Hogmanay again, 2007 - the Black Wood walk, further on.

Here was the source of the increasing roaring sound as we walked through the wood: the lovely 'eas' or waterfall, rushing down to the loch.

Hogmanay, 2007.

It is also the Feast Day of John Wycliffe, AD 1384, who was a reformer. Now that's an interesting description. I suppose the folk of his day looked shocked and askance at his reforms, seeking the status quo. So, what's new nowadays I wonder?
The day before yesterday we walked in the Black Wood above Loch Rannoch. It is part of both the Tay Forest and the old Caledonian Forest. Snow on the tops of Schiehallion and the mountains range of Glencoe, clearly visible down the loch and stark against the clear blue sky. Schiehallion was the nearest mountain and was also covered in whispy white cloud whipping off the top. In the sun it looked spectacular. Deep in the Black Wood there was a lovely, deep silence. The mushroomy, pine needly smell under the Scots Pines was deep and crisp. Icycles drooped from the upper branches and rain globules were in rows lower down, glistening in the sunlight. A Blackcock called from somewhere deep in the Black Wood. Siskins 'sissed' from the upper branches. A glimpse through the wood to the Loch showed a skein of Barnacle geese feeding by the lochside. The watchman goose eyed us suspiciously as if to ask.'What are you doing here; can't we feed in peace?' So we left them in peace and continued our walk in the wood. Then, in the deep silence of the forest there was a gradual roaring noise and then, through a gap there it was; a roaring waterfall rushing down through the gorge. Then we circled through the wood and returned to Kinloch Rannoch for a late lunch at the Community Venture shop by the petrol pump, for home-made leek and potato soup and lovely Stovies oh, and of course, plus a pot of tea and a laugh with the lady who served us. Then a leisurely motor down the glen back to Killiecrankie House where we arrived at around 2.30pm as the light began to fade into darkness. Night comes early in the Highlands in winter. Next morning there was a hoar frost everywhere and we were awakened by the cocker spaniel having a mad half-hour, rushing around the hedges in the grounds, from the side gardens to the vegetable garden and then the fruit garden and back again, so full of life it was exhausting to watch her. Schiehallion, overlooking Loch Rannoch and the Coillie Dubh (the Black Wood ).

Killiecrankie House

After a wash and change it was time for a wee dram before dinner -

Sunday, 23 Dec-07. 4th of Advent again.

For some time now I have been having correspondence with an Anglican monastic Community down in north England. I am now recognised officially as a Probationer Companion of the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, West Yorkshire. My spiritual guide there and I use e-mail and websites to communicate with each other on this my further, spiritual journey. It's a laugh in that I wonder how monks of old would have thought of the new technology in their daily lives! Nonetheless, after years and years of professional discipline of seeing folk in psychoanalysis on the hour, every hour throughout the day and early evening I found that my prayer life had diminished - I had become too tired as I gave 'all' to my 'faithful' people. So, the monastic discipline of returning to the Daily Offices and a structured prayer life has become invaluable. Interestingly also, since 'retirement' ( I am still seeing a few folk professionally at home ) my work as Secretary to the Vestry at my church has become extremely busy, so linking with CR Mirfield has become so important in maintaining that balance of life.

Sunday, 23 Dec-07. Fourth Sunday of Advent

'O Little town of Bethlehem...' This lovely carol depicts a scene which supposedly has not changed since that night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. However, the reality is that all is not what it seems. Very few Christians remain in Bethlehem and visitors cannot enter it due to the Israeli Occupying Army, backed by the USA. The last time a friend tried to visit this holy place she was sharply butted out of the way by the rifle of a soldier from Israel who probably was a Jew with no sympathy for the Christian visitors. She remonstrated with the young Israeli for his harshness and the fact that he had hurt her but he simply ignored her and went on to rifle butt other 'infidels' out of the way. They were all ordered to back off and go away - from Bethlehem! Well, because of the attitude of Israel I would never visit the Holy Land - leave it to the occupying forces I say.
The isolation of Israel would do much to bring it to its knees economically, but that won't happen as the USA must pour millions of their dollars into the Israeli economy each week in order that Bush can keep the Jewish vote in the USA and so keep him in office and at war with countries. If the USA, in its forthcoming new Administration were to stop shoring up Israel then perhaps we would all have a chance of peace in the Holy Land and a Palestinian State. Then also perhaps Christians and Muslims will return to live there side by side as they have always done.

Joseph and Mary were of course, homeless refugees on the Eve of the Nativity ( 'I was homeless and you took me in') until that kind laddie the Inn Keeper allowed them to use his stable. Glasgow is full of homeless people, and refugee camps throughout the Middle Eastern countries are full of Palestinians fleeing the brutal Israeli forces who punish whole populations for the terrorism of a few extremists ( it's all very OT - as well as OTT ). Then there are those here in Glasgow - friends, who cannot cope with Christmas at all They are depressed, crying, feeling homeless and hopeless; lost souls.

Pray for homeless folk everywhere, that they find hope and a Christian sense of being 'home', of feeling worthy, of feeling loved and cared for. Amen.

Friday, 21 Dec-07.

A number of my 'faithful' folk, i.e., those who are still in psychoanalysis with me, dread Christmas. It brings back all the dreadful traumas of their pasts and some have said they are not celebrating it and will take to their beds. This is fairly common of course. Return of repressed material for such friends is dreadful to behold. Their psychosomatisations and anguish is so real; a mirror reflection of what they suffered as infants. Where it happened before they developed speech - usually in the first year of life, they go mute; unable to even speak. It is heart-rending. I completely understand why Mother Theresa specialised in dying women in the streets of Calcutta - and later in Glasgow where, whilst folk were not dying in the same way, her nuns found the same dreadful traumas amongst folk; not always amongst the homeless either. One of my faithful phoned to wish me a happy Christmas and to tell me that she will be in bed 'till after the bells' , i.e., after Hogmanay. She said she dare not look at TV, listen to the wireless or answer the phone, for fear of intrusional memories of terrifying ordeals as an infant at Christmas.
I suppose 'there is no room for them at Christmas', so to speak - well, from their angle. Another, who is a very successful and well-known artiste said that she dreads being with her dysfunctional family as it reminds her of her dreadfully lonely and intrusive and criticised self as a child. I make no excuse for giving her a new and different life experience, even if it brings her into open conflict within her family of origin. She feels very damaged by her experience and wonders if she will 'make it' in life. She alludes to finding a man who will care for her and give her love, which she never experienced growing up. I pray she will.
All is not tinsel and jingle bells with carols.

Wednesday 19/12/07.

Chickened out of the 10am Eucharist today although Val went. I was busy at home seeing to Christmas cards to the immediate neighbours and doing the Weekly News Sheet for next Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Advent, and also preparing the draft WNS for the 1st Sunday of Christmas (30/12/07) as we have decided to get away for a few days after Christmas Day to the Killiecrankie Hotel. We know the area so well, although have never stayed there before. We usually stop at the Loch Rannoch Hotel overlooking the lovely, quiet loch with Schiehallion beyond. It was at this mountain that the weight of the earth was calculated! How did they do that? In the village of Kinloch Rannoch is a lovely Scottish Episcopal Church. It depictes a painting of the consecration of Bishop Samuel Seabury of Connecticut in an upper room adjacent the Cathedral in Aberdeen. It was in an upper room for fear of English troops stopping Episcopal Bishops consecrating a 'rebel Church's' first bishop. England had refused the American Colony the right of their own Church and self-determination, which was why the Americans contacted another rebellious Church - our Scottish Episcopal Church. And so we formed the beginning of the Anglican Communion by that consecration. There is no Rector at Kinloch Rannoch just now but the Diocesan Bishop has laid hands on the local Presbyterian Church of Scotland Minister and so given him permission to consecrate the elements and Celebrate the Holy Eucharist according to the Episcopal Rites.

I popped into Turnbull Hall RC University Chaplaincy to give my friend Harry a Christmas bunloaf wich Val made for him, plus a bottle of vintage Rioja. Harry was delighted and we had a good laugh, as well as an interesting chat about Edvard Munch in whom Harry has developed an interest of late. I missed Father John as he was saying Mass at 1pm, but I left him a similar bottle on his desk with a card and a note to say 'Aprés Mass Wee Refreshment', which will amuse him, I'm sure. Then off to see Natalya and her sister Vrnda. Vrnda was quite unwell so I just said hello and she returned to bed. Natalya and I had quite a deep chat. She is a most talented and insightful girl as is Vrnda as a film-maker, and I love them both. Home early today but by 2-30pm it was already getting dark and everyone had their car lights on. By 3pm the mist had desceneded from the Argyll hills, blotting out the City lights in the Clyde valley below us.

Sunday, 16 Dec-07: Third Sunday of Advent.

Interestingly the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Saturday, 08 Dec-07 really passed us by. Mary has never really been venerated in the Scottish Episcopal Catholic tradition, although is in the Roman Catholic tradition of course. Paradoxically our Lady Chapel is named after Mary and has a wee niche with a small statue of her there. I believe it is to do with the Scottish Reformation when such 'extras' were thrown out as 'non-Biblical', whatever that means nowadays. But then our Roman Catholic friends have many practices which don't seem to make sense to the Christian Church. The 'Catholic Church' as they call themselves rely on Dogmas issuing down from the Pope, which they accept without any debate or argument as to whether it is Biblically true or not. The attitude within the consituent Churches of say the Anglican Communion, is to debate and argue until a concensus is agreed. Attending the Angelus in an RC Church I am struck with the thought 'Have I missed something in the Bible after all?' Jesus said 'No man cometh to the Father but through me. I am the only advocate and mediator' and so our prayers always end with something like '....through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.' The Catholic Church have taken a different route than the Christian Church and make saints of folk, then pray to them to intercede. In the reformed tradition that makes little sense really. This is not to cast doubt on the sincerity of the Roman tradition but, as we say in Scotland "Aye...but ah hae me doots..!"

A full Family Eucharist this morning with Val as Intercessor and both of us as Sidesfolk. Val forgot her specs so we brought the Collection home, counted it, accounted for it and then deposited it in ther Night Safe of the Bank of Scotland this afternoon on the way to the Festival of Nine Lessons with Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Hall. Again a full service with many visitors including relatives mainly from England, visiting folk here for the Christmas period. Julie Legowski our Organist had brought some of her singing friends - professional singers, to swell the somewhat depleted church choir and they sang the anthems. Singing 'O little town of Bethlehem....' the main lights were dowsed and we sang by candle light. During the mulled wine, mince pies and the blether I got up on the stage and called for order so that Phyllis Cross, Rector's Warden could present two lovely hampers to Colin, our Assistant Priest, his wife and daughter, who had really been such stalwarts to pull us through a difficult time after our Rector left. Colin, Rosemary and Victoria seemed quite surprised and a bit overwhelmed by our generosity towards them but, as Phyllis said, it was to show the congregation's appreciation and love towards them.

St Aidan's Sanctuary, taken at Easter 2006

Friday, 14 Dec-07. again -Ember Day

Today is the Feast of Juan de la Cruez or, as we know it in English: John of the Cross. He helped Theresa of Avilia, Spain, rejuvinate the Carmelite Community for women and so they are now worldwide. I used to work in Bon Secours Hospital in Glasgow, where I consulted. It was run by the Soeurs de Bon Secours de Paris, a Nursing Order of RC nuns. Opposite was the Carmelite Monastry and nuns from there would often come across to the hospital chapel for services and meetings afterwards. I was always under the impression they were a contemplative Order but whenever I met the lovely sisters from over the road, they were always friendly, smiling and very chatty; a most interesting group of ladies, far removed from the idea of nuns shut away from the world so much they can no longer relate to it. Nothing further could that be from the truth. My consulting room was adjacent to the chapel so it was well used by me as well. The altar was carved by the Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey by Nairn. Anyway, there I met a 6ft tall blind Franciscan brother, with a great shock of white hair and a beard, a deep and sensitive voice and a great bellow of a laugh. He could have got a job immediately on the set of 'Whisky Galore! ' He lived at the Franciscan Friary in the Gorbals, Glasgow. I met him as he left the chapel one day. He hesitated before the door and asked 'Hello?' I spoke "Hello Father, I'm Graeme." 'Ah, you have the consulting room next door, which used to be the chapel years ago.' "Oh, I didn't know." ( Curiously, my last consulting room was the Prayer Room, adjacent the chapel of St Mungo in the RC Chaplaincy at Glasgow University. ) We used to meet and chat about inner anguish, as well as football - not that I know much about the latter. I had to laugh as he told me he hears Confessions from various convents dotted around the south-side of Glasgow. 'I have a queue to see me as they think I don't know who they are, so I hear all sorts of things!' And then he had that great guffaw and he would say, 'You see, I DO see, but not with my eyes; you'll know what I mean.' "I see" I replied and then we'd both laugh. This led to many discussions about confession and absolution in both the Roman Church and other Catholic Churches such my own Scottish Episcopal Church. He was interested in my views on individual morality versus corporate morality. I said I viewed it all as firstly individual conscience, but that is nurtured by psychosocial development initially, so is sometimes flawed in some people as adults, who often fall foul of the law and end up in prison. I said that when visiting both the only Women's Prison in Scotland at Cornton Vale and indeed, the State Hospital, Carstairs, I was always struck by how "innocent" folk were at heart; innocents abroad or, "for they know not what they do" in the sense of individual conscience, although they often did see the 'Oh well, I was caught out and so here I am' idea that the state imprisoned them. The key then, is early nurturing before the age of seven or eight when by which time the personality is set and formed. Thereafter we all hope to get wiser. Some of us do and some of us are still foolish at times. My individual psychoanalytical psychotherapy work over many years is often about re-addressing the inner self problems of personality characteristics which need correction - by interpretation and not by condemnation or criticism; by example and by an accepting love of them, warts and all, so to speak. Curiously, many folk; indeed most folk in psychoanalysis with me, eventually ask about the spiritual life. Their question is usually something like, 'Are you a Christian then?'[ I think it must show ], Or perhaps, 'Is there a God? If there is, why does he let me suffer so much?" Or, "I pray so much to God but he doesn't hear me." I am often tempted to answer the last one with something like "But perhaps he sent me" I don't say that, but that's what I feel. So, my ministry is all bound up with my professional and personal selves. "That's me" as we say in Scotland. I do feel that my professional / personal / Christian SELF is parental. Why do I feel this? It feels so, and my 'faithful' as I call my people, intimate that they want to regress to 'grow again' this time to get it right in safe hands. Such awesome tragedies; such lovely people; I wonder often if they are angels - certainly they are often 'innocents abroad', for they do not know they do wrong or 'they know not what they do'. My 'faithful' folk are therefore gifts from God, for they and I are all God's folk. My individual care of my dear folk is therefore an 'in-house' job in the Christian family sense. "Home is where the heart is"
(Donald W. Winnicott).

Talking of Bon Secours Hospital, Glasgow, which is now a block of luxury flats, with the Convent still there though, I had a friend in a resident there. He was the Auxiliary Bishop of Glasgow RC Archdiocese. He said he was retired but still did all the Confirmations in the Archdiocese.
We'd sit by his fireside in his residence and drink tea and he'd smoke his pipe and have a good 'craic' (chat) and a laugh. He was a friend of our then Diocesan Bishop and the two would go in mufti to evangelical rallies, raise their hands and should halleluliahs, which he thought was great fun. He said 'all your Piskie ladies fuss over me, just like our Catholic Mothers - just the same. One day we will all be one, but sadly it won't be in my time.' I'd see him 3 times a day wending his way along the corridor to the chapel next to my consulting room. He had to attend the Western Infirmary twice a week for renal dialysis ('good time for prayer' he said). He would stagger a bit as he was frail. The Rt Revd Charles Renfrew was a Glaswegian, born and bred. He had been Principal at Blairs College, Aberdeen, the RC Seminary. Then sadly he died and was no longer there, and I missed him. He body lay overnight in the chapel. Next morning I was there at my door to pay respects as the cortege and all the nuns wended their way down the corridor and out to St Andrew's Cathedral on the Broomielaw in Glasgow. Because of the gait of the pall bearers I noticed that the coffin staggered down the corridor and I admit to having to suppress a laugh which I think Mother Superior noticed as she looked quizzically at me. Later I told her why and she threw her head back and laughed loudly: 'Bishop Charles would love that comment' she said. Sister Irene was the Matron of the hospital and she ran a very efficient and caring hospital. Some of the nuns worked as nursing sisters; one worked as chaplain to the nearby Victoria Infirmary. One of the nuns was Consultant Pathologist at the Vic. A tall, graceful and most attractive young Irish nun. But, she was not one for the 'craic' as I learned when trying to make conversation when she came home in the evening. I became a patient in my own hospital and I was impressed with the care. I had an intra-occular transplant and after surgery was in my room recovering when the ward sister arrived with a tray and a book. She was a Baptist and she bathed my eye and after re-dressing my eye, opened the book - it was the Bible, and she read from the NT the story of Jesus's healing of the man with eye disease at the Pool of Siloam. 'Nae mud packs for you though tonight, but prayer. Let us pray...' I found that infinately comforting in a profound way and I was soon asleep. I was awakened by the Mother Superior. 'Now Mr Vahey, have you said your Morning Office?' 'Well, er...no Sister, I, er..." She got my dressing gown and produced a wheelchair and wheeled me to the lift and down to the chapel where the Community awaited us. She led us all in the Morning Office, with the nuns intoning the lovely Gregorian chant. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Such care, as they took me to their heart as "one of them". Nice memories.

Friday, 14 Dec-07. John of the Cross

Now John of the Cross was a Spanish Carmelite Religious.  He was born in the village of Fonteveros near Avilia.  He is known for helping Theresa of Avilia re-start the Carmelite Community for women there, which of course, then spread throughout the world.   Well, that's only one aspect of him;  there were others.

Wednesday 12 Dec-07. Ember Day.

After a quite early ( well, for me ) Morning Office there was the 10.oo hrs Holy Eucharist in church with Colin Curtis, our Assistant Priest as Celebrant.   Today is an Ember Day, When they occur, they occur on Wednesday, then Friday and Saturday of the same week.   They are a curiosity to many folk as they seem to pass them by.   As a teenager we always prayed for the Ministry of the Church, and in particular for Ordinands.   There became so few Ordinands that the practice lapsed, although still appears in the Church Calendar.   It is a practice which I hope is returning for last year within the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway I recall being asked to give a talk to the Ordinands at a Retreat House near here and there were about 10-12 there, so perhaps there is a revival.   It follows from prayers for Ordinands and the Holy Priesthood, that there would be such an increase - surely?   Now I hadn't made that connection until I typed that!   How we soon forget to give thanks to God:   'O give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious'   "And his mercy endureth for ever.   Amen.

Thursday, 06/12/07: Bp Nicolas of Myre again

Bishop of Myra

From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928

As Bishop of Myra, Nicholas lived the qualities that caused his fame and popularity to spread throughout the Christian world. His vigorous actions on behalf of his people and in defense of the Christian faith reveal a man who lived his convictions. Nicholas was not timid—he did what was necessary and was not easily intimidated by others' power and position. His concern for the welfare of his flock and his stand for orthodox belief earned him respect as a model for bishops and a defender of the faith.

Selection

From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928

Nicholas' selection to be a bishop was unusual. After the former bishop's death, other bishops gathered to select the next bishop for the See of Myra. During the conclave, the wisest bishop heard a voice in the night telling him to watch the doors of the church the next morning at matins. The first person to enter named "Nicholas" was to be the new bishop. The wise one told the others, counseling them to be at prayer while he waited at the doors. When the hour came, the first to arrive was a young man. When asked his name, he replied, "I am Nicholas." The bishop addressed him, "Nicholas, servant and friend of God, for your holiness you shall be bishop of this place." They brought him into the church and placed him in the bishop's seat where he was consecrated the new Bishop of Myra.

From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928

Grain Ships and Famine

Myra experienced famine in AD 311 and 312, and again in 333. Crops had failed and people were hungry. Bishop Nicholas learned that ships bound for Alexandria with cargos of wheat had anchored in the harbor. The holy man implored the sailors to take a measure of grain from each ship so that the people would have food. The sailors said, "No," as the wheat was "meted and measured" and every bit must be delivered. Nicholas replied, "Do this, and I promise, in the truth of God, that it shall not be lessened or diminished when you get to your destination." So the sailors took a measure from each ship and continued on their way to Alexandria. When the wheat was unloaded, the full amount was accounted for and the tale told—all the emperor's ministers worshiped and praised God with thanksgiving for his servant Nicholas. Throughout the famine people came to Bishop Nicholas for wheat. He gave it to all who had need and the grain lasted for two years with enough remaining to plant new crops.

From Saint Nicolas, by Pierre & Germaine Noury, Paris, 1928

Council of Nicaea

In 325 Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea, which was the first ecumenical council ever held. More than 300 bishops from all over the Christian world came to debate the nature of the Holy Trinity, one of the early church's most intense theological questions. Arias, from Egypt, taught that the Son Jesus was not equal to God the Father. This was the Arian controversy which shook Christianity's very foundations. According to one account, when confronted by the unyielding Arias, Nicholas slapped him in the face. For such a breach of decorum, Nicholas was brought before Constantine, who stripped him of his office and had him thrown into prison. During the night, Jesus with his Mother Mary appeared to Nicholas: Jesus bringing the book of the Gospels, and Mary, the bishop's stole which had been taken from him. In this way Nicholas was reinstated. Many Eastern Church icons of St. Nicholas reflect this event with Jesus on the left returning the Gospels, and Mary on the right, bringing the bishop's stole or omophorion.

Thursday 06/12/07. Nicholas of Myre, Bp, 4th Cent

Lazy rise today. Pouring with rain - 'stottin doon'. Val had gone to Troon with St Aidan's Strollers ( the "SAS") the other day, for a stroll and then Christmas lunch by the Yacht Marina but had left her mac there so, we set off for Troon down the dreaded A77, heading for Prestwick Airport but diverted onto Troon Promenade where, as often happens on the coast, the rain had gone but the sea was rough. We went into Scotts, looking over both Troon Harbour, such as it is, and the Yacht Marina. Had a delightful and quiet lunch; excellent cuisine and service. Saw some folk I knew by sight and chatted to them. Afterwards we went into the Ferry Terminal, now closed until March. This is the ferry from Troon to Northern Ireland. Ferries to and from Northern Ireland are always worrying, in view of an easy route for extremists to enter Scotland. The Cairnryan, P & O Ferry still operates throughout the winter months and is used by heavy freight to and from England mainly. The proposed Mull of Kintyre to Ballycastle route had now closed again. Most folk breathe a sigh of relief.

This afternoon it was doing up the calendars and cards for posting. Val went up to Carmunnock village Post Office up the road, to post them. We have lost the Post Office in our own village of Busby; now the Post Office are to close Carmunnock PO also. There is a question mark over the next nearest one in Clarkston remaining open, leaving journeys to East Kilbride or Glasgow to find another. What is required is some enterprising firm to set up a postal service; one which would sell stamps, have letter boxes, deliver the post to premises and have an excellent parcel delivery service. I had written to the national Press in Scotland suggesting that our Government in Edinburgh ask a firm like the US Postal Service to come and set up such a business here in Scotland as the Royal Mail, now privately run, is an absolute waste of space and unworthy to serve us in Scotland. Ha ha!

Today is the Feast of Bishop Nicholas of Myre who died in the 4th century. How is it we know so little of this man? The fact that he is in the Church Calendar warrants an explantion. I shall Google him!

Wednesday, 05/12/07

It has continued to be very busy with this and that. The city is busy with traffic; an unusual thing for Glasgow during the daytime. Saw a colleague for supervision this morning. Although officially retired she asked for a continuing monthly meeting with me. Then I had lunch at a favourite Italian restaurant, now taken over by the well-known Italian Paccitti family. It was nice to see old lunch friends - folk from businesses locally and musicians from the RSNO nearby.
Then off to the RC Chaplaincy at Glasgow University and met Fr John, the Chaplain, as he came out of 1pm Mass. Also chatted with Harry, the eccentric, who answers the door, takes the Mass Collection, answers the phones - sees all visitors. He was at Glasgow Uni and did Philosophy then Theology and was training for the priesthood but gave up. He lives alone locally and is rather isolated but is a valuable front-of-house man who complains loudly how everyone there at Turnbull Hall is mad, but everyone loves Harry the eccentric as he is such an asset. He invited me to the community free lunch upstairs but I politely declined. He gave me a large magnum bottle of Reserved French wine, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise and I thanked him warmly for his gift. I spent some time in the chapel of St Mungo praying the Angelus to myself, with one other man there. I learned from John that after Sr Bridget was transferred after so many stalwart years at Turnbull Hall, the burden and pressure of this full community of students became too much even for him. So the Archbishop has arranged for some nuns to move into the Chaplaincy to help out - well, two sisters who are Benedictines, the first one is due in February. I miss my regular sessions in the Prayer Room at Turnbull Hall. The Prayer Room was where folk consulted me professionally - an apt room for my psychoanalytical work, and handy for the chapel next door too. A nice bunch of folk there. It's like a busy Parish Church. Local residents use the chapel too for the Daily Offices, daily Mass and Confessions. During the daytime the dining rooms upstairs are used by Medical and Nursing degree Students for lectures now. Sister Bridget's old office-cum-study-cum-lounge is now a computer room. Then one of my 'faithful' who had had a distressing time in Paris flew home unexpectedly today and so I had long chats on the phone with her. Think she is calmer and less self-punishing now, until we meet later in the week. Then Val left her mac in a restaurant in Troon the other day. St Aidan's Strollers ( the SAS!) had a walk there and then retired to the Yacht Marina for Christmas lunch. So, Val and I will drive to Troon on the south-west coast tomorrow to collect it and probably have lunch too. Meanwhile, back home I had been busy doing church administration from 8am, making phone calls, etc. Spoke to Lawrence Maclaren today, who is a most able, retired Chartered Accountant and he, like me, is so busy it isn't true. Not only is he doing our Accounts and Freewill Offering Scheme weekly, he also does the Accounts for 4 other Episcopal Churches in the Diocese. We agreed that it is actually busier as volunteer workers, than running our own family businesses.

1st Sunday of Advent, 02/12/07 again -

After the Family Eucharist we devoured mince pies in the Hall; left-overs from the Christmas Coffee Morning yesterday. 50% of what we made between 10am and noon totalling £600 goes to Sight Savers International in Edinburgh; the rest for church funds. Not a bad amount for 2 hrs. Considering that Williamwood House, a residential Home run by the C of S locally for the 'confused elderly' also had a coffee morning on. I busily put out the Church Calendar for December, then put out the Weekly News Sheets (WNS) which I now type weekly on the back of the Readings and Prayers for the day. We deliberately keep the Link Corridor lights on between the Hall and the church and the church doors open and lights on. It's a bit like attracting flies to the honeypot! Anyway an interesting couple wandered in - the Gilsepies from locally. Both Presbyterian, she is a Child Care Worker and he said he is on the staff of Williamwood House although not a care worker. Douglas said he washes up, is paid very little, but loves being involved in the care of the elderly confused - "and it's Church work" he added. They were curious about seeing an altar with candles on it. They wondered what the man was doing. It was Kenneth Wilkins, Sacristan, preparing the Altar for the 8am, 10am and 4.30pm services today. Knowing that most Presbyterians haven't a clue what this means as they have no Calendar since the Reformation and don't have an altar or candles, I explained that we were a Catholic, yet not Roman Church; not protestant, deriving our beginnings from St Columba of Iona, and the support we gave to the RC Bonnie Prince Charles Eduard Stuart; at least that's the romantic notion. In fact we were once both Presbyterian and Episcopal for a while after the 1560 Reformation but in the 1580's split off from the predominantly Presbyterian membership to form the present reformed catholic, SEC. I told Douglas that he should perhaps sample our service of Family Eucharist as he said he loved to hear the organ and choir because they no longer have that in the C of S - just songs on a screen and guitars.
I also said that he was doing a very important job as a washer-upper for without his work the Home would stop operating. He grinned broadly. I added, 'It is God's work, you know'.
Afterwards Alec Philip, our People's Warden and Fabric Convener asked me to accompany him to the Rectory to do a final check of the premises before the Rector and his wife leave. Paul and Sheenah have got rid of most of their stuff yet some items still remain including a piano, a bed or two, table and chairs plus a few boxes. They promised to get rid of these items as fast as possible. They handed over the keys yet keep one set. I said we were now taking back possession of the Rectory and two members will visit twice weekly to check on things to cover us for Ecclesiastical Insurance cover during the Interregnum. I tugged at Alec to leave and we did. I said I thought it'd be better we did as we were being bombarded with details of this and that that we should do to the property. Anyway I did not answer the Fletchers as I had written to the Diocesan Architect down in Ayr and requested Rebecca Cadie to undertake a Quinquennial Survey on the Rectory, which is overdue anyway.

Graemeofothaidhsjourney: 1st Sunday of Advent: 02/12/07.

Graemeofothaidhsjourney: 1st Sunday of Advent: 02/12/07.

1st Sunday of Advent: 02/12/07.

The Collect for today: "Almighty God, give is grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son, Jesus Christ came to us in great humility......"
Well, it is all about change, isn't it? The move from darkness to light in our lives. But note that the prayer invokes the Holy Spirit of God for us to achieve this; meaning, by his Grace. I often wonder, as everyone else wonders, why God doesn't answer our prayers immediately, when the need is greatest. Yet as Christians we are always urged to watch and pray first. Have patience, in other words. In our search for a new Rector, the Diocesan Dean said the timescale we have drawn up must start with a waiting and watchful, prayerful time. Curiously, God does answer prayers but not always when we ask, but later when we often have not noticed. I have been praying for someone in great and awful anguish and their need for relief and for God's grace was immediate. However, God didn't answer immediately. Then, lo and behold, all the terrible and awful anguish had gone, replaced by contentment and happiness. I was reminded of a woman in labour and in the midst of terrible birth pain. But when the midwife plonks baby on her breast for that first bonding to take place, which is vital, the mother, despite tiredness, is content and calm; the anguish has vanished. I am but a mere man, who cannot experience childbirth pain as a mother does, but I do understand my person's terrible unhappiness and great anguish. Now it's all gone. It is a miracle. Yes, I know, don't forget to give thanks to God for his mercy and the answer to my fervent prayers. I did laugh as I recall Rabbi Lionel Blue saying that he prays so fervently and loudly that perhaps even God may hear him!
Versicle: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious.
Response: And his mercy endures for ever. Amen.