Church Deputies to Rhodesia
Rev. R. R. Sinclair and Rev. Alex. Murray left this country on 10th January for a six week’s visit to Rhodesia. We have no doubt that this visit by the Deputies will be an encouragement to our people on the Mission at this particular time. Both the missionaries and also the African people themselves are exposed to great danger through the guerilla war being carried on in that land. May the day speedily come when an honourable and just settlement will be arrived at in Rhodesia by reason of which the work of spreading the Gospel may be carried on without let or hindrance. We are sure that the praying people of the Church who have been diligent in pleading on behalf of the Mission in these troublous times will also remember the Deputies who also expose themselves to danger in undertaking this task.
Miss Marion Graham returned to the Mission along with the Deputies and resumes her work in the School there. We pray that she, also all the other members of Staff, and all the African people on the Mission may be preserved from all danger and harm in these trying times.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Skye: At Portree on 6th February at 11 a.m.
Southern: At Glasgow on 13th February at 6 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 27th February at 11.30 a.m.
Western: At Laide on 6th March at 11 a.m.
Young People’s Conference 1979
This conference will be held D.V. at Kilravock Castle Christian Centre, Croy, Inverness from 12 noon on Tuesday, 10th April to 2 p.m. on Thursday, 12th April.
The Conference Chairman will be Rev. D. B. MacLeod, M.A., Dingwall.
Papers to be given at the conference are as follows:—
– 1 The Value of the Creeds — Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow.
– 2 John Huss — a character study — Rev. John Brentnall, B.A., Dumbarton.
– 3 The Young Christian’s relationship to Law and Order — Mr Ian MacLeod, Dingwall.
– 4 Is the Gospel suitable for the Young? — Rev. D. B. Macleod, Dingwall.
On this occasion accommodation will be paid for by the Forsyth Bequest. In order that arrangements can be finalised, it is hoped that those wishing to attend will reply as soon as possible to the Clerk of the Welfare of Youth Committee, Mr W. H. M. MacKenzie, Dee Bank, 7 Crown Drive, Inverness.
Church Extension Committee Notice
Some of our people will already know that Mr William Byers, then an elder in the Portree Congregation, left the Island of Skye in the Autumn and settled with his wife and family in Ayrshire. As he indicated to the Committee, he felt that this move was not undertaken without the guidance of God in His word and providence; and he asked us if we might consider countenancing church extension work in the Prestwick area. The Committee received Mr Byers’ representations sympathetically, and asked him to report on the situation after he had been in his new home for some time. The Committee asked those of its members who were also members of the Southern Presbytery to bring this matter to the notice of their Presbytery. We also agreed in principle that, when the time was appropriate, we should support this work by means of a notice inserted in the Church Magazine.
Accordingly, we are calling the attention of our church people to the developing situation in Ayrshire, where services are now being held morning and evening on the Lord’s Day in the home of Mr Byers. As a temporary measure, the house is eminently suitable for the purpose, featuring a capacious hall. Mr Byers keeps these services himself, though this burden may be eased by the sending of supply from time to time. He has called on a number of people in the area who have connections with the Church, and on three occasions there have been ten persons present at a service.
The Committee would ask our people to support this development in every way. If readers have friends, for example, in the Prestwick area, encourage them to contact Mr Byers at: 5 Maryborough Road, Prestwick, Ayrshire; Phone Prestwick (0292) 75420. (The house is just beside Bruce’s Well, which is sign-posted.)
John Tallach,
Clerk to the Church Extension Committee.