Moderator Visiting The Jails
This is going to be a busy period in the life of the Moderator. Prisoners' Week started yesterday and for the rest of this week I'll be visiting prisons the length and the breadth of the country. Its an opportunity to highlight the issues that surround our prison services. Its an opportunity to meet with those who work in prisons and also to meet prisoners and to have a chance to highlight the issues that surround many families when they find that one of their...
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Friday evening I had the privilege of collecting a cheque from the Boys Brigade for the work the Church of Scotland's World Mission Council. The boys raised £10,000, this money will go to help buy what is being called a "play pump" . This takes the form of a roundabout that you can see in any play park. the difference is that this roundabout is connected to a pump deep down in the ground. When the children play on the roundabout, they are pumping water into tanks...
I was able to visit with the members of the St Margaret's Chapel Guild on Friday. The Chapel is a very small building situated in Edinburgh Castle. I think it can hold a maximum of about 30 people. I really enjoyed the visit. The great thing is that you don't forget the names of the congregation. They're all called Margaret. I was welcomed by Margaret Ann Crawford a member of the Guild. I had met margaret a few weeks ago at Direlton when we visited to celebrate their...
This week I've been working with the Council of Ministries. In particular I've been meeting parish ministers from all around the country. The reason I want to do this is that I believe parish ministers are pivotal for the growth and development of the Christian faith in Scotland. Over the years the Church has been affirming and developing the idea that there is more than one form of full time ministry in the church and I think that is good and proper. However at a...
You know I want to answer
But I don't know
Who's knocking
It could be
Anyone
Anything
On the other side of the door
To knock - js to expect an answer
What if I give the wrong answer
What if I cannot answer
What if I keep them
Waiting
Standing
On the other side of the door
To open - might mean a commitment
For life - to a dangerous association
To change
To forgive
To care
To serve
From the other side of...