A Final Reflection.
I am told that if we add all the various times I have served Markinch and Thornton as your Locum Minister that it amounts to nearly 10 years. Today, as I sit down to write this Reflection it gives me great happiness to know that the church has found a minister to take us forward to a time beyond all the distress of Covid 19 – there can be very little doubt that ‘the pandemic’ has caused wholesale distress affecting the economy, redundancies, homelessness, and long-term illness resulting from ‘long-covid’. It has been a dangerous time indeed, and we have all been a bit fed up with the rules and restrictions which the government put in place. However, those restrictions, when they have been adhered to, have saved many lives. But Covid 19 has also had a detrimental effect on the church, especially relating to the lack of numbers being allowed to attend. and that vexes me more than a little. Whenever we can, and that is going to be sooner rather than later I hope, we must get the congregation back together as an active worshipping fellowship once again.
Next Thursday, the Reverend Dr. Conor Fegan will be ordained and inducted to Markinch and Thornton Church. I have met him and have spoken with him and I am convinced that he will be a very fine minister with a lot to offer. However, I can tell you that working two churches is not always an easy task and Conor will need all the support, love and care that you have to offer – I have benefited very much from that love and care over the years, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and so I am encouraged that Conor will feel that warmth too.
I feel blessed to have had the privilege to serve you. albeit intermittently, over the years, but now it is time for me to take a back seat. I have been asked to remain as a member of the parish and I will happily do so.
From Friday 21st January Conor is your ‘main man’.
God bless you all
Yours Aye
Alistair.