In February there was a lively and very moving funeral for a lovely member of the St Andrew’s congregation – Renate Krueger.

Renate was born in the very north of Germany in 1950 and was adopted by a very loving couple, Dr.Heinz Krueger and his wife Annemarie. They gave her everything they could and loved her dearly. After a career in psychotherapy, Renate moved to the Highlands in 1997 with her husband. She had many very challenging times during her marriage and a particular problem that she had to confront. After several years struggling and facing her shadows she was saved by God s grace and the fellowship of Christian people.

Looking back at her life, a couple of years ago she said that

“everything seemed so much clearer, an intricately woven blanket, with patterns and colours not always matching, but still making a beautiful picture … there might even be holes in it, ragged edges, unfinished rows, different patterns and material of wool … but somehow it all fitted together and made sense.“

That metaphor seems particularly apt since Renate was a compulsive knitter and as someone who for a time had been homeless, she knitted scarves that she sold to raise money for homelessness charities.

When Renate died she left a stock of knitted scarves “with patterns and colours not always matching, but still making a beautiful picture”.

We are offering these scarves for sale for a suggested donation of £10 which will be passed on for the purpose of making life better for those that were so close to Renate’s heart – the homeless.

Scarves will be available in St Finnbarr’s and St Andrew’s for the next few weeks so just speak to Caroline Barnes or Beatrice Somers if you would like to look at a selection either for yourself or for a Christmas present. If you are in our Lairg, Brora or Tongue congregations get in contact with James or Anna and we will arrange to find you something to meet your requirements.

This, we feel, is a fitting way to remember Renate and honour her commitment to those less fortunate than herself but let us give the last word to Renate:

I needed God for advice, guidance, courage, strength, help and love – He needed me to tell him of my passions, desires, aims in life and together, in co-operation, HE gave me what I needed, not what I wanted. He knows me best, even before I did and I listened to Him, more and more and the more I listened, the better my life began to unfold… He had plans for me – and they were not always my plans, but my deepest desires came true. THANK YOU GOD 🙂

For beautiful times of joy, love and happiness… for meeting wonderful people on my journey… for special moments in awe of Your creation… for tender moments with my beloved animals and peaceful times in my garden and at the sea, for beautiful music, swimming and dancing… those were the things I loved… and much more… for all of my life and the friends who were at my side – and those who taught me important lessons, also for pain and sorrow and finding blessing in the most challenging times, but most of all, for you, God and Your unconditional love and never giving up on me 🙂