Beloved in Christ

How are you in these chill, still days? From what I hear, you are faring well and braving this lockdown with equanimity.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ways and lives with me. Let us continue to pray for each other by name.

I have inspiring news to share with you.  After the months of praying and preparing, our Tuesday Zoom ecumenical ‘Join the conversation’ drew 17 people from 6 local congregations:  Tayport United Free church, Church of Scotland, the Catholic church, Newport Church of Scotland as well as our St Margaret’s and St Mary’s.  We each spoke about the best thing that has happened to us in Covid, then watched a brief video of ‘How does God guide us’, broke into small groups and shared, around some question prompts. God is leading us into pastures new, but most important, we are chatting easily about our lives and experience, and enriching each other hugely.  If you would like to join us on Tuesdays from 7-8pm, the link to click on or phone in is:

MoragAnne is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Tuesday evening chats

Time: Jan 12, 2021 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85601019298 (no password

Meeting ID: 856 0101 9298

Bless you MoragAnne for your supportive and competent input.

Our WEDNESDAY ZOOM meetings, originally called, ‘CONNECT’ resumes this Wednesday at 8 for 45 minutes.  Have your own bible open at Mark, which we will take turns in reading as a continuum for the next few weeks. Betty will be the contact person for connection.  If by any chance you will be a first-timer, she and I can give you a trial run at an agreed-upon time, so that we can start promply at 8. The NEW LINK Betty has kindly made for us each week is

Topic: Mark Gospel

Time: Jan 20, 2021 08:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74417136721?pwd=OERNZG91TnZnMy9kLzM1c0g4dng2QT09

Meeting ID: 744 1713 6721

Passcode: k5jf3y

Thank you Duncan Sage for setting up meetings for us since lockdown: your views and family presence are really a blessing and we hope you can join us again whenever you can! Homeschooling for 4 schoolgoing children and business will be quite a challenge and our thoughts are with you!

Beyond that, conducting first funeral and burial in Scotland, I was deeply moved.  Firstly, by the support and unconditional love of family and friends.  It was a bereft and close-knit circle, and a tribute to a lifetime of dedication to each other.  Each of us create a legacy and it is worth pondering, ‘What is the legacy I live and will leave?’ Funerals are a time for looking back, but also for each of us as witnesses, to look into our own faith and the life-giving way: it guides us along paths of righteousness and rest beside still waters.  We are so privileged that our table is laden with goodness, and that we are protected in all we do, by God.  Psalm 23 is the eternal handbook for us.  In reflecting with my family and friends, I will, and urge you to script your wishes for your funeral: not out of any macabre selfishness, but out of consideration for all, children and grandchildren, and for other friends. Lockdown is the time to clear some of the decks like this one. It is equally life-giving to be supported by our beautiful church communities, and by Andrea from Gibson of Tayport who lovingly guides and hold us in these sad phases of our lives.  Let us continue to give thanksgiving and prayers to surround the Beat family and George.

Zoom and other platforms are changing our lives, and drawing us close and contactable.  I find now that I am asking my overseas and friends in need here if we could speak on video rather than voice.  Itis so different to look at each other, and use our senses as much as we can to read the subtle expressions and nuances. I know the professionals are busy with all day conferences, and – manage very well, even though the distractions of a household swirl around.  My daughter in law was describing how the boys were practising Ninja moves in view of the international colleagues, who were delightedly commenting on her well-behaved children!  My doggie Cocoa frequently barges into our Zoom chats. On Tuesday we have a daylong Clergy Conference, ending with a ‘Join us at the bar Cocktail hour’, with a competition and quiz component (inspired by our Cocoa, I’m sure, there’s a ‘Best Pet’ competition too!) It shows me that we are creative and loving family people, and I am proud to deliberate on major world issues, whilst being bonded and committed to the group to which I belong.  I include the morning prayer snippet I contributed, for you to use at some stage in your devotions.

I hope that you are enjoying the staggering variety of livestreamed services, and would be grateful if you could share any you really enjoy, so that each of us could broaden our horizons, making the presence and action of relevant and life giving in lockdown.

Readings for this Sunday’s ‘virtual’ service are:

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

1 Cor.7:29-31

Psalm 62: 6-14

Mark 1: 14-20

May the calling of the first disciples Simon and Andrew invigorate you to leave yesterday behind and follow Jesus into newness and freedom!

May the spirit of the living God be with you now and this week to come!

Kathy

07552 503 859