Kirk Reflections

Kirk Reflections 14th December 2025 . Revd. Frank Ribbons brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Advent: Joy Out theme is a properly Christmas one as we are in the season of Advent and this is the third Sunday of Advent. Advent has been the Church’s time for anticipating our celebration of the birth of Jesus. The usual themes include looking at the Old Testament...

Kirk Reflections 30th November 2025 . Morag Carnall brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Care Sparrows are small yet special birds.  They’re sometimes overlooked because they’re so tiny – but we should consider sparrows when we think of God’s loving care.  In the Bible, sparrows are mentioned in two key verses that show their significance.   They were common i...

Kirk Reflections 16th November 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. New Heaven and New Earth There’s been much said and written about heaven and how it will manifest. At the end of Revelation, we read about the absence of the sun and moon as the Lord Himself will be the light of the city. The Bible gives us a glimpse of heaven, but t...

Kirk Reflections 19th October 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Haggai Have you ever tried to bake, make or re-create something and it left you disappointed? In recent months, I’ve done most of the cooking at the Manse due to obvious reasons, but somehow my meals never look as good as the pictures in the Tesco magazine. The other...

Kirk Reflections 5th October 2025 . Will Stark brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Zephaniah Zephaniah brought a message to a people who found themselves on a collision course with God.  What were they doing?  What did they have to do and how did it all end?  Written around 630 BC - what does all this mean for you in 2025...?

Kirk Reflections 5th October 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Habakkuk Waiting... To wait. Waited. For how long? What is it YOU are waiting for? Habakkuk (number 8 of 12 Minor Prophets) begins his complaint to God with these words: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” Yikes – that’s brave! It seems that...

Kirk Reflections 28th September 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Nahum Our series on the minor prophets continues this week with a second visit to the city of Nineveh, and a word from Nahum.

Kirk Reflections 21st September 2025 . Paula Roots brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Micah In our series on the minor prophets, we have now reached Micah. Unlike Jonah, we don't know any graphic story of his life but we find that his teachings are surprisingly familiar. He and Isaiah were in Judah, calling God's people to repentance and foretelling...

Kirk Reflections 14th September 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Jonah What’s your favourite story from the Old Testament? Could be Daniel in the Lions’ Den? Noah’s Ark? What about David and Goliath? The list can be long! A narrative that’s captivated my imagination from a very early age is Jonah and the Fish. There’s so much mys...

Kirk Reflections 7th September 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Obadiah This week we’re looking at Obadiah (Oh-but-did-I-?) He prophesied against Israel’s foes who joined those scandalous Babylonians in pillaging the cities surrounding Jerusalem. This plays out like a classic Hollywood drama as we soon find out that Edom, the nat...

Kirk Reflections 31st August 2025 . John McPhee brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Amos We continue our 12 week exploration of the books of the "minor" prophets. This week, we are looking at the message of Amos.

Kirk Reflections 24th August 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. JOEL “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (JOEL 2:28-29) Do you...

Kirk Reflections 17th August 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. HOSEA “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.” (Hosea 11:8) This week, we start a 12-week series on the Minor Prophet...

Kirk Reflections 10th August 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. STARS ‘He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.’ (Genesis 15: 5-6) How many stars are in...

Kirk Reflections 27th July 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. THE LORD'S PRAYER “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, - for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” (Luke 11: 2-4) We pray it often. Some of us can recite...

Kirk Reflections 20th July 2025 . Jane Stein brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. SPIRITUAL WELLBEING I wonder if you have ever answered the question ‘How are you?’ with the response ‘I’m fine’ ‘I’m fine’ is a common, albeit often insincere answer to the question ‘How are you?’ While it literally means the person is well, it is frequently used as a social conv...

Kirk Reflections 13th July 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. HOLY “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…” Col. 1:3 How are you perceived by others? Would others thank the LORD for your faith? For your wisdom and knowledge? For the love you have for others? Are these the things that ‘ sets...

Kirk Reflections 29th June 2025 . John McPhee brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. WHAT'S IN A NAME? “Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, YAHWEH” Exodus 34:5 Is your name important? Have you a family name that says something about you? In Moses day (and in the Middle East still today) names say somet...

Kirk Reflections 22nd June 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. DISCOURAGED  Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lor...

Kirk Reflections 15th June 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. WISDOM 'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.' (James 1:5) What is wisdom? And why should we care?  In a world bombarded with information wisdom whispers the truth of the re...

Kirk Reflections 29th May 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings a special reflection for Ascension as part of THY KINGDOM COME.

Kirk Reflections 25th May 2025 . Marion Donald brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. BE ENCOURAGED “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (Acts 11:23) We were delighted to welcome Marion Donald to lead us in worship this week! an encouraging message based on...

Kirk Reflections 18th May 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. FIERCELY INCLUSIVE “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) Do you sometimes struggle with prejudice? You’re definitely not the first, and you won...

Kirk Reflections 11th May 2025 . Revd. Erick du Toit brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. LISTENING TO LIGHT My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  (John 10:27) It’s been a busy week: A new Pope David Attenborough’s 99th Birthday A trade deal with the US of A And 8 Scottish rugby players in the Lions Squad! Amidst dark times, there’s al...

Kirk Reflections - Rejoice! (7th May 2025 ). Revd. Erick du Toit brings a midweek reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland. Patience in Suffering Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming...