed on our minds over these past twelve months.

We grieve and lament over what we have lost during this time, things that can never be retrieved, but remember too, that Jesus himself was a ‘man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.’

We have all felt losses, not only death of a loved one itself but many have lost hope, lost a job, lost a home or lost a business, their livelihood. 

All of us have lost personal social contact with friends and family and the joy of communal worship.

Many have not met new arrivals in the family nor been able to share in the developmental milestones of grandchildren.

School children have experienced disruption to the school year and university and college students are complaining that their experience is very different from that expected.  They also fear for their future.

Many are frustrated by the lack of freedom that has been imposed by governments as a means of our protection.

Merciful God, hear us as we unburden to you our own personal losses and fears.

PAUSE

We claim, with the Psalmist, that you are our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble. 

Loving God, grant us patience as we navigate our path through the pandemic and watch for your guiding light. 

In the words of the famous hymn –

‘Be still my soul; the Lord is on your side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;

In every change he faithful will remain.

Be still my soul; your God will undertake

To guide the future as he has the past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake,

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still my soul; when dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then you shall better know his love, his heart,

Who comes to soothe your sorrow, calm your fears.

And adapted from the words of A J Flint:

God has not promised skies ever blue

Flower strewn pathways all our lives through

God has not promised sun without rain

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day

Rest for the labour, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

We claim these promises, O God, our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

                                                              AMEN

We’re thinking this morning about ‘waiting for God’. What does it mean for a Christian to wait? Margaret McLaughlin is now going to read Psalm 40 for us. It begins with these words “I waited patiently for the Lord”. At the start, the Psalmist (probably David) recounts how God has favoured him in the past and been good to him and blessed him. He then goes on in a complaint about his own situation, part of which is his own fault, and he feels he needs God’s support. He looks back on what God has done for him in the past and says “will you do this for me again?” As you listen to this, think about whether the word “patiently” really fits with the Psalmist’s mood and what he is asking for.

Reading: Psalm 40

We are now going to listen to the first few verses of Psalm 40 sung by the choir of Landsdown Parish Church in Glasgow. Please join in if you want to.

“I waited patiently for God” (CH4 31)

1. I waited patiently for God,

for God to hear my prayer,

and God bent down to where I sank

and listened to me there.

2. God raised me from a miry pit,

from mud and sinking sand,

and set my feet upon a rock

where I can firmly stand.

3. And on my lips a song was put,

a new song to the Lord.

Many will marvel, open-eyed,

and put their trust in God.

4. Great wonders you have done, O Lord,

all purposed to your good:

unable every one to name,

I bow in gratitude.

In our second Bible passage we join the disciples on the evening of the first Easter day. As they hide fearfully behind locked doors, Jesus appears amongst them, right there in the room, and after reassuring them that he is real, and really alive, he says this to them:

Reading: Luke 24:44-49 (read by Sandra Seath)

Sermon

No – you haven’t accidentally switched over to BBC2 for Gardeners’ World, but this is the time to plant seeds These are different types of lettuce, and I will plant these seeds progressively over the next few weeks so we have a constant crop through the summer and autumn. When I have healthy seedlings I will plant them out in our raised bed, once the soil has warmed up.

Gardening requires patience. We plant; then we wait, as the seeds and the soil and the water and the nutrients get to work, and eventually, if all goes well, we are rewarded with a harvest.

But the waiting is not an inactive time. We have to make sure the seeds are watered; we have to prepare the soil to receive them; we have to thin them out; we usually have to keep watering for at least part of the summer; we might have to feed them. And all the while, the other jobs in the garden become more and more demanding as everything springs back to life.

Jesus gave his disciples his command to take the Gospel message into the world. He told them they would be empowered to proclaim the message. But first he told them to wait until that power came to them. The message was clearly urgent – it was exactly what the world needed to hear. But yet Jesus says to them: “wait”.

When we read on into the Book of Acts, we find that theirs was not an idle wait: far from it, Luke tells us that they devoted themselves to prayer. They also started to get themselves organised by electing a new Apostle to bring their number back up to twelve (whether this was a good idea is debateable, and may be more an indication of their impatience than seeking God’s will. But no doubt their motivation was well-intentioned.)

We are all caught up in a time of waiting. We wait for our vaccine, and then wait for our second dose; we wait on the gradual lifting of lock-down restrictions; we wait to see loved-ones again; some wait for hair-cuts (not me, as you can see!); we wait to get back in our churches to worship with each other again. We wait, and some of us get frustrated, and cross. We know it’s all for our own good and for the good of everyone else, but we don’t like being told what to do; we maybe resent the Government taking so much control over our lives; we crave the freedoms we once enjoyed and took for granted. It has not been easy.

Then there is the frustration of the daily diet of good news/bad news. It seems that we are not allowed to enjoy whatever good news there is before some expert quickly reminds us that there is still lots to be worried about. Yes – the vaccines are working astonishingly well; but the variants are coming. Yes – cases are down; but easing the lock-down could cause another wave. And of course, how can we rejoice at success in our own country when in other parts of the world, Covid is running amok? So, any optimism is rapidly tempered by the potential for a gloomier outlook.

So, we are frustrated, fed-up. For some, it has been much worse than an inconvenience, when it has caused their anxiety levels to rise, and has led to mental health issues, of which we have yet to see the full effects.

And all the time, we are waiting.

So, how does a Christian wait? The Psalm seems to be giving the answer: “patiently”. But is that right? I asked you to think about the Psalmist’s state of mind as we listened to Margaret reading. Did this sound like the writings of a patient man? When he was in the pit – meaning the place of death – he says he cried out to God. Well, he would have done. Later, he says “make haste to help me”, and he ends the Psalm “do not delay, O my God”. It doesn’t sound too much like patience. Maybe we need to take a closer look at the word.

Now, because I came late to the ministry, I was not required to learn Old Testament Hebrew. I have mixed feelings about that, but mainly relief. I have to rely on others who are Hebrew scholars if I want to understand the words better, and through the wonders of the internet, I can access all sorts of wonderful resources. What I found was that the literal meaning of the first line of Psalm 40 is “Relying, I relied on Yahweh”. The grammatical explanation for this was: “The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verbal form to emphasise the verbal idea.” (I was talking to a mother last week who was explaining about the stresses of home schooling, trying to remember what an adverb is! That’s more where my grammatical knowledge stands these days). 

“Relying, I relied on Yahweh” is usually translated as “I waited patiently for the Lord”. But is that the best translation? Maybe better would be “I relied completely on the Lord”. Eugene Peterson in the Message has translated the lines as “I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened”. That’s a very different tone.

David is saying: “when I was in a real mess before, I shouted to you and you came and got me out of it; now I’m in trouble again, and I’m desperately needing you to bail me out again. Please don’t delay; come quickly and rescue me from this mess”.

Now, patience is a virtue. Paul lists it as part of the fruit of the Spirit, the qualities we should display on our lives as believers. Patience with each other, a calm assurance about God’s love for us and our destiny. All good things. But one thing it is not is fatalism – the idea that ‘what is for you won’t go by you’. That is not a Biblical concept. God wants us to engage with him about the troubles of the world and our own problems – through prayer and active involvement to make a difference. Christian patience is not an idle patience; it’s certainly not a passive acceptance of the way things are.

Waiting on the Lord means accepting that God will do things in his own perfect time, and not to our schedules. We ask urgently, but trust patiently.

For us, in this post-resurrection era, there is another, hidden message in this Psalm. Right in the middle are verses which are quoted in the New Testament, in the Book of Hebrews. The words are actually put into the mouth of Jesus himself, when he says: “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God.’ In the scroll of the book it is written of me.” Jesus here identifies himself as the once-and-for-all sacrifice for all sins.

In the Psalm, David also speaks about what he has done, and these are words which also applied to Christ: “I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation……I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation”. While waiting for the Lord’s answer, he has got on with the job of proclaiming the Good News.

Here we are reminded what it is all about. The commission Jesus gave his disciples in that Upper Room has not been put on hold by the pandemic. It still applies, and we have to find different ways of doing it. Carrying out that commission puts things back into perspective: this is our calling as Christians, in easy times and difficult times.

John Stott, the great Bible teacher who was for many years rector at All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, wrote about what Jesus said in that Upper Room, and described it as a statement of “the five double truths of the Gospel”:

• the double historical events of the death and resurrection. These were events before they became an experience.

• the double proclamation of forgiveness of sins (the Gospel offer) and repentance (the Gospel demand). Turning to Christ means turning from evil.

• the double scope – to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. A Gospel for both the Jews and Gentiles.

• the double accreditation – the Old Testament witness to the coming of the Messiah; the New Testament record of the witnesses to its fulfilment in Christ.

• the double sending – the Holy Spirit sent to the Apostles; the Apostles sent into the world.

Stott summarises it like this:

“Thus the risen Lord has given us a beautifully balanced and comprehensive account of the Gospel. We are commissioned to proclaim repentance and forgiveness on the basis of him who died and was raised; to all humankind, according to the scriptures, in the power of the Spirit given to us.” And he adds “Let’s keep these things together”.

So, we began in the mud and mire of the pandemic and the troubles of the world. We end before the throne of the risen Lord Jesus, rejoicing in the Gospel truth; commissioned to take the Good News to a needy world.

“Before the throne of God above” (MP 466) (Aberfeldy Praise Band)

1. Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea,

a great High Priest, whose name is Love,

who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

my name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

no tongue can bid me thence depart;

no tongue can bid me thence depart.

2. When Satan tempts me to despair,

and tells me of the guilt within,

upward I look, and see him there

who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Saviour died,

my sinful soul is counted free;

for God the just is satisfied

to look on him and pardon me;

to look on him and pardon me.

3. Behold him there! the risen Lamb,

my perfect, spotless righteousness,

the great unchangeable I AM,

the King of glory and of grace!

One with himself, I cannot die;

my soul is purchased by his blood;

my life is hid with Christ on high,

with Christ my Saviour and my God;

with Christ my saviour and my God.

Prayers for others (Kate Conway)

Let us pray.

Risen Christ, Lord of hope and joy, your living presence is celebrated at city gates and market squares by those in need of healing and those who are amazed in hearts and minds. In moments of wonder and unexpected changes our senses are disrupted by the extraordinary, so that suddenly we see you standing in our midst speaking words of peace.

Help us to enjoy our moments of wonder. Thrill us with the mystery of what we are yet to know, so that it expands our desire to notice you in unexpected ways and places.

In this journey through a pandemic, we give thanks for all those who have offered signs of resurrection in their work and commitments. We pray for doctors and nurses and support staff who timelessly care for those who enter their view, at times with potential harm to themselves.

We pray for the scientific community as it continues research and development in care and prevention. We pray for those who are recipients of care, and notice the wide range of people whose health was affected by being unable to receive treatment and support.

Christ of life and death and resurrection, we celebrate those who have shared this life with us, allowing us to meet you in simple words and actions. We grieve with those who mourn the death of loved ones. We pray that we may be those who share the memories and love that allows hope to rise from loss. In Jesus’ name and in the words he taught us we pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

for ever.        Amen

Benediction

We humbly pray to you, O God: hear us when we call on you; bless us as you have before; come quickly to lift us out of our distress. We wait on you with the assurance that you are listening to our cry and will come soon.

May you know today the inner peace and assurance of our loving God, and experience the restless patience of the Holy Spirit in you.

And the blessing of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – be with you, this day and for evermore. Amen

“May the peace of God go with us” (CH4 786)

                     May the peace of God go with us,

                     as we travel from this place;

                     may the love of Jesus keep us

                     firm in hope and full of grace.

Linkage Newsletter –15 April 2021

Sunday Services –15 April 2021 

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SUNDAY MORNING ONLINE WORSHIP WITH ROBERT NICOL

YouTube Services

Sunday onwards

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpA-Ianua69JOCtTV2zBDxw

Traditional Dial-In

Sunday morning onwards

Dial 01887 440446

Zoom Service

10.30am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9205989200

or Zoom from tablet or phone:

Zoom meeting room 920 598 9200

Password  - 316316

Dial in

One tap mobile

+442080806592,,9205989200#,,,,*316316# United Kingdom

+443300885830,,9205989200#,,,,*316316# United Kingdom

Dial by your location

        +44 208 080 6592 United Kingdom

Post-service Zoom coffee and biscuits

11.30am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9205989200

or Zoom from tablet or phone:
Zoom meeting room 920 598 9200

Password  - 316316

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The Linkage Covid Working Group continue to meet every two weeks to discuss the latest Government and Church of Scotland guidance on the opening of our church buildings.

Private Prayer 

Dull and Weem Parish Church 

Private prayer will be available on Sundays at 9.30am.

As many will know the Church building is currently undergoing major building works which has restricted the available space and changed the décor!

Grantully, Logierait and Strathtay Parish Churches

Private prayer has resumed at both Churches on alternative Sundays. 

Both Churches will be open on 5th Sundays

Logierait Parish Church - 10 - 11am with bell ringing

Strathtay Parish Church – 11.30 am – 12.30 pm with bell ringing at 12.00 noon

Strathtay will be open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday  (25th April)

Logierait will be open on the 1st and 3rd Sunday (18th April)

CHRISTIAN AID - LINKAGE FUNDRAISING

Unfortunately, none of our much love fundraising lunches, teas and coffees can happen at the moment - I will just have to dream about  ‘calorie laden ‘ cream teas, surrounded by my friends! 

However, we are being invited and encouraged by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev Dr Martin Fair, to support Christian Aid through the Kiltwalk event. He himself will take part. This does seem a good way to raise money for Christian Aid.

This event is due to take place over the weekend of 25-26th April and the Moderator hopes that we can support this in some way. This year the Kiltwalk can take place in a number of different ways- you do not have to walk a specific route or distance. 

At GLS their very own Stewart Sherriffs is planning to take part in this (for Christian Aid) and will undertake a cycle ride - from the upper limits of the council boundary (given that the restrictions we currently have, will still be in place over that weekend) – from Layby 81 to the North on the A9, finishing at Logierait Church. Stewart plans on cycling this in a kilt- not something he has done before! If you would like to sponsor him, then, thank you, and please follow the link below to make a donation. 

https://virtual.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/ScotlandsVirtualKiltwalk2021-StewartSherriffs

Every pound raised for Christian Aid will be topped up by 50% from the Hunter Foundation. 

If however, you would prefer to do something yourself and have your own Justgiving page for Christian Aid through the Kiltwalk event, then simply follow the link below for further details. You could run, walk, jump, or whatever you wish as an individual or as a family or team. 

Raise money for Christian Aid on the Kiltwalk ►

Thank you in advance.

Mary and Stewart Sherriffs

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Breadalbane Community Larder

As you may know, Breadalbane Community Larder has been Aberfeldy Co-op’s ‘FoodShare’ partner since March, 2020 taking ‘Best Before’ and ‘Use By’ food which would otherwise be thrown away or sent to their bio-digester.  Not wanting to lose this valuable partnership, we will continue to collect these items and have this food available outside the rear of the church building for people to come and help themselves during Larder opening times (11.00am -12.30pm each Saturday). 

We are also be piloting two other ideas:

·      alongside the ‘FoodShare store’ on a Saturday morning, customers can come to the Larder and collect items from the stock indoors, for a nominal fee. This reduces the stigma and helps maintain customer dignity

·      emergency deliveries of food parcels will continue.  This service can be accessed by calling 0345 30 111 00 Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm

If you know of anyone struggling to make ends meet please let them know about the support provided by Breadalbane Community Larder.

The Larder is a joint initiative of several local churches and also involves members of the local community.  If you would like to be involved please contact the team on 07513 652597 or email breadalbanecommunitylarder@btinternet.com

In addition to food the Breadalbane Community Larder is able to offer disposable face masks for those struggling to buy them.

Support

We recognise that for many the current restrictions and uncertainty can make life very stressful. The ministry team are able to offer pastoral support, but for a few this may not be enough. Perth and Kinross Council have an excellent directory of services. You can type in: 

Perth and Kinross Mental Health Directory 2020 or hit the hyper link below.

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/media/46386/Mental-Health-Directory-of-Services-Covid-19/pdf/Mental_Health_Directory_of_Services_Covid19_(1).pdf?m=637353449218700000

Contact details

Neil’s email -  nglover@churchofscotland.org.uk

Neil’s mobile – 07779 280074

PA – Judy Ewer – judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk

Mobile – 07836 565528

Future Online Services

April 

24 – Margaret Yearsley – Dull and Weem

May

2 – Neil Glover – Aberfeldy

9 – Neil Glover – Logierait

16 – Geoff Davis – Tenandry

23 - Robert Nicol

30  – Youth Service

June

6 – Neil - Aberfeldy

13 – Margaret Yearsley -  Weem

20 – Neil Glover - Strathtay

27 – Robert Nicol

Judy Ewer
PA to Neil Glover

Minister - Aberfeldy (SC007899), Dull and Weem (SC001465) and Grantully, Logierait &  Strathtay (SC004275) Churches of Scotland 

judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk

mobile - 07836 565 528

Monthly Information

Dull and Weem Parish Church is be found on the west side of the river Tay in Highland Perthshire.

Follow the road, from Aberfeldy, Crossing the historic Wade's Bridge, and continue down the avenue towards Weem.

As you enter the village of Weem, you will find the church on the right-hand side of the road. 

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” 

[Hebrews 4:16]

News from the Pews

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