Visit to Yorkshire ‘God’s Own Country’
Sadness and Joy
Being a ‘Yorkshire Lass’ I guess I will always think of Yorkshire as home.
My visit was both sad and joyful, sad at the passing of my brother in law Reg, and joyful with memories of my wedding in the same church, and the same week as the funeral some 48 years earlier.
Otley Parish Chursh All Saints
All Saints, Otley is a beautiful church and when I am in Otley I try to visit.
The funeral was a beautiful service, led by Revd. Graham Buttanshaw, sad of course at the loss of a loved one, but also joyful at wonderful memories of a long life. Rebecca, Reg’s granddaughter, read ‘God’s Garden’ by Wendy Bradley, and Tom, his grandson, read from John’s gospel. My eldest son and eldest grandchild played ‘Abide with Me’ on the flute, for me this was both joyous and sad, joyous because it’s not often I get to hear them play, and sad at the memory of the last time I heard Mark play that tune at another family funeral, also in the same church.
As I looked around the church I couldn’t help but see John, my late husband, and I walking down the aisle, my niece, was then my 4 year old bridesmaid, really quite bored with it all, and now here she was the grieving daughter and mother of two.
All this makes me thankful for the close family ties we have, we were there for each other we held hands, we cried, we laughed, we grieved, and will continue to grieve together.
Coming back here in May, after a year at home, was unexpected, as is our continuing on into autumn. However, it’s been good to be back with the congregation at St. Nicolas, and with Margherita and the sandwich making team for refugees attending the UNHCR office.
At St. Nicolas, we knew that a good number of the “expat” members would leave in June, as summer is the changeover time at embassies and the big businesses. On top of that, most of those who remain go back home and on holiday for July and August. Sometimes on a Sunday, we’ve been down to literally a handful, although over the past week or two, some newcomers to the city have sought us out, and look as though they will settle at St. Nicolas. There’s even going to be a baptism of a baby girl in September.
The refugee members of the congregation continue to grow. This is a great joy for us, but sadly, it’s evidence of the fact that much of their life is enforced “holiday”, and the process for their repatriation is snarled up. This is partly due to one national group (not theirs) being fast tracked, and a general shutting down around the world of placements being offered. Understandably , they’re becoming very despondent, although they turn up every Sunday, bright and cheerful, and with so many genuine enquiries for John’s and my wellbeing. How generous and warmhearted they are.
I’m back on the Wednesday team at Margherita’s for sandwich making, and have met old friends and made new. Like St. Nicolas, though, the team is mostly expats, so Margherita has been very short handed over the holidays, not only on Wednesdays, but covering other days of the week too. John has come on board, and we’ve been doing three days a week. The numbers for sandwiches are much the same as before – 120-150 – but we’ve gone healthy! The sandwiches were always made with regular sliced white bread, but one day the shop delivered some whole meal loaves, along with the white. We struck on the idea of making the sandwiches with one of each type of bread, and so pleased were we with our innovation, we asked the shop to continue with both kinds of bread. Obviously, it doesn’t take much to give us a moment of amusement!
The whole city has been very quiet over the summer. To our surprise, we learned that the state schools have a full three months holiday, which must be a nightmare for childminding, although I don’t know how many mothers are out working. Our organist is a young mother (and private music teacher) with two primary school aged children, and they have a granny who lives in one of the coastal resorts in the south. The children have spent the whole holiday with granny-by-the-sea, but only one at a time, with the parents having their fortnight’s holiday in the middle, as they swap the children over. This solution seems to have gone down well with everyone, although we missed our lovely organist for two Sundays.
We expect to be home by the beginning of October, although who will follow after us is still to be determined. There will need to be further temporary cover until a permanent appointment is made. We would so love to see the congregation settled.
We get the pew leaflet from Annandale week by week , and that helps us to feel still at home. Our thoughts and prayers are always with you, and we look forward to being home again. With love from John and me. Jane.
On Saturday September 2nd– over 100 Episcopalians, their dogs and friends, from across the diocese gathered at St. Martin & St. Ninian’s RC church in Whithorn
We had a lovely service, Bishop. Gregor presided, Revd David acted as Bishop’s Chaplain and Cantor – it was a sung eucharist with some new settings for the Mass which people picked up on quite quickly. The Bishop’s address was about pilgrimage & St. Ninian. It was really good to have him among us again.
After the service we split up, some for the walk to the shore and St. Ninian’s cave, others the less physical visit to the reconstructed Bronze Age roundhouse and the museum, and for all, if so inclined, a visit to the Chapel in Isle of Whithorn.
Like most others, we set off for the cave. We started out a little later than others, after a search for petrol! After the car park there was a trail down to the pebble beach; down a gulley, following a wee burn through a dark wood of trees that grew straight up towards the flashes of sunlight & blue sky, like a cathedral. As we walked there were glimpses of the glittering sea, until we emerged from the woods and the whole panorama came in view. It was wonderful to come out onto the beach of polished, smooth, rounded pebbles, sea sparkling – a warm breeze.
We sat for our picnic lunch on a grassy hummock above the beach, ate our sarnies, and just admired the sea, and soaked up the sun – the huge mass of the Isle of Man , then the Rinns of Galloway in the other direction. Gorgeous day, just to sit and enjoy. We didn’t want to move —-some places give you that sense, for a little while, of stepping out of time, this was one such place.
Eventually we walked over to at the cave itself. In the cliff side at the far end of the beach it has a dramatic presentation. Above the quite shallow cave is a great slab of rock looking like a portcullis drawn up. As we approached the cave, we noticed the drift wood cross someone had stuck into the cliff side above it. Other little crosses, made of twigs, small bits of wood, roughly bound together are all around the place. Stones, rocks with names written on them, articles of remembrance, of not forgetting. On a smooth rock surface to the left of the cave, people had carved names and messages, seemingly for generations, dedicated to St. Ninian, dedicated to God. There was a sense of other healing shrines like Lourdes. In such places people who have been healed leave behind the symbols of the illness overcome, crutches, tokens of disease of one sort or another. Here people left behind stones and cairns and names, the bones of a story, signs and symbols of spiritual need, spiritual healing.
God gifts us beauty in the midst of the beauty of the natural world, a gracedness in what we see and in what we recognise as being a gift to us. We looked up, and directly above the cave mouth, saw a solitary raven in the sky – in the joy of the day, we watched it close its wings and stoop into a dive, then flick them open and do a barrel roll in the air. Several times we saw and watched. Then other members of the raven family arrived and we watched them riding on the wind as it came off the escarpment above us. Magic, but not magic – grace.
We stood in Ninian’s cave; where, we believe, he sought the peace and solace of the wild place in order to pray, and prayed ourselves.
We had been pilgrims, on a journey, learning to understand the meaning of love, learning to love one another, learning to love God. This is what the pilgrimage is about, nothing else matters, as we move to the end of our journey, as we finally approach God everything else falls away, only love is left.
Taizé in Eastern France is a world famous centre of ecumenical prayer and pilgrimage, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, especially young people. It was founded by Brother Roger Schutz. He was born and raised in Switzerland where he became the leader of the Swiss Student Christian Movement. Brother Roger arrived in Taizé amidst the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, convinced that his calling was to help the poor. For the next 65 years up to his tragic death in 2005, he worked to bring all people closer to Christ through prayer and reflection. That desire is still key to the work of the Taizé Community today.
In All Saints we have begun holding Taizé services on a regular basis. We try to emulate the form of ecumenical worship practised in Taizé, with the emphasis being on the gentle singing of chants devised in Taizé, contemplation, silence and prayer. The light of many candles is an integral part of the service. There are no sermons, there is no liturgy, there are short readings and prayers.
At present we use professionally produced backing tracks to accompany the chants that we sing. A single chant may last for 3-5 minutes. Usually about seven chants are the basis for the service. Singing or not singing is entirely up to the individual. Those who have experienced these services with us say that, after the words of a single chant have been repeated continuously, the sense of peace, which begins to enter the service, is profound.
Do come and join us for some peace. The next Taize service at All Saints will be Thursday 20th February 2020
For further information about Taizé and the work of the brothers in France go to https://www.taize.fr/en
August 12th a special day
Well why special……well it was the Annandale Group B.B.Q. and the rain stayed away, the sun was shining and a lot of people enjoyed themselves, so I think that makes it a great day. All Saints, Lockerbie hosted the B.B.Q. David Rose at the Barbeque,
David Rose at the Barby
Ian Stewart at the Bar, Pauline Rose and Barbara Stewart at the teas coffee, and Kath (that me) at the salad bar, with lots of help setting everything up and of course taking down after a super event, what a wonderful collection. (gosh that sounds like the introduction to a band) I believe there was about 30 people, gathered from all five churches in the group. A very, very enjoyable day.
This week we welcomed two more of the P5/6 classes from Lockerbie Primary School, and were delighted to host a day of learning about All Saints Church. The visit was based on RME Outcomes from the Curriculum for Excellence and the children started by completing quizzes, thoroughly exploring the outside and inside of the church, its stained glass windows and religious artefacts.
Rev John Macleod then showed them the vestments he wears for services. Next they surrounded the altar and watched intently as he demonstrated how Communion is prepared and distributed in the Scottish Episcopal tradition. Then they gathered at the font and were completely intrigued as he carefully poured water over a doll’s head and explained the sacrament of baptism.
Both groups were also involved in World Week of Work and the visit included discussions, not only with Rev Macleod about his role as a priest, but also with church members David and Pauline Rose and Ron Ritchie about the voluntary work of the church and their individual tasks as members of the congregation.
We are delighted to have a ‘new’ stained glass window. On display in one of the plain windows, the morning light shining through them, are 22 individual card and coloured tissue-paper windows made by Miss Fraser’s P5 class, also from Lockerbie Primary School, who visited in April. We are grateful to them for adding to the beauty of our lovely little church.
Rev John Macleod speaking with Maureen O’Niell and Ann Gault.
The Regional Council meeting was held in All Saint Church, Lockerbie, and was chaired by Rev. John Macleod, with a visiting speaker, Maureen O’Neill, Director of Faith in Older People.
The meeting followed a buffet lunch prepared by members of All Saints and St John’s, Moffat.
buffet lunch prepared by members of All Saints and St John’s, Moffat
This is a yeast dough but don’t be put off, it’s not that hard to make and well worth the effort. Every year I make up this recipe as ‘Hot Cross Buns’ To me it’s like having mince pies at Christmas.
Taken from ‘When it’s brown it’s done………..’
1lb strong plain flour
2oz caster sugar
½oz dried yeast
¼pt tepid water
1teasp salt
½teasp. Cinnamon
1teasp. Mixed spice
a little grated nutmeg
2oz margarine/butter
3oz mixed fruit
¾pt warm milk
1 beaten egg made up to ¼pt with warm milk
Place flour in a large bowl and sprinkle in salt and 1 tsp sugar. In a jug mix water, sugar and yeast together. Stir well and leave to froth up. You will see the yeast beginning to rise to the top of the water. While the yeast is working, rub the margarine into the flour and add the fruit and spices. Mix well. Make a well in the centre, (when the yeast is ready pour into the flour), and mix with your hands. Make into a pliable dough with the e and milk mixture (you may not need it all so don’t add it all at once). When it’s formed into a ball turn out onto floured board and knead till smooth and elastic in texture. Place back in bowl and cover with a tea towel. Leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size. Turn out onto a floured board and knead again. Divide into equal pieces and shape into a round bun shape (10 to 12). Roll out lightly and place on a baking sheet. Allow to rise again. When they are double in size, prick the top with a fork, or make a cross with a knife if it’s Easter. Place in oven 200ºC for approx. 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a cooling tray.
Suggestions
Glaze for a sticky top…Place 2tbsp milk in a pan with 1tbsp sugar and boil until sugar is dissolved. Brush over teacakes while they are still hot. Serve with lots of butter and golden syrup.
If you happen to have any left and they go a little dry, split and toast and have with lots of butter. (I always try to hide one so there is always one to toast).
This can be made in loaf tin. 1lb size is best. Cook for 15 minutes at 200ºC and then turn down to 175ºC for a further 25 to 30 minutes.
Blessing the Easter Lambs
On Friday 7th April Rev John Macleod was invited by Malcolm Bell-Macdonald of Rammerscales,
New-born lambs at Hartwood
who is a member of the All Saints congregation, to bless the flock and the new-born lambs at Hartwood Farm.
The short service of a reading, prayers and the blessing, took place in the large lambing shed.
Also visiting the lambing sheds were Wilhelmina and Edith Wood and their parents, who are very busy at this time of year as they foster orphaned lambs.
