Good News – November 2021 Edition

The November edition of Good News, the magazine of the RPCS, is now available to download.

Welcome to the final edition of Good News for 2021. I am thankful to all those who have contributed articles to this magazine. Particularly, let me thank Margaret Murray (Glasgow) for contributing engaging articles for our children’s series since July 2018. Jimmy Fisher (Airdrie) is now taking over the reins and he takes us to the field of his expertise – the Scottish Reformation. Let me encourage all parents either to get your children to read these articles or to read the articles to them. We want the children of our church to grow up rooted in the faith and to know the history of our church in Scotland. The same goes for the teens page where Peter Loughridge has written about navigating the challenge of having friends confused about their gender. The other new addition is an encouraging psalm devotional written by Ian Gillies (Glasgow).

Our other series continue in this issue. We have tried to look at different vocations – doctor, factory worker, naval architect – focusing each time on different challenges in the workplace as we seek to do all things to the glory of God. This time we interview Oliver and Jessica Mezger (North Edinburgh) about their work as artists. There are still plenty of articles on the Church coming from the RP Global Alliance; number five of the series is now available. David Whitla continues to inform us about the life and times of Archibald Johnston of Wariston, such an important figure in the Covenanting movement. Tim Donachie tackles the issue of Afghanistan – surely a news item that shocked and confounded most of us. We have also interviewed Rev. Graeme Hart from Australia. It is good to find out about the experiences of fellow RPs around the world and to know that there is another RP denomination made up of just a few congregations in a Presbytery. Perhaps the thought of escaping down-under would appeal to some at this time of the year, although as I write there are still very heavy lockdowns in Melbourne.

The last part of James Kerr’s (1847-1905) lecture on Religious Equality is included. Perhaps some might gain by looking back at the previous editions to remind them of what he has covered thus far. The feedback I have received is that his lecture was very helpful. I hope to include more historic RP writings over time. Perhaps we can return to Dr Kerr soon – a voluminous writer.

Stephen McCollum, Editor

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