I followed the Lectionary Readings for today and used Mark 12:28-34 as the passage on which the sermon was based. The Old Testament Reading was from Deuteronomy 6:1-9 which contains the words of the Shema - ‘Here O Israel…….’. With the children I used a powerpoint with some photographs of Jewish men wearing the Teffilin (a pair of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Bible. The hand-tefillin, or shel yad, is worn by Jews wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers, while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above the forehead. The Torah dictates that they should be worn to serve as a "sign" and "remembrance" that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.) . I also showed them a mezuzah which is fixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes to fulfill the instruction to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house". I had been given one some years ago as a gift from someone who had visited the Holy Land. The teffilin and mezuzah are used in response to the words of the Shema which gives the instruction about the importance of remembering and obeying the Torah.
“The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. 7 Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. 8 Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.’ ( Deuteronomy 6)

I have always though the ‘mezuzah’ to be a powerful symbol to remind the people that in all their coming and going the Law of the Lord should be listened to and lived out.

The lead into this with the children was to tell them about one of my ‘pet hates’- seeing people who have written messages on their hands to help them remember something important.

When asked, at least half the congregation confessed to to sometimes writing messages on their hands!

Question Time

Much blog space has been given over to this week's Question time. I don't often watch the programme nowadays but like millions of others tuned in to this one. I thought the programme was dreadful. It was almost exclusively focussed on Nick Griffin and the BNP.No current and topical issues got an airing. Nick Griffin really came across as out of his depth, nervous, unimpressive and his appearance will certainly not have done his reputation or that of his party any good at all( which is a good thing).
But according to the newspapers today it would seem that the whole programme was engineered to focus on Griffin and now he is claiming 'victim status'. I am sure a normal Question Time programme which discussed a whole range of topics would have exposed Griffin's( and that of the BNP)shortcomings. Now the issue will run and run. But I suppose the BBC bosses will be patting each other on the back because viewing figures for the programme exceeded that of Strictly Come Dancing( which in my mind is another cringe worthy programme).
I confess that I channel hopped at times on Thursday and watched some highlights(?) of Celtic-Hamburg. That too was not very impressive either although the final score did not cause me any grief.

Fruit clock

The fruit of the Spirit(Galatians) was the overall theme from yesterday. As a visual aid for the the congregation I produced my fruit powered clock which I had bought over the internet some weeks ago. Fruit can be used to power a small digital clock given the right conditions. What gracious power should there be in the fruit produced through the lives of God's people in the world? How about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

Over the weekend I read a brief article from the Scottish Composer, James MacMillan. In the article he described a Burns Supper as being a parody of the Roman Catholic Mass and therefore, I suppose, an anti Roman Catholic occasion. I think Mr MacMillan should stick to writing his music which could hardly be described as accessible or popular to the vast majority of the population of his native land who probably have no idea who he is.

Baptism

Sunday's baptism was a great occasion. Rachel( the one being baptised) spoke wonderfully and had chosen a whole range of hymns/songs for the service. As you would expect from a 16 year old for whom Soul Survivor has played a major part in her Christian journey, most of the music was contemporary. But two of the hymns she chose went back to the beginning of the 20th Century -
'All to Jesus I surrender' by J.W. Van De Venter which I can remember singing as part of a Junior Choir in Larkhall. The cyber hymnal website quotes the words of the author - ' For some time I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing. The song was written in 1896.
and
'I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene' by Charles H. Gabriel who was a profilic evangelistic song writer in the early 1900's. It is a hymn which I must have sung from the Sankey hymn book we used in Larkhall at the evening services.
Maybe some of the older hymns will make a comeback, but perhaps only if they are sung in a way that has a more contemporary feel.

the year 2016

Felt slightly annoyed when I heard the shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, indicate that as part of the plan to put the economy in shape he would raise the retirement age for men to 66 in the year 2016. The initial annoyance stems from the fact that, God willing, just 5 days into 2016 I will be 65. It could mean that I will need to work another year before becoming eligible for the state pension.

I then began to feel a bit selfish. The problem the nation is facing is far bigger than me and as Mr Osborne said - We are all in this together. So, I have recovered myself and no longer feel annoyed. Also, Mr Osborne's repeated phrase, "we are all in this together", gave me an idea for a sermon for Sunday's baptismal service. Perhaps we could also sing the song from High School Musical?

baptism

Looking ahead now to Sunday and the second baptismal service this autumn. To help in the preparation of those being baptised I provide them with a series of daily readings for the days leading up to the Sunday. The idea and plan is one suggested during my College days by my late College Principal, the Revd R.E.O White. To his words I have added the prayer:

To the Creator
Who give life
We offer our life.

To the Saviour
Who gives love
We offer ourselves in love

To the Holy Spirit
Who gives himself
We ask to be filled.

In the power, peace and presence
of Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we come to be baptized.



Only caught the last minutes of yesterday's Old Firm derby. Good result :-))

Sundays

The Sundays seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Last week - baptismal service. Next week - Harvest thanksgiving. Three weeks time - baptismal service. It will be Advent, Christmas and New Year before before we know it. I also need to fit in two weeks holiday before the end of the year. They do say time passes more quickly the older you get.