Minister’s Message 31 August
Dear Friends
We are reflecting this week on the nature of hospitality. In our reading this week from Luke 14, Jesus challenges us to build relationships beyond those which might be beneficial to us, to go beyond the transactional nature of human interaction in order to serve those who can be of no material benefit to us.
I wonder where those interactions might occur? Where is it, in this day and age, that we meet strangers? Is that even advisable? From a few conversations I've had recently, it seems that we can thank the Ember bus service not just for connecting Kinross to the cities of Scotland but also for providing us with nothing to do for an hour or so and a stranger in the seat next to us. Yet, the truth is our boundaries are difficult to traverse.
Even in Jesus’ day, it was understood that provision for the poor and vulnerable was a responsibility held by the whole of society, but the nature of the household could still make space for welcoming the stranger. We live in different times, where the state is responsible for providing a safety net and the home is unable to safely accommodate a stranger.
Yet, these words of Jesus still describe for us a characteristic of our God and therefore of our faith. To attend to material needs but also engage in encountering others, of challenging echo chambers and class divisions through genuine human engagement. Supporting a society which looks after people, while still being willing to look them in the eye.
We'll need to dig a little deeper.
In other news, we are delighted to announce that Alan McKay, who was on placement with us during his training, is being inducted as minister Bearsden Baljaffray in October. A huge congratulations to Alan and our prayerful support as he approaches his ordination.
Every blessing,
Alex Johnson
Probationer for Kinross-shire Parish Church