Pastoral letter – January 2022

 

When my brother was young, he wanted to be a fireman when he grew up. I wanted to be a ballet dancer. He followed a very different path. I have always had a love of dance, even to this day.

Did you aspire to be anything in particular? And has your life gone in that direction or taken you elsewhere?

In Charles Mackesy’s book ‘The Boy the Mole the Fox and the Horse’, the mole asks the boy, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Kind,” says the boy. This simple but profound quote came to mind again this week as a group of us were talking about good and evil in the world. It seems to me that the bad things make the headlines far more than the ‘good news’ stories. Thousands, probably millions, of acts of kindness go unnoticed by anyone other than the person to whom that kindness is done.

Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

As we begin a new year, for many it’s a time to reflect on the year that is past. I wonder what kindness was shown to you or by you? And how do you picture the year ahead? These past two years have been challenging in so many ways, and the next few months may not be so different. But kindness knows no boundaries and perhaps it is a positive way to step into the new year – acknowledging the kindness you receive and going the extra mile to show kindness to another.

                                                                                                God bless,

Revd Chris

From the Ministry Team

Revd. Steve Fulcher: Parish Minister

I was born in Kent in a Christian family and brought up through the Church. I had a personal experience of Jesus when I was fourteen and that eventually led to me offering for full time ministry. In 2003 Chris and I moved to Scotland and transferred to the Church of Scotland from the Methodist Church. I served first on Islay and then down in the Borders. In 2012 we moved back to Argyll, settling in Southend and now serving the linked parishes in the Team Ministry of South

Revd. Christine Fulcher: Parish Assistant and Ordained Local Minister

I grew up in Gloucestershire and was very involved in the life of my local Methodist Church. After leaving school, I trained as a teacher and taught mainly in Early Years SEN settings. In 2008, I was accepted as a candidate for Ordained Local Ministry and trained through the University of Aberdeen. After my ordination, I was based in Oban for five years, then took on the role of Ministries Coordinator for part of the Presbytery. In March 2020, I joined the newly formed Team Ministry here in South Kintyre.

Matthew Ramsay: Session Clerk for Saddell and Carradale Parish Church & Reader

I was born on 18/01/47. I have lived all my life in Carradale and have always been involved with Church. I attended Sunday School Bible Class and became a member of the ”the kirk”. I was ordained an elder at and became Session Clerk in November 2005. I feel very passionate about the church. I trained for three years in becoming a lay preacher having preached in mostly Kintyre for a number of years. I am delighted with our linkage being now South Kintyre.  

Malcolm Ronald: Session Clerk for Southend Parish Church

I am 65 years old and have been retired from farming for just over 3 years.  I have been married to Inez for 42 years and we have a son, two daughters and two grandsons. I attended church from a young age and have been a member of our church and choir for about 48 years. I have been an elder 33 years and became Session Clerk early in 2020.  Our South Kintyre Linkage has had a difficult start with the virus shut down, but I hope we will soon be able to meet with our Highland and Carradale friends.

Elizabeth Kennedy: Session Clerk for Campbeltown Highland Parish Church

I was brought up in Glasgow where I attended Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church through Sunday School, Bible Class and Youth Fellowship. After this I lived in Cape Town and attended St Andrew’s Presbytery Church when there was still apartheid and St Andrew’s was much a mixed-race church. Coming back to Scotland and Campbeltown, I visited the local churches and I was drawn to the Highland where my family was made most welcome. I became one of the Sunday School staff and then the Superintendent, working with the young people in the Bible Class. My job as a teacher took me to Iona where I lived for thirteen years. Iona was a tremendous experience and, due to circumstances, I was involved in taking services in the parish church. On my retirement I returned to Campbeltown and the Highland where after a few years became the Session Clerk. Again, I have been involved in the delivering Sunday services. I have recently taken the Presbytery’s course for local worship leaders.

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