Zimbabwe: At Bulawayo on 9th June at 2 p.m.
Western: At Laide on 9th June at 6 p.m.
Southern: At Glasgow on 16th June at 6 p.m.
Skye: At Portree on 23rd June at 11 a.m.
Australia and New Zealand: At Gisborne on 23rd October at 2.30 p.m.
Resignation of Rev. D. Nicolson, Glendale
At a meeting of the Skye Presbytery on 4th February 1992 a letter tendering Rev. D. Nicolson’s resignation from the active ministry of the Church was read. At the following meeting of Presbytery on 14th April 1992 the following motion was passed “that in the circumstances and with reluctance, Rev. D. Nicolson’s request to resign be accepted by the Presbytery, the resignation to take effect from the end of April 1992 (D.V.).”
Induction at Dundee
On 27th March, at 7 p.m., the Southern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met in the Dundee Free Presbyterian Church for the purpose of inducting Rev. Alexander McPherson to the pastoral charge of the Perth, Stirling and Dundee congregation. A large congregation, representative of various parts of the Church were present when the Presbytery, augmented by Revs N. M. and D. A. Ross, with Rev. J. Goldby entered the church to begin the service. The Moderator, Rev. D. MacLean, conducted public worship, preaching from the words in Acts 10: 33: “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”
A congregation was prepared in Caesarea by God inclining the God-fearing Cornelius to pray for someone to come and declare the way of salvation. Similarly, this centurion’s household and many others were moved by the Lord to gather to hear that good news. The preacher, the apostle Paul, was himself prepared to preach to this congregation when he also was praying. He saw a vision which was interpreted for him by the visit of Cornelius’s messengers to mean that the Gospel must now be preached to Gentiles as well as Jews. The Holy Spirit then instructed Peter to answer the call to Caesarea. It can be seen that it was God who by various means prepared both congregation and preacher. It is God who prepares men to preach and others to hear the glorious Gospel of His grace towards sinners, in our day as well as in that which we have been considering.
Peter’s sermon declared that by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, God fashioned a way by which sinners could be brought into a state of peace with Him. Faith in Christ as the Saviour of sinners leads to the peace which issues in everlasting rest in the holiness of heaven. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5: 1). Rejection of Christ as Saviour, will, however, mean meeting Him as Judge, for “it is he which was ordained of God to be Judge of quick and dead.” The sermon was blessed to all the hearers, for we read that, “the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word.” Again we see that God is the One who acts all through in such a way that He blesses whomsoever He will, even as He obliges Gospel-hearing sinners to believe in Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Observe, finally, that all these things took place within the Visible Church. How valuable that divinely produced society and its ordinances should appear in our eyes who belong to it!
Sermon being ended there was read a brief narrative of the proceedings in the transaction of the Call. Mr McPherson then answered satisfactorily the Questions put by the Moderator. Next, the Formula was read, and signed by Mr McPherson. The Moderator then engaged in prayer, and received and admitted Rev A. McPherson to the pastoral charge of the Perth, Stirling and Dundee congregation, and gave him the right hand of fellowship. The members of Presbytery did likewise.
The Moderator then called on Rev. D. B. Macleod to address the minister, and Rev. L. MacLeod to address the congregation. The service was concluded with praise and the benediction, and the new minister then went to the door of the church to shake hands with the congregation as they left. Most went round to the hall of the church where the women of the congregation made a bountiful provision of tea and refreshments. It is to be hoped and prayed for that the Lord will bless this latest ministry to the upbuilding of His cause in these parts.
A. McPherson, (Clerk of Presbytery).