Link Church, Dunfermline

Messy Church

2012-02-23T03:54:00.000-08:00

Nothing is impossible for God. What a great theme we are exploring in Messy Church. Feeding of the 5000...... Messy Church is becoming so popular with families that Hannah may well be praying over the food for multiplication but actually that will be our story and theme this Saturday.
Come and join us. 4-6pm

We've progressed!

2012-02-23T03:48:00.000-08:00

Maybe not in having weekly blog updates but 24 or so of us progressed round 3 houses for 3 courses and had a lot of good banter and some great food. It was a logistical nightmare, that cannot be denied. There was offer of a computer programme for Anne, the intrepid organiser, but undaunted with a lot of pen and paper calculations and a good few text and emails she got us all to the right places with the right courses. It was entertaining to have a lovely piece of pork arrive in a slow cooker, give out a tempting smell and then be wheaked away after the starter to be eaten as the main course in another house with a completely different group of people.
What's next on the getting together and having some fun calendar? We have 30 places for paintballing! Oh yes!! Just to get working on a date. Let us know if you are interested.

Alpha Expresso

2012-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

The coffee pots are bought. The milk frother is bought. Hot chocolate is on the list, as are muffins, malteser traybake and chocolate cake.
10 weeks to talk about life. Wednesday nights, starting 25th January, 7.45-9.30ish pm. Life is worth exploring. There are some big questions worth a debate and thinking about.
Answers to all questions not guaranteed but a warm welcome and friendly banter is.
Come and join us!

Link Church 39 Priory Lane Dunfermline www.linkchurch.org.uk

Into 2012

2012-01-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

One of the difficulties of a blog is that if you do not update it then you give the impression that nothing is going on and that is totally not the case.

We had two great services at Christmas. We incorporated Messy Church into our family Christmas Service. It was chaotic and wonderful as we worshipped, learned and ate together. So many journeys that first Christmas and so many lives changed. We thought about the promises that are still there today for us in our journeys. We were blessed on Christmas Eve with a keyboard player, a real answer to prayer as all our instrument players were away. Our Candlelit Carol service was a time to stop, a time to laugh (we did laugh but that is another story!) and a time to sense God drawing close to us.

New Year's Day saw the church open for a time of worship and also in the afternoon for a hot meal, some company and a chance to beat someone at table tennis. There was a lot of steak pie served and conversations had.

This week we have paused for a lot of prayer. We did not want to rush into another year and headlong into a pile of good ideas without real consulting our Heavenly Father for his input. We have done this for a good few years now and it is a great way to re-energise. This year we have really been challenged to first and foremost get to know our God better. He is the vine, we are the branches............. .

What are some of the things that are ahead?
The Messy Church team is gearing up for another year. Alpha Expresso starts on 25th January. Men's Breakfast next Saturday. Trip to Zimbabwe around Easter coming together and one to Tanzania for a bigger team being considered. Forty or so children have just started school in Zimbabwe as result of the sponsorship programme.
This morning Iain, Doug and Mike left for a week with the Athens Link. Two Sundays and a Men's Retreat are the big things on the agenda as is much prayer and time to hang out together, share stories and encourage.

There is more we would like to see and do this year, so much more! And we will work hard to keep the blog current and share the stories.

Storehouse and Starter Packs - a year of giving

2011-12-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

STOREHOUSE

Storehouse seeks to help those who, for many reasons, may have a shortage of food or basic household items. Thanks to the faithful giving of Link members during this year we have again been able to supply food parcels and Asda vouchers whenever we have received a request to help someone facing crisis. A typical food parcel contains basics such as teabags, coffee, sugar, salt, tinned goods, pasta and rice and pasta/rice sauces, breakfast cereal, biscuits, toiletries and household cleaning items. For the first time this year we have also supplied packs of nappies and basic baby requirements to help single mothers facing very difficult circumstances.

During 2011 Storehouse has supplied:

Food parcels - 2 to contacts of Link Church members; 8 to outside agencies (Women's Aid, Your Oasis)

Asda vouchers - £180 in total to Link Members, contacts of Link members and outide agencies

Baby packs - 1 (with £20 Asda voucher) to contact of Link member; 2 to Women's Aid

We also collected again for Christmas Hampers and this year gave three to Women's Aid and one to Link Church friends. Each hamper contained a selection of basic food items and Christmas treats. With each hamper we gave a £10 Asda voucher.

Even after all this giving we still have 2 food parcels stored and money in the account, ready to meet emergency needs. We are aware that the Christmas period can bring its own difficulty and crisis to many people, and our contacts at Women's Aid know they can call us at any time should a woman in their care need this kind of help.

We can only meet needs through Storehouse as we become aware of them. Do you know someone in need? Please speak to Jackie or Ruth.

STARTER PACKS

Through our contacts with Women's Aid we also provide Starter Packs to women who are moving into their own accommodation. In these circumstances, women can receive grants to help with the purchase of furniture etc, but these cannot be used for the basic household essentials which we would all struggle to do without. Each Starter Pack contains essential items such as crockery, cutlery, saucepans, a toaster, iron and kettle. During 2011, there has been a constant demand for Starter Packs and we have given out at least one per month. There have been times when the lack of these items has been the only holdup to a woman finally moving into her accommodation and it has been necessary to put a pack together very quickly indeed! If you would like to know more about the Starter Packs, please speak to Jackie or Mo.

These vital ministries could not do so much without the regular giving of the people of Link Church. Those of us responsible for handing over the food parcels and packs hear so often that they are going to meet desperate needs and of how people have been touched by the kindness and love shown to them through our giving. If you have given in any way to Storehouse or Starter Packs during this year, be encouraged to know that your giving is making a huge difference to many lives.

"A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11: 25 (NIV)

Christmas Services

2011-12-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas is fast approaching and it is too easy to get caught up in the hectic round of preparations for the festive season! Let us all take time in the next couple of weeks to remember how Jesus our Saviour came into the world as a tiny baby, born in Bethlehem. There are a couple of services coming up where there will be the opportunity for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Invitations are available in Priory Lane so please do invite your family and friends to come along.

Sunday 18th December, 10.30 am -

This will be a real family event where everyone can relax and enjoy being in church while we explore the joy that comes in the message of Christmas.

After the service we will have lunch together and invite our visitors to stay. Soup will be provided but please bring bread, fruit and cakes to share.

Saturday 24th December, 7.00 pm -
After all the busyness, this will be a time to reflect on the Christmas story with carols and readings.

AGM

2011-12-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

The letters AGM are not known to raise any level of excitement and enthusiasm. They are an essential part of the life of any charitable organisation, accounts, trustees reports and such need to be covered. We met as a church last night. Someone today was heard to comment that it had been the most enjoyable AGM she had attended in a long time! Why? It was not because there were any clever presentations or any grand giveaways! There was some real celebrations though.......

Around 40 children will be receiving school uniform this week, already to start school maybe even for the first time in January. After much work, our project to support orphans in Zimbabwe is now fully operational.. We thank God for this opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of some special kids.

Our accounts are in the black. In a year where many organisations are having to report a loss we are in surplus, not huge surplus, but surplus. We thank God for his provision this year in our individual lives and in the life of our church. Building works completed and paid for! Starter packs and food parcels donated to people all through this year.

For Street Pastors, and Healing Rooms, Talk Matters and Choices.......
For Messy Church and the planning of Alpha Expresso

For our youth home group and kids programmes.

For our building that we are able to share with community groups. Thank you God, and show us how to increase this.
For people who work hard in our building on upkeep and special projects. We thank God for willing hearts to serve.

For sharing lives with friends in Athens USA, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Brazil.
For community groups and prayer groups, for our weekend away and people just there to listen and encourage. Thank you, God.

So lots to be thankful for, to celebrate and to believe for more in 2012.
Any amens to that?

Lots going on!

2011-11-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

This has been a very busy month. IMPACT world tours, a weekend away and another Messy church would be a few of the highlights. We have also has some work completed on our roof and gutters at Priory Lane, kind of important with the weather in the last week.
Forty of us spent a great weekend at the Windmill Centre in Arbroath. We managed a good balance of activities and time to hang out. We freaked a few out with Chinese lanterns, and Windmill may well write a new clause in their regulations, but they were beautiful to watch. A few crazy games led to whole lot of laughter and a few wonderful pictures. Crafts, walks, games, cake and fruit and fruit and cake!
We did a lot of thinking and praying through Isaiah 55, a fantastic chapter of encouragement. "You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace." Our circumstances may tell us one thing but our heavenly father tells us clearly we have joy and peace in him.

Courage and Mercy's blog!

2011-11-14T04:54:00.000-08:00

Have you met Mercy's friend Courage? He is a stuffed chicken who belongs to the children of Athens Link Fellowship. He came over with the group who visited us in June and we saw some great demonstrations of his fantastic flying ability! This picture of the two pals together was taken during an outing to Anstruther.

Courage and Mercy now have their own blog which they hope will help them and the children of both Link Fellowships to keep in touch. They both really enjoyed the time they spent together recently when Iain and Norma took Mercy on their trip to Athens, and Courage has written all about it on their blog and also posted some great photos. Why not have a look? Here is the link: www.courageandmercy.blogspot.com Courage and Mercy would be especially pleased if they knew the children had seen it!

Team Xstreme

2011-11-11T06:26:00.001-08:00

Photographs courtesy of Peter Paton ©

"God Rocks!" was a huge theme of the Team Xstreme show at the Alhambra to around 900 noisy recipients. This team were blowing up hot water bottles, and we do mean blowing up, smashing bricks, bending steel bars........... and sharing how their lives had been radically impacted by their Christian faiths. For many this may have been the first time they really heard the message of how much God loves them and how he wants their lives to rock!
In the coming weeks we are praying that many will find a place in all the different activities going on in Dunfermline Churches and be encouraged to see how God will impact their lives!! We've got our Sunday service, Messy Church, Alpha Expresso and a good few more things going on just now.

(For details on Link Church Office-739169 info@linkchurch.org.uk www.linkchurch.org.uk)

Impact World Tour

2011-11-07T03:29:00.000-08:00

Impact World Tour is a ministry of Youth with a Mission and provides opportunity and focus for local churches. God’s people have opportunity to come together and seek the Lord for the welfare of their community and the salvation of their family and friends. It provides an effective and relevant means for the local church to express Christ’s message. Using international performing arts, sporting and musical groups in campaign style evangelism, Impact World Tour provides a focal point for evangelism in regions throughout the world.

After months of planning and preparation, Impact World Tour is coming to Dunfermline THIS WEEK! The main events will be held in Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th November. These events are FREE - this is a great opportunity to take someone you know who is not a Christian to see the gospel presented in an amazing way, unlike anything you've seen before.

Thursday, 10th November, 7.30 pm Team Xtreme International

Team Xtreme is a group of world class athletes, conditioning experts and power lifters with a concern for today's young generations. Team Xtreme uses their tremendous physical size and natural abilities in sports to talk straight with youth and many who would normally never attend a Christian gathering. They stand up against the stream of voices selling destructive life-styles, and encourage to live honestly and morally.

Friday 11th November, 7.30 pm Team GX International

Using 'blades, boards, bikes and beat' GX International present the Gospel in a fast and fluid way unlike anything you've ever seen. Speaking right to the issues that face the young generations, they offer solid answers to the tough questions of life.

Some of the team members will also be going into several of our local schools during the week, including:

Pitreavie Primary School
Dunfermline High School
Queen Anne High School
Buckhaven High School
McLean Primary School

Please pray for Impact World Tour this week!

Pray for the events on Thursday and Friday, that the Alhambra will be full with young and old alike and that many will respond to the message of God's love and their need for salvation.

Pray too for the teams going into the schools and for the children and young people who will hear the gospel clearly presented by the teams.

The Impact World Tour committee has put a tremendous amount of work into planning and organising this week's events so please pray that everything goes according to plan.

Pray too that all financial needs of the week will be met in full.

Answered prayer

2011-11-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

£1500 of roof work costs

plus

£1500 annonymous cheque for building fund

equals

HUGE answer to prayer.

God is good!!

Dwell

2011-11-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

Check this out. This is the link to the song that Abby was sharing in Sunday. Aaron Keyes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V8n4L_n1kU

Lyrics:

Verse 1

Though a thousand may fall at my side

Though the enemy war against me

I will not fear the terror by night

I will hide in the shadow of Your wings

Chorus

I will dwell in the shelter of the most high God

I will rest in the beauty of Your presence

Your faithfulness is a shield and my great reward

I will not be afraid, I will trust in the Lord

Verse 2

You have set me securely on high

You've delivered me out of darkness

And when evil surrounds my life

You've commanded Your angels to guard me

Bridge
No weapon formed against me will prosper

No weapon formed against me will prosper

No weapon formed against me will prosper

Says the Lord

Pringles Cans Collection

2011-10-25T02:59:00.000-07:00

Our children and young people have had an exciting year finding out how, if we pray about the things we need, trust God to help us and then do our bit, we can see amazing things happen. Way back in the summer they did a fantastic job of decorating Pringles Cans which we could take home to collect our change in for the building fund. A big thank you to everyone who took a can and saved up your change for us! (We know they got very heavy indeed once they were even half full!)

The cans came back over the past couple of weeks, and we counted up the money in them. Actually, the coin machine at the bank did that for us and we were very glad of it's help, even though it did seem to take a very long time to do it!

First we poured all the coins into the machine...

Then we waited while it sorted them all out...

And we waited while it counted them....

We found out the machine does not like coins that come from America, or Spain, or Cyprus or even Zimbabwe because it gave all of those back to us! Then, after a lot of counting (while we waited) it told us how much we had collected. We were very impressed because it is a lot! The final total is:

£164.94!!

All of that money will be paid into our building fund to help with projects such as providing disabled access and toilet facilities in our building. Of course, we still need a lot more than that, but we can keep on doing our bit! There are still lots of Pringles Cans - why not pick another one up next time you are in the church and start collecting your change again? And, of course, we can keep on praying and trusting God too!

Sunday 23rd October

2011-10-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 22nd October, the Christian Motorcycle Association is holding a conference in our building at Priory Lane. Mike Fitton the National Chairman of CMA will be speaking. For more information on the CMA check out this link.
http://www.bike.org.uk/cma/index.php

We are pleased that Mike will be sharing with us at the Link on Sunday morning.
Mike is an former police officer. After becoming a Christian he worked as a youth and children's evangelist with Crusaders for ten years.
In his role with CMA he travels and preaches extensively throughout the UK, Europe, South Africa and the USA. He visited Sudan in November last year at the invitation of Open Doors UK.
He is a leader at Whitby Christian Fellowship http://www.whitbychristianfellowship.org.uk/.

God has given us room.....

2011-10-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

In fact, God has given us many rooms! As I wandered round 39 Priory Lane yesterday, with a can of polish in one hand and a duster in the other, listening to sounds of the minister serving with a hoover, ( International ministry to a conference of 1000 last month balanced with some cleaning this month has to be good for the soul!), I was struck again by the fanatstic facilities we have. Our building is a huge resource for us to use and share with the community around us. Thank you to each one who works so hard to keep it in good condition by either putting stuff back where you found it, picking up a paint brush on maintenance nights, by givining into the building fund, or those who serve us regularly in weekly cleaning and maintenance.

We have some ongoing challenges, leaking areas in the roof and toilet facilities that yell upgrade at us, but we are believing that these are opportunities for us to see God lead us and provide for us! He created the mounatins, rivers, seas and oceans. He came up with the giraffe and the elephant. He is more than able.

This morning the building was full of toddlers and their grown ups in the main hall and a women's development group downstairs working on craft projects. Messy Church is made for our building and one Saturday a month the place becomes gloriously chaotic and really quite messy. No-one cares about the mess, (altho a more effective hoover may be needed soon), as there is a friendly atmosphere that many people have come and relaxed in to. People are what our building is about.

We are excited too that around the third week in January we are starting what we are calling Alpha Expresso. The versatility of the building allows us to run a coffee shop with the best of coffee and of course muffins, chocolate slice and other delectable goodies while we explore such topics as "Is there more to life than this?" "Who is Jesus?", "Is the bible relevant today?" in an informal setting.

We do have some incredible home baking people in our church community so that alone should be a reason for coming along. Wednesday evenings, 7.45pm, open the door of 39 Priory Lane and the smell of feshly brewed coffee should welcome you! Just need to work now on getting the coffee machine serviced............ .

Mo

Final Tanzania post.....

2011-09-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

...................... for this trip anyway as Iain and Norma will be returning to the UK with many invites to return to Tanzania.
They spent time this weekend out in a village out from Arusha. The facilities were very very basic but the sense of God's presence in the meetings was huge.
Pray for them as they say their goodbyes and begin the journey home. They are due back Tuesday morning.

Back to Arusha

2011-09-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

Iain and Norma have travelled back down the road to Arusha. We have yet to hear whether Mount Kilimanjaro came out of the clouds while they were in Moshi and blessed them with an appearance.

This week is teaching and sharing at the bible college. Iain is teaching classes in homiletics and prophetic ministry and Norma is teaching on counselling and English studies. They are also ministering at Morning Chapel services.

They thoroughly enjoyed ministry on Sunday at Moshi at the former Superintendent's church. There were around 1000 per service and a powerful anointing. They have been asked back to do a week's seminar.

Norma is doing well with her cold germs all gone although the dust does occasionally inspire a cough.

News from home and away

2011-09-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

The back stairwell is to be painted this weekend. It had slipped a little in our contractors mind but, with a gentle nudge. they are now pulling out the stops to get it finished. The majority of the painting will be done on Saturday. There may be some finishing off on Sunday so please use facilities downstairs and first one there Sunday morning make sure there is a "Wet Paint" sign and some chairs to block off the stairs if necessary.

From Tanzania, Iain writes

"Glad to say our part of the Ladies Conference has been completed. Very worthwhile with good communication and the moving of the Spirit. Norma very well received as the big "mama' speaker.

Travel was tough with the appalling bumpy roads but otherwise all ok.

Norma has majorly now thrown off her cough which is good

Plans have changed for Sunday. Instead of being back up to Arusha and into a new hotel for one night and two services, first at 7am we are to be a t Lazaro's Church here in Moshi. He was former AOG Superintendent and is Barnabas's father-in-law. I spoke at his scene for a week about 5 years ago. "

Tanzania- Moshi

2011-09-07T06:38:00.000-07:00

Norma writes today.............

"We are now in middle of conference...it is going well and it is a big scene. Iain got chance to teach on Holy Spirit today and there was a lot of life! My session went well..I had my friend Faraja interpreting...she was great and God was good. We met some American missionaries at conference from Arkansas and Washington State so we are going for tea with some of them.
Still appreciate prayer especially for my cold and cough.

Tanzania Update

2011-09-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

We have received a number of texts and emails from Tanzania. Keep an eye out on Mercy's blog. She has her own stories to tell.

Iain and Norma are beginning to settle into life in Arusha. It is a big bustling city and the traffic is a little alarming at times, particularly on the side roads. Norma developed a stinking cold just after arriving possibly from travel or the dust around Arusha but by Sunday this was improving which is encouraging. They have both spoken over the weekend.

Today they have started the Women's Conference. Pray for God's life to flow.

The People's Bible

2011-08-31T03:10:00.000-07:00

We believe that the words of God change lives. We do because many of us have experienced it as individuals and have stories to tell. We may not have heard an audible voice but we have heard him in the quiet place in our heart or through the words of another. With certainty we have heard him as we have read through the pages of the bible. More accesible today than ever for whole sections of the world. (Editor note- love it on my kindle!!) yet so often the bible is unexplored by people.

So this is exciting........... The People's bible project is coming to Dunfermline on the 19th October. The details are being finalised just now but it looks like it will be in the Kingsgate Centre. Check out the People's Bible website for more info. Put the date in your diary and plan to be there to write out a couple of verses. They are also looking for volunteers to help organise this day and be there to chat and help folks with the process. You can volunteer through their website.

And in Dunfermline the different churches are collaborating on writing out Mark's gospel. We have it at the Link for the next couple of Sundays. Please take a turn and write our a few verses.

Tanzania

2011-08-24T00:12:00.000-07:00

Remember this trip?

We are fortunate as a church to have a real connection into Tanzania and to have the friendship and ministry opportunities offered to us by AOG Superintendent, Pastor Barnabas. Iain and Norma will travel to Tanzania next week.

Their itinerary is as follows

31^st - Travel to Tanzania

4^th – Ministry in local church

5^{t h}- 8^th - National Ladies’ Conference

11^th - Ministry in local church

12^th – 16^th – At Arusha Bible College

18^th – Ministry at Pastor Lazaro’s Church

19^th – Leave for home

20^th – Arrive back

Iain says

Norma and I leave for Tanzania on Wednesday 31^st for a period of just over two week’s ministry. All the details are not yet to hand, but when you are in Tanzania there is very little sitting waiting for the next event! Time is usually well filled. The above however gives major details.

Our ministry time is in the Arusha/Moshi area, sitting in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the base for expeditions into the Serengeti.

We shall be under the care and supervision of Joel and Farajah Hamuli, a couple we have known and ministered with in the past. Joel is the Principal of the Assemblies of God Bible College in Arusha and Farajah is the National Leader of Women’s’ Ministries in Tanzania.

The main event will be the National Ladies Conference with in the region of 4000 ladies expected, many of them leaders of their local ladies’ scene so this is a real challenge and precious opportunity to minister for the Lord. Norma and I have six sessions between us which gives a real chance to share some of what the Lord opens up for us.

Added to the above will be input into the Arusha Bible College and preaching in some of the local churches including Pastor Lazararo’s church in Moshi. He is Barnabas’s father in law and a former superintendent of AOG in Tanzania. I ministered at his church when I was in Moshi a number of years ago.

Prayer is valued for travel, health etc but principally for the right material to share and wisdom and insight to flow in the anointing of the Lord as He directs.

Thank you.

Blessings,

Iain

Our Schools

2011-08-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Father,

We bring our schools to you, our kids and each one who works there.

We pray for your annointing and your protection.

We pray for your love and life to flow.

Woodmill High School

Calaiswood

Clifton Hall

Kings Park

Crossford Primary

MacLean Primary

Deans Primary

Lochgelly High School

Dulloch Primary and Nursery

Pitreavie Primary

Dalgety Bay Primary

Wellwood Primary

Cairneyhill Primary

Touch Primary

Queen Anne High School

Inverkeithing High School

Canmore Primary

Amen

Messy Church and other stuff

2011-08-08T00:12:00.000-07:00

Messy week was a huge lot of fun for everyone. It worked real well learning together, from the tinies right up to the most experienced holiday club kids worker. We painted, we prayed, we planned, we were challenged to see and hear God speaking for those around us, we worried a little and we prayed some more. We had the picnic inside. (Isn't Scottish weather an unpredictable joy?) Then on Thursday we had our first Messy Church. You kind of have to see it as it is hard to describe but we had 20 kids and 18 grown ups working on a variety of craft projects together, learning how God created everything in our world and was pleased with all he made!! We chatted lots during the story while the toddler made themselves heard, we sang, prayed and ate together.... baked potatoes and lots of cake!! We loved it!!! The next one for real, that was just a try out, is on 27th August at 4-6pm. Come and join us.

After a summer programme that mixed things up our community groups will be getting back in gear. The Zimbabwe orphanage sponsorship is moving along nicely and we will be ready to support kids attend school at the start of the school year which is at the turn of the year. We continue to collect food from M&S for James Bank but a change in policy of their sell by items has resulted in a huge reduction of "waste" we can collect. We are praying about how we can respond to the need which this will create for the service users of James Bank.

On Sunday mornings this month we are looking at the verse in Genesis 26v22 which we believe God has given us a church that says ""Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land." What does it mean to flourish as individuals and as a church, in our families, in our work places, in our community? In John 10 v10 Jesus says "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" and as we were reminded yesterday that does not mean life will be easy but we will have everything we need to walk through our lives knowing peace and contentment.

Messy Church

2011-07-18T03:53:00.000-07:00

It has been quiet around church for a few weeks with so many being away! We hope everyone can enjoy a time to relax and recharge the batteries over the holidays, whether at home or away. If you will be around for the first week in August, there will be a lot of exciting things going on as we get ready for our launch of Messy Church.

Messy Church is a once a month time when families come together to enjoy creativity, music and eating together.

The aims are:
• To help families feel they belong in church and to each other
• To help people have fun and be creative together
• To introduce Jesus through hospitality, friendship, stories and songs

Find out more at www.messychurch.org.uk.

We have set aside the first week in August to plan, prepare for and practise Messy Church. Monday and Wednesday mornings we will meet in the church at around 9.30 am for two fun filled, faith building sessions targeted at all ages as we look to God to stir up our creativity and our passion for connecting with our communities. We'll start with coffee and juice, and eat lunch together before finishing around 1 pm. Everyone is welcome, but if you have a particular excitement for families then please come along! Tuesday we will have a picnic in the Glen (11am -1 pm). Meet us in front of the Andrew Carnegie Museum if you would like to join us. Thursday we will try out Messy Church from 11 am - 1 pm in the church! And on Friday there will be a church barbecue (5.30 - 8.30 pm - venue to be arranged).

Here are some future Messy Church dates for your diary:

Saturday 27th August
Saturday 24th September
Saturday 29th October
Saturday 26th November

@ the Link Church, 4 - 6 pm

Athens Link Visit

2011-06-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

The Athens team returned home on June 13th after a busy week of fun, sharing and praying together, daytrips to various places and some good work done around our building. Most of us enjoyed the chance to catch up with at least some of the team during the time they were here. We have heard some encouraging testimonies of how God has touched lives and we’re sure there are even more stories to tell.

Many thanks to everyone who helped make this visit possible by hosting, providing transport, helping with the catering and giving us homebaking for the team and the various different events, joining in with the work projects around the church and generally welcoming the group and helping them feel at home among us! A big thank you too to all involved in the huge BBQ, and for all the hard work that went into planning and holding our ceilidh.

We hope this will be the first of many trips to and from Athens! Here are some photos from the week (thanks to Diana Zylow!)

Some photo's of our building's journey! Enjoy! We are!!

2011-06-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Our kids and their grown up are loving having this room back! The ceiling looks great!

Ahhh!! A very happy home for our toys!

This is just fab... a joint US and UK little hands project with some help from big hands.
Can you spot Mercy and Courage?

An additional project is in progress!

Youth Room kitchen!

New shelves need a bit of organising!!

Floor back in and carpet down!

Our prayer room cleared of clutter and open for prayer- a life lesson in there for us.

Progress!!

2011-06-08T02:44:00.000-07:00

What an incredible few weeks we have had. It has been busy...... the lack of blog posts is testament to that.
The building work is finished, well that is to say the work on the building to restore the flood damage is finished. We have been hugely blessed by teams that have come into our building and have worked to a really good standard, have worked fast and have been friendly and helpful. We are grateful to them. The rooms look great and soon we will post a whole blog of photo's.
Wednesday night last week we turned everything the right way up again. What a joy to have the creche room back with a lovely ceiling and a most beautiful cupboard! Our prayer room has needed to be a store room for the last few months. No more! It is ready and open for prayer.
We have also been able to press on with the work on the back wall. Remember this quote from Charles Wesley.

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities, and cries, “It shall be done!”

We have seen God's provision!

This week our building is full of noise again but this time not hammers and saws. There is loads of chatting and laughter. We have 17 visiting for the Athens Link. Picnics, prayer, and mountain hikes are just a few of the things going on.

The kids do their bit.

2011-05-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

You know that story in the bible where the wee boys gives his lunch to Jesus and Jesus gets on with the business of feeding the 5,000.....? Well our kids at church have decided to do their bit for the building project and give what they have......... their pennies and their creativity.

So they have turned your average Pringle can into a work of art and are collecting their pennies and asking for your help. Would you be willing to collect your loose change, fill the can and add it to our building fund?

We have some challenges ahead but we really want our building to be acessible for everyone. Check out this blog post for photos of what needs to be done. http://linkchurchdunfermline.blogspot.com/2011/03/praying-and-believing.html.

We have had really good news about a possible solution to wheel chair access to into our building. We are just checking things out and then we will be bringing you the details!

Building repair work- phase one

2011-04-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Youth Room- there is no access at all to this room just now, for obvious reasons. We may be able to repair the creche ceiling but not if anyone falls though it!!

The floor boards were lifted and all the deafening. What you are seeing is the creche ceiling.

Any guesses? The creche cupboard!

The creche cupboard is at the moment open to the stairs.

Creche ceiling

Stairwell

The areas of the building damaged by the flood have been completely stripped back. The guys that have worked in the building have been a real blessing. They have worked hard to reduce the inevitable mess, hoovered like pro's, arranged to have skips at the building for twenty minute periods, ( the permit to have it stay on the road would not be granted until next week and they were not prepared to leave us in a mess), offered to make me a cup of tea and carried all the boxes up and down for toddlers today. A huge thanks to them! Here's praying the rest of the squads are so easy to work with and around.

Even with all the work to minimize the mess and the cleaning afterwards there will be a bit of stoor (might be a big bit!) that will settle over the coming days. If you want to lend a hand with the cleaning at any point just let us know. The youth room is a no go zone. These pictures let you see all you need to. Safety is paramount. The creche room remains closed. The stairs from the creche room down to the kids room are usable but we will have our kids use the ones at the kitchen end just now as the banister has been removed.

It struck me today how important it is to get things cleared out and stripped back to allow complete restoration. Sometimes we look for quick fixes in our lives. God isn't into patching us up. He is into wholeness. We just need to be willing to let go of the bits that are damaged and not fit for purpose so he can do his work to make us whole.

Maureen

Update 2 from Zimbabwe

2011-04-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

(As this is being typed there is the joyful noise of hammering in the building at Priory Lane. The work has begun!)

The conference at Muzarabani went really well. Iain described it as a very "rich" time. All four of the team were involved in preaching and sharing. They have seen God move in healing. Jim had to battle through a reaction to his malaria tablets leaving him feeling unwell. Not easy to preach after an hour long journey down a bumpy road from their accommodation when you are not feeling at your best. After the conference they then had a long journey down to Karoi where they again have been preaching and sharing in, with many hungry to hear and receive from God. They finish at 3pm this afternoon and are immediately into a 3-4 hour journey before starting the Leader's conference in Harare at 9am tomorrow morning!

They ask that we continue to pray for God's anointing, for stamina, health and travelling mercies in this intense and busy schedule.

They have been working hard on the orphanage sponsorship programme and 30 children have been identified. There are many stories of children really suffering with the loss of parents and relatives. Children denied basic education as there is no-one able to pay the small fees required. They have made a really good local contact who will be travelling to Harare for the leaders conference when they will be able to work on prioritising this list.

News from Zimbabwe

2011-04-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

The crew all arrived safely with their luggage on Wednesday lunch time, a long but OK trip. The good news is that all four are able to communicate by text and phone call when they can get a signal. Helps the families back home! Mercy has also been busy sending a few texts and kids big and small can catch up with her on her blog. http://www.mercyadventures.blogspot.com/

The Easter Conference in Muzarabani has been going well with 5 or 6 hundred attending. It has been interesting to see a good percentage of young women there. All four have had a chance to share and God has really been moving with many filled with the Spirit and healings. A woman who had been silent for two years after a stroke began to sing praises to God.

The team have been blessed by a lady called Barbara who has provided food and lodging for them.

Please continue to pray that the right conversation can be had about the sponsorship programme for orphans that we are so keen as a church to become a reality. This is a key element of this trip. For the on-going itinerary the Link website has the details.

The team have asked that we continue to pray as they travel and minister.

A quick turnaround

2011-04-14T05:08:00.000-07:00

Iain is back from his visit to the Athens Link.

"I am glad to say Athens Link is progressing well. There was a very real sense of the Lord’s touch and presence on the gatherings and real evidence of growth in many lives. At the heart of the church is the desire to be available to God for His life flow and to be a spiritual and practical resource for God in Athens.

There is a real excitement about the coming trip to be with us in June, and a desire to share life and grow in the Lord together as well as establishing ‘links’ and friendships that will further the life flow between us for many years.

Thanks for all your prayers."

Now he has time to unpack, get the washing done, catch up with people and get packing. Tuesday he heads off to Zimbabwe with Norma, Jim S and Angela. Here is the itinerary.

19/20th – Travel and arrival via Amsterdam/ Nairobi with Kenya Airlines

21st – Rest and communication with Simon and Silent

22nd -Travel to Muzarabani

22nd/24th- Easter Convention at Muzarabani

25th- Muzarabani with Pastors and their wives. Jim and the team will be seeking to establish grounds for support of the orphan programme

26/27- Leadership Conference at Karoi

28/30- Return to Harare and Leadership Conference

1st May- Church at Hatcliffe Township

2nd May – Travel to Scotland via Jo’burg and Amsterdam

3rd May – Back to Scotland

The programme is a full one but offers many opportunities to share in with the rapidly growing church of Fellowship in Christ. The Easter Convention at Muzarabani last year had around 400/500 people and more are expected this year. It will be extremely warm during the day, being in the lower Zambezi valley, but night times will be a little cooler.

The Leader’s Conferences will be a great platform to pass on biblical truths and practical advice. As a church we are really looking to moving forward on the orphan sponsorship. It give us a great chance as a church in the very near future to share into a very needy area.

Please pray for this trip, for anointing on the ministry, travelling mercies and strength to do the task!

This is another chance for our church to ‘make a difference in the world around the world’.

Communicating far and wide!

2011-03-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

Check out http://www.linkchurch.org.uk/welcome.htm

We are live with our new site.

It is simple in format just now. It is designed with two groups of people in mind. We are praying that many people who are exploring the Christian faith or indeed looking for a Christian community to belong to in their spiritual journey find it helpful. It is also for all those who are already part of the Link Community to browse through regularly. There is a calendar of events and a link to this blog, for example.

Now we are up and running it is easy to update and this will happen on a weekly basis. We will be happy to consider suggestons, info and links for the site.

A big thanks to Diana of the Athens Link for her help with the image on our home page. We are looking forward to meeting her in June and maybe just getting a wee tutorial or two!

Praying and Believing

2011-03-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

Charles Wesley wrote in one of his hymns

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities, and cries, “It shall be done!”

Our current disabled toilet - wholly inadequate.

The exposed backwall with supporting plinth just now to keep the cornice in place.

Ladies Toilets- in need of some plasterboard and just maybe a heater!

Just four steps but a major issue for disabled access with the buildings Listed status.

It would be easy to look at the building just now and see the impossibilities. In God we believe that we can push forward in faith believing for his resources and wisdom, playing our part. We are blessed with this building as a resource and we seek to see it used more and more.

Kevan, Mike Y and Iain have been meeting to look at the various ways this projects can be tackled and the different cost implications. Speak to these guys with any suggestions, questions or offers of assistance. Kevan has spoken with church on a number of occasions about the different quotes and proposals he has worked hard to gather. Due to the time lapse these will need to go back to a tendering process but give us a good idea of what is involved. It may be that we tackle the work in stages or if enough finance could be raised we could do it all in a oner. We always must be mindful that the building is a Listed building and planning permission must be sought. This Listing would also prevent us from fitting ramp access to the building, for example. There are some impossibilities that we are praying though, looking to God for answers.

Maureen is currently exploring options for grants to help with the finances. This is another area for prayer, faith and wisdom.

1 Day Purpose - Transform Dunfermline

2011-02-21T03:15:00.000-08:00

1 Day Purpose

Transform Dunfermline

Saturday 5^th March 2011

The purpose of Transform Dunfermline is to prepare and encourage the church in Dunfermline to unite in preparation for Impact World Tour, a community wide evangelistic campaign taking place in October and November 2011. One day to pray, fast and worship to change our community. Transform Dunfermline will inspire you to continue to pray and commit to see our community reached with the truth of Jesus. You will hear what God is doing across the country and around the world to forge "unity with purpose" while leaving room for God to accomplish his purposes in your community.

Transform Dunfermline will take place in Viewfield Baptist Church. From 12noon – 4pm there will be a mix of corporate and individual prayer, as well as prayer stations. Different churches and worship groups will lead out in praise and prayer throughout the afternoon. Come for a while or stay the whole time. Then there will be a community gathering at 7.30pm, again in Viewfield Baptist. The evening speaker will be Iain Sutherland, minister of Gillespie Memorial Church, and there will be a community wide worship band.

Coming soon..........

2011-02-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

Our new look website will be launched very soon. We will always be on the hunt for good stories of what God has been doing to share and any really good quality photo's that capture the life that is around our scene. Contact the office if you have anything to offer.

Some, or indeed all of these people will be coming soon.......... . They are praying into whether God would have them come as part of the Athens Link to visit the Dunfermline Link. The dates to be putting in your diary are 4th to the 13th June. At the moment there is a lot of investigating flights, and prayer, as they are very expensive.

Coming soon too should be a whole team to get the work started on the repairs our building requires following the flood.

Thanking God

2011-02-04T03:10:00.000-08:00

In 1997 God blessed us with the vision and resources to buy this building.
Ten years ago this week our building underwent a radical transformation. Many of us can remember the pink pillars and the pink and green floral wall paper. Dot, in the graphic designer phase of her life, came up with a colour scheme that has stood the test of time. A team of willing volunteers from St James in Athens, led by Dave Staton, boarded a plane, totally unaware the size of the task ahead of them, and worked tirelessly with many of our own people. Our main hall was changed that week beyond recognition and many lives were changed too as friendships were formed and God worked deep into lives. Do you remember the snow? The freezing trip to Stirling castle?
Ten years on it is right to pause a little and thank God for his faithfulness, his provision and his immense love! It is right to remember how, with God, huge impossible tasks can be completed and have our faith stirred again to reach into Him.
It is right too to thank our friends who worked with us and send greetings back to those separated by a vast ocean! Haste ye back soon. No painting or scaffolding unless of course you want a wee challenge.............!!

We have not used the comment feature of the blog up until now but it may be fun to share some memories of this time. If you do not have a google account you can comment under anon, just remember to leave you name at the end of the comment.

Home and dry

2011-01-26T05:23:00.000-08:00

Iain and Norma are home from their trip to Athens, full of stories of their time out there with the Link, Athens. You can find out lots of what is going on out there from their blog http://athenslink.wordpress.com. Mercy is back too, having had a very exciting and interesting time. She has made lots of new friends and one in particular. More details to follow on that. (Not another mission trip marriage tho, just in case your mind was going in that direction! She is a sheep, remember.)
The church out there are excited about a number of them coming over in June and we will soon have confirmed information on that.

Our building is dry! This is very good news and the surveyor has already been in contact to start the next stage of the process.

Blow Drying @ the Link

2011-01-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

Iain and and Norma have arrived safe and sound in Athens after a largely uneventful journey. Norma had some earache to contend with but nothing too bad. The world out there is very cold, with snow and ice. Roads are almost all passable now, some with care. They are looking forward to getting in amongst all that is going on in the Athens Link. Please be in prayer for teh work out there. We will keep you posted here about their trip. Mercy travelled with them so do get the kids to keep an eye on her blog. She has had a hair cut especially

There have been some good, encouraging prayer sessions and times of seeking God that have taken place this week. Let's be sharing what we have heard into our groups and to each other, and there will be some feedback on Sunday morning. Our Community Groups are about to pick up on "Try Praying". Our heart is really to see lives changed as we bring God into all our situations and encourage our neighbours, our work colleagues and friends to do the same. Check out http://www.trypraying.co.uk/ .

And the blow drying? We have not set up a hair saloon altho you could get a weird and wonderful style in the creche room just now! All the drying equipment arrived yesterday. Five large fans and two large dehumdifiers are installed, between the youth room, the creche and the stairwell. The building does sound a little like Glasgow Airport. The guys installing them were encouraging about the amount of drying we have managed to do ourselves and are optimistic that this process should be reasonably quick. We plan to keep the fans on as much as possible and to allow this we will use the stairs near the kitchen as the general access to downstairs. The guttering has also now been replaced.

Yep, more snow!

2011-01-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

This morning undeterred by another three inches of snow some of our guys met for breakfast. Andy shared and there was a chance to pray, in particular for Andy who is off on business to Canada and Iain, leaving Thursday for Athens. The roads were all passable and part of Andrew Carnegie's Birthplace car park had already been cleared. Yep, really!!

This morning the surveyor who will project management the reinstatement work was in to check out all that needed to be done. An electrician to look at the lighting on the back stairs is a priority for the next few days as is someone to attend to the broken guttering. We also do need the restoration team in as soon as possible to really take forward the drying out of the building. It may be that floor boards will need to be replaced. The List B angle will also come in to play with possible planning permission required for parts of the work. We will work with a number of contractors. If you are able to volunteer to be in and around the building at various points over the next few weeks, should we require cover during the day, please contact Mo or Ruth, in the church office.

And tomorrow? We are excited about the opportunities this week to focus in on prayer and seeking God together as a church. The forecasts are well................varied. So when we get out of bed tomorrow we will know where we are at. If we at all can, the services will be on. As ever we would love to see everyone but be wise and be safe. If there is a need to cancel, this blog will be updated at 9am.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

May you know God's richest blessing this year!

Soups, stovies, lasagne, trifle and apple pie were all on the menu @the Link today. We had a lovely time. It was not busy, the quietest year we have had in fact, but there was something calm and restful about it and a few of our guests stayed the whole time, enjoying the banter and the company. We pray that each one who came will know God's peace and provision in their lives this year and they will know the reality of a relationship with Him.

A huge thanks to all those who served so willingly today and for all those who provided for the event in food, finance and prayer. May God bless you!!

Journeying into a New Year.

2010-12-29T13:12:00.000-08:00

We spent some time thinking at the service on Christmas Eve about the journeys that were taken that very first Christmas, a pregnant girl, some excited and wondering shepherds, the wise men and God's journey to become Immanuel, God with us. He came to walk our lives, to understand our griefs and trials but to take a path to Calvary so we could know comfort, peace and victory in our lives as we journey into a new year.

The last few weeks have been full of troublesome journeys. Our Christmas Eve service which is normally a time of calm saw us fleeing round the building, ten minutes before we were due to start, trying to work out which toilets would actually flush and not leak . Ahh, the joys. Sometimes we do have to battle through to a place of peace. There are a lot of folks in our communities who are journeying just now with businesses struggling due to the hit they have taken from this weather, folks who have not been able to work hardly at all this month and others who find this season a stark reminder of all they are missing in their lives.

On New Years Day our building will be open and there will be a warm welcome there and a hot meal for folks who may find this day more difficult and who would welcome a bit of company. Let's pray that God will draw folks there and that over the next few days posters will be noticed and invites given. The building will be open from twelve and food served between 1 and 3pm.

The thaw in the weather has helped restore water to all the different parts of the building and a few well timed plumbing procedures by the plumber/pastor has all our facilities back working. We are hopeful that the mop and bucket, which has lived around the entrance hall for the last few weeks, can be put back in the cupboard. Both dehumidifiers are now in the creche room and are being emptied most days showing the amount of water that came though this room. We are still waiting to hear from the surveyor and from the restoration team, who hopefully now will just be able to confirm we are on top of the drying process.

God is good!

2010-12-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

We managed it all........curry night, hearing about David and Corne's work, James Bank food pick up, Christmas party and our morning service, and the weather only really played havoc right at the end of it all. We have laughed, talked, prayed, cried some, had a few injuries ( those are stories for another place!), had church and been church. Our God is good!

As we continue in this advent season we are praying
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

We have our Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve at 7pm. Remember too our meal on New Years Day as we seek to give a warm welcome to those who may find this season more difficult. If you can help by donating food items to this contact Mo or the church office.

Weather Forecasts and Building Update

2010-12-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

We have loads of events on over the next few days. Or we have a lot of things planned.............. the forecast is a little mixed so keep checking back here if there is doubt as to whether things will go ahead. Remember the party on Saturday night 5pm. It will be loads of fun for all ages so come and bring friends. It is a cold finger buffet so please bring plenty to share.

The carpark at Andrew Carnegies birthplace has been ploughed but would appear not to have been gritted. It is parkable but go canny, as in places you could do some pretty spectacular ice skating moves.

Iain and Maureen met the Loss Adjuster in the building to talk through the damage caused by the burst pipe. He was very helpful and will be sending in a restoration team to advise and assist on the drying out of the building to ensure no damp remains to cause later difficulties. A surveyor is also to be appointed to help work out the different steps required to get the building back up to scratch. He was clear that the immediate priority was to get the wet carpets and underlay out of the building so that the dehumidifiers could work on drying out the actual building. With a level of dedicated insanity Iain and Maureen set about getting that done, cutting, carrying, loading and unloading carpets and these are now in the skips at the tip. Handy hint- carpets and underlay go in separate skips, and not adjoining ones at that!!

Please note that there is now no general access to the creche due to the concerns about the ceiling.

Hard work and good progress

2010-12-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to all those who worked so very hard at church today to get it to a place where it is usable for our own activities and the lets during the week. The water to the upstairs kitchen area was isolated and the water to the rest of the building switched back on. The plumber arrived this afternoon and has done the necessary repair. We are waiting to hear from the loss adjuster as the building is in the Listed building category and work on the creche ceiling needs to be agreed.
This morning the creche room carpet had a distinct squelch too it and a small amount of water had seeped on to the carpet of the main hall. The vax was busy sucking up more water from this carpet. The carpet here and the youth room need to be thoroughly dried as do the floor boards and ceiling beams. All the creche toys, and that is no small amount, were hit with a high level of anti bacterial spray, dried and are now either stored in the prayer room or in our temporary creche in the room at the top of the stairs. A small selection of toys are damaged beyond use.

The majority of the Storehouse cupboard has been cleared out and has been dried. A good amount of stuff we have been able to save, although electrical items and some toiletry items are not salvageable. We will need to assess where we are at with Starter Packs and storehouse food items this coming week. Thankfully the Christmas Hampers were not bought because of the weather and Jackie was out early this morning doing that.
Our Sunday service will be on tomorrow and will be followed with the AGM. Parking around the building continues to be slightly challenging. The car park near Skibo court is parkable in part. The two car parks near Andrew Carnegie's birthplace, at the point of typing this, are still under snow/ice. The two up from the bakers are now both usable. Directly outside the building there are still a number of ice mounds but these are shrinking all the time.
It will be good to worship God together tomorrow. Come if you can!

Torrential Rain.... inside!

2010-12-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately having the heating on 24/7 did not prevent a pipe bursting somewhere in the top floor kitchen of our building. When Jackie arrived to open for the Friday drama let water was pouring, actually flooding thru down into the creche room and into the Storehouse cupboard below. Jackie got the water turned off quickly and after about an hour the rain lessened to a light but steady drip and that is how we have left it.

We cleared out the entire creche room into the side hall. Many of the boxes of toys were completely full of water. All of this will need washed and dried before it can be used but almost all is usable. The contents of the Storehouse cupboard has taken quite a hit and that is sad. Toiletries, starter packs, food items all wet and it will take time to see what we can salvage. We will need to think at how we restock.

The heating is still on and can remain so even tho at this point the water is off. We have a plumber/engineer coming out at some point tomorrow courtesy of our maintenance contract.

Tomorrow some of us can go in with anti bacterial wipes and clean some creche toys to get a creche functioning for Sunday upstairs. We can also dry some of the others and stack things up in the prayer room. This clean up party will start at half ten if you can make it. Bring towels or tea towels! We can also finish the clear up of the Storehouse cupboard.

If things can be repaired to a point allowing us to get the water back on then our service will be on as normal on Sunday. We do have a lot to be thankful for. If the drama had been cancelled this may not have been discovered until much later! Please check back here tomorrow for details.

The world is beginning to drip

2010-12-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

Today we are clearly beginning to see a bit of a thaw after another challenging week.

The snow of Monday meant that we once again had to close the building to lets. The church office has not be open on either Monday or Tuesday although Ruth has been busy working from home. Wednesday we managed after a bit of difficulty to get the building open for a group that wanted their class to continue although only one person showed up and the class was then cancelled.

The conditions around the building even up to lunchtime today (Thursday) remain chaotic. The huge snow/ice mounds have not been cleared due to the large quantities of cars that are parked there. These mounds are forcing these cars to park a long way from the pavement reducing Priory Lane to a single lane. The immediate car parks are still under deep snow altho the two car parks up from the bakers are now parkable.

Most of our own church activities have been cancelled this week. Folks exhausted after getting to work needing time to rest or nowhere to park if you could get there being the main reasons.

We have made the tough decision today to cancel the Go Cracker event for the kids this Saturday. We have done this reluctantly. The next day or so should bring marked improvement but there is a significant amount of work needing to be done on the main town cars parks and this will undoubtedly be the main priority likely leaving ours down the list. Our concern was for the safety of the children as they were being dropped off. We also had to take account of the hit that all the preparation had taken and that at least one of our key players can still not get her car out. While we could have delayed the decision we wanted to give families time to make other plans.

We are fully expecting to be able to hold our Service followed by our AGM on Sunday. We will have a look around the building on Saturday and advise you here of the parking situation.

In the meantime stay warm and dodge those icicles.

Hey folks....it is snowing!

2010-12-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

I mean..........again?!

A good number of us made it out to church yesterday but it was not easy. A lot of walking, digging and helping each other out. It was good to be together and to sing "Be thou my vision" and hear of God's deep love for each of us, as it all to easy to get focused on the hassle of the snow. For many though it was not at all possible to come and that is totally understandable.

Today's snow has again caught us a bit by surprise and clear driveways are once again gone. Tonight's leadership meeting is cancelled. Much can be done by email and phone. The prayer meeting tomorrow night is also now cancelled. The difficulties of parking in town will be compounded with this fresh down pour. There is next to no chance this will be resolved by tomorrow. Community groups will be at the discretion of group leaders so expect to hear from them directly.

Psalm 103 is a great read.
"......for as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him"

Worshipping together!

2010-12-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

We can be church wherever we are but there is something good about coming together to worship God and tomorrow morning our building will be warm and welcoming. The heating has been on 24/7. The roads are all passable in town. Parking will be more of a challenge.The immediate car parks around Priory Lane as of 1300 today were still under deep snow. Most main town carparks, City Hotel, Kingsgate multi story, former firestation car park are parkable. There is also parking at the side of the road on St Margaret's Street (Up from bakers and outside the vets). So if you are able to get out your street and are willing to walk a little please come and join us. Bring your slippers and we will start with a cup of tea and coffee at 10.30am. There will be a kids programme tomorrow almost as normal.
We have decided that we will pour our energy into tomorrow morning and the meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening in Priory Lane is cancelled.
If you are still snowed in then be safe, get in touch if we can do anything and we pray for a rich sense of God's presence with you.
Pray for our Street Pastors who are out tonight.

What no snow for the last few hours?

2010-12-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

Kind of difficult to know if things are calming down a little. Really depends on what weather forecast you watch. We will see what the next few days bring.

This week we officially took over the James Bank food run. All credit to Liberty church members who used backpacks and sledges to ensure the food got there on Wednesday night. David is confident that he will be able to use conventional means as he starts off our Friday nights for us. If it snows heavily again tho we may be looking for a few intrepid folks to get there on foot!

We are aiming to have our service on Sunday but will do a good check round of roads and car parks on Saturday and let you know how things are looking. Check back here.

Welcome to the Link Blog

2010-12-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

This week has shown us that having a few different forms of instant communication might be quite helpful. We will work on developing this blog.

Iain made it into our building today. He tried yesterday and while he could reach it he was unable to park anywhere and got stuck in Comely Bank and forty five minutes later was dug out by his dentist!! Today he parked in the City Hotel car park and walked down, passing a few car parks under a foot and a half of snow. The building is all fine and the heating is now on 24/7, avoiding the risk of burst pipes.

While he was there he took a phonecall from the Salvation Army concerned about a lady in the vicinity of our building distraught as she had little food in. Iain was able to take food, from the Storehouse cupboard and the local baker, and deliver it to her. The Storehouse Ministry is such a valuable ministry.