CRUCIS Magazine of St. Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church Dundee April 2011 “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 Waiting by another stone long ago was a small guard detachment of soldiers. There was no mystery about what they were do- ing. Their duty was clear: keep the young dead Rabbi’s followers from stealing His Body that was lying dead behind the stone covering his sepulchre. And where were those followers? Hidden away. They were waiting for nothing. Their plans and dreams were at an end. There would be no crowns, no Kingdom, after all. It was time to go back to their old lives. The One they had called “The Lord” was dead. There was no mystery about that. It was a fact. And then something strange and wonderful In the Beginning… happened. Something completely unex- pected. When the covering was removed, Our church is so covered in scaffolding now there was something mysterious, something that we can hardly see its stone exterior new to see and consider: an empty tomb. walls. We have little idea of the work going on there and what the final result will be. And they did not have long to wait before We won’t know what it will all look like they saw their Lord again – not as He was, until the work is finished in the early au- but now triumphant and glorious, having tumn. It’s all something of a mystery now. overcome Death itself. In Him they saw The scaffolding is a kind of cocoon. We what, through Him, they themselves might have to wait to see what new look our walls become: humanity made new. will have when they emerge from their pre- sent covering. Transformed human life through Christ is available to all of us, and that is the point of Waiting at another scaffold long ago were Good Friday and the heart of our Easter joy. Our Lady and some women, St. John, a few soldiers, and a number of idlers who had With ever blessing for Holy Week and come to watch and heckle. There was no Easter, mystery about the final result to them: they had come to watch men suffer and die. Fr. Clive background music we play. One Sunday afternoon a young man whom we had not seen for some months came through the door. He had come to say good- bye. He and his girlfriend were moving south to be near their respective families. When we had first met them they were struggling with accommodation, benefits and losing a baby to a miscarriage. Over the months they would come to us and then Sunday Afternoons at St Salvador’s we didn’t see them for a long time. The young man was beaming when he told us By ten past one the urns are boiling, the tea that he had been working and thus able to is made, the mugs are on the table, the food save up for what they needed for their new is prepared and the volunteers are ready. flat. Even better their baby boy was due in We pause, praying together for our outreach the next few weeks. As he left, with our ministry and for all who will come to us and good wishes and delight, he said thank you then the doors open. Sometimes a rush of for the help we had given them and told us people come through the doors some going how much they appreciated what we do straight for food bags and some heading for Sunday by Sunday. the hot drinks. We offer tea, coffee and hot chocolate and the teapot and urn are kept Another Sunday a man we had been seeing very busy, along with the milk jug and over many weeks came in with good news sugar bowl. Food is handed round once folk and a broad smile. He had got a job after have found a seat or a place to stand and months of trying. conversations flow back and forth. Many know each other and are happy to sit and We have had a number of Eastern Europe- chat together. Sometimes things start slowly ans come to us and they were particularly and there is a chance to chat as hot drinks pleased that one week we had been given a are prepared. Names are exchanged and we donation of ethnic foodstuffs to share with try to remember them week by week but we them. are not always successful in that. Over the months we have had people come Some of those who come live in the local and go. Some have been rehoused in differ- hostels. Some have housing but it may be ent parts of the city or finally have their inadequate. Some are struggling to manage benefits sorted and they no longer need on the income they have and some are try- what we provide. Some move on from Dun- ing to get the benefits to which they are en- dee and some just disappear. We have links titled paid properly. Some are young, some with the soup kitchens in town and with are older. Some are single, some in couples other groups that provide services for those and some with families. Some share their in need so we are part of a larger network of concerns with us, some do not. We offer support. what advice we can, a listening ear or prayer if asked. Some of our volunteers are from St Salva- dor’s but many others are not. We generally Many tell us what a beautiful building we have between 6 and 8 on duty each week have for worship and are interested in see- and we are very grateful for the time they ing around the church. They comment on give us. Part of our ministry is to provide an the smell of incense and many enjoy the opportunity for fellowship and the interac- 2 tion between volunteers and our “beloved waifs” is an important part of this. We are told that having a place to come and meet with others is as important to some as the food we provide. Sometimes behaviours can be challenging and not all our interaction is comfortable but we do what we can. By 2.15pm most folk are away but one or two remain to chat and finish last cups of coffee while the clean up crew get to work. The floor is swept, the rubbish put out, the dishes packed up for the rectory dishwasher and the church left ready for worship. Our philosophy has always been “we will share what we have” and what we have de- pends on the generosity of those who sup- Pam Callaghan port our work. Some of our contributors come from outwith the congregation and we Just before noon on Monday, 28th are grateful for all the donations and help March, Pam Callaghan died at her home we receive. on Lammerton Terrace, attended by her daughter Sarah and Tony. If you would like to be involved in this min- istry at St Salvador’s there are a number of Pam had been very ill for some time, both ways of doing so. in hospital and at home, but managed to cope throughout with her characteristic We would appreciate prayer for our work patience, good humour and continuing and for those we serve. We need money: cash can be given to Fr Clive or Katie (and interest in her family, friends, church and will be receipted), or a cheque which should the world around her. be made out to St Salvador’s and be clearly marked for the food cupboard. Each bag Pam received her last communion and costs about £2 and we average 35 bags a anointing in the week before she died. week given out. Donations of items for the food cupboard are also needed, especially Saying that Pam was a Former Warden, UHT milk, cereal, tea and biscuits Vestry Member and Flower Arranger (supermarket own brand or basics brands does not begin to describe her role at St. are ideal). We make up bags from the cup- Salvador’s. She was a good friend, a gen- board if we need more than 35 on a Sunday erous supporter, a convivial hostess, a or we get an emergency referral from an wise counsellor and a generally positive outside agency. influence on us all. Pam herself would If you would like to come along and help us admit that she had a saucy sense of fun. you would be most welcome or if you We shall miss her. Please pray for her and would like more information please contact for her family. Fr Clive. Rest eternal grant unto her, O Lord, and Katie Clapson let light perpetual shine upon her. Amen. 3 EASTER FLOWERS We love to have our beautiful church fully decorated with flowers for Easter. If you would like to contribute toward this year’s flowers, please give your donation to the Rector or to Susan Smith. Thank you! WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2011 Our local World Day of Prayer service for 2011was held at St Peter and St Paul’s Ro- HOLY WEEK AND EASTER man Catholic Church on Byron Street. SERVICE SCHEDULE About 30 people attended a service put to- gether by the women of Chile on the theme of sharing our gifts with one another. Palm Sunday: Sun.