We are delighted to announce that Bishop Ian has agreed to the appointment of the Rev Dr Michael Paterson as the part-time stipendiary priest of St Margaret’s. Bishop Ian will license Michael to the charge on Thursday 18 November (in the week of St Margaret’s Day) at 6.30pm and Michael’s appointment will begin on that date. Due to social distancing restrictions, regrettably the numbers attending the service will be limited, but all members of St Margaret’s and Rosyth Methodist Church have already been invited to attend.

This is an exciting time for St Margaret’s as we start out on our journey as an independent church and also look to strengthen our ties with Rosyth Methodist Church, through furthering our ecumenical partnership.

Pilgrimage is much on our minds: the Climate Justice pilgrimages are reaching their destination; Episcopal friends recently walked some of the Fife Pilgrim Way to St Andrews; Saturday’s West Fife Area mini-gathering has pilgrimage as one of its themes. On Tuesday, our friend Liz Crumlish took this picture near St Ninian’s Cave near where her diocese is having a retreat with pilgrimage as a theme, and yesterday she wrote this in her blog:

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. (Hebrews 11:13-14)

In the pilgrim’s backpack..
are not just the essentials of travel…
Like water
and a snack
spare socks
lip balm
and first aid supplies

In the pilgrim’s backpack..
is also the community from whence they came
those they have left behind
the ones they like to hang out with
and the ones they avoid
those who bring them joy
and those who drink deeply
from the well of another’s compassion
and test their tolerance

They all find a way to cram themselves in
a bit like the cloud of witnesses
who jostle around the altar
every time bread is blessed and broken

The whole community gathers
carried by the pilgrim
bidden or unbidden

And, as prayer is offered
all are gathered up
into God’s embrace
for God, too, is a pilgrim.

Interfaith Scotland have sent us this message:

The future of our planet hangs in the balance. Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow, with the Scottish Religious Leaders’ Forum, invite you – at this critical moment – to join people of all religions and none in expressing your love for life on earth and the shared hope that COP26 will commit leaders to the actions necessary to save it!

Join the vigil

Witness religious leaders and faith community members coming together in Glasgow’s main square, united in a common commitment to climate justice, to mark the beginning of COP26 and to launch Scottish Interfaith Week, which shares the COP26 theme: ‘Together for Our Planet’. This unique prayer and meditation vigil will bring together people of all backgrounds in Glasgow and – via a livestream – around the world, in a powerful, symbolic act of unity and solidarity for our planet. To join the vigil in person, don’t forget to book your ticket on Eventbrite.

Sign the Declaration

We have taken the step of using the organisation change.org to offer everyone the opportunity to sign ‘The Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for COP26‘. This declaration has been carefully crafted by representatives of the Scottish Religious Leaders’ Forum along with faith representatives from the United Kingdom. It has initially been signed by a widely diverse range of Scottish and UK wide religious communities and signatures are now being sought from faith communities, local interfaith groups and people of faith from across the UK and indeed globally. We hope to garner thousands of signatures to the petition to present at the COP26 Climate Summit and if you feel you are able to sign it, please do include which faith you belong to (if appropriate).