Northern Light, August 2016
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Northern Light News from the Scottish Episcopal Church - Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney September 2016 Scottish Charity No. SC022180 Issue 94 Autumn Edition BOB’S AWAY On 24th June 2016 we gathered at St Colman’s Church in Burravoe on the Island of Yell with Bishop Bob, to officially and formally give thanks for his ministry with us and alongside us. St Colman’s happens to be the most northerly Scottish Episcopal Church, and of course the most northerly church in the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. We welcomed to the service, entitled “Bob’s Away”, Methodist and Church of Scotland ministers and brother and sisters and we made presentations to Bishop Bob in a reception following the service in the community hall. It was a joyous celebration of Bob’s ministry with us, as well as a celebration of our own shared discipleship and ministry on Yell. As the picture shows, Bishop Bob called us to worship by ringing the ship’s bell which hangs at the church door. He heralded the beginning of what is probably the first of the celebrations marking Bishop Bob’s retirement later this year. Perhaps it was symbolic that this began in the most northerly point of the Diocese? What was also poignant was that the 24th June is also to anniversary of Bishop Bob’s ordination as Deacon. This was not known as the service began and Bishop Bob highlighted this personal note during the service at St Colman’s. Two days later we also had a service at St Magnus’ Church in Lerwick at which we made presentations to Bishop Bob and Liz, and he responded by telling us that that day also happened to be the anniversary of his priesting! Sad though it is often is to say farewell to people “moving on” we were privileged to be able to hold these services in June heralding what we expect to be a chorus of thanksgiving for Bob’s ministry as Bishop of this Diocese. To Bishop Bob, our thanks, our prayers, and may God Bless. Rev Neil Brice To celebrate the Episcopate of The Right Rev’d Dr Robert Gillies Choral Evensong Sunday 30th October 2016 – 5pm at The Cathedral Church of St Andrew, King Street, Aberdeen AN EPISCOPATE CONSIDERED Bob (Written for Inspires Magazine Summer 2016 Edition) The Rt Rev Dr Robert (Bob) Gillies was consecrated in Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in 2007 and will retire at the end of October 2016, when he will have completed Brief.... almost 10 years in Office. Here he reflects on these years: MONEY FOR … Your buildings … or … ? Endings and Beginnings There’s little doubt that congregations are very The other side of the coin from making a new start is successful at raising money to maintain the very that something else has to end. The emotions attached to beautiful buildings that we have in the Diocese. And each are that of excitement for the one and sadness what’s more many people in the communities around around the other. our churches can be motivated to help in the task. Significant discernment is needed for a Bishop to decide But, and it is a huge but, whilst we have been that God no longer needs that Bishop to remain in office bequeathed these buildings to care for there is absolutely as a Diocesan Bishop. The decision I came to that this nothing in scripture to say that we should put them before was so for me came neither quickly nor with deep our concern for ministry (serving others) and mission anguish. It was a gradual realisation. (making God’s love known and bringing people to Christ). It is necessary, I believe, that all of us in public ministry need to have a weather eye open at all times for that Both these are absolutely there in scripture and must have moment when the time arrives to be able to say ‘I must our support if we are to be faithful as Christian disciples move on to create space for another’. today in the same way that Peter and Paul were at the start of the Christian Church. Sometimes balancing So, for several months, I have been testing that calling to these priorities isn’t easy but if the focus for our energy move on and each time I have come to the same is the maintaining of property to the denial of ministry conclusion, that from the start of May the clock could and mission, when it is seen to be taking place, then we start ticking for my retiral to take place at the end of must ask ourselves serious questions. ‘Put not your trust October 2016. in earthen vessels’ are words that ring true it says somewhere in the Bible. ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of Good Things … God’ also comes towards us in volumes. Churches have been renovated at Kemnay, Auchindoir and Bieldside. Halls have been built at Inverurie and The ‘earthen vessel’ might be several things. It could be a Whiterashes. Mission has begun from scratch where church building. It might well be a bank balance which previously things had gone moribund at Insch and we reserve for that other ‘earthen vessel’ that might be Woodhead. New insights into liturgy have flourished at variously called the ‘fabric fund’ or whatever. The Oldmeldrum and new life all round has begun at Kingdom of God, by contrast, is a hospital visit, time Aboyne and Ballater. spent with newcomers to the area in their home, an Alpha course or Christian discipleship course. These The fabulous new church at Westhill is a crowning glory don’t come cheap. Necessary investment in them is and testament to the faith and integrity of the crucial in the church of today in them is to be around in congregation there. Likewise the new mission, Fresh just a few years time. Expressions plant at Bridge of Don, Cafe, is a witness of sacrificial dedication by those who are leading it. I And it must be the living church of today, through its remain in awe of what is happening there. generous giving, that resources this. Relying on a bank balance inherited from yesterday will only result in no At a personal level an evening with the vestry at funds tomorrow. Generous giving now by each of us Westhill in 2011 was one of the most productive ninety will resource ministry and mission now for the church of minutes I have ever spent. And I remain staggered that tomorrow. the sermon I gave at Peterhead for its 200th Anniversary is still being reflected on eighteen months down the line! That’s the way for the church to grow. Both Peter and Paul discovered and said this two thousand years ago. Difficult Bits… They were right. There have been some though, let it be said, very few. In specific terms these cannot be named but in one case My blessings to you, †Bob rank evil was resisted and thwarted. Otherwise my greatest anxieties surround those situations (very, very Links across the Diocese few in fact) where either no development or vision is Bonds with the social institutions in Aberdeen, being put in place and thus no prospect for the future. Aberdeenshire and the northern islands are strong; be that with universities, the prison, hospitals, Westminster I can only recall one disagreeable vestry meeting I and Holyrood politicians, and so many more. attended. There have been a number of difficult ones but each of these creatively worked themselves towards A weekend as a personal guest of the Royal Family at positive outcomes. A sure indication of professional and Balmoral and preaching at Crathie was special in every positive contributions from all those present. way. Rewarding Bits… What has developed? I’ve loved the Diocesan Synods, the Clergy and Lay Seeing dedicated lay people, lay readers and clergy Reader Conferences (quite deliberately in recent times getting on with the task of ministry in those many and I’ve mixed clergy and lay readers together for each various settings where God has called them to be has conference), mission and growth planning and been very special. implementation as well as receiving a wonderfully I have witnessed some of the finest examples of pastoral warm welcome wherever I’ve gone. practice one could ever wish to see in the congregations and communities served by the diocese. The Diocese has generously allowed me time for overseas representation and I dare to think that the My frustration is that I wish we could have done more. Scottish Episcopal Church in general and the Diocese of But my consolation is that more and more people in the Aberdeen and Orkney in particular is now mentioned diocese are actually now ‘getting’ what mission means and thought of somewhat agreeably in those areas of the and are doing it. Sadly the way our statistical return is world where I have been invited to preach, or lead constructed does not easily enable this to be properly retreats or conferences. It is fair to mention these: New recorded, but it is happening. With a new Bishop in post York, Connecticut and The Episcopal Church in South who is even more mission-minded and church-growth Carolina in the USA. In Africa I led pre-ordination orientated than I am, the future looks set for God’s conferences and preached at ordinations in North kingdom to be ever more firmly rooted in Scotland’s Karamoja, Uganda, as well as conference leading in north east and northern islands than it already is. Mbale, Tanzania.