Ordination and Induction at Lochinver
The Western Presbytery met in Lochinver church on Tuesday evening, 5th November, for the ordaining and inducting of Rev. Archibald N. MacPhail, M.A., as minister of the Assynt Congregation.
Despite the very wintry weather, there was a large congregation present, which filled the church to capacity, and which included friends from as far away as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Lewis, Skye, Inverness and Caithness. The following ministers from other presbyteries were present and were associated with the Presbytery: Revs. A. F. MacKay, Inverness; A. Murray, Lairg; S. F. Tallach, Kinlochbervie; J. Ross, Tain; A. Morrison, Oban; J. Tallach, Raasay and H. I. MacKinnon, Broadford.
After the Edict was returned and the Proclamation read, the Moderator, Rev. A. E. W. MacDonald, conducted public worship, preaching from Luke 10: 1-2, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
The Moderator, after public worship, gave a narrative of the proceedings in the Call to Mr. MacPhail. The Congregation, made up of the three parts, Lochinver, Stoer and Drumbeg, signed a Call to Mr. MacPhail on 8th October, and the Call (signed by six communicants and 55 adherants) was sustained by the Presbytery.
The Moderator then addressed to Mr. MacPhail the questions appointed to be put to ministers at their Ordination and Induction. Mr. MacPhail, having satisfactorily answered the questions, signed the Formula. He was then ordained to the work of the holy ministry with the laying on of hands by the ministers of the Presbytery, and with prayer, led by the Moderator. The Moderator, by the authority of the Head of the Church and in the name of the Presbytery, inducted Mr. MacPhail as minister to the pastoral charge of Assynt Congregation; and the brethren gave Mr. MacPhail the right hand of fellowship.
The newly ordained minister was addressed by Rev. D. A. Ross, Laide, who based his remarks on 1 Timothy 4: 16, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Rev. N. M. Ross addressed the Congregation.
Messages of good wishes from Rev. D. J. MacDonald, Clerk of the Southern Presbytery; Rev. F. MacDonald, Clerk of the Skye Presbytery; and from Mr. MacPhail’s former pastor, Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow, were read.
Before bringing proceedings to a close, the Moderator referred to Mr. MacPhail’s late godly father, Mr. Donald MacPhail, and to his usefulness to the Church in his capacity as an Elder of St Jude’s Congregation, Glasgow. The Moderator also spoke about Mr. MacPhail’s predecessor, “our late, respected friend, Mr. MacAskill” who had been “so much a help to the Church of Christ and was characterised by the wonderful grace of humility.”
After prayer, led by Rev. A. F. MacKay, praise and the benediction, the congregation was dismissed and met Mr. MacPhail at the outer door. A generous tea was very kindly prepared for the people by the ladies of the Congregation.
It is a matter for great gratitude to the Lord that He has sent another labourer into His harvest. It is our prayerful desire that this ministry, now established in Assynt, will be made fruitful by the Lord, who only can give the increase, and that it will be richly blessed to the strengthening of the Cause of Christ among us and further afield.
N. M. R.
Trinitarian Bible Society Staff Vacancies
The October-December 1985 issue of the Trinitarian Bible Society Quarterly contained the following announcement: “The Society’s urgent need for new members of staff has been made known in previous issues of the Quarterly Record. Readers of this magazine are asked to consider prayerfully whether they should offer their time and skills for the furtherance of the Lord’s work through the Society. It should be mentioned that good rates of remuneration will be paid to suitable applicants, but the most important requirement is a commitment to the Society’s spiritual aims.” A list of the current vacancies was given. Any person interested should obtain a copy of the Quarterly Record for October-December 1985 or January-March 1986 and make direct application to the Society.
Greenock Communion
The date of the Spring Communion in Greenock is being altered from the fourth Sabbath of March to the second Sabbath of February for this year as Rev. L. MacLeod hopes to leave (D.V.) in March for a period as Church Deputy overseas.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Canadian:
At Toronto on 6th February at 2 p.m.
Outer Isles:
At Stornoway on 11th February at 12 noon.
Skype:
At Portree on 25th February at 11 a.m.
Western:
At Laide on 11th March at 11 a.m.
Zimbabwe Mission — Staff Vacancies
GENERAL
— Post of Administrator/Treasurer.
JOHN TALLACH SECONDARY SCHOOL
— Graduate Teachers (Four Posts) with qualifications in English, History, Geography and Mathematics.
MBUMA HOSPITAL
— A doctor is still urgently required, also a further Nurse/Midwife and preferably with teaching experience.
With the new situation that exists in Zimbabwe consequent upon independence it is desirable that all of the seven above posts be filled as soon as possible. The work provides a real challenge to all who may have these necessary qualifications, and all our Church people should make the needs of our Mission a matter of constant prayer.
Enquiries to Rev. A. Murray, F.P. Manse, Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4EH. Telephone 0549-2176.
Dundee Congregation
Please note the permanent address of the minister is 238 Arbroath Road, Dundee DD4 7SB, Telephone 0382-43198. Mr Macaskill would be very interested in obtaining names and addresses of anyone connected with the church who live in or near Dundee, or of anyone who may be interested in attending services.