Locum's Letter

Dear Friends,

The Rev. Roy Cowieson was elected as minister of St. John's at a meeting of the congregation on Sunday, 18 February. The voting was 233 for, and 1 against, with one spoiled ballot. The Call, which has been signed by members of the congregation, will be presented to the Presbytery of Lanark at its next meeting in early March, and arrangements made for the service of induction which will probably be sometime in late May or early June.

St. John's stands on the threshold of a new beginning. Hopes are high. Our situation is not unlike that of God's people in Old Testament times as they prepared to enter Canaan under Joshua's leadership. You may read the story in Joshua 3.1-17. All that stood between them and the Promised Land was the river Jordan. As they gathered at the river's edge and prepared to cross, God gave them three commands which I believe also apply to us at St. John's as we prepare to move forward under a new ministry.

First, they were to follow the ark (verses 3 and 4)

The ark was the symbol of God's presence among his people. That is why whenever they pitched camp during their journey from Egypt to Canaan, the tabernacle, or tent, containing the ark was always placed at the centre of the camp as a reminder that God was in their midst. Now as they prepared to cross the Jordan and enter the land, they needed to know that God was with them. So the ark was carried at the front of the procession and the people told to follow. The reason given was: "Then you will know which way to go, because you have never been this way before."

There is a sense in which the people of God are always moving forward along paths they have never been before, unless of course, they are living in the past or have lost their way as they wander round and round in ever decreasing circles of repetitive activity. Under the leadership of Mr. Cowieson, you will certainly move forward into uncharted territory. New vistas will open up before you. There will be new opportunities for service and mission for you to grasp and new challenges to tackle as the Spirit of God leads you ever forward. You will find that constant change has come to stay. So be ready to break out of those moulds which may have served the church well enough in the past but which are now irrelevant.

Second, they were to step into the river, and as they did so, the waters would part and they would cross over on dry land. (verses 7a and 8-13)

I'm sure they would have been happier if God had parted the waters first so that they could see the dry path across before they stepped off the bank. But God's order of events was different. Not until the people stepped into the waters in obedience to his command would he part the waters.

The way forward in the church is always a matter of faith and obedience - faith in God's promises and obedience to his commands. We find that difficult. God asks us to walk by faith; we prefer to walk by sight. We say, "You part the waters, God, then we'll walk across." God says, "No, you step into the water at my command, and only then will I part the waters so that you may cross over on dry land."

One of the reasons why the church is in such a parlous spiritual state today is that we walk more by sight than we do by faith. We attempt little because we believe little. Our vision of what is possible is restricted by our lack of faith, our low expectations, and our sceptical cast of mind. The note of adventure, and, yes, of risk-taking, is lacking. So, as a new era in the life of St' John's begins, be ready to walk by faith and not be sight.

Third, they were to consecrate themselves for tomorrow the Lord would do wonders among them. (verse 5)

This suggests a troubling truth, namely that there is a connection between our sanctity and God's wonders. Tomorrow's miracles depend on today's consecration. No sanctity, no miracles.

That is deeply challenging. It is challenging personally. How much more could God do through us if we were more completely at his disposal. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, put it like this: "The greatness of a man's power (in the service of God) is the measure of his surrender". But it also presents a challenge to us all together, because God demonstrates his love and his power not only through individuals but also through us together as a church We are called to consecrate ourselves so that as a church we may be a fit instrument for him to use.

Who can tell what God may do through a people over whose commitment and consecration there hang no question marks.

Three commands, then, buttressed by promises, for us to take on board, and which, if heeded, will enable us under Mr. Cowieson to cross our Jordan and enter a new land of promise. The future is bright with hope. Prepare for it now.

Yours warmly,
David Easton
Interim-Moderator and Locum