March 2022

A reflection for Mothering Sunday Lent IV Sunday 27th March 2022 by the Rev'd Russell Duncan

And a sword will pierce your own soul too (Luke 2:35)

This year’s Lent Course by the Diocese of Edinburgh is entitled “Lent: a season of Pilgrimage”. It invites us to turn to sacred time and space and deepen our walk with God, with each other and with ourselves.

The pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela was one of the most significant pilgrimage routes of medieval times.  It still exists as a web of journeys leading across Europe. You may have walked part of it. There are many points of origin, but one goal; the shrine of St James the...

Reflection for Lent III Sunday 20th March 2022 by the Rev'd David Warnes

Luke 13:1-9

Today’s Gospel tells of two horrific incidents – a massacre of Galilean pilgrims in the Temple in Jerusalem carried out on the orders of Pontius Pilate, and the collapse of the Tower of Siloam which resulted in the deaths of 18 people. One is clearly an example of moral evil, the act of a ruthless political leader. The other may have been an example of natural evil, the collapse of a building due to an earthquake.

We can infer that when Jesus asks:

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way, they were worse sinners...

Refection for Lent II Sunday 13th March 2022

There’s something about mountains. The way in which rock pushes up from the surface of the earth to be enveloped by the sky, is beautiful and inspiring. The sight of them has often led my thoughts into prayers; heaven and earth becoming one.

The Gospel reading for today, talks of earth and heaven merging into one. Jesus has gone up a mountain (we are not told which one) with his three closest companions. On the mountain some rather strange events take place, culminating in a disembodied voice proclaiming that:

“This is my Son, my chosen, listen to him.”

That voice...

A reflection for Sunday 6th March 2022 Lent I by the Rev'd Russell Duncan

If you are the Son of God…… (Luke 4: 3)

If I was to ask you what your expectations are for Lent this year,    

what would you say? Will it just be to get through these next 6 weeks

unscathed or do we actively wish to engage with, seek after or spend time with

God?  There is always the unknown; the unexpected and even the

unpredictable. Not things that we generally like.

Canon Mark Oakley, the Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge, in this year’s “Reflections for Lent” comments that “Coming up out of the water, Jesus had...

Daily Prayers for the people of the Ukraine

Daily Prayers for the people of the Ukraine

God of love, turn our hearts to your ways; and give us peace. Amen.

God our deliverer, when the foundations are shaken and justice has departed, defend the poor and needy and give your people strength to fight all wrong in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the request of the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine we say:

Psalm 31:1-5, 21-24

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame; 

deliver me in your righteousness.

Incline your ear to me;

make haste to deliver...