2 August
Dear Friends,
It’s great to be back!
Hilary and I are delighted to be returning to the ERC. I was first introduced to the church in 2014 following my retirement from ministry in Dublin, Ireland.
This will be my fourth locumcy. Every time we come, we find the congregation looking forward in hope. In 2014 we witnessed the nomination of Lance Stone as your minister. In 2022 we observed your determination to leave behind the restrictions of the pandemic. In 2023 we rejoiced to hear…
27 July
Dear ERC Family,
One of the joys of life in the manse has been reading a book on the shelf in the study - a book by John Bell, Known Unknowns - new texts for familiar hymn tunes. I trust that you all know the familiar tune "Wondrous Love"; "what wondrous love is this, O my soul." John has written new words for that familiar tune. So hum that tune and think about these words…
19 July
Dear Friends,
Gratitude abounds from my heart – to God and to each of you - as we carry on. Ginger and I continue to enjoy so much our time in your midst at ERC.
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby once used a helpful phrase: “GO-GO.” GO-GO stands for “Go On, Going On!” This is sometimes all we can do – as individuals, as a church family, as God’s people.
GO-GO. Some days, some seasons are very difficult for us – and we keep waking up each day and try to “go on.” Some chapters of life are dark and dreary, uncertain and full of fear; we can only “go on, going on.” Other times are full of joy and thanksgiving. Other moments, short or long periods, are full of goodness and grace. Yet we…
13 July
Dear Friends,
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."
As people of faith, we keep on striving to trust God's loving presence and care and to serve God with our lives. Ginger and I continue to be inspired by the faithfulness and devotion of this church family. It was lovely to have partners from Mulanje Mission Hospital with us recently.
In these coming weeks, as you may have noted, I am leading a time of study and reflection: “Sincere Questions, Sincere Faith.” Faith is a journey – not an easy one. When we can ask questions, and learn and grow together….
05 July
"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, for God's love endures forever." (Ps. 107)
Great gratitude is how Ginger and I feel as we meet more and more of the church family at ERC. Thank you for giving us this experience of worshipping and serving with you this summer. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly - individuals and as a community - on the last Sunday of June. We so much look forward to the month of July together.
For the last 35 years, we have been fully engaged in leading congregations in the Presbyterian Church USA - three different churches: Pickens SC, Blacksburg, VA, and Richmond, VA. We are delighted to be in Amsterdam - our first visit since 1978. We are honored to come alongside such a faithful and committed church, to add a bit to your energy this summer, and to assist ERC as you make your way toward a new chapter with a new minister.
May God bless you and bless us all as we carry on. We look forward to all the ways that the Spirit will work to engage us, enthuse us, and send us forward in faithfulness. Perhaps we will see you this coming Sunday - another day for worship and with Holy Communion. We will also welcome some friends from Mulanje Mission Hospital in Malawi and celebrate that partnership. Ginger and I know that hospital well from our years of partnering with them too.
Warmest greetings and blessings to all.
Alex
14 June
Friends,
It seems hard to believe that we’re approaching our third Sunday together – our shared journey has been all too short! This is, of course, the time of year when many of you will be journeying to set off on holiday and the journeying is sometimes the most stressful part of the holiday experience! But it’s a necessary part of getting to and from our holiday destination.
In the same way, our journey of faith is not without its ups and downs, but if we keep in mind that we’re travelling to God’s kingdom then we can be sure God will sustain us on our journey. And let’s not think that…
6 June
Dear Friends,
As Moira and I share these few weeks with you, I’m reminded that our individual journeys of faith interconnect from time to time, allowing us to share our journeys (even if only briefly). This should help to remind us that we’re on a shared journey of faith as we seek to follow in the way of Jesus. While each of us is on our own journey, we need there to be a shared community aspect to our journeys. After all, our Christian faith is a relational faith in that we are all brothers and sisters of Jesus. But, more than that, God is relational: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So, just as God lives in relationship, our faith requires us to live in relationships: something that we live out by being part of a faith….
2 June
Dear Friends,
There is a saying that “strangers are just friends we haven’t yet met” and, as I’ve still to meet most of you, I trust that when we do meet we shall, indeed, be friends – not least given that we start by being brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
Who am I? My name is Derek Lawson and my wife, Moira, and I will be with you until 24th June, along with our dog, Milly. I’m supposedly retired but keep finding myself drawn back into ministry, having been, over recent years, locum in Costa del Sol (on several occasions), Rotterdam, Bermuda and Jersey. I’m also the Clerk to the International Presbytery and live in Brittany in France.
Both my wife and I are looking forward to our being with you in Amsterdam as it will be, for us, a return to the Netherlands, having spent three and a half years as minister of the Scots International Church Rotterdam. I should, perhaps, say that I do not hold a doctorate (as last week’s Weekly Letter stated): I’m just a simple Reverend….
27 March
The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
I cannot wait to share that response as we celebrate this greatest of all Christian festivals together here in the ERC. Apart from the sheer joy of proclaiming the Easter message of new life, resurrection, forgiveness, healing; of love defeating evil, life destroying death and light overcoming darkness, there is so much wonderful music to be sung and so much love in our hearts towards God to be shared….