Youth Column: A Privilege to Serve

Friday June 16 2023

Matthew Philip describes his journey to the eldership of the Church of Scotland.

As time flies by so quickly, so has my faith journey within the Church. My faith journey
started pretty much when I was born in February 1997, which was then followed with my baptism around three months later at Holburn Central Parish Church in Aberdeen, which I attended until it was closed.

Since then, I have been attending Craigiebuckler Parish Church in Aberdeen and my faith journey as a whole has grown significantly. So much so, I was asked in 2017 and 2022 if I would like to represent the Presbytery of Aberdeen (which then became the Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland) as their Youth Representative. I was also asked to attend virtually in 2020, when I was a Youth Representative for what was known as the National Youth Assembly, which is sadly no more.

Each year that I attended the General Assembly was memorable, as I look back at my journey in being a faithful member of the Church, helping my Dad with his elder duties when I was only four and over time becoming more deeply involved in the future of the Church. I think of the Church’s journey that is in front of me, where we together look at all possibilities to include the younger generation in the life of the Church of Scotland, and react to the ever-changing situations around us, not only in the UK but around the world.

I have enjoyed meeting up with other people and making new friends with the other Youth Representatives from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and from other countries around the world at each of these gatherings.

Since I was ten years old, I have always been looking to get more engaged and involved in Church life. In 2007, I started helping out with sound system duties. I then became the administrator of the Church’s Facebook page in 2018, then confirming my faith ten days before Christmas in 2019, becoming a member of the congregation.

It doesn’t end there. My skill set grew further in 2020 and 2021 when the audio visual  systems in the Church were being upgraded, to allow the Church to live stream services
onto YouTube. Towards the end of January this year, I was ordained and admitted as an elder after accepting the invitation at the end of last year.

It is always a privilege to serve the Church in the ways that I do, with the skills and talents that I have gained over the years.  I am proud of the faith journey that I have taken so far as a Christian within Church life, being widely involved at both local and national levels. I hope that it will continue long into the future, and I am sure it will.

If you are under 30 with a Church of Scotland connection, and would like to write this column, please email us on magazine@lifeandwork.org