Moderator’s Musings December 2023Published 22 Dec 2023
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Advent is the time when the Moderator gets invited to attend and participate in various carol services in the City Chambers and in George Square. It has also been a busy time ecumenically with visits to the Ahmadhiya mosque and the Sikh Gudwara. I was privileged to bless the crib in George Square and also was surprised by the good turnout of parents and children and the enthusiastic singing by primary school children!
During the festive season the Glasgow City Council arranges a series of Christmas lunches for senior citizens and I was invited to say grace at one of them. The lunch was excellent and the entertainment was provided by the Salvation Army band and a singer. At the end of the meal folks got up to dance and I was led out to dance the slosh with a group of ladies who showed me the steps and tried to keep me facing in the right direction!! (Note for future Moderators – dancing lessons might be in order!).
Glasgow Cathedral hosted a joint service with the churches in Bethlehem and it was good to share prayers with Palestinian Christians but also humbling to be made aware of the suffering of Gaza civilians and the small Christian community in Gaza. The theme of peace was at the heart of the Carols for Peace event in the city chambers organised by Glasgow Churches Together. A Ukrainian Ladies choir sang poignantly and beautifully about the impact of the war in Ukraine as well as sharing Ukrainian carols with us.
Some of you may have seen the picture of the Christ child in a makeshift cradle surrounded by rubble. This image points to the heart of the incarnation and reminds us that, no matter what our circumstances may be, God is with us (Emmanuel) and promises new beginnings when all seems to be hopeless.
May you all have a joyful and meaningful Christmas and a coming year of new beginnings.
Roger Sturrock
Moderator