Shock at Tunisia Deaths

The Church of Scotland and the Boys’ Brigade have expressed shock and sadness at the death of Jim and Ann McQuire and other victims of the terrorist attack in Tunisia.

Mr and Mrs McQuire, who were 66 and 63 respectively, were heavily involved in the life of Abronhill Parish Church in Cumbernauld. Mr McQuire was the Captain of the 5^th Cumbernauld Boys’ Brigade Company, based at the church.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison, said: “"As the death toll continues to rise in the attack that took place in Tunisia, I wish as Moderator, on my own behalf and that of us all in the Church of Scotland, to express heartfelt sympathy to all who have been injured, to the bereaved families, and to those who still wait anxiously for news of missing relatives.

"At such a time words of comfort can seem hollow. Our minds are numb as we try to come to terms with an evil of such magnitude. Our hearts go out, however, to all caught up in this terrible event and we hold them all in our love and prayer.

"The human cost of this atrocity has been brought close to us in Scotland with news of the killing of Jim and Anne McQuire of Cumbernauld who were both deeply involved in the life of the church. Jim was a Captain in the Boys' Brigade. We also remember in a particular way the family of Billy and Lisa Graham of Perth who, at the time of writing, remain missing.

"In the face of such unimaginable evil and pain we stand in loving solidarity with all who suffer, and we come together to affirm and honour life. Our Christian faith reminds us that evil and death will not have the final say in human life. The love that was incarnated in Jesus Christ will have the victory. Let us be more resolute than ever in our commitment to work and pray for the coming of God's kingdom of peace, justice and love in this broken world."

In a statement, the Boys’ Brigade said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of the deaths of Jim and Ann McQuire in the Tunisian shootings. They had given a life of service to young people and to the church and community and the prayers and thoughts of The Boys' Brigade go out to their family and friends and to the 5th Cumbernauld Company at this most difficult time.

“Jim was initially ordained an elder at Lochwood Parish Church where he first became a BB Officer in the 165th Glasgow Company.

“There has been an incredible outpouring of love and support from the people Jim and Ann touched throughout their lives and from the wider movement. The Boys' Brigade was an enormous part of Jim's life and he and Ann will be greatly missed by all.”

Comments

Heather MacMillan - Friday, July 3rd, 2015

“Many, many of us join with you both in these sentiments.
But while we do, let us not forget that there were other killings that day less well publicised in the global media by Boko Haram in West Africa. We pray for all those involved in those tragedies too.”

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