One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: that you, O God ...

Ali Brooks-TaylorOne of my joys over the past year has been getting to know a lovely19 year old volunteer.Ali Brooks-Taylor was always so positive and committed - if she saidshe would help with something she would been there, if she said shewould do stuff in preparation, that would be done, even when thatmeant getting other people organised! Ali was very cheerful andsuch fun to have around. I never quite worked out when she managedto get any sleep - she worked overnight at a motorway servicestation, which meant she was able to help with early evening events,to attend planning meetings in mornings, and to be available whenevershe was needed. She helped at the Borders Primary weekend,and with regular ‘engage’ youth worship events; she was due to beon the team for Newcastleton holiday club and Spree before going offto university in September.It therefore came as a huge shock when Ali was killed in a head-oncollision as she drove to work on 23 July. It has been very hard tounderstand and come to terms with the loss of such a vibrant younglady, who was so active in the service of her Lord. Ali’s death hashad a big impact on the small community of Newcastleton. TheChristians amongst us have been really challenged through this difficulttime to find our rest in God our fortress.Please thank God for Ali’s life lived wholeheartedly for him. Pleasepray too for God’s comfort for her family and her boyfriend, Owain,(also an SU volunteer) as they continue to adjust to life without Ali..Thank youThank you to those folk who have generously responded toour appeal in May for support for regional workers. The bar chartbelow shows the increase in giving as a result of that appeal.Please continue to pray that God will raise up the finances neededfor this work in the Borders.HelloOne of the richnesses of working for ScriptureUnion is working with such a variety of differentpeople - people who volunteer to be part ofcamp teams, or to run holiday clubs, people wholead Scripture Union groups week by week, peoplewho are prayer supporters or who give financiallyto enable the work to go ahead - all ofthese are vital members of the team. It is thisrichness that we want to celebrate as we meettogether on Tuesday 23rd September, at 7.30. atOld Parish and St Paul’s Church, Scott Crescent,Galashiels, TD1 3JU.We want to take the opportunity to thankGod for giving us each other and to pray for eachother in the many roles he calls us to fulfil withinthe ministry of Scripture Union. We will take timeto reflect back on all he has done through campsand holiday clubs over the summer and to lookahead to the plans for the new academic year. Itwould be really good if you were able to join usthere on that evening.Yours in ChristSeptember 2008Esther BaileyRegional MinistriesDepartment - BordersLiddesdale Parish ChurchMontagu StNewcastletonScottish BordersTD9 0QZ013873 75638esther.bailey@suscotland.org.ukOne thing God hasspoken,two things I haveheard:that you, O God,are strong,and that you, OLord, are loving.Psalm 62 v 11-12aEsther Bailey - Regional Worker, Borders

Resources for Secondary School GroupsFor some time there has been concern about the lack of resourceswritten for school-based groups for teenagers. There areplenty of resources for church-based groups but the needs of aschool group are different. This autumn a team of SU staff and volunteersare going to be working on producing a number of series ofresources for use in schools. Please pray for creative ideas so thatwe produce resources that enable group leaders to handle the Biblecreatively, confidently, relevantly and accurately and encouragegroup members to get into the Bible for themselves. Pray that thewriting and editing processes set up will work efficiently so that theseresources can soon be available for use. I am working on a seriesabout Daniel - a man who stayed firm to his faith in a multi-faith environment- please pray that this helps young people to stay firm intheir own faith, despite the pressures they face.Some dates frommy diary1 Sept - Assembly,Kirkhope4 Sept - Schools Focusprayer group;JAFFA club5-7 Sept - Spree9 Sept - Assembly,Stirches; Actiongroup meeting11 Sept - Assembly,Trinity; JAFFA club12 Sept - Assembly,Howdenburn15-16 Sept - Resourcewriting16-17 Sept - Regionalstaff days23 Sept - Prayer andCelebration evening25 Sept - Assembly,Ednam; JAFFA club26 Sept - Assembly,Burgh; Soulspan2 Oct - Schools Focusprayer group;JAFFA club3 Oct - Assembly,Wilton4-18 Oct - Holiday21 Oct - Hawick BaptistFriendship Hour23 Oct—JAFFA club25 Oct - Schools Alphatraining30 Oct - JAFFA Club31 Oct - ‘engage’6 Nov - Schools Focusprayer group;JAFFA club7 Nov - Griefcarecourse13 Nov - JAFFA club20 Nov - JAFFA club21 Nov - Assembly,Wilton25 Nov - Action groupmeeting27 Nov - Schools Focusprayer group;JAFFA club28 Nov - Assembly,,Burgh2-4 Dec - Staff conference5-7 Dec - BordersSecondary weekend11 Dec - JAFFA clubLendrick Muir CampIt was amazing to see God givingvery specific answers to our prayersat Lendrick Muir this summer:• We had prayed about theweather, but it had rained all daySunday. That evening one of thegirls said that she had achievedsomething special that day - shedidn’t normally go out in the rainbecause she was afraid of water!• One team member was feeling afailure, because her group werevery unresponsive, and everyoneelse’s group was brilliant. Weprayed that God would show hersomething of the impact she washaving. The next day anotherteam member , chatting to 2 girlsfrom the group, asked what theyhad been enjoying about thePlease pray for allthose starting new schools- 5 year olds in P1, 12year olds in S1, pupilswho have moved to newschools mid-course, probationaryteachers in theirfirst postings, teacherswho are in new positions.Pray that at a time of uncertainty,they would findsecurity in God the rock.week. They mentioned grouptimes,so the leader asked whatthey had been discoveringthrough group times. They repliedthat Jesus wants to be their friend,that he loves them and that he’salways ready to give them a freshstart.• One child wanted to become afriend of Jesus, but not without herfamily. She talked to a groupleader about how to become aChristian, but then went awayagain. The group leader was prayingfor her when suddenly shecame back in - she had phonedher mum to discuss it. Her mumhad advised her to go for it andhad said that she would go tochurch with her when she gothome.Please pray that SUgroups in schools throughoutthe Borders wouldquickly get underway thisterm. Pray for groupswhere the leadership haschanged. Pray for newchildren and young peopleto join the groups. Prayfor good publicity and interestingprogrammes forthe groups.