Page 3 - The Light Easter 2020

MINISTERS LETTER
The Manse, March 2020
Tel: 01631 730143 / 760077 Email: amministear@gmail.com
Dear Friends, support the less able should they contract
I began writing my letter to you when I was in
Australia. It began “Carilon and I have just COVID-19 and support groups are waiting on the
returned to Australia following a most wonderful bylines. It is crucial that we follow government
cruise to New Zealand.” Within 8 hours the ship instructions on social distancing for the safety of
– the Ovation of the Seas – was replenished, the others and ourselves.
passengers (3000+) disembarked and the new Throughout this we must always remember that
passengers embarked. Later that day we sat at our we are Christians who gather, and in that act of
apartment window overlooking Fort Denison and gathering we are in the company of our
Sydney Harbour and out to The Heads and the Sovereign God, his son our Saviour, Jesus Christ
Tasman Sea. Into our vision came Ovation of the and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Seas heading for another New Zealand cruise.
Though we cannot gather as normal we can
It was a magnificent sight as she sailed past her
sister ship Spectrum of the Seas as she in turn • telephone each other and ask God’s blessing
headed for Circular Quay to embark passengers on those whom we phone.
and stores for a “relief” cruise for first responders • tune in on an online service with a Church of
who had supported their communities so ably Scotland congregation via https://www.church
during the Australian bush fires. of Scotland.org.uk/worship/services-online
Within 24 hours of this event, Jacinda Ardern, • use “Sanctuary First” at
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, closed all www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk an online
the ports in New Zealand to cruise ships till 30 worshipping community.
June 2020 and stipulated that all air passengers,
• Phone me if you feel that life is getting you
including returning New Zealanders, would down, on 07882 885684 or 07342 920226
require to undergo14 days self-imposed isolation.
(no reply on one means please phone the
How different life has become since we left other! Please remember to remove “call
Appin on 24 February! Yet the issues created by
barring” otherwise I may not be able to return
this tragic situation have accelerated further, your call.)
literally into uncharted territory. We cannot say
“for us here in Appin” for this is a pandemic and In all of this we as Christians must continually
it is “for us” all over the world. look to the sovereignty of God, His Grace in
Christ and His direction by the Holy Spirit and
On Presbytery advice regarding my return to rely on the words of the Gospel of St John 15:16
work, Carilon and I now self-quarantine for 14 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and
days, impacting on our worship and prayer life. appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit
Public services of worship in Church of Scotland -fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask
as well as other denominations have been in my name the Father will give you” (New
cancelled. How long will this last? We do not International Version) -and we all have much fruit
know. (See the Church of Scotland website bearing before us yet!
regarding COVID-19 and worship, prayer,
weddings, funerals and Church gatherings.) In the assurance of His Grace and with God’s
Blessing and Peace,
Yet we continue to see the best in people coming
to the fore. Social media, including “What’s Yours aye,
Appin-ing” and “Appin Aid”, is full of offers to Iain

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