iTalker

Here I am it’s 1.45am in the morning and I’m taking part in the 24 hour prayer vigil here in the church. Already we’ve had a constant stream of people coming to pray. Some people might think it strange that people want to pray yet the truth is that more people pray than ever go [...]

Well who would have thought my 598th post to this blog would be a huge thank you to all who have taken time to send congratulations with reference to my nomination to be Moderator Designate of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Thank you all for your prayerful support. It is greatly appreciated [...]

Can’t believe it’s that time again. Time for me to look out my favourite songs and get my play list ready. Yes make sure you tune into Bogle on Valley FM 87.7 this coming Monday morning at 9.00am -10.00am and keep doing it every morning including Thursday. The show is going to be great. I [...]

Well here I am back online again. Yesterday was a busy day. I put in a 19 hour shift, followed by a couple of hours at the prayer vigil before I went to bed this morning at 3.00am . Whose says the life of a parish minister is dull? We had a look at two [...]

Today Sheena Orr our trainee minister flies out, along with a number of other ministers and theologians to visit Israel. During this visit Sheena will have an opportunity to reflect on the current political and religious divides in the Holy Land and perhaps bring back a more informed point of view for all of us [...]

I’ve just spent the last hour watching a programme on BBC Channel 4 all about the life and times of Bob Dylan. It made me cast my mind back to the first time I heard about Dylan. I think I was in 2nd year at Secondary School. I was talking about music to a classmate, [...]

Today I met up with Russell McLarty, the Interim minister at Edinburgh’s St Andrew’s and St George’s Church of Scotland. We had arranged a few weeks ago to take the bread and wine,two of the most powerful symbols of the Gospel out into George Street. Many people passed by and ignored the invitation others were [...]

There is a great buzz around the church even although the weather is cold and the forecast is more rain this week. I’ve been encouraged hearing about at least half a dozen people of all ages finding a voice to openly profess their faith. In addition Sanctuary First turned out to be a great success [...]

very week hundreds of people come through the door. Many more touch base with us during week than those who come around on a Sunday. Wednesday night was quite a special night. the India team were reporting back about their visit. the tables in the hall were filled with a group of very different people from children to teenagers to young adults to older adults.

What many are discovering is that people come to faith because they have got involved with a church perhaps in some practical way. It is was the openness of the church to accept them that made all the difference. I know this is a truth that I’ve come to appreciate more and more. We find people outside the church community coming forward to volunteer with various aspects of our social outreach programme. The interesting thing is that before long we begin to see people of their own volition beginning to turn up at worship on a Sunday. The gospel is not just a doctrinal statement it is a living dynamic word that changes men and women from the inside out.