On Saturday 20th August around 25 young adults from the 5 RPCS congregations met in Ayr for a BBQ (given the weather we were glad that we had been kindly granted the use of Ayr Free Church Continuing's building!). It was a great opportunity to meet new people and get caught up with old friends. It also provided a rare chance to enjoy fellowship with those outside of our own congregations. We closed with a brief time of worship and sang from Psalm 133. It is hoped that events such as these will help encourage more fellowship within the denomination.
RP International Conference 2016
The RP International Conference is held every 4 years in Indiana, USA. The RP Church of Scotland was represented by 8 people from Glasgow, 2 from Stranraer and 1 from Airdrie.
Below is a report by Rev. Kenneth Stewart, minister of Glasgow RP Church.
The Conference was held on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University – a large, modern campus with excellent facilities and one which is not ashamed to display its Christian heritage and identity. It is hard to convey the good done to the soul by seeing Biblical texts on display in the grounds and on the walls of a university campus. While reinforcing how thoroughly secularised Scotland has become, it also helps to foster a vision and, for those of us with an optimistic eschatology, it serves as a tangible reminder of what God can do and what our nation could yet become when ‘a little one becomes a thousand’.
The Conference lasted from Saturday to Friday and was packed full of opportunities for teaching, fellowship, prayer and recreation. The main addresses, delivered every morning, were focused on the theme of ‘The Sacrificing Church: Ministering Faithfully as Priests in the Local Congregation’ looking successively at The Sacrificing Church as a Worshiping Temple, a Praying Priesthood, a Believing Community, a Merciful People and as a Mission Outpost. The speaker, Barry York who is Professor of Pastoral Theology in the RPTS, spoke earnestly and plainly from the Scriptures and gave plenty material for spiritual profit and for on-going meditation. Classes ran concurrently for children of all ages including High School.
There were two sessions of seminars every day, as many as eight at a time, with wide-ranging themes with the topics ranging from ‘Mission in China’ to ‘The Digital Age’, from ‘Dealing with Cancer’ to ‘Raising Teenagers’ – the choice seemed endless. Because no single seminar was repeated and because many of us wanted to attend several, we decided to split up and report back, which seemed to work quite well!
Some of the Scottish contingent at the airport on the way home
Lasting impression are, briefly, as follows.
First, the RP church family lays great store on discipling their children. It was most impressive to see so many young families on the same campus being so committed to the things of the Lord (there were nearly 80 under 2 years of age!) I was (pleasantly!) accosted more than once at dinner by some child asking if I was an Elder and eager to recite a Bible verse, so that they could get a signature and eventually, a prize – while of course reciting a text nearly 50 times in the process. Quite clever! They all take education seriously and I couldn’t help but be envious –with a holy envy – of their Christian schools and their emphasis on Christian education generally. Their commitment is obvious – no way would these families consider not going to the conference because they needed a ‘holiday’: this was their holiday and lounging unproductively in the sun would never provide what these days were providing.
Second, the quality of their singing: it was disciplined, lively, tuneful and hearty. Again, clearly, they take it seriously. The sight and sound of over 2000 people singing the Psalms will stay with me and with the rest of us too. What will heaven’s singing be like if it can sound so good on the earth?
Third, the opportunity to meet with fellow covenanters from all over the world, most of them being from the States, was refreshing for the soul. Their interest in us, in Scotland, is real and sincere and the warmth of their affection is very humbling. Mealtimes – so well organised on the campus – were times of spiritual enrichment as well as bodily nourishment with problems and encouragements profitably shared. On occasions such as this, we can truly say ‘Behold how good a thing it is, and how becoming well; together such as brethren are in unity to dwell’.
Finally, should you consider going? Indeed! Even the cost is not as prohibitive as it seems: If you begin to set aside £10 a week, you’re covered for the total cost well in advance of time for booking. So, as the Ethiopian Eunuch said, ‘What hinders me?’
Covenanter Holiday Conference 2016
Every four years, the RPCI organises a British Isles conference. This year, it was attended by around 400 people. Below is a report by Grant, Yvonne and Jacob Alexander of Airdrie RPCS.
On Saturday 23rd July we set off from home to attend the RP Covenanter Holiday Conference at the Share Village in Northern Ireland. This was not our first RP conference but it was our first time holidaying in Northern Ireland. We were not disappointed.
We decided on the full board option and shared a chalet with the Quigleys, the Fallows and a lovely Austrian lady called Ruth. The accommodation was dormitory style ensuite bedrooms with a central living area and kitchen. There were other options of caravanning, camping or staying off-site.
The food was good – we were never hungry – and we were very impressed by the way the staff from Share worked so hard each day serving food to organising and instructing activities.
The speaker was Rev Knox Hyndman and his series of morning sermons was entitled, “Ending the Long Silence – John the Baptist Introduces the Saviour”. We were left with much to contemplate such as our need of repentance; to not speculating how Jesus may work but to remember that He is always at work; and that although we may not see the outcome Jesus continues to speak through His servants.
In the afternoons and evenings there were various activities arranged and much fun and laughter was had by all.
The Share conference seemed to be a much more relaxed family holiday atmosphere. Whilst Gartmore was completely new to us, at Share we met up with old acquaintances and met new people as well. It is always such a blessing and uplifting to feel part of the larger family of God’s people and to be reminded of their presence.
It is also an encouragement for us as parents to see Jacob build on friendships from the past and meet new children of his own age group. It is such a good opportunity for our children and young people to meet with other Christian families in a safe and caring environment and for them to be hearing God’s Word each day. He is already counting down to the conference in two years time.
We would encourage anyone, young or old, who has not been to an RP conference to seriously consider going along. You will hear God’s Word preached and be challenged in your walk with God. You will meet other Christians and have fellowship with them and you will have fun and much laughter. All are good for the soul.
Here are some thoughts from Jacob, aged 7.
“I loved Share. It was the best conference ever. I liked meeting up with my friends from the conference at Gartmore and making new friends too, especially Ewen, Daniel and Timothy. We had our own group in the morning where we had a story (for example, The Ten Commandments and the story of Ruth). We played at games and made a craft. In the afternoon we had activities. I took part in Archery, Banana Boating and Circus Skills. My favourite was Banana Boating and jumping off the jetty into the water. I also enjoyed watching the boat building and boat race on the last day. At night, after joining with everyone for family worship, we had more fun with activities like orienteering, inflatable table football (with us as the players), t-shirt painting, and slip and slide. I loved playing at the play park with my friends. Oh, and the food was good too. If you were to ask me, “Should I go to the conference in two years time and why?” I would say, “Yes! I’m planning to be there”.”
Answers to Big Questions
Each July, Stephen helps out with a camp in Armagh organised by the RPCI for young people aged 16 and over. This year, the talks were given by Rev. Davy Sutherland of Ballylaggan RPC and dealt with some of the big questions people ask. The talks are available to listen to or download below:
Nice (Newspaper Article
After the latest terrorist attack in France, two of the main reactions have been anger and despair. Anger at the senseless loss of 84 civilians - and despair at how alarmingly regular attacks like these are becoming. Is this just what we’re to expect from now on, we wonder? Will there be any end to the carnage? It seems that the authorities are helpless in the face of those who are absolutely committed to destroying human life.
Contrary to what we might think, the Bible would agree that anger is a healthy response to such events. The New Testament says ‘be angry and do not sin’; the two don’t always have to go together. While there’s a popular idea of ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’, the Bible records him being righteously angry on several occasions. In fact, it would be wrong not to be angry about events in Nice. Men, women, boys and girls were cruelly mown down. Families have been destroyed. Even our grief tells us that those who were killed were not products of random chance. Rather, they were created in the image of God. He gave them life, and no-one had the right to take it away. So we’re right to be angry.
But if anger is justified – what about despair? Well if you don’t believe in a God of justice, it’s difficult to see how hopelessness can be avoided. This new kind of terrorism, in which the perpetrators see death as something to embraced, means that those who carry out such atrocities will almost always escape justice on earth. If there’s no Day of Judgement, then Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel has simply become the latest in a long line of murderers to get away with his crimes. Yet even our desire that justice would be done is a reminder that we too are made in the image of a God of justice. The latest martyr for Islamic State may have dreamt of paradise – but he’s now come face to face with the true God.
The fact that God is a God of justice shouldn’t leave us feeling smug however. It’s not just those who drive lorries through crowded streets who deserve God’s wrath – it’s all of us. One day we too will stand before him – only in Jesus is there hope of escape.
Published in Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press, 21 July 2016