For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 The Quarterly Newsletter of Christ Church, Warwick, Bermuda Derek and Moira Lawson Derek was born in Dundee, Scotland, on 2nd February 1949, the eldest child (of 3) born to Fettes and Lily Lawson. Moira was privileged (her word) to be born in Edinburgh on 17th September 1951, the elder of 2 daughters born to Norman and Margaret Leighton. Both grew up as regular church attenders – Derek at Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s) and Moira at St. Aidan’s, Stenhouse, in Edinburgh – and were both active in their congregations. While many teenagers in the 60s drifted away from the church, Derek’s con- tact was, if anything, strengthened through his attending the Youth Camps on Iona (a small is- land off the west coast of Scotland, and the centre of the Iona Community) over three summers. Indeed, looking back, that’s probably where the idea of involvement in ministry had its origin, and, even today, Derek remains an Associate Member of the Iona Community. However, as his father was a solicitor and Derek worked in the family firm during summer holi- days (as a kind of glorified office messenger!), his career path was set and so in 1966 he started his law course at Queen’s College, Dundee (part of the University of St Andrews). He completed his LL.B. degree in 1969 and was one of the first graduates of the University of Dundee – Queen’s College having by then gained the status of an independent university. After graduating, Derek moved to Edinburgh to do his law apprenticeship with the firm of Drum- mond & Reid in Moray Place, where Moira worked as a secretary. However, even at this point, the church played an important part in their lives as they found themselves, quite independently, attending the Youth Fellowship at St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh. On 19th June 1971 Derek and Moira were married at St Aidan’s Church, with both their ministers taking part in the service. ...continued on page 4 Christmas 2015 Page 2 Friends, As I write this, I’m trying to put in order my services for Advent and Christmas. It’s one of my idiosyncrasies that I try to include in these services as many of the Ad- vent and Christmas hymns and carols as are in CH4 (and are singable!) as possible. So, if you want to be sure of singing your favourite hymn or carol, you’ll have to come to every service, as I try to include each one only once (another idiosyncrasy!) By the time you’re reading this, we’ll be into Advent and the organised among you will no doubt have completed all your Christmas preparations. For Moira and me, it’s going to be strange, as Christmas for us has always meant at least the chance of frost and snow – though, sadly, the latter has not always appeared for Christmas Day! Nonetheless, we are looking forward to Christmas here on Bermuda: it really doesn’t matter where you are, what we’re celebrating is exactly the same – even if the carol “In the bleak midwinter” may seem a little out of place when your temperature here is likely to be somewhere between 62o to 70oF: the equivalent of a hot summer’s day in Scotland! In December it’s 35o to 43oF on average in Scotland (though it has got as low as -6oF). But no matter where we are, we need to take time to celebrate the incarnation: the coming to earth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I’m not someone who’s too concerned as to the precise mechanics of this – after all, for God, the ordinarily impossible is possible – but it’s undeniably true that Jesus lived in Palestine around 2000 years ago. It’s attested to by sources outwith the Bible and it remains a central part of God’s story – the story we all find ourselves in – two millennia later. Sometimes it’s easy to get fixated on the birth of Jesus – it is, after all, a wonderful story - and to push into the background the importance of his life, death and resurrection. But, for now, it is that birth that we celebrate: the coming of heaven to earth. So let’s not be afraid to celebrate that story, to spread the good news – dare I say, to be evangelists! In some parts of modern society even the word “Christmas” can be seen as politically incorrect, but that’s nonsense for what we are celebrating is, of course, the birth of Christ. So, just as the baby came into the world two millennia ago and was welcomed by shepherds and magi, let us also welcome him, yet again, into our lives and give him of our best in the coming year. For the moment, though, enjoy the celebration – not least as we celebrate in our worship over Advent and Christmas – for we are all part of God’s family and we celebrate the coming among us of our brother, Jesus. I dare say you’re all wondering what’s happening in the vacancy – and how much longer you’ve to put up with me! Well, your Nominating Committee has been very busy and has now got to the stage of selecting a short-list of two applicants, from which, after interview and the chance to see the church and manse (after all, the move has to suit the minister as well as the congregation!), one of them will be chosen as Sole Nominee. Your next question, no doubt, will be, when will he be inducted? At the moment, I don’t know – but I’d guess it would be late February or early April (as March is out because Presbytery meets early in the month and then it’s Holy Week and Easter). Let me conclude this letter by wishing you, from both Moira and myself, a truly wonderful Christmas, whether you’re to be here on the island or away to family and friends. Wherever you are, may the peace and joy of Christmas fill your hearts and your homes. Derek Christmas 2015 Page 3 Church Calendar DECEMBER 4th CCW Bell Choir - 6pm at St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s performing as part of the Bermuda National Trust Walkabout 5th Christmas Tree Decorating in church - 9:30am 6th Worship Services at 8am & 11am “Stir-up Sunday” Salvation Army Gift Giving Service at 11am (Bring a wrapped gift for the Salvation Army to distribute in the community) Informal Communion after the 11am Service Spaghetti Sunday (Donations of pasta & sauces for distribution by the Salvation Army) Bereavement Service - 5pm 13th Worship Services at 8am & 11am - CCY Nativity - “Star Trip” at 11am Christmas Lunch after 11am Service in Thorburn Hall (details later) 20th Worship Services at 8am & 11am Christingle (all-age) Service at 11am (CCY meets in Thorburn Hall) Service of Lessons and Carols - 5pm 24th Family Nativity Service - 6pm Carol Singing - 11:15pm Christmas Candlelight Watch Night Service - 11:30pm 25th Christmas Day Service - 10am - MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 27th Joint Worship Service at 10am - (no CCY) JANUARY Happy New Year 2016 ! 3rd Epiphany - Joint Worship Service at 10am—(no CCY) Informal Communion after the service Spaghetti Sunday 9th Elder’s Retreat 1:00-4pm 10th Worship Services at 8am & 11am (CCY resumes) Soup & Christmas Pudding Lunch - after the 11am service Praise Service - 6pm 18th Kirk Session meeting 7:30pm 28th Congregational Board meeting 7:30pm Sunday Worship Services resume their regular schedules (8am & 11am) See page 9 for details about the Warwick Ministerial Alliance Joint Lenten Service dates/times ChristmasFall 2008 2015 Page Page 4 4 ...continued from front cover Later that year they moved to Dundee, when Derek began a 23 year involvement with the family firm - Lawson, Coull & Duncan – initially as a Qualified Assistant, then a Partner, and finally as the Senior Partner. During that time he also worked as a part-time tutor in the Law Department of Dundee Uni- versity, initially in Conveyancing, and subsequently in Practice & Procedure (litigation), as well as be- ing appointed Secretary of the Faculty of Procurators and Solicitors in Dundee. In 1973 Moira gave birth to Paula, completing the family in 1975 with the birth of Iain. Initially Derek and Moira lived in Dundee, but subsequently moved to St Andrews, then Kingsbarns, and finally to Wormit, where the children spent most of their formative years. In all these places Derek and Moira both got involved with their local church – not least in Wormit, where Moira was a member of the Guild (having become a member in St Mary’s at the tender age of 20 at the insistence of the minister’s wife), taught in the Sunday School and was a Brownie Guide leader, and where Derek was an Elder, Session Clerk, Bible Class leader, Boys Brigade officer, and occasional worship leader. By 1993, Moira was questioning Derek as to whether he was working more for the church or in law, and this led to a visit to the Ministries Council offices in Edinburgh when it was discovered that, if it was to be the former, Derek needed to start training by the following year. After some consideration, Derek intimated to his partners that he’d be resigning from the firm in June 1994 to return to university to study divinity. Part of the Church procedure at that time was that candidates had to go through Se- lection School – something Derek failed to get through at his first attempt: his theology was somewhat removed from that of the assessors! Despite this setback, he started his BD course at St Andrews University in 1994 with no certainty of being accepted as a Church of Scotland candidate.