By Dave Campbell posted 4th September 2021
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Donald McDiarmid was a life member of Wavertree Congregational Church. He was 94 years old and together wife his wife Sheila were pillars of Wavertree Congregational Church, unfortunately Sheila and Donald are both recently deceased. During lockdown Donald painted this beautiful picture of the church from memory.
Dear Friends,
Apart from the usual downpours, usually when I forget to bring my umbrella, early summer has been incredibly warm and sunny. I always watch the weather report for Wavertree to see what it is like for you. Depending upon how we find ourselves, and those close to us, there have been good chances for opportunities to enjoy the weather on a ramble. Tucked in to a small estate, where most places are in good nick, it’s dead easy to hide away if we can from the world at the moment. There are two or three traveller families that call in to see if we can help with food and/or a few bob. But compared to their situation, the way people in many places in Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon. Sudan live is just horrific. ‘There but for the grace of God, go we’.
It's not always easy to get out to church on a Sunday morning at the moment. Val is increasingly concerned with helping to keep things going, with some success. I did though manage it last Sunday and it was by the minister, who did a great job for the small congregation. At the end of the service, I noticed an unfamiliar face on their own. I popped over across the pews and started a chat. He may have preferred the quiet but he was keen to say hello. It seemed that he had been an active member in the past. But between one thing and another, he had not been for some time. All sorts of factors, he had found present services more open and attractive. Between ‘the jigs and the reels’, we started a really good and encouraging chat. Please God, he may adjust to the different services now and find it easier to slip in.
There isn’t a big crowd, like us at Hunter’s Lane, but it always best to do what we can for the Lord. He will work it out. Do you remember this. 27 “ Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’31 Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5:27-32).
Sometimes on a Sunday morning, I keep an eye on what folk are doing, in Songs of Praise, to see if/how they can grow new believers. That is when I am not well enough to make it to the local church. Levi was so pleased to be ‘accepted’, he made the mistake of organising a lavish celebration. Jesus quite likely says, 31 ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ We can, though it is definitely not necessary, to sing in huge places but to follow the Lord’s teaching by loving and helping all those who need His love so much. Quietly, with love, through prayers and to follow His teaching.
God bless,
Peter
