South Shawlands Church of Scotland
Water often seems to be a key theme in the life of our church! In recent months, we have been saddened by the theft of lead from the church roof, which let lots of water into our church building the first time it rained. Thanks to the work of Mr MacDonald and our church officer Colin MacLeod, a greater amount of damage was avoided however, and we are thankful for this.
In the history of our church, water has played a significant feature in other ways also. The building being situated so near to the river Cart, the river has at times risen through the drainage system, and turned the lower hall into a swimming pool. Fortunately with the new river Cart prevention system, this is unlikely to happen again. However many people have memories of the area’s various skirmishes with water, and the times when Holmbank Avenue was flooded.
This reminded me of the wonderful image in Ezekiel chapter 47, where the water comes
out from the south side of the temple. The stream flows out of the temple, deepening
and being strengthened and becoming a river, with trees growing on each side, with
the fruit being a food, and the leaves for bringing healing. In the vision, it is
a river of God’s goodness and love, bringing life and transformation and hope to
all. And that’s what the church seeks to be, a place where the river of life flows
and carries everyone in the love and forgiveness and mercy of God. We have been blessed
by God, and so we seek to bless others -
We remember too the words of Jesus Christ in John 7:37
“ If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes
in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow
from within him.”
As we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, through reading the bible and prayer, its like something clicks inside us, and we feel satisfied and fulfilled, for God satisfies our needs and quenches our spiritual thirst. And as God blesses us, so he strengthens and refreshes our soul, so we can love others with renewed enthusiasm.