• Candidates for the Sin Against the Holy Ghost

    People sometimes ask me (and no doubt other clergy) what the sin against the Holy Ghost actually is – the one which cannot be forgiven.

    Mark 3:28-29
    Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
    But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

    Now, there is a great deal of confusion about this, but I think I have narrowed down the possibilities.

    I’m pretty sure that it is one of the following:

3 responses to “St Andrew's Day”

  1.  Avatar
    Kelvin

    Re: St Andrew’s Day
    Loved the service tonight Kelvin. Thankyou.  Would be good to have more folky things like you used to!  Enjoyed Highland Cathedral.

    When will you take your congregation to Perth Cathedral?
    Some haven't been for a very long time and some have never been!

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Re: St Andrew’s Day
    Thank you for the comments. I enjoyed last night’s service a lot too.

    There is not a huge amount going on at the cathedral to invite people to at the moment. The last thing that members of St Saviour’s joined in with was the farewell to Bishop Michael Henley in the summer. The choir sang at that service and one or two other people came to it too.

    I’ve always been aware that I was once one of the cathedral clergy. I would not want people to think that I was trying to emulate a cathedral in St Saviour’s. (There is no chance anyway, it is very different indeed – the choir and the music are so much better in Bridge of Allan). I’m also wary that going back a lot to a place that you have been in before can be unhelpful to the former congregation.

    The next big thing at St Ninian’s, Perth will be the consecration of the new bishop on 2 March 2005. I’ve no idea how they will allocate tickets for that – perhaps some of them will come our way.

  3.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Re: St Andrew’s Day
    Oddly, I was thinking about the cathedral earlier this week. When I was little there was quite a lot happening for churches in the diocese to attend and I had the opportunity to go a few times to be part of joint fun days etc. We even had the opportunity to sleep over once or twice which was great fun.

    Admittedly this was a long time ago and things have generally changed but it is very good for congregations to mix and join up. It has always made me feel as much a part/member of St.Ninians as St. Saviours although I haven’t been there now for a long time

    I wouldn’t imagine people would asscoiate you overly with the cathedral either, you’ve been in BofA long enough for that not to be an issue. This isn’t really leading anywhere in particaulr but it would be good to see more happening at the cathedral that ‘normal’ people could be a part of in one way or another

    (and I enjoyed the folky thing too, definitely more please!)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Postcard to Rowan

    Dear Rowan, wondered whether it had occurred to you that if you give an interview in one country, these days, it will probably be picked up in another country. Take this interview that you’ve given to the Telegraph this weekend. Did you have any regrets? Oh yes, not going to the USA to deal with…

  • Deaconings and Priestings

    I’m sadly unable to be in St Mary’s this weekend for one of the most significant moments in the year – five people are being ordained at a special service on Saturday afternoon. These are moments that people remember for the whole of their lives. My exuberant good wishes to all those being ordained. Some…

  • Installation/Institution

    For the next three months, I’m on sabbatical from St Mary’s, enjoying the freedom that Bishop Gregor and the congregation have given me to think and reflect and grow. The last formal thing that I did as Provost of St Mary’s before sabbatical time started was to go to the start of a new ministry…

  • Online reading

    Here’s some on-line reading. The Doctrine Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church published an essay earlier this year on Marriage and Human Intimacy. This is available now online for the first time along with the other previous essays which they have written. There was a mini-brouhaha on twitter when one or two people actually read…