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.