Search by author: Tracy Niven

Tracy Niven

Advent Calendar – 7 December

Nativity Stories: Joseph I’ve never been what you’d call reckless.  I know people have thought me old before my time, too cautious, a bit of a traditionalist.  So be it – I saw the flashier guys around me get ahead,…

Advent Calendar – 6 December

Nativity Stories: Gabriel At first all I saw was how young she was, standing in the room with a brush in her hand, but not sweeping.  Her mind was elsewhere, a daydream, laying out her future with another.  I saw her…

Advent Calendar – 5 December

Nativity Stories: Mary The day it happened, I was a mess.  I was thinking about Joseph, my betrothed, when the other one came.  I’d seen him – Joseph – in his workshop when Michal took us there.  She was always…

Chancellor, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

Greetings, You may have seen the beautiful tribute the Principal paid earlier today to our Chancellor, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, whose death has been announced. Although I was not part of the University at that…

Orientation Awaits: A Chaplaincy Welcome

Good afternoon, Higher and A Level results are out, and many people are now sure they are coming to St Andrews to begin their University education.  It’s time for them to start packing clothes, books, trombones and…

A Week of Celebration and Thanksgiving

Good morning, Grades are given, results are released, and for graduating students, degree classifications awarded.  All that is left is to cross the stage in the Younger Hall, be capped by the Vice-Chancellor, and…

Faith, Reconciliation, and the Environment

Good morning, Over the past week, two pieces of my writing have appeared on the internet, and I thought I would rather shamelessly plug them to the Chaplaincy mailing list.  Although I am writing fiction for my Masters…

His Holiness Pope Francis

Good afternoon, It is with sadness that I write of the death earlier today of His Holiness Pope Francis. It was only yesterday that so many around the world (as I did) watched him on the news wishing the Vatican crowds…

Companionship 22 July 2024

Good afternoon, I hope you’re having a good summer, wherever you are spending it.  I was preaching yesterday in the church I grew up in in Glasgow, called Greenbank, and thought you may be interested in reading the…