THE OCTOBER MESSAGE FROM THE
INTERIM MODERATOR. My new friends in Fairlie and Largs I was interested to read the Revd John Purves’ “farewell” letter in the last issue of this newsletter. Like him, I once had golden curls, and like him I found that the many hats I have worn in the last forty years in the ministry have worn them all away! My background was as a teacher of English in Glasgow schools. I trained for the ministry in New College, Edinburgh University, and was a probationer minister in Fife. Three charges followed: in Dumfries: Greyfriars, Cambuslang: Old and Greenock: Ardgowan. In 2010 I was called to Interim Ministry and served in Edinburgh, then Clackmannanshire and latterly in Kilwinning: Mansefield Trinity, where I am still Interim Moderator. My wife Alison and I live in West Kilbride where we are both members of the parish church. In retirement I have been called on so much as a locum and to provide pulpit supply that when I do attend worship at West Kilbride, people invite me to sign the Visitors’Book! We have two sons, both living in British Columbia in western Canada (but 500 miles apart) and two grand-daughters. It is my privilege to be your Interim Moderator in the vacancy, but because of my many other timeconsuming commitments in the wider Church of Scotland it is not possible for me to be your Locum Tenens. I am also delighted to advise you that Rev. Sandy McCallum will act as Locum during the vacancy. Meantime, I shall conduct worship for four Sundays beginning on 24th September, when I look forward to meeting many of you on Sunday mornings. Alan Ward |
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