Dear Friends,
‘Ch,ch,ch,ch, changes,turn and face the strain, ch,ch, changes.’
Those of a similar era to me will recognise the words of the David Bowie song from 1971, a mere 44 years ago… !
We are going through a time of significant ‘Ch,ch,ch,ch, changes’ at Legacurry. Having had the same Mission Statement for over 10 years ‘Looking to the Lord in all things’ we felt as a Kirk Session it was time to refresh and renew, especially as we were looking at our Mission & Vision Aspirations for the next 5 years. In our morning services during May and June we will be looking at the key points of our new Mission Statement
Legacurry Presbyterian Church
Acting on God’s Word –
Welcoming Worshipping, Witnessing,
Expanding on the statement we hope it will help us to focus on
- Growing in faith through engagement with God’s Word;
- Being a family of faith in which everyone is Welcome;
- Glorifying God through Christ-centred Worship, and
- Spreading the Kingdom of God through our Witness.
But there are other ‘Ch,ch,ch,ch, changes’ as well and especially in the area of new leadership. As you know we are currently seeking up to 5 new elders and the names that are selected will be announced during May with a congregational meeting to elect at the end of the morning service on Sunday 7 June. This is always a significant time in the history of any church and we pray for Godly people to add to the leadership of our Kirk Session.
Cell Groups have been at the heart of the ministry and pastoral care at Legacurry for 13-14 years now and as a congregation we are committed to small group ministry. John Stott writes that, ‘Small Groups are indispensable for our growth into spiritual maturity’ giving strong Biblical, Historical and Pastoral reasons for this.
We have been blessed with strong, consistent leaders of our Cell Groups, most of whom have been leading for more than 10 years. However, a number of our Leaders have indicated their wish to step down – Philip & Susan Brown, Roy & Ruth Montgomery, Gary & Barbara McCracken, John & Susan Rodgers, Chris & Heather Kinghan and Miriam Pattison & Andrew Liddle from the senior youth cell group. Richard & Suzanne Reid’s group continues. We want to say an enormous thank-you to them and affirm them in this decision as they have served faithfully and well. Yet it is always good to refresh and renew and continue to be a reformed church always reforming.
As they currently stand some of the groups will come to an end and another will split, so the line-up will be somewhat different. Those stepping into leadership are Richard & Sarah Hassard, Jane & Don McCallum, Miriam Pattison with Ian & Julie Thompson, Gareth & Samantha Martin and Stephen & Kathryn Kerr for the senior youth cell. Pray for these people and for the groups in this time of transition. This is also a good time for folks to try a cell/home group or try a new one. Pray that we will all see through the changes prayerfully and with grace and faith and that the new configurations will enable us to grow with freshness and vitality.
There are a few ‘Ch,ch,ch,ch, changes’ to other roles as well.
As you already know, Jude Smyth has taken on the role of Praise Co-ordinator from Ann McCullagh and is bringing her vision and passion to the work.
Jacqueline Pickering has taken over in leading the Prayer Ministry team from David Pattison whom we thank sincerely for his service in recent years as this sensitive yet powerful ministry got up and going.
Susan Rodgers will also stepping back from leading the Parents & Toddlers Group and Samantha Martin will pick up leadership of that, assisted by several other young Mums in the congregation, Suzanne Reid, Pamela Boyd and Susanne Arbuthnot.
We are truly blessed in having so many able and willing people to serve the Lord using their different gifts. But we are also conscious that there are many in our congregation not using their gifts. Let us, as a Kirk Session, encourage all our members to look around, reflect on where your gifts lie, and ask the Lord to show you what He would like you to do or how He would like you to serve.
Paul urges each of us, “..in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” as our “spiritual act of worship” Rom. 12v1 and he points out to the Ephesians that in Christ we are all parts of one body, and “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph. 4v16
Yours in His name,
Bobby Liddle
