Our Good Friday Walk of Witness and services of Reflection and Tenebrae took us to the very Foot of the Cross.
Christ Crucified
Local
Waiting and Watching
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)
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)
Lovely Gathering
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:-)
Nearly there!!!
The fundraising Shelterbox camp being set up in the grounds of St Columba’s church in Brora by Rotarian Alistair Risk and friends, is almost up and running after a false start caused by storm Otto.
The camp will be open for visitors to enjoy a coffee and a chat about the relief work Alistair and friends are supporting in Turkey and Syria from: 10 am on Friday 24th February for at least 2 weeks!!
There is still the opportunity for anyone wants can find £100 in sponsorship to take Alistair’s place in the tent for a night or two. If you want to take up this challenge, just give him a ring on 01408 621609 or visit the tent at St Columba’s Church on Victoria Road (the A9 just north of the station) in Brora.
The best laid plans …
Well all the best plans go array!
Rotarians and friends struggled in the wind to put up the Shelterbox tent at St Columba’s in Brora to raise donations /sponsorship for Turkey and Syria — they turned their backs for a well earned coffee and that nasty storm Otto blew it down again!!!!
They have made it safe and will put it up again on this Thursday when Alistair Risk will hopefully be able to start his 2 to 3 week life as a refugee living in the tent and welcoming visitors for tea and a chat about how Shelterbox and Rotary are on the ground in both countries, ensuring those in need have shelter and help.
(Our picture shows Davey Macdonald and David Meikle with Alistair Risk and the flattened tent!)
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY!
Our church family celebrated with Eric Dawson as he reached his 100th birthday this week. With a special cake following the service last Sunday and another cake at a special gathering on Monday (Eric’s actual birthday) we marked this very special birthday of a very special man who we all hold dearly in our hearts. The Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland came along to our gathering on Monday to present Eric with his card from the King and Queen Consort and the gathering sang to Eric and shared tea and cakes. Happy Birthday Eric!
Praying for Unity amidst Injustice
Yesterday in St Andrew’s we held a service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. A sizeable group drawn from across the Churches and Fellowships around Tain, Invergordon, Ardgay and Dornoch gathered together for a Service prepared by Christians in Minnesota. The focus was on injustice and in particular racial injustice, remembering George Floyd who died during ill-treatment by police in Minnesota and also marking the 30th anniversary of the brutal killing of Stephen Lawrence in London.
Folk from a variety of churches and fellowships contributed to the service which included hymns, readings, prayers and a ritual where we built a cairn at the foot of the cross as we acknowledged our complicity in injustice.
It also included a rather wonderful Franciscan Benediction:
May God bless you with discomfort
(Attributed to the early followers of St Francis)
at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in the world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done
to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen
… and afterwards?
Well of course there were lovely refreshments and a time for fellowship where Christian who don’t get to meet up very often were able to relax and share.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to both the service and the refreshments.
Final Christmas Celebration
Our final celebration of the birth of Jesus took place today in St Columba’s, Brora at Noon. Lots of Carols and Christmas readings, prayers and then a celebration of the Eucharist.
We blessed the Crib…
Afterwards we shared food and fellowship, whilst carols continued to play in the background.
Scottish Episcopal Church - Dornoch, Lairg, Brora, Tain & Tongue 