Life & Work Magazine
Life & Work Magazine


8 mins

From The Editor

MARCH traditionally heralds the beginning of spring.

The weather is getting a little warmer and spring bulbs are beginning to bloom, with the warming earth and additional daylight encouraging growth.

At home, it means the planting of some seeds, bulbs and tubers in the garden to allow us to enjoy a summer harvest of potatoes, shallots and lettuce, tomatoes and perhaps some herbs. Occasionally we become more adventurous and try other crops, but our growing space is limited. The satisfaction of harvesting and eating our own produce is huge and it ensures that some of the skills of self-sufficiency will be passed on to our daughter, as well as fostering encouragement of consumption of seasonal and local produce

This is important: the 20th century saw the rise of supermarkets and the loss of many traditional greengrocers and butchers in our towns and cities. The rise of supermarket shopping has led to an increase in consumption and packaging - and food miles as out of season fruit and veg was sourced from overseas where a warmer climate allowed supplies to be shipped to the UK.

Thanks to high profile documentaries, there has been an increased focus on plastic usage and a drive to encourage the wider population to adopt practices which reduce our use of non-recyclable plastics in particular.

An analysis of our weekly shopping waste proved to be an eyeopener.

Much of the packaging which cannot be recycled - it is the ‘wrong’ kind of plastic for our domestic recycling bins - will take many years to break down.

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The 20th century saw the rise of supermarkets and the loss of many traditional greengrocers and butchers in our towns and cities.

As a family we would love to shift to shopping with an independent greengrocer, but none exist nearby. The age of internet shopping has led to the demise of many traditional high street suppliers.

Like many in the church, we yearn to return to a simpler time when no fruit and vegetables were prepackaged, but supplied with paper bags for selection and for a reduction in packaging and for other simple changes such as the supply of milk in reusable glass bottles, rather than plastic cartons.

This will only happen if we continue to make small changes to our habits, which, in the long-term could effect big changes. Encouragement comes from Galatians 6:9: ‘And let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.’ (NRSV) ¤

‘The Human Condition’

I read with considerable interest, in the January Life and Work, the meditation of the Very Reverend Dr John Chalmers on ‘The human condition’, in which he greeted, with something less than acclamation, ‘today’s obsession with taking selfies’ and those with an ‘overblown sense of their own importance’.

This month was the time of year when many turn to the works of Robert Burns for both inspiration and reference. He, of course, had much to say about profound human truths, one of which undoubtedly is the vanity and pretension of human nature. In To a Louse he writes about man and woman having somehow conferred upon them a power of being aware of how they are viewed by others. The conferment of such an ability would allow us, it is thought, to shed our misconceptions about our appearance to the world. He wrote:

O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us And foolish notion: What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us, And ev’n Devotion

I agree with the sentiments of Dr Chalmers when he says: ‘Modesty beats pride hands down, humility is healthier than arrogance and self-effacement beats self-importance every time.’ However, on a less inspiring and uplifting note, let me say that experience, over the years, has led me to believe that there are regrettably members of humankind out there, some perhaps carrying selfie sticks, who would be unlikely to change their ways even when endowed with the power invoked by Robert Burns in his poem.

Ian W Thomson, Lenzie

I enjoyed reading the meditation column by John Chalmers in the January Life and Work. He writes of his trip to the wonderful city of Rome. Since my own first trip to Rome was so memorable, I couldn’t resist returning time and again.

I love the association with the apostle Paul and the evidence of the heroic exploits of the early Christian church. The artworks in various churches and basilicas are staggering. The Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculpture of Christ and the Virgin Mary (Pieta) by Michelangelo in St Peter’s, are sublime.

Two other basilicas, namely San Giovanni and San Paolo are also vast and superbly impressive and for me, it has been fantastic that ordinary people can have access to these inspiring places.

However I was always struck by the fact that it was mainly the method adopted to finance the building of Saint Peter’s, that led to the Reformation, that donations given for the building could absolve a person of their sins.

Martin Luther latched firmly onto the Biblical principle that forgiveness of sin could not be bought by money, or worked for. It was the free gift of God through the death of Jesus Christ and was by repentance and faith in His Name.

Alex Glen, Glasgow.

Disinvestment debate

Further to Ian Cooper’s letter, January 2020, this is nothing to do with a ‘knowledge of basic economics’.

Disinvestment in fossil fuels is the only way the Kirk can retain moral authority or have any chance of giving leadership in issues affecting the poor and oppressed. Attempting to do so while taking our 30 pieces of silver points to a self-interest that belies any supposed influence for good.

Influence can be exercised in many ways that do not need a ‘seat at the table’.

Mr Cooper decries being a voice in the wilderness; a notable such voice lost his head, yet he was proclaiming the Light of the World, the Prince of Peace.

I will eat a few locusts and forgo my head for the same. So should the Kirk.

Phil Simpson (Dr), Ardtalnaig, Perthshire

At Assembly, Presbytery and Session level I have always supported ‘disinvestment’ - that is until the best argument against disinvestment which just touched me deeply, from your January 2020 letters page!

Well said Ian Cooper of Glasgow - your argument struck home! Patricia Chapman, Linlithgow, West Lothian

Colombo Thanks

St Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Colombo congregation appreciate the many friends and considerable interest in our activities from our fellow Church of Scotland congregations, partners and other groups in the UK and beyond.

We are really touched by the prayers and practical help offered in support of our community and country.

Your encouragement and the help given has allowed us to enhance our mission work. Our special partners in Scotland follow our activities keenly and are always ready to step-in when the needs arise. Easter Day last year caused considerable anguish but our community has pulled together in support of each other, in fact, that crisis has brought new members to our congregation.

Help through our extended period of a vacancy has come from Scotland, Europe, the USA and Sri Lanka and the congregation have enjoyed the various styles of ministry, while the elders have matured to manage each set of circumstances.

We do all, however, look forward to that day when we will enjoy a permanent minister to guide us.

Many thanks for supporting us through a trying spell.

Gillian Mailler, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Links and Hubs

In response to the Rev Moir’s letter in the February edition of Life and Work I humbly suggest that there is asolutely no needto cast your eyes all the way to Africa.

Just lifting them a little beyond the confines of urban areas will do. For decades ministers have served groups of congregations and have operated with worship leaders and worship teams, and they did so long before it was considered a radical new thing in urban areas. These set-ups commonly are known as linked charges and can be spread over vast areas, sometimes with huge stretches of open sea between such linked parishes. These situations mean that the minister is often only able to be with some, but not all, congregations on any given Sunday

As a result there are worship teams and worship leaders all over in rural and remote parishes, one really does not have to go to Africa to find them! In fact, congregations and ministers in rural and remote situations are an enterprising lot and are not defeated by the lack of retired ministers to call upon. Ministers in remote locations spend many a night away from their manses in order to be with their congregations - my personal best was eight nights in a row courtesy of storms and a broken-down ferry; others may well be able to better that.

I can’t be the only one who starts drafting the annual worship rota in the hope that for once it will not have to be torn up immediately because events have prohibited me from being where I had intended to be. And that is one area certainly where the hub - Argyll-style - comes into its own. In the absence of ministers flocking to our presbytery our two hub administrators are an absolute life-line not only for the congregations concerned, but also for the likes of me.

If they were not in post then those few of us who have dared venture into remote and rural places would have to become interim moderators to these places.

Until then I want to give thanks and praise to our hub co-ordinators in Argyll who between them have demonstrated that when full-time ordained ministers do not consider moving to remote rural places, then they will step up to the plate to enable the ministry of all God’s people.

Dr Lindsay Schluter (Rev), Barra l/w South Uist

Life and Work welcomes letters from readers of not more than 350 words which can be sent by post to Life and Work,121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN or by email to magazine@lifeandwork.or

For verification purposes letters must be accompanied by the writer’s name, address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. In exceptional circumstances the Editor will consider publishing a letter withholding the details of the writer, provided verification can be made. The Editor reserves the right to edit letters for space and legal reasons.

This article appears in the March 2020 Issue of Life and Work

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This article appears in the March 2020 Issue of Life and Work