Award Winners in Action – Shetland

The importance of building strong, positive relationships on a secure and solid foundation was the theme of the service I attended at St Magnus’ Episcopalian Church in Lerwick, last month.

This Bronze Award Congregation were warmly welcoming and immediately pointed out their plaque, prominently displayed in the Sanctuary. Environmental and social justice issues were woven into the service referencing transport (recent considerations of locations for essential meetings of scattered people across Shetland); networking & sharing resources; meeting community needs; celebrating what they have; international concerns in prayers and acknowledging many of the environmental challenges faced by everyone but also of their location.
Afterwards, I was shown the new and successful book exchange set up by a younger member of the congregation, many of the activities referenced in their original application and the continuing progress towards Silver.
I don’t know which of us was more excited, inspired and encouraged by this visit but it was good to share.

Two days later, I was invited to meet Bev & Dave, Ministers in the Salvation Army who are planting a community church in Cunningsburgh, also a Bronze Award congregation on Shetland.
Soon after they arrived in Shetland, after a disastrous end to initial attempts to grow produce and a prayer walk asking for guidance, a local Crofter & his wife knocked on their door and donated a new Polycrub with the offer of erecting it on a piece of their land. Now Dave & Bev are generating produce, making connections and have 2 more Polycrubs. One provides a warm space for people to come reflect, pray and pause for a while, and the other is a children’s play area. Their wee shed is an expansion and continuation of a growing Shetland tradition of honesty fridges as well as a source of tinned food, books and more.

Prayer and worship underpin this diverse and dynamic congregation demonstrating the love of God and challenging isolation through environmental and just actions, inviting responses, partnership & involvement from everyone of this Island community. They are surrounded by the beauty and immersed in the challenges of creation; connected with God, people and the earth and, are providing modern solutions to age old challenges.