News

Coronation Tree Planting

sheumais Local, News

Yesterday evening representatives of the churches and members of the community in Tain planted trees in memory of those who planted the original row of trees in Manse Street, to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

The following readings from Scripture were read:

Lord Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford
Genesis 17:7 NKJV

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

Jack Reid
Job 14:7 NKJV

For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.

Fin Macrae
Jeremiah 29:7 NKJV

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Rev. James Currall
2Kings 11:12 NKJV

And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!“

Marie Macleod
2Kings 11:12 NKJV (in Gaelic)

Given the weather, there was no need to water the trees once they had been planted:-)

We Prayed for their Majesties

sheumais Local, News

People from a range of congregations, fellowships and traditions joined together in a service of Prayer and Thanksgiving for their Majesties Charles and Camilla yesterday on the eve of their Coronation. It was a very moving occasion.

St Aidan’s Lectures now online

sheumais Local, News
James delivering the first lecture at St Aidan’s

The first two St Aidan’s lectures have now been posted on the Glasgow and Galloway YouTube channel, which can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCULDcu3RKVr-hHQY2pLRfXw

The remaining two will be posted there over the next couple of weeks.

The lectures this year are being delivered by Rev Dr James Currall and are entitled

“The Environmental Crisis and the Church“

Details of the lectures can be found in this post on our web site.

Crask Wedding

sheumais Crask, News

Yesterday it was a joy to see Iain and Vivienne married at the Crask on a day when we probably saw all four seasons in the space of a few hours.

This was the second wedding to take place since the Crask became a church, the first being in February 2018.

Christ Crucified

sheumais Local, News

Our Good Friday Walk of Witness and services of Reflection and Tenebrae took us to the very Foot of the Cross.

Altar stripped in St Finnbarr’s
Walk of Witness about to set off
Walk of Witness at the Drover’s Stone
‘Pilgrims’ on the straight section between Ardgay and Bonar Bridge
+Mark offering a reflection at the end of the Walk of Witness
The foot of the Cross at at the service in a completely bare St Columba’s
A stripped St Andrew’s ready for Tenebrae
Tenebrae and Communion in St Andrew’s

Waiting and Watching

sheumais Local, News, Services

After the remembrance of the Last Supper at which +Mark washed the feet of members of the congregation, we moved to the Garden where we wtched and waited with our Lord.

This morning we walk the way of the Cross in Ardgay/Bonar Bridge in witness to His Passion, we reflect on His final hour in Brora this afternoon and this evening we relive His Passion again in Tain in a service of Tenebrae, with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.

Walk of Witness on Good Friday (7th April)

sheumais Events, Local, Services

The walk will consist of Eight stops, with a variable amount of walking between them. There is room for at least a few cars at each stops and so it will be possible for those who cannot or do not wish to walk the whole route to participate by adjusting the amount of walking required to suit their needs.

The walk will start in the car park adjacent to Kincardine Church in Ardgay and will end at Creich Church in Bonar Bridge, where there will be Hot Cross buns and tea/coffee available. The walk itself will commence at 10:15am and we should arrive at Creich Church by about 11:50am.

At each stop, there will be a Reading from Scripture, a short Reflection and a Prayer As we leave heading towards the next stop, we’ll sing a hymn. We will carry a large rough wooden cross throughout the walk.

The stops are as follows (time are rather approximate):

  • Kincardine Church car park (@10:15)
  • Ardgay Hall car park (@10:35)
  • Drover’s stone near Ardgay Station (@10:45)
  • ‘Stonehenge’ just the Ardgay side of the Bridge(@11:10)
  • Garden adjacent to the Caley Cafe(@11:20)
  • Car Park behind the Bonar Health Centre(@11:30)
  • Grassy area just beyond the Bradbury Centre(@11:40)
  • Creich Church car park(@11:50)

Joy as Rector Instituted in Forres

sheumais Diocese, News

Yesterday evening, Hamilton Inbadas was instituted as Rector of St John’s Forres in a wonderful display of the gift that is Anglican Liturgy.

The Church was packed with guests, members of the congregation, an all-age choir, visiting clergy from the SEC and clergy of other denominations in Forres.

Bishop Mark said in his address that at times during Covid, he had wondered if our churches would ever be full again – well he got his answer in St John’s last night.

The hospitality was generous and heartfelt and to top it all, there was a full supper served afterwards. Worship, fellowship, celebration, the whole package.

God was there! As we God’s people
Met to offer praise and prayer,
And we found in fuller measure
What it is in Christ we share.
There, as in the world around us,
All our varied skills and arts
Saw the coming of the Spirit
Into open minds and hearts.

Lovely Gathering

sheumais Local, News

A lovely gathering in St Columba’s this afternoon for the World Day of Prayer, in a service prepared by the Christian Women of Taiwan. Lovely words, lovely singing, lovely accompaniment and of course lovely refreshments and fellowship afterwards. Thanks everyone, we were all so blessed.

And of course Alistair is still camping outside to raise money for Syria/Turkey, so do drop by like Jennifer (below) did and he might even make you a cup of coffee and something to eat (you never know:-)