Cancelled University Carol Service

Some 21 months since the first Companionship email, I feel tonight as if we are not far from where we started.  I am writing with deeply disappointing news.  The Principal has written to say that she has decided that tomorrow’s University Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church must be cancelled.  I know how many people, especially students, relish this community event which is one of the high-points in our life together.  It will feel so strange tomorrow not to be gathering as a University community to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The pantomime at the Byre Theatre is also being cancelled.  (Sadly – oh yes, it is.)

The Principal has also said however that she sees regular services as less of an issue because of the numbers who attend, so for now, please assume that we will be going ahead this Sunday 12 December at 11 am at St Salvator’s Chapel for the final Sunday service of the year.

There are boxes of orders of service at Holy Trinity Church which will not be needed.  Here is the image from the cover:

This is Giotto’s Adoration of the Magi, from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.  It seems a dream now that I was able to visit Padua just a couple of months ago and see the astonishing series of frescoes in this chapel.  The Adoration of the Magi is particularly beautiful, with that tantalising star with a comet-like tail.

The future appears hugely uncertain, in terms of the path the virus will take, and the constraints to be placed upon our lives.  I hope that we can remember and exemplify the companionship which marked those early, bewildering days in March 2020, in supporting those who will be most affected by cancellations and constraints over coming days.

Yours,
Donald.