Minister’s Message 29 March
Dear Friends
We are about to enter Holy Week, when Christians the world over commemorate
the tumultuous final week of Jesus' earthly ministry. The story of that week
constitutes about one third of the Gospel account and because it is impossible
to cover the whole story and its significance at Sunday worship, traditionally,
additional services have been held during Holy Week to enable us to take time to
reflect more deeply on the message that is at the very heart of our faith – that
Jesus died and rose again for our salvation.
Each day, morning and evening, Alex and I will be reading the account of the
week from Matthew's Gospel on our church Facebook pages and I encourage you
either to listen to those short broadcasts and/or to read the portions of the story
from your own Bible as they are outlined in this week's intimations. It will help
you to set Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday in their context.
In addition to the daily readings which are designed for individual use, the
following services will be held around the united parish for us to join together
with others. All are welcome at any or all of these:
This evening's service at Portmoak at 6.30pm will be a reflection in readings and
hymns focussing on the passion of the Christ.
On Thursday at Fossoway Church, Alex will lead us in a commemoration of the
Last Supper at 7.30pm including Holy Communion.
On Good Friday, an invitation is extended to join the congregation of St Paul's for
meditative worship between 12 noon and 1pm, and in the evening at Orwell
Church at 7.30pm we will be using the words of Handel's Messiah to explore the
meaning of the whole story of Jesus' coming.
Next Sunday there is the customary united Easter morning service at 7.30am at
the far end of the Kirkgate Park where the resurrection of Jesus has been
celebrated since the 6th Century (when St Serf and his followers established the
first churches around the loch). This is followed by breakfast at the Kirklands
Hotel – book by Thursday at the latest via the church office. Morning services will
also be held at Fossoway at 9.30am, at Kinross at 10.30am, at Orwell at 11am
and at Cleish at 11.15am.
This is a good time of year to consider asking neighbours, friends or family
members to come with you to one of these services and I hope you will take the
opportunity to do so. I trust that you will find the journey through Holy Week
something that strengthens your faith and inspires you to serve God in your daily
life.
With all prayerful good wishes,
Alan
Rev A D Reid