General Assembly

Well - already half way through this year's General Assembly, but much more of importance to come!

There is some great live coverage on the Church of Scotland Website - you can listen and watch live, get all the reports speaches and daily papers, and also listen to, watch and read daily summaries of events.

Get it all at http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/index.htm

Don't forget the Forward Together lunchtime meeting on Monday 19th May - it includes a free lunch and will be held at the Augustine Church on George IV Bridge (just go past the library and cross the road).

The steering group hope to see you there!

40 days with Mark and Jesus (40)

Sat 22 Mar: Mark 16:1-8

On this Saturday of waiting we look ahead to the early morning coming to us. ‘He has risen! He is not here.’ This good news is made known by angels and told to disciples. Jesus our Lord is declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

Prayer: Yours be the glory, risen, conquering Son. May we share in the joy and new life of your victory over sin and death and hell. Lord Jesus, strengthen this faith in us until you come again, you the Living One who was dead but is alive for ever and ever.

40 days with Mark and Jesus (39)

Fri 21 Mar: Mark 15:21-47

We should take our time today and read these words over again.
They think he can save himself by coming down from the cross, by staying on the cross he saves a lost world.
A Roman centurion confesses ‘Surely this man was the Son of God’, words we remember from Mark 1:1. This is to be our confession; the Son of God has died for our salvation.

Prayer: Lifted up was he to die, ‘It is finished’ was his cry; now in heaven exalted high: alleluia! What a Saviour! Lord Jesus teach me again that it is my sin you bear on the cross, my penalty you pay, my forgiveness you achieve, and let me sing with joy ‘Alleluia! What a Saviour!’

40 days with Mark and Jesus (38)

Thu 20 Mar: Mark 15:1-20

Pilate thinks he is a powerful man, but he is weak before an unruly crowd. The crowd thinks they can silence Jesus by crucifying him and the soldiers ignore his claims by mocking him. The powerful, majestic character in these verses is the Lord who is suffering for those who abuse him.
Prayer: ‘Not what I will, but what you will’. Lord Jesus so often we wish you would save us in our way, thank you that you have saved us your way.

40 days with Mark and Jesus (37)

Wed 19 Mar: Mark 14:66-72

We often wish we had been a disciple with Jesus, but perhaps not like Peter here. In the security of our comfortable lives how often do we deny our Lord?

Prayer: Under the light of your Spirit’s searching gaze, I confess that I have denied you, my Lord and Saviour. Forgive me for this most hateful of sins against you who loves me.

40 days with Mark and Jesus (36)

Tue 18 Mar: Mark 14:53-65

At one point our hearts cry out that the Lord Jesus would speak and answer these false charges, and then as we read his bold confession we wish he had been silent. How quick we are to speak when we should be silent and slow when we should speak. The Lord Jesus is hated for who he is, the one who will sit at the right hand of the Mighty One.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we marvel at your wisdom and your courage. You know well what to say and are able to say it. As we follow you give us your wisdom and your courage that we might speak for you.

40 days with Mark and Jesus (35)

Mon 17 Mar: Mark 14:43-52
ow the passion of our Lord, long predicted by him begins with his arrest in the garden. Our Lord is betrayed by a disciple, one committed to following him hands him over to his enemies. However, the betrayer is not in charge here, the Lord Jesus identifies himself and is willingly taken to his death.

Prayer: O Lord, we confess that we are often like Judas, quick to betray you and reject your way of the cross. Forgive us and restore us in Christ that we may follow him more faithfully.