We had a full and blessed Lord’s Day yesterday in Scotland. We are still living in the parsonage of David and Fiona Carmichael, enjoying their warm fellowship and hospitality (right side of photo 1). In the morning, we walked next door to the adjacent Abbeygreen Free Church of Scotland in Lesmahagow to worship (left side of photo 1), where Rev. Carmichael led the first part of the service from the lower pulpit and I preached from the high pulpit on Isaiah 49:14-17 to 125 people (photo 2–this beautiful church built in the 1840s also has a high balcony that covers three sides of the church’s interior).
In the afternoon, we had a thoroughly enjoyable visit with three generations of the Carmichael family (photo 3), and then drove 15 minutes to preach for Rev. Steven Reid (photo 4–Reid on the left and Carmichael on the right) in the little valley village of Crossford, Scotland where I spoke on “It is finished” (John 19:30) with some freedom. Sixty people from Rev. Carmichael’s flock joined with us in worshipping in this small village church of about 25-30 people. Afterward I enjoyed visiting with a retired, humble, and wise Scottish minister who just finished writing his 300-page autobiography for his extended family. We then returned to the Carmichael home for a late dinner and more good fellowship until 11:15 p.m.
