Synod has begun this morning with a lovely Eucharist organized by the Liturgy Committee.
It is good to be celebrating Corpus Christi – we have not always done so when it falls on the first day of Synod. Good too to hear the Primus sing. I always like a singing bishop.
Bishop of Moray is not here as he is at an event with the Princess Royal in Inverness.
The Primus is currently welcoming Ecumenical Guests.
So sorry to hear of Ruth’s death. She was a character you only meet once in a lifetime. RIP. 🙏
Thanks for this lovely tribute to Ruth. Ruth also served at St Mark’s Portobello (until 2010 – in between the Falkirk and Linlithgow stints I think) and is fondly remembered there by her little flock.
My apologies for missing that out in the first draft. I’ll add it in.
Thanks Kelvin.
Ruth had, also, a huge ability to sus out the gifts of others and to use them in a way that brought them fulfilment. It never put her off that others (often) regarded that person as a bit too marginal to use. Ruth made me feel useful- a gift both precious and rare. She also had the rare gift of good, solid fury. Gore Vidal had a set of essays ‘on our own now’ , his reaction to Eleanor Roosevelt’s death. Ruth is gone. We are on our own now.
Thank you, Kelvin, for this lovely tribute to Mother Ruth. She came to visit me in Philadelphia and was an instant hit among my friends. As you’ve said, she combined the kindness and compassion of a pastor with a glorious, bubbling sense of humour. Heaven will suit her!
Kelvin you have captured the Ruth I knew and loved, so thank you. I am missing being able to chat with her but I’ll keep chatting to her in my prayers. Tomorrow will be a celebration of the life a special lady. May she rest in peace and she will rise in glory.
Kelvin thank you so much for writing. Ruth was a very special person and even in her increasingly poor health continued to support and encourage me in coping with my own illness. May she rest in peace and rise in purple.
She was an amazing person, priest and friend. She rescued me at my first Clergy Conference which had not been a good experience for me up
to the point when she said “sit here Bob” A person I admired, respected and was always a wee bit scared of as she would always put me right when I needed it.
God Bless you Ruth 😍
Thanks Kelvin, this is Ruth, and more. One of those people once met never forgotten. A loyal and loving friend who I am going to miss very much.
💜 The world has felt somewhat less colourful and bright this week. May she rest in peace and rise in purple, indeed. 💜
The apples are nearly ready to start falling and the students are drifting back to the university. Autumn is here. The summer is over and we are not yet saved. (As the prophet says). There is a chill in the air some days too. Autumn crocuses will soon give way to frost.
How depressing – the Park of Keir hotel complex has been given the go ahead by the local authority. Ribbon development between here and Dunblane. A lovely wooded valley squandered for large sums of money.I've campaigned against this. At the moment it looks as though we have lost. There may be some kind of appeal…
Had a meeting of chaplains this afternoon here, at the University of Stirling. Napier, Edinburgh and Dundee Anglican chaplains were there, along with a student representative from St Andrews. The universities are so different. In one place, Anglican students sit around drinking port and talking about the Holy Trinity, whereas in others little of that…
No sermon today. We used a script from an Iona Community book this morning for the ministry of the word. I asked four members of the congregation to take and read parts. I had little voice this morning. I don't know about praising the Lord with song, I certainly praised the Lord with splutters.
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