Family Update Summer 2012

Thought I would update everyone about what is happening with our family. Let me start by saying we are all doing well. The summer has seen Beth home for most of it, but Amy has been coming and going like a yo-yo! However, on the occasions when we have all been at home together - they have been priceless! We sometimes think that Holly and Hannah are missing out a bit not getting the benefit of having their big sisters around all the time. We are happy that the four girls are close and any time the family is complete - there is joy. Well, the summer is gone and I don't know where to begin! I think I want to get stuck into our time in London. There is no doubt that this was a once in a lifetime event! I commented in my last family update about both Amy and Beth getting the honor to play during the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. This made for a frantic period leading up to the performances as we tried to find reasonably priced accommodation around the London area during the time when the Olympics were on! We settled on Hemmel Hempstead, which was about half and hour outside London by train. We decided to drive down breaking the journey at Newcastle. We enjoyed 6 days down south and although we all had sore feet for most of the time we did find time to relax and unwind some too. We took Holly and Hannah to the Harry Potter Studio Tour and they loved it! (You may have noticed Fenella's facebook profile picture was taken there on Hagrid's motor bike :)  We spent three hours looking at the props and buildings from the movies and even tried a cup of "Butter Beer." If you are a Harry Potter fan this is a must see and the last room you enter is really quite stunning and takes your breath away! I won't spoil the secret in case you visit at a later date. Anyway, getting to the good stuff - Amy was first to perform with The National Youth Choir of Scotland. We arrived at the Albert Hall and took a moment to admire and take in the atmosphere and setting - it was a wee bit overwhelming thinking that our two daughters would be performing here! My mum was with us and she couldn't contain her joy saying, "I Canna believe we are here!" We got to our seats and for the next three hours we beamed as we sat listening to some of the most beautiful voices you will hear and of course we were beaming inside knowing that Amy was part of this beauty. As if that was not enough we were back again just four days later as Beth took to the stage with the National  Youth Orchestra of Scotland. As with Amy it is quite something to know your girl has the privilege to be a part of something so good. The concert was gorgeous and they had the double honor of having the violin soloist, Nicola Benedetti play with them. It was definitely a "wow" week in our lives! After Beth's concert we drove all the way back home and was pretty well done by the time we got through the front door. What a summer!!!

We have been preparing for Beth going off to Glasgow in September to begin her further studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she will continue to perfect her performance and music skill playing her oboe. Amy was up and down the road to Edinburgh securing a flat for this coming year and found a nice one that she is sharing with her friend Julie. The house will be empty again come September and rather than the six of us there will only be four :(  Holly and Hannah have crossed another milestone as they moved up to the Academy last Wednesday! They are doing great and have both adapted very well to life in the big school. They are in separate classes and have both got their own bunch of friends. With our house just a stones throw from the Academy they are fortunate that they can come and go in no time at all. 
Fenella is just about managing to juggle everything. Between work and family, both of which she does amazingly well, Fenella has a full load. Alexa, Fenella's mum is doing better and was strong enough to be at church this past Sunday for the first time. In everything like most families we have our stresses and struggles and there are always things that could have been done better. We are thankful for all four of our girls and we pray that we are ready to meet the next stages in their growth and development. 

God is good!  

Bringing in the Changes

Finally! It is not that I have been putting off updating my blog, but the time has come to finally sit down and think back over the past weeks and remember what God continues to bring about. Like most seasons we have had some memorable times for all the right reasons and some growing pains too. It seems we made a lot of choices this past weeks that has reshaped what our ministry will look like from this point forward. A few weeks into the changes in some areas and the story so far is good. I am always taken aback when I consider how things don't stay the same and equally made aware that ministry must be a team effort. Just before the summer break we began a new class for the young adults. We kept this class going throughout the summer break and have had some very memorable times together. The class is on Sunday nights incorporating the Gospel meeting and then fellowship. Things are certainly moving in the right direction as far as trying to get the youth and the congregation together. Having the young adults meet on Sunday nights means we are together during the meeting times and just last Sunday we made a decision to have the kids and adults meet together for the first part of Wednesday night bible class! This is great news and having the kids and congregation sing and pray together will be good. We tried to mix the classes a long time back, but the timing was not right. God willing this is the right time. We know there will be some give and take in order for the time to be a benefit to all, but we know for the future growth of the church there has to be more mixing and community between all. 

The summer weeks have been refreshing! It's not until you slow down that you realise the pace you were going. The more I am beginning to understand what is needed for a relationship with God the more I am confident that this "world" is conditioned against it! One thing I needed to learn and was made aware of is that it is God who restores our souls. Unless we are led to the green pastures and the still waters there is no place for God to bring restoration to our spirits. This world does not allow for peace and stillness, but it values business and activity! So, one thing I need to  discipline myself to do this term is to make time for stillness - away from ministry and study and alone with God. 

We have done our fare share of counselling and listening over the summer weeks. As our youth group move from teenage to young adult we are being challenged in keeping things focused and helping some struggle through the tough choices that come as the world mounts it's assault on their will and their devotion. With all this in mind I need to talk a bit about our campaign in July. This year we invited four young adults, Aubrey and Sara Boyns, David Cope and Sarah Ormsby, to come and help for ten days. Our main focus was to encourage and give our teens and young adults an avenue to serve. The results of the campaign were remarkable! From the weeks leading up to and the campaign itself, we had a committed and focused group who put on an outstanding VBS. I  wish I could recount everything that was excellent about the VBS, but there was too many to share. The involvement and creativity, the shared joy and enthusiasm, the smiles and the contact was beautiful! Our theme for the VBS was "Aiming High!" We had sketches staring Moses who didn't think he was good enough to compete, Abraham who was ready to compete, but was told he must go and compete in another event and Peter who was encouraged to  throw with his other hand and found miraculous distance! We had three movie clip bible lesson/discussion times featuring "Brave" and the need to be strong and courageous, "Up" and the challenge not to conform, but to transform and "Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang" with the message that with God all things are possible! We had some active events outside that were sooo much fun and brought so much laughter and fellowship! There was no doubt that the children who came were blessed and I know the many who chose to be servants and look to the needs and enjoyment of the kids were also blessed. The campaign was indeed a time of building. There were numerous times we were together either preparing for VBS, or out in the evenings enjoying the company, or sitting in Symposium with a cup of coffee talking - in everything, at various times, Christ could be seen! To Aubrey, Sara, David and Sarah thank you for "Shining like stars in the universe" and for your devotion to the King's work. To our youth - the times you come together for good, you truly are beautiful!

While I am putting this post together I am still a little "groggy" from  the Aberdeen Youth Weekend! This past weekend it was my joy took a group of 15 through for what is always a highlight for our group. Yes - there was all  the usual niggles like not getting to sleep till 4.00am the first night and having to battle intense feelings of wanting to throttle the Cumbernauld boys! In light of the good that was done these little niggles are  easily forgotten. To climb aboard the minibus and look back at a sea of faces excited about being together and wanting to spend the weekend away from home and in the company of Christian's - praise God! Yes, I know there are varying degrees of desiring God and commitment to His praise, but I know everyone in the group has a heart that is open to the seed of God's goodness and that their lives will be receiving a blessing from some element of the weekend. It is so important for our group to be in the presence of other young Christians and adults who enjoy their stage in life! One of the key verses used throughout the lessons was Hebrews 12:1 and the sense of our group being surrounded by godly people will inspire and spur them in the direction of God. The weekend was excellent and even the couple of times when one or two needed to be counselled  the outcome and the healing far out-weighed the pain. The one disappointment was not being able to see Richard Harp, who had to spend the weekend recovering from surgery after having his appendix removed and having to battle post surgery infection. Richard was one of the invited speakers and in light of his surgery I was asked to fill in at the last moment and take the Sunday morning lesson. I had the joy of covering the topic, "Receiving the Reward." We explored Paul's teaching in Philippians 3 and focused on the phrase, "Forgetting what is behind and Straining for what is ahead." The core thought of the lesson was whether there was evidence in our lives that we are indeed "Straining" toward knowing Christ and becoming like Him and that we are forgetting and leaving behind the desires of the flesh and the distractions of this world - quite a challenge! I am excited to see everyone on Wednesday night, now that we have had a couple of days to  come recover.  

Last night saw the first class of the new term with the primary age group. It was lovely to see the children. The class was a treat and although there is a huge gap now that the gang of P7's are no longer there on Monday night, we still have a good core to build upon. Now that the P7's are in High School they will be part of our Friday nights and we will begin the challenge of integrating this group of 11 into  a more focused and "grown-up" setting. The younger kids last night were missing the older ones, but were looking forward to Wednesday nights when all the age groups are together and can catch up. We are dealing with some of the biggest changes we have ever made as far as the structure of our youth program is concerned and in light of  this we would love to know we have your prayers as we press on. As in everything leadership is critical. Please pray that we make  the most of the opportunities God has placed in our care. 

Well, might just have touched the hem of the garment, but I am hopeful that you are encouraged and able to see God's hand in what is happening here in Peterhead. 

"God is good and His love endures forever."