This month’s question is:

‘How does your congregation mark the changing church seasons?’

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Clare Milrine, member, Armadale Parish Church

“Having recently moved to a new church (Armadale Parish Church), I don’t feel I can really comment fully on how the minister/congregation marks the changing of the seasons. Advent was particularly lovely with services linked to the Advent Wreath and the related themes of hope, faith, joy, and love.

“I have wonderfully fond memories of attending Lenten Lunches at St Nicholas in Lanark with my nana as a child and the then minister patiently explained how it represented Christian fellowship and Jesus fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and nights.

“Growing up in a farming family, Harvest Thanksgiving remains the festival I feel most connected to.

“The church I grew up in would be decorated with fruit, vegetables and other produce donated by the congregation and the service would focus on the themes of God bounty, gratitude and coming together as a community.

“After the service, the church elders would work together with both the Sunday school and bible class kids to create gift hampers for the elderly, housebound and needy.

“The hampers would then be delivered by the kids (well supervised of course!).

“It’s been 20 years since I last delivered a Harvest Thanksgiving hamper but I still remember the surprise and joy on the faces of people when we arrived, especially those in care homes and hospitals.

“Given the current tough social and economic situation we are in, I really hope this still goes on.”

The Rev Ken Brown, Church and Community Development Worker, Livingston United Parish Church

“Whatever a year has brought there is nothing quite like that moment when a candle is lit on Advent Sunday.

“The hope-filled symbolism of light coming in darkness is a special experience that encourages us to draw closer to God over the weeks that follow.

“Then, as a new year begins, it is humbling to share in a Covenant Service with its Methodist roots.

“Each church builds its life around the special days of the Christian calendar but how they look and feel will be different according to their own priorities and personality drawn from a shared and varied history.

“Livingston United Parish Church is privileged to draw on a rich heritage of four different Christian traditions when it plans its worship programme.

“We rejoice in being ‘Different by Design’. Consequently we have a wide variety of service ideas and liturgy, old and new, to draw upon.

“Being accustomed to difference because of our history also frees us to experiment in the present.

“We also believe that people engage with God in different ways. So, for us, Sunday begins with an early morning Eucharist, continues with a lay-led All Age Service, discussion groups, a more traditional Morning Worship and a monthly Messy Church.

“Each brings its own distinctive emphasis to whatever time of the year it is.

“We are blessed with a life which brings its challenges as well as its opportunities but it is undoubtedly God’s unique thumbprint for us.”

The Rev Donald McCorkindale, minister at Ardgour and Kingairloch, linked with Strontian, l/w Morvern, and Clerk to Lochaber Presbytery

“During twenty five years of ministry I have seen, and have appreciated, a rediscovery of the colours and symbols associated with the seasons of the Church year.

“Using the Revised Common Lectionary, and more recently the Narrative Lectionary my congregations past and present have journeyed with the Christian year and have been encouraged to reflect and engage creatively with the rhythm of the seasons.

“A few years back I introduced the ancient tradition of a pink candle for Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Joy – a tradition which continues in some of the congregations.

“During Lent we have extinguished, rather than lit, a series of candles as we move towards Good Friday. Lent turning to Easter has been marked by a Vigil when flowers, banners, hangings and pulpit falls are removed, then Easter’s season begun in nature’s vibrancy up a hill, or on a beach.

“Drawing attention to the colours of my preaching scarves, or changing banners hung in the sanctuary, I will often refer to the season we are at, and am often asked about the significance of the colours – purple for penitence, red for the Spirit.

“The cycle of the church’s seasons I find to be helpful in exploring and shaping the congregation’s journey of faith which I hope doesn’t just go round and round and round with ‘the ever circling years’.

“Rather, like a bicycle wheel travelling forward as it turns, the cycle of the seasons can take us to new places.”

Sandy Sneddon, Asia Secretary, World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland

“Many Christian churches in Asia have a strong agricultural identity.

“Many Christians there are farmers or have family who farm the land even if they have moved to the cities. At harvest time it is common to see people bringing some of the first fruits as an offering – bags of rice or wheat or other grains.

“In the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar women set aside a handful of rice, sometimes more, each time they cook a meal.

“The rice is collected, sold at churches at lower costs and the proceeds given to the church.

“The Handful of Rice scheme provides significant funds for the church, an accessible market for women selling rice and low cost staple foods for families.

“It’s not surprising that the churches are concerned about changes in seasons and weather patterns. Unpredictable rains, more extreme flooding, loss of land through soil erosion have a serious and immediate impact on farmers and the wider community.

“Yields can be poor or crops destroyed leading to financial hardship, food shortages, migration and unemployment and even political instability.

“Farmers understand the fragility of the land as well as its fertility.

“Another partner church, Gereja Kristen Sumba in Indonesia, is building up its own agricultural training centre, promoting social forestry among congregations and training farmers to grow organic rice which is kinder to the delicate eco-system on the island and commands a better price.”

The Rev Russell McLarty – Interim Minister serving in St Andrews: Holy Trinity linked with Boarhills & Dunino

“As an Interim Minister I will only be with a congregation for a year or maybe two years.

“It is therefore important to recognise that there are certain occasions in the year which are an important part of a congregation’s tradition – as with Harvest in Boarhills and Dunino which is a highlight in the farming community.

“In the ‘Toon Kirk’ of St Andrews the annual golf service in September makes links (excuse the pun) with an important part of the local and international community and the church. These services are appreciated by many beyond our regular congregations.

“In Holy Trinity with its fine acoustics and musical tradition there is opportunity to organise or host choral works setting the tone for the season as with Stainer’s Crucifixion on Good Friday and Handel’s Messiah at the beginning of Advent.

“Within regular seasonal worship it is also important to be creative and in the week before Christmas we installed a Christmas Labyrinth in Holy Trinity.

“We have the biggest footfall in the town on our doorstep and it was good to offer people the opportunity to find some peace in all the rush around Christmas walking the Labyrinth to follow the Wise Men on their journey to Bethlehem.

“In the summer season we plan to have a weekly puppet show developed by one of our elders. This will be advertised in local caravan sites for visitors and in the parish for local families. In all of this we are trying to be creative as well as keeping to regular patterns through the year.”