Becoming a Dementia Friendly Diocese In her Lent Appeal, Bishop Anne asked us to think about how we can become more Dementia Friendly. Individuals and congregations around our Diocese have considered: making a donation to a local Dementia Charity, or through the Diocese to Alzheimer Scotland how we might make our churches more welcoming to those suffering from Dementia becoming involved in Dementia support in our localities offering the resources of our buildings or people for events related to Dementia support. We share a snapshot of some of the wonderful work that has been happening around the Diocese – keep up the good work! St Colman’s Church, Burravoe St Machar’s Church, Bucksburn On Good Friday, our Lay Rep held a coffee day at her Some of the congregation volunteered to attend the Living home in aid of the Lent appeal and it raised money Well Café, held in Newhills Parish Church on alternate toward our Lent Appeal. A cheque for this money, Tuesday afternoons, as their mission in the local community and for some further donations has been sent to during Lent and hopefully in the longer term. Alzheimer's Dementia Charity Scotland, Shetland A full report of these visits is available on Page 5. branch in Lerwick. St Congan’s Church, Turriff All Saints’ Church, Woodhead of Fyvie The Bishop’s Lent Collection 2019 in the Church raised The Vestry of All Saints' Woodhead of Fyvie have money towards the Diocesan Lent Appeal. made a donation to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal In addition we raised money from a Lent Soup and Sandwich St Magnus’ Church, Lerwick Lunch held at the home of two of our members. This will be sent to a local branch of Alzheimer Scotland in recognition We have sent a cheque to Alzheimer Shetland (part of the support given to our church members. of Alzheimer Scotland) with the money we have raised for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal. St Ternan’s Church, Banchory St John’s Church, Aberdeen We have raised money which has been donated to Banchory’s Forget-Me-Not Club. We have split the money we have raised between the Living Well Café and the Diocese’s Alzheimer Bishop Anne writes: Scotland Appeal. A concern for Police Scotland is crime related to dementia. St Olaf’s Church, Kirkwall The crimes that occur are usually very out of character for the person living with dementia. Common examples are We have raised money for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal, traffic offences and surprising acts of violence or which has already been donated to Dementia inappropriate behaviour. This will be one of the subjects Friendly Orkney. discussed with the senior officers of Police Scotland at a Dementia Friendly Orkney is managed by Age dinner with the College of Bishops that I will be attending in Scotland, who have a branch based in Orkney. June. St Devenick Thirty Years Ago – The first Diocesan Conference Family of God – a place to belong and grow This is the first article in what we hope will become a series looking at some of the less well known saints connected to At the beginning of September 1988, our Diocese. We begin with St Devenick – our church in God’s Word and World, the first Bieldside is the only church in the UK to be dedicated to Provincial Conference, was held in St Devenick. Glasgow. Not wanting to lose the encouragement of that occasion, As with many early saints, the life of St Devenick is the following year our Diocese of somewhat shrouded in mystery. Historians have little to Aberdeen and Orkney held its first say about him and even that little is not consistent when Diocesan Conference in May 1989 at it comes to dates. the University of Aberdeen. It was an In the foreword to The Book of St Devenick published in opportunity to meet and worship 1911, Bishop Rowland says that Devenick was a with adults and children from almost contemporary of Columba and also Machar, with whom all our congregations, including the he became great friends. This would place him at the end islands. of the sixth century. Bishop Patrick Rodger led the main According to the 1961 edition of sessions on the theme Family of God The Book of St Devenick, Devenick – a place to belong and grow. There were other sessions: was one of the last missionaries to The church in the next century led by Bob Gillies; be sent out from St Ninian’s Worship in the church led by Andrew Knock; Personal monastery in Whithorn, and that spiritual growth led by Philip Noble; and Living in the he ministered as far north as congregation as community led by Robert Shimwell. The Caithness. It is also said that he worship was led by Andrew Knock and members of ministered for many years in the St John’s, Alloa. North East of Scotland though whether that was before or after It is interesting to note that two of those present later Caithness is not clear. He founded became our bishop. Bruce Cameron was present, in his churches at Methlick and Banchory then role of Convener of the Provincial Mission Board; Devenick where, at his own and, of course, Bob Gillies. request, he was buried. He is said to have died in 887, which Everyone attending received a bookmark, designed by Sister Columba. I still have mine (pictured). does not fit with being a contemporary of Columba and June MacCormack Machar. However, some sources suggest that the handwritten date The Lord’s Prayer has been misread, the first 8 actually being a 5, making his death Eternal Spirit, 587, which would fit. A duplicated Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker, piece of paper about St Devenick Source of all that is and that shall be, given to me in, I think, the 1980s, does give the date of Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: his death as 587. The 1911 Book of St Devenick suggests that Devenick may The Hallowing of your Name have risen to ‘the dignity of the Archdiaconate if not the echo through the universe! Episcopal office’. More than one source mentions that The way of your Justice St Devenick had an altar in the cathedral church of be followed by all the peoples of the world! St Machar. Your Heavenly Will be done by all created beings. Your Commonwealth of Peace and Freedom Many lists of saints completely ignore him, but he has sustain our hope and come on earth! long been honoured in the Scottish calendar on 13 November. In Methlick there is a St Devenick’s well to With the bread we need for today, feed us. which pilgrimages were made and miracles reported In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. from its waters. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too sharp to endure, spare us. Whatever the date of his death, and regardless of the From the grip of all that is evil, free us. heights to which he may have risen in the church, For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, Devenick preached the good news of Jesus with the now and for ever. enthusiasm that marked the ministry of Celtic Amen. missionaries. Jim Cotter June MacCormack Bishop Anne writes: we can be encouraged. God is indeed truly present with us. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was very good at looking and watching. He especially paid attention to small A prayer from the Scottish Confirmation Liturgy: things and noticed how important they were. He watched tiny seeds grow into trees, he watched a The light of Christ is within you. woman work a small amount of yeast into bread so that Shine as a light in the world. it would rise, he knew that a tiny lamp could light the way. As the seed grows secretly in the earth, As the yeast rises in the dough, May the power of God be at work in us. Like a city on a hill, Like a lamp in the darkness, May we witness to the glory of the kingdom. Amen Recommended reading from Bishop Anne: Everyday God: The spirit of the ordinary Written by: Paula Gooder Jesus could see that these small things could tell us something about the Kingdom of God, which starts Publisher: Canterbury Press small and grows to fill the world. Small things can be signs of how God works. He also knew that small things were important in themselves, essential for life. For this reason nothing that is small should be despised, because God seems to often choose small things. A Note from the Editor: St Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that God’s choices Welcome to the Summer are often surprising: Edition. We have listened to feedback received from the ‘But God chose the foolish things of the diocese and have enlarged the world to shame the wise; God chose the size of both the font and the weak things of the world to shame the pictures in response to strong. God chose the lowly things of this comments that these have world and the despised things—and the been too small in recent things that are not—to nullify the things editions. We are always glad that are, so that no one may boast before to receive feedback on how him.’ we improve Northern Light. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 Sadly, there is a shortage of articles from our Much in life can seem small and ordinary, but it is in congregations for this edition.