Kirkliston

There are all sorts of things I get to do in the course of my work.

One of the tasks that falls to me now and then is that of helping another congregation in the area when their minister leaves.

You'd think that was maybe a full time task in itself. But it's not.

It's more like my being a conductor of an orchestra. He doesn't have to play all the music himself. He just makes sure there are people to play all the instruments: and that they're all playing their bits in time.

It's hard enough work, I guess. Being a conductor. I can understand why they get a clap at the end of a performance. Even though they haven't played a note of it themselves.

It's a bit like that, taking on the role that I'm doing out at Kirkliston. Their minister leaves at the end of May.

And there's loads to be done to see that things run smoothly for them all when that moment comes.

Like any good conductor, the first thing that I need to do is get to know the score!

So the whole of the morning's been spent in simply doing that. Running through the rules and regulations 'til I sorted out just what was needing done. By whom. And when.

The typing it up and printing it out. So that all of the folk most closely involved could also get clear on the score.

And then in the afternoon it was out to Kirkliston itself. To see the place, meet the folk and get our strategy clear.

It helps a people, I think, in a time like this - it helps, I think, if they at least can feel that someone knows what they're doing.

So some thorough preparation (I hope), right away from it all, helps to put them all at ease. Helps them feel they're in safe hands.

I think that's important. It kind of helps them feel that God's in charge. Which he is.

And has been. And will be.

Kirkliston's an old parish church. There's been a Christian presence there for 800 years and more. So it's got a lot of history.

And the graves to prove it all.

The church's building is set on the top of a hill, with graveyards all around. Light in the midst of darkness. Life in the midst of death.

And that's what the challenge really is for us now as a time of 'bereavement' is faced. What with their minister going away. The end of another chapter. A time of goodbyes.

Christine was there today. She's going to do the 'locum' work which is a huge big weight off my mind. And the two of us met with three of the 'movers' there. The folk who sort of pull the strings. In a nice sort of way. David and Robbie and Jan.

Together we're called to lead this people through to a new day. A new future. The next generation on.

It felt like the Lord gave a picture of that to me when some children were playing at the fountain here today.

My Mum would have loved the sight.

They were drawn to the water, sparkling and bright in the sun. And they think all the decorative stones at its base are part of the game they can play, tipping them into the flow of the water on top.

The water. The rocks. And the children with smiles of adventurous joy. The future.

Bright with hope.