Worship News The Worship Committee at Longforgan Church has been hard at work, organising the annual Community Carol Service. Representatives were involved from a wide range of groups in the village, including the children from the Primary School, the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, the Bowling and the Tuesday Clubs, the Community Policeman and the Provost. After the service, the church hall was packed with people enjoying mulled wine and mince pies. The Watchnight Service at Abernyte was led by Graeme Foubister and was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all who attended. Two events to note in the coming months: The first is a Day Conference organised by the Church of Scotland, "Equip", on Saturday 4 February in Paisley Abbey. The aim is to offer inspiring ideas for resourcing congregations, especially in the leading of worship. Anyone interested in attending should contact the Assistant Minister. The second is Souper Sunday on the 5th February which will take place in all four churches. This is an opportunity to learn more about AIDS and HIV, and to raise money to help those living with the virus at home and abroad. The Church of Scotland has produced material to encourage wide participation in the leading of worship that day. Anyone interested in taking part, or simply in learning more, is invited to come to a meeting on Thursday 12th January in Longforgan Church Hall at 7.30p.m. We will aim to meet at least another couple of times after this - dates, times and locations to be arranged. Contact the Assistant Minister for further information. |
Reading the Bible - Where to start
When I was asked to review some of the resources available for anyone
wanting to read the Bible at home on a regular basis, I knew one of the first
places I would go would be to the Bible Reading Fellowship. This is a
well-respected, ecumenical organisation which takes very seriously the
different needs and expectations of Bible readers.
Their web-site is extremely clear and helpful-
www.biblereadingnotes.org.uk. Here you will find details about their many
publications, and samples of the most recent, so you can "try before you buy".
Perhaps it would be useful for a summary of some of their resources to be given here. "New Daylight" (£3.90) is a booklet which is published three times a
year and offers a short daily Bible
reading, a comment and a prayer for reflection, all on one page. Sections of
the Bible are worked through, with one writer offering their comments on a
whole section over a period of days or weeks. The contributors come from a wide denominational spread. The tone is conversational and informal, although the insights offered are thoughtful and do not avoid the difficulties in any text. "Guidelines" (£3.90) is also published every 4 months, and offers a more
in-depth reading of chunkier and longer sections of the Bible. The Bible books
are introduced more fully, and current scholarship is brought in more
consciously. A block of six sections is given each week, with a final section
of points for thought and prayer. "The Upper Room" (£3.60) takes a rather different approach. Each day, a
recommended reading is given, a key text is printed out, there is a reflection
and a prayer. Often the day's reading ends with a "Link2Life"- a suggestion of
a practical way in which the reading might be applied. Each day's reading is
contributed by a reader of "The Upper Room", and the style is very personal.
The contributors come from around the world, offering a wide perspective on
what might be a very familiar text. An index in each three-monthly edition
offers readings for times of particular need, such as bereavement. "Day by Day with God" (£4.05) is subtitled "Rooting Women's Lives in the
Bible", and offers to explain and apply the Bible especially for women, by
women. Sometimes a theme is considered over a week of daily readings, or a run of chapters from a particular biblical book is covered over a week. As well as the comment from a female commentator, who may be a cleric, writer or
broadcaster, there are suggested prayers and meditations, and further readings
are offered. "Quiet Spaces" (£4.99) is a new resource from BRF, which aims to offer a
flow of inspiration for its reader's spiritual journey. It is published three
times a year, and rather than daily readings and comments, it is a collection
of articles and spiritual resources around a theme such as "A light for my
path", "Bread for the journey", plus blank pages for the reader to fill in
their own thoughts, ideas and inspirations (the current buzz word for this is
"journaling"). Contributors are well-known in the field of spirituality, and
come from a variety of Christian traditions. "The People's Bible Commentary" (£8.99) is a series of commentaries, now
also available in pdf format, offering a devotional and systematic approach to
individual biblical books. They are specifically aimed at those who use the
Bible in preaching, although they would be of interest to anyone wishing a more
comprehensive treatment of a particular book in the Bible than is offered in
the other guides. The commentaries are written by current biblical scholars,
many of whom are also priests and ministers. Finally, I notice that a new, one-off resource has been published to
coincide with the 400thanniversary of the publication of the King
James Version: "Celebrating the King James Version: Devotional readings from the classic translation", (£9.99) by Rachel Boulding. Just the thing for anyone who enjoys the KJV and wishes to use it as part of their own personal
devotional time. All of these resources may be purchased on-line via the BRF website, or
from a Christian bookshop such as the Manna House, 240 Old High Street, Perth; or CLC Bookshop, 112 Nethergate, Dundee. Alison Jack
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