It was,
perhaps, what Sir Walter Scott called ‘the happy combination of fortuitous
circumstances’ which led to my first visit to Lauder, ‘incognito’, through
various meetings to, subsequently, the
wonderful service of Ordination and Induction on the 25th August
2011. The warmth of the welcome extended
to me, to my family and to many friends from far and wide was affirming,
uplifting and encouraging, and there are so many people to thank; the
Nominating Committee, the Interim Moderator, The Moderator of Presbytery and
the Presbytery Clerk, the Office Bearers, and all those who undertook to make
sure the Manse was ready and who provided the amazing spread for the Induction
social!
As we shared
worship together for the first time following my Induction, I was struck by the
appropriateness of the lectionary readings for the day. In particular, in the reading from the Letter
of Paul to Romans, we read that we should ‘serve the Lord’, ‘rejoice in hope’,
and ‘persevere in prayer’. What better
reminder could there be of what we are called to do, as we share together in
the exciting new chapter of the life of the community here in the Parish of
Channelkirk and Lauder.
The summer
(or what has passed for it this year!) is now well and truly over; the leaves
are turning colour, the new school year is under way, church and community
activities have re-started and plans are being made for the important seasonal
celebrations with which we mark out the journey of the year. With so much going on, and so many pressures,
it can be easy to miss the quiet moments of reflection, those moments when we
remember the pleasure of happy events, or think about what we are learning, or
why we are doing what we are doing!
Perhaps this anonymous poem offers some wise advice:
Take time to think – It is the source of all power
Take time to read – It is the foundation of all wisdom
Take time to play-It is the source of perpetual youth
Take time to be quiet-It is the opportunity to seek God
Take time to be aware-It is the opportunity to help others
Take time to love and be loved-It is God’s greatest gift
Take time to laugh-It is the music of the soul
Take time to be friendly-It is the road to happiness
Take time to dream-It is what the future is made of
Take time to pray-It is the greatest power on earth
Take time to give-It is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to work-It is the price of success
As we get to know each other, worship together and journey
together, as a community in this beautiful part of the Borders, I hope we will
all find some ‘quiet’ moments, moments which will give us strength and enable
us to continue to seek ways of serving, rejoicing and persevering in all we do. (And if you are new to the community, or just
visiting, you can be sure of a very warm welcome!)
With love and blessings
Jamie
