Page 6 - Ordinariate Scotland Newsletter - Easter 2024
P. 6
News from The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in Scotland Page 6
noon, and already a number of
Kirk folk and Catholics have
said, “we’ll be there”!
The late Mgr Mark
Langham, in an essay on the
role of the Ordinariate and
Ecumenism, said, “when I
was working for the Pontifical
Council for Christian Unity in
Rome, the Ordinariate was at
the top of the agenda of every
ecumenical discussion, a new
way of doing ecumenism”. D ivine W orship E v ening P r a y er a t Birnie K irk
Divine Worship Evening Prayer at Birnie Kirk
This, surely, is exactly is now “There’s a magic happening at A lady who was not able to
happening in Birnie Kirk, ‘a Birnie Kirk which is uplifting” be present at the first EP said,
new way of doing ecumenism’ and, “You’ve tapped into “I heard there was something
facilitated by the Ordinariate. something that transcends going on at the Kirk, but I’ll be
normal denominational there next time,” and she has
worship and it’s all very been at every EP since.
exciting!”
The Minister of Elgin,
Ann Stronach said, Rev Deon Oelofse, who was
“Service last night was present at EP said, “That was
enjoyable and quite a marvellous, God is really
few I spoke with in the working here,” adding “and
congregation felt the you’ve managed to triple the
delivery of the psalms was congregation!”
slower and therefore easier
for us”. (Bryan had told Hazel Dixon, Session Clerk of
D er ek K elly r eading a L esson a t EP everyone that the antiphonal the new Elgin Kirk Session, said,
Derek Kelly reading a Lesson at EP
Evening Prayer (EP) is being reciting of the psalms was not a “Six months ago, when we heard
lead by an ecumenical group race and that they should slow about the closure of Birnie
under the direction of the down!) Kirk, to be told that a group of
Ordinariate’s Bryan Miller, and Catholics offered to continue
includes Dr Derek Kelly (St. Ann added, “During its the 900 years of worship here,
Sylvester’s Catholic Church, years of existence Birnie Kirk seemed like an impossible
Elgin), Jill Garrow (former has been a unique example of dream. God is good and He
Elder of Birnie Kirk and Elder what one might describe as is with us, as we take these
on the new Elgin Kirk Session), ‘ecumenism’. Its rare Norman new, exciting and privileged
Ann Stronnach (former Elder architecture in Scotland, steps in His name.”
of Birnie Kirk), Rob Birnie has heard the worship of
and Connor Steven (both Catholic, Episcopalian and She also said, “God is awesome
Ordinariate. Church of Scotland followers. and is certainly vibrant in this
Many people of all Christian little part of His creation. He
Comments have been denominations and none regard has indeed called us to a holy
amazing. Catriona Monro, this as the beginning of a new place through His grace. It
daughter of Rev Mr Torrie, chapter. In this way worship always just boils down to trust
Minister of Birnie (1955-86), continues at Birnie Kirk.” the Lord, who knows best.”
