Thought for the Day - Saturday 21 November

Message from Session Clerk Holytown On behalf of Minister: Holytown l/w Wrangholm Parish Churches Thought for the Day – Saturday 21st November 2020 Psalm 95 1Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. Now that we are in our first full day of lockdown, it doesn’t feel dramatically different from the way things have been for the past many weeks. I was thinking about what I missed most and quite a few things came to mind and one of them was singing. When I was in primary school at Holytown, Mr McMillan had retired as headmaster and was replaced by Mr McFadzean and this new headmaster taught me in Primary 6 and Primary 7. He had a really big impact on my life being a terrific teacher, a fair man when it came to discipline and he loved football. Over and above these, he was a Christian and taught us many of the more stirring hymns and psalms that I still love all these years later (How excellent in all the earth, How lovely is thy dwelling place, Who would true valour see, I joyed when to the house of God and many others). In the Boy’s Brigade, from Life Boys right through to company section, I loved the battalion services. In those days, the Motherwell and subsequent Bellshill battalions filled any church that hosted a battalion service. I loved the sound of predominantly male voices young and old singing much loved hymns and psalms and I think this combined wonderful sound made all present willing to sing out to contribute to it. Even at high school when services were held in Macdonald Memorial church which is now Bellshill Central, these were well attended and once again we had the wonderful sound of combined voices but this time, an even split between male and female producing a different, but no less inspiring result. Singing expresses human thought emotionally, and Christianity is a feeling religion. More particularly, singing expresses joy, and the Bible’s religion at its heart is joyful.” (James Montgomery Boice) “It is a part of Christian duty, and certainly of Christian wisdom, to try to catch that tone of joy in worship which rings in this psalm.” (unknown) No doubt we will all be missing doing certain things due to lockdown and we’ll all try and find ways of dealing with it. I found phoning folks I hadn’t contacted for a while was a really positive way in passing some time from my own point of view and it seemed to go down well with those I called. We know the restrictions are for our benefit and will only apply for a limited time so please stay safe and lets all pray for an end to this dreadful pandemic. Prayer Heavenly Father, we thank you for life itself and the beauty of your creation. Be with us all at this challenging time. Help us to be patient and help us to behave in ways that will not endanger others Help us reach out to those that are perhaps a little lonely or isolated As we look forward to the season of advent, we realise it will be different this year We pray that this will not make it any less meaningful May all praise and glory be yours Lord This day and forever Amen