Presbytery Update
Lochaber presbytery met on Tuesday 7th September.
Good News Stories
Good News Stories shared included: 100th birthday celebrations, new elders ordained and new members admitted, resuming worship and some relaxation of Covid Restrictions, good bereavement support, particularly suicide bereavement, and a visit to Ardgour Church by the Moderator, Jim Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness.
Forthcoming Events
- Bruce Davis Concert 25th September, Corpach
- Tinderbox – Documentary on Israeli Palestine conflict
- The Ants and the Grasshopper – film documentary on climate change
Twinning with Emmasdale
Prayer is encouraged for our friends in Zambia at Emmasdale, congregation the Presbytery is twinned with, and for mission partners working in Zambia.
Presbytery agreed to forward £470 raised for the borehole water project.
Presbytery Mission Plan
The following was agreed by Presbytery, and Kirk Sessions should now be engaging with the Presbytery Mission Planning Act, and the Land and Buildings Toolkit
1. Kirk Sessions are required to read and consider the implications of The Presbytery Mission Planning Act, the guidelines and Land and Buildings Toolkit.
2. Kirk sessions are invited to adopt the Mission Statement;
“We are servants of the living God. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We rely on the Holy Spirit as our inspiration and guide.
We want all people to come to a relationship with God, a saving knowledge of the truth, and to be Christ’s followers.
Our mission is to serve and worship God; to share the knowledge of God’s forgiveness and love; to encourage discipleship and develop faith; to show God’s love in practical action; to challenge injustice and violence; and to care for God’s creation.”
3. Kirk Sessions are required to define their mission and ministry within the missional parameters of the missional statement above as well as the Presbytery Mission Plan Act and submit their plan to Lochaber Planning Committee by November 30th 2021.
4. Kirk Sessions are required to review their buildings using the Land and buildings toolkit and submit their findings to Lochaber planning group by November 30th 2021.
Finance
National Giving Day – Ministers and other Officebearers will have received information about the National Giving Day which all congregations are encouraged to engage in to give opportunities to all in our communities to support the work of the Church.
Congregations are invited to submit costed mission plan details which may be taken into account for 2022 M&M calculations, by Monday 4th October. 2022 M&M calculations will be finalised at the Oct meeting of Presbytery. (Draft Spreadsheet Figures proposed by Finance Department have been circulated to Presbytery members)
Connie, our Presbytery Treasurer is to be thanked for all the work during the year and particularly in pulling together the annual accounts. Accounts to the year end June 2021 have now been approved, and will be forwarded to Church Offices and OSCR in due course.
Thanks to all congregational treasurers for your work. And a reminder, that, if not already submitted, accounts should be with OSCR by the end of September.
Property
From Feb 2022 – all homes, including manses, in Scotland must be fitted with interconnected Smoke Alarm systems: see www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety for details
Next Meeting
Presbytery meets next on 26th October. Time and Venue to be confirmed depending on Covid restrictions.
