\u2018So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11: 9-10)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
2018 has been a busy year, so far. Throughout January, along with the usual demands of parish ministry, I, along with the Kirk Session and Congregational Board, completed the initial stages of the Local Church Review (LCR) process.<\/p>\n
LCR replaces what was known as the Quinquennial Visit. Over several meetings, we filled out parts 1, 2 and 3 of the paperwork. We were encouraged to reflect on the history of our congregation, and be honest about where we are at the moment. These were submitted to Presbytery: we now wait for them to send a team to us, which will help complete part 4. This is the most important part because, when complete, it should give us a 5-year mission plan for our congregation. All these documents are available for viewing \u2013 if you are interested, please just ask!<\/p>\n
March is showing no signs of being any less busy. Not only are we now building towards Holy Week and Easter, we are also reaching the stage when we need to finalise and present the 2017 accounts, and organise our congregational AGM. While these may seem quite dry and boring things, they are actually vitally important: these things give us an opportunity to reflect on the year which has passed, realise how things are going for our congregation, and decide how we wish to proceed.<\/p>\n
While the accounts are still to be finalised, a draft which was shown to me gives the rough estimate that, if our finances continue in their current state, we will run into serious problems in around 5 years\u2019 time. While this is somewhat alarming, I cannot help but notice the correlation in numbers here.<\/p>\n
God willing, by the end of the LCR process, we will have a 5-year plan for our congregation: a plan which is, essentially, God\u2019s way of saying, \u201cthis is what I need you to do if you are following and serving me\u201d. If we follow God\u2019s plan for our congregation, in 5 years\u2019 time, we will see the fruits of our labours. If, however, we ignore this plan and continue as we are, the accounts give us a prediction: we will not be able to continue as a viable congregation.<\/p>\n
I am sure we all want our congregation to succeed for God. So, how do we go about ensuring we follow His plans for us? We do so by praying!<\/p>\n
Using Jesus\u2019 teaching above, when we pray about this, we should:<\/p>\n
ASK: ask God to show us the way forward for our congregation.<\/b><\/p>\n
SEEK: God\u2019s will and His plans for our church.<\/b><\/p>\n
KNOCK: at the right doors, the ones which God is opening for us.<\/b><\/p>\n
Once we have done this, and the door is opened, we then need to have the courage and wisdom to walk through! Only then will we definitely be following the path God has set for our congregation: only then will be succeed for Him!<\/p>\n
There are some tough times ahead: but Jesus never said the road would be easy. It will, however, be rewarding!<\/p>\n
May God bless you, Stuart<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 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As usual there will be a variety of stalls, some old friends like the Guide Dogs, and Home baking to buy and to enjoy. Come and join us \u2013 tickets\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Christmas-Fair-Header-3.jpg?fit=544%2C545&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Christmas-Fair-Header-3.jpg?fit=544%2C545&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Christmas-Fair-Header-3.jpg?fit=544%2C545&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":364,"url":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/glasgow-philharmonic-male-voice-choir\/","url_meta":{"origin":1734,"position":1},"title":"Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir","author":"admin","date":"4 April 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The Glasgow Stedfast Association are holding their annual fund raising concert in Clincarthill Church on Thursday 10th April 2014, 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Proceeds will go to the Association's support fund designed to assist projects in the current Boys' Brigade membership in Glasgow and elsewhere. We would be delighted if you\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Stedfast Choir002","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Stedfast-Choir002-300x216.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":758,"url":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/letter-from-our-session-clerk-jan-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":1734,"position":2},"title":"Letter from our Session Clerk \u2013 Jan 2016","author":"admin","date":"1 January 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Friends in Clincarthill, May I wish you a very Happy New Year and may God be with us all and Bless us in the 2016.\u00a0 May I thank everyone who contributed to the services and activities during the Advent and Christmas season. It was a wonderful time to meet\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":839,"url":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/message-from-our-locum-joan-kilpatrick-april-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":1734,"position":3},"title":"Message from our Locum \u2013 Joan Kilpatrick \u2013 April 2016","author":"admin","date":"3 April 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Friends, It is that time of our church year when we have just celebrated Easter and have, once again, heard the story of what He did on the Cross for each one of us. How much of this story do we take to ourselves?\u00a0 Do we have doubts about\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2645,"url":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/a-message-from-stuart-transcript\/","url_meta":{"origin":1734,"position":4},"title":"A Message From Stuart – Transcript","author":"Stuart Love","date":"20 March 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"*EDIT: 20th March 2020: due to government advice released today, it is no longer possible for the Church building to be opened for prayer. It was Mark Twain who said, \u201cRumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated\u201d. We can say the same of the Church: rumours that the Church\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/announcement-banner.jpg?fit=900%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/announcement-banner.jpg?fit=900%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/announcement-banner.jpg?fit=900%2C300&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/announcement-banner.jpg?fit=900%2C300&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":369,"url":"https:\/\/www.clincarthill.org.uk\/index.php\/healing-the-demon-possessed-sermon-16314\/","url_meta":{"origin":1734,"position":5},"title":"Healing the Demon Possessed – Sermon 16\/3\/14","author":"admin","date":"20 March 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Healing the Demon Possessed\u00a0 (Mark 5: 1 to 20) The writer John Killinger, tells a powerful story about a man who is alone in a hotel room in Canada. The man\u2019s so depressed that he can't be bothered to go downstairs to the restaurant to eat. 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