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New Beginnings...
The year 2010 arrived with dashed hopes as the search for a new minister had suffered another loss. Held together by an indomitable power, encouraged by the words of our beloved Locum Minister, Rev. Dr. Norman MacIver and bolstered by the dedication of our Interim Moderator, Rev. Isabel Buchan, NewMachar Church remained united. And it was a united sigh of relief and a shout of joyous jubilation when it was announced a new minister had been found to guide our flock.
With sadness and deep gratitude we bid thanks and farewell to Dr. MacIver on 13th June 2010. Later that week, recognition and praise would be extended to Rev. Isabel Buchan for sustaining us during our time of wandering.
Like the first day of a new year; like the earliest glint of sun on a cold winter morn; as the opening buds that herald the arrival of Spring, there came a day of new beginnings, Our God was making all things new for us.
On the evening of 17 June, that glimmer of light took on a bright new glow as Rev Douglas Gordon McNab was inducted as the new minister of NewMachar Parish Church. to continue the legacy of a shepherd to his flock that was ordained by Jesus Christ to his Apostles.
Below you will find images that will serve as joyous witness to the events of the week. From the 13th June when Dr. MacIver bid us farewell, the glorious evening induction service for Rev McNab, the gleeful party of celebration and the long awaited Sunday, 20th June when our Shepherd comes home to guide his abiding flock.
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For every new beginning, there is a new day...
Just as for every new sunrise, there must be a sunset.
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Saying ‘farewell’ is never easy, especially to someone who has become such a part of your family. It always feels that there is so much left unsaid. Saying ‘good-bye’ to
Rev. MacIver as our Locum Minister was particularly difficult.
Saying ‘thank you’ is the easiest of tasks, especially to someone who has served us so long, so well and so lovingly. Yet it also feels that there is so much left unsaid.
We hope that “Nori” will take from our congregation the same joyous and inspiring memories that he has given to us. And we hope he knows he will always be held in our hearts as a member of our family, with all the love, respect and gratitude he so richly deserves.
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< Like the photo? Click on the picture to download a hi-resolution version.
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Like the photo above? Click on the picture
to download a hi-resolution version.
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For every new beginning, there is a new day...
Just as for every sunset, there comes a new sunrise.
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“Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard you Calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.”
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A man came forth,
With two dozen robes or more,
And hymns were sung more sweetly
than could e’er be sung before,
A man came forth,
head and heart bowed to Thee,
Seeking Your guidance and grace
in a Heavenly decree.
A man came forth,
led by the desire of his soul
To serve a life with Sacred love,
praises for God to extol.
A man came forth,
knee bent to the everlasting Rock
And stood reborn, a new lamb,
amongst His abiding flock.
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Jubilation and Celebration .
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On more than one occasion during the induction service and the reception to follow, the comparison to a wedding was made. Douglas and Lorraine beamed like a bride and groom, and the guests were no less joyous than a wedding celebration. If we think about the meaning of a wedding as the bonding of lives solemnized by sacred vows, then the analogy is not far from wrong. Just as Douglas was asked to confirm his vows to God, the Church of Scotland and our congregation, the church members present reconfirmed their faith to God and vowed to be the support our new minister would need. The bonding of lives solemnized by sacred vows.
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Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing,
each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew)...
John 2:6-9
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At the wedding in Cana, Jesus called upon His faith and trust in God to turn the water into wine. Our congregation, the Vacancy Committee and the Session Elders called upon our faith and trust in God’s plan for our church. While some may not see this as a bona fide ‘miracle’, it took the power of all consuming faith the change the water and it took the same faith (and stubborn tenacity on the part of the Vacancy Committee) to transform our church. For the seventeen months our church was without a minister, we were adrift on a sea made turbulent by a lack of response to our vacancy ads and negative statistics about the ratio of ministers to vacancies.
Our faith was rewarded when Rev. McNab heard God’s call. As night turning into dawn, raging seas into calm waters and water into wine, the power of God changed our tears of sorrow into shouts of jubilation.
Is that not a miracle?
Below you will see photos from the reception at the Village Hall following the Induction Service. Please note particularly the many, many joyous smiles and jubilant faces.
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...though the servants who had drawn the water knew...
John 2:9
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It was a magical evening! The Induction Service was a soul-inspiring blend of harmonious voices raised in song and praise, vows given and received. The assembled congregation welcomed a esteemed host of clergy from the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Gordon and many well-wishing members of Douglas’ former congregation in Girvan. What an amazing testimony for the entire McNab Family.
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< Like the photo? Click on the picture to download a hi-resolution version.
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(Left & right photos) A heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to our Interim Moderator, Rev. Isabel Buchan, who added great mirth to the festivities with a story that could have started “It was a dark and stormy night...” had it not been “A cold and snowy Sunday morning...”
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< Like the photo? Click on the picture to download a hi-resolution version.
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(Left photo) “Pssst Sandra...the minister’s wife is named L-O-R-R-A-I-N-E!”
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(Right photo) Bert Dunlop from Girvan gave us some humorous insight into Douglas... and a stoic warning about the jokes and stories to come!
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(Left photo) MC for the evening, Bill Campbell, administers the official “handshake of Welcome” and presents Douglas with a gift to commemorate the evening.
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(Right and below) With the “official business” part of the evening completed, it was time for entertainment! We were all delighted and tapping our toes to the new faces and new sounds from our church choir.
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(Left and right) Bill ‘The SongMan’ Campbell, stirred our hearts with “I’ll Walk Beside You” then tickled our ribs with the Jimmy Logan classic “The Kirk Soirée.”
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(Left) A duet by Lorna Yeoman (flute) and Shirley Dryden from the “Compassion” CD rounded out an excellent evening of music.
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The “New Manse Family” McNab
right to left: Rev. Douglas Gordon McNab, wife Lorraine, son Ross, eldest son Iain with fiancée Michaela.
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Like the photo? >> Click on the picture to download a hi-resolution version.
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June 20th, First Service .
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