Musings – July 2025
As the schools finish for their summer holidays, the rain is set for the day and I wonder what to write! Do I reflect on glorious sunshine? Hungry midges? Blue skies? Dramatic clouds?
No. I look forward. Forward to a summer of gatherings and fun.
As we prepare for our village Galas and the treasure hunts, pet ‘shows’, music, quizzes, and so on, we look forward. We look forward together. A time to join in. A chance to see friends, meet new people, share experiences (wet or dry), smile, laugh, and generally have a good time.
By the end of the summer we will have new anecdotes, new memories, new connections.
Are you looking forward?
As Christians, we look forward to the great gathering – joining God in Eternal Life. The invitation is for everyone – have you responded yet? The RSVP is simple – believe in Jesus!
As most of you know by now, I like to keep you on your toes. You never quite know what is coming next. This summer is no exception. Our annual Sunday service-time swap kicks in once July starts – 10am now at St Ninian’s, 11.30am at Dunscore. Except … we will share Gala Praise at both Moniaive (20th July) and Dunscore (3rd August) and hold a Joint service at Dunscore Church (31st August), all at 10.30am! So your diaries will need to be up-to-date!
Whether we gather in a tent (sorry, marquee) or our church buildings, we come together to worship God for all the good things He has done for us, and continues to do for us. We look forward in the light of the past, knowing that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). The same Jesus who turned water into wine so that the wedding celebrations could continue, wants us to enjoy the new life He gives us now.
In the past, one of the Old Testament prophets Isaiah wrote a message from God: “See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:19). In the days at the start of our current Common Era (what we used to call AD) the Apostle Paul wrote to early Christians, saying, “… if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Corinthians 5:17). Looking to the future and what will come next, an Elder, John, wrote a ‘Revelation’, saying, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth … the one seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:1 & 5).
God wants us all to have access to these new things. That’s it! Pure and simple. The invitation is for all (regardless of anything) – have you responded yet? The RSVP is simple – believe in Jesus!
Join us any Sunday to find something new. In the marquees it will be intense! But … the new life Jesus offers will put a smile on your face!
May God Bless you,
Mark