Parish News

Thursday December 8 2022

Our regular round-up of news received from churches

Send items of parish news to magazine@lifeandwork.org. All submissions will also be considered for the magazine, but we are unable to print everything we receive.
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A network of members and friends from churches across St Andrews has topped the International Leaderboard on the WALK2COP27 challenge organised as a global climate action engagement initiative in the run-up to, and during, COP27.

Participants were invited from all countries and across stakeholder groups of governments and cities, companies, NGOs, faith groups, students and friends and family. Teams then took part in a virtual challenge to walk, run, cycle or travel by wheelchair wherever they chose with trees planted in Burundi by the Jane Goodall Instititute based on the distance travelled.

Registered teams came from 68 countries, with the most from the UK, Turkey, Lebanon and India. Notably, Scottish teams made up a good proportion of these, perhaps reflecting the influence of COP26 held in Glasgow last year.

Across the whole challenge, over 100,000kms were recorded with 200, 000 trees planted as a result. The St Andrews Church Eco Network (STACEN) team’s magnificent effort accounted for 10% of these totals, achieving first place of 181 teams.

Lorna Hutcheon, team co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to have worked together to achieve this tremendous total and grateful to the Jane Goodall Institute for all the trees they will plant on our behalf. Our team comprised members of churches, family and friends across St Andrews with particular thanks going to our two super-heroes, known as StrollinShiels and HappyPaws, who notched up over 1,000km each!“

The team included all three Church of Scotland congregations in St Andrews: Holy Trinity, St Leonard’s and St Mark’s.

Fifty years as an elder at Cramond Kirk were celebrated when Michael Dick was presented with his long service certificate by the Rev Tom Cuthell. Tom recently retired after several happy years as Associate Minister at Cramond.

St Quivox Parish Church honoured and gave thanks to four elders and two members of the church for their long years of service, which combined come to nearly 300 years.

Margaret O’Hara has been a member for 82 years and Molly Blackwood for 60. Of the elders, Allan Leydon received a certificate for 40 years’ service, and Rosemary Alexander, Margaret McKay and Eddie Carroll, who were ordained together, celebrated 30 years.

Top, from left: Allan Leydon, Margaret O'Hara and Rosemary Alexander, with Colin Mutch (standing down after many years as church treasurer) and minister, the Rev John McCutcheon.

Below: Mr McCutcheon with Molly Blackwood and Margaret O'Hara.

The annual Carols for Peace service takes place this Sunday, December 11, at 3pm in Glasgow City Chambers. A joint event by Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Churches Together, the service will be attended by the Lord Provost and music comes from the St Mungo Singers, Salvation Army, South Side Fiddlers, St Denis’ Primary School and more. A collection will be taken for the Lord Provost’s Fund for Children.

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