2024 UKGA Newsletter – Edinburgh
EDINBURGH CHURCH NEWS 2024
In the first quarter of 2024, Edinburgh Church hosted the National Married Couple Fellowship on 10 and 11 March. We thank God for the many couples, both young and old, who attended from churches across the UK. In addition to spiritual cultivation lessons, there were also discussion and activity sessions, which were both joyous and edifying for everyone involved.
On 2 June, the church held a Gospel Open Day, featuring fellowships and basic doctrine sessions for truth-seekers. Thank God, it gave members the chance to share His word with those who visited. Moreover, Edinburgh Church held Sabbath evangelistic services in February, August and November. The themes of these services were focused on truth-seekers and offered members the opportunity to invite friends and family to hear the word of God.
By God’s grace, on the Sabbath morning of 5 August, Bro Layton Ho, Sis Lana Shek and Sis Elowyn Shek were baptised at Joppa Beach in Edinburgh. The baptism was conducted by Pr Joseph Shek and Dn Ling Tao Shek, with a number of members attending to sing hymns of praise. We thank God for guiding the baptism and ensuring that everything went smoothly.
Thank God for His guidance, from 7 to 9 September, the church held a Spiritual Convocation with the theme “Separate Ourselves for Holiness”, based on Leviticus 20:26. The speakers were UKGA preachers, Pr FF Chong and Pr Steven Shek. This was the first time the convocation was held on a Sabbath and over 200 members attended, including brethren from other churches in the UK. The shift to a Saturday start allowed working youths and students to attend most of the sessions over the three days. May God remember the love, sacrifice and contributions of all the brothers and sisters during this time.
At the end of 2024, in December, Edinburgh Church hosted a two-day Spiritual Cultivation Seminar with the theme “Count Your Blessings”. Pr Daniel Liew led the sessions, which included discussions and sharing. Many members shared the highlights of their faith throughout the past year and reflected on the wonderful blessings they had received from God.
愛丁堡教會消息
在2024年首季，愛丁堡教會於3月10日及11日協辦全國夫妻團契。感謝神，不少來自英國各處教會的夫婦，無論年輕或年長，均有前來參加該次全國聚會。除了靈修課堂外，團契中另有安排座談會和聯誼活動，讓大家在喜樂中得著造就。
教會於6月2日舉辦福音開放日，並讓慕道朋友參加團契聚會、認識本會教義。感謝神，信徒能藉此機會與來訪者分享神的話語。此外，愛丁堡教會於2月、8月、11月舉行安息日佈道會。佈道會的主題均為慕道朋友而訂，並為弟兄姊妹提供了邀請親朋好友聆聽真道的好機會。
因著神的恩典，何晧言弟兄、石雨恩姊妹和石芯瑤姊妹於8月5日安息日上午在愛丁堡Joppa海灘受洗。浸禮由石約瑟傳道和石靈道執事主持，一些同靈亦有前去觀禮並用詩歌讚美神。感謝神帶領是次浸禮，讓一切得以順利完成。
感謝神的引領，教會於9月7日至9日舉行靈恩會，其主題「要分別為聖」乃依據《利未記》廿章26節而訂，並由張福華傳道和石文彬傳道主領。這是教會首次於安息日舉行靈恩會，共有超過200名信徒參加，包括來自英國其他教會的同靈。是次靈恩會改於週六開始讓在職青年和學生能夠出席三天內的大部分聚會。求神紀念弟兄姊妹在該段期間所奉獻的愛心和辛勞。
在一年即將結束的時候，愛丁堡教會於12月舉行了為期兩天的信徒靈修會，主題為「數算主恩」。靈修會由劉啟明傳道主領，當中包括討論和分享。不少信徒分享了他們過去一年的信仰點滴，並一同反思從神領受的奇妙恩典。