Columcille

The Bishop of Argyll

and The Isles’ Newsletter. No 25

February 2008

The Pines, Ardconnel Road, Oban,

Argyll PA34 5DR.

alexandermartin.shaw@virgin.net

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

Dear Friends,

I appreciate some of you are not directly involved in our Diocesan Synod. However I would be grateful if you would read the information about our forthcoming Synod because those representatives who will be attending, will do so on your behalf. It is easy to forget that in order to address our Mission, which is to be the presence of Christ wherever we are and in whatever we are doing, that demands organisation, planning and involvement by everybody.

DIOCESAN STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL – the agenda for our Synod is extensive. In order to make good use of the time I would like to receive from your charge as soon as possible a brief report on the progress of Stewardship Renewal. I will then report on that to the Synod. Please have the report to me by the 15^th of February.

Diocesan Synod – March 5^th 2008

A) Letters of Invitation – In the next week I will be sending out letters of invitation to the Synod, the pre-Synod Day (see below) and the post-Synod Day for the Clergy.

B) Accommodation – At the last Synod not many people took up the hospitality of those offering accommodation in and around Oban free of charge. If you wish to take this up for the next Synod please get in touch with Sue Pollard at The Diocesan Office, Tel. 01631 570870, email office@argyll.anglican.org Those who wish to book a Bed and Breakfast we have decided to limit the expenses for this to £35 per night.

C) Pre-Synod Day – 4^th March. 10am for 10.30am. The focus of the day will be on “The Developing Life of Small Congregations”. The day will be led by Dr Anne Tomlinson The Local Collaborative Ministry Officer for The Province. As I mentioned in my last letter Anne has prepared a workbook called “Welcoming Small Congregations” which is a practical and helpful guide.

D) Synod Eucharist -4^th March. 5.30pm. For our next Synod we are trying a new experiment in order to extend the time for business on the Synod Day itself. So the Eucharist will be held in St John’s Cathedral, Oban at 5.30pm in advance of the Synod Dinner in The Gathering Hall at 7pm for 7.30pm.

The Synod papers will be sent out from the office shortly.

Diocesan Magazine – The Diocesan magazine will be produced from the office here in Oban collated by Audrey Walton and I will edit it myself. The magazine will be easily downloadable from that website .Printed copies will still be available from the office but there will be a cost for these which we are currently reviewing.

There is a considerable debate about financing this exercise. Many thanks for your comments and the contributions already received. This new version of the magazine for the next issue will be sent out in printed form.

Please let Audrey Walton know how many copies you request for your charge.

Contact Audrey at the Diocesan Office – telephone no. 01631 570870 or email bishop@argyll.anglican.org

Diocesan Lent Appeal 2008–

Bishop Douglas Cameron my predecessor and Christopher hall a previous Diocesan Secretary have direct experience of our companion Diocese of Zanzibar. Therefore with their experience I have decided that our Lent Appeal should be for Zanzibar again. I have received an appeal for financial help towards education and Clergy support. However there are issues to do with HIV and other medical problems. Whether in your congregation or personally I would be grateful if you would make sure as many people know about the Lent Appeal as possible. If you are using a jam jar or tin please contact Sue Pollard at The Diocesan Office for labels. Tel no. 01631 570870 or email office@argyll.anglican.org

LENT lunches –

As has become customary, for the Diocesan Lent Appeal for Zanzibar, Elspeth Shaw is organising Lent lunches at the Diocesan Centre in Oban from 12.30-1.30pm. The dates are:

Ash Wednesday – 6^th February , Friday 15^th February, Friday 22^nd February, Friday 29^th February, Friday 7^th March and Friday 14^th March. (Please note there will be no Lent lunch on Friday 8^th February)

Lent Courses

Please let me know if you are holding a Lent course in your charge, what its theme is and where you are meeting in order that I can pray with you.

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

Lent Study Groups 2008 –Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) in collaboration with BBC Radio 4 are producing material for a course called “Pathways to Prayer”. If you are interested in using the material email ecumenical@acts-scotland.org

If you would like further information on this please do get in touch with me personally.

Fairtrade Fortnight (25^th February – 9^th March 2008) - The Fairtrade mark means that: 1.Framers get an agreed and stable price for their products. 2.Extra income for farmers and estate workers to improve their lives. 3. A greater respect for the environment. 4. A stronger position for small scale farmers in World markets and 5. A closer link between consumers and producers.

We must be aware that there are many more products available for choice that have the fair-trade mark. That includes coffees and teas. I strongly support the vision that our Diocese becomes a Fairtrade Diocese. If you want to participate in this venture and help towards the vision please let me know and I will send you the relevant information.

“Inspires” – the Provincial magazine

You may have heard from our Communications Officer about the 2008 copy deadlines for “Inspires”. However if you are interested in contributing either in the form of articles or letters please contact Audrey Walton who will give you the deadline dates. Tel no. 01631 570870 or email bishop@argyll.anglican.org

Retreat and workshop programme – Cumbrae

Candlemas, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday 2^nd-6^th February – a Historical and Ecumenical exploration of the Church’s Liturgical Life.

There are still places on the retreat conducted by Bishop Adam Smithson from the 25^th-29^th February (A Reflection of The Daily Office and The Canticles in The Prayer Book).

14^th-16^th March – A Break with Mozart (Jonathan Cohen)

16^th-24^th March – Holy Week (Retreat addresses by the Bishop)

8^th-10^th April – At the Keyboard – Jonathan Cohen and Alastair Chisholm explore the repertoire of keyboard duets.

18^th-20^th April – Painting Break (with artist: Michael Healey)

For further details and bookings contact the warden at 01475 530353 or tccumbrae@argyll.anglican.org

World Peace Services of Peace – 8^th-10^th February

If you are interested in resources to include in your Liturgy, Group Prayer or for your own use – www.world-disarm.org.uk

Tel. 0131 447 4004

Mothering Sunday 3 March 2008

From Fiona Rice Diocesan President

Don’t say it with flowers, say it with trees

People in Britain spend over £2.4 billion on flowers and plant gifts for mothering Sunday: a staggering amount.

Working in 78 countries around the world to support mothers and grandmothers caring for young families, Mothers’ Union members see first-hand the inequality of a world in which so many mothers struggle to feed, clothe and educate their families. Against that suddenly, lovely though they are, floral tributes lose some of their glamour.

Determined to do their bit to redress the balance, Mothers’ Union raised over £120,000 when they launched their Make a mother’s day campaign in 2007. Through their catalogue eight gifts are available which allow purchasers to contribute towards vital programmes which benefit a mum caring for her family in tough circumstances – surely a tribute for any mother to treasure.

The 2008 catalogue is now available with gifts ranging in price from £6 - £150.

Items this year include ethical, practical and educational gifts to help families improve their standard of living.

The catalogue has an order form and this year Mothers’ Union can also receive orders via phone, or via their online website ordering service on www.themothersunion.org. On receiving your order Mothers’ Union will send you a card giving details of your chosen gift and an envelope, ready for you to personalise and send. Alternatively you can purchase a gift in memory of a mum as a wonderful homage to a lifetime of caring, for which this year Make a mother’s day has a dedicated in memory card.

In addition, this year Make a mother's day pack is resourcing churches, schools, groups and Sunday schools by providing a Mothering Sunday church resource pack.

To order copies of the catalogue contact your local Mothers’ Union representative, or the main office of Mothers’ Union on telephone 020 7222 5533, email marketing@themothersunion.org or via their website on HYPERLINK "http://www.themothersunion.org/"www.themothersunion.org. Orders must reach Mothers’ Union by 18th February to ensure delivery before 2nd March.

Care of your church buildings –

The Church Buildings Maintenance in Scotland Website is designed to provide learning modules, toolkit modules and resource modules that will enable you to increase your knowledge of how to maintain your church. It is already supported by the four main responsible bodies in Scotland, including the SEC, and its learning, toolkit and resource modules are of a high standard – www.maintainyourchurch.org.uk

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.

JUST A FEW PLACES LEFT! 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.

The new Diocesan Registrar – Jonathan Bell.

As many of you will know

David Preston has been our Diocesan registrar for many years. He has given considered and experienced advice to the Diocesan Officers. For business and personal reasons he has had to put down this responsibility. On behalf of the Diocese I thank him for all that he has given. However we have an excellent new Registrar Mr Jonathan Bell who is a partner of MacPhees the solicitors in Fort William. I am very grateful for his acceptance of the role.

Migrant Workers –

Scottish Churches’ Rural Group are asking for information from each denomination in Scotland about Migrant Workers. There are many issues of course concerning migrants. However the main ones are employment, integration and housing. If you have any insights into or about this issue locally please write to me by email or letter.

RSCM Scotland (Royal School of Church Music) –

I have a list of events in Scotland for 2008 for the RSCM. If you are interested in participating then do get in touch with this office.

THE BISHOP’S FEBRUARY DIARY

Sat 2^nd – St Peter’s Stornoway, Candlemas and dedication of the church hall (11am)

Sun 3^rd – St Peter’s Stornoway

Thurs 7^th – Provincial Home Mission Committee, Edinburgh

Sat 9^th – Mull AGM. 5pm

Sun 10^th – St Columba’s, Gruline

Mon 11^th – Inveraray Belltower Group; LCM Review Kinlochleven

Tues 12^th – Dunoon

Thurs 14^th – Sun 17^th – London, Bishops with The Lord Mayor and family visit

Tues 19^th – Fri 22^nd Clergy & Spouses Reflection Week, Iona

Fri 22^nd – St John’s Cathedral Choir dinner

Sun 24^th – St Columba’s, Gruline

Thurs 28^th – College of Bishop’s, Edinburgh

Fri 29^th – Glenalmond Council

The March Newsletter – material to be received by Monday 25^th February.

Reflection.

Baptism. (Extract from Clare Watkin’s book: “Living Baptism” – DLT.)

By letting Baptism refer us to the time ahead, in a way deeply informed by past traditions, and the living of present faith, we are drawn into the future in a particular way. We are called out from here, into our next minute, day, decade – in a manner that describes that future time both as mystery and as mission.

In the love of God, +Martin, Oban