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The Link

“WEAR THE LEEK UPON ST DAVIDS’S DAY”

7/3/2022

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The 1st of March is St. David's Day.

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I was asked to write about the saints in the Link for the next few months. It  seems good to start with a fellow Celt and Patron Saint of Wales. St David  stands among the British and Saxon saints of the early days of Christianity in the UK. Much of St David’s life is today a mix of mystery and legend, but  he lived in Wales in the 6th century, preached the Gospel to the Celtic tribes of western Britain, and founded several religious communities,  notably one at what is now St David’s. His rules for the monks were  austere, even by the standards of the time, and legend has it that, as happened to St Benedict, his strictness made him so unpopular at one  monastery that his monks tried to poison him – but, as with St Benedict, he  came to no harm. 

It is also said that St David travelled as far as Jerusalem and that he was consecrated Archbishop by the Patriarch there – a story that may have its  roots in later propaganda, as it would have indicated that the Welsh church  need not be expected to take instructions from Canterbury. Be that as it  may, he appears in many Welsh churches wearing headgear different from what we expect to see on an Archbishop, and about his neck is a priestly  breastplate of the kind we associate with Aaron. These features seem likely  to have a connection with the Jerusalem story. In Wales, St David is often  depicted with a white dove on his shoulder – for it is said that once, when he was preaching outdoors, the ground miraculously rose into a mound so  that he could be seen and heard more easily, and at the same time the  dove alighted upon him.
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Particularly in Wales, St David is remembered for his last words to his monks: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.” His countryman, and former Archbishop of  Canterbury Rowan Williams, comments that this farewell speech “reminds us that the primary things in life are the relationships around us, the need  to work at what’s under our hands, what’s within our reach”. 
“We can all strengthen our domestic, our family relationships, our national  life to some extent, if we do that with focus and concentration in the  presence of God." 

​Happy Saint David's Day to all with Welsh connections.

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Remembering... Archbishop Desmond Tutu

2/2/2022

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The recent death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu was mourned around the  world. Born as Desmond Mpilo Tutu in Klerksdorp, northwest South Africa, Archbishop Tutu was iconic for his work in anti-apartheid activisim, human rights advocacy and social justice reform. 

Archbishop Demond Tutu (7 October 1931 – 26 December 2021) 

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Here are five of his more famous quotes that highlight why he was so especially honoured for his justice and reconciliation work in South Africa. 
  • “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put  together that overwhelm the world.” 
  • “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the  oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say  that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” 
  • “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument. Good sense does not  always lie with the loudest shouters, nor can we say that a large, unruly  crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.” 
  • “Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering – remembering and  not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.  And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don’t  want to repeat what happened.” 
  • “Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different  precisely in order to realise our need for one another.” 

Archbishop Tutu was recognised in every Christian denomination as a holy and saintly man. His wisdom speaks of eternal truths and the infinite love of God for all people. ​​
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St. Nicholas

1/2/2022

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In the Orthodox and Catholic/Anglican tradition the feast of St Nicholas is  6 December. ​

Although Nicholas is a very popular saint in the Greek and Latin churches (i.e., Orthodox and Western), there is little known about the historical Nicholas. We know he was Bishop of Myra (Lycia in modern Turkey) at  the beginning of the fourth century. Beyond that, our knowledge of Nicholas moves into legend.

For example...
It is said that he was imprisoned during the Diocletian
 persecution of the church in AD 303-304.

He may have participated in the first 
Council of Nicaea in AD 325, one of the crucial Ecumenical Councils of the Church that  helped forge Christian orthodoxy (from which we have the Nicene Creed).

Nicholas is remembered for his generosity and goodwill. For this, he is considered a patron saint of sailors and children. 
  • According to legend, Nicholas' prayers resulted in the calming of the seas during a perilous storm.
  • He is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them to be married.
  • He is credited with saving or restoring the lives of three boys that had drown.
  • Similarly,  it is said that he obtained the release of three unjustly convicted sailors who had been inappropriately sentenced to death.

The truth of these legends is lost in the mists of time, so
 how might they be important to us today? 


First is the priority of care for those who are denied justice. In Nicholas’ day, children had no legal or other form of status. That was a given in the Roman Empire. Unless affluent, they were profoundly vulnerable. That is still true across the globe today. This is totally contrary to the teachings of  Jesus, who points to the child as an exemplar of the Kingdom of God and  in special need of care and protection.​

In saving the unjustly convicted sailors Nicholas shows that due process is  integral to justice. In the days of Twitter storms and social media  condemnation we are losing the art of measured judgement and are  rushing to condemn. Nicholas warns us away from that nasty basic  impulse to point the finger. He does that surely in the spirit of Jesus’  hesitancy to judge, despite being the Judge of All. Secondly in Nicholas  we see someone who delights in the Gift of Life and wants to see life in  others. How we live our lives – from conception to a natural death – is  increasingly contested, even amongst Christians. Nicholas brought his  gifts by night so as not to be noticed. We don’t see, and barely  acknowledge, the Giver of our lives. In dark times when so many refugees  die and suffer, when we have homeless people living on the street, when  many have little food and poor shelter, part of the Christian task, in the  spirit of Nicholas, is quietly and patiently, yet insistently, to promote the  priority of life. 

St Nicholas was no ‘bah-humbug’ sort of person, and nor should we be, so  following his example, let us pray that we might be humble in generosity,  vibrant in our daily lives and always compassionate to the needs of the  vulnerable. Then we can truly say we honour this great and popular saint.  

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A Saint for September: John Chrysostom

9/10/2021

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On 13 September we remembered the life and work of Saint John Chrysostom ( c.349- 407 AD), the great preacher of Antioch and the archbishop of Constantinople
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Image: Chrysostemos | Carl Christian Peters
John was the Patriarch of Constantinople and one of the most important early theologians. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders and his ascetic sensibilities.

The
 epithet Χρυσόστομος (Chrysostomos, anglicized as Chrysostom) means  “golden-mouthed” in Greek and points to his celebrated eloquence.  Chrysostom was among the most prolific authors in the early Christian Church, exceeded only by Augustine of Hippo in the quantity of his surviving writings. He emphasised charitable giving and was concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor. 


“Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.”
​

― John Chrysostom"

​John spoke against  abuse of wealth and personal property. After he was made Patriarch, he quickly started practicing what he preached. Reforms began with his new house, the Episcopal palace, which had been turned into a place of  extravagant hospitality for the upper class of Constantinople and the clergy. He also reformed his clergy, monastics, budgets, and even sold some precious items stored at the chancery, using the excess money to build a hospital and serve the poor. He angered the wealthy by preaching against the misuse of money, especially while one’s brother goes hungry. His severe criticism of the extravagance of the rulers of his time led to his  banishment and subsequent death.
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    The Link is a monthly publication by members and staff of Morningside United Church.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Link Newsletter >
      • 2025 LINK Magazine
      • 2024 Link magazine
      • 2023 Link magazine
      • 2022 Link magazine
      • 2021 Link Magazine
    • Gallery
    • Staff >
      • Job Vacancies
    • Our Story >
      • Eric Liddell Peace Garden
      • The Church Organ
    • Why are we United?
    • Financial Reports
  • Contact Us
  • What´s On?
    • Services >
      • Communion
      • Pray >
        • Why Pray?
        • Prayer for the Congregation
    • Performances
    • Eric Liddell Community
    • Christian Aid: Holy Corner Booksale
    • Coffee morning
    • MUC Choir
    • Book Group
  • Event Venue
    • Hall Lettings
    • Weddings
    • Baptisms
    • Renewal of Vows
    • Funerals
  • DONATE
  • Safe Guarding