St Mary's Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries :: From the minister

Session Clerk

Dave — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:03:12 -0400

When I was reaching the end of my probationary period in St Kentigern’s, Kilmarnock, we began to look ahead to the next stage in our journey through ministry. So it was a day in the spring of 2005 that my family and I jumped into the car and came down to Dumfries to explore where this journey might lead us next.

Reflecting on that visit, there is much to remember but in particular I was very impressed by two wonderful Session Clerks in Sheila Wilson at Caerlaverock and Isobel Evans here at St Mary’s-Greyfriars’.

Over the three or so years that I have now known Isobel she has been a great friend and confidant and a hard-working, thoughtful, compassionate, loyal Session Clerk serving the church. I have also heard from many sources, within the congregation and Presbytery, that in the past she has helped guide St Mary’s Church through a difficult time and was a valued and effective contributor in the Union that formed St Mary’s-Greyfriars’.

Since I arrived at St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ we have had plenty of good times – and some not-so-good times. There have been some moments in our Kirk Session and Congregational Board meetings when you could cut the tension with a knife and through these testing times I have sometimes struggled. There have been several occasions when Isobel has been my strength when I have felt fragile and a wise friend to guide me when I felt lost. I also have an inkling that there were times when she sheltered me and sorted a lot of things out quietly, diffusing many a situation and bringing healing and health.

When Isobel retired as our Session Clerk on October 5 I opened the Session meeting with a reading from Matthew 20:25-28. I read from this in recognition of the servant leadership that Isobel has diligently expressed in her role over the past 10-and-a-half years. As Isobel now retires we wish her healing and good health, please take the opportunity to thank her for her dedication and years of service and look forward to continuing to serve Christ together in new areas as He leads.

We are thankful that David Matheson, our Depute Session Clerk, has agreed to serve as Session Clerk. David is a much respected member of our congregation and Presbytery and was Session Clerk of Greyfriars’ Church, so he comes with years of quality experience. David is however currently undertaking his training as a Reader for the Church of Scotland and due to these important commitments to the wider Church he has agreed to be Session Clerk until a replacement is found.

During this month we will put the mechanism into place to appoint a new Session Clerk. In this period of change please keep Isobel, David, the Kirk Session and congregation in your prayers as we seek to find someone who will bring their own gifts to the position and pray that God will speak clearly into their willing hearts.

In Christ’s Service

Jamie Milliken

Conkers revisited

Dave — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:42:08 -0400

Recently I found myself in an in-between place. Too early for my next meeting and too late to do much else, so I took time out in the Crichton grounds for a walk on a beautiful autumnal day. As I walked I could not resist that old habit of picking up a conker, just fallen from the tree, shining and half in its shell. It was smooth and fresh, new born, whole and filled with potential – a great tree in the waiting.
But on reflection that’s not the way I remember we liked them. As a boy we toughened them up, we drilled a hole through the middle of them, tied them up and battered them with all our might against one another.

As I rolled that new conker in my hand it seemed that our life is so like this. We are born fresh and whole, filled with great potential but soon that changes. We get toughened up, sin drills holes in our hearts, hurt tears bits off us, we spend so much of life clashing against others, people get broken.

Jesus, God with us, walked among us and as he experienced our brokenness first hand it made him so sad. So as he walked and talked he healed and restored. He took the battered and the broken and restored them; he took those who were mentally scarred and healed their minds. He taught and he told of his purpose in being with us, he said: “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Jesus still moves among us, he is still God with us, by his Spirit he is still healing our hurts and offering abundant life for us. So if you are feeling broken, if you are feeling that your life has been like a chestnut; your potential stolen, your heart broken and you are battered and sore then turn to the one who came to restore your life and make you whole, “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Please trust in Jesus. Let him be tender with your wounds, he comes to heal and restore. Let him begin his work of renewal. Reach out to him in prayer and you will find he is reaching out to you, read his word and take his promises deep within and let them heal your soul, gather together for communion at the close of this month and remember our giving Lord and share in his healing meal.

There is a day to come when we shall meet him face to face and we shall be made completely new and whole, shining like the sun. But until then, open up to him and let his healing warmth rest upon you and know deep within the restoration that he alone can bring.

In Christ

Jamie Milliken

Putting the unity in church community

Dave — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:47:36 -0400

I grew up in a village split down the middle. The main road that ran right through the heart of Dundonald was only about seven yards wide, but it could have been seven miles wide, or an ocean or a mountain range, because the gulf between the two was huge. People on either side of the road had a terrible distrust for one another and they defined themselves as being not like those on the other side.

When the better weather and light nights came round, some of the villagers’ differences were laid aside and those young and daft enough would join forces to ride out and fight the next village. Incidentally, that was Dreghorn where Donald Campbell (minister at Dumfries St George’s) is from - you’ll be pleased to hear your ministers didn’t get involved!

Dreghorn and Dundonald were much the same: same demographics, same major employers; same people just a different village. But for no reason, or some reason now unknown and lost in history, we fought.

I went over the hill to Marr College for my secondary schooling; it gathered people from outlying villages and different areas of Troon. There were fights there, too, between different geographical groups.

What is it with us that we choose to fall out with and fight and distrust and bad-mouth and resent our neighbours whose only difference from us is the accident of whatever side of the road, whatever village, whatever side of the hill you happen to live on?

When I was wee I wasn’t one for going to church much, but one thing that I did notice was that the church in Dundonald drew its members from both sides of the road (it was about the only body in the community that managed to do this successfully).

God knows human nature is to tear apart and that is why he encourages us to put our differences (real or imagined) behind us as members of his new community. In the Bible letter called Galatians it says of the church ‘there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women, you are all one in union with Christ Jesus’.

I really hope the same can be said for St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ Parish Church. We are a united congregation seeking to enable everyone to draw near and worship God. We are one church among many in this town and we are all part of the body of Christ. So as we enter into a new session of the church year, let’s make a point of breaking down any barriers that divide and move on as one body together to love God, love our neighbour and grow in Christ.

Jamie Milliken

God's Perfect Ten

Dave — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:33:11 -0400

We have launched into a series on the Ten Commandments. With a few detours on the way to accommodate my holidays and special services we will be studying these until the middle of September. The Ten Commandments are crucial to godly living as they lead to a right relationship with God and others. Whilst only 300 or so words long they have shaped our society and it is also reasonable to say that the unravelling of society that we are experiencing today coincides with our general lack of regard for God's Ten Commandments.

As a member of Christ's Church and a follower of his ways you will, I am sure, seek to obey God by living according to his will. However, when you have done this you will probably have found that life gets harder because you are moving against the downward flow of culture, but you will also have found that it gets better because you are living in the will of God. People look to you as a member of the church and they spot hypocrisy from a thousand miles, but they also see in you hope when you live well. It is so important that we continue to be beacons of light in our darkening world, because in us is God's hope for salvation.

Come along to Sunday services and be refreshed by His Word by taking a refresher course in the Ten Commandments and be encouraged to go and live them out authentically as followers of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Christianity Explored

There have been a number of enquiries from people considering joining the church and to enable this we will be running another course of Christianity Explored. A course has been planned to begin on Thursday September 11. This will run for 10 evenings (which again, allowing for holidays, takes us to the end of November) and thereafter we intend to welcome new members by profession of faith. If you know anyone considering joining the church then please let them know.

The course is not just for people considering membership but also for those who want to know more of the faith we profess. If you are interested in learning more about what we believe (whether you are an existing member or just curious) you will also be very welcome.
If you would like to sign up or are looking for more information then please get in touch with me at the contact details on the front of the magazine.

Summer worship

Come and join us at our early all-age worship service at 9.30am in the hall or our usual service at 11.30am in the church - as always, all are welcome. Have a great summer.
In Christ's service
Jamie Milliken

News from Caerlaverock

Dave — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:32:02 -0400

There's been so much going on in our congregation recently with our Mission Promises, changes to the church roll, discussions on communal space in the church, changes to the way we staff Sunday Kids and all the usual social activities, so I thought it would be good to also share with you what is happening at our sister church of Caerlaverock.

Caerlaverock also has been a very busy congregation. We have recently converted part of the sanctuary into a flower room (looks like a kitchen but isn't), we are now serving teas and coffees after the service, we have built a disabled access ramp (no more stumbling over old worn steps) and installed accessible toilet facilities.

We have also brought new helpers into the Sunday School rota (although numbers of young people have recently dropped so please keep both our young people's ministries in your prayers) and we have welcomed a new Elder to our Kirk Session.

We enjoy excellent links with our community and over the last few years have held special services to raise funds and give thanks for the Canine Rescue Centre and the Nith Inshore
Rescue. At the end of May we had a community service in Caerlaverock Primary School and David Matheson kindly led worship in St Mary's-Greyfriars' to enable me to lead this.

The aim of our service was to celebrate community, carry a message of hope to the parish and raise funds for the school. The offering during the service raised £122 and this was added to the money raised from the sponsored walk that followed at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust also to help boost school funds.

On that day we thought that if we want to remember something very important we might write it on the palms of our hands and that is what God does for us, each of names is very important to him and written on the palms of his hands. We are all there, each one listed individually … but we were not made to live alone.

So we also remembered that when community works well we are well connected. A young volunteer came out to the front and told us his name, then we worked out who he belonged to, he belonged to his mum and dad, sister, school, football team and so on … we also remembered that God tells us we are his children so our volunteer also belonged to him.

This positive belonging, united in a web of community, linked with others and God is the way we are meant to be, not islands on our own, but all joined up together - just as we are linked with Caerlaverock.
Caerlaverock is a great congregation and you will find us very welcoming. We meet every Sunday at 9.45am and we enjoy worshipping with our friends from St Mary's-Greyfriars'.

Yours in Christ's service

Jamie Milliken

The sound of laughter

Dave — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:07:05 -0400

These great quotes come from an annual survey of church magazines:

"Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help."

"Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get."

"The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing Break Forth Into Joy."

"Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children."

"Low self-esteem support group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door."

"Weight Watchers will meet at 7om at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance."

"The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

It's good to have a laugh! It's good to hear laughter in the church building and among our people. The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, might not have the same smile and charisma as John Paul II, but he did have this to say about laughter in his book, Images of Hope; Meditations on Major Feasts:

"In the Baroque period the liturgy used to include the ‘risus paschalis', the Easter laughter. The Easter sermon had to contain a story that made people laugh, so that the church sounded with joyful laughter … Is there not something very beautiful and appropriate about laughter becoming a liturgical symbol?"

I agree, we have so much to rejoice in; so much to be hope filled and happy about, our Lord is risen and we are his!

I remember hearing a sermon and the minister asked this question (in a droll voice): "Did our Lord ever laugh?" He suspected not, and his reason was that nowhere in the Bible does it have the pithy text "Jesus laughed". But read on - this Jesus is the man who was invited to weddings and was made welcome in the house of sinners. A boring man who could not crack a smile, would not last long in these places, but Jesus did and they loved him and listened to his stories.

Laughter is infectious; it encourages friendship and is good for our health. Church is not going to be a comedy show, but I do hope that it can be a place where we can worship and sometimes have a right good laugh together!

Yours in Christ's service
Jamie Milliken

Our mission promise

Dave — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:04:56 -0400

A year in the making, but most definitely worth it! I am very pleased to share with you our Mission Promise, adopted by our Kirk Session on March 11:

We will live as disciples to grow and go
in faith, hope and love;
our Father's gifts from above.

We will act local with a heart for the global,
journeying together as one,
committed to Jesus the Son.

We will serve to enable friends round a table,
filled from the Spirit's care,
sharing his gifts everywhere.

Our Mission Promise is one promise in three verses; this reflects the Unity and the Trinity of God. Each verse focuses on the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Our Mission Promise is expressed in poetry; the great tradition of the Psalms and much of Biblical literature. Poetry is alive and it has rhythm. Poetry rather than a propositional statement reflects more of the wonder of God who is fluid, living and leaves space for growth. Poetry is also memorable – that is why we can remember hymns long after we've forgotten sermons.

Our Mission Promise is built on biblical principle. It was developed after biblical reflection. And while we believe that God speaks through the whole of the Old and New Testaments, we consider there are some key verses that support our mission promise. These are given below for your own reading and reflection: Micah 6:8, Mark 1:17, Matthew 22:37, 38, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 7:12, Romans 12:5-8, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:22, 23.

Our mission promise explained
We will live as disciples: As disciples we are followers of the way of Jesus Christ and committed to Christ-like living.
to grow: We are committed to growth in Christian maturity through prayer, learning, serving,
praising and witnessing to the Gospel.
and go: We are committed to the great commission given to us by Jesus after his resurrection to go out into the world and encourage others to follow him; welcome into his church through the sacrament of baptism; and teach his word in worship and daily living as to what it is means to be disciples of Jesus.
in faith, hope and love; our Father's gifts from above: We are committed to growing and going out into the world in faith, hope and love. We recognise that these gifts are given by God for our sustenance, development and witness. We are not the source of faith, hope and love, God is, and therefore we are assured that we will never run dry because God will always replenish his children.

We will act local: We are committed to contextualising the Gospel and reaching out to our local community in a way that is relevant and engages, in the Christian way, with their spiritual search. We are a Parish church committed to serving the spiritual and social needs of our congregation, Parish, town and communities.
with a heart for the global: We are committed to the world through prayer and action. We give of our money and seek to develop links with the worldwide church. We are committed to being caretakers for creation.
journeying together as one, committed to Jesus the Son: We are a congregation of the body of Christ. As members of his body we seek to recognise and enable the gifts of each member so as to build up the church and usher in God's Kingdom among and around us. We are committed to working alongside our Christian brothers and sisters in other churches in our joint mission to serve Christ and his world.

We will serve to enable friends round a table: We are committed to encouraging people into deeper relationship with Christ through partaking in communion at the Lord's table and joining in membership of our church.
filled from the Spirit's care, sharing his gifts everywhere: We are committed to being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, prayerfully and diligently looking for the Spirit's guidance as we seek to authentically be God's church. We will do this so that when the Spirit comes we will be in a position to enable God's blessing to flow in us and through us and so bring about Christian revival in our lives, in our congregation and beyond.

Next steps
We have outlined where we want to go and the principles that will shape our journey; now we have the detailed part of how we are going to work together to achieve this. If we leave it here without doing any more work then all we will have produced is an empty promise. Each group, committee and person in the church is now asked to reflect on how we can commit to this promise. This will require prayer, reflection, discussion, a look at the gifts we have, the opportunities that are presented and the risk that will need to be taken.

I hope that we will begin the new 2008-2009 church year with these goals in place and we will work towards achieving them over the following years, reassessing where deemed appropriate. In five years' time, the church will carry out a full audit and I anticipate that we will find ourselves in a place where we have achieved much of what we had hoped for, and be ready to go through this process again and make new promises to God, one another, our parish and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who supported this process in prayer, Bible study and in giving of time and energy to help in the development of our Mission Promise. Let's now work together to be promise keepers.

Yours in Christ's service
Jamie Milliken