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...
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There are two Presbyterian Church denominations in Korea. One is called, The Presbyterian Church of Korea , the other is called the The Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea. Both churches share the same heritage, but split over a theological issue in the 1960s. Today the relationships between both of these churches is a good one, both of their Assemblies are running concurrently, and are celebrating their joint 100 year heritage.
As Moderator I've been invited...
When Friday morning came it was off to Papa Westray. I had received a text message the night before advising me that the winds might prevent the plane from landing at Papa Westray. However It was full steam ahead on Friday morning the winds had died down. The night before there had been an 135mph gale blowing. As I was driven to the airport skies were clear. This is an unusual flight. The whole trip takes about 15 mins however it allows another two minutes to fly...
I arrived back in Orkney on Thursday morning. It all seems a bit of a dream. I guess it's because you are moving from one meeting tithe next. This was the day to meet the Convener of the Council Stephen Heddle and the Depute Chief Executive Leslie Manson. I believe meetings like these are very important. it gives me as Moderator an opportunity to explain the possible partnerships that can be developed between Church and Council. this proved to be a very productive...
Lord
Here is a wide space
A place to think
A place to be
To listen to the wind
To unwind
To rewind
To set sail again
A meeting place of the finite and the infinite
An island set among islands
Long skies
Wide horizons
Drawing me into mystery
A boat rests on the sand
Inviting adventure
Seaweed caressing the shore line
Clothes the cold craggy rocks
Shirts like flags are blowing on a clothes line
Hollow arms without legs
Like scarecrows
They pose as performers of...
number of people have wanted to read what I said about my brother in law Andrew at his funeral last Wednesday. Here is a copy of the script with one or two amendments.
Early Life
Andrew McGill Campbell was born in Loth, Sutherland, on the 1st March 1940 he was one of four children born to Helen and Andrew Campbell, who at that time where Home Board Missionaries in the Church of Scotland. Andrew is survived today by his three sisters Rae, Ruth and Moria.
Andrew was...
This year I have chosen mission as my theme to speak about as I travel around the country. Here is a summary of the kind of things I am saying.
Mission is at the heart of the church because mission is at the heart of God himself. When we speak of mission we should realise that it is not something the church does as an added extra. It is not something for simply enthusiasts to participate in ; mission is in the DNA of the church it should be as natural as...