Plenary, 02 Nov 2005
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Official Report
402KB pdf
Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business today is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is the Rev Rosemary Frew, minister of Abbotshall parish church in Kirkcaldy.
The Rev Rosemary Frew (Abbotshall Parish Church, Kirkcaldy):
Good afternoon. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I first received my invitation to lead your time for reflection, I quickly homed in on the date. What special day or event could I take my inspiration from? I must confess that when I saw that the date was 2 November, my first thought was:
"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot."
In 1605, 400 years ago come Saturday, Guy Fawkes went to the Houses of Parliament.
However, I decided that we would probably all feel more comfortable if, instead, I turned to yesterday, 1 November. All saints' day is a great feast of witness to the holy lives and courageous faith of men and women throughout the ages of the Christian church. Saints are not just the heroes—the big names—of the faith. This prayer for all saints' day puts the matter in perspective:
"For the ordinary saints
who helped your kingdom
take root and grow among us,
we praise you:
mothers and grandmothers,
fathers and grandfathers,
common heroes
and unsung servants of the kingdom
who have let us see Jesus."
Yesterday was a day to reflect on
"all the saints, who from their labours rest",
and on their lives and faith and influence.
In all our lives there are people who have been influential—folk who have helped to mould us into the people we are today. They are not necessarily big names; they are often ordinary people whose lives have touched ours, whose values have impressed us, whose qualities we have admired and whose commitment and service have challenged us.
Each week in The Scotsman there is a short interview with someone in public life and one of the questions is, "Who has been the most influential person in your life?" I am always fascinated by the answers and the reasons. The influential person might be a parent who was a role model, a partner who supported unstintingly, a teacher who saw potential and encouraged, a boss who gave opportunity, or a politician who articulated.
How would you answer the question? You may, indeed, have been asked it. Who have been the most influential people in your lives? Take time, at this time, to remember and to be thankful. As you remember, commit yourselves anew to being people whose lives, words, thoughts and deeds display the same values, the same qualities and the same commitment that inspired and moulded you. May God bless you in the work that lies ahead of you this week.