Moderator Pays Tribute To Guild

                                                                                                                      Saturday September 5 2020

THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has paid a warm tribute to the Church of Scotland Guild at its first online ‘Gathering’, which took place today.

The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair said as Christians the ‘Jesus way’ was to give and to serve and love without expectation of reward because ‘it is the right thing to do.’

 “We go the extra mile without thinking of reward or return. It seems to me that the Guild, not least through its wonderful projects exemplifies this Jesus way brilliantly and beautifully.

“I have been amazed through the years to read of the different projects the Guild has supported and the huge amount of money you have raised to make this happen.

Echoing the Guild’s new theme for 2020/21 ‘The Extra Mile’, he said: “You show us a way, the way of the extra mile. A way that is different to so how often things are in the world.”

The Gathering, which generally takes place in Dundee and marks the launch of a week of celebration of the Guild – one of Scotland’s largest membership organisations – moved online this year when the meeting of 2000 women and men was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was webcast via the Church of Scotland  here. The Guild has raised millions of pounds in partnerships with six projects in three year cycles.

There were updates from each of the six projects currently supported during the online Gathering. The projects are: the Boys’ Brigade Scotland, CrossReach, Malawi Fruits, the Sailors’ Society, Seema’s Project, India and Journeying Together in Zambia.

During the 80-minute online Gathering, National Convener Marian Macintyre handed over her badge of office to the new National Convener, Mabel Wallace who said: “I am humbled, privileged and excited to serve as National Convener as we journey through, going the extra mile.”

She was installed into the office by her own minister, the Rev Richard Baxter, minister at Fort William: Duncansburgh Macintosh, who is also presently Moderator of the presbytery of Lochaber. Her installation was followed by the launch of a new sung Guild blessing written by Guild General Secretary Iain Whyte and compiled by Bea Nicolson.

During the webcast, there was a short question and answer session with Guild General Secretary Iain Whyte, Associate Secretary Karen Gillon and the Church of Scotland’s Chief Officer Dave Kendall, who praised the work and commitment of the Guild.

Worship and musical interludes were drawn from footage from previous Gatherings and a short communion was conducted by the Rev Tom Macintyre, husband of outgoing National Convener, Marian Macintyre.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this post

Add a reply

All fields are required. Email address will not be published.