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Church Life Giving Newsletter

Minister’s Letter: September 2020

To: Members and Friends of Cambuslang Parish Church

25 September 2020

Dear friends,

I can hardly believe that it is now three months since my induction here at Cambuslang. But now Katharina, our family and myself are settling into our lovely manse, and finding all the nice places to walk our dog, Sophie. It’s a big change from Inverness, but we already feel is for the best. Everyone we have met so far has been supportive, kind and generous of their time and resources. We feel truly welcomed.

Ministry is always personal, we show care and love for one another through personal contact – whether meeting for worship, social events, or pastoral care. The last few months with limited contact have been difficult for everyone, including myself and Katharina.

Thank you to all the teams who make the online services happen, especially the musicians and Fraser Hamilton who have been ingenious in putting it all together. These online services may have been the only place you have seen me face to face. Online services will continue: there is a postcard with this letter explaining how to see or listen to them.

Sunday services in the building are also now also possible, and it has been a great joy to meet some of you in our lovely building on a Sunday morning. However, I do miss the chance to chat over a coffee after a service. We have had a few online “church chats” and I plan to make these a regular feature going forward.

I am grateful to our elders and Deacon Karen, who have kept the important work of pastoral care going – albeit remotely. If you know someone who needs pastoral care, get in touch with us. If we don’t know we can’t help!

‘How long, O Lord?’ cried the Psalmist. As every part of our lives has been disrupted, we mourn those we have lost during this period, and pray for the politicians and scientists whose job it is to keep us safe going forward.

Yet I believe that the Church should be a beacon of hope, both for believers, and for those in our community. In Jesus Christ we see the great sign of God’s love for us all- a love which goes through and even conquers death. It’s good news for our benighted world that there is a God of love, who cares for us, especially in hard times. and as God in Christ is there for us, so, too, we who follow Christ should be there for our neighbours.

The church has experienced a significant reductions in income due to COVID, and this letter contains a special appeal from our the Kirk Session, with a direct call to action for you to consider how to financially support our church in these challenging times. It’s especially important that we see more giving by standing order and gift aid. Please take the time to read the enclosed documents and, if appropriate, return the forms to the church office. We will be taking this appeal to the wider local community, too.

Please don’t hesitate to call me at any time if you have questions, ideas, would like a chat or a prayer, or have a pastoral concern.

May God bless you and yours,

Rev Peter W Nimmo