On Tuesday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.
Alison Watson, from Edinburgh, will be leading a seminar on Perseverance in Pain: How Jesus’ suffering helps us.
Alison is a local GP and a biblical counsellor working with New Growth Counselling in Edinburgh. She is married with three young adult children. She enjoys reading, running, hillwalking, watching rugby and travelling in her spare time.
What is the seminar about?
In the seminar, we will be looking at the suffering of Christ both in Gethsemane and on the cross to help us as we ourselves suffer.
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
Looking forward to spending the day ‘considering Him’ alongside so many sisters in Christ. It will be a joy.
On Tuesday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.
Judy Laing, from Aberdeen will be leading a seminar on What Jesus is Doing for You Right Now – His Prayers for Us.
Judy is the Women’s Worker in Bon Accord Free Church, Aberdeen. She is married, has 3 adult sons, and very recently had the delight of adding a daughter-in-law to our family. When opportunity allows, she loves to be outdoors hiking, cycling or walking the dog, enjoying the beaches and mountains of Aberdeenshire!
What is the seminar about?
When we think of Jesus’ work, we often look back to his death on the cross, or forward to his future return. But what is he doing for his people right now? The book of Hebrews gives us a glorious answer: ‘He always lives to make intercession for us’ (Hebrews 7:25). In this seminar, we will unpack the often-forgotten reality of Christ’s ongoing ministry. We will dig into Scripture together to discover why he prays for us and what he is praying for us. We will apply this to our daily lives by considering how Jesus’ continual prayers for us give us assurance and confidence that he will hold us fast.
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
I am very excited to be at SWBC this year. It is a joy to spend time with women from churches around Scotland to renew old friendships and make new ones. To sing, pray and listen to God’s word being taught is such an encouragement and a great way to spend a Saturday!
On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.
Rachel Sloan, from Edinburgh, will lead a seminar called ‘The hope of our future rest’
What is the seminar about?
God promised to give us rest through Jesus now but we will always experience that rest imperfectly. One day we will dwell with God forever and experience perfect rest. This is our future hope that we are looking forward. However, do we often dwell on our future hope of eternal rest? Do we allow that hope to shape our lives here and now? This seminar will explore what the Bible has to teach us about our future hope of eternal rest with God.
Who is the seminar for?
Anyone and everyone!
Why is this area important?
Knowing and looking for to the hope of eternal rest will profoundly impact how we live today. We will experience more of God’s rest now as we look ahead. Purtian writer Richard Baxter wrote, “O that the Christian would learn to live with one eye on Christ crucified and the other on his coming in glory! If everlasting joys were more in your thoughts, spiritual joys would abound more in your hearts. When Christians let their heavenly expectations fall but heighten their earthly desires they are preparing themselves for fear and trouble.” So often our minds are preoccupied with our earthly realities and we see the negative impact on our lives. Having our eternal rest in our sights will help us endure to the end.
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
The times of worship are always such a joy. Getting to sing with so many women is a special experience.
On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.
Karen Clark and Kaete Wiese, from Edinburgh, will lead a seminar called ‘Rest in Jesus + Social Media = incompatible?’
What is the seminar about?
What does it look like to abide in the rest of Jesus, while being active on social media? For some of us, this won’t be a problem; for others, social media is a total minefield! God promises to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him, so how can we lean into that when we log on to our various platforms? In this seminar, we will explore some of the privileges and pitfalls of social media and think through how to navigate the territory without losing sight of who we are and whose we are.
Who is the seminar for?
Anyone and everyone! Whether you’re active on social media or not, we hope that some of the things we talk about in this seminar will be helpful in equipping you or others to continue to abide in Him even when on your phones!
Why is this area important?
One of the unique challenges for recent generations has been learning to navigate what it looks like to follow Jesus online as well as in person. Christ is King in all contexts and, for Christians today, it’s vital that we believe this and learn to remain in Him whatever the context!
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
(Kaete speaking!) So many things! I’m looking forward to worshipping together with so many other women who love the Lord; I’m looking forward to hearing Caroline speak on such an important, timeless truth; and I’m looking forward to just having some time away from ‘normal’ life to gather and go deep! What a privilege!
On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.
Karen Dornan, from East Kilbride, will lead a seminar called ‘Sacred Rest – Rest for the body, mind and spirit’
What is the seminar about?
When we think about rest, we probably initially think – I need more sleep but sleep is solely a physical activity. Rest, however, goes into the spiritual. Rest speaks peace into daily storms of mind, body, and spirit. The most effective rest occurs when we are purposefully reviving the parts of our life we regularly deplete. This seminar will look at the different types of rest our bodies need and how we can replenish and restore the areas our body needs.
Who is the seminar for?
Are you weak, weary or worn out? Is your worth wrapped tight around your endless activity? Are you caught up in a busy, chaotic life, with lots of to-do-lists, and commitments. Resulting in lots of activity but very little enjoyment? Do you feel overwhelmed? If the answer is yes to any of these statements, then this seminar is for you.
Why is this area important?
Real rest and restoration occur when we allow ourselves time, space, and grace to be in the presence of God in the middle of our busy lives. Rest causes us to be still and seek to know God. It calls us to look deeper at ourselves and our surroundings. It forces us to stop. Rest is not simply pushing the pause button on your day; it’s not merely taking a break. Rest is about replenishing, restoring, renewing, recovering, rebuilding, regenerating, remoulding, and repairing It’s a second opportunity to put back in order anything that has shifted out of alignment with God’s best for you.
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
I am really looking forward to reconnecting with women I have met from previous years and hopefully also connecting with some new women too. It is a real blessing to meet together with sisters in Christ to worship and encourage one another in the word.
If you missed this years Scottish Women’s Bible Convention or just want to re-listen to Clare Heath-Whyte’s talks, you now can. The links are all below.
We know some of you wanted to attend more than two of the seminars, so here are some of the resources the seminar leaders used or recommended. Unfortunately we were unable to record the majority of the seminars.
The article used in Keeping Close to Jesus as a Mum can be purchased here Peace, be still
If you have any feedback on the convention or any questions regarding the teaching do get in touch at scottishwomensbibleconvention@gmail.com
Finally, next years convention already has a date – 6th Oct 2018 – do get it in the diary now!! We will be back at Charlotte Chapel and our speaker will be Amy Wicks. Looking forward to having you all with us next year.
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.
Shiona Rees and Kathryn Garvie, from Edinburgh will be leading a seminar on Staying Close to Jesus as a Mum.
What is the seminar about?
Keeping your devotion to Jesus growing throughout the challenges of child rearing
Who is the seminar for?
Mums
Why is this area important?
Child rearing takes up a huge part of some women’s lives, and growth in love and obedience to Jesus cannot be put on hold while distracted with babies, children and teens. In fact the more we grow in Christlikeness, the more we will be equipped to mother our children well.
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?
Catching up with people I haven’t seen for a while.
Tickets can be purchased for £10 from Eventbrite here –Tickets
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.
Norma Shippin, from Edinburgh will be leading a seminar on Evangelism to nice people.
What is the seminar about?
Looking at the barriers to engaging with folk who feel no need of the gospel and finding biblical answers as to why our lovely friends, family and work colleagues do actually still need to find salvation and how to persevere!
Who is the seminar for?
Everyone! We all have struggles and joys in this area and we can support and encourage each other in the work of the gospel
Why is this area important?
Increasingly we live in a secular society where the very idea of needing a saviour is seen as a quaint and outdated notion. This means that there are many people – with whom we may interact on a daily basis – who have never heard about Jesus and who may never intend to darken the door of a church. We are their point of contact with the gospel and yet how often do we fall silent or feel embarrassed to mention our faith and hope. People are increasingly looking for meaning – we have the source of all meaning living in our hearts. We need to wake up!
Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?
Meeting women from all over Scotland
Tickets can be purchased for £10 from Eventbrite here –Tickets
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 they benefitted from last years convention and encouraging others to buy tickets.
Ann Lyon from the Scottish Borders came last year and answered some questions for us.
What were your highlights from the 2016 Scottish Women’s Bible Convention?
I liked the variety of both speakers and subjects and it was great to have the opportunity to choose from a list talks/workshops. Also meeting friendly women from all over Scotland. I went to workshops on my own and instantly felt that I was among friends!
Why would you encourage someone to go this year?
I really enjoyed it last year and I think it would appeal to women in my church and bible study group. What struck me was the great teaching and guidance given, I really felt I was learning.
What one thing about the 2017 Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?
I liked the format last year and hoping it will be similar.
Tickets can be purchased for £10 from Eventbrite here –Tickets
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
scottishwomensbibleconvention.com 