Riccarton Parish Church
21 OLD STREET KILMARNOCK, KA1 4DX

Home History Minister
Contacts Organisations Buchanan Centre New Halls

-Dear Friends,

Quite a few folk have commented on how they seem to have missed summer this year. It just doesn’t seem to have happened as far as the weather is concerned! We did have a few good days, but not nearly as many as we would have expected. I hope that despite the weather you managed to have a good summer.

The first part of our family holiday was spent at home with day trips to Arran, Cumbrae and M & D’s. We then had a few days at Laura’s parents in North Kessock before having a week just outside Crieff.

Now that the school holidays are over we have returned to a normal routine. Anna is now in 2nd year at Grange and Zoe is in P7 at Annanhill. Laura has started in a new job as the P1/2 teacher in Sorn Primary School - her first full time job since before Anna was born.

This week’s news has included the discovery by rescue workers that the 33 Chilean miners trapped after the collapse of a tunnel are still alive and well. They have spent 17 days in a small shelter, each surviving on 2 teaspoons of tuna, a sip of milk and half a biscuit. It could take up to four months to actually get them out, although they will now be able to get some supplies to them.

The news that they are safe, even though their situation is far from comfortable, has been the cause for great celebration in Chile with people waving flags and sounding the horns of their cars. At one level it may seem strange that there is such jubilation when they are still facing such dire circumstances. However we can fully understand the emotional relief that now there is a realistic hope for them, where previously their families and friends would have found it very difficult to cling on to any hope of ever seeing them again. The expectation is that they will be fully freed.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ… without hope and without God in the world.” (Eph 2:12) He goes on to talk about the barrier, or dividing wall, which prevents our access to God. Just like the Chilean miners, we were trapped - there was no way that we could get through. God has come to the rescue by smashing through that barrier. The dividing wall was our sin and our guilt, but Jesus took those on himself when he died on the cross. We were without hope; we were destined for a lost eternity separated from God. Now, if we have put our trust in Christ, we have the hope of eternal life and the assurance of his presence with us throughout our earthly life.

The rescue of the Chilean miners is indeed a reason for exuberant celebration. So is our rescue from sin, guilt and death! It is my prayer that each one of you will know the reality of that rescue.

May God richly bless you.

Colin A Strong.