From The Editor

THIS year has been designated the Year of History, Heritage

LETTERS

The Reformation was a process which was generated by a

The Big Question

This month’s question is: ‘Fasting is one of the Lenten sacrifices. Have you ever fasted?’

A time for reflection

Ron Ferguson considers the p lace of Lent in today’s turbulent world

Sacred space on your desktop

The Very Rev Albert Bogle exp lains why the internet can be a touching p lace for the p resence of God

A changed and changing environment

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr, highlights why there are lessons to learn from the innovative farming communities of Perthshire

Church and play

Jackie Macadam learns about Godly Play, a different ap p roach to working with children in the Church

A life of service

Jackie Macadam meets writer and storyteller Irene Howat

‘You feel more dead than alive’

Thomas Baldwin meets a young minister aiming to end the stigma surrounding mental illness

‘I know how you feel’

Three contributors exp lain why offering symp athy to those suffering chronic or long-term illness is better than endeavouring to emp athise with their condition

The Big Picture

Digital photographs only should be sent to magazine@lifeandwork.org accompanied by

The ‘New Guild’

Doreen Gibson, President of one of the oldest Church of Scotland Guild branches, describes how it was challenged to change by its own congregation

A real sense of community

John R Hume reflects on the history of a Lanarkshire church which has witnessed on the same site for more than two centuries

‘Crucial’ time for Fairtrade

Thomas Baldwin reports on trade uncertainty as he considers Fairtrade Fortnight

HISTORY MADE AS FIRST ASIAN FEMALE MINISTER ORDAINED

A former computing teacher has been ordained as the Church

SCROLL CASTS LIGHT ON BOXER REBELLION

A fragile handwritten public proclamation has cast fresh light on

NEARLY 1000 YEARS OF SERVICE

Nearly 1000 years of service in eldership was celebrated at

CROSS BOOK

The Rev Evelyn Hope, a retired Church of Scotland minister,

SUCCESSFUL KNITTING APPEAL

The Friendship Circle at Cardonald Parish Church in Glasgow took

HISTORIC CROSS BROUGHT INDOORS

The church of Kilmun, on the Holy Loch in Cowal,

COLLECTING FOR ADVENT

Most Advent calendars start full and then empty as it

REFUGEES PROJECT

Woodside Parish Church of Scotland in Aberdeen are working with

Labour of love completed

Thomas Baldwin reports on the official opening of an Aberdeen church after a £1.5m refurbishment

CORRECTION

A picture of the Temple de Plainpalais in Geneva (above)

Opening doors

In the final p art of his series, the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan considers an unlikely escape from prison

REVIEWS

To mark the 25th anniversary of Terry Waite’s release from

OBITUARY

Lady Marion Fraser, who died on Christmas Day, was without

The Mystery of Life and God

The Very Rev Dr James Simp son considers the roots of faith