SUNDAY – 24th MAY 2020

SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION

SPOTLIGHT ON FAITH – Revd. Dr. Scott McKenna in conversation with Iain Stewart of Edinburgh Inter Faith Association. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrX0YdGevd0

SUNDAY WORSHIP – in the absence of worship in our own Sanctuary may I direct you to BBC Radio 4 at 08.10am Sunday 24th MAY – LIVING WELL WHILE WAITING – Catherine Fox and the Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox reflect on living well during this time of waiting. For people yearning for things to be ‘normal’ again, it seems like there will be a long time to wait. Many people’s plans for the summer, including weddings and ordinations have been cancelled, so what can we do to stay positive in this period of continued hoping and uncertainty? The Miraculous Catch of Fish (John 21:1-14) leads them to suggest that old plans and hopes can be transformed by Jesus. After Jesus’ resurrection the disciples had gone back to what they knew, fishing, but they did not catch anything, until the risen Lord appeared and they caught more fish with which they could cope.

Please note the time change for the Sunday Worship. The BBC may change this from the published times of the following two services last week. Please check they have not been rescheduled to start earlier.

WORSHIP FOR SUNDAYBBC1 TV – 11.45am –To celebrate the Sunday after Ascension Day, the Very Reverend Kathy Jones leads a service from Bangor Cathedral in North Wales. The preacher is the Right Reverend Andy John, the bishop of Bangor. Interspersed with hymns recorded for Songs of Praise in March 2018, this service was filmed before the closure of all church buildings was announced.

REFLECTIONS AT THE QUAY (from Glasgow) – BBC SCOTLAND 12.15am.  Rebekah Lamb, St Andrews University and John Bell, Iona Community, offer their Reflections. Music from Kris Drever.

DEATHS  

We continue to remember our Minister in our prayers as he in turn ministers to the bereaved families.

We continue to remember Nicholas and Gary Orr in our prayers. Morag’s funeral service will be held at Holmsford Bridge, Dreghorn on Tuesday 2nd June. This service will be streamed and I will give you the link next week in the Intimations.

You may wish to light a candle at the time of the funeral service in memory of these good folks and others whom you knew and loved.

DAILY PRAYING   May I recommend the website pray-as-you-go.org which offers a daily 10 minute reflection with music, Scripture and help with sensitive praying.    It will help you reflect on the day.  You can listen first thing in the morning, during the day or towards last thing at night.  Often, I find them very peaceful, though they differ each day.     Scott 

OFFERINGS: During this time when the Church building is closed, members may be considering how they can continue to give offerings to the Church. Information on this is available on the Church website https://ayrstcolumba.co.uk/options-for-offerings/ This link will take you directly to the page. Alternatively, you can contact the Treasurer (01292 443271), the Session Clerk or the Church Secretary (both at 01292 265794).

FOOD BANK: Please remember that the need for donations of all basic foods is even more urgent during this crisis. If you go to the Church website or FB page you will find details of places where food can still dropped off.

20’s IN THE PEWS: Please continue to save your 20’s – we will provide a very large collecting jar when we all return to Church.

MARY’S MEALS: likewise your coppers for Mary’s Meals – there will always be a great need to help.

THE MAY PRAYER CALENDAR for week THREE is available on the website.

LIFE & WORK: Pre-ordered copies of the will be retained until we return to normal! In addition to the hard copies that have been ordered – Life & Work, this month, is available online. Follow this link:      https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/free-download-may-2020.

There is a short highlight on the website.

COLUMBA NEWS: the April edition is available on the website.  Thank you Norman.

OASIS CAFÉ: During our enforced closure – please remember your Thursday morning friends and maybe give each other a call! 

REMEMBER – WEBSITE has lots to offer. Sermons and Prayers and a wealth of useful information.

Books for the journey………

Thomas à Kempis                    The Imitation of Christ

Anthony De Mello                  Seek God Everywhere

Esther De Waal                       Seeking God

Mark Oakley                           My Sour-Sweet Days

Also, you can sign up for the daily meditations of Fr Richard Rohr, Centre for Action and Contemplation.

www.cac.org/sign-up/

SERMONS ONLINE:   The text of the sermon for this week is available on the Sermons Tab.

https://ayrstcolumba.co.uk/category/sermons/

Meditative daily worship with readings, music and prayers are available from:

www.pray-as-you-go.org

Facebook – you do not require a FB account to access the Church FB page. Something new will be uploaded every day. Prayers, short video from the Moderator Revd Colin Sinclair and his wife, and the new idea – Our Church windows in Jigsaw form – pop over and have a try!

https://www.facebook.com/ayrstcolumba/