Dear Friends in the Northwest
This Sunday is the third Sunday in Lent. This Sunday, there will be a service in Ullapool. Next Sunday, the fourth in Lent, is Mothering Sunday when there will be services in Ullapool and Achiltibuie.
My thanks to Fr David for preparing this week’s reflection. As you will see, Fr David gives us a theological overview of the moral, ethical and spiritual imperative to address the environmental crisis. He then outlines the actions planned for this at St Mary’s. Whilst this is not directly relevant to those of you in the congregations at Achiltibuie, Lochinver, and Kinlochbervie, I think it provides a helpful indication of the types of actions being taken across the Scottish Episcopal Church. It comes as the wider Scottish Episcopal Church has recently launched the draft of its Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030), a plan that it is intended will be adopted in a final form at this year’s General Synod in June. This is available on the Provincial website and indicates how our church will be taking action at all levels and providing support to congregations for their involvement. Although much of its focus is on the buildings and land owned by the church, those being the majority of things that are within the control of the church to do something about but which of course have least relevance to those of us who are part of the congregations at Achiltibuie, Lochinver and Kinlochbervie, I feel it does provides food for thought on the things we should be considering in our own lives. Whilst it is quite a long and detailed document, as it needs to be, the Executive Summary provides a helpful overview if you are interested.
Related to this theme, our Lent course, Faith in a Time of Ecological Chaos, prepared by Fr David, continues on Sunday at 11.30 a.m. in St Mary’s. If you are unable to attend but would like to receive the handouts, please let me know if you have not already done so.
The monthly Bible study group, looking at some of the Parables, will hold its March meeting on Monday at 5.00p.m. at Joy’s home: 51, St Valery Place, Ullapool.
I will be away from Monday to Thursday on the Diocesan Clergy Retreat near Thurso. Please feel free to contact me during that time if you need to – it is not a holiday!
With love and prayers
Rev’d Clare
Please click the link below for this week’s reflection