God's ministry to the sorrowing

Services for the family and friends of

Roddy Stewart

04 February 1991 - 02 February 2008

On Friday 8 February 2008, two moving services were conducted in Inverness following the tragic accident of a week earlier which claimed the life of young Roddy Stewart as he walked home from a night out with his friends to celebrate his 17th birthday.

The first service, which was held in private with Roddy's family, was held at Inverness crematorium and was conducted by Owen Morris, a secondary teacher in Inverness and pastor of Christian Outreach Centre in the city.
The service at the crematorium was followed by a memorial service at Culloden Academy, the secondary school which is an integral part of the Community Complex on the outskirts of Inverness, and where Roddy was a pupil. This service was led by Leo Rose of Inverness Bible Fellowship and was attended by over six hundred people comprising - along with Roddy's family - his friends, fellow pupils, school teachers and others.

Roddy had been attending the Christian Outreach Centre church fellowship for about a year and Pastor Morris, who is a teacher at Inverness Royal Academy commented regarding his part prior to and during the crematorium service that it was a real privilege to be able to assist the family in their most difficult time. Speaking to Christians Together he said:

"We really appreciated Roddy coming to our church, and we will all greatly miss him."

Meanwhile, Pastor Rose who, with his family, came to the Highlands some years ago from America led the memorial service which, while informal at the family's request, was highly moving. It was conducted in the lecture theatre within the Community Complex in which the school is located. The main auditorium was packed to capacity with an overflow of about two hundred and fifty served by a video/audio link in another room.

Roddy was very musical, and the service in the auditorium - an integral part of the Smithton/Culloden community centre and where Culloden Baptist Church meet on Sundays - included contributions in music and word by pupils, Roddy's uncle Lt. Col. Robert Stewart and Tommie Mackay of the Inverness Christian Youth Centre where Roddy had been attending evening Bible studies led by Pastor Rose. During the service slides were shown which displayed colour slides as snapshots of Roddy's life.

Pastor Leo spoke from a passage referring to us all as being 'lost sheep' who needed the find our way back into the security of the sheep fold by way of the 'good shepherd' Jesus Christ who said:

"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Pastor Rose also read out the Ten Commandments which are God's 'fence around our field' marking the areas of 'safe pasture' beyond which we should not stray.

Following his address, Leo invited those present to indicate if they felt that they would like to make a response to what they had heard regarding sheep coming back into the fold.

Speaking to all those who have been praying for the whole situation in the Highlands and Islands and even in the United States, he said:

Please join us in rejoicing with those that have repented and have turned to Jesus the Good Shepherd today. Thank you for your prayers regarding Roddy's Memorial Service.

He continued:

At least forty to fifty young people and adults responded to the Gospel message at the service on Friday and a another seven young people came to faith in Jesus Christ on the previous night at the youth bible study.

In recognition of the fact that ultimately it is God Himself who completes the work of faith, the pastor asked:

"Please pray that those who responded will make early contact with the local Christian community, and that they will become true disciples of Jesus. Also we ask for your continued prayers for the family and friends for comfort and peace. Again, thank you all for praying!"

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The following is a copy of the Memorial Service held at Culloden Academy Community Complex
on Friday, 9 February, 2008.

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Memorial Service

in loving memory of

Roddy Kenneth MacLeod Stewart

Opening Prayer Pastor Leo Rose Inverness Bible Fellowship	Flowers of the Forrest Piper – Ross Thompson- 6th Year Pupil
A Word from Culloden Academy Pupils Niall Kennedy & Rhian MacGillivray	Break the Circle Tommie MacKay - Christian Youth Centre
HosannKaleigh-Jade Gribbens	A Word of Encouragement Leo Rose
Harp Music Katie Masheter	An Ubhal as Airde Jackie Cotter
Playbox of Life Mr. Gilmour Culloden Academy Music Dept. Arrangement by Roddy Stewart	Ronny’s Thoughts Chris Ross
Amélie - Comptine d'un autre ete: L'apres Midi Lorna McDougall	Fiddle, Piano & Accordion Andy Thorburn, Graham Scott, & Melanie Simpson
A Word from the Family Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart	One Step Along the World I Go Tommie MacKay

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Ed footnote:
Please continue to pray for the family and friends of Roddy in the days to come, that they would know the peace of God which passes all human understanding.

=========== Postscript ==============

God's love for us.

If you would like to be assured about God's love for you and His answer in Jesus Christ for our lives, listen to Pastor Leo Rose speaking about our human condition and God's offer of life in Christ. [Requires a broadband connection].

Or alternatively go to My Story to see how God has worked in some peoples lives. And also read of God's love for you.
You can also <click here> to hear the same message being read.