Welcome
St Ninian’s Church
Glencairn & Moniaive Parish Church is a linked charge with Dunscore Parish Church and is within the Presbytery of The South West.
The parish of Glencairn & Moniaive is located at the northern end of the scenic Cairn Valley in mid-Nithsdale, which is part of the Dumfries & Galloway region of South West Scotland.
The community is centred around the village of Moniaive.
We aim to play an active part in the community we serve, reaching out with the love and joy of Jesus Christ.
Our vision is ‘To convince all people of God’s love for them’.
Prayers for Peace in Israel-Palastine
Churches and Christian organisations are responding with prayers and statements to the violence in Israel and Gaza. These can help guide your own prayers.
There is more information from the Church of Scotland here.
Message from our Minister
Sunday 21 April 2024
EASTER continued …
Yes, it’s now a trilogy! A long running saga, a dramatic epic, a tale of real people living real lives with real fears, concerns, hopes, dreams, and (most of all) faith! A true never-ending story!
Today we have a Baptism at Dunscore – Amelia, whose family have been part of the story of Dunscore Church for a long time. It only seems five minutes since her sister (Scarlett) was baptised here too! Faith and the Church have been an integral part of so many stories over the years. The Easter truth transcends the generations and will continue to do so.
The Presbytery Plan for the Presbytery of the South West is now ‘active’ (after several hiccups) and our Kirk Sessions and Boards will be working to develop the future shape of our Mission and Ministry in this area to ensure that the Easter message is not lost and can impact the lives of our neighbours today and into the future. This won’t be easy and requires wisdom, courage and faith.
It is not just for the Elders though, it is something we can all play our part in … pray for imaginative answers to the tricky questions being faced by us and our neighbouring congregations.
Let’s work to ensure that the never-ending story of God’s Love shown in Jesus continues to be told in this area. Join us on this exciting journey and remember that we face opportunities not just challenges.
God Bless,
Mark
PRAYER for this week:
Blessed God, You are the Shepherd of Your sheep,
watching over us and protecting us;
Your Love for each of us is overwhelming
and fill us with joy and delight.
Your Love for the world transforms us
and gives us a firm foundation on which to live.
You show us the way to live our lives
for the well-being of the planet
and the good of all people.
You give us purpose and meaning
and walk with us at all times.
Thank You.
PRAYER THEME:
Thank God that He is Your Shepherd, that You are part of His flock.
Musings from The Manse
Easter with a spring…
It’s the end of March already! 2024 is rushing by! Snowdrops, Lambs, Daffodils, leaves, grass, are all growing and showing us that Spring has sprung! BUT … are you ready for what is to come?
I hope that the end of March will provide important preparation for life as we celebrate Easter!
It’s a traditional time to recognise the new life sprouting up everywhere, to acknowledge our dependence on that emergent life, and to enjoy the triumph of the sun over the darkness. The very word Easter comes from the same root as oestrogen – the life-nurturing chemical – and reflects the link with life re-starting. New life from the seemingly dead soil and dried up branches. For Christians it is used to reflect the Resurrection of Jesus – new life from the tomb!
However, to get ready for Easter we remember Palm Sunday and Holy Week. At church we celebrated Palm Sunday with lots of ‘Hosannas’ and leaves!
During Holy Week, we reflect on Jesus’ journey from city gates to the hill of the skull, from triumphant entry to ignominious death and anonymous burial. A bit of a rollercoaster by any measure. As we go through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve (Holy Saturday, NOT Easter Saturday!!), we will take time to be reminded of that journey – not just to re-tell the story, but to be reminded of it’s importance to us today. We will celebrate the bread and wine of the Last Supper (28th, 2pm), remember the crowds cries of “Crucify Him!” (29th, 11am), weep at the tomb, before shouting ‘Alleluia!’ on Easter morning. It’s a challenging journey, emotional, stressful, joyful, draining. It’s a vital journey reminding us of what Jesus went through for each of us. It’s a reflection of, and preparation for, the ups and downs of real life.
This year our Easter celebrations begin at the Cairn Pool, (8am POOLSIDE PRAISE!) followed by breakfast (from 9am) and our Easter worship in St Ninian’s at 10.30am. A Grand Day Out!
Jesus’ death and resurrection is not just history, not just a tale from the past, but, like the snowdrops, lambs, daffodils, leaves and grass, very real today. God’s offer of New Life is as valid today as it was when Jesus walked the earth! Join us to find out more.
May God Bless you.
Mark RS Smith
