Lost Dog - £250 reward black and tan dog of poodle and german shepherd descendent. Flea-bitten, left hind leg missing, no hair on rump, blind, and recently neutered. Answers to the name Lucky.
Dear all
You may feel a lot like Lucky. Mixed up, not much to look at and in pretty bad shape and don’t feel you should be called ‘Lucky’ at all. We are indeed fortunate for like the dog we have someone who cares enough about us to look for us, to pursue us, to desire us and to pay to get us back. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son’ (John 3:16).
Haiti right now is in a desperate state and the world is responding. In such a disaster there so much more to be done. When you witness the scenes you realise just how fortunate we are at the moment. It is humbling when you watch the news reports on television and hear the people come out of the rubble singing thanks to God.
Being far away from this country it is difficult to feel you are making a difference with any aid you send. But as it arrives it is immense to know a difference is being made at all.
This disaster puts our own troubles in perspective. But there are also many in our own community who are in need and being church for Haiti and others around us is important.
Ellon Parish Church refurbishment is not designed to make our building very plush and exuberant. It has been put together with the thought of how can this building become a place of refuge and a home for people in every walk of life. How can we, in very real terms, reach out to every person in Christ? What does Christ teach us about being church? Something we learn is church is not about a building but about the people.
It is a home where we and others can come along and share in the grace of Christ who transforms us from the inside out.
It is a place where you can come along and feel you belong even when you feel broken or not lucky at all, because you are unconditionally accepted by Christ.
Colossians 3:12-17 challenges and encourages us. First it tells us that God has asked us who are loved by him to have his garments grace that will sustain us in all things.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As we as a church prepare to dedicate the refurbishment of Ellon Parish Church to God. We do so in his name committing to the grace of Christ striving to live as he has taught us to do. Again let us live in his name for 2010.
