Services of Thanksgiving for Graduation
Good evening,
It is just over a week until the first of the University’s four graduation ceremonies this winter. The first two ceremonies take place on St Andrew’s Day, Tuesday 30 November, and the following two will be on Wednesday 1 December. The three most recent graduation seasons have taken place online with digital conferrals, and there is a palpable sense of excitement about their return in person – at least for the graduands and the members of staff working hard to make them happen.
Also returning next week are the Services of Thanksgiving for Graduation in St Salvator’s Chapel. Each day of graduation, we will begin with a 30 minute service in the chapel at 9 am for graduands, their family, friends and supporters, academics, other staff, students and anybody who wishes to come. St Salvator’s Chapel Choir will sing, and there is a sermon from a distinguished preacher. All are welcome.
On Tuesday 30 November our preacher will be Professor Margaret Connolly, who will be inducted as a Professor the following day. She is Professor of Palaeography and Codicology (surely one of the finest job titles in the University), and Director of the St Andrews Institute of Medieval Studies. Her sermon will link aspects of her research with the history of St Andrews itself, and is called Virtual Pilgrimage. There is still a space for a reader at this service. Are you graduating next week and would like to read the Bible during this service? Please let me know.
Professor Connolly
Then on Wednesday 1 December Andrew Marr will be our preacher. This well-known figure will be receiving an honorary degree that day in recognition of his distinguished career as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and leading figure at the BBC for 21 years. Over the past week or so he has announced that he will be leaving the BBC soon partly because, as he tweeted, “I am keen to get my own voice back.” Could it be that he will begin to get that voice back in this sermon? The Bible passage he will be reflecting on is Jesus’ changing water to wine at the Wedding at Cana, and he has asked for it to be read in the Scots translation of the New Testament by William Lorimer – who taught Greek in the University between 1910 and 1955. Marr’s sermon is entitled, Fu thae crocks wi watter.
Andrew Marr
It’s an early start each day – 9 am – but you are welcome to come in person, or participate via the livestream. The livestream can be found here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chaplaincy/worship/
Congratulations to you if you are graduating next week – come and say hello at the reception.
Yours,
Donald.