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Pastor's Letter March 2012
Dear Friends
Over the past few months as Fiona and I have walked in Pittencrieff Park we have watched the new extension to the Pavilion slowly take shape. For months it seemed that progress was so slow and all that was visible was mud and a few lumps of concrete. That’s not to say that nothing was happening on site as there seemed to be people there regularly, measuring and digging and moving earth. But there didn’t seem to be much tangible evidence of their hard work. Then, just a few weeks ago things started to change dramatically. Suddenly, within the space of one day a whole steel frame suddenly appeared, defining the shape of the new building, and from there walls and woodwork progressed quickly. There is still a long way to go until the building looks anything like the artists impression which is attached to the safety fence outside, but there is clearly progress and growth.
As I look back over the four years since I became Pastor, we have invested much in terms of building firm foundations as we have sought God together; establishing good practices in terms of leadership and communication, clearly defining vision, values and purposes, building trust and relationships. At times it has seemed as if progress and development as a church has been slow, and, I have to admit that there have been times when I wished things would have moved a whole lot quicker. At the same time I realise it takes time and much effort to establish a firm base on which to grow.
As we move into 2012, however, I believe we do so with a firm foundation in place, and I believe that we are seeing, and will continue to see, tangible growth in terms of vision, in terms of faith and maturity, in terms of gifting and ministry and in terms of people being added into the Kingdom and into the Church, as we start to build on the foundations that are in place.
As I look around the church I am constantly struck by what an amazing group of people we have and I am blessed to be a part of what God is doing here in Liberty Church. I know that this is not a time to sit back and settle, but to push forward, to give ourselves to the Kingdom of God and to allow God to build his church. These are exciting and challenging times and I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Much love and blessing
Jon
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Jon Farrimond, 08/03/2012 |
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Pastor's Letter February 2012
Dear Friends
A few weeks ago we baptised four ladies in the training pool at the newly re-opened Carnegie Leisure Centre. As I stood in the middle of the pool I had the privilege of looking round and seeing not only the four who were being baptised and the many family and friends who had come along to see the baptisms, but also so many from our community who were in the Centre that day enjoying themselves, having family time, bringing kids to lessons etc. I reckon that lunchtime on a Sunday must be one of the busiest times for the Centre and there were many there looking on with curiosity, probably wondering what on earth these people were doing.
It felt a little like we were in a goldfish bowl, and I got this tremendous sense as I stood in the pool that this is exactly where God wants us to be: right in the middle of the people to whom God has called us to be a witness, to testify to the grace and power of God and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. I spoke a couple of weeks ago about being salt to those around about us and how salt has to be rubbed into the meat or fish in order to preserve it. It takes close contact to be effective and in order for us to be an effective witness we need to be “rubbed in” to our community. We need to be right there in the middle of community life.
I read in the book of Acts this morning that “more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (Acts 5:14). This happened because the church was living in closing relationship with God and with each other and was boldly proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
I am tremendously excited at the moment to see how many doors are opening for the churches in Dunfermline to connect with those around us. I have never known a time when the churches of Dunfermline have been so united in wanting to be salt and light in our community, or enjoyed so much favour in the community. I want to restate what I said last month: it is time for harvest, time to see people saved and our churches filled with new life. It is a very exciting and challenging time and I don’t want any of us to miss it.
Love and Blessings
Jon
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Jon Farrimond, 09/02/2012 |
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Pastor's Letter January 2012
Dear Friends
Two years ago at this time I preached around Luke 5:4 where Jesus said to Simon Peter “put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch”. I believed very strongly that this was a call from God to us as a church to make a conscious decision to leave the safety of the shore, the place where we feel secure and comfortable, and to put out into deep water, the place where our feet can’t touch the bottom, where we have to trust in God. It is in that place of faith that we will see many brought to Christ. It is in the place that takes us out of our comfort zone and into a place where we need to rely on God.
As 2011 ended and 2012 began I was reminded of this verse on two separate occasions and was clear that God was bringing it back to my attention, and to our attention. The truth is that unless we are consciously and consistently choosing the life of faith then we tend to default to the safer place on the shore. That place can still be a place that demands much in terms of hard work and effort but demands little in terms of faith and is ultimately unrewarding.
I believe that this is a time for harvest, a time for salvation. I know that there is a desire within the family of Liberty Church to reach out to those around us to see lives transformed and people saved. Last year we invested heavily in Impact World Tour and I know that there are many mixed feelings about the effectiveness of these events but it did raise the profile of those around us who need to know Jesus. It focused our attention on the lost and on our call to reach out with the love of God and the Good News of the Gospel. As we move into 2012 I know that this call continues and I know God has put bigger visions in peoples’ hearts. We want our lives to count. We want to be obedient to God. We want to have the joy of impacting the lives of others with a radical life transforming love.
I believe as we move forward that the harvest will be among our families and friends, our neighbours, our fellow students and our work colleagues. It will be among the people we touch through the ministries in which we serve. The harvest is right in front of us but it is in the deep water. It will require faith and obedience and it will require working with others to bring it in. When Simon Peter put out into deep water he was being obedient to Jesus but I don’t suppose he had any idea of the size of the catch he would bring in when he let down his nets. Our God is mighty and able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine and all he asks is our faith and obedience.
I love Liberty Church and I feel immensely blessed to count myself as part of this amazing family. I pray that God would stretch us this year and I pray that each of us would experience the joy of seeing the lives of those we love impacted by the love and power of God.
Be blessed in 2012
Much love
Jon
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Jon Farrimond, 13/01/2012 |
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Pastor's Letter November 2011
Dear Friends
Right at the beginning of John’s Gospel we have these famous verses: "to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12,13).
This month sees the Impact World Tour teams hitting our own community with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their way of communicating the message is up to date and identifies with the culture we live in, but the message they bring is timeless, and it is so needed. Our expectation on the nights of the events here in Dunfermline is that a lot of people will respond. For some this will be a re-commitment of their lives to Christ, for some it will be a solid first time commitment and for others it will be a simple response to the evening and to God stirring something in them. Whatever people respond to we have the opportunity and privilege of leading them into a firm relationship with God through Christ.
Our town, our community needs Christ. There are some people for whom the need of hope, salvation and freedom is obvious and we want to be there to point them to Christ. There are many other people however, many of our friends and neighbours included, who appear to be living ordinary lives and on the surface are getting along just fine. The truth is that they all need a Saviour and that within each of them is a desire for truth, for freedom, for meaning and for love.
Impact World Tour is a catalyst for repentance and for salvation and an opportunity for us who have already received Christ, to lead others to open up their lives and receive the Spirit of God. My hope and prayer is that God our heavenly Father would have many more children here in Dunfermline as a result of this tour.
I urge you to pray, to invite, to step out in faith and to give yourselves for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the salvation of many.
It is my privilege to pastor Liberty Church and I believe God is making the way for his power to flow in our midst. Get ready and expect great things.
Love and Blessings to you all
Jon
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Jon Farrimond, 03/11/2011 |
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Pastor's Letter October 2011
Dear Friends
If you have seen the news at all lately you would have doubtless been aware that some of the foundations of our society are yet again being rocked, as the Euro continues to go through crisis and nobody seems really sure what will happen. Indeed the whole global economy seems to be in somewhat of a mess. I have to admit that I have never really understood economics (and I wonder if anybody really does!) but it seems that everyone is in debt. In a world that places so much faith and trust in financial wealth the current economic situation undoubtedly starts to rock our foundations and leaves us feeling very vulnerable.
In another news article I heard last week, it appears that scientists have discovered a particle (neutrino) that seems to travel faster than the speed of light. This might not mean much to most people, and certainly doesn’t seem to have as big a direct effect on our lives as a financial crisis, but in the world of science this is huge. In my previous life I studied physics, particularly light theory, and so much of what scientists believe, and what we know about our universe, is based on the principle that nothing travels faster than the speed of light. To find something that does, even if it is only by the tiniest amount, kind of messes up Einstein’s theories and rocks the foundations of the scientific world. I do wonder if God just threw this little particle into the mix simply to keep us humble!
Last month we began our studies on the Sermon on the Mount and one of the very first truths we encountered was that we are nothing without God. We need to come before God recognising our emptiness and placing our trust in him. Apart from him we can do nothing. He needs to be our starting point. He is our only sure foundation. Both of these news articles, though quite different in nature, have the same effect of rocking some of the basic principles and foundations of our society, leaving us with some big questions. Neither wealth nor science are bad things, indeed they are good things, but when they, or anything else apart from God, become our foundation, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
The last part of the Sermon on the Mount is the parable of the wise and foolish builder and Jesus highlights the fact that the wise man is the one who builds on a sure foundation and that means putting his words into practice. As we continue through the Sermon on the Mount together, let me encourage you to listen to what God is saying to you and to his church, let me encourage you again to find a Life Group where we can learn to grow together and to put into practice those things that build sure foundations in our lives.
I believe that this time, maybe more than any other time in our recent history, will be a time when people cry out for a firm foundation, an absolute truth. It is time for God’s people to truly understand what it means to trust in God and to point others to the rock that cannot be shaken.
Much love and blessing
Jon
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Jon Farrimond, 05/10/2011 |
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Pastor's Letter September 2011
Dear Friends
This month sees the start of a new season in the life of Liberty Church. It sees the launch of a new Treasure Zone programme, a new sermon series on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” coupled with a re-launch of Life Groups and an increased focus on those around us who do not know Christ.
As we move towards Impact World Tour events in November there is a heightened sense of our calling in God to reach out to those around us who need to know the love and the grace of God. As we met to pray as a church last week for our community, and friends, I had a sense of the heart of Liberty Church beating once more with the heart of God for men and women, boys and girls who need a Saviour.
I want to call us as a Church, to call you as you read this letter, to pray. I have found, in my years as a Christian, that there is a direct relationship between our prayers and the move of God. He waits for us to ask. He longs for us to come to him. He acts upon our requests.
I confess that as I prayed for those I knew last week I was conscious that I had no idea how my prayers could be answered. In some cases it seemed like there were mountains in the way and I had no idea how to move them. Then it struck me that it is not up to me to move them. There is someone much greater than I who is an expert in moving mountains. It is my responsibility and my privilege, however, to bring my “mustard seed” of faith and pray, and ask God to move mightily.
I believe a season of harvest is upon the church in Dunfermline. Impact World Tour is a part of that, but only a part. It is a catalyst to move the people of God to pray and to capture the heart of God for our neighbours. I believe that if you and I will pray and will come before God with the willing servant heart that says “Here I am Lord” then we will see lives transformed.
I’m excited about this next season, believing that our re-launch of Life Groups coupled with our new sermon series, and our new Treasure Zone environment are all part of the plan that God will use to see many saved and many lives transformed. God invites us to be part of that challenging and rewarding journey as we walk with him and his strength.
Much love and blessing
Jon |
Jon Farrimond, 08/09/2011 |
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