PASTORAL LETTER  –  SPRING 2021

 

Dear Friends,

 

Jesus before Pilate was asked “What is truth?”

How many times are we tempted to be “economical with the truth”? We can get so angry with folk who spin us a line, but sometimes find ourselves doing the same thing – perhaps to spare someone else’s feelings ,or to cover up our own actions.

 

Christianity is a religion founded on truth – God’s truth. And God’s truth is unusual in that it does not consist of a set of intellectual ideas, but on a person = Jesus – who said to know Him was to know Truth, and this truth would set you free.

This truth was so important, the institution of the Church over the centuries has tried to carefully preserve it, and protect people from believing the wrong things. So the church has often been seen to teach doctrine and rues; perhaps that is like learning the Highway code without ever learning to drive a car.

Nowadays, people increasingly see truth as a privatised commodity (My truth as I see it).

Yet for Christians, we are not free to believe just what we like. We are called to live out the truth of Jesus message, that The Truth is out there …in Jesus Christ.

 

God bless,

 

Steve

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.

Return to Home Page