General Assembly 2017

From The Editor

THE month of the General Assembly of the Church of

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Father teach us how to pray. It is so easy

LETTERS

I read with interest Thomas Baldwin’s excellent article apropos mental

The Big Question

This month’s question is: ‘What do you like about church?’

‘The spiritual is in the material’

Ron Ferguson considers the vulnerability of the body

A surprise conversion

The Very Rev Albert Bogle explains how social media offers the opportunity to live out the Gospel

Sowing the seeds of peace in South Sudan

Thomas Baldwin reports on the man-made crisis which has led to famine in the world's newest country – and of the seeds of hope being planted for the future by the Church of Scotland

General Assembly 2017* Business timetable

4 Commission to the High Commissioner to be read, and

Assembly Fringe 2017

Have your cake and eat it at CrossReach’s Fringe Event

Heart and Soul 2017

Neil MacLennan looks ahead to the centrepiece celebration of Assembly Sunday

All are welcome

Lynne McNeil meets the Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator-Designate to the 2017 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Libraries welcome for General Assembly visitors

Christine Love-Rodgers offers an invitation to visit the historic collections of New College Library in Edinburgh

‘Behind every number is a name’

Jackie Macadam looks at the work of Christian Aid as the charity’s fundraising week approaches and explains why its work is needed more than ever

The Big Picture

Digital photographs only should be sent to magazine@lifeandwork.orgaccompanied by details

The ‘New Guild’

In the continuing series on the Church of Scotland Guild, Lynne McNeil focuses on the Guild of Crown Court Church in London which has adapted to changing circumstances

A place of renewal

John R Hume considers the history of Motherwell with a focus on the town’s Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church

Government funding for church-backed enterprise charity

Thomas Baldwin reports on the success of a charity supported by the Church which has attracted government funding

LIFE AND WORK DIGITAL EDITION

The magazine of our Church has this month entered a

CYCLE PILGRIMAGE

Several Church of Scotland churches will be hosting a bike

LAY PERSON APPOINTED COMMUNITY LEADER

A lay person will lead the Iona Community for the

PRINCIPAL CLERK DESIGNATE ANNOUNCED

The Church of Scotland has announced the selection of the

FAITH LEADERS CONDEMN LONDON ATTACK

Five representatives of Christian and Muslim faith communities in Scotland

FORTH BRIDGE ABSEIL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CROSSREACH

For many involved in the life of the Church of

CHRISTIANS URGED TO SHARE THEIR FAITH

The Church of Scotland is urging members to share how

NEW CROSS

Members of the Guild of Saltcoats: St Cuthbert's Church are

WEDDING DRESS EXHIBITION

Almost 100 wedding dresses were on display at St Michael’s

HISTORIC ABBEY CELEBRATES 800th ANNIVERSARY

Culross Abbey in Fife kicked off a year of 800th

WALKING FOR BABY MONITOR

A Fife minister, his wife and two friends tackled the

LONG SERVICE

Two elders at Lylesland Parish Church in Paisley were presented

MARIE CURIE TEA

Duntocher Trinity Guild, in the Presbytery of Dumbarton, held their

CALL TO PRAYER

The Presbytery of Moray held a service of Praise, Prayer

FUNDRAISING FOR GIRAFFE

Scone Boys’ Brigade raised £278 for Giraffe, a Perth-based not-for-profit

Life on a food parcel

Thomas Baldwin describes how a deacon and her husband raised funds for a local foodbank

LEBANESE CHURCHES FACE REFUGEES CHALLENGE

March 15 marked the sixth year since the start of

CHRISTIAN REFUGEES UNDER PRESSURE

World Watch Monitor has heard from reliable sources that the

REFORMATION EVENTS BRING CHURCHES CLOSER

The Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation cohosted by The

Climbing the Stairs

In the second part of a series considering people on the move, the Rev Richard Baxter reflects on the story of Jacob

HEBRIDEAN HEROINES

Nursing nostalgia has been placed firmly in the spotlight, thanks

WE’LL SAY THE BLESSING

A Gathering of Illustrated Graces and Ephemera

Pilgrimage through life

The Rev Lezley Stewart introduces herself to readers and hopes they will be the beginning of a ‘shared conversation’