From the Study...

Dear Friends,

Every faith tradition can trace its roots back to some series of events which came together in a certain way at a certain time to give it the beginnings of the life it lives today. In large part the Presbyterian Church is a melding of the Church of England as it came to Scotland after the Protestant Reformation, and the faith traditions of the indigenous Celts. Christianity came to Scotland from the west in the 7th Century when a monk named Columba came to the Isle of Iona from Ireland. From there he and his disciples evangelized the northern part of Great Britain, which was a part of Great Britain which had not been as heavily influenced by the Romans and the Catholic version of Christianity they brought to Great Britain with them in the 2nd Century. The Celts lived in the north of Great Britain and their faith found expressions of the holy in the natural world. The resulting Christian faith was one which found the presence of the triune God more in and through all creation and less in the points of doctrine of the church. Celtic Christian spirituality is the contemporary expression of ancient Scottish Christianity. Where much of the Calvinism of the Presbyterian Church speaks of God as “wholly other,” Celtic/Scottish influenced Christianity understands God to be very present and accessible.

On Sunday, September 19, we will celebrate our Scottish heritage. The day begins with a seminar on J. Philip Newell’s book, Christ of the Celts, at 9 AM. There will be a half hour coffee fellowship before worship at 11 AM. That service will continue the celebration of our Scottish roots through the liturgy of the Iona Abbey and the music of the Bagpipes (organ and pipes will play Highland Cathedral). After worship we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a lunch of Bangers and Mash. Some have ordered Newell’s book in preparation for the class that Sunday. If you did not order a book, come to the seminar anyway. You’ll still find a blessing in the company and the discussion.

Blessings,

Mike