Friday, 9 November 2007
P.S. - Friday, 09 Nov-07
As part of my continuing journeying I have approached a Religious Community down in England with a view of becoming a Companion to the Community. This term denotes someone who remains in their own community and carries on with their own life yet adheres to the Community Rule. This was done after much thought and prayer. The Assistant Priest at my Scottish Episcopal Church is most supportive to my idea, which is a great help. There are plenty of such Communities here in Glasgow, but they are RC and RCs will not allow Christians to receive Holy Communion who are not RC. Although I am a catholic, I am an Episcopal catholic, not a Roman one. Silly distinction in this day and age, but there you are. I had discussed it also with a Roman Catholic priest friend and he was most supportive. The Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield in Yorkshire, north England, is an Anglican monastic Community and Anglican Theological College.
Also spoke to John Woodhouse via Skype as he had been trying to contact me. He had a bad fall in Battersea Park the other day, damaging his upper lip and a tooth. He looks a bit battle worn and it has certainly shaken him up. It was good to talk to him, and Valerie popped over my shoulder to be introduced to him also. It'll be good to keep contact.
Friday, 09 Nov-07
Had an extra-ordinary meeting of the Vestry the other evening, chaired by the Diocesan Dean, the Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan, to air people's worries and to peruse the vacancy procedure for the appointment of a new Rector. Bishop Idris and the Dean seem keen to appoint a full-time Rector with us. Gregor intimated that 'we should not assume we need to advertise', which of course, led to all sorts of speculations as to whom they had in mind. Either way I feel we should advertise as we need to be seen to be above board. I shall suggest we just advertise in 'Inspires' the Provincial magazine as we need a priest who is familiar with the Scottish Church's practices.
Advertising in England and Ireland will attract a lot of evangelical priests, who would not really fit in with our needs as we are more catholic. The two evangelical churches in Scotland, namely St Silas, Glasgow, and St Thomas, Corstorphine are evangelical as they were both built to serve English Hanovarian troops sent to Scotland to quell the rebellious Scots who supported Bonnie Prince Charlie ( who was RC ) and to impose English Penal Laws on Scottish Episcopalians who refused to say prayers for the English monarchy! St Silas served the soldiers garrisoned in nearby Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. St Silas to this day, uses the English Liturgy and refuses to call itself Scottish Episcopal Church. At one time, in the '70's it said it only had allegiance to the Bishop of Carlisle, down south in England! Bishop Derek Rawcliffe, then Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, regulated ther anomaly so that they came under his jurisdiction. However, they are still ambivalent about us Scots, and we of them, I suppose.
Anyway we outlined a rough timetable to produce a church profile and job description but it will not be done this side of the end of February as we have Advent and Christmas coming quickly and the Vestry need to get over the congregational AGM on the 20th November and 'Kirk' the new Vestry so work cannot really start until December this year.
Today I met Alec, our Fabric Convener / People's Warden at the Rectory to begin an inventory. Unfortunately this was not possible as Paul, our Rector seemed unclear about what was staying and what was leaving for store etc, and when he would vacate the premises. We are in no rush either but his tenancy cannot go on indefinitely. He has his barn in the Isle of Arran but it is not completely watertight so the Vestry agreed to allow some belongings to remain. We may have to impose a date of complete removal of affects. Alec then gave me a lift to Busby village where I was to collect Valerie from the hairdresser's but she had lft there so I walked back home on a clear, although cold autumnal day.
Advertising in England and Ireland will attract a lot of evangelical priests, who would not really fit in with our needs as we are more catholic. The two evangelical churches in Scotland, namely St Silas, Glasgow, and St Thomas, Corstorphine are evangelical as they were both built to serve English Hanovarian troops sent to Scotland to quell the rebellious Scots who supported Bonnie Prince Charlie ( who was RC ) and to impose English Penal Laws on Scottish Episcopalians who refused to say prayers for the English monarchy! St Silas served the soldiers garrisoned in nearby Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. St Silas to this day, uses the English Liturgy and refuses to call itself Scottish Episcopal Church. At one time, in the '70's it said it only had allegiance to the Bishop of Carlisle, down south in England! Bishop Derek Rawcliffe, then Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, regulated ther anomaly so that they came under his jurisdiction. However, they are still ambivalent about us Scots, and we of them, I suppose.
Anyway we outlined a rough timetable to produce a church profile and job description but it will not be done this side of the end of February as we have Advent and Christmas coming quickly and the Vestry need to get over the congregational AGM on the 20th November and 'Kirk' the new Vestry so work cannot really start until December this year.
Today I met Alec, our Fabric Convener / People's Warden at the Rectory to begin an inventory. Unfortunately this was not possible as Paul, our Rector seemed unclear about what was staying and what was leaving for store etc, and when he would vacate the premises. We are in no rush either but his tenancy cannot go on indefinitely. He has his barn in the Isle of Arran but it is not completely watertight so the Vestry agreed to allow some belongings to remain. We may have to impose a date of complete removal of affects. Alec then gave me a lift to Busby village where I was to collect Valerie from the hairdresser's but she had lft there so I walked back home on a clear, although cold autumnal day.
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Sunday, 04 November 2007: All Saints' Day
Today started with difficulty as I had overlooked a request from a colleague at church to provide new church stationery for him, so I was late and Valerie set off alone for the Family Eucharist at St Aidan's, Scottish Episcopal Church. I arrived a few minutes late by taxi. Quite a few new folk there today, together with some visitors, notably some folk from the Orthodox traditions. This would be the penultimate 10am service that Paul will be Celebrant at, as he leaves to live in the Isle of Arran on 12/11/07 with his family. After the Eucharist we grabbed tea, cake and scones and I gathered Vestry members together in the Choir Vestry for an agreed Extra-Ordinary meeting to approve the Accounts and Report of the Vestry for OSCR ( Office of the Scottish Charities Register ) and the AGM of the congregation on 20/11/07. A last minute hiccup had occurred when, after receiving an OK from our Examiner of Accounts, I then learned she had changed my report and designation without discussing it with me. She had re-typed the report and changed our church name and mis-spelled folks' names! Needless to say she had a pertinent e-mail from me and the Accounts were withdrawn. To her credit she reverted to my original report and agreed that they be re-submitted in time for today's meeting and all went well after we spent a considerable time scrutinising the fine detail of the accounts, line by line. The Vestry approved them, so they can now go forward to the AGM for possible acceptance by the congregation.
Then it was poste-haste to Mitchell's up in the next village to us of Carmunnock for lunch. We were late but luckily Veronica, the co-owner, could give us a table. We were further lucky as, though late, we arrived in advance of a large birthday party of 18. We had a splendid lunch and I saw Gaille, the French waitress so I was able to practise my schoolboy French on her. Jean-Paul, her fellow countryman, is away just now. I learned that he does part-time lecturing at university here whilst he undertakes a PhD in politics at Glasgow. Ah well, 'a bientøt!'. Far from having a lazy afternoon the phone went continuously with folk on church business - for Val and myself. I shall be taking on board the production of the Weekly News Sheets for Colin, our Assistant Priest - quite a task. Then on Wednesday evening next the Vestry will meet the Diocesan Dean ( the Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan ) to discuss the profile of our church in relation to our needs of a replacement Rector, and the type of person we seek. He will outline the Diocesan standpoint and the Vacancy procedure. Gregor is to be our Interim Moderator, to use a Scots' Presbyterian phrase. Now for a wee dram as I have earned it!
Then it was poste-haste to Mitchell's up in the next village to us of Carmunnock for lunch. We were late but luckily Veronica, the co-owner, could give us a table. We were further lucky as, though late, we arrived in advance of a large birthday party of 18. We had a splendid lunch and I saw Gaille, the French waitress so I was able to practise my schoolboy French on her. Jean-Paul, her fellow countryman, is away just now. I learned that he does part-time lecturing at university here whilst he undertakes a PhD in politics at Glasgow. Ah well, 'a bientøt!'. Far from having a lazy afternoon the phone went continuously with folk on church business - for Val and myself. I shall be taking on board the production of the Weekly News Sheets for Colin, our Assistant Priest - quite a task. Then on Wednesday evening next the Vestry will meet the Diocesan Dean ( the Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan ) to discuss the profile of our church in relation to our needs of a replacement Rector, and the type of person we seek. He will outline the Diocesan standpoint and the Vacancy procedure. Gregor is to be our Interim Moderator, to use a Scots' Presbyterian phrase. Now for a wee dram as I have earned it!
Monday, 15 October 2007
Sunday, 7 October 2007
Sunday, 7th Oct-07: Trinity 18, Harvest Festival.
Lots of clearing up in the garden yesterday: a gloriously sunny and warm Autumnal day. Bushes cut back, some moved, front flower beds weeded. Lots of leaves already down now so spent much time sweeping up; a tiring yet satisfying task. I have yet to store 'Tilly Mint', the settle, garden tables and chairs as we already have had night frosts.
Harvest Festival at the 10am Family Eucharist this morning, along with the traditional, well-loved harvest hymns. Good turn-out of everyone. During the Offertory hymn folk queued up in the central isle to take foodstuffs, mainly tinned, for donation to asylum-seekers locally. £700 was also raised by the southside churches last week for the same cause. We learned that many folk from Europe now live nearby and had been attending Eastwood C of S Parish Church and had many children baptised there. They are mainly Orthodox Christians from Poland who now seek their own priest. Said goodbye to Bernadette and Bob who have been re-located by the Allied Irish Bank, to Brighton, Sussex. Said hello to Debbie ( new member ) and her boyfriend ( he is C of S. He didn't receive HC but was encouraged that he could do in future ). Then met a couple who are Tamil Malaysians from Edinburgh, staying with Rachael and Raj in the Mearns. Joel is Anglican and his wife Karen is RC. Karen received HC and I was pleased for her but did not comment to her. We discussed the complicated history of their Tamil people who all came originally from Sri Lanka but were employed in the rubber plantations by British employers and how the end of the colonial system has changed the people's self-esteem. Latterly I put up my new Fire Drill notices which Laurence had laminated for me, and posted the October church calendar. I am going to have a busy month or so with Vestry meetings and the forthcoming church AGM in November.
Harvest Festival at the 10am Family Eucharist this morning, along with the traditional, well-loved harvest hymns. Good turn-out of everyone. During the Offertory hymn folk queued up in the central isle to take foodstuffs, mainly tinned, for donation to asylum-seekers locally. £700 was also raised by the southside churches last week for the same cause. We learned that many folk from Europe now live nearby and had been attending Eastwood C of S Parish Church and had many children baptised there. They are mainly Orthodox Christians from Poland who now seek their own priest. Said goodbye to Bernadette and Bob who have been re-located by the Allied Irish Bank, to Brighton, Sussex. Said hello to Debbie ( new member ) and her boyfriend ( he is C of S. He didn't receive HC but was encouraged that he could do in future ). Then met a couple who are Tamil Malaysians from Edinburgh, staying with Rachael and Raj in the Mearns. Joel is Anglican and his wife Karen is RC. Karen received HC and I was pleased for her but did not comment to her. We discussed the complicated history of their Tamil people who all came originally from Sri Lanka but were employed in the rubber plantations by British employers and how the end of the colonial system has changed the people's self-esteem. Latterly I put up my new Fire Drill notices which Laurence had laminated for me, and posted the October church calendar. I am going to have a busy month or so with Vestry meetings and the forthcoming church AGM in November.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Sunday 30/09/07. Jerome, priest AD420. Trinity 17.
As John Aliss of golfing fame would say: 'It's been a funny old week'. We have had mixed weather, stemming from early morning heavy frost to mild 14@C temperatures. The clamatis at the front window of the drawing room is again in flower. A crocus has appeared down the drive, together with a polyanthus! Glenshee and the Cairn Gorm have snow and are hoping for more, to start the ski-ing earlier this year, but I doubt it'll stay long enough for ski-ing yet. Of course, I blame Bush for heavily polluting the ozone layer and refusing to cut greenhouse gases because big business which support him in Office will suffer. Where is the morality in such greed?
The readings in church today centred around death, dying, and resurrection. The Rector seemed to emphasise the former whilst Colin, our Curate, preaching also from the same Lectionary, emphasised the latter at Cambuslang where he was Celebrating and preaching. Like the reading today from the scripture lesson of the rich man and the poor man - it depends which end you come from! Our new lady arrived back in church today, although her fiance has yet to venture in. Folk chatted her up, which was nice. Valerie and I were Sidesfolk today so were busy dealing with the congregation etc. We had a second count of the hefty Collection as we mis-counted; an unusual event for us, but we got it correct and I took it to the Night Safe down the road. Valerie, Dorothy and Grace were in the Church Hall rehearsing a biblical passage they were parodying for a Review by the Diocesan Council tonight at St Ninian's, Pollokshields. The Dean, who is also Rector of St Ninian's has a Russian Choir singing for us at Evensong and the local presbyterian, Church of Scotland Church are also presenting something, all in aid of a charity the C of S support in Glasgow. I also put up most of the Fire Notices together with location maps, in various venues at church, suitably laminated by Laurence. All this is to do with the new regulations emanating from the Office of the Scottish Charities Register, and Ecclesiastical Insurance. The regulating of Scottish charities is quite new as in the past there were no guidelines or checks. England always had the Charities Commissioner. This then, is all new to us, but no bad thing, although it entails much new work relating to Health & Safety.
Well, I did cut the remaining 2 lawns and then trimmed some hedges and gave up. I was pleased I did get a lot done in the garden, including sweeping leaves up. That was tiresome yet relaxing. This afternoon I punched in the postcode to my relatively new SatNav, of my friend the Treasuer, Laurence Maclaren, who lives in nearby Newton Mearns. I had never been to his house before but I let my SatNav direct me verbally. It was quite accurate, although nit directed me to number 19, instead of number 30 which I had requested. Obviously No 19 has a Sat Nav!
The readings in church today centred around death, dying, and resurrection. The Rector seemed to emphasise the former whilst Colin, our Curate, preaching also from the same Lectionary, emphasised the latter at Cambuslang where he was Celebrating and preaching. Like the reading today from the scripture lesson of the rich man and the poor man - it depends which end you come from! Our new lady arrived back in church today, although her fiance has yet to venture in. Folk chatted her up, which was nice. Valerie and I were Sidesfolk today so were busy dealing with the congregation etc. We had a second count of the hefty Collection as we mis-counted; an unusual event for us, but we got it correct and I took it to the Night Safe down the road. Valerie, Dorothy and Grace were in the Church Hall rehearsing a biblical passage they were parodying for a Review by the Diocesan Council tonight at St Ninian's, Pollokshields. The Dean, who is also Rector of St Ninian's has a Russian Choir singing for us at Evensong and the local presbyterian, Church of Scotland Church are also presenting something, all in aid of a charity the C of S support in Glasgow. I also put up most of the Fire Notices together with location maps, in various venues at church, suitably laminated by Laurence. All this is to do with the new regulations emanating from the Office of the Scottish Charities Register, and Ecclesiastical Insurance. The regulating of Scottish charities is quite new as in the past there were no guidelines or checks. England always had the Charities Commissioner. This then, is all new to us, but no bad thing, although it entails much new work relating to Health & Safety.
Well, I did cut the remaining 2 lawns and then trimmed some hedges and gave up. I was pleased I did get a lot done in the garden, including sweeping leaves up. That was tiresome yet relaxing. This afternoon I punched in the postcode to my relatively new SatNav, of my friend the Treasuer, Laurence Maclaren, who lives in nearby Newton Mearns. I had never been to his house before but I let my SatNav direct me verbally. It was quite accurate, although nit directed me to number 19, instead of number 30 which I had requested. Obviously No 19 has a Sat Nav!
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