Final teaching week
Good morning,
It’s hard to believe that we have reached the final teaching week of the academic year for most students, with a deal of deadlines, revision and exams to come. Indeed, some medics are having practical exams this week. If that’s you, I hope they are going well.
The final week of teaching means the final chance for some of the Chaplaincy’s activities this year. This evening at 5.30 pm is the last service of Evensong this year, live in St Salvator’s Chapel, and livestreamed as well. In this service, choral scholars will sing a psalm, two parts of scripture called the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, a choral anthem and words of traditional prayers. Sam will read from the Bible, while I will be saying prayers. The theme of the service is St George, whose feast-day is on Friday. If you want to take up this positively last and final call for Evensong, then ideally sign up via the University Events page, though I would expect we could accommodate you safely even if you hadn’t successfully reserved a space in advance.
Then tomorrow is the final meeting of Thinking Allowed this semester, the discussion group looking at issues in faith and society. Online since September, this has been a hugely enjoyable year with people making friends regardless of location, tradition and conviction. Tomorrow’s conversation at 8 pm (BST), and appropriately enough for a time of endings, will be on Kingdom of God, eternal life and heaven. Here is the link: Click Join Microsoft Teams Meeting to join meeting on the day.
Following Thinking Allowed, I will then walk briskly to St Salvator’s Chapel for the closing service of Compline for the academic year, beginning at 10 pm. This service too will be live and livestreamed. This is a candlelit service of night-prayer in which the congregation joins in, effectively saying every second line. Singers from St Leonard’s Chapel Choir sing a hymn, a psalm and the Nunc Dimittis, and an organ scholar plays a piece of music before three minutes of silent reflection. It is a beautiful end to the day. Compline has taken place in person or on Teams every week of this academic year – wonderful continuity in a time of sometimes disconcerting change. Spaces can be reserved on the Events page.
Sunday services continue for some time to come. This Sunday’s preacher has become very well known in Scotland over the past year. I first heard of Professor Jason Leitch a couple of years ago as a good preacher and decided to invite him to a Chapel service. Little did I (or he) know how famous he would become. Jason has a very senior role in public health, working for the Scottish government. Last spring he was catapulted on to our TV and social media screens and has stayed there ever since, explaining the rules, and giving guidance as we navigate through the pandemic. He has also been very open about his Christian faith, having been involved with Airdrie Baptist Church since childhood. His sermon is called Hope, during and after a pandemic – a title which captures what so many of us are wanting. As I write there are still 22 spaces available to reserve for this service in person. If you’re not quite sure if you know who I’ve been talking about, you may recognise him from this picture…
For all these services, reserve spaces at https://events.st-andrews.ac.uk/
And catch the livestream at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/community/worship/
You may also be aware that changes in rules for living are taking place in Scotland. Services offered by the Chaplaincy will change in line with the government restrictions. It is already the case that baptisms can take place. Muslim prayers are taking place in the Chaplaincy every Friday, and nightly during Ramadan. Other faith societies are welcome to arrange to meet in Mansefield for prayer, worship and meditation.
The only changes really affecting the Chaplaincy are that from Monday 26 April, numbers who can attend weddings and funerals will rise to 50 people. The same number can attend receptions afterwards. People at these central rites of passage may feel just a little more comfortable from now on.
Take care,
Yours,
Donald.