Restarting the Group         20th September update

We met on Wednesday 17th August. That was a chat / catch-up, and planning meeting where we decided on the new topic. 

We followed Abraham's travels from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan, Egypt, north to  Damascus and then back down to Canann.  He is described by modern Jews  as "a wandering Aramaen"  - and he cetainly wandered many miles.

We are now following the footsteps of Jesus. This quite different because we have to reconstruct his path from readings across the 4 Gospels - Abraham's story could allbe traced through consecutive chapters of Genesis.

Next topic - still to be decided !!!

The other churches in the central Kirkcaldy Grouping (Abbotshall, Bennochy, and Linktown) have been invited to join so that we can move toward a Joint Bible Study Group.

The pattern used to be as dettailed below, but in the last 2 years, many things have changed and the group may have to make changes

We start at 10.00am but, depending on transport arrangements, some folk arrive earlier and have a coffee beforehand. We close the official discussion about 11.25. Most of us then have tea or coffee (with some including bacon rolls from the Coffee Bar) and chat and informal discussions continue. We are always finished by noon. We are very aware that appointments or other commitments sometimes mean that people may arrive after the start or have to leave before the tea and coffee arrive.

There are usually between 12 and 16 in the group although it can be as many as 20. We are a diverse group from several different churches and traditions, with a few more men than women and an age range from 40 to 80+.

There is a wide range in knowledge in the group and we encourage questions when we are looking at a passage so that any queries or difficulties can be clarified or explained at the time rather than wait till the end and risk points being forgotten. Quite often, these interruptions open up the discussion and that helps us share our knowledge and understanding and address doubts. We usually share the reading and though everyone is encouraged to participate, some folk prefer to just listen. As is normal with discussion groups mutual respect and confidentiality are key elements; we always say that, “What is said in the group, stays in the group.”

Over the years, we have studied individual books in both the Old and New Testaments. 

We have used material prepared by many different groups e.g. E100 – 100 Essential Bible Readings (Scripture Union) but frequently we produce our own based on topics which have been requested by members.

A variety of topics have included :- “Women in the Bible”,  “Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus”, “Where Jesus walked”, and recently we have looked at the Passover, Pentecost and the Holy Spirit.

Our aim is to help folk, through reading the Bible and discussion, to grow in their relationship with Jesus, to increase their knowledge of the Bible, and to deepen their personal faith.

We have been running for about 20 years and have become a caring group with a strong sense of fellowship and a deep desire to welcome new-comers and support one another.