|
Dear Friends,
Once our Christmas Day meal was over, I made a comment to the family who had gathered in the Manse, 'I wonder where I will be for Christmas next year?' It is an interesting question but it is likely fairly certain that wherever I am it will not be Holytown and Wrangholm!
It is one of the things about Interim Ministry that is quite different from long term Parish Ministry - from the day that I arrive as Inter Minister we are working together for the day when I will leave! Since most Interim Ministry appointments are around 18 months or so, it is almost inevitable that I will not be here at this time next year. That obviously has its consequences for me and my family life, but it also has consequences for you. As we enter another year I am very aware that none of us knows who might be occupying the Manse this time next year! We simply hope and pray that the right person will be there.
I am delighted that the Presbytery of Hamilton has given us permission to start the process of looking for a new minister, and while it takes a good few weeks before we can select a Nominating Committee (what used to be called the Vacancy Committee), I am glad to say that we have started working through some of the formalities. Hopefully we might be able to elect the Nominating Committee on 3rd February and have the post advertised in March. We have a long way to go, and in the current climate in the Church of Scotland, finding a Minister is not as easy as it once was. However, we move into the New Year with hope and faith! Hopefully we move into the future also with confidence knowing that however long it takes to find a minister, the congregation is here to keep the ministry of the Church going and developing and thriving in it's work of Caring, Outreach, Support and Youth. One thing is sure, we believe that God has a plan for us, and that he will be with us every step of the way.
I have no doubt that 2008 will be an exiting year - whatever it holds for us! It is so important that we move into the future with the right spirit and the right attitude - hope and faith, and in a spirit of prayer sounds to me like the best way to do it. Over the coming months we need to live for the present moment while at the same time preparing for the future - lets turn our minds to that task with energy and enthusiasm - and, of course, prayer!
Every Blessing
Iain
|
