Last Post From Orkney
After lunch it was a music session with some of the primary school children. I taught them the song "I'm not forgotten' and they asked me questions about being Moderator. Then it was off again to meet the Teenagers. I guess I stayed a good half an hour answering questions and learning a little about what it means to live on an Island. One of the disturbing issues centres around employment. Young people want stay on the Island when they leave school but the issues surrounding work and housing make it very difficult. The last port of call was a visit to the residential home for older people. The home was a well laid out building with all the modern facilities that one might expect. The unit manager was really interested in hearing about Adam House and their programme entitled 'singing for the Brain' I met two ladies who were church members, One lady Maggie received her long service certificate which she was going. To hang on her wall alongside her MBE Certificate. I finished by evening in Westray attending a community dinner in the refurbished church. Well over 100 people turned I believe the island only has around 500 so it was quite an impressive number. Long service certificates were also given out the leader of the Malawian group spoke about the importance of the Malawian partnership. I spoke for a short time encouraging the people to see that God uses ordinary people to do extra ordinary things. I especially wanted to pay tribute to Ian MacDonald. He is in truth an outstanding leader making an invaluable contribution to his community. My final duty in Orkney was to visit a small country congregation in the Parish of Rendall. It turned out to be an inspiring occasion. The congregation were celebrating the 100th Anniversary since the building was first renovated, by the then Reverend Robert Munro. What was uniquely interesting about this service was the great great grand children of Mr Munro were represented along with descendant from that first congregation way back in 1912. Mr Munro's great granddaughter and her daughter had travelled all the way from the State of New York to be with the congregation. As I flew home from Orkney I was aware of the many challenges facing the church in rural Scotland, however I could not but be impressed by the people who are committed to the cause of Christ and seek to be faithful week in and week out as members of the Church of Scotland.
