Holy Trinity Church Newsletter November 2019 Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church Autumn/Winter 2019 View from the hill … "November is a month of re- Uganda, murdered in 1977 by Franciscan priest, Maximilian membrance, inspired by the the troops of Idi Amin for his Kolbe, who as a prisoner in Church’s remembrance of all opposition to the unchecked Auschwitz voluntarily took the Holy Trinity Church, Dunoon its unnamed saints and all the violence of the security forces, place of a fellow prisoner who faithful departed at the begin- and Archbishop Oscar Romero, had been condemned to die. ning of the month, All Souls Archbishop of San Salvador, Recent Incumbents "No one has greater love than Night with the Commemoration who stood out against the op- this, to lay down one’s life for David Railton of the Faithful Departed, and pression of the poor and the one’s friends" - words of Jesus Andrew Swift then Remembrance Sunday, abuse of human rights by a Kimberly Bohan when we remember with re- repressive government. He that are often read on Remem- Hugh Lee spect and gratitude all who was shot at the altar in 1980 brance Sunday. The statues Alexander Guinness above the abbey door illustrate Colin Wheatley died in those great conflicts while saying Mass. There are them powerfully. In November, Allan McLean and those which followed, and also the human rights leader, old comrades will think again Martin Shaw indeed those who lose their Martin Luther King, assassi- of the sacrifice of those who Philip Isaac lives in the present day in con- nated in Memphis in 1968, the Iain MacKenzie flicts across the world. Chinese pastor Wang Zhiming, died alongside them in war, executed in front of a mass but we can all ponder the vi- But if you have ever been to sion of the future that inspired rally of over 10,000 people Westminster Abbey maybe you them and countless others during the Cultural Revolution, have noticed the statues which who have striven, often against the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, were erected above the west enormous odds and at great a member of the Russian royal door in 1998 - ten figures of family, who renounced her personal cost, to make our Christian martyrs of the 20th status to take religious vows world a fairer, better place. century, drawn from every True remembrance should and care for orphans, but who continent and different de- motivate all of us to renewed was murdered by the revolu- nominations. They remind us efforts to preserve all that is tionaries, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, of the cost of being true to good in our society and change one of the leaders of the Ger- Inside this issue: one’s beliefs, and of the con- man Christians who refused to what is bad, and increase our tinuing persecution of those make an accommodation with prayers and activity for the Vestry News 2 who dare to stand up for what coming of God’s Kingdom." the Nazi regime, and Esther is right, and they challenge us John (Qamar Zia), an Indian to expand our remembrance to Advent Study 2 Christian whose Muslim family include all who have made course had to flee to Pakistan at parti- great sacrifices for the benefit tion, and who was brutally Harvest Supper 3 of others. Each one represents murdered in 1960 because many other victims of tyranny, her faith was seen as a threat fanaticism, dictatorship, preju- to the established order of her dice and brutality. They include Harvest Festival 3 community, and the Polish Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Special Service for 3 Another Revd David Railton..... All Souls At the west end of the Nave of Unknown Soldier of the Black November 1920. Westminster Abbey is the grave of Watch'. He wrote to the Dean of "Padre" Railton made his home in Other Activities 3 the Unknown Warrior. The grave, Westminster in 1920 proposing retirement at Ard Rhu, Onich, which contains soil from France, is that an unidentified British soldier Inverness-shire, and was returning covered by a slab of black Belgian from the battlefields in France be there on 30 June 1955 from Our Regular 3 marble from a quarry near Namur. buried with due ceremony in Battle, Sussex, where he had been Services The idea of a Tomb of the Westminster Abbey "amongst the helping the Rural Dean, when he Unknown Warrior was first kings" to represent the many accidentally fell from a moving Planned Special 4 conceived in 1916 by the hundreds of thousands of Empire train at Fort William railway station Services Reverend David Railton, who, while dead. The idea was strongly and died from his injuries. He is serving as an Army chaplain on the supported by the Dean and the buried in St. Bride's Episcopal Western Front, had seen a grave then Prime Minister David Lloyd Church Graveyard, North marked by a rough cross, which George, and the 'Unknown Warrior' Ballachulish. bore the pencil-written legend 'An was interred on the 11th Holy Trinity Church Page 2 Vestry News The last meeting was 24th Study Group he proposed external funding. The cost October 2019. for Thursdays during of the whole project is Advent. Everyone thought likely to be £250,000 to We began our Vestry the Harvest Supper was £300,000 but this will be Meeting with Bible Study as excellent, thanks being done in stages. is our norm now. We all find that helps us focus as expressed to all who The project to put a sink worked so hard to make it we discuss what God wants and units at the back of happen. The proceeds of us to do in this place. church with the water the Harvest service were connected also requires a Under matters arising we welcomed by the Canon 35 Application with Altar Frontal were delighted that the Foodbank. the usual congregation new organ had been We talked about consultation. This will be installed and sounded so forthcoming services, done shortly. good. We are still considering the possibility particularly the visit by The Vestry also discussed a Bishop Kevin on 17th of new vestments in more permanent solution November. Our Rector memory of Canon Hugh to the water coming in the reported that he was going Lee and Maurice Smith. Rectory roof and the to Stornoway for the addition of more effective As we have just entered the Institution of their new heating in the Rectory new financial year, the Rector at the beginning of Pet Service lounge. Vestry was given a brief November. We had a noisy service overview of last year. The There was discussion on at Holy Trinity on next Vestry meeting will be We had our usual the forthcoming Annual discussions on fabric. The Sunday 20 October spent considering the Meeting. There are two when people brought next step in the Land accounts in full prior to the vacancies for members. their pets for blessing. Project is to seek formal Annual Meeting on 1st Our Rector, David, approval from Bishop Kevin The next meeting is 21st reminded us how much December. and the Diocese before November to discuss the of a blessing the pets Under Mission the Rector Annual Accounts. were to us and we producing a Canon 35 talked about the Advent thanked God for them. Application and seeking M McKellar Altogether there were 12 pets, 11 dogs and a rabbit, not to mention a couple of photos where the animals did not travel well! It was Advent Study course 2019 - God with us a joyous occasion. The course is based on the other and to deepen our the song we sing, and the Sunday lectionary readings, understanding. Here is a melody of our lives. which this year are from prayer from the course: the Gospel of Matthew. The In this Advent of sessions are titled 'As it expectation draw us was in the days of Noah', together in unity, that our 'John the Baptizer', 'Are you praise and worship might the One' and 'Joseph's echo in these walls and Story'. Each session looks also through our lives. at an aspect of the Advent In this Advent of season, with bible readings In this Advent of expectation draw us expectation draw us and questions to prompt together in service, that the discussion. This is a good together in mission, that path we follow might lead opportunity to come the hope within might be us from a stable to a together to learn from each glimpse of eternity. Autumn/Winter 2019 Page 3 Harvest Supper On Friday 18 October, over 60 church mem- Louisa Grant, Ann Narraway, Jennifer Wood- bers, friends and visitors were entertained at ward, Duncan McGillivray and Colin Sibley our annual Harvest Supper celebration. included Music, Song, Poetry, and mono- logues. Laughter was very evident during Food was provided by members of the congre- much the evening. gation. The event finished with the customary singing Rector, David, opened the proceedings with of “Auld Lang Syne”. grace and Colin Sibley acted as Master of Ceremonies. Many thanks to everyone who contributed food, helped set up and clear away and to the Entertainment from Michael Smith-Tennent, entertainers. Harvest Festival Sunday 20 October was our Harvest Festival and thanks were given for the labours of those service. The church was beautifully decorated who work so that we have food to eat. by members of our flower arrangers team. Appropriate readings and hymns were used Special Service for All Souls On Sunday 3 November at 4pm, our Rector, David, led us in a special service for All Souls.