So, here we are! As I write this we approach the 4th Sunday in Lent. You will recall that last year we were unable to open for any type of worship during Lent and Holy Week, due to the first lockdown. This year, however, we will open our doors for those who wish to enter, and we will endeavour to make up for lost time. I for one am extremely happy that we will be able to observe Holy Week and celebrate Easter in a manner that most of us are accustomed to. Yes, there will be limits to numbers, yes, we will need to observe social distancing, no, we will still not be able to sing hymns, yes, we will be able to receive Holy Communion in one kind only, no, we will still not be able to gather for fellowship after the service. After a full year of restrictions of one kind or another, none of this will come as a surprise to any of you – it certainly does not me. But we are an Easter people and we will celebrate it in any way we can. The provisions made for places of worship to open on Palm Sunday, thereby heralding Holy week, are most welcome, however, we must not forget that so much in our world has changed due to the pandemic that Covid 19 brought us. Most, if not all of us, will know of or be related to someone who contracted the virus. Sadly, some of us will also know or be related to someone who has died as a result. I speak personally, having experienced tragedy in my own extended family. The pain and loss is unbearable enough, but being unable to be by a loved one’s side during the illness when they are in hospital is even more devastating. There will be time when we gather together to remember all whom we have lost, and when we do we shouldn’t be ashamed to cry or share our grief.
I am deeply grateful to those who have, so far, donated to our Easter Eggs appeal. This generosity will ensure that some children, and adults, will not miss out on something that many of us have, over the course of our lifetimes, taken for granted.
The business of the Church doesn’t stop because the doors are closed. Many of you, no doubt, will have accessed the myriad of online services available throughout the country, if not the world. At St Mary’s we have broadcast a regular Sunday Eucharist where either Bishop Anne or I have presided and preached. I have also tried to provide a live Face Book broadcast of evening prayers throughout Lent, using various resources from my own collection.
St Mary’s still functions as the Pro-Cathedral of our Diocese and it is important that this message is extended as widely as possible. I have no information to share regarding the immediate future of St Andrew’s, however, it has been an absolute pleasure to share worship with our brothers and sisters from that congregation.
The use of the Zoom function has also been an eye opener for everyone. So far, during the past 12 months, we have had both General and Diocesan Synods using this facility. We have also carried out all of our Vestry business and other associated matters using Zoom. I recently took part in a Clergy Training event over the course of two days on Zoom, and of course, there has been our regular Sunday Brunch Zoom which has been a constant throughout the various levels of restriction. Suffice to say, most of us are pretty well-versed in ‘Zoom etiquette’.
Since our last Magazine, our new website has been launched, which grows a little every day. We are so pleased with this refreshing new and informative medium and I am deeply thankful to Mr Stuart Smith of Alt Ten Interactive who designed it for us, Mr David Rose our Webmaster, and to the other members of the communication team, Dr Nicola Mills and Mr John Cooke, who oversee the content and quality control. Incidentally, you may actually be reading this from the website, and if you are, I would be delighted to hear your comments. Of all of the available functionality on the website, the donation button is and has been most welcome. By using this, anyone who wishes to make a donation to the upkeep of St Mary’s, or for any other specific reason, you will find it very easy to navigate. I hope that you will be able to find time to have a look around the site and to feedback to us where you think we can make improvements or additional links to other information.
Personally speaking, my wife Sam and I have become Grandparents to our second granddaughter, Harriet Jayne, and we have another on the way in July, when my oldest Son and his wife will give us a third grandchild. This is an absolute blessing and although the restrictions will dictate when we can see them, rest assured, we will make up for lost time when we do.
I have recently been successful in interview to become a member of the Scottish Children’s Panel, and will, after training, be able to sit on panels, which I hope will not only act as a possible intervention to future criminality for children and young persons, but also to contribute to the local community in a way which I feel is both worthwhile and Kingdom building.
So, I hope that Easter brings to you all that is good in our world and lives. For those of you have isolated over the past 12 months, I look forward to seeing you again soon when you feel confident enough to join us. Learning to adapt and improvise has been a very steep learning curve for us all. Speaking directly to a mobile phone as I am being videoed has been challenging to say the least; I certainly don’t expect any Bafta awards or Oscars to be heading my way. I sincerely wish and pray that each and every one of you keep safe and well until we can gather as before and share our love and care for each other, whilst praising Him, our King of Kings.
Blessings Always
Reverend Canon Terry Taggart (Rector)
St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Carden Place, Aberdeen
Pro-Cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney