Category: Scottish Church

Seminar – How to Study the Gospels

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On Mondays we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. For the next few weeks we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

Jody MacIver, from St Andrews will be leading a seminar on How to Study the Gospels.

What is the seminar about?
This seminar will aim to give us the tools to be able to understand and apply the gospels – particularly the trickier narrative bits.

Who is the seminar for?
Anyone at all! While the gospels are probably the bit of the bible we’re most familiar with, it can be difficult to see how we can apply the narrative sections. We can enjoy reading the stories but struggle to see how they should have an impact on our relationship with Christ or other parts of our lives. So this is for anyone who would like to be able to read the bible for themselves more effectively – not just those who are in teaching roles.

Why is this area important?
If we believe that ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness’, then it’s vital to equip ourselves to understand the bible as best we can. In the gospels we get an up-close and personal look at Jesus – how he lived as well as what he taught – and every bit of it is essential for our walk with him. The more confidence we have in understanding the gospel accounts the better equipped we are to know Jesus and enjoy life to the full in him, and the more equipped we’ll be to share the good news of what he did with others, too.

Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?
I attended the conference last year, and as well as getting lots out of the teaching, I loved catching up with and meeting women from different parts of Scotland. I’m looking forward to getting to do that again!

Tickets can be purchased for £10 from Eventbrite here –Tickets 

SWBC is for you!

Wondering whether you should go to the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention and why you should be excited about “another Christian conference”?  To help we asked different people why SWBC is for all women and is something we should all be excited by.  These people have either already booked their tickets, are involved in planning or are enthusiastically advertising at their churches.

This week we asked Alan McKnight, minister at Harper Church in Glasgow and part of the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership Steering Group, why he is encouraging the women in his church to go.

Alan writes,”When God’s word is faithfully taught his voice is heard and lives are changed. That’s why I’m so encouraged by the work of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention because it is all about God’s Word and it provides a model for women opening up God’s word with other women.

We are encouraging all of our Harper women to go along and enjoy a feast of good teaching together with a varied range of seminars that will help with living the Christian life in the world as it is today. We see the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention as a model that our women can learn from and that it will enrich women’s ministry in the local church as well as building friendships across the various congregations supporting the event.”

Tickets on sale now!

We are really exciting to announce that tickets for the 2017 Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are now on sale.  You can purchase them from swbc2017.eventbrite.co.uk  The early bird price of £8 is available until the end of July.  Don’t miss out!

Our speaker this year is Clare Heath-Whyte.  She will be teaching us from Luke 7.  We will be profiling her on the blog soon.  There will seminars on a variety topics which we will share information about in the upcoming months.  Sign up for seminars will happen on the day.

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursday’s  we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent them a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face .

Staff_Sharon_Dickens-300x400Meet Sharon…Sharon lives in Niddrie, Edinburgh.

What area of ministry do you work in?

I’m Director of Operations and Women’s Ministry with 20schemes it’s a ministry of my church Niddrie Community Church.

How did you come to work in this particular area of ministry?

I have worked in the community primarily with families and people who have experienced homelessness for over 26 years. I was a member of Niddrie Community Church when Mez McConnell took over as our minister he asked me to be part of the Niddrie Pastoral Team initially as a community development worker. For over 8 years  I primarily  worked at establishing, training and co-ordinationing the women’s ministry.

When 20schemes was launched In Nov 2012 I was asked to take on the role of Director for Women’s ministry so that I could focus and develop the women’s ministry as well as and train the women workers. In April 2015 I also took on the responsibility to oversea the administration team UK and USA changing my job title to Director of Operations and Women’s Ministry so have a duel role.

Give one great challenge and one great joy of working in gospel ministry?

My great joy is that I get to mentor and disciple women who are in ministry as they mentor women, new believers, in the schemes. This is would also be, I would say, one of the greatest challenges as well as they struggle in their roles. I find it challenging the responsibility I have as an older women speaking into their lives. I feel the challenge for my own life even as I listen to my own words challenging them.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?

  • Patience
  • Reliance on Him and not self reliance
  • Servant heartedness

Sharon will be leading a seminar at the convention.  Next week we will share more details of her seminar.

SWBC is for you!

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Wondering whether you should go to the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention and why you should be excited about “another Christian conference”?  To help we asked different people why SWBC is for all women and is something we should all be excited by.  These people have either already booked their tickets, are involved in planning or are enthusiastically advertising at their churches.

unnamedThis week we asked Jon Gemmell, minister at Bruntsfield Evangelical in Edinburgh, why he is encouraging the women in his church to go and is volunteering his help behind the scenes.

Jon writes, “I am so excited about the inaugural Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. Women gathering around God’s Word and seeking the Lord together is always a thrilling and fruitful endeavour and one hopefully modelled and catalysed at this Convention. Women’s ministry is under-resourced across Scotland as a whole. I am praying that this convention can go some way to addressing this urgent need, spurring the church to take seriously its responsibility to serve, nurture, grow and unleash women to be confident, dynamic and dangerous for the gospel.”

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursday’s we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent them a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face and what they are looking forward to about the Scottish Women’s Convention.

IMG_20160603_141326Meet Miriam…Miriam lives in Edinburgh with her husband.

What are you usually doing at 2pm on a Wednesday?

Sat at my desk, working. Not all that exciting, I’m afraid! I work as the Admin Co-ordinator in the Free Church of Scotland offices in Edinburgh; the administrative/financial hub of the work of the denomination. It’s a varied role that largely depends on what’s going on and what others need, but it gives me a fascinating insight into the inner workings of the church. It’s so easy to forget the everyday tasks that go on behind the scenes to allow gospel work to happen, but it’s actually really fulfilling (and challenging!) to know that everything you do, however mundane it may seem, is for the glory of God.

How did you become a Christian?

I’m very blessed in having no memory of a time when I wasn’t a Christian. My parents are deeply committed Christians and my dad is an Anglican vicar, so Jesus Christ and faith were integral to our everyday family life. I was always encouraged to develop a living faith of my own through prayer and Bible study, but there was never a question about God or the Bible that I couldn’t ask. My faith has matured over the years, but one of the key periods for me was studying Theology at university, when I specialised in the New Testament. There is something remarkable about being taught to translate the gospel from Greek to English that really makes you own the truth for yourself.

How do you serve within your church?

I’m part of St Columba’s Free Church in Edinburgh, where I serve as part of the church praise team. I’ve always loved music, and the Free Church tradition of singing unaccompanied psalms  has made me appreciate the psalms as worship far more than I ever had done before. I also write the church prayer diary and help my husband Dean, who is one of the church elders, with a house group.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?

It took me a while to find my answer to this question, but I think it would have to be how to appreciate seasons of blessing. The last few years have been a real time of blessing and encouragement from the Lord, and this has helped me to mature and settle in my faith, and has taught me that God’s biblical promises of protection and benefit to His people are not just for eternity; they can be for now as well. This season of stability and peace has also enabled me to develop good habits in terms of supporting others and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord. In the end, we need to put our trust in God over and above all others things and people, and the blessings of recent times have given me the trust in Him to do that. Of course, I know that trials will still come, but I hope and pray that the lessons I have learnt in the good years will stay with me through any lean times in the future.

How did you get involved in planning the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention?

By being in the right place at the right time! We were having tea at the manse one night with our minister and his wife, Derek and Catriona Lamont, and Derek just asked me straight out to get involved. His words, so far as I can remember, were: ‘Miriam, I’ve had an email asking if there’s anyone in the congregation who would get involved in the steering group for a new Christian women’s conference. Are you keen?’ My answer was: ‘Absolutely!’

What thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?

It may sound geeky, but my answer has to be robust biblical teaching for Christian women. All too often, material for Christian women is aimed at emotional stimulation, rather than mental sustenance and challenge. The Bible can be hard to grapple with, but the message of God was never meant to be an easy comfort. It is meant to sustain us through the challenges of the Christian life, and sanctify us for eternal life with the Son. I’m so glad, therefore, that the SWBC aim is to ‘equip women with the Word’, giving them the tools to delve deeper into God’s Word for themselves, and the confidence in the gospel to share their faith with others. Our faith and fruitfulness can only grow when we understand the Bible better.

On a very selfish note, I’m also hoping to be able to actually make it to the Convention! I’m due to give birth to my first child on the 7th October, the day before the Convention, so I’m hoping the baby will be a few days late so I can come along. We certainly don’t want any dramatics on the day, but I don’t really want to have to wait until next year to be there in person!

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursday’s we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent them a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face and what they are looking forward to about the Scottish Women’s Convention.

IMG_0456Meet Naomi…Naomi lives in Edinburgh with her husband and works for Chalmers Church.

What area of ministry do you work in?

Mainly internationals and women

How did you come to work in this particular area of ministry?

I’ve been interested in overseas mission since going on a year abroad at university to Argentina and so I’ve been keen to meet internationals and get to know them.  When I started my apprenticeship at Chalmers Church, I got to know a Korean girl who was studying in Edinburgh.  Chatting to her got me thinking about how to reach out to more internationals in the city.  So we started an English conversation class at Chalmers. It’s been great to get to know people from all over the world and, by God’s grace, to try and share the gospel with them.

Give one great challenge and one great joy of working in gospel ministry?

A great joy is seeing God work in people’s lives through reading his word and hearing his word preached.  It’s amazing to see the impact it can make in people’s lives when they understand what God is saying through the Bible.  It’s a great challenge to see people ignore his word and wander away.  It’s a great challenge to keep on remembering to focus on Jesus and the Bible and to keep on letting it change my heart, my attitudes and my actions.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?

He has been teaching me about his Son, the servant King who humbled himself in coming down to earth and reaching out to sinful people like us.  And in teaching me this about himself he has been teaching me more about the Christian life, that we are to follow Christ in this same way – to keep serving him humbly and thinking more about others than about myself.

What thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?

Seeing women from all over Scotland coming together to learn from God’s word. Joining together as we try to run the race for Christ and encouraging each other to keep on going.

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursday’s we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent various people a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face and what they are looking forward to about the Scottish Women’s Convention.

my-passport-photoMeet Rachel…Rachel was born in Belfast, lived in England for 7 years and moved to Edinburgh when she was 13 years old. Edinburgh very much feels like home now! She grew up in a Christian family and committed her life to Christ at a young age.

What area of ministry do you work in?

Women’s Ministry. I am the Women’s Ministry Coordinator at Charlotte Chapel. Within this role I lead bible studies, disciple younger women, organise events and much more. I am particularly passionate about training and equipping women to grow and develop the gifts and abilities God has given them for service.
How did you come to work in this particular area of ministry?
Leaving university I knew I had a desire to be involved in ministry but was unsure how and what it would be. I trained to be a teacher and a couple of years into teaching the desire hadn’t changed so I started exploring options. A conversation with my minister, Robin Sydserff, led to me applying for the apprenticeship programme at our church. I was accepted and did this alongside the Cornhill Training Course in Glasgow (http://www.cornhillscotland.org.uk/). After my apprenticeship I got the job at Charlotte.
Give one great challenge and one great joy of working in gospel ministry?
The greatest joy is getting to speak to people about the gospel and Jesus on a daily basis. I love being able to open the Bible with people and show them how God speaks to them  through it today. It is even better when you see God transforming lives by His Holy Spirit.
The greatest challenge is to retain a desire for personal Bible study and prayer. When spending your work hours in the Bible it can be easy to let personal habits slide. I have learnt time and time again that when I am not deepening my relationship with God I am much more tempted to rely on myself. In those times I either become proud or feel overwhelmed. To keep going in ministry I need to be growing in my dependence on God which comes through spending time with him.
What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?
More recently God has teaching me what his word has to say about singleness and this path he has me on. I still desire marriage and strongly believe that the Bible teaches that marriage is an honourable thing to desire. However, what God has been teaching is enabling me to see my singleness less as a burden and more as a good gift and time not to be wasted. Elisabeth Elliot put it this way, “This gift for this day. The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived not always looked forward to as though the “real” living were around the next corner. It is for today we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow.”
What thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?
I think I am most looking forward to seeing women from all over Scotland coming together to learn from God’s word.

Tickets

Flyer front.001.jpegOn Mondays we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention.  This week we are excited to announce that tickets for the Convention will go on sale this weekend at the super early bird price of £6!  Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite here – tinyurl.com/swc16tix

This super early bird price of £6 will be available until the end of April.  From May until July tickets will be available at the price of £8 and then from August until on the day tickets will be £10.  So get them now!  It will be totally worth it!

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