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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1980 » December 1980 » Church Notes

Church Notes

Ordination of Rev. Dr. James A. Tallach

On 4th September 1980 Rev. Dr. James A. Tallach was ordained by the Zimbabwe Presbytery at the Ingwenya Church. Many people belonging to the African Church gathered for the occasion. The Zimbabwe Presbytery Moderator preached a suitable sermon from the words found in the Epistle of Paul to Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” After the usual questions were put to the probationer and a satisfactory reply received he signed the formula in the presence of the Congregation and then knelt down as the Moderator and other ministers present laid their hands on his head. With solemn prayer Rev. Dr. Tallach was ordained to the holy ministry and then the rest of the Presbytery gave him the right hand of fellowship. The Moderator then called on Rev. Ndebele to address the new minister who went on to say that the Lord does use earthen vessels, so that the glory is His and not of us. He further said that in many cases the office of the ministry is used for social status but Dr. Tallach being already a medical doctor, did not need the ministry for this and must be moved by a desire that God would be glorified in the salvation of sinners. The world is in a state of madness and it is the Gospel alone that can bring sanity once again into the world.

Rev. Mzamo on being called to address the congregation said that it was necessary that there would be co-operation between the pulpit and the pew in word and doctrine and practice. Materially it is the duty of the congregation to sustain the ministry.

(Rev) A. Ndebele

News of Zimbabwe

Rev. A. Ndebele in his letter further states: The peace that the Lord in His providence has granted us as a country has made it possible for us as a Church to start again on our very busy activities. We hope the hospital at Mbuma will soon be in full operation and that those places where Church services had been stopped will be able to open again. Our second communion at Ingwenya has just ended and I am glad to say that all the services were well attended so that the Church could not take all the people. The two African students have written their exit examinations which I hope they passed and they should be in Scotland by 10th October 1980. The work of the Gospel is the Lord’s and He will look after it Himself. O that we would know this truth and conduct ourselves thus. The Lord Himself will provide servants in His vineyard.

Our country is ruled by those who know not God, but I believe it is our duty to pray that the Lord would convert them if it be His holy will. And even if they would not be converted that they would be used by Him to be nursing instruments for the Church. Israel was promised to suck the milk of the Gentiles and of the kings. The Church in Zimbabwe can be blessed to such an extent that the whole world would know that the Lord has done it.

Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)

Australia and New Zealand: At Auckland on Friday 23rd January 1981 at 2.30 p.m.

Skype: At Portree on Tuesday 13th January 1981 at 11 a.m.

Northern: At Dingwall on 27th January 1981 at 2.30 p.m.

Laide Communion

For the spiritual benefit of the Laide Congregation, the Kirk Session has agreed to have a second communion the third Sabbath of April of each year. We look forward to and welcome all visitors.

(Rev) D.A. Ross, Moderator

Return of Church Deputy

The Editor of the Magazine, who has been Church Deputy to Australia and New Zealand for the last three months arrived home safely in this country on the 1st of November. We would acknowledge the Lord’s goodness in this and pray that the seed sown during these months may bring forth fruit to God’s glory.

Church Deputy to Canada

Rev. John Ross, Tain, accompanied by his wife, has gone to Chesley, Ontario as Church Deputy for a period of two months. Mr Ross expects to return in December (D.V.). We pray that the Word preached in Chesley may be blessed to the good of never-dying souls.

List of Communions

The list of communions on the inside front cover of the Magazine has been corrected for 1981. The Editor would be grateful for any further amendments which are necessary.

Acknowledgement of Donations

The General Treasurer, Mr W.D. Fraser, 20 Daleview Avenue, Glasgow G12 0HE, acknowledges the following donations with sincere thanks:—

Sustentation Fund:

Mr & Mrs Gillies, Winnipeg, £20; Alex Chaplin, Portree, £35; Mr & Mrs D. MacL., Tarbert, £60.

Home Mission Fund:

Anon, ‘M’, £200; Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £20, both for Church Extension; Mr & Mrs D. MacL., Tarbert, £40.

Jewish & Foreign Mission Fund:

Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £25 for African Mission; Christian Police Assoc. (Northern) per N. MacDonald, £25 for Mbuma Hospital; Portree Congr. £187.60, Special Coll. for Zimbabwe Mission.

China Mission Fund:

Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £25; A.J. den Otter, Ontario, \$25.00.

Dominions & Overseas Fund:

Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £20 for Fede Viva.

Home of Rest Fund:

Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £50; Dr. W.J. MacKenzie, Idaho, £10; Friend, Glasgow, £5; Mrs F. Graham, Uig, Skye, £4.

Organisation Fund:

Friend, Inverness, £10 for Theological Conference Expenses.

The Treasurers of the following Congregations acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:—

Applecross:

In loving Memory, £10, envelope in plate for Sustenation Fund; Anon, £50 for Sust. Fund per Treasurer; In memory of our dear Uncle and Aunt, Duncan and Bella Macleod, formerly of Culdmi, Applecross, Joyce and John Morrison, Canada, £20 for Sust. Fund per Rev. A. Murray; A Friend, Kirkhill, £10, Sust. Fund, per Treasurer; Anon, £10, envelope in plate, Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund; Anon £10 (2 @ £5), Church, Carpet & Blind, per R. MacLean; Mr & Mrs D. MacBeath, Toscaig, £20, Anon, £2, £10, £5; Mr & Mrs M. MacRae, Camustul, £25, Anon, £5, Anon at Communion, £5, for Church, Carpet & Blind, all per R. MacLean.

Barnoldswick:

Church building fund:— £5, A.M., Inverness; £34.29, Tax Refund, Macleod; £10, Anon, Wick; £5, Edinburgh friend; £5, Macinsh Mansfield; £30.80, Friend, Anon; £20, Friend, Yorkshire; £40, A Friend, Inverness, per Rev. D. Maclean; £5, A.M. per Rev. D. Maclean; £10, Friend, Glasgow per Rev. D. Maclean; £5, R. Macb., per Dr Macinsh; £10, A Friend, Glasgow; £50, Skye Friends; £50, Friends Anon; £50, per R. Middleton; £50, J.F.; £30, One of Us, per R. Middleton. Extracted from Church opening service collection plate:— £5, S. Fraser; £12, Building Fund, 2 friends, Raasay; £20, Anon, Friend; £25, Anon; £3, Anon; £10, W.A. & G.F.; £3, Wellwishers, Edinburgh; £9, Anon.

Dumbarton:

For Manse Fund: Friend, Inverness, £5 & £10, per T.M.; Banacharaid a’ Glaschu, £10; Banacharaid eile, £10, Edinburgh, Friend, £3; E.M., £20, for Manse Fund; I.C., £10, Congregational; Anon, Cardross, £5, Communion Expenses; Anon, Cardross, £10, East Africa Fund.

Gairloch:

Estate of late Miss Babs Bain, Strath & London, £50 for Cong. Purp; 2 Lewis women, 2nd donation, £10, Cong. Purp per Rev. A. Macdonald; envelope in plate, £5, Communion Expenses.

Kames:

Friend, £50, Cong. Expenses; Friend, £10, Sust. Fund; both per Treasurer.

Kyle:

Anon, £8; Envelope in plate, £10; both per Treasurer for Manse Building Fund; Strathcarron postmark, £8, Cong. purposes per Mr Van Woerden; Manse Building Fund: Grahame House, Dornie, £1.50 per Mrs Van Woerden; Envelope in plate, £10 & £10, both for Manse Building Fund, per Treasurer; Mrs MacKenzie, Ullapool, £20 per General Treasurer, Kyle Manse Building Fund.

Laide:

Anon, £1; Reaclea Friend, £5; Arrina Friend, £10, per Rev. D.A. Ross; Friend, £40; Friend, Strathburn, £5; Two Thurso Friends, £10 per Rev. D.A. Ross; Laide Friend, £10; Anon, £5; All for Manse Fund.

London:

A. W., £10 for Communion Expenses, £5 for Sustenation Fund, per Rev. A. McP.

North Harris:

A Friend, Kyles, Scalpay, £20, Church & Manse Property, per Rev. A. Mackay; Friend, Liaiklu, Harris, £25 for Sust. Fund, £15 for Home Mission, per Wm. D. Fraser; Friend, Tarbert, Harris, £12-£5 for Sust. Fund, £1 for each small funds, per Wm. D. Fraser; Friend, Tarbert, Harris, £5.14 for Congregational Purposes, per A. Macleod; A Friend, Tarbet, £5, door Collection; Envelope found in Tarbert Collection Plate, £5 for Sust. Fund; Friend, Ara Meavag South, £5 for Comm. Expenses; Friend, Bayhead Meavag South, £10 for Comm. Expenses; all per A. Macleod; Friend, Stockinish, £1 for Car Fund, £1 for Church & Manse, per Rev. A. Mackay.

Perth:

Mrs R. Grant, Pitlochry, £2 for Sust. Fund, £2 for Congregational Funds, per Rev. D.J. McD.; Friend, Env. in plate, £10, for Car Expenses.

Raasay:

Sustenation Fund: Jean Mackay, Inveraray in memory of a loving husband, £10; A Friend of the cause, £10; both per M.D. Mackay; Friends, Inverarish, £5 & £10; per J.M. Macleod; A Friend, £40, per Treasurer; A Friend, £20 for Foreign Mission, per Treasurer; In Remembrance, £10 for Property Fund, per M. D. Mackay; Friend, Raasay, £1; Envelope in plate, £5; both for Property Fund per Treasurer; Friend, Raasay, £1, Communion Expenses; Friend, Raasay, £1, Cong. purposes; Friend, £40 for Home Mission; all per Treasurer.

South Harris:

Friend, Glasgow, for Congregational purposes, £25; Friend, Lochcarron, £10 for Car Fund; Widow’s Mite, £12 for Congregational Fund; Anon., West Tarbert, £1 for Congregational Fund, all per Rev. D. MacLean.

Staffin:

Mr. C. MacDonald, £5 for Sust. Fund, per Mrs Buchanan; Friend, Harris, £5, “Where most needed”, per M.M.I.; M.N., £3 for car expenses and £2 for Sust. Fund; Friend, £5 for Sust. Fund, per M.M.I.; Two Friends, Inverness, £10, Cong. purposes, per Rev. J.M.D.; J.N. Davidson, £20 for Manse Expenses, Envelope in plate; H.M. & J.M., £6 for Communion door Collection, per Rev. J.M.D.; Envelope in plate, £70 for Church Exterior decoration; J.N. Davidson, Portree, £66 for Property & Maintenance, per M.M.I.

Stornoway:

Friends, £10 for Car Fund; Friend, £10 for Congregational Funds; Two Friends, Inverness, £10 for Cong. Funds; all per Rev. J. Macleod; Friend, Gairloch, £10 for Car Fund, per Neil Murray; Friend, Dun Berisay, £5 for Cong. Purposes; Friend, £10 for Car Fund; Friend, £10, Door collection, £10 for Communion Expenses; all per Rev. J. Macleod.

Waternish:

M. Bates, Troon, £5 for Church Funds, per W. Macleod.

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