Passion Tide

Posted Saturday 7 April 2012

At the previous weeks Faith and order Board meeting we had once again discussed the name of the Sunday next before Easter.  It is one of those discussions that seem to get everyone worked up; we can discuss major issues facing the world and simply agree while issues of liturgical usage drive us to distraction.

Me, I call this Sunday Passion Sunday and that means we are now in Passion tide whatever else everyone else might be saying. Mind you to start Passiontide with a Stewardship meeting might not be on everyone’s list of appropriate events, but that is what I did and a very useful meeting it proved to be. The following day we had a visit from Canon Alison Peden and Rev Anne Tomlinson, they met with me and Canons Alison and Mel to further our discussions on Distinctive Diaconate in the church. This diocese has been exploring the issue for sometime now and we wanted to talk about matters of selection and competencies, again I think we had a productive meeting.

On Wednesday the members of the Franciscan Third order who live in the diocese came through to Arpafeelie to “touch base” with the Bishop.  Jane and I joined the group for the evening at which I celebrated the Eucharist around the table in the Meeting Room, gave a talk on my thoughts on the presence of the Third Order in the diocese and led then in Compline, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The End of term had arrived and I had been invited to lead two Assemblies at Kingussie High School, I spoke to them about the Holy Week and Easter story and challenged them to grow in love and charity. I hope they got something from the event, I certainly did, it is just such a privilege to be invited to talk to such a group of young people, and they were so good even those who would really struggle with the church. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and to all the staff and pupils I say thank you. In the evening we were invited out for dinner and we sat and chatted as the sun settled over the hills.

Jane caught me up this week end, she reached her fiftieth year so on Friday we cooked her a favourite meal, scallops for starters, fillet steak and home cooked chips followed by baked chocolate pudding and cheese, I am only telling you this to show off to those who claim I can’t cook.

On Saturday Jane and I headed West for Holy Week.  We were spending the time in the North West Charge of the Diocese and we had rented a small cottage in Lochinver for our base. That evening we walked up to the viewpoint over Achmelvich Beach.  Yes said Jane spring is here, and I replied

“Cast nae a cloot till May is oot”