OBAN FM BROADCAST
9th June 2013
st columba's day
murdoch mackenzie
Good morning Breege and good morning to all our listeners. My name is Murdoch MacKenzie and I am a member of the Iona Community. Today in Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Community and on Iona we are celebrating St Columba’s Day as on 9th June 597 AD Columba died. In Oban itself at 5 pm this evening in St Columba’s Cathedral the Scottish Roman Catholic Bishops are celebrating the 1450th anniversary of Columba arriving on Iona at Pentecost in the year 563 AD. The main celebration of Columba’s arrival on the island was held on Iona itself 3 weeks ago at Pentecost with a vast gathering of people from many parts of the world.
Thus it is appropriate that we begin our worship this morning with the 8th century Irish hymn ‘Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart’
And now a prayer from the Iona Community: Let us pray… O God who gave to your servant Columba the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent people out from Iona to carry the word of your Gospel to every creature, grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time. Further in all things the purpose of Jesus for your Church that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the hearts of people everywhere. May we here in Oban and especially on Iona, preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and if it be your holy will, grant that a place of your abiding be continued still to be a sanctuary and a light, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Bible Reading is from Luke chapter 23 verses 39-43 about the thief on the cross. ‘One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
George MacLeod Founder of the Iona Community used to say that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles but on a rubbish tip between two thieves. He also told the story of the message in a stained glass window which read: ‘Glory to God in the highest’ but a boy with a stone had removed the letter ‘e’ in the word highest, so that it now read: ‘Glory to God in the High Street’. For the Iona Community and indeed for Columba it is in the High Street and not just in the church that we are called to follow Jesus.
‘Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart’ These ancient words are as true today as they were in the 8th century. Iona is on our doorstep here in Oban and each week people come from the far corners of the earth to catch the vision which inspired Columba, which inspired George MacLeod and which can inspire each one of us if we simply travel across Mull and take the Fionnphort ferry. Thanks to Historic Scotland the history of Iona and of Celtic Christianity here in Argyll is marvellously presented in the museum behind the Abbey which has been completely restored.
Celtic Blessing
Thus it is appropriate that we begin our worship this morning with the 8th century Irish hymn ‘Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart’
And now a prayer from the Iona Community: Let us pray… O God who gave to your servant Columba the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent people out from Iona to carry the word of your Gospel to every creature, grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time. Further in all things the purpose of Jesus for your Church that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the hearts of people everywhere. May we here in Oban and especially on Iona, preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and if it be your holy will, grant that a place of your abiding be continued still to be a sanctuary and a light, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Bible Reading is from Luke chapter 23 verses 39-43 about the thief on the cross. ‘One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
George MacLeod Founder of the Iona Community used to say that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles but on a rubbish tip between two thieves. He also told the story of the message in a stained glass window which read: ‘Glory to God in the highest’ but a boy with a stone had removed the letter ‘e’ in the word highest, so that it now read: ‘Glory to God in the High Street’. For the Iona Community and indeed for Columba it is in the High Street and not just in the church that we are called to follow Jesus.
‘Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart’ These ancient words are as true today as they were in the 8th century. Iona is on our doorstep here in Oban and each week people come from the far corners of the earth to catch the vision which inspired Columba, which inspired George MacLeod and which can inspire each one of us if we simply travel across Mull and take the Fionnphort ferry. Thanks to Historic Scotland the history of Iona and of Celtic Christianity here in Argyll is marvellously presented in the museum behind the Abbey which has been completely restored.
Celtic Blessing
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Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you Deep peace of the flowing air to you Deep peace of the silent earth to you Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you. |