First year ordinand Helen Randall from Shetland is SEI Chapter’s Eco-Congregation Scotland rep. In recent days she has been deeply involved with welcoming and hosting the Revd David Coleman, Eco-Congregation Scotland Chaplain, on a ten-day tour of the islands organised by Marilyn Pope, Vestry Secretary and Chair of the St Magnus (Lerwick) Eco Group, and Lynn Brady, Church of Scotland Interim Minister, Shetland Parish.
The tour started on Saturday 25 June with a breakfast Vestry meeting at St Magnus at which David led Morning Prayer, followed in the afternoon by a meeting of Episcopal, Methodist and Salvation Army Eco-Congregation groups, held at the new Pioneer Ministry Polycrub shown above, run by the Salvation Army. Surrounded by sustainably grown vegetables that are made available to the local community, thoughts were shared about the challenges of growing crops in Shetland’s climate, and the environmental challenge faced by a group of islands dependent upon shipping and aviation for life-line services. Discussion included information about the Lerwick District Heating system which takes heat from a council incinerator and pumps it round to effect the efficient heating of homes and other buildings in Lerwick (including St Magnus church and hall) at a reasonable cost compared with electricity. Annette Smith and Marilyn Pope from St Magnus provided information about the traditional and sustainable use of peat as fuel in the islands.
(The photograph shows David Coleman on the left along with Bev and Dave from the Salvation Army, Marilyn, Annette and Wendy, members of St Magnus Church Eco Group, and Conrad from St Magnus. Photo courtesy of Karen Bass.)
The next day David preached at an Eco service in St Magnus, Helen’s home congregation, and Martin Randall presided, using material from the SEC’s liturgical resources for the Season of Creation. David first introduced the congregation to his animal puppets, with an invitation to welcome them, as a reminder that God loves diversity, and ‘the earth is full of your creatures’ (Psalm 104. 24). We were encouraged and challenged to be wise carers of creation and to ‘tread the earth lightly’.
During the week David and his partner Karen travelled around the Mainland and the North Isles meeting Church of Scotland and Methodist congregations, teaching and encouraging the spiritual aspects of caring for creation. David also met with community groups, local politicians and the ecumenical ministers group.
The week culminated on Sunday 3 July with a United Service at St Columba’s Kirk, Lerwick, in the morning and an Evening Service at Scalloway Methodist Church. Gratitude was expressed by the various churches for David’s time with them in Shetland.
