40 Days Blog - Day 26

Acts 16:11-40 In Phillipi

In today’s reading we find Paul in Phillipi during four very different episodes. Firstly, Lydia’s heart is opened to the message taught by Paul. Secondly, Paul and Silas are dragged through the streets, beaten and imprisoned because of the vengeful actions of the owners of a slave girl that Paul had rid of an evil spirit. Thirdly, Paul and Silas are in prison ‘praying and singing hymns to God’ when there’s an earthquake, and the prison doors open. And finally, they receive an apology from the magistrates who now know that they are Roman citizens.

The Holy Spirit is present in each episode. However, in each scene, the Spirit's actions and the outcome of those actions, is very different. In the first, by the Spirit, Lydia’s heart is opened, and Paul and Silas are invited to stay with her. In the second, by the Holy Spirit, Paul rids the slave girl of an evil spirit, but Paul and Silas find themselves humiliated and in prison. In the third and fourth, again through the Holy Spirit, Paul and Silas worship God, then find themselves comforting their jailer, gaining souls for Christ, and getting an apology from their persecutors.

In each episode Paul and Silas stay firm in their intention of reaching out with the gospel message. Individually and as a church, what would we say is our purpose; our main intent? Is it to glorify God in all circumstances and to proclaim the good news of salvation? To be in mission mode rather than maintenance mode. Or is that something for others, the professionals, the better equipped, the better educated?

Rev John Harper found himself on the sinking Titanic. He fully recognised the urgency to preach the gospel message to his fellow passengers. It is reported that he preached a verse from today’s reading - Acts 16:31 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.'

By the end of today’s passage, despite their ordeals, Paul and Silas leave Philippi having won new believers. It is clear that sometimes new believers come to Christ by hearing and responding to the word like Lydia. But it is also clear that other times, new believers come to Christ in harrowing circumstance like the jailer. The same Holy Spirit gave four very different circumstances to Paul and Silas, but in each they were willing witnesses to the Word.

Isaiah 8:9-10
"‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts …’”

Prayer
Father, we often cannot fathom Your ways, Your wisdom. You are full of grace, mercy, love and wisdom. Lord, guide us that we might follow You always, and open our eyes to the opportunities which the Holy Spirit gifts to each of us to witness to Your Son. Amen.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

The church meets every Sunday at 9.30am at Drumclog and 11am at Avendale.

Sunday worship continues to be live-streamed from Avendale each Sunday at 11am on the Avendale & Drumclog YouTube Channel.

At Drumclog we meet at:
Drumclog Memorial Kirk
Drumclog
South Lanarkshire
ML10 6QG

At Avendale we meet at:
Avendale Old Parish Church
59A Kirk Street
Strathaven
South Lanarkshire
ML10 6LB

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it at both Avendale & Drumclog. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up and show you where the disabled toilet is located if required.

Our Service - Drumclog Memorial Kirk

Drumclog

At Drumclog, the service begins at 9.30am with a warm welcome from our Minister, or the person leading the service. During the service we usually sing 2 or 3 songs/hymns. The Minister or a member of the Worship Team will usually read aloud from the Bible and lead the congregation in prayer. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. The Minister, or person leading the service, will then give a sermon that is Bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church.

The service lasts approximately 45 minutes. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service. After the service we serve refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) in our church hall. This is a great way to meet people and enjoy fellowship together. We would love to chat to you there!

Our Service - Avendale Old Parish Church

Avendale Wide

At Avendale, the service begins at 11am with a warm welcome from our Minister, or the person leading the service. Before the service begins, we will show a loop of news and notices on the screens in the church. This is a good way to find out what's going on in the life of the church. During the service we usually sing 3 or 4 songs/hymns, often led by our church praise band 'The Elastic Band'. The Minister or a member of the Worship Team will usually read aloud from the Bible and lead the congregation in prayer. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it's all part of our connecting with God. The Minister, or person leading the service, will then give a sermon that is Bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. Throughout the service, we may also show videos on the screens in the church to help us reflect on what is being shared during worship or in the sermon. We then share news and notices, usually about what's going on in the life of the church.

The service last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. After the service we serve refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) in our church hall. This is a great way to meet people and enjoy fellowship together. We would love to chat to you there!

images: Services

What about my kids?

At Avendale, we have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Creche (0 months to 4 years). Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/carer at all times.
His Kids (5-10 years)
Yoof (11-18 years)

Children stay with their parent or carer at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and short Children's Talk. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the Children's Talk, someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy the first time you come along to church.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, Bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

For more information about what happens in the children's and youth work please visit the Children's Ministry page and/or the Youth Ministry page.

N.B. - there is no children's programme or youth programme during the service at Drumclog.

Getting Connected

Home Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our Home Groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out our Home Groups page and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a Home Group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group. If you would like us to put you in touch with a Home Group leader, please let us know via our Contact Us page.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team here.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

Other Groups in the Avendale & Drumclog Community

The following groups are also part of the life of our church:

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Rev Calum Stark - Minister		David Moreland - Session Clerk

To find out more about our staff and leaders, please visit our Staff & Leadership page.
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

Calum Stark - Minister