Minister’s Message 19 July
Dear Friends,
I hope that your interest has been piqued by the planned Pilgrimage Walk this
coming Saturday. It is the initiative of Emma Whitham who has been doing her
summer placement in Kinross-shire as part of her training for ministry. It is
intended to be an opportunity for people from across the united parish to meet and
spend time together informally in the context of the journey we are all on together
in the company of the risen Lord.
In part, the pilgrimage will celebrate the origins of the church in Kinross-shire
which date back to the mission of St Serf and his band of followers who
established a Christian community on Loch Leven in the 6th century. It was they
who established the first churches initially around the lochside and then further
afield, a fact testified to by the number of churches dedicated to St Serf across
Fife and Perthshire and even as far as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Orkney and
Northumberland.
At our stops for worship around the loch (at Kinross, Burleigh Sands, below Loch
Leven's Larder and at Findatie) we will be celebrating the heritage of all six of the
former parishes that make up our new parish of Kinross-shire. We are all St Serf's
successors in this place today and perhaps walking and praying together on
Saturday in the footsteps of St Serf will give us new perspectives on our faith and
will fire us with a fresh vision to share the Good News of Christ with our
contemporaries.
The details of the itinerary have been published in the weekly email. Some people
have already signed up to walk right round the loch, but we also very much
encourage people to walk for one or more of the shorter sections that make up the
whole, or indeed (if walking is not for you) just to join us at one or more of the
stops when we will be pausing to reflect together, including a communion service
on the beach at Findatie. The intention is to make the day as flexible as possible.
We have arranged for a minibus to be available and if there is demand there will
be a shuttle service from Kinross Church car-park to each of the stopping points. If
anyone with D1 on their driving licence would be willing to volunteer for some
driving during the day, please be in touch.
It would be really useful (indeed essential if you want a lift) if you could email
ewhitham@churchofscotland.org.uk to let Emma know which parts of the walk you
intend to be part of. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
And please pray for fair weather on Saturday!
Your fellow pilgrim,
Alan
Rev A D Reid