Minister’s Message 28 June
Dear Friends
The school year draws to a close this week and the rhythms of church life will also begin to change a little for the summer. Many of our regular groups will be taking a break and some folk will be taking time away on holiday, although the weekly pattern of public worship and sabbath rest will continue and we may well have the privilege of welcoming visitors among us from time to time.
The summer also offers us some different opportunities. This Friday, a team of 8 from Kinross-shire – four teenagers and four adults – will be travelling to Hungary to help lead the annual 'Scottish Camp' which is part of the summer outreach of one of our partner churches, the Great Church of Debrecen. Three Hungarians will join us here later in the summer.
Emma Whitham, who is undertaking her summer placement with us as part of her ministry training, is organising a summer pilgrimage around Loch Leven on Saturday 25th July. Whether you want to do the whole walk or a short stretch, or even just gather for one of the acts of worship along the way, this will be an opportunity to slow down and reflect whilst meeting others from around the united parish and celebrating the long Christian history of the six former parishes right back to the days of Serf and the Culdees. Contact Emma directly for further details and to register on ewhitham@churchofscotland.org.uk
For the fortieth year in a row, Family Week will touch children and young people and whole families from across the Kinross-shire community at the start of August and will see a team from all the local churches sharing faith and fun and the good news about Jesus.
This Sunday's services will mark the end of term and the start of the summer. In the morning we will come to the end of our shared reading of the Letter of James and I hope you take James' words about prayer as an encouragement both to give thanks for the year that is past and to unite with the whole congregation in asking God's blessing on the summer ahead.
Finally, do consider joining the annual Michael Bruce service at Portmoak at 6.30pm this evening celebrating one of our forebears in the faith here in Kinross-shire.
With all prayerful good wishes,
Rev Alan Reid
Kinross-shire Parish Church