St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church Birnam

St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church Birnam

Welcome

If you seek adventure, or a still space to slow the pace – come on over.

Is this the year that you decide to find time to be a little more still? A lot more grateful even in the storms of daily life? We hope so 🙂 it is a very good way to live.

We at St Mary’s pray for peace in the world, and for our leaders to have wisdom in their decision-making as we journey through unsettled times.

We pray for all who are ministering at this time. May God be with them all, May Gods’ blessing and protection be over them, and may they feel His love enough to pour it out to all.

Live Well, Live Wisely

James 3:13-18

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats
Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace; and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

I am Lesley-Ann Craddock I am the part-time priest at St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church here in Birnam

I stay in Birnam on Fridays, Saturdays, and for the Sunday service at 10 am. I enjoy all aspects of my ministry, but I am especially fond of a good blether! I like sharing a cup of tea and a cake. The ministry of presence is my ‘Thing’.

If I had to label myself in the Christian tradition I would choose contemplative; I am happiest when I am creating quieter spiritual spaces for you and God to meet. However, I can also be very active and louder!!

I encourage discipleship in context – enabling enquirers and those already engaging with regular worship and teaching, to feel comfortable as they seek to understand more about God’s character.

I try to preach in a way that brings the word of God alive ad relevant in today’s world. My family says that I will speak about Jesus joyfully, anywhere and everywhere! and they are quite right.

It is my prayer and hope that I am able to lead the church of St Mary’s in ways that will both challenge and soothe; In living out Jesus’ commandment in Birnam and Dunkeld (and everywhere) I am wise enough to know that I can’t do anything alone. I need other people and God. We are all called by God through our baptism to minister to each other, and that calling has a myriad of possibilities.

St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church Birnam

The First Commandment

New Revised Standard Version. Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”  Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;  you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him, there is no other’;  and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbour as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one dared to ask him any questions.

Vision and Hope

LORD enable us to be a creative space of trust, a place to slow down our pace of life to hear you more clearly; a place where all people are encouraged to join our church family in a respectful way, and that the journey to know you better is maintained, and where our decisions are made democratically with you as our guide. In Jesus name.
St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church Birnam

Children, Young People, and family Dogs...

As a church family, we are aware that bringing young children into a traditional church setting can be a little daunting. But, If you feel that you would like to explore our space and service as a family please get in touch for a chat about how we can enable you to be comfortable.

At present, there are no young families or teenagers attending regularly. This is not by design, we would be blessed to become a more generational church and the only way we can do that is to begin. Yes, there will be some bumps along the way but we can all learn together. There will be no one ‘hushing you up’!

Anyone wishing to bring their well-behaved family dog along is very welcome! they will even receive a blessing/

We look forward to welcoming you to St Mary’s Church.

Have you tried this wonderful Finger Labyrinth

It can be used for a mindful journey or to help one to be fully present in the now.

Just trace the pattern with your finger and either say a prayer as you go or empty your mind allowing the silence to be the prayer.

You can click on the labyrinth to make it larger!