Second Sunday in Lent 2026 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Today we celebrated the 2nd Sunday of Lent, my last service as your Rector. We had a lovely service, obviously with mixed emotions, but it was a great celebration of ministry at St Andrew’s. Thank you all for coming and especially the choir that sang so beautifully. This was followed by a wonderful lunch which we all enjoyed. Thank you for all your kind words, it was very moving. Thank you also for your most generous presents which I have yet to open!
The Lent Study Group began on Tuesday at All Saints 2pm in their small hall. It meets every Tuesday afternoon in Lent 2pm ( February 24th and March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st)The book being studied is Dust & Glory by David Runcorn. It is a book of daily Bible readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day, broken up into the six weeks of Lent. Not too late to join – all welcome.
This Week
Tuesday 10am – Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House.
Readings for next Sunday – 3rd Sunday of Lent – Exodus 17:1-7 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42
Today’s readings – Genesis 12:1-4, Romans 4:1-5,13-17, John 3:1-17
Preparing for the service today felt a bit like preparing for my parent’s funerals. A sad day where one must dig deep to face the reality of the occasion.
And it is a sad day, after many years of being part of a loving Christian family today that changes in a tangible way. Of course, we will keep in touch but it’s not the same. Ministry can be quite brutal in that way.
But like my parents’ funerals, it is also a celebration of what has been: the wonderful years together and the opportunities we have had to share ministry, and because this is set in the Christan context today’s service is also a celebration of what is to come.
Let’s begin with the gospel…. Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night”
Given St John’s desire for depth and double meaning in his gospel we can be sure he is using “night” in a particular way. Night in John’s gospel is a symbol of uncertainty and confusion. We see it throughout his gospel.
In a sense it was by night Stephen and I came to Milngavie. Unfamiliar with the area and not knowing anyone we took a leap of faith in the dark.
However, any uncertainty evaporated as soon as we had made our first visit and met you all. We could not have wished for a more friendly, warm and welcoming congregation. Night quickly became day and we have had a wonderful 10 years here.
As I reflect over the last decade it’s hard to know where to start, it’s been such a rich and sustaining time.
Perhaps a good place to start is with the Holy Spirit. When I used to take assemblies in primary schools, I taught the children liturgical responses, they loved it, their favourite one being the Lord is here, to which they would yell back his spirit is with us. This liturgical response is apposite for St A’s, for I feel there is a strong sense of the Spirit in this place, which has upheld us over the years and continues to do so.
Of course, the Holy Spirit does not exist on its own. It comes to us in our worship, our music and most importantly through each other in our relationships. We are the body of Christ and together we have achieved and enjoyed so much.
So, to mention a few of the highlights of my time here.
I’ll start with music – our special choral services we did with Gordon and Hugh for Good Friday and Advent Sunday, taking part and singing in those services was so inspiring and moving.
Great walks have been a feature – in the early days walking the WHW with our walking group in both rain and sun and then more latterly our church walks followed by tea.
And then who can remember those geological walks organised by George which went on for hours usually end up with a pint?
The weekly prayer group, such a faithful group, whose prayers have been offered without ceasing for so many years. It’s something I will cherish.
Equally the Thursday Eucharist and accompanying fellowship has also been very special and sustaining.
Celebrating the Eucharist on Easter Day with Liz, the church beautifully decorated.
Our generous hospitality. This is got to be the only church where the coffee goes on longer than the service but then we do serve the best coffee and the best cakes and homemade treats in I suspect the entire Anglican church!
Of course, we have had our lean times but even throughout the pandemic we kept in touch and continued to offer worship as best as we could as soon as allowed. Laura’s beautiful voice raising our spirits and elevating our worship was a real privilege.
We have also said goodbye to dearly loved friends. It is a great sadness when friends who have been so much part of the fabric of our church family are no longer with us. Gordon and Pamela, of course immediately come to mind. They were the stalwarts and the main players of the church when I arrived and were so welcoming to Stephen and me.
It’s always difficult to mention people by name because you have all in different ways brought so much to the life here and I don’t want this to sound like an AGM, but I will mention one or two.
Fraser for his commitment, for being such a stalwart and reliable ministerial colleague and an exceptional sacristan.
Angela and Liz when I first arrived navigating me in the ways of the SEC and general support
Helen, for all she does, Sunday school, flowers, vestry but above all for being such a good friend and support. I simply don’t know what I would have done without Helen and of course Robin for his advocacy and wisdom freely given over the years.
Robert for his constant support, including maintenance, care taking the hall, at the altar, in the treasury, everywhere really!
And now I come to Tim. Tim, being the committee man that he is was invaluable in the early days as he introduced me to the wider diocese and ways of the SEC. Many a trip we have made to Kilmarnock and various outer reaches of the diocese to elect bishops, sit at synod and preside over NWRC together. But it’s not just committees we’ve enjoyed, along with Stephen pints have been drunk, golden eagles spied and even football matches visited, something I thought I would never do!
Of course, all who have served on the vestry, the friendship we have shared as we managed the daily life of the church together.
10 years ago, we may have come here by night but like Nicodemus we leave in the light as through the power of Holy Spirit we have been reborn in that Spirit, like so many people who have worshipped within these walls. The world may have changed significantly in the last ten years, but the Holy Spirit hasn’t. God love remains constant and that is what we have to hope for.
” The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23
So today I would like to thank you and my colleagues in the wider church for your love support, friendship, and commitment and for the joy that we have all shared. To say I will miss you is an understatement, but I know we continue to pray for each other and continue to be the Body of Christ.
Amen