Ash Wednesday
“Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow…
Important updates
New Directions In January, I attended the New Directions Forum on behalf of the Presbytery. A summary of the day can be found here: New Directions Jan 2026 – Briefing Note for Wider Circulation As you will read, the discussions…
Light in the darkness
It is fair to say that in the last week I have moved from saying ‘Happy New Year’ to ‘the weather is really dismal isn’t it’. After the snow has come the rain and it feels like we are spending…
Office Bearers
The earliest known use of the term ‘office bearer‘ is cited as being from the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1593. An ‘office bearer‘ is a person who holds a position of authority and responsibility in a…
Numbers
I have a deep love of numbers. And there is something deeply satisfying when they add up or, perhaps even more, when you find the error that explains why they don’t add up. As Finance Convener in Gordon Presbytery I…
How did we get here?
This time last week we began making contingency plans for Rev Alison Dickie’s Service of Induction. With a phenomenal amount of snow in both Aberdeen and on Orkney it seemed like our travel plans might come unstuck. Plan B involved…
A New Year
Happy New Year! This was the scene earlier this week in Aberdeen. By now, a thaw has set in and much of what was covered is beginning to reappear. Hopefully it means that things can begin to return to normal…
Seeking
This week I received an email from someone within our Presbytery who has recently found themselves drawn towards faith. They write about their experience of trying to find a space in which to pray and encounter God. They acknowledge that…
JOYFUL ANTICIPATION
We are approaching the third Sunday of Advent, the theme of which can often be JOY. Mary may be the focus of our attentions, as we reflect on her words, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in…
Qualities of leadership
At last night’s Presbytery there was a good discussion about whether or not to change the term of office for our Moderator following a proposal from the Connections and Nominations Committee to reduce said term to one year. It was…