SUNDAY – 31st MAY 2020

PENTECOST SUNDAY

SUNDAY WORSHIP – in the absence of worship in our own Sanctuary may I direct you to BBC Radio 4 at 08.10am Sunday 31st MAY – Pentecost – City Church Cardiff is normally a busy city centre church – one of the largest in Wales – and on Pentecost Sunday would be drawing together a global mix of worshippers young and old to celebrate a day of foundational importance to the denomination.

Now, living out a community life inspired by the Holy Spirit takes on new challenges in the context of Coronavirus. In a service led by Stephen Gibson, Dominic and Catherine de Souza, plus members of the congregation, look at the hope offered by the Holy Spirit – especially when life does not go according to plan. With music recorded at City Church prior to lockdown, including I Will Give Thanks, Breathe On Me Breath Of God, God I Look To You, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, You Are Here (Holy Ground), and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

Please note the time change for the Sunday Worship. The BBC may change this from the published times of the following two services last week. Please check they have not been rescheduled to start earlier.

WORSHIP FOR SUNDAY – BBC1 TV – 11.00 am – PENTECOST SUNDAY – The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Richard Jackson, leads a service for Pentecost Sunday from the city’s historic cathedral, with hymns recorded by Songs of Praise in 2017. The service was filmed before the closure of all church buildings was announced.

REFLECTIONS AT THE QUAY (from Glasgow) – BBC SCOTLAND 11.30am.   Rev Tara Granados, Ibrox Parish Church, Glasgow and David Strachan talk to Madinah Javed about the importance of Ramadan and the festival of Eid. Plus music from Siobhan Miller and Euan Burton.

DEATHS  

We continue to remember our Minister in our prayers as he in turn ministers to the bereaved families.

We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family of John “Ian” Jack, South Lodge Care Home, whose funeral will be held on Friday 29 May

We continue to remember Nicholas and Gary Orr in our prayers. Morag’s funeral service will be held at Holmsford Bridge, Dreghorn on Tuesday 2nd June. This service will be streamed. If you would like to listen to the service this is the information you require: Website – www.obitus.com    Username – rofa4058

Password – 862349 The Family have asked me to include the following: “We also just wanted to let you know that mum’s funeral cortege will be leaving Orr family HQ 6 Springvale Road at 12:30 on Tuesday 2nd.  It will be proceeding at normal speed through Ayr via Midton Road, Beresford Terrace, Miller Road, Top of Wellington Square, Fort Street, Main Street, New Road, Prestwick Road then straight through Prestwick on Ayr Road and Main Street then up to the Crem at Holmsford Bridge via the A78/A71.  Plan is to go past/near important landmarks in mum’s life e.g. Ayr St Columba, Ayr Academy, her Ramsay family home on Prestwick Road  If any church members, friends etc are out for their permitted daily walk at this time and happen to see us, we would be more than happy if they feel it appropriate to briefly acknowledge the cortege

You may wish to light a candle at the time of the funeral service in memory of these good folks and others whom you knew and loved.

THE MAY PRAYER CALENDAR for week FIVE is available on the website Thank to Lorna Paterson for all her work with this Calendar.

PLEASE do not hesitate to let us know of anyone unwell or struggling at this time. Irene – 265794

REMEMBER – WEBSITE has lots to offer. Sermons and Prayers and a wealth of useful information.

OFFERINGS: During this time when the Church building is closed, members may be considering how they can continue to give offerings to the Church. Information on this is available on the Church website https://ayrstcolumba.co.uk/options-for-offerings/ This link will take you directly to the page. Alternatively, you can contact the Treasurer (01292 443271), the Session Clerk or the Church Secretary (both at 01292 265794).

FOOD BANK: Please remember that the need for donations of all basic foods is even more urgent during this crisis. If you go to the Church website or FB page you will find details of places where food can still dropped off.

20’s IN THE PEWS: Please continue to save your 20’s – we will provide a very large collecting jar when we all return to Church.

MARY’S MEALS: likewise your coppers for Mary’s Meals – there will always be a great need to help.

LIFE & WORK: Pre-ordered copies of the will be hand delivered until we return to normal! In addition to the hard copies that have been ordered – Life & Work, May’s edition is available online. Follow this link:      https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/free-download-may-2020.

COLUMBA NEWS: the April edition is available on the website.  Thank you Norman.

OASIS CAFÉ: During our enforced closure – please remember your Thursday morning friends and maybe give each other a call! 

There is a short highlight on the website.

DAILY PRAYING   May I recommend the website pray-as-you-go.org which offers a daily 10 minute reflection with music, Scripture and help with sensitive praying.    It will help you reflect on the day.  You can listen first thing in the morning, during the day or towards last thing at night.  Often, I find them very peaceful, though they differ each day.     Scott 

Books for the journey………

Rowan Williams      Luminaries:  Twenty lives that illuminate the Christian way SPCK

Thomas à Kempis              The Imitation of Christ

Anthony De Mello             Seek God Everywhere

Esther De Waal                  Seeking God

Also, you can sign up for the daily meditations of Fr Richard Rohr, Centre for Action and Contemplation.

www.cac.org/sign-up/

SERMONS ONLINE:   The text of the sermon for this week is available on the Sermons Tab.

https://ayrstcolumba.co.uk/category/sermons/

Meditative daily worship with readings, music and prayers are available from:

www.pray-as-you-go.org

Facebook – you do not require a FB account to access the Church FB page. Something new will be uploaded every day. Prayers, short video from the Moderator Revd Colin Sinclair and his wife, and the new idea – Our Church windows in Jigsaw form – pop over and have a try!

https://www.facebook.com/ayrstcolumba/

SPOTLIGHT ON FAITH – Revd. Dr. Scott McKenna in conversation with Iain Stewart of Edinburgh Inter Faith Association. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrX0YdGevd0