Dear Friends,

This page is normally where the Minister’s Pastoral Letter appears, but with Anne, our Minister,  recovering from an operation  – and recovering steadily – that isn’t possible this month.  Instead, I have the opportunity to tell you about a recent visit to Iona.

In the summer of 1964, as a very youthful divinity student, I became a member of The Iona Community.  That was 60 years ago, and I thought on this anniversary, it would be good to be on the Island and stay at the Abbey once again.  

The weather on the day I travelled was stormy and the crossing from Mull to Iona was one of the roughest I can remember.  But after that, the wind dropped, the sun shone and the colours of sea and land and sky worked their wonderful magic.  However, the real reason for the visit was to stay at the Abbey and hopefully renew my sense of commitment to the Community. And that happened in the most unexpected way. 

Without my knowing they would be there, some of the people who are themselves in the process of becoming Community members were also staying at the Abbey.  And their sense of enthusiasm and commitment, not only to the Community, but also to the wider Church and ultimately to Jesus himself, rubbed off on me and I found myself refreshed and encouraged.

I also found it good to be back here in the Old Parish, for we are a Community too, aren’t we? A Community of Faith, Love and Hope.  Sunday May 19^th is Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the first followers of Jesus with a new sense of belonging and purpose.  Wouldn’t it be so good if we could all really try to be together in the Church building that Sunday? “All together in one place” as the Book of Acts puts it (chapter 2, verse 1).  If we could do that, I’m sure we would all feel encouraged and refreshed.  And who knows where that would lead!