Kirkwall Council of Churches – Wednesday 31st March 2021
Last year the coronavirus pandemic stopped us all in our tracks. From one day to the next our regular lives got suspended and we had to find new ways of doing things. It was a month later that the Holy Week began and the Kirkwall Council of Churches, like many others, decided to go online with our diet of worship.
This year is not going to be much different, even though some churches are able to meet in person. The severe restrictions on numbers and other considerations made us decide to take the Holy Week services online once again.
This is the third of the Holy Week reflections for 2021 and is led by Fr Bala.
Kirkwall Council of Churches – Tuesday 30th March 2021
Last year the coronavirus pandemic stopped us all in our tracks. From one day to the next our regular lives got suspended and we had to find new ways of doing things. It was a month later that the Holy Week began and the Kirkwall Council of Churches, like many others, decided to go online with our diet of worship.
This year is not going to be much different, even though some churches are able to meet in person. The severe restrictions on numbers and other considerations made us decide to take the Holy Week services online once again.
This is the second of the Holy Week reflections for 2021 and is led by Hannah Rendall.
Kirkwall Council of Churches – Monday 29th March 2021
Last year the coronavirus pandemic stopped us all in our tracks. From one day to the next our regular lives got suspended and we had to find new ways of doing things. It was a month later that the Holy Week began and the Kirkwall Council of Churches, like many others, decided to go online with our diet of worship.
This year is not going to be much different, even though some churches are able to meet in person. The severe restrictions on numbers and other considerations made us decide to take the Holy Week services online once again.
This is the first of the Holy Week reflections for 2021 and is led by Rev Dr Marjory MacLean.
St Olaf’s members Pirjo and Stuart Little are trustees of the St Magnus Way and Stuart is currently its Chairperson.
The St Magnus Way is a 58 mile long pilgrimage walk opened in 2017 as part of the celebrations of the 900 years since the martyrdom of St Magnus, Orkney’s patron saint. The walk starts on the island of Egilsay but is mostly on Orkney Mainland. It is based on what is known of Magnus’ life, death and the subsequent building of a cathedral in his name following on from his canonisation in 1136. The shrine to St Magnus was a pilgrimage destination drawing pilgrims to Orkney for many years. The website and app give clear instructions on the way-marked route which is varied in its scenery and walking conditions. Some of the route is on paths and road but most is over open country and some sections need sturdy footwear. The website and app are full of photos and information on the story of St Magnus and the places along the way. For those wanting a reflective experience there are audio and written materials based on themes inspired by the life of Magnus such as peace, forgiveness and growth with questions to ponder as you walk.
During Holy Week, it’s been the practice of the Kirkwall Council of Churches to host a number of services during the week. The lunchtime Reflections in St Magnus Cathedral are led by church leaders and lay people from around Orkney and provide an opportunity to pause for a while and explore aspects of the Easter story. On Good Friday, there’s also a Walk of Witness which visits each of the eight member churches in turn, with each church preparing a short time of worship. And on Easter Sunday, early in the morning, the Salvation Army lead us in a joyful service at the top of Wideford Hill!
Unfortunately, this year (as with last year) our Holy Week services are having to be hosted online. Rev Julia Meason, secretary to the Kirkwall Council of Churches, says:
Last year the coronavirus pandemic stopped us all in our tracks. From one day to the next our regular lives got suspended and we had to find new ways of doing things. It was a month later that Holy Week began and the Kirkwall Council of Churches, like many others, decided to go online with our diet of worship.
This year is not going to be much different, even though some churches are able to meet in person. The severe restrictions on numbers and other considerations made us decide to take our Holy Week services online once again.
On Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st March the ecumenical reflections are going to appear on the Kirkwall Council of Churches Facebook page. They will be led by worship leaders from different denominations – but we’re not going to reveal who they are: just come along and see for yourself the great richness and diversity of the Body of Christ!
On 2nd April, the Good Friday Walk of Witness will have 10-minute services from the 8 member churches of the KCC. They will be appearing from 8 am on our Facebook page.
For Easter Sunday we are going to record a short video with the Salvation Army playing ‘Thine be the glory’, and the account of the Easter events will be read. We look forward to celebrating this greatest festival of the Christian year – and the events leading up to it – with you. You are most welcome to join us whether you can do so for the whole of Holy Week or for certain parts of it. May you be blessed in this journey.
Eco-Congregation Scotland invites us to ‘Get involved with your own church’ and have sent this COP26 update:
Eco-Congregation Scotland continues to encourage churches and volunteers across the country to get involved in activities relating to the COP26 United Nations climate conference, still taking place this November at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow (pictured above).
Our new 2-page monthly briefing on what COP26 is and how to get involved is online now. Updated every month and highlighting any new information, please download or visit our webpage for the latest.
We appreciate the volunteer support of Adrian Shaw, former Church of Scotland climate change officer, for the briefing and COP-related activities. Adrian is also supporting Interfaith Scotland as we link closely with other faith groups and wider civil society organisations in all our collective work towards COP26. We are delighted that Glasgow Churches Together has taken under its umbrella as a special sub-committee the COP26 Churches Co-ordinating Group we initiated in 2019, enabling more ecumenical support and activities relating to COP26.
COP26 is a timely opportunity for churches and volunteers in every part of Scotland to get more involved in addressing local environmental issues and tackling the climate emergency.
We are also encouraging you to take part in the world’s biggest ever faith-climate day of action this coming week, Sacred Earth, Sacred People – ringing a bell for climate justice or posting on social media – and sharing more upcoming events. In this first of our regular newsletter focused on COP26 updates, we end with a specific call for church halls in and around Glasgow.
As we near twelve months of engaging online due to COVID-19 with our own programme of events, we thank you for your support and encouragement which is always appreciated.
