June in Scotland: Snow, Sun, and Christian Events | 2024

June is the start of summer here in Scotland, so we should expect warm sunny weather, but in fact during the early days of June we had snow falling in the Cairngorm mountains and temperatures dropping to -10c! On the 20/21st of the month we enjoy the longest day of the year! Here in Glasgow the sun rose at 4.31am and set at 22.06pm – giving 17hrs 35 minutes of daylight. Nautical twilight continued until 3.29am when Civil twilight begins, so it never gets completely dark. I really enjoy these long summer days.

I’ll not talk about Scotland’s football team and their sad exit from the Euros, or the announcement of a General Election on 4th July as the TV and Internet have comprehensive coverage of these big and at times controversial events. You can also click on the internet at Scotlandwelcomesyou.com/June to get a flavour of things taking place around Scotland. Many charities organise events, everything from mountain climbing, cycling, walking plus fun events for all age groups. Other outdoor events are organised by our friends for food, fellowship and chat in spite of the unpredictable weather. Below are some photos of events attended by us and others.

The weekend commencing Saturday 31May/2 June was a big weekend in Ayrshire for the Christian Community as the ‘Keswick Ayrshire’ convention took place in Kilmarnock. This attracted large crowds of Christians from across the denominations, and many Christian charities who highlighted their activities in Scotland and around the world. The main speaker was the Rev Tommy Macneil from the Isle of Lewis, click on the link to hear him speak, it’s well worth the listen. https://youtu.be/hnMuB7_kUAY?si=4y2QkG1jVr724LiB

The other big Christian events in Glasgow, which I mentioned in my May blog were the visit of Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation to the OVO Hydro, and Praise Gathering in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. It was a joy and blessing to be at both of these events. They gave new meaning to the old Glasgow motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of your Word and the praising of your Name’. Here are some pics.

It was a great evening with the presentation well suited to this generation, but the message was the same as his father preached in the Kelvin Hall for 6 weeks away back in 1955! I sang in the choir then, and in the picture below I see myself and family and friends from our own choir who were committed to sing with many many others.

The Leadership of ‘Praise Gathering’ which has been going on now for more than thirty years, kindly moved their event from the evening to the afternoon on Saturday 22nd so as not to clash with the BGEA ‘God Loves You Tour’ evening event. It’s always encouraging to hear the 400 strong choir, drawn from Churches across the denominations, singing God’s Praise in the heart of Glasgow, accompanied by a Youth Choir and an invited guest all the way from New York! Log on to http://www.praisegathering.org.uk to enjoy the choir.

The month may have started cold, but it finished strongly and warmly with the good news of Jesus being preached at both these events by Franklin Graham and Rev. Kenny Borthwick. Franklin read from Luke’s Gospel chapter 18:35-43 The story of a blind beggar sitting by the roadside, probably something he did everyday – sigh! Read the story for yourself I’m sure you will be filled with pathos for this blind man. Then something extraordinary happens, first he hears the commotion and learns that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and he calls out to Him ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me’. The people around him tell him to be quiet, but he calls all the more ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me‘. Amidst all that commotion and noise Jesus heard that poor man’s cry, He stops, and says call him! He asks him the question ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The man answers ‘Lord that I might receive my sight’! And Jesus granted his request and restored his sight!

Don’t we too feel at times blind to the meaning and purpose of life? Have you ever asked yourself the question ‘Is there not more to life than this’? Going about in our daily routines, sometimes bored, sometimes tired, but even at times when we feel we have everything, have achieved our goals, does not that same question still pop up ‘Is there not more to life than this’? Well this same Jesus who loved you unto death on a cross, dying for your sins and mine, and who was raised to life, promises ‘Life in all its fulness’ to all who call on Him. Jesus is passing by, so whilst there is still time we can call out to him ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me‘! I did many years ago and can testify that fulness of life is to be found in Jesus Christ.

It’s election week here in the UK, so some big choices to be made, but none more important than the choice to call out to Jesus and receive the gift of eternal life, and life in all its fulness!

Matthew

PS: next time I hope to tell you a bit more about that trip to the Trossachs and also give you an update on the garden.