An Introduction to Orkney
We arrived in Orkney on Saturday Morning and were met by David Fiddler the Moderator of the Presbytery. David is a Yorkshireman who has lived in Orkney for over 15 years. He came here to work and liked it so much that he stayed on into retirement.He is now an elder of the Kirk and enjoying training for the Locally Ordained Ministry.
We met the Presbytery Business Committee on Saturday afternoon and went through the programme. We were able to explain that part if the programme would require to be flexible as my brother in law Andrew Campbell had passed away on Friday and we intended to return to the mainland for his funeral. Not knowing all the details we required a bit of flexibility. Everyone was very helpful assuring us that they would cope with a change of plan.
Life is quite strange, my brother in law Andrew was brought up for part of his life here in Orkney. His father was the minister in St Margaret's Hope. Now Jimmy Wishart the Presbytery Clerk tells me he remembers both Andrew and his father. He went tithe same church. Andrew was a little older than Jimmy. No doubt we'll meet others who remember Andrew.
My first engagement was to preach at Kirkwall East Church. This is charge that is vacant but is well attended. It's linked with Shapinsay congregation and it was great to see a number of people had made the effort to come across from the island for the service. The Church building was renovated a few years back. The sanctuary is upstairs after being floored right across the building, thus allowing a whole suite of new rooms to be created downstairs.
After a short time of fellowship with the congregation it was off to the Milestone Community Church in Dounby. This is a new congregation that has been created out of three under the outstanding leadership of Andrea Price. Andrea and her husband Neil are key figures in these three communities and it is obvious that Andrea is well respected and loved by the congregation. Out of this new building Milestone Community Church aim to serve the three communities out of which their three congregations have come. It was good to be able to hear of their vision to be a church that will be open everyday running activities for all age groups and seeking to serve the communities in many ways.
The building has just been open less than a couple of months, Neil pointed out to me the cross tha was above the door as you entered the church. This was the handiwork of the mason, while working on the building he felt their was a lack of Christian symbolism, so he made an executive decision and inserted a cross above the door. I thought to myself, I is little signs like this that is so important when we talk about being a community church. The people themselves also bring their own contribution to the place of worship.
Then it was up and away to Finstown for a Communion Service that would be the highlight of a Bible Conference Weekend being held in the local Church of Scotland. I received a warm welcome and was delighted to meet Dominic Smart. Dominic is a minister of the Church of Scotland in Aberdeen. He gave an excellent closing address centred around thoughts from Ezekiel 36. I then had the wonderful privilege of leading the group in a Communion Service. I think we all were touched by the presence of God among us . What an amazing joy it is to lead Christian people who are not all that well known to you and to each other in communion.
We returned from church on Sunday with a great sense of God's presence and the most enjoyable of company David our driver, not only did he drive but he gave us a few recitations from the good old days. Those of you who remember Stanley Holloway will no doubt have a smile on your face as you read and remember.
Monday morning It was a visit first thing to the the Cattle Mart. Let me explain. The purpose behind a Moderatorial Presbytery visit is to seek to build relationships across the whole community. The idea of the Church of Scotland connecting in every part of Scotland is to highlight the importance of the Church having ministry to the whole of society. The parish minister is not simply called to be e minister to a congregation, he or she is called to minister to the whole community. So a visit to the cattle mart enabled me to connect with a very important section of the community. Farming is one of the major industries in these islands. The rearing of young cattle is a particular skill of this community. When cattle reach a certain age they are sold on to specialist farmers in the Aberdeen area who specialise in fattening the cattle and preparing them for the domestic meat market.
I had the rare privilege of standing in the auctioneer's box and addressing the assembled group of cattle dealers. It was an interesting challenge. For a few moments I held their attention as I some about the importance of building and growing business for the future. I think many in the farming community understand to a greater extent more than other businesses the importance of putting back into the. Business for the future. Too much of our present business philosophy that has brought us to the point of economic crisis is based on short term profit rather than growing and building for the future.
After this appointment we had a wonderful lunch at the home of Scott and Christine Harcus. Scott took me round his farm explaining the great changes that have taken place in farming over the past 25 years, As a cattleman he was completely committed to sustaining the best possible Aberdeen Angus breed of cattle. It was interesting because this visit also linked another important developing industry in Orkney the craft industry. Both Christine and her daughter are beginning to make their way in the world of art and design. Have a look for Britt Harcus artwork, this is a name for the future.
Our day concluded with a visit to the Sheila Fleet workshop just outside Kirkwall. A few months ago I lost my wedding ring it had been made by Sheila Fleet so knowing that I'd be visiting Orkney I made contact and asked if she could replace the ring. To cut a long story short Sheila has designed an original for me based on a suggestion of mine. She's now worked this up and I was visiting to have a fitting and to see how the work was progressing. Here's a picture of me with Sheila trying on one of the trial pieces. I write more about this later. It's time to sign off. This morning I'm preparing to take part in the funeral service of my late brother in law Rev Andrew Campbell.
We all need to be reminded that our lives are short and our relationships with each other precious.
I vwas able to share some of the vision that we have in Bo'ness and to
Posted By: Hazey On: 12 Sep 2012 At: 5:53pm
So nice to read your blogs about your travels and adventures. Thank-you!