From the Manse
Dear Friends,
As we embark on a new session in the life of our congregation, I am grateful for the opportunity to write to you.
Though the amount of administration I have to do seems to increase with every passing week, I continue to find great fulfilment in my calling, and I give thanks to God for the privilege of serving here in the church and parish of St Ninians Old.
In July I spent a few days with my good friend, Iain Robertson, on Arran. While there I found myself thinking about the late Rev James Currie who was born at Drumadoon farm on the west of the Island. I knew his widow, Peggy, and his sisters Janet and Jean, and camped at Drumadoon when I was in the 1st Campbeltown Company of the Boys’ Brigade.
James was a hard working minister who never failed to take time to help and support people. I recall my granny showing me a letter he had sent to her when my grandfather was in hospital in Glasgow in the 1960’s. It wasn’t as easy then as it is now to make the journey from Campbeltown to Glasgow, and my granny didn’t have a phone at the time. James’s letter was therefore both welcome and reassuring. It also spoke to me of a man who knew what his calling was really about. He was a servant of God serving the people.
Administration is important, as are meetings in connection with the running of the Church, but when all is said and done, it is people that matter, and this we see in the life and ministry of Jesus. Wherever there was need he responded, and in so doing he affirmed the dignity and humanity of all those he sought to help.
This session I will be joined by the Rev Jake Lehman who is doing a ‘familiarisation placement’ in St Ninians Old. Jake was, until recently, a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He will be with us for twelve months and as well as learning about the wider work of the Church of Scotland, Jake will be fully involved in the life of our congregation. I look forward to having Jake as a colleague and to working with him as a colleague and brother in Christ.
I know you will welcome Jake, his wife, Melissa, and their three children, Clare, George and Julia, and that together we will make sure their time with us is a time of blessing and fruitfulness.
Every good wish,
Gary
The Rev Gary J Mcintyre