Weekly Update - 10th June
Dear sisters and brothers,
This past weekend we celebrated both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Pentecost: when we give thanks for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. There are many connections that could be made between these events, but one of them is the importance of seeing the big picture and playing the long game. Many people spoke of the Queen’s faithfulness and dedication during a time of great change. Over a period of 70 years one would expect there to be many twists and turns, not only in our national life but, as we know, in the Queen’s personal life. When looked at over that long 70 years, it’s hard not see her reign as being something positive, whatever one thinks of the concept of the monarchy.
The Church was fully birthed on the Day of Pentecost over 2000 years ago, and the Holy Spirit has been our inspiration, strength, and guide ever since. In our day it is easy to look at the state of the Church and wonder where it all went wrong and if there is a future. To do so, however, would be to be short-sighted. The ‘big picture’ is that, in world-wide terms, the Church is growing, and when one looks over the long period we can see that we are only a moment in the great history of the Church. This should be no surprise because we are formed and led by the Holy Spirit who is at work in us and through us.
I alluded to this recently at our Church AGM when I spoke about the Aberdeen Presbytery Plan which will see 10 more churches close across the city and every church become part of a larger grouping sharing Ministers. Thankfully, Stockethill will continue as a congregation, but over the next 3 years we will enter into a partnership with other churches (including St Columba’s Bridge of Don, Newhills, Bucksburn and Dyce) and I will become part of a Ministry Team supporting all those congregations. There is still a lot to be worked out and we will do our best to keep the congregation informed and involved in the process. But the most important thing is for us to be praying and seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times. We believe that the Church is the hope of the world because we carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are empowered and led by the Holy Spirit to share that message. Nothing is going to change that.
At the AGM I also gave an update on the congregation finances and I have included a summary with this letter which I hope is self-explanatory. We are thankful for God’s provision and it remains important that we all contribute as we are able to the work of the church, not least at these challenging times.
When the Israelites were taken into captivity many false prophets tried to encourage them by saying that things would quickly get better. But under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Jeremiah told them that they would need to wait 70 years before they saw any change (Jeremiah 29). During that 70 years they were to remain faithful and know that God was with them, working out his purposes for their good. Let us too remain faithful in the knowledge that God is at work in our lives and in the Church through the Holy Spirit.
With love from Sarah and myself,
Rev. Ian Aitken
52 Ashgrove Road West
ABERDEEN
AB16 5EE
Tel. 01224 686929
iaitken@churchofscotland.org.uk
www.stockethillchurch.org.uk
Aberdeen: Stockethill Church of Scotland
Scottish Charity Number - SC030587