London Communion Services
The London communion services will be as follows (D.V.): — Thursday, 26th March, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Friday, 27th March, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Fellowship Meeting); Saturday, 28th March, 2.30 p.m. (Gaelic), 3.30 p.m. (English), and 6.30 p.m. (Prayer Meeting); Sabbath, 29th March, 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.; Monday, 30th March, 7 p.m.
The weekday services will be held in the Bridewell Hall, London City Mission, Eccleston Place, S.W.1, and the Sabbath services in St. Michael’s Hall (opposite Victoria Coach Station), Eccleston Place, S.W.1. Rev. R. R. Sinclair, Wick, and Rev. L. MacLeod, Greenock, are expected to assist at the communion (D.V.).
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Northern Presbytery: At Dingwall on Tuesday, 7th April, at 3.30 p.m.
Southern Presbytery: At Glasgow on Tuesday, 28th April, at 6 p.m.
Aberdeen Congregation
The affairs of our Aberdeen congregation in the Lord’s providence continue to prosper. The numbers of our students and people who meet, Sabbath and weekday, for the Lord’s worship at Summerfield Terrace are maintained, and the signs are that they are likely to grow. The Northern Presbytery at its last meeting were extremely gratified, as we know our people throughout the Church, who showed such practical interest in the congregation and gave prompt and liberal financial aid, will also be gratified, to learn that the Financial Statement of the Aberdeen congregation for the past year showed a small balance of £30, after all claims were settled, and these amounted to over £2,000. The Lord has always given proof, as we believe He has done once more in this particular instance, that where the cause is His own, He will not fail to give His blessing.
The Northern Presbytery, at its last meeting, decided to grant the Aberdeen congregation the status of a Mission Station of the Free Presbyterian Church, and have appointed Rev. A. F. MacKay as Interim Moderator, with the Inverness elders as assessor elders to form with him the Kirk Session of the Aberdeen congregation. May this move strengthen the congregation. May our people at Aberdeen enjoy much of the Lord’s presence, and particularly our young people discover for themselves the happy experience of bearing the yoke of the Gospel in their youth, and upon their assemblies may there descend from the Hills of Sion, the Blessing of the Lord which brings with it life that will never end.
A.F.M., Clerk of Presbytery.
Tain and Fearn Manse Fund Appeal
This joint-congregation has decided to attempt to procure a manse. Despite the scarcity of suitable houses and the high cost of building a new one, there is the possibility that a suitable manse may be obtained at a very moderate cost. But even should that prove to be as low as £5,000, this is still a very large sum. It is hoped, therefore, that this appeal, which has been endorsed by the Northern Presbytery, may result in interested friends throughout the Church, doing what they can to assist our people in Tain and Fearn achieve their object. Contributions may be sent to the congregational treasurers: — Mr Kenneth Robertson, 2 Munro Place, Tain, and Mr Wm. MacDonald, 3 Shore Street, Balintore, and will be gratefully received.
A. McPherson, Interim Moderator.
Ordination and Induction at Stornoway
On the evening of Tuesday, 30th December, 1969, at 7 p.m., the Outer Isles Presbytery met in the Church at Stornoway, for the purpose of ordaining Rev. J. Macleod, M.A., Probationer, to the Ministry of the Gospel, and inducting him to the Pastoral Charge of the Stornoway Congregation. Rev. M. Macinnes, M.A., Ullapool, who had travelled specially for the service, was associated with the Presbytery. There was a large and representative congregation present, when the Moderator, pro. tem. of Presbytery, Rev. D. J. Macaskill, M.A., Uig, rose to conduct public worship. He preached an appropriate sermon from the words of the sweet singer of Israel in Psalm 132, v. 17: “I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.”
At the close of public worship, the Clerk of Presbytery read a brief narrative of the steps which had been taken to fill the vacancy in the congregation, since the translation of their last minister, Rev. D. M. Macleod, to Auckland, New Zealand. The Moderator pro. tem. then asked the pastor-elect to stand, after which he addressed to him the Questions usually put to Probationers at their Ordination, which Mr Macleod satisfactorily answered. The Formula having been read to him, Mr Macleod then signed the same in the presence of the congregation. Thereafter Rev. John Macleod, Probationer, was ordained to the office of the holy ministry, with solemn prayer by the Moderator pro. tem., and the laying on of hands of the ministerial brethren in the Presbytery.
The newly ordained minister was then formally inducted to the pastoral charge of the Stornoway Congregation, and suitably addressed by the Clerk, from the words of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy, in his first Epistle, chapter 4, verse 13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
The congregation were then appropriately exhorted as to their duties by Rev. A. Mackay, Tarbert, who based his remarks on the words of the spouse in Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 3, “The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?”
The solemn service was brought to an end by the singing of Psalm 133. After the Benediction, the congregation had an opportunity of shaking hands with the newly inducted pastor. It is the prayer of the Presbytery that the ministry thus begun may be owned and acknowledged by God, to the ingathering of precious souls, and the building up of the Israel of God in their most holy faith.
A. M. CATTANACH, Clerk of Presbytery.