6 mins
The Big Question
The Rev Dr Liam Fraser, minister, Linlithgow: St Michael’s
The Rev Kenneth Elliott, minister, Craigie Symington linked with Prestwick South and also Clerk to the Presbytery of Ayr.
“I quickly realised that the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak would be one of the most important moments in my ministry. In terms of need and disruption to public life, the last comparable period would be the 1918 influenza outbreak. In terms of effects upon the operation of the Church, one would have to go back to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms or the Reformation, or even further back to the papal interdict laid against Scotland in the 14th century, which – at least officially – suspended all religious services.
“For St Michael’s – the most obvious effects of the outbreak have been an end to physically gathering for worship, an end to pastoral visitation, and severe restrictions on funerals and bereavement care.
“These endings – while painful – have nevertheless given rise to new beginnings. Moving to online worship has allowed us to reach far more people than we could have imagined, and allowed us to experiment with new tools for discipleship. The outbreak has actually made discipleship easier for us, as members are more interested than before in gathering for (virtual) small groups.
“The obvious need has allowed us to massively expand our aid to nonchurchgoers. By setting up Linlithgow Coronavirus Support with local churches and organisations, St Michael’s is showing God’s love to a much wider range of people through deliveries of food and supplies, and offering emotional support over the phone.
“The times are strange, but God always provides opportunities for his Church to serve.”
“On Sunday March 15 I had the great pleasure in Prestwick South of presenting 11 elders with Long Service Certificates, the cumulative total of 469 years’ service. Four new elders were ordained. As I pronounced the benediction little did I know churches would close indefinitely.
“Since the lockdown I have been indebted to the active elders of both Churches for prioritising regular communication with members. This has occurred through weekly phone calls and the offer of assistance. In addition I have also sought to make similar phone calls, prioritising any requests by elders.
“Personally speaking this has endorsed one of the very positive aspects of our Presbyterian structure and has in all probability actually created a great sense of a living faith amongst our congregations. Indeed while I generally agree with the Radical Action Plan from the 2019 General Assembly advocating a reduction in the size of Kirk Sessions, we perhaps, especially in light of this current ordeal, have to ensure that we still retain the mechanism to prioritise pastoral care efficiently and effectively in the knowledge that we never know what is just around the corner.
“Like many churches we have also offered a weekly online service via ‘Prestwick South YouTube’. With more people viewing online services than normally attend worship it will be interesting to see what happens once the Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis is over.”
The Rev Scott Burton, minister at Falkirk: Brightons
The Rev Dr Grant Barclay, minister at Giffnock: Orchardhill
The Rev Richard Begg, Army Chaplain
“At a practical level, we’ve had to adapt worship and our support systems. As such, we now have streamed worship: an all-age Sunday morning service; a Tuesday evening sermon and a Thursday evening live prayer time.
“We also send out monthly devotional materials for those without internet access and have set up two phone numbers that allow people to ‘catch up’. What we do within a service has also changed as we now have ‘community corner’ time which is focused on sharing news and ideas about ‘caring for all’, ‘celebrations’ and ‘Christ with us’.
“Pastorally, we have put systems in place to keep in contact with those most vulnerable and have been working with the local community to put in place support for those without a local network. All of the above means that some folks are very busy at this time. I’m also more limited in what I can give due to my wife also having work commitments, and so three days of my week are now spent with our three-year-old daughter. But the church has also been impacted emotionally and spiritually: these times are taking their toll and create uncertainty and fear; but equally folks are finding fresh relevance in their faith and appreciation of one another.
“Additionally, the extent to which we are collaborating locally has also increased and we have seen many more people engage with us, particularly online. Amid it all, we are finding God is still very much with us!”
“We don’t meet together for worship. I miss singing and praying together, and chatting after worship. Our midweek cafe has stopped and we can’t meet for a coffee and conversation – vital if you’re living alone. No prayer times, no study groups and no Session meetings remind me how varied church life was. Our premises aren’t used by the dozen and more community groups which met here, and an eerie silence has replaced children singing, seniors exercising and a buzz of liveliness.
“We’re discovering, though, that church is far more than a building. We’re talking in different ways – and chatting more! We don’t visit but phone, or write, and we’re calling members and friends regularly just to keep in touch. Technology which we didn’t use has become a life-line and we’re finding we can make it work.
“About ten people gather, virtually, for coffee at the manse most weekdays while friendships further afield are rekindled as the internet gloriously disregards distance. We’re not only surviving but thriving: helping one another learn about art, or web-page design, or Transactional Analysis all in small on-line groups we’ve created and find work well. Informally, people share stories, news and jokes on social media to keep our spirits up and help us remain connected.
“Our worship, now online, has grown. More people participate in prayers, readings and reflections. We think that double the numbers view as attended in person!”
“Covid-19 has impacted every part of society and the military community is no different. The daily battle rhythm has altered and as a chaplain I am doing things differently with Zoom, Skype and telephone pastoral visits rather than face to face contact. The creation of a worship space within a virtual garrison allows a number of chaplains to post and engage with soldiers and their families.
“As we walk through the 40 days from Easter to the Ascension we, like the first disciples, are in a period of uncertainty and confusion but also of hope. The disciples were in that strange place between the resurrection and the ascension of Christ.
“We, at this time, are in that strange place of lockdown and whatever the end of it might look like. I, like so many, am hoping and praying that things change in the coming weeks.
“With the Ascension of Christ and Pentecost things did change!
“Luke records those wonderful scenes in Acts of the move of the Spirit and the baptisms amongst many other things. “As the military we are ready and prepared to engage in whatever we are asked to do in these uncertain times.
“As chaplains our prayer is no different to the rest of the church as we pray for key workers, their families as well as those who are ill and those who have lost loved ones.
“These are difficult times but like all in ministry we too are trying to share the hope that we have in Christ in innovative ways.”
This article appears in the June 2020 Issue of Life and Work
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