5th June 2022: Letter from the Locum Minister Rev Marion Paton

Dear Friends,
During the past couple of weeks I have received two emails, (amongst the many) parts of which I would like to share with you. The first was from Charlotte, one of our Choral Scholars, who some of you will remember played the violin so beautifully during our Communion Service. In it, amongst other things, she said ‘I’m delighted to hear that the Bach felt right for the occasion — someone once said that playing solo Bach is like praying with the violin, and I have to agree’. What a timely reminder that there are many ways to pray and to worship, and that we are all called to offer our individual gifts and talents in worship and prayer, both to God and to our neighbour.
The second was from a group of pilgrims who, having walked the Fife Pilgrim Way, ended their pilgrimage at Holy Trinity, where a small group of friends welcomed them. It said, ‘I thought I would write to say how much we appreciated everyone’s welcome and hospitality at Holy Trinity’. Everyone was ‘so friendly and welcoming to a group of strangers who were invading your space. You modelled what a theology of hospitality should be’.
Then this weekend, we have been celebrating with the whole country, the remarkable life of faith, duty and service of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has given seventy years of devoted service to our country. A truly remarkable and unique event and a life of service for which we all give thanks.
This weekend too, we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, that time when nervous, frightened followers of Jesus were transformed into courageous women and men through the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to share the gospel message all over the known world. this is such an important event in the life of the church, one for which we all give thanks.
Worship, prayer, faith, duty, service, hospitality. These are all marks of the Christian life. We can’t all be good at all of them, although we can do our best. And we can all offer the best that we have to give, even though we may feel it to be inadequate, in all these areas. Through the gift and transforming nature of the Holy Spirit, we are promised that whatever we offer in faith will be changed into something and special as we do our best to serve our God, through our Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
With love and blessings,
Marion