Over the last few months one of the key things I have come to appreciate most about being part of the Baptist Union of Scotland is that we are one body but with many members. We each have different gifts, different functions, we come from different areas around Scotland. Our churches differ in style, our lives can look very different from each other. We are called to different ministries and our communities may have very different needs. But we are all part of the same body, in God, where we have been created differently, with our unique gifts and personalities but with unity in our diversity.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each one of us.” Romans 12: 4-6
Recently I was listening to teaching from one of the Baptist ministers in our network, around this passage from Romans, and refer to 2 Cor 3:17- 18; ‘And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’.
Wherever we go, and wherever our churches and communities are around Scotland, we have a family resemblance.
We are being transformed into the likeness of God and becoming increasingly more like Jesus. And if we are reflecting Christ then two people can meet from opposite sides or ends of the country and find familiarity, a unity in our diversity. What does this mean for us as a body of churches, as Baptist members, and as family across Scotland? This is something which as a team and as a network we will take delight in exploring over the coming months.
The Online Advent Calendar which so many of you participated in over December truly reflected the depth and breadth of the transformative work God is doing around the country, and very much spoke to the diversity of our networks and unity as one body.
We are creating space for a season of prayer to build on that, and invite you to ‘Watch and Pray’ as a network of churches across Scotland, during the lent season. Over the 6 weeks we invite you and your church to come together and each week will be focused on a different area of Scotland so we can be united in our prayers for one another.
In Connect this month you can discover some of the different and exciting opportunities, events and insights from around Scotland:
- TUNE IN: Join with Glenn and Lisa in the newly relaunched Recast Podcast, as they host a range of conversations over the next few months. First 3 episodes available now
- JOIN IN: Explore upcoming events and get involved with ‘Watch and Pray for Lent’, our Canopy summer gathering happening in June, and then Magnitude festival incl BUS camp for 11- 18 year olds
- REFLECT: with Anthony Luxton, minister of West Dunfermline Baptist, as he explores what it takes to stay in the race that we are called on, and how we make space to get closer to God
- GROW: How do we engage with young people in an authentic and transformative way? Nick Blair, full time Chaplain at Merchiston Castle boarding school shares some insights from his 18 years experience
- EXPLORE: Job opportunity at the Scottish Baptist College
We are keen to create more space for news and conversations within our Baptist network across Scotland, and so would love to hear from you. If you have a story to share; any exciting news or developments; insights about facing challenging circumstances or anything else you feel led to share, please do drop me an email at lyndsay@scottishbaptist.org.uk.
