Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney Scottish Episcopal Church Newsletter – Wednesday 17 June

2020 From the Bishop

It is expected that the First Minister will announce tomorrow that Scotland is moving into Phase 2 of the easing of coronavirus restrictions. As a consequence from this weekend churches will be able to open for individual prayer, should they wish to do this. The Scottish Episcopal Church issued the guidelines for Phase 2 last week, and we know that across the Province very few of our churches will open. It is clear to us all that the preparations that are needed to open are considerable, and that for each church that opens there will need to be a team of volunteers ready to welcome anyone wanting to come inside to pray. In most places Vestries have responded that they would prefer to wait to consider opening in Phase 3, when collective worship might be allowed. Vestries would prefer to use the next few weeks making preparations for the time when services will be able to take place again. The comment has come to me again and again, that if opening is for individual prayer, then members prefer right now to continue to pray at home. Prayer is of course, taking place in other places, as readers of this newsletter will know. You are indeed praying in your homes, but also while out walking, using the natural world as a prompt and starting point for praise to God. You are praying in your gardens. Some of you are praying outside churches as you walk past them, especially in those places where there is a crucifix (St Margaret’s, Gallowgate) or a statue (St Mary-on-the-Rock). There is a great comfort in praying inside a church building, especially one that has been a house of prayer for years. But in our present circumstances we can all learn in new and deeper ways than we appreciated before, that God meets us where we are. So, wherever you pray, be encouraged that in the quiet and trust of individual prayer, God is with you.

Provincial Worship – Thursday 18 June 6.30pm Service of the Word Provincial Worship – Sunday 21 June – Pentecost 3 11am: The Rt Revd Dr John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, will lead a celebration of the Eucharist from Edinburgh. Find the links on the Scottish Episcopal Church website and Facebook page. 7pm Sunday, light a candle, place it in your window, and pray for all affected by the coronavirus crisis. Pam’s Bears

(from Pam MacLennan-Brown, St Andrew’s, Banff)

Pam is making these little bears from a free pattern of Front Line Hero bears from a site called YarnitDarnit. The original is made in the pale turquoise colour of medical scrubs but I have adapted it to suit any uniform/dress code that people request. I have so far made turquoise medical scrubs; maroon medical scrubs; an ICU nurse in blue with a face shield; an ambulance/paramedic; a cleaner; a driver; a shop assistant; a lab. Assistant; a home schooler, and a therapist. I can make them in most uniforms/colours so long as people tell me what colour tops/trousers etc. they want their teddy to have. I sell them for £5 each (£3 for front line workers) and all proceeds are going to either a local care home or an NHS charity – both if I make enough money. I have raised £85 so far and have orders for another 12. I am happy to take orders on my email address [email protected] and will contact you when they are ready.

I am currently shielding so sometimes have to wait for my volunteer shopper to get me some more wool or to post them to people who cannot collect them for themselves – but I am really having fun making them and it keeps my fingers out of the biscuit tin!!! While waiting to be collected I line them up in my window and it is fun to see the smile on people’s faces as they stop to have a look. Sometimes they take a photo or copy my Rainbow poster and then phone me up with an order.

Love and prayers, Pam From Trudy Ratter, St Magnus, Lerwick Peace Brakes Peace is the heart of our soul. Peace is in every twist and turn of our being. Light and dark, the light is the happiness flowing Through our blood, where the dark is our very thought In the darkest reaches of our mind. Peace will come from the smallest thing, a chink of Dappled sun light or something that someone has said. Peace can be seen in the light of a child’s eye gazing up to Its parents’ or of a mare just given birth to a new foal. Peace is a state of mind that brings joy to all that takes it in.

I am sending out a newsletter every week on a Wednesday. This newsletter comes as. PDF, and an on-line copy can be read on the Diocesan website. The editions for previous weeks can be found there – look in the News section on the front page.

I would love to hear from you – tell us what are doing with your time, what is helping you to pray and stay close to God, what is helping you to remain hopeful and faithful.

A number of you are writing poems and prose – these writings would be very welcome.

Tell us about new hobbies or crafts, if you are learning or discovering something new.

As we begin to consider re-opening churches again – tell us what you think and feel about this.

Have you learnt or experienced something in lockdown, about church or God, that you hope will remain as restrictions are relaxed?

Please send your news to me at : [email protected]