Please pray for those who will be ordained very soon:

Revd Annie Hughes, Ordination to the Priesthood at St John, Perth on Friday 2 October at 7.30pm.

Dr Josh Cockayne, Ordination to the Diaconate at St Andrew’s, St Andrews on Sunday 4 October at 4.30pm.

Phase 3 requirements will apply at both of the services, and so attendance will be limited. However, both St John’s and St Andrew’s will be live-streaming the services online, and I invite you warmly to join us. The weblinks for each service will be:

St John’s         http://www.episcopal-perth.org.uk/

St Andrew’s  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUqqOuYBkjs&feature=youtu.be

Most people probably believe they know what racism is about, recalling atrocities such as the Holocaust in WWII, the Civil Rights movement in the US, or Apartheid in South Africa. Are things really so bad, particularly here in Scotland? And does racism exist within the Scottish Episcopal Church and others? In a recent seminar on the 4^th of September, Revd Dr Anderson Jeremiah, formerly in the Diocese of Edinburgh and currently lecturer in Politics, Philosophy, and Religion at the University of Lancaster, outlined for participants just what racism is about – how do we define what it is really about, and how long has racism been a phenomenon amongst humankind? Many may assume it has been around forever, but the assumption of human or intellectual superiority based on certain biological characteristics such as skin colour, is a more recent phenomenon – often used as justification for atrocities committed during colonialism. But essentially, what does Christianity have to say about racism, what can we do about it, how can we understand racism in our context, and how can we help?

Some excellent resources were put together by Michael Patterson prior to the seminar, for this and any further queries, please contact the diocesan office.

The Revd Bonnie Evans-Hills

The Revd Joan Lyon finishes her term as Transitional Priest for St John’s, Alloa, on 1st October. In her year there Joan has provided pastoral leadership to the congregation, and also helped them with insight and imagination as they asked questions about the future of St John’s, and the opportunities and challenges of mission and ministry in Alloa. A thanksgiving service will take place at St John’s on Sunday 4th October at 11.00am (numbers are limited by Phase 3 requirements). At this service Bishop Ian will appoint Revd Chris Lowdon (Rector of St James, Dollar) as Interim Pastor for St John’s.

Some new appointments have taken place in the Diocese, with effect from 1st October:

Stanley – The Revd Canon Dr Carrie Applegath has been appointed as Priest-in-Charge of St Columba, Stanley. This is a development of the transitional ministry which Carrie has begun in the community at Stanley.

All Souls Group – The Revd Carol Latimer has been appointed as Assistant Priest in the All Souls Group, with pastoral charge of St Serf, Burntisland.  This follows Carol’s curacy in the All Souls Group.

Retired Clergy – The Revd Canon Richard Grosse has been appointed as Bishop’s Chaplain for Retired Clergy in the Diocese. Richard will provide pastoral contact for retired clergy, lay readers, and clergy spouses, and will offer pastoral support when requested.

A Reflection Group for clergy has been meeting every Wednesday morning at 10.30am, and these will continue once a month, and will still be reflective in nature, often on an agreed theme. Lay Readers also have regular online gatherings, organised by Lis Burke.

In addition, a Drop-in for clergy has started every Wednesday morning at 8.30am, lasting for 30 minutes. The Drop-in offers a space for clergy to meet and chat informally, for sharing and support.  Some people have said what these sessions mean to them:

‘It’s like meeting colleagues on the stairs or at the kettle where you can just chat, have a joke, or share something that’s bothering you – it’s simply our space and time.’  Elaine

It has been a sacrosanct, sacred and practical commitment to collegiality with clergy. I believe we have a support and consultation space among friends now.  Kathy Barrable 

I’m admittedly a late arrival, but this is a chance to touch base in an informal setting, drink coffee, and see that we’re all still out there!  A non-pressurised environment in which to share many things, or to just ‘be’.    Jo

If any clergy would like to take part any Wednesday, they would be very welcome.  The zoom invitation is sent out each week and all are welcome to join whenever they can.

Very regrettably, the Bishop has had to make the decision to cancel the conference at Dunkeld in January 2021. The uncertainty about whether face-to-face meetings will be possible is a factor, but the main reason is that the Dunkeld House Hotel has decided to refurbish some of its conference rooms, which would therefore not be available to us.

Planning will begin soon for an online conference on Tuesday 19 January, following the pattern of SEI which now holds its ‘residential’ training weekends online. With long breaks between sessions, and keeping sessions short, it is possible to avoid the ‘zoom exhaustion’ many of us now feel.

A fully residential conference will take place either later in 2021 or in January 2022.

“Our Digital Church,” Part 1 Friday 9 October, Part 2 Friday 6 November, both 10.00am to 12.00. This is a two-part course with Petko Marinev, Digital Missioner of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, who will give a step by step guide to improving our skills with website, social media and other digital media for keeping our congregations in touch.

To book and receive a Zoom invitations for this course, email the Diocesan Office – office@standrews.anglican.org.

Please pray for those who are preparing for ordained ministry as we approach the dates of the Ordinations in the Diocese:

Revd Annie Hughes, preparing for Ordination to the Priesthood at St John, Perth on Friday 2 October at 7.30pm.

Dr Josh Cockayne, preparing for Ordination to the Diaconate at St Andrew’s, St Andrews on Sunday 4 October at 4.30pm.

Phase 3 requirements will apply at both of the services, and so attendance will be limited. However, both St John’s and St Andrew’s intend to live-stream the services online. Further details of this will be sent out before the Ordinations. Please pray for our ordinands as they prepare.

For further information please click the links below:

Scottish Interfaith Week 2020

Scottish InterFaith Week Poster 2020 Poster A4

Ask Me Anything Poster

Scottish Churches Disability Group September newsletter.  To view please click the link below:

SCDG-newsletter-September-2020