Moderator pays tribute to the Guild

The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair addressing the Guild online

THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has paid a warm tribute to the Church of Scotland Guild at its first online ‘Gathering’, which took place in September.

The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair said as Christians the ‘Jesus way’ was to give and to serve and love without expectation of reward because ‘it is the right thing to do.’

“We go the extra mile without thinking of reward or return. It seems to me that the Guild, not least through its wonderful projects, exemplifies this Jesus way brilliantly and beautifully.

“I have been amazed through the years to read of the different projects the Guild has supported and the huge amount of money you have raised to make this happen.”

Echoing the Guild’s new theme for 2020/21 ‘The Extra Mile’, he said: “You show us a way, the way of the extra mile. A way that is different to so often how things are in the world”

The Gathering, which generally takes place in Dundee and marks the launch of a week of celebration of the Guild – one of Scotland’s largest membership organisations – moved online this year when the meeting of 2000 women and men had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was webcast via the Church of Scotland website. The Guild has raised millions of pounds in partnerships with six projects every three years.

There were updates from each of the six projects during the online Gathering. The projects are: the Boys’ Brigade Scotland, CrossReach, Malawi Fruits, the Sailors’ Society, Seema’s Project, India and Journeying Together in Zambia.

During the 80-minute online Gathering, National Convener Marian Macintyre thanked the Guild “for the gift of this incredible, life changing year” as she handed over her badge of office to the new National Convener, Mabel Wallace who said: “I am humbled, privileged and excited to serve as National Convener as we journey through, going the extra mile.”

She was installed into the office by her own minister, the Rev Richard Baxter, minister at Fort William: Duncansburgh Macintosh, who is also presently Moderator of the presbytery of Lochaber. The moment was marked with the launch of a new Guild blessing, written by the Guild’s General Secretary Iain Whyte, compiled by Bea Nicolson and sung by a virtual Guild choir.

Presenting an update on the work of the Guild through the year, Mr Whyte said: “The heart of the Guild is in the local groups but together we can do so much more for ourselves, for each other and for those outside the Guild.”

During the webcast, there was a short question and answer session with Mr Whyte, the Guild’s Associate Secretary Karen Gillon and the Church of Scotland’s Chief Officer Dave Kendall. Mr Kendall said the Guild did “vital” work, adding: “You should be very proud of what you have achieved. I am really looking forward to working with you all in the future.”

Worship and musical interludes were drawn from footage from previous Gatherings, including contributions from the Heart and Soul Swing Band and the Govan Songsters and a short communion was conducted by the Rev Tom Macintyre, husband of outgoing National Convener, Marian Macintyre.

The online Gathering can be viewed at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ news-and-events/news/2020/The-Guild- Annual-Gathering-goes-digital-this-weekend

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

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