Northern Light NEWS FROM THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN AND ORKNEY April 2018 Scottish Charity Number: SC022180 Issue EASTER EDITION Making all things new – a message from Bishop Anne: In the Book of Revelation, the risen and enthroned Lord Jesus says; ‘See, I am making all things new.’ (Rev 21: 5) He is speaking about taking things (and people) that are dead and giving them new life. This stands in such a contrast to our current times, where we consume so much, and create more refuse than any generation before us. We are used to throwing things away when they are broken. In fact, many things are so expensive to mend that it really is cheaper just to buy a replacement. But we cannot buy replacements for people. Those who have been lost to us because of death are here promised a new, renewed life following the resurrection of Jesus, who is himself the beginning of a new creation. More than this, all those who feel old and worn, battered and broken, worn out and weary, can have new life breathed in to them. This is true of our church communities, as we look to the risen Christ for new life, and of our Diocese, as we seek the renewing work of God for the next chapter of our common life. And it is true for those who we meet that long for a new beginning but cannot believe that this is possible for them. Together we offer the hope of a new start, which is very good news indeed. A very Happy Easter to you all. Watch Bishop Anne’s Consecration at: https://aoepiscopal.scot/videos/consecration-bishop-anne-dyer/. A link to the order of service is available on that page and DVD copies are available from the Diocesan IT Officer. This image, and the photograph of +Anne: Derek Ironside / Newsline Media THE PRIMUS’ SERMON AT BISHOP ANNE’S CONSECRATION The Most Rev’d Mark Strange One of the great pleasures of being Bishop of Moray, So, farmer Anne that is your task, right seed in right Ross and Caithness is that I get to live at Arpafeelie. ground, lots of love and care, great harvest. Bishop’s House is a former Rectory sitting in the And what gifts you have already been given: not only can curtilage of St John’s Church, one of the oldest churches you read the labels you know what they mean, you can in the diocese. From the house I can look out over the teach theology, the many former students here today rolling fields of the Black Isle and onwards to the slopes are testimony of that. You also know that labels are only and summit of Ben Wyvis, to the south I can see out over valuable as a tool of discernment and placement. the hills towards the Cairngorms, and in front of me is farm land and forestry. What about the preparation? You know, and I have discovered, as this service was organised, that you plan Now for an Aberdeen loon who lived his early life in the and develop, that you can cut through the nonsense and city, and in particular here around the cathedral, I had get to the substance. I also remember your arrival with little real concept of the whole rural bit, but now I have Charlotte Methuen at the College of Bishops to talk learnt to lean on the wall and chat to the farmers, I go about training, you cut to the chase and terrified us all visiting the numerous shows and estates around the when we realised how little we actually knew. You then diocese, and I begin to understand the complexities of made us all feel loved and cared for, a wonderful gift. the farmers’ life. Nurture, you know about nurturing those green shoots, This appreciation also allows me to read many parts of encouraging and sustaining until the shoots can stand on the bible with fresh eyes, I now know that some sheep their own, that you have shown through congregational are led and not driven, some weeds are easier to leave in development and diocesan planning. with the crop, and the skills required to discern which bag of seed goes with which piece of land is remarkable Until we reach the harvest, as you talk and show through and complicated. your life the love revealed to you in Scripture and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and a true harvest So, when Jesus talks of scattering the seed in today’s where all are gathered in, not just those who believe Gospel and asking us to watch the shoots grow, then I they are righteous but those who struggle, those who now know that a lot of preparation must already have are down hearted, those whose lives are lived in difficult taken place. ways and in difficult places. You have a heart for justice Heavy clay, light loam, sandy topsoil, you see I’ve got all and a heart for peace. the lingo. When I hand you this crosier of Aberdeen and Orkney So, I am now very aware in my role as bishop that just as you will already have received the gifts of your much skill is required in selecting the seeds that will ordination, gifts given to allow you to lead the people of make up the harvest of our mission fields. this diocese into the fields, to gather in the harvest. One type of ministry might not work as well as another. So, what about all of you – those who will work with Ministry for the city, ministry for the country, ministry Anne, those excited about the thought, those a bit with youth, and what about all those different styles of cautious about the thought, and those struggling with church which aren’t or shouldn’t be in competition with the thought of the whole thing – you the people of this each other. They are just hopefully the right one for the diocese? right place. What is your role? Your role is to work with your bishop And those church labels are just as amazing and – of course, to listen to your bishop – I hope so, to debate fascinating as the farmers’ seed labels. with your bishop generously, but there is more. Anne Skyfall, Crusoe, Zulu, Dickens, High, Low, Charismatic, will need you to care for her as she cares for you. Anne Catholic, Evangelical, the wonderfully understated will need to be able to rely upon you as you rely upon her middle of the road, always makes me think of flannels and you will need to learn to love her as you want her to love you. and cheese cloth, but that must be my age. These labels are great as long as they are used to bring in the harvest There will be disagreements, challenges and at times and not to compete for the same field. arguments but if we are truly a family of faith which The farmer needs the farm to work together if the acknowledges and cherishes a great diversity and which harvest is to be a good one: right seed in right ground, also has a powerful desire to proclaim Christ’s Kingship, right love and care, great result; wrong seed in wrong then we do those things with love. How often 70 times ground with no love and care, disaster. 7, or until the harvest is gathered and the fields of Aberdeen and Orkney are filled with the praise of God. Wearing a Cross A Note from the Editor A Picturing Prayer Post by Bishop Anne Welcome to the one hundredth edition of Northern Light. To all who A bishop wears a have contributed, a big thank you, it pectoral cross. This is has been a busy few weeks! mine. The copy date for the Summer This cross is a thousand Edition is Friday 18 May 2018. It would be very special if years old. It is a pilgrim’s every congregation were to send a photo and/or an cross of Byzantine account of Easter or a Spring activity. Please send them origin, made out of to [email protected]. brass, with two decorated sides. On one On a personal note: Avril, thank you for your care, side there is this image enthusiasm and skill in assembling Northern Light. of Christ crucified. On the other side there is an image of Christ with his Farewell Avril! hands raised in prayer (orans). The cross can be Our Bishop’s Secretary, opened, and between Avril Scott is due to retire the two sides there is a on Thursday 31 May after cavity that at one time might have contained a relic or eight years in the Diocesan something else considered holy. When it was made Office. Avril has been an this cross would have been cheap, like a souvenir you important member of the might purchase from a cathedral shop. Long ago Diocesan staff team, someone somewhere bought this because they sending us lots of emails, wanted to follow Jesus Christ. answering our many questions and excellently I chose this cross because it was something I already supporting us all since May 2010. Nothing has ever had. It reminds me that I am one of millions of been too much trouble and it’s with sadness that we ordinary people trying to be faithful to Jesus Christ in will see her depart for the next chapter of her life. my life. It also reminds me that the Christian faith is passed down from one generation to the next.