From the Old Things to the New

Sunday 28th March, Palm Sunday, was a significant day in the life of our congregation for two reasons.

First, members who attended the Annual Stated Meeting unanimously agreed to adopt the Unitary Constitution for the management of our congregational affairs. We had been advised that the largely unwritten United Free Church Constitution under which we have operated for most of our congregation’s life is no longer acceptable when it comes to dealing with banks, charity law and the courts. Had we decided not to make this change we could have been storing up financial and legal problems for the future. That said; none of us felt happy letting go of over a century of history, in particular the Deacons’ Court which has been a useful way of involving people as office-bearers who might be happy to give a few years of service as opposed to the lifetime commitment of the eldership. I was impressed with the way all the members present accepted we had to move with the times, that there was a need, in the words of the popular hymn we often sing, to travel “from the old things to the new.” Secondly, that same Sunday, at the 10.15 Service in the Hall, I had the privilege of receiving on behalf of the congregation and dedicating the truly beautiful ‘fish’ shaped worship table, crafted by one of our newest deacons, John Johnston, and a gift by the family of Nanette Johnston, a faithful member who died suddenly in December 2007 still remembered fondly by us all. The table, besides being a unique work of art in its own right, is also a most practical gift in that it can readily be wheeled through from the Hall to the Church Transept for use in small communion services and other services. Whilst the design is strikingly modern, the wood used is from pews removed from the transept several years ago to make way for the very practical and flexible space we have for wheel-chair users, for small meetings and services. 

I immediately saw in the creation of the table a parable for our times. Although the wood has been beautifully finished, you can still see the knots and markings of the old pews. Is this not symbolic of what we in the church are about – seeking the transformation of old lives, knots and all, into God’s “new creation”?

This will be the last magazine in which I will write as your minister. As you all know, from July onwards Elizabeth and I will be residents in the community, but we will all have to accept that our relationship has changed. We will have to be both sensitive and sensible in making sure that the very deep friendships we have forged with you over the years do not present any problem, perceived or otherwise, for my successor. There are many in the wider church who thinks it is impossible for a minister to remain in the parish without making difficulties for both the congregation and their new minister. I hope that together we can work to prove the doubters wrong! We have too high a regard for Chalmers Memorial Church, for all that we have enjoyed and achieved together, to let anything we do get in the way of your continued journey. It is in a very real sense that we all must travel from the old to the new. Even if we don’t know what lies ahead of us, we do know who goes with us.

Thank you, all, for all you have given me and for all we have shared together these past thirteen years. Just as I gave thanks daily to God from the day I came here, I shall always give thanks to God that our final ministry was at Chalmers Memorial.                               

BOB