Moderatorial Moments: Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit. Robert Burns

Good Friends in Christ

A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in the St Andrew’s Day services at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hillside, Bulawayo. This congregation chooses to celebrate its anniversary and its connection to Scotland on the Sunday nearest to 30^th November, the feast of St Andrew. St Andrew was, of course, one of the first disciples Jesus called (John 1: 40) and the brother of St Peter the fisherman. Andrew was the one who brought the boy with the fish and bread to Jesus so that he could feed the 5000 (John 6: 8) and when the Greeks came to see Jesus (John 12: 22), it was Andrew who together with Phillip brought them to Jesus.

What a wonderful celebration we had on Sunday 28^th November! It began with a service at 9am at which I was invited to preach and then, at 3pm, a celebration including good food and Scottish country dancing.

The Very Rev. John Miller, a retired minister (and former Moderator) of the Church of Scotland was present, as was Margaret Fogie and Bill Wishart, members of the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley.

Many members of the congregation came in Scottish traditional dress, including the minister, the Rev Stan Chatikobo who wore a kilt. When asked why I was not wearing a kilt, I explained that sadly, the ‘Marchinkowski tartan’ had never been found! Bill Wishart ‘addressed’ the haggis in true Robbie Burns fashion and a wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all.