I returned to old haunts this week. We took Beth out for lunch at La Lombarda’s Italian restaurant in Aberdeen, a place I regularly frequented when a member of the Cathedral Youth Club round the corner at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. Then on Thursday I returned to Elgin Rotary Club where I had been invited to give the Christmas address. Sadly Jane was unable to come with me as Bishop Eden’s Primary School was putting on the second showing of their Christmas play. In Elgin it was great to meet up with so many old friends and sparring partners, I really enjoyed the company.
The School Christmas play was also a great success and both performances were put on in the Cathedral – a first for the school. The parents, members of the Cathedral Congregation and a number of visitors had a great time laughing along with the children; the Cathedral was full of song and laughter.
On Sunday we travelled the short distance to St James the Great, Dingwall and had a very joyous morning as we rededicated the church after major renovation. The works included a new floor and the removal of the pews, the flexibility of the worship space was already enhancing the life of the congregation and I was very interested to hear about the willingness of people to worship in the round during the weekly bible study.
Things in the Cathedral were beginning to speed up, there were lots of rehearsals and preparations for the coming festival but I still had time to meet with the Lay Reps of the South West Charge, Nostie, Kishorn and Poolewe and to drive through to Huntly for the AGM of Alexander Scott’s Hospital trustees. I even had a lovely and lively visit from 80 school pupils from Dalneigh Primary School who came to hear about the life and worship of the Cathedral, they asked a lot of really good questions and, I don’t know about them, but I really enjoyed their visit.
Friday was the last day of term and Bishop Eden’s Primary School pupils came to the Cathedral in the morning to decorate the Christmas tree with the members of the Cathedral flower guild and then they came back in the afternoon with the whole school for their Carol Service. One of the P4 pupils high fived me as they left, “I love the cathedral” she said.
