Lessons From Life of Scottish King Still Relevant Says Moderator

^{Pictured from left to right are Lord Bruce, the Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning and the Rev MaryAnn Rennie, minister at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline.}

                                                                                                                             Monday February 19 2018

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said that there are important lessons for today from the historic discovery 200 years ago of the tomb of Robert the Bruce.

Delivering a sermon yesterday (Sunday) at a special commemorative service at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, which marked the anniversary and also the beginning of the church’s bicentenary celebrations, the Moderator, the Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning said: “Today we commemorate the finding of The Bruce’s bones here in Dunfermline. But I would suggest we have more to commemorate than that. Not just a dead warrior king’s bones, but something of his spirit and vision, and his determination after despair to persevere. Not just bones from centuries ago, but an example of how we should live our lives today. In the face of everything that is going on in the news so that we persevere in being and doing good.”

Drawing on other examples of contemporary perseverance for change, including support of gun law reform following last week’s shootings at a school in Florida in the US and Brexit negotiations, the Moderator added: “In the face of the tidal wave of suffering and displacement of refugees in many parts of the globe we persevere, through direct support modelled by the Restoration Fund Appeal which will help address some of the needs of refugees and remind us that this Abbey was founded by St Margaret as a place of sanctuary and refuge, where neighbours are still needed.

“Today goes beyond the bones of a dead King, and beyond even the temptation of Jesus in the desert, to the place of perseverance and hope, where Christians today, through kindness, generosity and love – a faith lived out loud.”

Special guests including Lord Bruce and his son Benedict, who are direct descendants of Robert the Bruce, and the Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, attended the service.

More than 300 people had earlier visited the tomb of the famous king on Saturday (Feburary 17), as the church opened its doors to mark the historic discovery on the 200^th anniversary.

At a lunch following the special service, a new appeal was launched to help provide direct support to refugees and to support the Abbey Church of Dunfermline Restoration Fund to ensure the preservation of the Church which has a legacy as a place of sanctuary and refuge.

The guest speaker at the lunch was David Bradwell, Refugee Co-ordinator for Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees said: “This anniversary and Robert the Bruce’s place in it helps us remember that once upon a time it was our land that was afflicted by war and poverty, and that we can give thanks that today we live in relative peace and prosperity.

“Given the state of many other parts of the world, it is right that we use this anniversary to remind us of our duties and obligations to protect and care for the stranger, the migrant, the traveller and the pilgrim.”

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