The Funeral of Ruby Wallace will take place at Cardross Crematorium on Wednesday 8th October at 3pm.
Saturday saw me at St Margaret’s Newlands for a day on editing and publishing Parish Mags. There was stuff to learn, about copyright, and needing permission from people, written permission, before anything goes online, or is even published sometimes. It was a necessary day and it was good to see the Information & Communication Group raise its head and share its wisdom and insight. Sad that more parishes weren’t represented.
There was good advice on layout and we were given lots of good jargon which would help us in the offices of tabloid newspapers, and if I find the time to do it all, the St Aug’s Mag will look a little better and more attractive in future months.
It all made me grateful that we have such modern printing facilities and the wherwithall to produce the stuff we do. So many places have bog standard photocopiers and little information in using the internet resources available to them, or the skill to put it all together in an interesting format.
The “day” alerted me to things I have to do, and things I have to improve on, so it’s been a positive experience…. except, St Margaret’s Newlands was freezing cold! If we can’t get an adequate heated building for Diocesan Events, then Dumbarton can offer an alternative venue!
Well, we’re back and ready for the winter months ahead! Rhodes had poor weather, by their standards, last week, so we were quite at home with the torrential rain and flash floods on the evening after we arrived! Some clouds, and cooler than usual, and the Rhodians told us that we were having late October weather rather than late September! Still beautiful, and I can sleep through rain no problem, so we’re refreshed and ready for (almost) anything!
This Sunday is Harvest, and our offerings will be going to Glasgow City Mission. Please remember to bring along a little gift of gratitude on Sunday!
The Rector is on holiday until October 3rd. Sunday and Wednesday services will be at the usual time!
It was wonderful to have George back in church this morning after such a long illness! He sang lustily as ever and seeing the twinkle in his eye was a joy to behold! Welcome back George!
Todays Sermon should be posted in the Multimedia Section by Wednesday of this week.
It was only a few days ago that we heard from Fr Robin Underhill about The Mission to Seafarers’ new chaplain in Scotland. Last week came the stunning news that Tom Allen had dropped dead.
Tom became Chaplain for the Scottish Ports with Mission to Seafarers in June this year. He and Anne moved to Linlithgow with Catherine and Matthew. Tom was doing work which he loved and they were living in a place which they love. He died suddenly.
One always struggles with ‘in the midst of life we are in death’ The midst of life for Tom was a very intense place. He was a great priest - passionate in his faith, catholic in his vision, erudite in his theology. We bloggers knew and appreciated him as Big Bulky Anglican - take a look and marvel at the range of his interests in music, reading, theology and all of life.
For his friends in ministry, the loss is very great. Tom had the capacity to reshape our whole attitude to chaplaincy - not just among seafarers but in many other areas as well. But our loss is as nothing to that of his family. Tom was an adored husband and father. Our sympathy and our prayers are with them.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
(words of the Bishop of St Andrews)
Funerals are never easy, but today I had two within the space of three hours. I know some English colleagues will laugh, but that’s the first time I’ve done two funerals in the one day in 30 years of ministry. Not to be recommended. Two days of preparation and visits, publishing personalised Orders of Service Books, and the weather, dull and showery, just made the whole two-funeral thing make me feel numbed by death and grief.
It’s not that I’m without faith in life eternal and our glorious hope through the resurrection of Jesus. It’s just the grief of the people you love and care for, and the inability to take away their pain and loss. Sometimes ministry is shitty.
Added to that, someone, not a member of the congregation, has written to the Dean and made outlandish accusations about me and how I have handled the plans to build our new Church Hall. The allegations are totally unfounded and would be laughable if I hadn’t now had to dig out old pewsheets, magazines, minutes, and drawings, get in touch with the architect and Town Planning to justify the actions of myself and the Vestry, (PCC), here in St Aug’s.
This man obviously has something against me, I know not what, but he’s created a burden which I could do without. He has also raised considerable anger among the members of the congregation who have heard of the allegations.
Nope! Sorry! But I’ve handled everything in accordance with Canon Law, and with the complete support of the Vestry and congregation. It’s sad, in our small community, that someone could cause so much pain and hurt, and cause so much trouble by telling downright lies and smearing my name and the way I handle congregational affairs. He’s not even a Communicant Member, and never has been! I forsee a lawyers letter winging its way to him soon.
So…. the anti-depressants are kind of crucial today. I know the Blog Community will uphold us all in their prayers.
We are sorry to announce two deaths. Margaret Hardie’s mum, Jean McFarlane died on Saturday kunctime. Her funeral is in St Aug’s at 12.45 on Thursday.
Amy Elliot died yesterday afternoon. Her funeral is on Thursday in St Aug’s at 9.45.
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