Minister's Blog
Here’s our minister, Revd. Dr. Richard E Frazer’s latest blog posts. You can read more over at his blog on wordpress.
SlowKirk
The signing of the National Covenant in 1638 in Greyfriars Kirk is considered by some to be the greatest event in Scotland’s history. In order to understand the meaning of the National Covenant we have to look briefly at the political and religious climate of the period.
The Reformation had taken place in Scotland in 1560 – a part of a movement all across northern Europe that asserted that aspects of the Catholic Church at the time had become corrupted by too much power, money and politics. Specifically, its bishops were amongst the most powerful figures in medieval Europe often...
Launch of the Green Pilgrim Network, Assisi, Italy, November 2011
1. Pilgrimage is making a comeback and it may be that we do not fully realise what the Spirit has in mind by prompting people to consider this as a spiritual activity but there are some key elements:
· The pilgrim travels light and, in a time of recession and climate change and the realisation that there are limits to growth, it may be that we are being invited to consider an alternative social economy. The present economic system suggests that the only indicator of success is growth. But there...
The world is full of experts. Fairly soon, those of you who are graduating today will join them – that is if you can find a job. This is not straight forward in these difficult economic times.
It is wonderful to be an expert, to be a professional person in a specific field. But, as you proceed into the world of professionalism with your particular expertise, never stop listening to those who have something to say about your sphere of activity, even if they are not qualified.
Do not become a “laboratory hermit”! Do not live in a professional “silo”!
One of...
The Greyfriars Kirkhouse is now home to the Grassmarket Community Project. You can visit their website at www.grassmarketcommunityproject.co.uk We still have our Tuesday night Parish Meal and still offer the hospitality and friendship that has always been a characteristic of the Kirkhouse. Now, however, we are doing a great deal more to assist people to move ahead in life, develop skills and enjoy success. Many people know about the GRoW workshop, recycling church pews, but there is a new social enterprise getting off the ground that involves weaving spinning and dyeing textiles and we...
The Background
“This is not just about woodwork……we teach people transferrable skills and this place allows them to participate in their own community. It is about accepting people. I have a team of volunteers who are so motivated, much more so than in some places where people are getting paid for it”.
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