From The Editor

MUSIC plays a powerful part in our lives. Every major

PRAYER

O love-shaped God, be long enough, and with us willing

SUBSCRIBE to Life and Work and SUPPORT the vital and vibrant work of the Church of Scotland

SUBSCRIBE to Life and Work and SUPPORT the vital and

Pentecost column praise

Ron Ferguson’s inspiring article on the birth of Christianity is like a breath of fresh air among all the doom and gloom outlook on the future of the Church of Scotland.

Reference response

Marcia Blackie (letters, June 2019) references my contribution to “The Big Question” in April’s edition of Life and Work, and correctly comments that not everyone is familiar with the story of Maximilian Kolbe’s courageous sacrifice at Auschwitz.

Canadian connection

You might be interested to know that as a result of your reference in the January edition, with an accompanying photo, to my celebration of forty years in the ordained ministry, I was contacted after a lapse of thirty five years by a friend from Canada.

The Big Question

This month’s question is:‘What are the benefits of an overseas trip organised by the Church of Scotland?’

Fast friends

Ron Ferguson explains how a fictional pastor-detective has sowed the seeds of friendship.

The key is trust

In his first column, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of

Empathy and reconciliation

The Very Rev Albert Bogle encourages readers to remember that the Church is global and not just local.

The power of retreat

Thomas Baldwin shares his experience of a day of solitude in Perthshire.

Opening the heart

Kenneth Steven explains why he leads retreats to Iona.

Space for the journey

Thomas Baldwin learns about a charity which is using outdoor spaces to help bring a faith perspective to times of change

Making change

Thomas Baldwin meets Fiona Buchanan of Christian Aid, a lifelong campaigner for climate and gender justice.

Removing barriers

In our bimonthly focus on the work of CrossReach, which is this year celebrating 150 years of social care in the Church of Scotland, Jackie Macadam looks at an innovative project to develop opportunities in caring for young people.

The Big Picture

Digital photographs only should be sent to magazine@lifeandwork.org

A real pleasure to visit

John R Hume recounts the history of a Glasgow parish.

Interim and Transition Ministry: a beginner’s guide

A group of experienced ministers involved in interim and transition ministry offer their collective guide to this area of vocation.

The disinvestment debate

In the first of a two-part series, the Rev Jenny Adams explains why she believes the Church of Scotland should disinvest from fossil fuel companies.

A single goal

Ellie Moran reports on how a group of young Christians from Glasgow will help transform lives in South Africa.

Church honours

Thomas Baldwin reports on those with Church of Scotland connections honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

WALK WITH THE WORD

A guided walk with a difference will take place in

CROSSREACH RECRUITMENT PROJECT HONOURED

The Church of Scotland’s Social Care Council, CrossReach

REFUGEES PLAN WELCOME

The Church of Scotland has welcomed changes to an initiative

NEW GAELIC RESOURCES

The Scottish Bible Society, the Gaelic Books Council

EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE

A conference is to be held in Dunblane in September

GARDEN COMMEMORATES BARGE NURSES

A special garden dedicated to the memory of unsung

KILMARNOCK TRY PRAYING INITIATIVE

New Laigh Kirk in Kilmarnock took over an empty store

ROMANIA VISIT

Elders Tracey and Sharon Hamilton and Sandy Brown,

BB FAMILY DOUBLE

Helen Aitken made it a family double after celebrating

FRIENDS TOGETHER BOOK

Kinross Parish Church received a visual history book

BLUEBELL COFFEE MORNING

Crieff Parish Church hosted a Bluebell Coffee Morning

PRAISE BAND REUNION

St Ninian’s Parish Church in Glenrothes played host

MARY’S MEALS COLLECTION

A collection run by the 3rd Inverness Girls Brigade

Eleven themes and twelve hours

Donald Carmichael describes how a Glasgow congregation embraced the global Thy Kingdom Come prayer campaign in a single night.

CHRISTIANS HOMELESS FOR TWO YEARS

On May 23 2017 hundreds of armed members of an ISIS-linked

CHURCH EVICTED

An evangelical church in central Ethiopia has been

SEASON OF CREATION SUPPORT GROWS

Global support continues to grow for the Season of

CALL FOR CHURCHES TO BE ‘SHALOM MAKERS’

“To let our light shine and become shalom makers is

Blind spots

The Rev Richard Baxter considers the context of slavery in biblical times.

A common voice

Thomas Baldwin meets Sara Speicher and learns about the work of the World Association for Christian Communication.

Revival Conference success

The Rev Tommy MacNeil reports on the success of the Hebrides Revival conference.

REGISTERS

Rev John A Campbell, formerly of Irvine: St Andrew’s

A crack in everything

The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers reflects on the gifts of the fragile and vulnerable.