Day of Humiliation and Prayer
The Synod has appointed a Day of Humiliation and Prayer to be held throughout the Church on Wednesday, December 7, “on account of the rapidly rising tide of iniquity in Britain and other countries where our Church has congregations, and to plead for the fulfilment of the promise, ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him’ (Is 59:19).” (Rev) K M Watkins, Clerk of Synod
Doctor for Mbuma Mission Hospital
With Dr Bezemer coming to an end of his two-year tour, a vacancy will arise in December 2016 for a Christian medical doctor to work at Mbuma Mission Hospital, Zimbabwe. For further information interested parties should apply to: Rev J R Tallach, 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2NH, Scotland; e-mail: jrtallach@btinternet.com.
Student for the Ministry
Mr Trycot Mwedzi, of the Zvishavane congregation, has been received by the Zimbabwe Presbytery as a student studying for the ministry of the Church.
Education Committee
In the past year concerns have been raised by members of the Religion and Morals Committee regarding the fact that some aspects of government-funded state education are contrary to, and undermine, sound Scriptural teaching. Consequently, a proposal was considered by the 2016 Synod to provide support to parents who wish to educate their children outside the state system. The Synod agreed that our people – parents and other interested parties – should be consulted as to their present educational arrangements and their opinion of an alternative provision.
A committee was established by Synod to move the proposals forward, and to this end we have drafted a questionnaire, which is linked from the Church website, or can be found directly at: http://tinyurl.com/jjh2fv4. It would be greatly appreciated if parents and other interested persons, who are Free Presbyterians, would complete it; all opinions, positive and negative, will help us in our assessment of the level of interest. If it is impractical to use the online form, hard copies of the questionnaire are being made available to Clerks of Deacons’ Courts. These should be returned to Mr F R Daubney, 2 Gadloch Gardens, Lenzie, G66 5DB.
All responses should be returned by the end of November DV.
F R Daubney, Convener, Education Committee
Outreach Fund
By appointment of Synod, the special collection on behalf of the Outreach Fund, is due to be taken in congregations during November.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
Acknowledgement of Donations
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Inverness: Bus Fund: Anon, £20, £50. Church Expenses: Anon, £40. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: A M Reynolds, £16, £7.50, £7.50, £25, £18, £17.50. Home Mission Fund: A M Reynolds, £7.50, £7.50, £25, £18, £17.50.
Lochbroom: Lochbroom Church Friends, £60 per KCM. Communion Expenses: Friend, £50.
Lochcarron: Communion Expenses: SMK, £100.
Portree: Anon, £1000. Communion Expenses: Anon, £20 per Rev IDM. Sustentation Fund: CMP, £20, £20, £20 per Rev IDM.
Raasay: Anon, “In loving memory”, £100; Anon, “In memory of R & L MacBeath”, £100.