MINISTRIES

Compiled by Faith Nurture

DEATHS 

Rev William McGregor, formerly of Auchtergaven and Moneydie, on March 10 

Rev J Stuart Mill, formerly of Durisdeer linked with Thornhill linked with Penpont Keir & Tynron, on March 28

Rev Thomas W Tait, formerly of Rattray, on April 4

Rev John Cook, formerly of Edinburgh: Leith St Andrews, on April 11

RETIRED 

Rev M Fiona Ogg, from Acharacle linked with Ardnamurchan, on April 18

Rev Robert A Calvert, from Dundee: Steeple, on April 30

DEMISSIONS 

Rev Elizabeth RL Watson, from Whiting Bay & Kildonan, on April 1

Rev David G Coulter, from Guernsey: St Andrew’s in the Grange, on April 11

Rev David G McNeish, from Birsay, Harray & Sandwick, on April 11

ORDINATIONS & INDUCTIONS 

Rev Dorothy M Wallace, to West Lochfyneside: Cumlodden, Inveraray & Lochgair, on April 18

ORDAINED LOCAL MINISTER – NEW APPOINTMENT 

Rev Alexander J MacPherson, to SE Cowal & Central Cowal, on April 1

ORDAINED LOCAL MINISTER – RETIREMENT 

Rev Elizabeth Geddes, from Langbank, on April 30

READERS – RETIRED PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON 

Mrs Elizabeth Leckie, on March 2

READERS – RESIGNATIONS PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON 

Frank Haggerty, from Airdrie: High linked with Caldercruix and Longriggend, March 2

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT STAFF – NEW APPOINTMENTS 

Peter Anderson, to Mission Pioneer – Stewarton 20’s – 40’s Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Stuart Forsyth, to Mission Pioneer – Virtual Church Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Jill Hendry, to Mission Pioneer -“Growing Together with God” South Kilmarnock Mission Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Alison Muir, to Mission Pioneer – Towerlands Plant Church Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Margaret McTernan, to Mission Pioneer –Team Leader in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Katrona Templeton, to Mission Pioneer -“Open Doors” Disability Inclusive Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Robert Thomson, to Mission Pioneer – Sports Development Initiative in the Presbytery of Irvine & Kilmarnock, on March 25

Rev Lyall Rennie, to Parish Assistant in Caithness: Pentland Parish, on April 1

Aileen Binner, to Ministries Coordinator in the Presbytery of Argyll, on April 12

ELDERSHIP

Glasgow Brigdeton St Francis in the East: Ordained: Oge Lawrence Ndabai

LONG SERVICE

Bathgate Boghall: Bill Black (50), Muriel Muir (50) and Christine Byron (30)

Buckie South and West: William (Bill) Murray (40) and Gordon Pirie (40)

Dunbarney and Forgandenny: Billy Folan (50), Elizabeth Honeyman (30), Greig Simpson (50) and John Sloan (30)

Fraserburgh Old: Gordon S Young (50) Houston and Killellan: Robert Finnie (51)

Hurlford: Gavin Brown (30), Elizabeth Lauchlan (50) and Robbie Simpson (30)

Maryculter Trinity: Jim Grant (30), Joyce Mackintosh (40) and John McCafferty (40)

Milngavie: St Paul’s: Brian Adair (40), Elizabeth Bragg (40), Rosemary Fraser (30), Sheila Harrison (30), David Lawson (40), Jean MacIntyre (30), Maureen Macintyre (30), John Macpherson (30), Bill Ponton (40) and Bruce Shearlaw (30)

Ochiltree: Ann Morton (30)

OBITUARY

Many, many people across the country are hugely missing the Rev John Cook, a unique parish minister and good family builder who died on April 11.

John’s first ministry was with me in the 1960s at the church extension charge of Menzieshill, Dundee. He had arrived with an Edinburgh MA and the then classic BD, and had also spent a year labouring on the roads. He insisted on finding his own digs and spent his Saturday nights with working-class men in the local pub.

The Blairhall Colliery accent of his mother remained intact, and the first people he visited telephoned the manse to check if this really was a minister.

When we realised that the church’s storage space was not enough for us and we would have to dig further under the main hall, John arrived with a member of the congregation, picks and shovels, and started digging.

That John was blessed with more than brains and the common touch became particularly clear when he became engaged to student teacher Isobel.

In 1968, John was called to Easterhouse, where the ever active Ecumaniac became known by all and sundry as Faither, or else Wee John. When Graeme Brown, Leader of the Iona Community, joined the congregation, his sense of public worship was transformed by John’s first words from the pulpit on Sunday morning: “Right! We need a plumber...”

In 1984 John, Isobel and sons Allan and William moved to Leith, where the people – within the congregation and without – were to benefit for 21 years from a wholly committed ministry of love and effective evangelism.

Now, John is released and raised by the ultimate Faither, while God will keep blessing Isobel, Allan, William and the young family – as He will others through them.

The Rev Jack Kellet