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 mystery wrapped up in all the nuances. Why would you try to flee from God?
The more I ponder the more I not only recognise this attitude within humanity, but also within my own heart. Do I sometimes make a conscious decision to hide from God? When he calls me to do something difficult? Something that’s outside of my comfort zone? Might it be that I too, at times, hoard anger and resentment towards the LORD because of his character…?
Mh (Eyebrows raised). Can I please go back to my P4 understanding of JONAH?

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 nation who delighted in Israel’s downfall, is in fact… Israel’s brother!

Dong Dhong!  (Mic-drop-moment!)

What led to this destructive behaviour? What could have possibly happened between them that led to this rift?

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 like bugs?
Perhaps you have a favourite?
Ants? Beetles? Bees? (Maybe like most, they are best reserved for children’s Pixar movies!)
What about locusts?
Here in the UK, we don’t have any native locusts (apparently, it’s too cold for them!), but we do have grasshoppers and crickets, 23 different species of them to be precise.
In the book of Joel, our second Minor Prophet in our series of 12, we learn about a locust plague that… well, plagued the Israelites leading to large scale ruin… they felt utterly hopeless; without a sense of direction… maybe you’ve felt like that before… perhaps even right now as you read this…
Through the Bible we are taught that for those who are IN CHRIST there is always hope. This week, we hear more about this God for whom nothing is impossible.

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 Prophets; I hope you can get as excited as I am for this!
Who were the minor prophets?
The “Minor Prophets” are anything but minor—as a collection, they speak with a unified voice the message of God to a wayward people during the most tumultuous times in Israel’s history.
The enduring message of the Minor Prophets is a call for the people of God to turn from sin and back to the God who desires to pour out his loving kindness upon them. It is a call to walk in faithfulness to the God who is always faithful.
Why not read Hosea to get the full picture?

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 the Milky Way?
Take a guess…
100 billion. (I wonder who counted them!)
That’s an estimate of the average amount of stars in ANY galaxy. And there are approximately 10 trillion galaxies… I mean come on! If you do the maths… that means, there are about ONE SEPTILLION STARS…
How many?
This many: 1, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000
Well done if you counted 24 Zeros!
My brain wants to explode when I see these numbers. And yet, this is part of the promise God made to Abraham. That his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
In faith, Abraham held onto that promise. It seemed impossible at the time, but Abraham had faith… I wonder what unfulfilled promise you're holding onto?

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 it in our sleep!
But why is the Lord’s Prayer so powerful?
And how come so many people know it?
Have you ever spent a bit of time to really think about what you’re saying when you utter these words…?

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 convention to acknowledge the question without actually going into detail about the person’s state of wellbeing.
In many situations, especially with casual acquaintances or in busy environments, ‘I’m fine’ serves as a quick and easy way to acknowledge the question without requiring a lengthy or potentially personal explanation. The person might be feeling unwell or experiencing difficulties but may not want to burden the other person with the details, especially if they are not close friends or family.
Jesus would often ask individuals questions to find out what was really going on in their lives and he still does that today through His Word. How would you respond if Jesus asked you ‘How are you today?’
Would you answer, ‘I’m fine'?
Join us as we explore some of these questions.

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 us apart’ making us holy? If Paul thanked the Christians in Colossae for their stedfastness, would he thank the LORD for OUR perseverance here at KPC...

Ooft, difficult questions; and to add another:
What does it even mean to be holy…?
What do you think?

Join us as we explore some of these questions from the first Chapter of Colossians.

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 something about who you are and often what you are like as a person. God wanted Moses to know what he was like, and here in Exodus 34 he tells him.

It’s an amazing and exciting insight into the character of the God we worship. Let’s explore it together...it will be good!

“Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”
Exodus 34:5-7