Induction of Rev Donald Macdonald to Staffin Congregation
Although the weather was inclement, making travel somewhat difficult, the Staffin church was almost full for the happy occasion of the induction of Rev Donald Macdonald to the pastorate of our Staffin congregation. Some visitors had travelled considerable distances from the mainland and other islands to be there; also present were people from other denominations. It was gratifying to see so many people gathered but especially to witness the Staffin congregation, in the kind ruling of the Lord, provided with a pastor after a short vacancy of 14 months. Some time after their previous pastor for 15 years, Rev W A Weale, was translated to Halkirk, the congregation approached Rev D Macdonald, North Uist, desiring him to be their pastor. In due time, Mr Macdonald was led to accept the call of the Staffin congregation to be their minister. There is rejoicing when a vacant congregation obtains a pastor, but one feels for any congregation which loses a pastor and one seeks that the Lord will provide for it.
The evening began with the Western Presbytery meeting in the church; it found there were no objections to Rev D A K Macdonald’s life and doctrine and proceeded with the induction. Before public worship commenced, Rev W A Weale, Rev R MacLeod, Rev K M Watkins and Rev H I MacKinnon
were associated with the Presbytery. The Moderator of Presbytery, Rev I D MacDonald preached suitably from Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”.
At the conclusion of this part of the worship, the Moderator called Mr Macdonald to answer the questions to be put to ministers at their induction. When the pastor-elect had answered them satisfactorily and signed the Formula, the Moderator, in the name of the Presbytery, inducted Mr Macdonald to the pastoral charge of the Staffin Congregation and the brethren present gave the newly-inducted pastor the right hand of fellowship. Rev A E W MacDonald then addressed Mr Macdonald appropriately from the Word of God, “Be thou faithful unto death . . .” (Rev 2:10). Rev D A Ross addressed the congregation from Hebrews 13:7: “Obey them that have the rule over you”.
Rev W A Weale was invited to speak and expressed his joy that the congregation now had Mr Macdonald as their pastor and wished them and their new minister much of the Lord’s blessing. Rev R MacLeod, in his remarks, directed pastor and people to look to the Most High for the supply of all their needs. Messages of good wishes from other ministers of the Church were read. Afterwards the newly-inducted pastor went to the front door of the church to be welcomed by the congregation.
Most of us were able to attend the sumptuous buffet prepared by the congregation. The people having dined, the congregation then showed their appreciation of their Interim Moderator, Rev I D MacDonald, and of their new pastor, Rev Donald Macdonald, by presenting gifts to them. Both ministers fittingly replied by warmly thanking the congregation. Thereafter the large gathering slowly dispersed and in the good care of the Lord returned to their homes safely, some not arriving until the following day.
We look to the Lord graciously to bless this new ministry by bringing many sinners to have a saving interest in Christ and by feeding the Lord’s people with the finest of the wheat. We also pray that Mr Macdonald will be blessed in his preaching throughout the congregations of our Church, and that he and Mrs Macdonald will be given the health and strength for the many and varied duties before them. “The Lord of us hath mindful been, and He will bless us still” (Metrical Psalm 115:12).
(Rev) Donald A Ross, Clerk of Presbytery
College and Library Fund
By appointment of Synod, the second of the year’s two special collections for the College and Library Fund is due to be taken in congregations in December.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
2017
Volume 122
Editor:
Rev Kenneth D Macleod
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,
that it may be displayed because of the truth (Psalm 60:4)
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
| Acknowledging God
Charles Bridges | 308 | Church Information | 31,64,96,128,160, 192,224,256,288,320,352,379 |
|————————————————————–|—–|————————————————————————–|————————————————–|
| All Things Together for Good (1)
Robert Haldane | 328 | Congregational Contributions for 2016 | 126 |
| Bannerman’s The Church of Christ: | | Disciples Watching, The
Hugh Martin | 12, 41 |
| 1. Introduction
Rev A W MacColl | 368 | Editorials: | |
| Book Reviews: | | Abundant Provision | 224 |
| Bible Alphabet Busy Book, A
Alison Brown | 28 | After 500 Years | 288 |
| Bible Names
Alison Brown | 27 | Christ’s Ambassadors | 128 |
| Bishop J C Ryle’s Autobiography | 155 | Christ’s Ambassadors Need Prayer | 160 |
| Church of Christ, The
James Bannerman | 91 | Does God Dwell with Sinners? | 352 |
| Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, The
George Smeaton | 372 | God Who Sent Moses, The | 192 |
| Elijah, Prophet of God
B A Ramsbottom | 27 | “He Preached Christ” | 32 |
| From the Mouth of God
Sinclair B Ferguson | 59 | Marriage – God’s Gift | 256 |
| I Shall Not Die but Live
Douglas Taylor | 218 | “Mighty God, The” | 64 |
| Introducing Tyndale | 251 | Unending Blessing | 1 |
| Knots Untied
J C Ryle | 185 | View from Inverness, A | 320 |
| Knowing God and Ourselves
David B Calhoun | 345 | “Where Art Thou?” | 96 |
| Lord’s Day, The
T Boston, J Fisher, J Kennedy | 58 | Effectual Calling: | |
| Mysteries of Christianity, The
T J Crawford | 314 | 5. Conclusion | 21 |
| Practical Religion
J C Ryle | 282 | Rev D A Ross | |
| Preparation for Ministry
Allan Harman | 60 | Enoch’s Prophecy and the Response
Henry Law | 148 |
| Puritan Theology, A
Joel Beeke and Mark Jones | 26 | Evidences of Preparedness for Heaven
Thomas Case | 115 |
| Puritans Day by Day, The
compiled by H J Horn | 120 | Finished Work Foretold, A
J C Ryle | 309 |
| Steps Towards Heaven
J C Ryle | 283 | Free Offer of the Gospel, The: | |
| Way to True Peace and Rest, The
Robert Bruce | 344 | 1a. What Is It? | 47 |
| Christ as Judge – Some Lessons
Thomas Boston | 53 | 1b. Controversies Surrounding the Gospel
Offer | 76 |
| Christ’s Humiliation – Some Lessons
Thomas Boston | 19 | 2. The Biblical Grounds for the Gospel Offer | 115 |
| Christ’s Temptations – Some Lessons
David Mitchell | 248 | 3. The Atonement and the Gospel Offer
Rev A W MacColl | 139 |
| Christian and the World, The
Rev Donald Beaton | 169 | God’s Command and Noah’s Faith
A S Patterson | 241 |
| Christian’s Desires, The
Henry Venn | 215 | God’s Forgiveness and Ours
Ashbel Green | 213 |
| | | How Are Believers Sanctified?
John Dick | 209 |
| | | Last Letter, A
Lance Corporal Angus Cattanach | 23 |
| | | Letter to a Young Minister, A
S Simpson | 244 |
| | | Looking Around – in 1901
“Looking unto Jesus”
A S Patterson | 82 |
| | | Looking to the Cross
J C Ryle | 304 |
| | | Love to Christ or the World?
Richard Sibbes | 337 |
| | | Luther and the Reformation: | |
| | | 1. “A Delusion of the Devil” | 14 |
| | | 2. All Was Omission, Sin and Impurity | 43 |
| 3. Being Pointed to the Saviour | 72 | Prayer: | |
|——————————————————-|————————————————–|————————————–|—————————————|
| 4. Professor and Preacher | 104 | 1. An Expression of Desire | 177 |
| 5. In Rome | 142 | 2. What Is the Basis for Prayer? | 205 |
| 6. Called to Study the Word | 180 | 3. The Spirit of Prayer | 235 |
| 7. The Helplessness of Man and the Omnipotence of God | 200 | 4. Different Kinds of Prayer | 278 |
| 8. “I Hope that the Lord Will Deliver Me from Fear” | 237 | Rev D Macdonald | |
| 9. A First Set of Theses | 266 | Protestant View | 28,60,93,125,
159,219,284,348,378 |
| 10. Forgiveness for Sale | 300 | Review Articles: | |
| 11. The 95 Theses | 331 | Faith in Hebrews 11 | 111 |
| 12. Reaction to the 95 Theses | 364 | Seeking a Better Country | |
| J H Merle d’Aubigné | | by Rev D MacLean | |
| Mankind’s Fallen State
John Newton | 339 | reviewed by Rev N M Ross | |
| Many Mansions, The
J C Ryle | 108 | J C Ryle | 86 |
| Motives and Advice for Ruling Elders
Thomas Boston | 311 | J C Ryle by Iain H Murray | |
| Mysterious Saying, A
J C Ryle | 176 | reviewed by Roy Middleton | |
| New Testament Circumcision
Robert Stewart | 276 | Sanctification – Submission to God
John Dick | 172 |
| Notes and Comments | 29,62,93,121,157, 187,220,252,285,316,349,376 | Sermons: | |
| Obituaries: | | Blessedness of Trusting in God, The
Archibald Alexander | 292 |
| Mr John Buchanan, Uig | 173 | Christian Friendship
Thomas M’Crie | 3 |
| Miss Ina Macdonald, North Uist | 174 | Christ the only Sufficient Sacrifice
George Innes | 163,195 |
| Mr R J MacLeod, North Tolsta | 90 | Christ’s Continual Intercession
Robert Gordon | 131 |
| Opening of Vova Clinic, The
Rev J R Tallach | 310 | Day of Salvation, The
C H Spurgeon | 35,67 |
| Our Mission Work
Rev J MacLeod | 55 | How to Make Religion Our Business
Thomas Watson | 323,355 |
| Outlines of Sermons: | | Marriage Feast The
R M M’Cheyne | 259 |
| Saviour of the Lost, The
John Kennedy | 153 | “No Continuing City”
Donald Cargill | 99 |
| Unsearchable Riches, The
John Kennedy | 216 | Unity of the Spirit, The
Rev D W B Somerset | 227 |
| Persevering in Religion
Richard Sibbes | 273 | Spirit of the Age, The
Rev Donald MacLean | 49 |
| Personal Piety: | | Thoughts on the Sabbath
James Bannerman | 80 |
| 3. Encouragements and Helps
Rev Alexander McPherson | 19 | Time to Remember and Reflect, A
Rev Donald MacLean | 373 |
| Pharisee and the Publican, The
David Brown | 271 | Union with Christ
John Newton | 54 |
| Pleading with God
A Moody Stuart | 119 | Zimbabwe Update
Rev I D MacDonald | 361 |