Day of Humiliation and Prayer.
The Synod in May 2021 appointed a Day of Humiliation and Prayer to be observed throughout the Church on Wednesday 8th December 2021. By appointing such a day, we are made aware of our Christian duty, so frequently pled in prayer, not only for our Church but our nation. The prophet Samuel, who knew well the low state of religion in his own day and his duty to do all in his power to maintain the cause of truth in the nation, said to the children of Israel, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Sam 12:23). May we have much of this frame of mind with regard to our own Church, as well as the visible Church and governments of all nations, praying that we would own the God of heaven as the one living and true God, and return to Him through Christ in repentance and new obedience. The urgency of this exercise of humbly petitioning the Lord for His blessing constantly confronts us, especially when we think of the intention of secular humanism to wipe out Christianity from the face of the earth, to replace it with laws utterly abhorrent to the Word of God and reason, as also branches of the professing Christian Church ridden with worldliness and giving credence to the vile sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. May we continue to present our humble pleas to the God of heaven to turn by His Word and Holy Spirit the tide of iniquity, without which we will be left to unimaginable evils and sufferings immensely worse than that brought about by Covid-19. “The prayer of the destitute He surely will regard; their prayer will He not despise, by Him it shall be heard” (Ps 102:17).
(Rev) Keith M Watkins, Clerk of Synod
Theological Conference
This year’s Theological Conference will be held, God willing, in Inverness, on Tuesday, November 16, and Wednesday, November 17, with Rev K D Macleod as chairman. It is expected that the following papers will be read, all of them in public:
Union to Christ
Rev I D MacDonald Tuesday 2.30 pm
Romanism – Changing and Unchanging
Rev J B Jardine Tuesday 7.00 pm
Application in Preaching
Rev D A Ross Wednesday 10.00 am
The “Mysteries” of the New Testament
Rev D W B Somerset Wednesday 2.30 pm
Jewish Ministers of the Nineteenth-Century Free Church
Dr R J Dickie Wednesday 7.00 pm
(Rev) J R Tallach, Convener, Training of the Ministry 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
The General Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks the following donations:
Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, “To assist with the supply of wood for fuel for the minister and congregation during the winter months”, Ps 121, £500.
Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: A family member, “in memory of Miss C M MacAulay and her work in Zimbabwe”, £100.
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Glasgow: Anon, £200; Anon, towards audio costs, £30. Eastern Europe Fund: Anon £50, £60, £35, £60, £80, £60 £40, £60, £60, £40. Home Mission Fund: Anon, £70. Jewish & Foreign Mission Fund: Anon, £80. Sustentation Fund: Anon £100.
Greenock: Ballifeary Home: Anon £70. Eastern Europe Fund: Anon £250; Anon, for the Lord’s work in Ukraine, £60. Home Mission Fund: Anon, £250. Jewish & Foreign Mission Fund: Anon, £250; Anon, for Zimbabwe Mission Famine Relief, £60. Magazines Fund: Anon, for free distribution of magazines, £50. Sustentation Fund: Anon £250.
North Harris: The Gillies family, Leacklee, for use of the church, £50.
Uig: Anon, £350 per Rev KMW.