16 May 2025, 10:25Pr Wil MasihStrathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
A Special Day of Praise and Worship in the Cairngorms
On a radiant summer day in the Cairngorms, a small fellowship gathered by the River Don to worship in nature’s cathedral, where song, creation, and community became one timeless expression of faith and gratitude.
On Saturday 10th May, it was one of those rare and perfect summer days in the Cairngorms. The warm sunlight spilled across the moorlands, a gentle breeze rustling through ancient pines and a sky so clear it seemed to echo eternity. Under this vast blue canopy, a small but faithful group of believers gathered near the River Don in Roughpark, Strathdon for a time of praise and worship unlike any other, surrounded by the untouched grandeur of Scotland’s beloved highlands.
Children with parents slowly gathered, where wildflowers danced and the calls of birds welcomed each soul. This was not a grand cathedral of stone and stained glass, it was something far more elemental. Here, in the heart of nature, God’s sanctuary was defined by His own creation.
The service began humbly, with voices joined in song with harmonies of old hymns and simple praise choruses, lifting hearts and eyes upward. The children were the first to break into spontaneous joy, their laughter and song mingling with the melodies carried by the breeze. No walls separated worshippers from the world around them; instead, they were enveloped in it, embraced by hills, sky and the quiet majesty of the Cairngorms.
As the group sang “Blessed Assurance,” the natural choir around them seemed to respond. Birds, vibrant in colour and song, fluttered from branch to branch, adding their trills to the human chorus unbothered by the company, as if sensing the peace that filled the air. Even the rustling leaves seemed to sway in rhythm. Nature itself worshipped alongside its human companions and the presence of the Creator felt not distant, but intimate, as if God was whispering “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Just beyond the edge of the gathering, a few neighbours paused quietly to observe. This wasn’t a performance; it was an offering. And that sincerity, that warmth, drew hearts near.
This worship gathering wasn’t a new event, though its beauty felt freshly born. Since 2018, this little fellowship has met in various forms and settings, sometimes around a fireplace in winter, sometimes by the River Don in the summer. Its members have changed over time: families have come and gone, some have moved and new faces arrived. Yet the core, with a steadfast commitment to love God and serve their community, has remained unshaken.
This gathering marked not only the beauty of summer and the joy of praise, but a celebration of that endurance. Stories were shared of past meetings, of prayers answered, of friendships formed. After leading the praise and worship on his twelve-string guitar, Pr Wil Masih shared the message based around Matthew 11: 28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In that moment, surrounded by the grandeur of the mountains and the fellowship of one another, the group gave thanks, for the beautiful day and for the journey.
As the worship concluded and people slowly packed away, the feeling of awe and majesty lingered: this wasn’t just a group of people singing songs outdoors. This was the church which was alive, joyful, rooted in creation and community. In the Cairngorms that day, faith was not confined but free, echoing from the hills in every note of praise.
And as the sun dipped lower, casting golden light across the landscape, one could still hear the soft hum of contentment, like a benediction whispered by the land itself: “The Lord is good; His love endures forever.”
On a radiant summer day in the Cairngorms, a small fellowship gathered by the River Don to worship in nature’s cathedral, where song, creation, and community became one timeless expression of faith and gratitude.
On Saturday 10th May, it was one of those rare and perfect summer days in the Cairngorms. The warm sunlight spilled across the moorlands, a gentle breeze rustling through ancient pines and a sky so clear it seemed to echo eternity. Under this vast blue canopy, a small but faithful group of believers gathered near the River Don in Roughpark, Strathdon for a time of praise and worship unlike any other, surrounded by the untouched grandeur of Scotland’s beloved highlands.
Children with parents slowly gathered, where wildflowers danced and the calls of birds welcomed each soul. This was not a grand cathedral of stone and stained glass, it was something far more elemental. Here, in the heart of nature, God’s sanctuary was defined by His own creation.
The service began humbly, with voices joined in song with harmonies of old hymns and simple praise choruses, lifting hearts and eyes upward. The children were the first to break into spontaneous joy, their laughter and song mingling with the melodies carried by the breeze. No walls separated worshippers from the world around them; instead, they were enveloped in it, embraced by hills, sky and the quiet majesty of the Cairngorms.
As the group sang “Blessed Assurance,” the natural choir around them seemed to respond. Birds, vibrant in colour and song, fluttered from branch to branch, adding their trills to the human chorus unbothered by the company, as if sensing the peace that filled the air. Even the rustling leaves seemed to sway in rhythm. Nature itself worshipped alongside its human companions and the presence of the Creator felt not distant, but intimate, as if God was whispering “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Just beyond the edge of the gathering, a few neighbours paused quietly to observe. This wasn’t a performance; it was an offering. And that sincerity, that warmth, drew hearts near.
This worship gathering wasn’t a new event, though its beauty felt freshly born. Since 2018, this little fellowship has met in various forms and settings, sometimes around a fireplace in winter, sometimes by the River Don in the summer. Its members have changed over time: families have come and gone, some have moved and new faces arrived. Yet the core, with a steadfast commitment to love God and serve their community, has remained unshaken.
This gathering marked not only the beauty of summer and the joy of praise, but a celebration of that endurance. Stories were shared of past meetings, of prayers answered, of friendships formed. After leading the praise and worship on his twelve-string guitar, Pr Wil Masih shared the message based around Matthew 11: 28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In that moment, surrounded by the grandeur of the mountains and the fellowship of one another, the group gave thanks, for the beautiful day and for the journey.
As the worship concluded and people slowly packed away, the feeling of awe and majesty lingered: this wasn’t just a group of people singing songs outdoors. This was the church which was alive, joyful, rooted in creation and community. In the Cairngorms that day, faith was not confined but free, echoing from the hills in every note of praise.
And as the sun dipped lower, casting golden light across the landscape, one could still hear the soft hum of contentment, like a benediction whispered by the land itself: “The Lord is good; His love endures forever.”
