• Sermon preached for Lent 1, 2013

    Here’s the video.


    And here is the text:

    One of my favourite stories about St Mary’s is one that I’ve heard several versions of. It concerns one of my predecessors as Provost here.

    He had been here for a couple of months and thought that things were going OK. And then suddenly a letter appeared from a member of the congregation. (It may be that person is still here and just about to write to me in similar terms, so I’m taking a risk in telling this story).

    The gist of the letter was that its author listed the many ways in which the worship of the congregation had changed in those three months.

    See here, the letter writer wrote – see all the changes that you’ve made.

    And in the letter there was a list. In the version of the story I like the best there were 90 points listed but I don’t know whether we should allow a little bit of exaggeration in the telling.

    And the Provost in question had to confess (more…)

5 responses to “Crossing the River”

  1. Layclerk Avatar

    Is Joshua Chapter 3 the one that mentions the Glasgow Underground, or the one relating to Pollokshaws West station?

  2. DampDoris Avatar
    DampDoris

    ……so are these priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant, still tramping around Glasgow, or did they, too, have a destination in mind ? Most fortuitous they met you in your moment of need (Presumably they will not be lodging on the banks of the Clyde on a dull and dismal dricht day like today……….and if they are, hope you’ll take them some warm blankets and fortifying broth on your next trip to cross the water…….)
    PS. And are these still the same guys that knew Joshua ?
    PPS. Or did I miss a deeper link, bridging the diolemma ?

  3. Kelvin Avatar
    Kelvin

    Actually, although I had made plans for a procession of priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to get me over the river, when I got to the riverbank, I was amazed to find that someone had built a bridge.

  4. Stewart Avatar

    Had not realised this was your reason for crossing the river. I well remember the 75th anniversary of the dedication festival.

    It had not occured to me that the centenary had come round so quickly. Happy memories of growing up.

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