‘Final graduation services, and King Creosote!’
Good morning,
Two weeks of graduations lie behind us, three days to go, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. So far, it has been truly joyful to see graduates cross the stage whom Sam, others in the Chaplaincy team or I have known during their time as students here. How have we known them? Let us count the ways… through supporting them in confidential pastoral care in difficult times, through St Salvator’s Chapel Choir, through faith societies, as colleagues in ministry in other institutions, as chapel-goers, through the Officers Training Corps, as Chancellor’s Pipers, through taking part in walking tours, as people who have explored faith, as Sabbatical Officers and Union post-holders, as wardens, as students who took part in prayer, meditation and worship in Mansefield or online, as students in Thinking Allowed, as people married in the chapel, as friends of students or staff members who have died, as Nightline volunteers, as people involved with performances on stage, through the Grief Group, as Interfaith Steering Group members, as people who have interviewed me for their research projects, as chapel ushers, as journalists for the Saint or the Stand, as fellow staff members, as St Leonard’s Chapel Choir singers, as members of the Ministry Discernment Group, as organ scholars, as family members of our own friends, as Chaplaincy Prize winners, as students visited in hospital, as speakers at vigils and memorials, as students baptised in chapel, and through many other connections.
And still seven ceremonies to go.
As we enter the final week, I’d love good attendances at the last three chapel services of thanksgiving for graduation. It’s always a lovely occasion, and all are welcome, regardless of faith or philosophy of life. Details are as follows:
- Monday 27 June, 8.30 am (yes, 8.30 am, but you can do it): preacher – Revd Dr Jared Michelson, honorary Cornerstone Chaplain, on Gaining the World without Losing your Soul
- Tuesday 28 June, 9.30 am: preacher – me, on Something to believe in
- Wednesday 29 June, 9.30 am: preacher – Revd Jane Barron, honorary Church of Scotland Chaplain, on 42: The Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question. (On the ultimate day of graduation.)
There is plenty of time to have breakfast, collect gown and tickets, and come to St Salvator’s Chapel for this 30 minute service, with beautiful music from St Salvator’s Chapel Choir:
- Monday 27 June, 8.30 am: Wood, O Thou the Central Orb
- Tuesday 28 June, 9.30 am: Handel, Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
- Wednesday 29 June, 9.30 am: Parry, I was glad
And we well definitely finish in plenty of time to get to the Younger Hall for the ceremony which follows immediately. The services are also livestreamed here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chaplaincy/worship/
As I mentioned in an earlier Companionship email, I have a special interest in the honorary graduand at the 10.30 am ceremony on Tuesday this week – King Creosote, also known as Kenny Anderson. He’s a musician, singer and songwriter, sometime label supremo and festival impresario. Born in St Andrews, he went to school at Madras, but, wait, I’m beginning to get into the laureation address which I’ll be giving in the Younger Hall. If you don’t have a ticket for that, you might want to attend the chapel service at 9.30 on Tuesday morning where I will be preaching on Something to believe in, reflecting in part on some of King Creosote’s lyrics. He’s not the only musician in the family, and his father Billy played accordion regularly for worship at Largoward Church when I was minister there. Anyway, here is an image of some of Kenny’s finest recordings, which I’ve purchased usually at the back of some village hall following a gig…
That’s all for now. If you’re taking part from Monday to Wednesday, Sam and I wish you a wonderful ceremony and whole day, and hope to see you for a picture. We put those up on the Chaplaincy facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/mansefield/ Have a look to see lots of images of me with slightly shorter graduates, and one (just one) who bucks the trend.
Yours,
Donald.
Revd Dr Donald MacEwan
Chaplain