writes Robin Hill

1560 seems a long time ago, and in many ways it is. But for Reformed Christians in this country and abroad that year remains important. Exactly 450 years ago key figures of the Reformation (most notably East Lothian’s John Knox) succeeded in bringing about a new way of “being the church” in our land: a way in which, among other things, people could at last worship God in their own tongue, rather than in the traditional Latin. Scotland’s Reformation brought with it discord and violence, and even today in some quarters it can be celebrated for reasons that are as wrong as they are short-sighted. Yet the truth is that we can learn a lot from the lessons of the 16th century, here in the 21st.

With all that in mind, our 6.30pm evening Communion service on Sunday 5th September will be looking back to Reformation times. We are invited to meet for worship at 6.30pm in the historic church of Whitekirk (just along the road, near North Berwick) where we will be welcomed by the Parish minister, the Rev Joanne Evans-Boiten. (Many thanks to Joanne for her enthusiasm in bringing this plan to fruition!)
The service itself will include an old Communion liturgy drawn from the period. There will also be a talk on the Reformation given by the Rev Douglas Galbraith, minister, worship expert and precentor (that means Douglas leads the unaccompanied singing at the General Assembly each year).

Communion is always special, but this month’s evening service should be very special indeed. Members of any branch of Christ’s Church are most welcome to take part in this sacrament at our joint service in Whitekirk.

writes Robin Hill
What a night we enjoyed when world class bluegrass band “Craig Duncan and Friends” visited us from Nashville last month, bringing both their wonderful music and their gentle message of Christian faith and hope. All who sat wide-eyed in our packed church will surely remember the group’s singing and playing for a long, long time to come.

People often look down their noses at country music, as though it is only some fourth rate, poor relation of commercial pop. As with any cheap caricature, this is simply unfair, for the authentic tones of the South put us in touch with something special. I love old-time country and bluegrass; at their best, the songs are as powerful and as musical as any.

At the end of the band’s long and gruelling tour of 16 venues in as many nights, I had the pleasure of chatting with singer-songwriter Billy Smith (what a voice that man has!). I asked Billy about the way so many of the band’s songs deal with profound issues of life. “Well,” he said in his broad southern accent, “you know what they say about country music: ‘three chords and the truth’.” Hurry back to us, Craig, Peggy, Dale, Kris, Billy and Mark. We’re ready to hear more of that truth from you, any time at all!

If you have kids and worry that they won't make it through the service, help is at hand!
Come along on Sunday mornings to the 9.45 service. After the children's talk (about 15 minutes into the service), the kids go through to the church hall.

For babies and younger children, a crèche operates most Sundays. We take children from birth to round about 3 years old. When the crèche is not supervised by church members, parents are allowed to use Room 4 but must look after only their own children.  Children must be with their own parent at all times and cannot be left with anyone else.  Parents using the facilities must be aware of these rules.

Click here for more information about the groups. If you would like to volunteer to help with a group, please contact Beth Elliott (Sunday Club, JTYC, TYC) on 853423 or Ruth Couper (creche) on 852412.