Dear Friends

This is my last letter as locum minister. Dorothy and I return to Northern Ireland on Monday after nine weeks in Amsterdam. We benefited greatly from the ministry of the ERC when we lived in the Netherlands and it has been a great privilege to be able to contribute to the life of the church during this period of vacancy. …

Dear Friends,

I want to begin with a word of thanks to everyone who picked up responsibility for the service last Sunday in my absence. Particular thanks to Heleen for leading and Giles for reading the sermon. It was so interesting to hear the service online rather than see it. There’s something to be said for the simplicity of sound in a culture where we are constantly bombarded with images….

Dear Friends,

It appears that it was not only the clocks that changed last weekend, the weather too has changed. Having been so used to bright sunny days it seems that over the next week we will have to settle for cloudy days and some rain. As always, what is disappointing for some is relief for others. I suspect there will be plenty of farmers and gardeners pleased to see a little rain. Those touring the fields at Keukenhof may feel differently.

As we approach the end of Lent and begin to move into the heart of the Easter festival, we are reminded of the very different ways the events of Easter were experienced at the time. For the disciples it was an anxious time. They knew that Jesus’ determination to be in Jerusalem for the Passover would lead to trouble. For the religious authorities there was the welcome opportunity to rid themselves of a troublemaker. But no one, not the religious leaders, not the soldiers at the tomb, not the disciples could have foreseen the final outcome, the resurrection.

Our circumstances can change like the weather – bright today, dark tomorrow. Whatever our experience of life, maybe we can be encouraged by the knowledge that, because of the resurrection, up ahead lies glory!

David

Dear Friends,

On this coming Sunday (27th March) 02:00 hours will become 03:00. The clocks go forward while we are sleeping so if you turn up at church without changing your clocks you will arrive just in time for coffee and the AGM but will have missed the service!

You don’t want to miss the service this Sunday for lots of reasons:

1. You really don’t want to miss church at anytime

2. You won’t get to hear an interview with Gillean MacLean the new moderator of the vacancy

3. You will probably spend the rest of the day kicking yourself that you didn’t put your clocks forward.

Changing the clocks may be a bit of a nuisance but….

Dear Friends,

On Monday morning Dorothy and I visited the Van Gogh museum. We had been there before when living in the Netherlands, but it wasn’t a pleasant experience as it was almost impossible to see any of the paintings because of the crowds of people. There’s no doubt that living so close to the Museumplein has its benefits, because this time we were able to be in ahead of the crowds – an altogether much more pleasant experience….

Dear Friends,

Dorothy tells me she read that this has been the sunniest start to March in the Netherlands since records began. It has certainly been uplifting to see the sun and feel its warmth even in the midst of some chilly winds. However, this blessing is not shared by all and we are all very conscious of yet more accounts of death and destruction in Ukraine. We pray for the people of Ukraine and for the leaders of neighbouring countries, that they may have the wisdom and the courage to make the right decisions, as the situation may well get worse before it gets better…

Dear Friends,

None of us will have been unmoved or unaffected by the news emerging from Ukraine. It is a matter of great concern that war has once again erupted on the continent of Europe, as is the suffering of families who are bereaved, separated and traumatised by the violence.

Every time we consider the plight of those in Ukraine it seems to make turning our attention back to the ordinary things of everyday life feel like we are abandoning those who suffer. We often feel we should be doing more to help while, in reality, there is nothing we can do to help in the situation….

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the invitation to return to the Netherlands and share in the ministry of the ERC as locum minister. Many of you will be aware that Dorothy and I lived in the Netherlands from 2016-2020. Our home was in Nieuw Vennep and we worked with the International Baptist Theological Study Centre (IBTS) based at Postjesweg in the Nieuw West area of the city. We made many friends in Nieuw Vennep as well as at IBTS and the VU Amsterdam. We also greatly appreciated the fellowship extended to us at the ERC during those years.

The last time I preached in the ERC was March 8, 2020, and….

Dear Friends

This week we welcome back David and Dorothy McMillan in our church. David and Dorothy worshiped with our congregation for four years before moving back to Northern Ireland for work. Rev David McMillan, a minister in the Baptist tradition, will be our locum minister until just after Easter…

Dear All,

A final farewell and thank you from Margaret and myself to all our friends at ERC.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our three months, you could not have made us more welcome, and we are more than grateful for the many kind words and messages, and the lovely gifts you gave us at last Sunday's reception.

More importantly we will cherish the memories of the many people we met and the new friendships we have made…..