“So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ – the life of the world.”

And that is exactly what a group of people from the Easter Ross Inter-Church Group (ERICG) did yesterday afternoon, on a frosty day suitable for the first Sunday of Advent, as we gathered in St. Andrew’s Church, warming ourselves by the flickering flames from our candles.

Nearly 40 of us sang our hearts out, listened attentively (after all, it IS Advent!) to the readings, including the poem ‘Advent Credo’, from which the quotation above comes. As we held our candles aloft and listened to the introductory readings, we thought about how we can individually be, and bring, light, life, peace and hope, to others. The moving words of our opening hymn, ‘Longing for Light’ expressed our hopes:

‘Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.’

The bright lights of hospitality and fellowship then beckoned us into the welcome warmth of the hall, where an abundance of delicious sandwiches and home-baking (see above) encouraged lively chat and catch-up with our inter-church friends.

Thanks to everyone who read to us, sang with us and catered for us.

St Andrew’s marked their Patronal Festival on Friday in style.

It all started with a candlelit celebration of the Eucharist in Church. The service was followed by a splendid supper in the hall – lentil soup then haggis, neeps and tatties and finally shortbread tea and coffee.

And then the fun really started, with entertainment, including: a quiz, a sermon, song, music and general fun, games and prizes. All were encouraged to wear some tartan and that did produce some local colour and added to the atmosphere.

Other celebrations of St Andrew’s night were available across Scotland (and around the world, where finding a husband is a key theme!) with thousands of people celebrating far into the night. In fact, around the world there are probably more people gather to Mark St Andrew’s day/night than gather on the Feast days of any of the other apostles.

Very moving Services of Remembrance in St Andrew’s, St Finnbarr’s and at War Memorials in many of our towns, villages and communities (including: Ardgay, Bonar Bridge, Dornoch, Golspie, Lairg and Tain)  Very much capturing the spirit of marking the 100 Anniversary of the Armistice.

Yesterday evening Rev Canon Laurence Gunner regaled an enthusiastic audience with a talk about St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle.  This was no dry historical account (though there was plenty of history), no this was more of a ‘behind the scenes documentary’.  You see, Laurence was the Canon Steward at St George’s for about 10 years, a post that meant that he was responsible for every thing from the flag flying on top of the castle, to the tarmac and the drains.  In such a role, any mistake that you make is very public and probably long-lasting and you risk upsetting some very important people (and others who only think that they are important).

Laurence’s talk was well illustrated with his own photographs and also with anecdotes and humorous asides and he generated quite a buzz in the room – each time he suggested that we might have had enough, we just begged for more.  After the Tales, there was as there always is at such events,  Tea and Treats.

Thanks Laurence and the Easter Ross Inter-Church Group (ERICG) and the people of St Ninian’s Invergordon.

The next ERICG meeting is on Wednesday 14th November at Logie Easter Church of Scotland at 7:30pm, when Drew Anderson of the Sailors’ Society will be the speaker.