What traditions are followed in your home at Christmas time? Is the meal always at the same time? Do you have to run between two halves of the family (like the 'Vicar of Dibley' episode where Geraldine's kindly parishioners all give her a full Christmas meal in each home!)
As a child in our family my eldest sister maintained a rota of who got to open the living room door to see if Santa had come. And a carol service on Christmas eve was always part of our routine.
Yet an older generation will tell you of times when Christmas was not really marked in Scotland. It was work as usual for many even if only for half the day.
The great celebration was the New Year. The Church reformers rejected a lot of the old festivals because people seemed to be missing the point. It’s a tempting position to take today. But amidst all the fuss still there at the heart is what it is all about. Our traditions help us to remember. If we have brought a tradition from another land, it ties us to something precious that has been passed down the generations to us.
And what is it all about? The 19th century Gaelic poetess Mary Macdonald of Mull wrote the carol “Leanabh an aigh, an leahabh bh'aig Mairi” which we know in English as “Child in a manger, infant of Mary”. The English translation is not exact, for the Gaelic means Child of wonder.
For me, the wonder of Christmas is the story of how God came down into the life of the world, in Jesus Christ to be our saviour at Bethlehem, so long ago. Amidst all that adds to the fun and wonder of this time, the traditional carols remind us of the age old story of scripture.
Church News
The Kirk at Lochluichart was full to bursting on Sunday 11th October for the baptisms of Harvey and Fraser Wright of Corriemoillie Lodge. We were pretty sure there had not been twins baptised in living memory. In the congregation there were three other sets of twins and all the godparents had twins themselves.
What a great day!
Our Malawi twinning project
In May the Presbytery of Ross welcomed four friends from Ekwendeni In Malawi for a three week stay among the parishes of the presbytery. A highlight for Fraser and Anna in the manse was that they had Enos Msoywa to stay for some of that time. He is the administrator of Ekwendeni Hospital and a devoted Christian following out his faith in a spirit of joy and enthusiasm that was inspiring.
He is a keen gardener having three harvests a year to help feed and support his family of six. His wife is a teacher at the school within the complex. While with the Stewarts, Enos visited both kirks, and felt very much at home at Lochluichart in particular as the area reminded him of his home area of Malawi where there are hills and lush green vegetation.
Enos Msowya was an inspiring visitor and as a response to help his hospital in Malawi a number in the parish are undertaking 'THE FIVE POUND CHALLENGE' Using a small sum of money to raise some more.
The things folk have done are varied. It just shows you how all of us have talents and abilities, and these talents can make the world a better place for someone.
We hope to announce how much has been raised in the next issue of News and Views and on the Website at a later date.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Sunday 20th December:
Carols and Reading in Contin Kirk, 10.45am.
- No service in Lochluichart Kirk
On Christmas Eve there are three services
come and enjoy the Christmas hymns:
4.30pm Lochluichart
7.00pm Strathconon
11.30pm Contin
Sunday 27th December:
Communion Service in Contin Kirk, 10.45am.
- No service in Lochluichart Kirk
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Rev Fraser Stewart
01997 423296
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