• Congratulations to Isaac Poobalan and St John’s, Aberdeen

  21/03/2013

  Great blessings upon the Rev Isaac Poobalan and St John’s Church in Aberdeen for the story that has gone global from the Scottish Episcopal Church this week.

  Noticing that the neighbouring mosque did not have enough room and that people were praying outside in the cold, Isaac invited them into the church and made space for them to pray. It is a great good news story and one that made me proud to be an Episcopalian.

  A couple of years ago I was approached by some members of the committee of the local mosque here. Their building was being redone and was out of use for six weeks and they were looking for somewhere to worship for that time. We had quite a good conversation about whether or not they could worship in a church with so many images in it. However, they assured me that was not a problem with them and we discovered a shared story in that of Jibreel and Myriam (which is painted on the wall and known as Gabriel and Mary in St Mary’s). In the end, the mosque committee found somewhere else to use where they could all meet together – St Mary’s was difficult for them because the pews couldn’t be moved.

  However, I willingly offered them space and would have been glad to welcome that community into church.

  I was also pleased to invite a Muslim friend to read from the Qu’ran at our Carol service two years ago.

  It was good to see St John’s Episcopal Church, Aberdeen offer the welcome to the Muslim community that they have done.

  I see from newspaper reports that Isaac is now getting vile abuse written about this story via facebook.

  Sometimes there doesn’t seem much to be proud of in the church. This story made me feel proud to be a Scottish Episcopalian. Isaac and that congregation deserve all our support and encouragement and love.

  Peace and blessings be upon them.

  And upon their new Muslim friends too.

  Further Comment from Scottish Episcopal Bloggers:

  From Kirstin Freeman – http://revk.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/generosity-in-action/

  From John Penman – http://www.dougalthink.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/examples-of-grace.html

  On Beauty from Chaos – http://beautyfromchaos.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/breaking-barriers/

  From Rosemary Hannah – http://rosemaryhannah.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/isaac-poobalan-real-christianity-and-real-islam/

  Isaac Poobalan, Islam, mosque, Scottish Episcopal Church

Previous Posts

• Anglican Communion

  01/06/2005

  This entertaining statement comes from a press release from the Anglican Communion: “This Sunday, May 29, in many parts of the Communion, is Anglican Communion Sunday, a day to raise awareness of and celebrate the Anglican Communion.” Presumably other parts are not celebrating. Source: http://anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/75/acns3981.cfm

• CMQ

  01/06/2005

  The new Church Music Quarterly was waiting for me yesterday. I can’t work out whether it is just me having a cynical moment or whether it really is as dull as I think it is. Is the Royal School of Church Music an historical society?

• Wildlife watch

  31/05/2005

  In the last 12 hours, have seen: 1 Sparrowhawk carrying prey 2 Young male red deer 3 Millions of midges

• Best Show in Town

  27/05/2005

  To St Michael and All Saints, Tollcross last night for their Corpus Christi service. Quite a large proportion of the congregation appeared to be clergy who had done placements there returning and bringing friendly presbyterians or folk from their current congregations with them. Fantastic music which was written by the Director of Music there. The…