Dear Friends, Many years ago, I attended a service in a very prestigious church where a famous minister was officiating. I now cannot remember all the details, but I do remember feeling that God had been slighted and the congregation not involved...
Read MoreSunday 3 May 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, This morning, I found myself taking a funeral service for a friend in the church where I was ordained and where I served as minister for many years. Although it was a sad occasion, it was also a happy celebration as my friend had...
Read More26 April 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, Today in Holy Trinity we welcome the ‘Friends of Holy Trinity’ who will have their AGM in the Sharp Aisle after worship. The ‘Friends’ were set up by Tom Duncan and Rev Roy Hill to support the musical tradition of Holy Trinity and...
Read More19 April 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, John was an old man by the time I first knew him. He was the organist in my first church which only had a rather unreliable keyboard. He was in his late 80s and was very quiet, rushing off at the end of the service to play at...
Read More12 April 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, This morning when I switched on my radio, I found myself listening to something called ‘A Symphony of Easter’. I had never heard of such a thing before, but as it was beautiful baroque music I continued to listen. I noted that it...
Read More29 March 2026 – Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, Last week I was very privileged to accompany a member of staff from St Leonard’s School to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. You may remember how, at Christmas, we collected for the Lochranza Ward there...
Read More22 March 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, Almost forty years ago, when I was a student for the ministry, I worked with a wonderful minister who used to say ’Why use your own brain when you can use one that belongs to someone else?’ In saying this, he was encouraging me to...
Read More15 March 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, The story is told of a very elderly lady and her daughter who were out for a run in the car to enjoying the autumn sunshine. They stopped at a viewpoint to get out of the car to get some fresh air and enjoy the colourful view...
Read More8 March 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, Some of you may remember, during the COVID Lockdowns, when we could not meet in person, that we began sending out a weekly worship service by email, together with a pastoral letter. These mailings still continue. They are available...
Read More15 February 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,I guess many of you, like me, have been watching the Winter Olympics. Although I have never skied or skated I love to see others doing it and am always amazed at the bravery and the skill and discipline that these athletes...
Read More8 February 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,On my bookshelf I have a book entitled ‘How to read a church’. It is full of fascinating facts and figures about architecture and the significance and use of various pieces of church furnishing. Like many people, I enjoy visiting...
Read More1 February 2026: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,Technology! I know that modern technology has many positive uses, and I certainly couldn’t manage without the technological advances in communication that have taken place in the last few decades. But it does have its drawbacks too...
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