GadgetVicar

"Letting Your Servant Depart in Peace"

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants." Psalm 116:15

I sat with a dear friend as her life came to an end. I'd tried to visit most days in the last few weeks,  With her children I watched and prayed over her. We saw her diminish. We cried and we laughed together. Then, at last, yesterday afternoon came the peaceful departure. Her daughter said, "People don't die during the day, do they?", and a few moments later her mum was gone. It had been a short illness, but recent weeks had felt like a long haul. We longed for her to go and be with her "brother Jesus". I mentioned this to someone on Sunday night, who thought it odd that I might want someone to die, and I hoped it made sense when I explained the resurrection hope that followers of Christ have.

This much-loved woman lived a long and fruitful life. I spent seventeen years in friendship with her. I got to know when something at church upset her: so much so that I knew before she said, " David, I want to talk to you about something I don't like about church", what her concern would be. She and her husband encouraged me, challenged me and shaped me. She was an outrageous flirt with young men (ahh, there will be many such at her thanksgiving service next week). She had served with Guy Gibson, the commander of the Dambusters. She cared for his dog while he was on missions - when I teased her, she insisted that she had not had that job on the night of the big raid, when the dog was knocked down by a car. She loved her children and grandchildren, served in the church, cared deeply for children, looked after the old people (most of whom were younger than herself), and was determined in everything. She followed Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, knowing that he died on the cross for her sins. She set an example for those who follow in her footsteps. Near the end, when she could not speak, I suggested that "Brother Jesus" must be looking forward to her arrival. Her response was to give me two thumbs up.

For St Silas', this feels like something of an end of an era. We miss you already, dear Eve Clancy. May you rest in peace and rise in glory.

Out With the Old and In With The New

It's been a most interesting end of the old and start to the new.

The rectory was burgled one early evening just before Christmas. The intruder was met by GV Boy, who is stilll struggling with the shock of that confrontation. I know what that's like - a few years ago I returned to the rectory during the day and discovered the front door smashed. As I got into the house and called the police, I heard movement upstairs and went to confront my visitor. He was out on the roof, making his escape by jumping off. If I 'd done the same, I'd have broken my neck, so thought better of it. A few months later the culprits (for there were two) were caught in another house nearby and given short sentences after admitting several dozen other offences. It's painful dealing with such events: the sense of violation and the fear of it happening again can linger for a long time. It does look like we'll need to increase the security arrangements at my home -"Machine Gun Preacher"?

No damage to the rectory or church in "Son of Bawbag", though I had to rescue GV Girl #1 on her way to work on Tuesday, after she was blown into a lamp post. Thankfully her injuries were slight.

The damage around the city however is very great and I saw several streets in the West End blocked off by police cars, as the fear of chimneys and slates falling was so great. Many trees have come down, and the debris is still being cleared up.

Yesterday, I was out getting soaked in the rain as I assisted the Dynorod man who was trying to sort out a damaged drain. I think he appreciated me holding my ladder for him. I wonder if his employers will accept my hourly rate?

Despite all of that disruption and difficulty, there has been much good time with family and friends as well as some wonderful worship (with larger attendances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, possibly because the latter was on a Sunday?), especially on New Year's Day, when we had a simple eucharist, with one musician, some old songs and hymns and a lot of reflection. More people were present than I'd anticipated, and it felt like a good start to the year.

Today the sun is shining on Glasgow - I know it always does during the day, but it seems like it's had to do it through clouds forever!

I preached on the following passage last Sunday. It can easily be taken too personally and out of context, but this year I'm seeking new things in my following of Jesus Christ, not resting on my laurels or taking anything for granted.

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

Carols by Candlelight 2011

My favourite moment in last night's Carols by Candlelight was when a shepherd forgot his lines and his colleague responded with something like, "Seeing those angels has given you amnesia!". All the actors, the visuals, the string quartet/musicians, the choir, welcome team and catering contributed to a superb evening which allowed the packed church to focus on Joseph's role in the nativity.

This annual service is the one I struggle with most. I guess it's because having done it so often (last night was the seventeenth occasion), I'm nervous of having little fresh to say, and every preacher worries about that. I wrestle for weeks with the talk, and last night's was no exception. Many years, I've found myself with three talks as I stood to speak, and it's only once I've gone on that I've known exactly what to say. Last night was a little different, as the focus on Joseph was a take I'd not explored before. How I wished I'd done so before. The focus in the incarnation story seldom falls on him, yet I've been deeply moved as I've considered his life and ministry. His grace towards Mary, his trust in God, and his love for Jesus are all marks of a faithful person. There is much to ponder. You can listen to what I said last night here.

Terri Gets Baptised

What was it Jack used to say about the needy?

Is it just us, or has there been a general upsurge in beggars visiting churches lately, especially from other countries? In the last two weeks, we've had (among others) someone from the Congo and a family from Spain looking for help. They all have stories to tell, and I have to do the usual "wanting to be generous, but having to be careful" routine. The Spanish gentleman was particularly unrelenting in his requests, and very good at upping them once one request had been met. If you don't ask, you don't get and all that, but haggling is very exhausting.

I visited the anti-greed camp in Kelvingrove Park yesterday, and offered the use of our shower at the church. They plan to stay into the New Year, but I can't help but feel that the new site is now so tucked out of the way, they might as well set up in someone's back garden. They'd accept a donation of a pot of soup or two.

Wee reminders close to home, of the economic difficulties already here and signs of what might be to come in terms of need and protest?

A Night With The Rat Pack

We had an amazing event at St Silas' last Saturday night - "An Evening With The Rat Pack". It revealed some of the hidden talent we have in the congregation including among our youngest members. The Cheung family were front and centre. Many thanks to all who made it happen.

It was a lovely evening. We had a bit of a problem with the venue initially, as it was meant to be in the church, but as the boiler is currently being replaced, we have no heating. At the last minute, we moved it into the new hall, and I thought it was just perfect for this kind of event. All's well....

I made the first half (went to see The Pierces at the ABC), and as a result, apparently missed some of the best performances. Here is a flavour of what was on offer:

Making The Most Of A Weekend Off

I've had a weekend off! That's something I've been really bad at doing, but then I "only work one day a week", so what have I got to complain about?

Only it wasn't really a weekend off, because yesterday I had the privilege of preaching at St Andrews University Chapel. I talked briefly about pursuing studies and research (referring to the Ig Nobel Awards) but then preached on Philippians 3:4b-14, focussing on our pursuit of Christ, who has pursued us. The new chaplain, Donald MacEwan, gave me a warm and friendly welcome as well as an excellent lunch. It was a joy to minister again in such a lovely place of worship, whose people continue to have such an orientation towards mission in the University.

I also managed to visit a few other places of historical interest: Castle Campbell (photograph on the right) in  Dollar Glen (it was once called "Castle Gloom", but it's a spectacular setting on any day), Loch Leven Castle (a boat trip and befriending a melanistic mutant pheasant were additional joys), Burleigh Castle (we got the keys on a second visit later in the afternoon which made it much more interesting),  Broughty Castle (a mixture of medieval, 19th, and 20th century architecture with some worthwhile art in the museum galleries), Arbroath Abbey (spectacular and peaceful) and Claypotts Castle (which we couldn't get into but we enjoyed nonetheless). I'm a member of Historic Scotland which makes the cost of visiting all these places such a bargain. I learn new things about our history with every visit.

I even endured the misery of watching England beat Scotland on Saturday, but the joy of the Irish victory before chapel on Sunday.

Added to all that was the joy of spending time with my oldest and dearest friends, whose counsel and hospitality I still benefit from after thirty years. It's a wonder that they've put up with me for so long.......

Returning to Glasgow last night, I enjoyed the lovely Nerina Pallot in concert at Oran Mor on Sunday night. She's got some good songs (she wrote Better Than Today, which Kylie Minogue covered) a great voice and has the most charming between-songs-banter I've ever heard.

A good weekend. I'd best get back to answering the emails that build up after three days away!

An Iranian Pastor Needs Our Help Today.....

Yousef Nadarkani, a Church of Iran pastor faces imminent execution if he does not recant his faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has repeatedly refused to renounce his Christian faith during a court trial and if he continues to refuse, he can be executed any time from Thursday onwards. Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 while attempting to register his church. He was tried and found guilty of apostasy (abandoning Islam) in September 2010. For further details click here.

The pastor is in court in Rasht this week after the Supreme Court asked for a re-examination of his case. The deciding factor was whether or not he had been a practising Muslim adult before he converted to Christianity. The court ruled that he wasn’t a practising Muslim, but still upheld the charge of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry.

Join Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s urgent appeal today to see justice upheld. Email the Iranian embassy, urging them not to go ahead with his potential execution which could happen any time from Thursday onwards.

Please also continue to pray for Pastor Nadarkhani, his family and legal team.

Sioux Jackson

Sioux Jackson died on Tuesday. A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held at St Silas' on Tuesday at 11am.

Sioux was a remarkable little woman. I met her when one of the St Silas' congregation asked me to pray for her: she was in hospital with terminal cancer. I offered to visit, and we found ourselves swiftly becoming friends. I think it was our mutual love of Star Trek that helped us hit it off. That, and our ability to talk straight with one another. She chain-smoked (I asked her not to when I visited her home - I get asthma and didn't want to spend the rest of the day with other folk thinking that the stress of life had turned me to the fags). She had a cheeky wit (but she could take as well as she gave). She loved and made music (but was self-deprecating about her abilities). My goodness, how she could draw! She loved children and supported those in need. She'd had a tough life but was a cheery soul in spite of it all. I'm thankful to have known her. A few minutes before she died I said to her, "I'll see you again, Sioux". I look forward to that day.

Glasgow - West End Sky