Publish in the Largs and Millport Weekly on Wednesday 29th September 2021   Autumn has a way of evoking more poignantly the sense that time is passing. From my office window, I have the joy of contemplating my neighbour’s majestic sycamore trees as they change across the seasons. They are...

Published in the Largs and Millport Weekly News for 22 September 2021 I recall as a child walking with my mother from Ardrossan to Saltcoats on a Saturday afternoon to get the messages. Occasionally, she would visit the wool shop if she wanted to knit something for one of the...

Published in Largs and Millport Weekly News on 15 September 2021.   Last Friday morning, I was worried that the fog would delay my ferry to Millport for a funeral. Shrouded in mist, Cumbrae seemed much farther away. In fact, it didn’t look like Cumbrae at all! A few weeks...

Article written for the local Newspaper in Largs, 8th September 2021.   All four seasons of the year delight us with their beauty, order and rhythm. There is now also a fifth “season”, one which various Christian denominations observe annually from 1st September to 4thOctober. It is called the “Season...

Article written for the local Largs newspaper, 1st September 2021.   I’m writing during the final week of July. August holidays beckon but so does getting my Thought for the Week ready in time for 1st September! Rather than rush something after the holiday, when my brain has shrunk even...

Below are the notes used for the above. The Eucharistic Prayer   Many prayers in liturgy: opening prayers, blessing of water, consecration of priest. Pride of place to EP.   More than a prayer. Words of Christ prayed by Church which bring about central action. Work of redemption. Sacrifice of...

Introduction The Passion according to Saint John is possibly the greatest part of the entire Bible. In many ways it is unfathomable, not because we can’t get anything out of it, but precisely because we can get so much. It is an inexhaustible source of insight and understanding into the...

I hope you recognise these words: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his only Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and...