This has been an interesting Spring Season within Kinnoull. A season of new and surprising growth, as the Friends of Kinnoull Talents initiative has taken root. What was conceived as a way of giving an opportunity to members of the congregation to consider how they might think of using their particular abilities to raise some funds for the church has become a productive and involving season as a whole raft of ideas have emerged. We have already been more creative than we might have imagined and the initiative still has the rest of the summer to run.
The Bird boxes were a great success and rapidly sold out. The soup and tablet, although best not to be eaten together, raised some smiles and a few pounds one way and another. The Pop Up Market has proved to be a substantial fundraiser. We still have a range of other events ahead as well as the major Craft Day and Barbecue following the final morning of Sunday Club on 29th June.
As has often been said before, the funds raised are welcome but the fun that we have along the way is no less important. If you feel that your creative abilities have not been as significant as they might have been, then be assured that your input as a supporter and a purchaser is also much appreciated.
At the end of May the Kirk came through its annual General Assembly. There was the most unfortunate need for the Moderator Designate, Rev Dr Angus Morrison from Perth Presbytery, to step down for health reasons at short notice. This required the Committee to Nominate the Moderator to reconvene and gave me as a member of that committee more excuses to ride my motorcycle up and back to central Edinburgh for meetings. The Principle Clerk, Rev John Chalmers accepted the new nomination and stepped in to Moderate the Assembly most competently. We wish him well in his busy year ahead. The Assembly also agreed to approach Angus Morrison with a view to him being able to be Moderator in 2015 which seemed a gracious decision.
With the potential for a major split in the Church hanging over recent Assemblies, it was a relief that difficult discussions this year went ahead without the projected division. In his closing address the Moderator said that he looked forward to a time not too far ahead when we may leave aside the matter of human sexuality and get back on with the mission of the church in spreading the Good News of Jesus to the people of Scotland.
In mid January Rev Dr Eric McKimmon had health problems so I have again been drafted to serve as Interim Moderator at Cargill Burrelton linked with Collace but there is hope that during the summer Eric may well be able to return to his duties.
My year as Honorary Chaplain to the Royal Highand and Agricultural Society of Scotland reaches its climax as I attend the show at Ingliston from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd June. The duties during that time turn out to involve not only conducting worship on the Sunday Morning but also saying the Grace at no less than four formal dinners. There is apparently no such thing as a free lunch for me that week.
One of the Collace members created a very special carved horn shepherd’s crook for me with the finely worked letters RHASS on one side and CHAPLAIN on the other side. It looks rather grand and should conspicuously identify me – Who knows – I may even win “Best In Breed” on this occasion!
With Every Blessing
Your Minister
David Souter