20 December 2024
Good morning,
…when morning comes late and evening early. It is midwinter: this year’s Winter Solstice will have a mere six hours and 52 minutes between sunrise and sunset in St Andrews. To mark this significant turning-point in the year, our honorary Pagan Chaplain Kitty Macintyre has organised a Path of Light on the Longest Night, from 4.30 – 8.30 pm in the Spanish Gardens accessed through the car park at the Business School on the Scores (Economics and Finance). Walking this labyrinth is a beautiful way to reflect on the year which has passed and to look forward to longer days, what they might bring, and who we might be.
It is a midwinter’s evening in the story behind today’s Advent Calendar window too.
Feathers
Part 20
The story so far: Josh has been born in St Leonard’s Chapel during a service of Carols by Candlelight.
It had been a slack day. Hardly anyone wanted takeaways having filled up their fridge a day or two before. But three Deliveroo riders – Jake, Rachel and Davie – were still hanging out by the old Madras before giving up for the night. They kept watch on their phones in case they missed the chance of an order, a massaman curry perhaps, or wings. Time hung heavy: they grumbled about being out all hours in the cold and rain, paying for every puncture, cars passing uncomfortably close speeding past them on Largo Road. They would sometimes take a delivery and peer over the shoulder of whoever came to the door at the party behind. “Is that the pizzas?” someone would be shouting. “About time.”
Their phones all lit up at the same time. Oh-ho. Three orders had come in all at once, so they each accepted one. Good news. It wouldn’t take long as the roads were quiet – just a few people in hats and scarves scurrying into the shops, music floating out when they opened the doors, a host of voices singing. From the shoe-repair shop,
Oh-oh, all the lights are shining so brightly everywhere (so brightly, baby)
And the sound of children’s laughter fills the air (oh, oh, yeah)
And everyone is singing (oh, yeah)
I hear those sleigh bells ringing.
Or, from the dry-cleaners,
I can see a better time
when all our dreams come true.
The riders reckoned that would be it for the night so they said farewell and sweet dreams. They couldn’t believe it when, within ten minutes, they all rode up at the same time to the same destination, bearing what they’d collected. The small triangle-shaped windows in St Leonard’s Chapel were flickering with a warm golden light, and even before they opened the door, they heard the sound of a congregation singing with a joy none could remember from any church, “Glo-ooooo-ooooo-ooooo-ooooo-ooooo-ria! In excelsis Deo!” When the carol was finished, Davie called out, “Delivery for Maryam Imran – lamb biryani from Maisha.” Then Rachel: “Delivery for Joseph Davidson – lamb chops with chips and roast parsnips from Forgans.” Finally Jake: “Delivery for Joshua – a baby’s woolly hat from the Salvation Army.”
Carlo Antonio Tavella (1668-1738), Paessaggio Lacustre (Lake Landscape), Palazzo Rosso, Genoa
Yours,
Donald.
Revd Dr Donald MacEwan
Chaplain