Columcille

The Bishop of Argyll

and The Isles’ Newsletter. No 23

December 2007

The Pines, Ardconnel Road, Oban,

Argyll PA34 5DR.

alexandermartin.shaw@virgin.net

Home: 01631 566912 Office: 01631 570870 Mobile: 07801 549615

Dear Friends,

The Archbishop of Canterbury, +Rowan remarked in a sermon: “Advent is about the essential ambiguity of our religiousness. We live, as human beings, with an enormous hunger to be spoken to, to be touched, to be judged and loved and absolved.” (‘Open to Judgement’ DLT 1996). A highly acclaimed book by the Bishop of Portsmouth, a prominent liturgist in The Anglican Communion, with a strong Episcopalian pedigree – “Watching and Waiting: a guide to the celebration of Advent” has just been published. For Laity and Clergy in our Diocese this will be an important resource book. (Canterbury Press £12.99 – ordered through “The Church Times” bookshop £11.70). My sense is that the Christian Church is becoming more and more aware of the great traditional themes of Advent and its Liturgy: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. These great themes provide a universal basis for deepening the understanding of Christ’s birth – the Incarnation. Once again, I draw your attention to a Liturgical resource book for Advent and Christmas through to Candlemass called “Promise of His Glory”. This can be obtained online.

Elspeth and I wish you every blessing throughout Advent and in particular as you experience the birth of Christ within you.

I would be grateful if you would let me know particular dates when you would like me to visit your charge in 2008.

Prisoners’ Week (18^th-25^th Nov)

I appreciate it is late but you may wish to include in your prayers all those who are affected by crime and imprisonment: prisoners and their families, victims of crime and those who work within the criminal justice system. By checking the website you will find some resources – www.PrisonersWeekScotland.co.uk

Carol Services

A proposal to prune and purge the content of carol services has been made by Maxwell Betts in “The Church Times” (16^th Nov 2007). Although tradition plays a vital part during the Christmas season, it is wise to think creatively about the local context so that the service can be both enjoyable and challenging without being over ambitious. It seems to me that The Episcopal Church can offer a treasury of Liturgy at this time of the year on an Ecumenical basis even in remote areas of our Diocese. This of course will already be going on. If not I ask you to consider the possibility.

I can send you Maxwell Betts article or you can check out his production notes on “The Church Times” website – www.churchtimes.co.uk

Please ensure that you advertise well your Advent and Christmas Services in local shops, hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses. On Sunday 2^nd December at 3pm on Cumbrae the Cathedral of The Isles has its Advent Carol Service. On Sunday 30^th December at 3pm it will have its festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas. For these services at St John’s Cathedral in Oban you can find the information in The Cathedral itself and in “The Oban Times”.

Diocesan Retreat 2008 (27^th -31^st Oct)

Next years Diocesan Retreat will take place as usual on Cumbrae. The retreat conductor will be The Reverend Canon Brian Hardy. The cost of the retreat will be £160 and £50 a day for those who can only come for part of the time. Contact tccumbrae@argyll.anglican.org or telephone 01475 530353.

Scottish Churches Housing Action

This organisation has brought together the main denominations in Scotland in their work to combat homelessness. The work encourages church involvement to tackle homelessness locally. What has surprised me is that there are levels of homelessness in remote parts of Scotland which can go unnoticed. Homelessness Sunday (27^th Jan 2008). If you would like to receive information from SCHA email info@churches-housing.org or telephone 0131 4774500.

Lent Courses

At our Diocesan Synod in March 2008, one of our features on the pre-Synod Day will be on Small Congregations. Dr Anne Tomlinson has produced an outstandingly helpful workbook which she will be introducing. If you would like as a charge to use this book during Lent or indeed at any other time then do let me know and I will order you a copy – “Welcoming Small Congregations”.

“The Lord’s Prayer: Praying it, Meaning it, Living it” is the title of the Lent course produced by “York Courses”. Bishop David Hope, Canon Margaret Sentamu and Elaine Storkey are among the contributors. For more information www.yorkcourses.co.uk

Email lordsprayer@yorkcourses.co.uk telephone 01904 466516.

Worship and Learning Resources for the whole Church

“Roots” is a magazine and website providing resources to create an environment of worship and learning for all ages. For more information – www.rootsontheweb.com Telephone 01733 325002.

Expectations for Vestry members

After a recent AGM of a charge in this Diocese, I was aware of the amount of work needed to study the new charities regulations. If you need some help and support do not hesitate to get in touch with the Diocesan secretary and treasurer.

Gift Aid

As you know by now the Diocese has begun a process of Stewardship Renewal. I notice that a number of Churches are a little reluctant to use Gift Aid as a way of recouping tax and increasing therefore giving. If you feel daunted by this please do not hesitate to get in touch with me for further advice and support.

Church Action on Poverty

Poverty and Homeless Action Week (26^th Jan – 3^rd Feb 2008) is a major opportunity to discover and engage with poverty and social justice issues within your community. Poverty Action Sunday (3^rd Feb 2008).For guidance and information: info@church-poverty.org.uk

Listening Day

My sense is that most if not all the participants at The Listening Day on the 10^th of November in Oban were positive in their response to the information and to the depth of sharing. A report will be made of the day which I will make available to you as soon as possible. I was particularly pleased by the numbers of people who attended from right across the Diocese. Many thanks to The Cathedral in Oban for their hospitality.

St Columba’s, Portree

On the 25^th of November at 11am, I will be inducting Canon Robert Breaden as Priest with Charge of St Columba’s. Robert is currently the Rector of Broughty Ferry and has been Dean of the Diocese of Brechin for many years. On behalf of the Diocese, we offer him and his family best wishes for his future ministry on Skye.

Assisi 2008 – May 25^th – June 1^st

Once again Elspeth and I are leading a pilgrimage to the magnificent city of Assisi in Umbria, Italy. Our next pilgrimage will be following in the footsteps of Saint Francis but with new insights and locations!

If you are interested in participating please get in touch with me.

Welcome to The Scottish Episcopal Church.

A new leaflet about The SEC has been designed to give a brief overview of The Church and our beliefs. I would encourage all charges to order these leaflets from The General Synod Office in Edinburgh

Lambeth Conference 2008 16^th July – 4^th August

From the 11^th to the 15^th of July 2008 the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles will be hosting four bishops and their wives.

For your diary there will be a Festal Evensong on Friday 11^th July at The Cathedral of The Isles. On Monday 14^th of July the Dean Norman MacCallum will give a presentation on the history of the Diocese and The Scottish Episcopal Church. There will be other events during that brief time. Please watch this space.

You may have gathered from the media that +Rowan the Archbishop of Canterbury is working hard to keep the Episcopal Church in the US and the African Churches positive towards attending the conference. To this end I hope each charge will be using The Anglican Cycle of Prayer on a daily basis, which includes every Diocese in the Anglican Communion. The Cycle mentions one Diocese each day.

So that you can be informed about The Lambeth Conference and involve it in your intercessions please visit the website www.lambethconference.org

If you would like copies of The Lambeth Conference bookmark please get in touch with this office.

Rural Stress Helpline

RSH is an Arthur Rank Centre project offering a confidential listening service to those suffering stress or distress in rural areas. Information about this resource can be obtained from their website which you might promote in the district where you live. www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk 01247 685 3060

Prayer for Christian Unity 2008

“But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters be at peace among yourselves.” (One Thess 5.12-18). Churches Together in Britain have produced order forms for pamphlet and preparation materials for The Week of Prayer (18^th-25^th January), If you have not got information contact www.ctbi.org.uk

THE BISHOP’S DECEMBER DIARY

Sun 2^nd – St John’s Cathedral Oban and Kilbrandon

Tues 4^th and Wed 5^th - College of Bishops and Episcopal Synod Edinburgh

Wed 5^th 2.30pm - Chapter meeting

Thurs 6^th - 8pm Rehearsal St John’s Cathedral

Fri 7^th 10am - Glenalmond Council

Sat 8^th and Sun 9^th - St Andrew’s St Andrews Preach and Sing Vaughan Williams “Fantasia for Christmas Carols”

Mon 10^th until Wed 12^th – Isle of Lewis

Thurs 13^th 11.30 - Provincial Standing Committee Edinburgh

Sun 16^th 10am - St Paul’s Kinlochleven

Sat 22^nd - “Santa Claus” Mothers Union St John’s Cathedral Oban

Mon 24^th 11.15pm - Midnight Eucharist St John’s Cathedral Oban

Tues 25^th 9.30am - St Brides’s Onich, 11am - Holy Cross Portnacrois

Thurs 27^th - “Thought for The Day” BBC Radio Scotland 7.20am

The January Newsletter – material to be received by 17^th December.

Reflection.

Without a name.

In spite of centuries of confident talk about him, a halo of mystery still surrounds the birth of Jesus. A great theologian of the early 20th century said of him: 'He comes to us as one unknown, without a name.' For Albert Schweitzer, whose words these are, what he finally encountered in Jesus meant the end of theology and the beginning of practical action. He tells us that after years of laborious research into his meaning and identity, he decided to become a doctor so that he might be able to work without having to talk. It has to be admitted that this is an uncommon response to the Jesus enigma, certainly within the church, which is why EM Forster sighed over 'poor, little talkative Christianity'.

The one who comes to us without a name continues to provoke torrents of language, much of it aimed at rival interpretations of his identity…..But to ignore Jesus because of the verbal promiscuity of his followers is a failure to encounter one of the most challenging characters in world literature.

(Richard Holloway. The Observer December 24^th 2006)

In the love of God, +Martin, Oban