The Big Question

The Rev Cleopas Takavada, minister, Inverness: Inshes

The Rev John McPake, Ecumenical Officer, Church of Scotland

The Rev Grace Saunders, minister, Cumbernauld: Condorrat

“My main focus in ministry is to develop an outward-looking congregation. So easily congregations are self-centred in their view of what the Church is. My mission is to develop a congregational character and plan in which the congregation can accomplish their main purpose. Our mission must be to teach the Word of God in a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is warmly invited to hear the Good News of the Kingdom.

“We must aim to reach out to those who are in need in our surroundings, challenging cruelty, inequality and oppression.

“I want to focus especially on foreign nationals that are of the Christian faith but do not yet have a spiritual home. We will assist in the material needs of people as best we can but the main focus is to encourage people to develop their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This has led to us supporting foreign nationals by being open to cultural differences and accommodating different perspectives.

“We are the only local church that has never missed an opportunity to host annually in partnership with the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Reachout Trust. I aim to establish a purpose-driven Church embracing its primary calling as the Church of Christ and to equip the members to practise their calling in a constructive and meaningful way.

“Why is this my aim? The sole purpose of the Church is to bring the Gospel to the world they live in. The Great Commission is the primary calling of the Church.”

“Singing with others without a mask! “I love to sing. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t enjoyed it. As a tot lifted onto a table to sing at our family gatherings. then singing with others in choirs.

“I had the joy of singing with the Big Chorus in the Royal Albert Hall with thousands of others from all over the UK and some from other countries.

Mozart’s Requiem or The Armed Man were particularly moving.

“But I have loved praising God in Church through wonderful hymns, written by many different composers over the centuries.

“At first in lockdown, it was quite a novelty to join online worship and choirs. I could raise my voice in the kitchen with my laptop beside the sink or warm up with Gareth Malone, knowing my niece in Canada was singing with him at the same time.

“But my Choral Society in Inverness had to stop and we had to wait a long time for churches to open.

“Then when they did open, we had to socially distance and wear a mask when we sang. Not only is it uncomfortable, but my glasses steam up and I cannot read the words.

“I long to sing with others again, without a mask and be uplifted by the music and the sound we create.”

“Since love is Lord of heaven and Earth, how can I keep from singing.” Robert Lowry

“I have just arrived at Inshes Church in Inverness from Zimbabwe for a one-year familiarisation programme with the Church of Scotland.

“I am careful to try and do away with unrealistic expectations that I might have about the new church. I want to slowly figure out God’s purpose and assignment for me in this new context.

“I will try and be humble in the understanding that I am an earthen vessel and deeply flawed. I understand that my arrival as a new assistant parish minister may help the Inshes Church and my supervisor to figure out some new possibilities. I will try and watch with a degree of prayerful detachment.

“I will also try and get up a mental balcony in every meeting and during most conversations as I try to learn more about the Scottish culture. I will watch for the trap of verbosity as I will be in a season of diagnostic conversations. I will keep my ears wide open, my eyes wide open as well as my heart wide open. I will ask my supervisor many questions about Scottish heritage and hopes.

“I intend to pay attention to this time of learning with careful and prayerful thought. These, my new days in a new context, are days that I will emphasise relationships over tasks, so I will plan my time accordingly. Later on, I will share what matters to me and what I love about the new church. In short, these are my intentions.”

“If there is one thing I would like to do in the year to come, it would be to cradle my grandchild in my arms and to wish God’s richest blessing upon them.

“Why?

“Because the life we share is a precious gift from God and the blessing of God nurtures and sustains that gift.

The blessing speaks of a gracious God who turns his face towards us and who embraces us, young and old together, and promises us a peace that passes all understanding.

“In the world in which we live there is much that is uncertain and much which disturbs the peace.

“The past years have challenged the community of which we are a part in ways that we could never have imagined and this challenge continues.

“Nevertheless, as we turn from that which is past and towards that which lies before us, we look to the future which God holds before us.

“As we do so, we discover that woven through all we experience is the possibility of life in its fullness and the promise of the blessing of God.

“In the year to come, I would like to share that blessing with the grandchild I cradle in my arms.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6: 24-26)

“‘Hello and welcome everyone including those watching online to Condorrat Parish Church.’ These are the words I started using during the lockdown when I was finally persuaded to join the technology age of the 21st century.

“Our MDS, Mrs S Boland organised it and set up the Facebook account on which the service is live streamed and a recording can be viewed. Now when we started we were alone in the Sanctuary, using a laptop. It was balanced precariously on a pile of books to get the right height.

“We have developed a bit since then with a smartphone streaming the service from next to the Communion Table, but it could be better. I’d say our hope for the future is to install equipment that can improve the sight line of the service from the back of the church and the sound.

“We want to keep this online service going and to improve it because we see it as a part of our outreach, sharing the Gospel with all sorts of people from all different situations, from the elderly, those with young families, those whose work prevents them attending. The virtual attendance brings a community together in worshipping God and to give Him the Glory.

“This year we aim to install this equipment and find its full potential for inclusiveness and to Glorify God in the Highest.”