Celebrations have taken place as Rev Peter Turnbull was inducted as minister to Cornerstone Free Church, Edinburgh, on Saturday 15th August.
It was a great afternoon as friends, family and church family gathered to mark a new chapter for the Turnbulls and the church congregation.
A formal induction service was held at Chalmers Church in Morningside. Rev Dr Alistair Wilson led the service preaching from Colossians 1: 1-8. Alistair shared how the passage is both an encouragement and an exhortation – a challenge as the congregation look to the future.
Alistair said it is the gospel which bears fruit. It is the gospel that will accomplish beyond what we can imagine, and Peter is there as a conduit – the manner by which the gospel is enabled to come – so that people can hear it and respond.
Following a number of formalities, Peter was installed as minister of the congregation and extended the right hand of fellowship by the Edinburgh & Perth Presbytery.
Speeches were given by Rev David Meredith, Interim Moderator, Dr Richard Oosterhoff, clerk to Cornerstone’s Kirk Session, and Rev Peter Turnbull. Rev Calum Iain Macleod, Free Church Moderator also conveyed a letter from the Inverness, Lochaber and Ross Presbytery, which Peter was previously part of.
Celebrations were then held at The Old Schoolhouse where the congregation usually meets. It was an opportunity for Cornerstone congregation including those involved in the Spanish speaking ministry to enjoy cakes and tray bakes together.
Peter had shared that the wanted the afternoon to be a fiesta rather than a siesta!
The Sunday morning of the induction weekend saw Peter leading the church for the first time in public worship as the minister. He preached from Ephesians 1: 1-14 saying that God has an unshakeable plan and that we have amazing blessings in Christ and in the heavenly places.
He commended the following verse from Ephesians 1: 3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”