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The Knitting Collect
At this time of year when we think of All Saints we get a collect that always makes me think of this picture of Herself knitting. Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow…
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Happy Frikkiday
On Sunday we had the happy coincidence of Dedication Sunday and Frikki Sunday – it was the Director of Music’s 50th birthday. This meant much joyful music throughout the day and a megasong service at night when some of those who have sung with him before or who sing with him elsewhere came along to…
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Dedication Sunday Sermon
This time last year, I was away in the United States on sabbatical. I was travelling about from place to place and particularly from church to church. And I was looking for something I realised afterwards that I was looking for what is over the rainbow. There’s something about the New World and particularly the…
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Dedication
We are marking Dedication Sunday this weekend. That is a Sunday for giving thanks for St Mary’s and rejoicing in the opportunity to build on what has been built before us. Over the month of October, I’ve been asking members of the congregation to give “Two Minutes for Stewardship” each week at the Offertory and…
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Biblical role models for marriage – any suggestions?
We had such an interesting discussion last night at the cathedral’s LGBT Group (aka Gay Club). The conversation was about marriage, looking at it from a biblical, social and personal point of view rather than talking about the current attempts to change the law. The question that we really found interesting was how many positive…
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Don Giovanni – Review – Scottish Opera
Rating: Scottish Opera has produced a solid and pleasing Don Giovanni but one which, though it contains some fine singing, takes few risks and makes few demands of its audience. Sir Thomas Allen sang the title role for years so knows the piece inside out, therefore this opportunity to direct the work must presumably be…
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Still Prayin’
In many churches, St Mary’s included, there is at least one, often two short public service of daily prayer. Here in St Mary’s we have morning prayer at 9.30 and a dedicated band of people take turns in leading. There are generally between five and ten people who come – sometimes more and sometimes less.…
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On the List
I got back to Glasgow last night just as the Pink List was being published by the Independent on Sunday and was thrilled to see my name there again – I’ve been listed for the last couple of years. Even better is that I’m not the only cleric on it this year – Jeffrey John…
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Flattened
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The Past Tense
Sometimes museums are terribly annoying. I found myself getting all worked up about this thurible. Well, It wasn’t exactly the thurible that got me worked up but the card next to it. The caption uses the past tense. “Censors were used…” Censors are used. It somehow felt so frustrating to look at an object that…