Still Striving For that Elusive Halo

Saturday saw the start of a new chapter in the history of the charges of St Cuthbert, Cambuslang and St Andrew, Uddingston when the congregations and people from across the diocese gathered to welcome Rosemary as their new priest a joyous occasion, although somewhat unusual to be celebrating in a piskie church without a glass of wine!

While today saw another new start of a different kind. 

At 3:30am the alarm woke us from our slumber to alert us that the 2008 F1 season was about to begin down under in Melbourne.  There have been several changes in the rules, all of which are welcome in my book, especially the loss of traction and launch controls, now they really are driving not just racing a computer.  The race itself was fantastic despite being interrupted three times for the safety car, in fact with the crashes, thrills and spills it was much more like the races I that got me interested in F1 in the first place than the 50-60 parade laps F1 had turned into in more recent years.  If this first race is anything to go by we will be in for a thrilling and unpredictable season, and it looks like the new boys will be giving the old timers a run for their money, just a shame that the final safety car denied Kovalainen a better place after such a good drive and Bourdais was denied a better place on his debut when his Ferrari engine let him down.

That is those of you who hold more than one service on a Sunday morning in different churches. 

Yesterday saw the Baptism of *J* who was an absolute poppet and didn’t cry at all, in fact she looked up and smiled as the water poured over her forehead.  *N* her older cousin helped fill the font with water and N’s older brother *T* stood on a chair so that he could see what was going on.  It was a happy service and those who were visiting seemed to enjoy it.  *J* and her family aren’t members of St Mark’s they are part of the family of St Cuthbert’s down the road in Cambuslang were I am currently locum, so after the Baptism there was a short dash back to St Mark’s for our service which was already underway by the time I arrived.  Both services went fine, the logistics of it all worked well, but I was left with a feeling once I got back home of not really having given either congregation the time they required outside the service.  I suppose if it is something that if it is done week in and week out then you learn how to deal with - firstly you wouldn’t have the service times being only an hour apart - yesterday I was left wishing I hadn’t had to rush away from St C’s, especially as they had visitors, and that I had been at St M’s before the service began as in some small way I felt a bit of an interloper, sneaking up the side isle as they sang the Gradual hymn.

So to those of you that do it week after week you have my respect and prayers.

Saturday saw a drive up to the lovely countryside surrounding Bridge of Allan, only trouble was the weather was so awful we didn’t really get to see it! The reason for the drive was the institution of Dominic Ind as Rector of St Saviour’s, Dom until Christmas was Priest at Cambuslang and Uddingston just down the road from EK, and there was a good turn out from there.

St Saviour’s is a pretty church with the most stunning blue in their East window, making me wish I had taken my camera with me; I had left it behind as the weather was so bad, there is a lesson learnt! Bishop David preached an interesting sermon a synopsis of which is on his blog, the question of the day was will Dom work miracles in that place, I guess only time will tell. However a miracle did seem to have taken place during that service, it is the only explanation for how the number of choir members managed to fit into the choir stalls, quart into a pint pot is the expression that comes to mind! It was obvious during the service that the laity bring with them a rich blessing of gifts and a willingness to use them, a combination which is not always there, I am sure that is in no small part down to Fr Kelvin who used to be their Rector. The service itself was one of the longest licensing services I have ever attended, which is saying something, and the organiser in me was straining at the leash on more than one occasion, but I sat tight and let the peace of the building wash over me.

I wish Dom, Anna and the people of St Saviour’s well as they continue on the next steps on their journey together.

The road that is that links EK to Paisley.

Last night I made the journey for the double Patronal festival of Holy Trinity and St Barnabas (as the Rector himself pointed out not exactly liturgically correct, but it happened anyway).

The weather has been somewhat balmy of late and for most members of a congregation going to church for the cool air inside is somewhat of a bonus. For us clergy however it is a different story.  Why are cassocks woollen and I know that the brocade on copes is wonderful, but surely someone somewhere could invent a summer version so we didn’t have to walk around in our own personal saunas.

The service itself was wonderful, the choir sung well and the Dean managed to demonstrate in his sermon how St Barnabas and the Holy Trinity were near neighbours.

The highlight - Godly Matron.

Bells ringing out in the sunshine could clearly be heard above the hum of the traffic along Great Western Road in Glasgow last night. At the West Door there was the soon to be Rector and Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, bedecked in a dalmatic.
A steady stream of people from all over made thier way through the doors as the sound of the bells was replaced by the swell of the organ and the hum of traffic by the hum of voices.
“Clergy who are robbing to the right and down the stairs.”
Others were handed an order of service and found a place to sit.

The stage was set.

Then the processions, choir, priests, visiting clergy, bishops, a primus, and then,
then came the trumpets.
What a start and it was only the start.

The service moved us on and up,
moments of passion - Parry’s I Was Glad;
moments of quiet contemplation - Totus Tuus;
moments of solemnity - as the new Provost was blessed and anointed;
moments of contemplation - the new Provosts intercessions;
moments of insight - Bishop David’s sermon;
moments of sheer delight, wonder and awe - the Gospel;
and moment upon moment of joy.

If ever you are in the West End of Glasgow, take a visit to the Cathedral, it is a wonderful building, and maybe if you are lucky you will happen along when there is a service and you too will be touched by such moments.