I guess this is me signing off! Though it won’t be until 18 July that
we are heading back to America, this will be my last Rambling (some of
you may be rejoicing!).
I would just like to say that my experience here in Scotland has been
amazing. We Americans tend to overuse that word, but it has been one
of the greatest experiences of my life. We’ve been in large and small
churches before, but we’ve never felt as much a part of a family as we
do here at Smithton. From the moment we stepped off the plane, we have
been shown nothing but kindness and hospitality.
Some of you have looked after our dog. Some of you have looked after
our daughter. Some of you have passed through our flat just to say
‘hello’. We will miss this, and we will miss you. Thank you to all who
have invested time, efforts, and gifts into serving and encouraging
us. I will have a proper letter for the congregation, but I just
wanted to say this before I leave.
With that said, I am looking forward to our last YF together this
Sunday. I hope you can make it. We are having our annual
end-of-the-year quiz and ice cream party, plus I will be interviewing
my replacement, Iain Taylor. Be there!
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Help Needed at Picnic this Saturday: if you are able to help us set
up at the picnic this Saturday, please come at 10:30am to Nairn Beach.
We need quite a bit of help with the inflatables. Let me know if you
need a lift!
// Hoodies: we are setting up our printer, and you should be able to
order one of these at the end of the summer (since everyone is away at
camp, on holiday, etc.). Stay tuned!
// Drivers Needed: we are needing transport to Ullapool on Friday 8
July (8am) and returning from Ullapool on Monday 11 July (4:45pm). If
you are willing and able to transport a few teenagers to and/or from
Ullapool, please let me know!
COMING UP
// Wednesday: I know I said there would be one more next week, but I’m
not going to be able to make it next Wednesday, so this will be our
last Office Hours
Office Hours: 4:15pm @ the Eastgate
// Friday
Roots BBQ: 7pm @ Inshes Church
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
// Saturday
Picnic: 1pm @ Nairn Beach (please come at 10:30am if possible to help set up!)
On Sunday, we had our final small group time this term. I thought it
went very well, and the spirit amongst the group was excellent. We
watched a DVD clip from Christianity Explored Soul, which is the youth
version of CE. We were reminded that CHRISTIANITY IS CHRIS. There are
many things about the Christian faith – church, serving the poor,
giving tithes, etc. – but Chrisianity is all about Jesus, and
everything is secondary to that.
Parents, ask your teens this week what they think about Jesus. Many of
them have probably been hearing his name since they were in Sunday
school. But what does he mean to them?
This Sunday is our special 6th Year Sendoff, so make sure you are
there for all the festivities!
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Lewis Camping Trip: this is your last chance to sign up for the
camping trip. Let us know if you’re going!.
// Congregational Picnic: Please let us know if you are planning on
attending the end-of-the-year picnic at Nairn Beach on 25 June, 1pm.
We need to know numbers and if you are able to bring either a loaf of
sandwiches or a traybake. Email me and let me know how many and if you
need transport.
// For information on events at the Alive Festival:
So I just realized, including today, there are only three Ramblings
left in the school year. And only three left before I must leave you
all and return to the Motherland. So … I guess I better make them
count!
I’m not sure if you were at the Q&A with Neil MacMillan on Sunday
evening, but I thought it was a very thoughtful and encouraging
discussion. That’s two great Q&A’s two Sundays in a row for those who
are keeping track at home.
This week, we are back on for YF as normal, and it will be our last
small group night of the term. Be there!
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Lewis Camping Trip: we have over a dozen signed up for the camping
trip. Make sure you get your name down so we can sort out
transportation and camping arrangements.
// Congregational Picnic: Our annual BBQ has turned into a picnic out
at Nairn beach on Saturday 25 June. There will be loads to do,
including inflatable games like Sumo and boxing. Transport will be
provided from the church for those who need it.
// Stuart Townend Tickets: Stuart Townend has either written or
co-written a number of popular modern hymns, including In Christ
Alone, How Deep the Father’s Love, and Psalm 23 (Lord’s My Shepherd).
Townend is playing with the Alive Festival at Culduthel Christian
Centre next week, and I’ve just found out another night has been
added. So more tickets are available. If you’d like to go, please
purchase a ticket ASAP:
We have some great designs for our YF hoodie. This week we will be
voting on which logo design will go to the printers! We will also be
having a panel discussion on church membership, communion, and other
questions on Christianity. Thanks to those who submitted questions. If
you have any others, feel free to email, text, phone me at any time
before Thursday.
I think I will continue the idea of sending you a video each week, so
here is a good one on justification. If you have no idea what
justification means, the video will explain it:
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Lewis Camping Trip Sign Up: You still have a couple more weeks to
sign up for the camping trip. Cost is around £35 for travel, food,
etc.
// End of the Year BBQ: Mark your diaries for Saturday 25 June. This
year, we will join the rest of the church to eat burgers, play at the
beach, and try our hand at the inflatable Sumo wrestling.
COMING UP
// Wednesday
Office Hours: 3:45pm @ the Eastgate
// Friday
Roots: 7pm @ Inshes Church
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
I hope you all enjoyed the small group lunch on Sunday. I know we had
plenty to eat! Thanks again to those who hosted and prepared food. I
heard there was a small army at the Tough’s house …
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Lewis Camping Trip Sign Up: You still have a couple more weeks to
sign up for the camping trip. Cost is around £35 for travel, food,
etc.
// End of the Year BBQ: Mark your diaries for Saturday 25 June. This
year, we will join the rest of the church to eat burgers, play at the
beach, and try our hand at the inflatable Sumo wrestling.
COMING UP
// Wednesday
Office Hours: 3:45pm @ the Eastgate
// Thursday
Dead Chuffed: 7:30pm @ Smithton Church sports hall
// Friday
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
Wow, is it May already? Yes, and by the end of the week, we will be
halfway through the month. Time does fly when you’re having fun …
and speaking of fun, the SCAVENGER HUNT on Saturday evening was loads
of fun. If you missed out, you will not want to miss this next year!
If you took photos on your camera
This week we are going to host homes for SMALL GROUP LUNCH. Woohoo!
Please see your small group lunch location below.
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Small Group Lunch: Make sure you bring a bottle of your favourite
juice to share!
Jane: The Toughs*, 1 Castlehill Park, Cradlehall
Mairi/Ali: The Murrays, 40 Redwood Crescent, Milton of Leys
Donna: The MacArthurs, 16 Kennedy Drive, Scorguie
Allan/Adam: The Toughs*, 1 Castlehill Park, Cradlehall
Ethan/Chris: The Macleods*, 10 Heights of Woodside, Westhill
Banana/Dave Crowe: The Macleods*, 10 Heights of Woodside, Westhill
Alan/Dave Egg: The Merediths*, The Manse, Resaurie, Smithton
*Walking distance from Smithton Church
// YF Hoodies: The interest is there for ordering YF hoodies. On
Sunday you will have an opportunity to create a logo design for the
hoodies. We will vote on these, and the winner will be our hoodie
design.
// Lewis Camping Trip Sign Up: You still have a couple more weeks to
sign up for the camping trip. Cost is around £35 for travel, food,
etc.
COMING UP
// Today
Office Hours: 3:45pm @ the Eastgate
// Friday
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
Sorry I am a day late this week. I had a hectic Tuesday and was unable
to get to the Ramblings. Tonight is my first ever (and probably my
last) Caley match. Woohoo!
Thanks to those who were at YF on Sunday. We talked about a very
difficult subject, Hell, but if I can speak for all groups, I’d say it
went very well. I will have those small group discussion questions up
on the website for parents to look over and discuss with your teens.
This week is a bit of a contrast from last week — Heaven. We will be
digging into Revelation 21 and discovering why true hope is something
expected, not simply wished for.
Office Hours is back on today at 3:45pm for this week only. Next week,
we will be back at 4:15pm.
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Scavenger Hunt: Our annual scavenger hunt is this coming Saturday!
Make sure you invite a friend or two. Girls, please bring a sweet to
share, and guys, please bring juice to share. We will meet at Smithton
at 7pm and end with sweets at the Macleod’s house (Fasgadh, 10 Heights
of Woodside) afterwards. We will wrap up by 10:30pm (if earlier, your
teenager will give you a phone).
// Small Group Lunch: Next Sunday 15 May, we will have another small
group lunch. Your small group will be at a host home for the
afternoon. Please remember to take a bottle of juice with you. Host
homes will be given to you this Sunday.
// Lewis Camping Trip Sign Up: You still have a couple more weeks to
sign up for the camping trip. Cost is around £35 for travel, food,
etc.
COMING UP
// Today
Office Hours: 3:45pm @ the Eastgate
// Thursday
Dead Chuffed: 7:30pm @ Smithton Church (be prepared for outdoor sports)
// Friday
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
// Saturday
Scavenger Hunt: 7pm @ Smithton Church
// Sunday
Youth Fellowship: 7:15pm @ Smithton Church
————
// Sunday 15 May
Small Group Lunch: 1pm in host homes
I trust you all had a great holiday and, hopefully, rested a bit!
Anyone looking forward to the Royal Wedding on Friday?
This week we are back to our normal YF schedule — 7:15pm in the Games
Hall and back at 7:45pm for singing and worship. We may even consider
getting outside if the weather is like it has been!
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// No Office Hours this Week: We will resume Office Hours next Wednesday 4 May.
// Scavenger Hunt: Remember, our annual scavenger hunt is on Saturday
7 May. Make sure you invite a friend or two. Girls, please bring a
sweet to share, and guys, please bring juice to share. We will meet at
Smithton at 7pm and end with sweets at the Macleod’s house (Fasgadh,
Heights of Woodside) afterwards. We will wrap up around 10:30pm.
// Small Group Lunch: On Sunday 15 May, we will have another small
group lunch. Your small group will be at a host home for the
afternoon. Please remember to take a bottle of juice with you. Host
homes will be given to you next Sunday.
// Lewis Camping Trip Sign Up: We will have a sign up for the Lewis
Camping Trip on Sunday. Remember, the dates are 8-11 July, and the
cost will be around £35.
COMING UP
// Friday
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
// Sunday
Youth Fellowship: 7:15pm @ Smithton Church
// Saturday 7 May
Scavenger Hunt: 7pm @ Smithton Church
I hope everyone is doing well this week and enjoying their school holidays. As I told a few of the youth on Sunday, make sure you actually make time to relax and enjoy your time off before your exams. You don’t get an award for being the one who revises the most. Enjoy the sunshine and take lots of breaks!
I will not be sending a Weekly Ramblings email next week, so this will cover the hol’s.
Points of No Return
Holiday Lunch Bunch: Join us at the Eastgate for lunch and banter. Take a break from revising to get a snack box, a pizza, or whatever you fancy. We’ll meet each Wednesday of the holidays at 12 noon until around 1:30pm. Bring a friend!
Hoodies: We are looking into making YF hoodies for everyone. Right now we are waiting to hear from two different printers on a price. It should be somewhere around £20-25. When we come back from the holiday break, there will be a small group contest to design the YF logo for the hoodies. Start thinking of ideas!
No YF for the next two Sundays: Due to the Easter holidays. Enjoy the time with your family and friends.
Coming Up
Wednesday
Lunch Bunch: 12 noon @ the Eastgate
I hope you all have a restful and safe holidays, and we’ll see you all soon!
I hope you all are well this week and gearing up for another Easter
holiday season.
We changed things around a bit on Sunday to make Sunday evenings a bit
smoother. Here’s what we did:
- YF will begin at 7:15pm (or a little later if the evening service
goes over) with a game in the sports hall. We will then shift to the
meeting room (instead of the café) at 7:45 for a time of singing and
teaching.
- Small groups will have designated rooms.
- There is now a rota for cleaning up each Sunday.
POINTS OF NO RETURN
// Apologies: Sunday night I showed a music video that had some clips
from The Passion of the Christ. Afterwards, I realised this may have
not been a great idea, as some of the clips depicted a very bloody
Christ on the cross. I apologise for a lack of judgment.
// Hoodies: We are looking into making YF hoodies for everyone. Right
now we are waiting to hear from two different printers on a price. It
should be somewhere around £20-25. When we come back from the holiday
break, there will be a small group contest to design the YF logo for
the hoodies. Start thinking of ideas!
// No YF for the next three Sundays: Due to the Easter holidays. Enjoy
the time with your family and friends.
COMING UP
// Wednesday
Office Hours: 4:15pm @ the Eastgate
// Friday
Unit 4 Youth Café: 7:30pm @ King’s Factory
Hopefully we’ll see you out at Office Hours on Wednesday or Unit 4 on
Friday. Otherwise, enjoy your holidays! Take a break. Relax.
