St John's Church, Carluke

Our Minister, Rev Dr Elijah Obinna writes:

Grace and peace to you and your families.

These past five months have been a spiritual, emotional, and physical challenge for all of us.  The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fear, anxiety, unemployment, and over-reaching concerns for all.  Nonetheless, in moments of fears and anxiety, we can trust God for his enduring peace and love.

My profound thanks go to each of you for all the ways that you have helped us BE the church during such a challenging time.  It has always been true that St John's Church is not just the building, it is the people.  And during these perplexing times, you have truly exemplified what that means in a whole new way.

Many of us - myself included - deeply miss gathering in our church building for worship.  At the same time, we have been blessed by the discovery of new ways of gathering as a congregational family in prayer and fellowship through services offered via the internet/CDs, online Bible studies, phone calls, post cards and letter writing.  I have been stunned and humbled by the many phone calls, emails, and letters from church members to express support and gratitude in our collective ability to navigate the uncertainties of the last five months.

We are delighted that as a country we have travelled out of lockdown and now we are in the phase where churches can safely open their doors for some acts of communal worship.  I want to thank our Kirk Session and Property Team for the countless hours of prayers, conversations, and discernment that have been invested in our church reopening plan, which the Presbytery of Lanark has approved.

As we journey into the future, may we remember the words of Jesus:

Jesus does not promise that our life's journey would be without obstacles or hardship.  We continue to be the church in this unsettling time, confident that Jesus journeys with us through it.