100 days – Day 27

100 days – Day 27

 

I began my day, as usual, by skimming through the online newspapers.  This especially caught my eye and saddened me very much.

from today’s Scotsman:

 

 

HUNDREDS of worshippers from one of the Church of Scotland’s biggest congregations have left the Kirk en masse to join the Free Church.

Around 250 people from Stornoway High Church have moved in protest over differences with the Church of Scotland, particularly the contentious issue of the ordination of gay ministers.

The departure of around 80 per cent of the church’s congregation, previously the Kirk’s biggest congregation in the Western Isles, to the Free Church follows others by several congregations and ministers throughout Scotland over the issue.

Christopher Martin, former Stornoway High Church session clerk said members of the congregation had grown unhappy about decisions taken by the Church of Scotland.

“Sadly our congregation could simply not identify with the general direction of the Church of Scotland is headed in, and the sensible option was to leave.”

The Rev Iver Martin, minister of Stornoway Free Church on the Isle of Lewis, said he was delighted to welcome the newcomers. “No one is pleased with the current situation in the Scottish churches but I am glad that the High fellowship has joined our denomination.

“But I feel a sadness at the whole situation and that decisions at the General Assembly which ought to bring people together and maintain harmony have had the opposite effect.”

At a Gaelic service yesterday attended by the new Moderator the Rt Rev John Chalmers, in Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, the Rev Roddy MacLeod referred to congregations leaving the Kirk in his sermon.

“It is sad to see divisions in our day in the family of the Church in our own country. Since General Assembly met last year ministers, congregations and individual members have felt they must part company with the Church of Scotland. But this is not a new situation for even in Paul’s time there were divisions in the church in Corinth.”

(The Free Church of Scotland’s General Assembly begins today in Edinburgh)

 

This comes after what has been hailed as a most moving and encouraging service yesterday evening.  One, which, sadly, I was unable to attend for logistical reasons:

 

 

 

After my quick glance at today’s papers, I checked my emails and then, as usual, the latest postings on Facebook.

I hadn’t heard of this singer before – but many thanks to my FB friend Dr Derek Coyle from Carlow, Eire, for posting it

 

HOZIER:  “Take Me To Church”


My lover’s got humour 
She’s the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody’s disapproval
I should’ve worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She is the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday’s getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
‘We were born sick,’ you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me ‘worship in the bedroom’
The only heaven I’ll be sent to
Is when I’m alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
Amen. Amen. Amen

[Chorus x2]
Take me to church
I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

If I’m a pagan of the good times
My lover’s the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
To drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That’s a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We’ve a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work

[Chorus x2]

No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Amen. Amen. Amen

[Chorus x2]