MAY 2020 | £2.80 IN THIS ISSUE FEEDING THE HUNGRY Reflection on foodbanks and impact of Covid-19 ‘GOD HAS NOT FINISHED WITH SCOTLAND’ The Moderator-Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair ASSEMBLY CANCELLATION Church’s business meeting cancelled for first time in over 300 years WAR’S END The role of churches in peacebuilding across Europe on the 75th anniversary of VE Day and much more all for £2.80 Fulfilled Living at Strathclyde House Apartments Come and find your new home on the banks of the Firth of Clyde where our apartments offer a great opportunity for those aged 50+ to live independently, surrounded by a warm and friendly Christian community. To find out more call 01475 522 525 or visit www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/strathclyde EDITORIAL Fulfilled Living at Strathclyde House Apartments From The Editor Come and find your new home on the banks of the Firth of Clyde where our apartments offer a great AS I write, the world is in the grip of its opportunity for those aged 50+ to live biggest public health crisis in over a century. The Coronavirus Covid-19 has travelled Faith has been rediscovered independently, surrounded by a warm and across an increasingly mobile world and caused fear and panic. and is perhaps the only friendly Christian community. It is the only subject on the news agenda constant when change is today – and for the foreseeable future. There is no normality and the landscape on the agenda every day. changes daily. This public health crisis is bigger than anything in our lifetimes. website at www.lifeandwork.org to make Workers (except for frontline staff and sure no one misses out on their copy of the Follow the Editor on Twitter those involved in the food and medical magazine of our Church. @LifeWorkEditor supply chain and care and delivery staff) When the virus has subsided, the landscape have been told to stay at home. Schools of our world will be forever changed. have been closed. The elderly and But in the midst of it all, faith has been vulnerable have been asked to self-isolate rediscovered and is perhaps the only at home for 12 weeks. Households are constant when change is on the agenda being asked to stay away from others. every day. The National Health Service is in the throes In seeking to keep the message of hope of its biggest ever epidemic. The world’s alive, ministers and the central Church have economy is in crisis. Interest rates have found creative ways to engage not only been slashed, stock markets have crashed. with congregations but with the wider Livelihoods – and our daily way of life and global world through online streaming of community is under threat. Everything we services and podcasts and are discovering know has changed. new technologies which enable The Church (and this magazine) are not communities of faith to come together. immune to the crisis around us. Churches They have also been finding ways to work have closed, services have halted – along with the poorest in our communities with vital work undertaken at local level, despite the restrictions – and the which represents significant social capital commitment to helping the poorest is within our communities. Income will be reflected in our cover feature focussing dramatically reduced in the months ahead. on foodbanks. Thanks to technology and advance In the meantime the seeds of a new business continuity and emergency Church of the future are being sown amid planning we have been able to create the a search for sanctuary at a time of crisis content of this magazine from our homes and isolation, fulfilled in the promise of the and the work of our external partners has words of Hebrews 13:5: “For he has said, enabled us to deliver the magazine both in “I will never leave you or forsake you.” ¤ print and digitally, wherever possible. A pdf Lynne McNeil To find out more call 01475 522 525 or visit of this issue will also be available on our Editor www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/strathclyde Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lifeandwork 3 Jennifer Law CA Scott-Moncrieff Exchange Place 3, Semple Street Jennifer Law CA Edinburgh EH3 8BL Scott-Moncrieff Exchange Place 3, Semple Street [email protected] Edinburgh EH3 8BL [email protected] Borderline provides a vital lifeline for many homeless Scots in London. Can you support them by giving a monthly gift? Join the Saltire Donor Club and you could help to break the cycle of homelessness for a fellow Scot in need. £30 a month could provide a recently accommodated client with a home kitchen starter pack. Visit www.borderline-uk.org/how-to-donate/ to find out more 0845 456 2190 www.borderline-uk.org [email protected] 22 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AJ SUPPORTING HOMELESS SCOTS IN LONDON Registered charity No: 1128648. Registered in Scotland No: SC044530. Registered Company No: 6844151 PRAYER Lord, in a world turned upside down, We pray also for all who are caring for where daily life is far from normal, and supporting those with the virus. we come to you, Medical staff, health workers, carers. the One from whom our help comes. The emergency services. The One who is the same, Families and friends. yesterday, today and for ever. Give them strength, compassion and love in these difficult days. We come to you, giving thanks that Lord, you knew abandonment and isolation. you have promised to always be with us. In the Garden of Gethsemane In your presence we find the security you were abandoned by your disciples. for which our hearts cry out at this time. They slept while you prayed. In your anguish they could not keep watch with you. In this time of personal and national crisis On the cross you felt abandoned by your Father. help us to believe this is true. Help us to trust in you. We pray for all who feel abandoned or isolated Give us a faith that will be an anchor, because of the emergency we are going through. firm and secure, in the storms we are Help us, in these difficult days, to be good neighbours. going through. To reach out in love to our neighbours Lord, we pray for all directly affected by in our communities and beyond. the Coronavirus Covid-19. For those who have been infected; Lord you said, those who have been hospitalised; ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, those who have lost loved ones. if you have love for one another.’ We give thanks for all who by their acts of love and selfless service are standing by their neighbours especially in these challenging days. Amen. Photo: iStock Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lifeandwork 5 CONTENTS Staff Editor: Lynne McNeil Deputy Editor: Thomas Baldwin 03 From the Editor 30 The Big Picture Feature Writer: Jackie Macadam Reader photographs Business Manager: Dianne Sanderson 05 Prayer Administrator: Melissa Grimley 32 Reflections of the Moderator- How to contact us 08 Subscription Offer Designate 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN Tel 0131 225 5722 Fax 0131 240 2207 10 Letters E-mail [email protected] 34 War’s End The role of churches in Web: www.lifeandwork.org 12 The Big Question peacebuilding across Europe on the During the Coronavirus Covid-19 epidemic, please 75th anniversary of VE Day contact us by email at [email protected] 14 Ron Ferguson Become a fan of Life and Work on Facebook 16 The Very Rev Albert Bogle 37 John Hume www.facebook.com/lifeandwork Follow us on Twitter 18 Feeding the Hungry 40 Youth column www.twitter.com/cofslifeandwork Stewart Lowe describes the daily reality at an Edinburgh food bank Life and Work enquiries to 42 SRT at 50 Tel: 0131 225 5722 – ext 2240 Subscription 21 Pandemic Food Crisis 43 News UK 12-month subscription by post: £33.60 Jackie Macadam reports on the -49 Overseas (including ROI) 12-month impact of Covid-19 on efforts to Round up from the local, national subscription by post: £35.60 feed the hungry and homeless and global Church Digital subscription available at £20.99 for 12 months 50 Bible Study You can subscribe online by visiting www. 24 ‘God’s Not Finished With Scotland’ lifeandwork.org or calling 0131 225 5722 Lynne McNeil meets the Moderator- Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair 52 Reviews Advertisement Office Contact Publicity, Suite 4B, Platinum House amid the cancellation of this year’s 55 Crosswords 23 Eagle Street, Glasgow G4 9XA General Assembly Tel 0141 204 2042 Fax 0141 204 2043 E-mail [email protected] 29 Assemb ly Cancellation 55 Registers Design and layout by Thomas Baldwin highlights the www.weareseventhree.com background to the 2020 General 58 Meditation Assembly amid the Covid-19 pandemic The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers Printed by Warners Midlands plc, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. A free online copy of the Gaelic supplement to Life and Work can be downloaded by visiting www.lifeandwork.org • Gheibhear leth-bhreac des Na Duilleagan Gàidhlig an-asgaidh air loidhne gach mìos le bhith a’ dol gu www.lifeandwork.org It is our policy to publish factual clarifications or corrections as soon as possible. Life and Work complies with the Editors’ Code of Practice (www.ipso.co.uk). Write to us at Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN, or email [email protected]. If a resolution cannot be reached, contact IPSO at inquiries @ipso.co.uk or by post at IPSO, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC49 7LG.