Primus pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church

September 8, 2022

The Scottish Episcopal Church is deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96 after reigning for 70 years. The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said:

“Today we will gather in prayer and sorrow as we mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. For nearly all of us, she is the only monarch we have known, she has been part of our lives and part of our prayers always.

“The Queen came to the throne at a moment of great hope. A time of rebirth following the difficulties of war. She dedicated herself to the service of this country and she has honoured that pledge, especially so when things were difficult. She never wavered from her service.

“Queen Elizabeth was steadfast in her faith, in her prayers and worship. She spoke openly and often of her devotion to God, and to the Christian message of respect and the value of people, of all faiths and none.

“Here in Scotland we know that the Queen found space to relax and to be amongst family and friends, we cherish the knowledge that she loved this place as much as we do. That knowledge brought a shared connection that many of us felt deeply.

“Today we will share memories and sadness. Her Majesty understood and believed in the promises of God. In her many statements over the years she spoke always of moving forward, serving the country that she loved, and giving thanks to God for the life she lived.

“May she rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Go forth upon your journey from this world,
dear child of God,
into the hands of the Father who made you,
to find life in Christ who redeemed you.
to rejoice in the Spirit who renews you.
May the heavenly host sustain you
and the company of the redeemed enfold you;
may peace be yours this day,
and the heavenly city your home.

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What a great afternoon we had in the cathedral on Sunday 4th September at our Global Gathering! We shared in fellowship, drank teas and coffees, learned about different global initiatives in our diocese, and heard Bishop Ian reporting on the Lambeth Conference.

We also received a special video greeting from Bishop Marinez from our Global Partner Diocese of Amazonia.

The Gathering ended with Choral Evensong, using some material from worship at Lambeth.

See highlights from the day HERE.

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Perthshire Pride 2022

A fabulous start to the great weekend that is Perthshire Pride! Starting with prayers in the cathedral, our group lined up with others on the South Inch in Perth, then processed up Tay Street to the Mill Street Plaza, where the Pride Market and a stage were already set up.

 

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Please plan to attend our next Diocesan Gathering, at the Cathedral on the afternoon of Sunday 4th September.

Like the last Gathering we had, in October 2019, everyone is invited to come to the Cathedral following their Sunday morning worship, and to bring a picnic lunch (teas and coffees will be provided) around 1.30pm.

Displays from around the Diocese can be viewed from 1.30pm and throughout the day.

From 2.30pm there will be activities and a plenary session, and at the end of the afternoon there will be tea.

The Gathering will close with Choral Evensong, from 17.00 until approximately 17.45.From 2.30pm there will be activities and at the end of the afternoon there will be tea. The Gathering will close with Evensong, from 16.45 to 17.30.

Please ensure that your congregation know they are invited, and post and distribute the poster below.

This will be a ‘Global Gathering’ at which Bishop Ian Paton will give the Diocese a report about the Lambeth Conference, taking place in Canterbury at the end of July into early August. We hope that our partner bishops from Amazonia and Calcutta will join us by video link – they will not be able to visit us before Lambeth as they did last time, because of Covid.

The theme of Lambeth this year is ‘God’s Church for God’s World.’ Please let your congregation know about the Lambeth Conference website – www.lambethconference.org – where there is much more information about the theme, the scripture set for the conference  (1 Peter), and a guide to praying for the Conference and the Bishops who are coming from all around the world to attend.

IMPORTANT INVITATION FOR YOUR CONGREGATION’S PARTICIPATION:

Our Global Gathering will be about more than Lambeth, as Bishop Ian hopes that every church in the Diocese will  come prepared with some photos and stories to contribute to an exhibition around the Cathedral celebrating any links they have with the worldwide Church. These can be ‘official’, but also personal links people have made. Bishop Ian hopes there could be many to be seen on 4th September.

Please complete a registration form here if you can contribute to the exhibition display with your own stories or materials about your congregation’s engagement with the worldwide church!

And please get in touch if you have any ideas or suggestions for the Global Gathering.

Bishop Ian looks forward to seeing you and many of your congregation on 4th September!

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The Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops from around the world is taking place in Canterbury from 26 July to 8 August. It was postponed in 2020, but is going ahead this year instead. However, because of pandemic travel concerns, visiting bishops have been requested to travel directly to Canterbury, and dioceses in Britain are no longer being asked to offer hospitality. That means, very regretfully, that Bishop Marinez of Amazonia (Brazil) and Bishop Paritosh of Calcutta (India) were not after all be able to visit us in the Diocese before Lambeth.

The Global Partnership Committee is planning a Diocesan Global Gathering on the Lambeth Conference theme (‘God’s Church for God’s World’) after the Conference on 4th September  – celebrating our global partnership links, including a report of the Conference from Bishop Ian and, possibly, online participation by Bishop Marinez and Bishop Paritosh.

For information about the Lambeth Conference see www.lambethconference.org

To see updates about the Lambeth Conference from Bishop Ian, visit our Diocesan Facebook page.

For information on our Diocesan Global Gathering click here.

 

 

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Dear Friends,

Perthshire Pride is taking place on Saturday 13th August in Perth and members of the Rainbow Table group would like to invite the Diocese and the wider province to join us at Perthshire Pride this year.

We are meeting for a short time of prayer at 10am at St Ninian’s Cathedral before we all walk together to the South Inch Car Park where the Parade is starting at 11am led by Alan Cumming, a leading LGBT rights activist.

Anyone from across the Diocese is more than welcome to come and be part of this event in Perth.

Please get in touch with Rachael Wright rwright.hplc@gmail.com so that we know how many to expect joining us at pride by Friday 12th August.

Best wishes
Rachael and James on behalf of the Rainbow Table Group
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Dear all

I am writing to make you aware of the Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund, which opened for applications on 31 May. It is a £10 million fund over each of the next 3 years, and is a community focussed fund supporting organisations based in the places they serve delivering activity across all four of the following areas for action, that reflect the strategic context:

The fund may be of interest to some of your organisations. Please note that the deadline for applications is 28 June. The link to the fund information is at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/investing-in-communities-fund-round-two-draft-guidance-note/

Best wishes

Frances Hume on behalf of Dean Pennington

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