"Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:2-3) 'This Week at Home' Family Worship 21 - 27 April 2024 'How we use our power and influence' Read More NEWSLETTER Latest Church News Spring 2024 Read More Guild News ​ 'Whose we are, and Whom we serve' February2024 Read More Blairgowrie & Rattray HUB Magazine Spring Edition 2024 Read More Wednesday, 2.00 pm Bible Study ​ Currently Paused Date to be confirmed! Read More Safeguarding Handbook ​ The Church of Scotland Online References & Guidelines Read More Blairgowrie Parish Church Annual Accounts 2022 2022 Read More A Heart Touched By God The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. John 1:41-42 “You can count the apples on the tree, but who can count the apples in a seed?” so goes the old saying. So is it with the influence of a single person. Take Edward Kimball, for example. Kimball was a Sunday school teacher who not only prayed for the often-rowdy boys in his class but sought to win each one to the Lord. If Kimball ever felt like giving up, he never talked about it. But human nature being what it is, the thought must have come to him more than once. One young man, in particular, didn’t seem to understand what the Gospel was about, so Kimball went to the shoe store where the lad was stocking shelves and in a back room confronted him with the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. ​ That young man was the evangelist Dwight L. Moody, and on that Saturday, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour. In his lifetime, Moody touched two continents for God (including Scotland), with untold thousands coming to faith in Jesus Christ. But the story doesn’t end there. Actually, that’s where it begins. Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, Wilbur Chapman , and Chapman became an evangelist who preached to thousands. One day a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and thus Billy Sunday was converted. Sunday quit baseball and became part of Chapman’s team. Then Chapman accepted the pastorate of a large church and Sunday began his own evangelistic crusades. ​ Are you beginning to understand why you can’t count the apples in a seed? Under Sunday’s ministry, another young man was converted whose name was Mordecai Ham —a scholarly, dignified gentleman who wasn’t above renting a hearse and parading it through the streets advertising his meetings. ​ When Ham came to Charlotte, North Carolina, a sandy-haired, lanky young man, then in high school, vowed that he wouldn’t go hear him preach, but “Billy Frank,” as he was called by his family, did eventually go. Billy Frank—eventually known to the world as Billy Graham —decided to go see what would happen. What happened that night was that Billy Graham went and was intrigued by what he heard. Returning another night, he responded to the invitation and was converted. ​ Billy Graham has preached to more people than any other person who ever lived, including the Apostle Paul; and this fascinating chain of events was triggered by a Sunday school teacher’s concern for his boys. I wonder, are you ever tempted to think that what you are doing doesn’t count? That nobody pays any attention to you, and that nobody is listening, whether you are a Sunday school teacher, a church elder, or just a Christian doing your best for the church, your family and the community. The fact is that God doesn’t depend on angels or supernatural beings to spread the Good News. He uses ordinary people, and when ordinary people are faithful in doing the simple task, God does extraordinary things through them. ​ Then next time you are tempted to give up, please remember Edward Kimball , whose persistence and faithfulness were tremendously honoured by the Lord. How different our world might have been, had Edward Kimball not taken his Saturday to seek out young Dwight Moody . Yes, how different? You can count the apples on a tree, but only God knows how many apples are in a single seed. Therefore, my dear friend, trust Him, friend. He always honours His word. On that you can be sure. ​ With every blessing and grace, ​ Waiting on His return, Benjamin Prayer ​ Loving God, it’s so easy to get distracted by all the numerous things that are going on in our lives. Sometimes we get caught up in thinking that our lives and what we do for you are insignificant. Remind us that we are Your masterpieces. We can and will accomplish what You have planned for us through Your grace. Help us to influence our families, friends and community for Jesus’ glory, and let us lean into the confidence that doing this aligns our lives to Your plans and purposes. May all we do for you, be for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ​ BLAIRGOWRIE PARISH CHURCH *** Audio Visual Upgrade ​ A Church fit for purpose, today and tomorrow During the past two years we have learned how important it is for people to come together and how important it is for us, as a church, to facilitate that coming together wherever and however we can. We also have a mission to spread the Gospel and a stewardship responsibility for our building. The new Audio-Visual (AV) system, while expensive to install, will help us to achieve our goals and show ourselves as a forward looking, scripturally driven and community focused church for the future by... • Bringing people together with live streaming for the good times and the sad (weddings, funerals) • Spreading the Gospel with live streaming of services • Meeting the needs of our community groups • Providing an income stream to support our church and its buildings. It is intended that all costs will be covered by fundraising, and not from church funds. No-one will be required to contribute. We hope to raise £35,000 so far we have raised £15,426 Thank you! Will you share in our vision? Contact: David Howat: david@thehowats.net PRAYER DIARY March and April 2024 View More Welcome to Blairgowrie Parish Church's website. ​ We’re a Christian community in the beautiful Perthshire town of Blairgowrie. ​ We are a church family of ordinary people who have experienced God’s love in Jesus. We seek to live and teach the Christian faith so that people can understand it and respond to the message it offers. ​ Whatever your reason for coming here – whether you are in need of help; searching for a church; looking forward to your wedding or baptism; exploring faith or simply planning to visit the area – come and visit us, we'd love to welcome you. Rev Benjamin J A Abeledo ABOUT OUR CHURCH Our Vision ​ Our vision is of a Bible-based church that is vibrant with prayerful people who worship and serve Jesus Christ and attract others to follow Him. READ MORE >> SERMONS Listen and Watch Online Welcome to our latest sermons, simply follow the links below... WATCH WORSHIP Come and join us on Sunday morning and be part of our worship community. Sunday 11.00 am You will be very welcome! READ MORE >> Prayers and Worship Resources Prayers to use during the Coronavirus crisis Click here Daily Reflection Daily Bible Readings and Reflections Click Here Latest Sermon Psalm 13 & Romans 8:18-30 A Prayer of Lament Sunday 14th April 20 24 Rev. Benjamin Abeledo News and Events Find out more about coming events Read More Explore Faith Wrestling with the issue of faith? Find out more Read More Links Useful Links to encourage and support your faith and service. Read More Devotionals Useful Resources to build your faith and study of the Bible Read More Church Newsletter Spring 2024 Read More Life Events Find out more about Baptism, Weddings, Funerals and Church Membership Read More

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STEPS TO BECOMING A CHRISTIAN Living As A Christian Some people have strange ideas about what it means to live as a Christian. Some think it means you have to always be well presented, go to church twice every Sunday, not stay out past midnight, and never, never have fun. Others think it means giving up all trace of individuality, giving all your money to the church, and living in some sort of commune. Still, others think it’s about withdrawing from the world, losing touch with reality, and only ever mixing with other Christians. Unfortunately, some Christians also believe these myths and give the rest of us a bad reputation. Happily, we can tell you that none of the above is what real Christian living is about. Christianity is all about having a relationship with the God who created us. So to live as a Christian, you actually have to be one. That may sound obvious, but many people try to ‘live a Christian life’ without having any understanding of what Christianity is all about. If you haven’t already, why don't you come to our Church and speak with Benjamin, the Minister, and he will explain it to you. ​ ​ Becoming a Christian begins with a prayer. ​ The way we come to know God is through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. The way we come to know God is through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ—by responding in faith to his invitation to a new life. If you want to accept that invitation, all you have to do is ask Him. In fact, you can pray right now wherever you are using this simple prayer: ​ “Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Saviour and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.” ​ What does it mean to be a Christian? The word Christian literally means “one who follows Christ.” (Christ is another name for Jesus.) To be a Christian means that a person, first, believes what the Bible teaches about Jesus—that he is God’s Son, that he lived a life in perfect relationship with God, that he was executed, buried and raised again to life, and that his death paid the penalty for our inability to keep God’s Law (sin). ​ But, it means more than that; it means that, as a result of believing what the Bible teaches, a person admits that he has broken God’s Law and accepts the fact that relying upon what Jesus did is the only way that God can forgive him, personally. When that takes place, the Bible teaches that that person is forgiven and introduced into an active relationship with Jesus, now and forever. ​ That active relationship with Jesus means that we have access to God’s guidance in our daily lives, that we have a new sense of purpose and fulfillment in life, even in difficult times. That active relationship with Jesus means that we, too, become a Christian—” one who follows Christ”—in the full and complete sense of the word. ​ All Are Sinners First, we must be willing to admit that we are sinners and need God’s forgiveness. Then, we must believe that God forgives our sins, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has already done for us. When God forgives sin, He cannot merely overlook its consequences. Full payment must be made for our sins. The Good News is Christ’s death made that payment in full for those who trust Him. ​ What Do I do after I commit my life to Jesus? Once you have made the commitment to follow Jesus, what’s next? TELL SOMEONE! Call your family, a friend or colleague. Contact anyone whom you think would celebrate your decision to follow Jesus. You can tell Benjamin (Minister) or contact us and we will rejoice with you and pray for you. ​ FIND A CHURCH This is especially important, especially if you don’t know someone who would celebrate your decision to follow Christ. Christians in a church will walk with you as you explore this new life. If you live within Blairgowrie or you would like to visit us, you will be very welcomed to come to Blairgowrie Parish Church and be part of our family. BEGIN READING THE BIBLE Try to set aside time for Bible reading each day. See our page under 'Devotionals,' for suggestions. Pray before you start and expect God to teach you from His Word. Your new life is not about feelings, but trusting in God and learning more about Him. Reading the Bible each day gives food to your spirit, in the same way, mealtime satisfies your natural daily hunger for food. ​ Get a modern version of the Bible such as the "English Standard Version" (ESV) or the “New International Version,” (NIV). Don’t try to read the Bible straight through from the beginning. You could easily become disillusioned and give up! Try reading from the New Testament, to begin with. You will find the New Testament in the last third of your Bible. Start with the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books will give you a broad picture of Jesus, His life and death from different viewpoints. If you don’t own a Bible you can start reading or purchase one online at www.biblegateway.com and type in “Matthew 1.” ​ JOIN A STUDY GROUP Find a Bible study group at your church. There you can ask questions and meet fellow learners. More to Follow on how to join a Homegroup within Blairgowrie Parish Church! ​ PRAY Prayer is talking to God. He loves you and wants you to know Him better. It may seem awkward at first, but any new relationship takes time to feel natural. Use that time to tell God about your day, about your questions and about the things that may be troubling you. Use it to ask Him for direction and just to tell Him how much you appreciate what He has already done for you. It’s helpful to have a set daily prayer time. Having a regular prayer time built into your daily routine will help you become established as a new Christian. ​ GET BAPTIZED Baptism is the public act of identifying yourself as a Christian. Jesus commanded all His followers to be baptized. Speak with Benjamin (Minister) for more information. ​ Still, have questions? We can help. Send us an email or contact Benjamin . In Christ Alone

WHO IS JESUS? DID JESUS EXIST? ​ Yes. Jesus and groups of his followers (early Christians, in fact) are mentioned, often disparagingly, by first century writers such as Tacitus, Pliny, Suetonius and Josephus. ​ The fact that Christianity exists at all demonstrates that someone called Jesus inspired and changed the lives of people in the early part of the first Century AD. WHAT DID HE DO? ​ Our best information about Jesus’ life and work comes from the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible. Jesus showed people what God is like. He healed them and called them to follow Him. He told wonderful stories explaining how God wants all people to have a relationship with Him; to follow His ways and to help make the world as it was meant to be. He told them the most important thing was to love God with their whole being, and their neighbours as much as they loved themselves. ​ Jesus opened the door wide to all those who longed to come in. According to him, people didn’t have to be perfect to meet God; they just had to come with faith and trust. He put it this way: “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.” ​ Jesus’ message and actions were challenging and controversial to the Jewish and Roman authorities. To them he was a trouble-maker. So they arrested and tortured him, then executed Him by crucifixion. He was in his early thirties when he died. His friends went into hiding. It seemed all their hopes that this was the special man whom God had sent to free people and change the world had come to nothing. They thought they had backed the wrong person and were scared they too would be persecuted. ​ WHAT DO CHRISTIANS SAY ABOUT JESUS? ​ Three days after his death and burial, some of Jesus’ women friends went to his grave. They found the door open and his body missing. One of them, Mary Magdalene, recognised the man near the grave as Jesus Himself – and he was alive! Soon, other friends met him in different places. They knew he wasn’t a ghost because they could touch him, talk with him and share food with him. They weren’t stupid or deluded. Like everyone, they knew that dead people don’t walk around, talk and share meals. They realised that what Jesus had said about his death and resurrection was true. Jesus was alive again. ​ Christians believe Jesus is alive today, and that he is God. We believe He shows us completely what God is like. We know that God does love the world, and wants it to be better, because of what we read about Jesus. ​ Through His words and actions Jesus brought God’s healing and forgiveness into the world. Because he was a real person, he experienced the same things we all do: love, pain, joy, sorrow, worry and hope. He understands what it is like to be human, how difficult and wonderful it can be. ​ We believe that, because of him, we can each be part of God’s family as we were always supposed to be. Not by trying to be someone else but by becoming the person God made us to be and to do the things he wants us to do. Jesus put it this way: “I have come so that everyone will have life, and have it in its fullest.” ​ WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN TODAY? ​ We believe that Jesus gives meaning and purpose to our lives: ​ WE CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR THE THINGS WE GET WRONG WE CAN FIND PEACE, HEALING AND RENEWAL IN KNOWING GOD. WE CAN FIND COMFORT IN WALKING WITH HIM EVERY DAY. WE CAN FIND PURPOSE IN FOLLOWING JESUS, AND CONTINUING HIS WORK. Christians aren’t always very good at this. We are far from perfect, and there are many nicer and better behaved people everywhere. That’s why we need Jesus. ​ We believe that, through Jesus, we can all enter into a relationship with God – a real, loving relationship. And God wants us to grow up. We are challenged to know God more deeply and live more and more according to what Jesus did and taught. ​ Fortunately we aren’t asked to be perfect to journey with God. He didn’t come to help those who have everything sorted but for those of us who are broken, vulnerable and flawed. He knows we won’t get things right, He knows we will fall down repeatedly. The trick is to keep getting back up to try again with his help. ​ The first step on the journey with God is recognising we can’t be the people we want to be alone. Each of us needs God’s help and love, and the help and love of others in the church. Here are the some stories of our individual journeys at Blairgowrie Parish Church. It’s a great journey, challenging sometimes and it changes us, but it’s worth more than anything. We’d love you to come and join us on it. ​ HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY? ​ The Christianity website is a good place to start. Also visit the 'Christianity Explored' website. ​ You can bring your questions and thoughts to us, just contact us. No question is silly or off-limits. Alternatively, come along to an Alpha Course, which we run regularly.

PRAYER DIARY March and April 2024 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." ( Psalm 33:12) Ple ase pray for ... Our Church As we approach Easter we pray to a Loving Father to bless our services and all aspects of outreach within our church and beyond. May all Jesus has done for us become real and meaningful. May we reach out to the lonely and be a comfort to all who are bereaved. Give thanks for the work of the Craft Group extending friendship to many. Pray for Easter Praise in the Wellmeadow on 23rd March at 3pm and the Holy Week services: Maundy Service on 28th and Good Friday Service on 29th, both at 7pm Remember the Holiday Club being planned for the 3rd, 4th and 5th April. Our Community Loving God, we pray for our schools, for all teachers and pupils, that they may see how having a Christian faith can make a difference to every aspect of living and learning. We give thanks for all who work as volunteers in our community. We pray for their support and encouragement. With dwindling numbers taking part in youth organisations, we especially remember all who make these groups worthwhile. Our World Sovereign God, as elections take place in many parts of the world we pray for people of integrity to lead and govern. We pray for wisdom as problem solving techniques are developed through Artificial Intelligence. Pray for this work to be for the glory of God. Compassionate God, we remember people living in areas of conflict. Give them courage and faith as they live through desperate times. We pray for aid agencies to find a way through to needy people. Remember many parts of the world coping with floods. Hasten the day of your return, Lord Jesus, when all war will cease and there will be no more crying or pain. "May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:22) Prayer @ Ten takes place each Sunday in the Meeting Room. All welcome

WHAT WE TEACH Important Point to Note: As a congregation of the Church of Scotland, we are a gathered community of people who hold to a Christian standard of faith. We are made up of members and friends who in their Christian journey, and with sincerity of heart, some may hold differences of opinion and views on some theological and doctrinal points of interpretation. As a congregation, we respect those differences as we continue our walk of faith together. ​ Church of Scotland Statement ​ Our standards of belief are to be found in the Old and New Testament and in the Church's historic Westminster Confession of Faith . For a brief summary of our beliefs, it is useful to look at the Apostles' Creed , which is used by many churches in declaring Christian faith: ​ "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. ​ "The third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. ​ "I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of Sins; the Resurrection of the Body; and the Life Everlasting." ​ This creedal statement was approved by the General Assembly of 1992. You can find this statement in the Church's worship book, Common Order . It is used alongside the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed , ancient creeds of the church (see the link for these Creeds at the bottom of the page). ​ * * * * * * Our Basis of Faith ​ Below is a very brief summary of what we, as a Church of Scotland congregation, believe: God There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the Almighty Creator, Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His own glory. The Bible The Church of Scotland acknowledges the Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the supreme rule of faith and life. ​ The Church of Scotland holds as its subordinate standard the Westminster Confession of Faith, recognising liberty of opinion on such points of doctrine as do not enter into the substance of the Faith, and claiming the right, in dependence on the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, to formulate, interpret, or modify its subordinate standards always in agreement with the Word of God and the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith contained in the said Confession, of which agreement the Church itself shall be sole judge. ​ [From the Services of Ordination and Induction to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament - See also, The Book of Common Order, p 337] [The current ministry under the preaching and teaching of the Rev BJA Abeledo holds the view of the Bible in the following terms] God has revealed Himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice. The Human Race ​ All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all humanity, for all have sinned. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him. The Lord Jesus Christ ​ The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, thus making a true and proper atonement for sin. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for His people in the presence of the Father. Salvation ​ Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life. The Holy Spirit ​ The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission. The Church The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the Head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for pastoral care and discipline and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a sacrament instituted by Christ to be administered to believers who have repented of their sins and are trusting in the merits of Christ for their salvation. It is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by Christ to be administered to believers who, having ‘examined’ themselves, can rightly partake of the elements in all good conscience. The Future ​ The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory for those who have received Him as Saviour and Lord. Reformed? Presbyterian? Blairgowrie Parish Church is a congregation currently under a conservative ministry in the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition. We are part of the Church of Scotland. A fuller statement of our beliefs as a church can be found in the following documents: ​ The Westminster Confession of Faith The Scots Shorter Catechism The Apostle’s Creed The Nicene Creed

BAPTISM The Meaning of Baptism ​ When we come to faith in Christ, the Bible instructs us to be baptised. Baptism signifies a washing in water which reminds us that we are cleansed and forgiven of our sins, since Jesus has paid the penalty for all our sins on the cross. Baptism signifies that we have come into a special relationship with Jesus Christ. This sacrament therefore represents to us the wonderful blessings that flow from this special ‘covenant’ relationship with God; for God has promised to be our God [and the God of our children through all generations]. We notice that baptism further signifies our initiation [membership] into the visible Church family. We are therefore not just welcomed into the fellowship of the local church, but are welcomed into the fellowship and family of God. Finally, baptism signifies that we now walk in a “newness of life” . Since Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, Christians also share the blessings that flow from Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore we see baptism as signifying a life in all its fullness, a resurrection life, an abundant new life in Christ. Adult Baptism When you are baptised you make profession of what Jesus has done for you (forgiveness of sins, cleansing), and what he continues to do in your life (changing you to be more like Jesus). In baptism you will take a vow of allegiance, declaring your heart’s desire to serve and obey Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Infant Baptism Infant baptism places responsibilities upon you as parents, and not the children. Although a child may not understand the sacrament of baptism, and may not necessarily have come into a personal relationship with Jesus, it is important that one of the parents at least be a member [or adherent] of the church, as they are asked to make promises to God on the child’s behalf. ​ Parents [or Sponsors] are asked to make vows, professing their faith in Christ, and promising to make careful provision for their child’s spiritual development through Christian teaching and instruction. We can begin our child’s spiritual development by being a Christian influence in our home. At Blairgowrie Parish Church we offer a variety of Children’s ministries (Sunday School, Family services, and other church events) to help support parents in Christian instruction. As a child is admitted into the local church family, the congregation are invited to make promises to God, promising to love and care for the child, and to give support to the parents. ​ Who can be Baptised? So who ought to be baptised? In the New Testament it is clear that adult believers were baptised on their profession of faith - “Believe and be baptised!” The Church of Scotland believes that the Bible teaches us, as believers, to baptise our children. Through the baptism of our children we anticipate and pray that one day they will come into a personal relationship with Jesus, and that they will experience the promises and privileges of their baptism in a personal way. ​ Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving A Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving is a step on the way to Baptism. In many ways it is Baptism without the water! It involves special prayers for the child and family and the dedication of him/her to God. It does not involve parents making promises (see later). More and more parents these days are opting for this service, for various reasons which may include: ​ Parents want to mark and celebrate in Church their child’s arrival but don't feel ready yet to make the promises involved with a Baptism service. Parents would prefer that their child make up their own mind about Baptism when they are older and can make the promises for themselves. One parent is not at this time able to make the promises and therefore it would be hypocritical for them to say words of Christian faith that they don't believe. Parents don’t at this time feel able to make a commitment of a Church involvement that we require at Blairgowrie Parish Church before we arrange a Baptism. ​ If you have not been attending Blairgowrie Parish Church for long, or at all, then a service of Blessing and Thanksgiving is certainly the right service for you at this time. ​ ​ The Mode of Baptism ​ In the Greek language ‘baptism’ can mean “to dip, immerse or sprinkle” . In the Reformed tradition, all three expressions for baptism are acceptable ways to administer the sacrament. In the Church of Scotland it is more common-place to have baptism by “sprinkling” , where the minister will baptise from a ‘font’ at the front of the church. The minister will pour or sprinkle water on the candidate’s head, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. What Happens Next? It is important that you contact Benjamin (Minister) through the to organize an interview with you. He will be delighted to help and answer any questions regarding baptism, a service of blessing or any other issues that are not clear to you. ​ Documents Baptism Application Baptism & Thanksgiving Booklet Blessing and Thanksgiving Application

CONTACT US Where We Are Minister: Rev Benjamin JA Abeledo: 01250 87 0986 Blairgowrie Parish Church James Street Blairgowrie Perthsire PH10 6EZ Hall Let Convenor: Mrs Colleen Joslin 01250 87 3701 blairgowrieparishchurch@gmail.com Session Clerk: Mr Clifford Cooke 01250 79 8642

Every Wednesday at 2.00 pm we are in the Church Sanctuary (CURRENTLY PAUSED) Contact: Mr David Howat: david@thehowats.net ​ BIBLE STUDY & PRAYER MEETING WEDNESDAY Every Wednesday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ​ CURRENTLY PAUSED