November graduations
Good evening,
Today was the first day of our November graduations. The sun shone over a hint of frost in the town as the day began with a service in St Salvator’s Chapel. The chapel was packed – how lovely it was to see so many graduands, their family members and friends, and academics. Bill Shackman was unable to attend because of illness so I took his place as the preacher, on Where are you? If you would like to watch and hear the service it’s available here https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chaplaincy/worship/ We wish Bill a speedy recovery.
Later we saw not only graduations but the induction of new professors including Professor Ian Smith of the School of Economics and Finance – who is the husband of Fiona Barnard, our honorary Global Chaplain. Congratulations Professor Smith! Here are the three of us at the reception, blocking people’s access to the vegetarian sandwiches…
Earlier today the University announced that Margaret Atwood is unable to attend the graduation ceremony tomorrow, and that it is arranging for her to receive her honorary doctorate at graduation in June next year. That means, sadly, she will not be the preacher at tomorrow’s chapel service of thanksgiving for graduation on St Andrew’s Day, at 9.30 am. Instead, I will be the substitute, this time preaching on Ever to X-el. All are welcome – even if the preacher is somewhat less intriguing than the author of Alias Grace – which, when you think about it, would be a good sermon title, and probably easier to explore than Oryx and Crake.
Yours,
Donald