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| 2397: Luss
Parish Church, Luss, Scotland |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Aileen.
The church:
Luss Parish Church, Luss, Scotland.
Denomination:
Church
of Scotland.
The building:
There has been a church on this site since AD510, although the
present Decorated Gothic style building dates from 1875 and
underwent a major restoration programme in 2001. The roof is
somewhat unique, resembling an overturned boat. In the graveyard
are several ancient monuments. There is also an effigy of St
Kessog, who brought Christianity to the area in 510. The pulpit
is in the centre of the church and opposite is a special place
for marriages and baptisms. There are three sides for people
to sit, and there are many, many beautiful coloured windows.
High above the pulpit is a window of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
The church:
They broadcast their Sunday service live on-line via the
Luss village website. Many people come to Luss to be married,
from all sorts of places, and are welcomed. There is some controversy,
however, over brides who are married elsewhere and then come
to Luss Parish Church to have their wedding photos taken. The
church also sponsors a pilgrimage centre that attracts many
tourists. The building was frequently depicted in the Scottish
TV soap opera Take the High Road, which was said to
be a favourite of the late Queen Mother.
The neighbourhood:
Luss is a tiny village of 100 people that sits on the edge of
Loch Lomond. There are beautiful mountains all around, and many
visitors come to walk or go boating. The Olympic Torch was carried
through Luss on 9 June, an event that attracted thousands of
tourists.
The cast:
The Revd Dane Sherrard, pastor.
The date & time:
Trinity Sunday, 3 June 2012, 11.45am.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Service.
How full was the building?
The building was reasonably quite full, about 80 people at the service.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
As we came into the church door, a greeter smiled, said "Welcome!"
and gave us the service paper.
Was your pew comfortable?
Our pew was a wooden pew with a woolen cover. Very nice and
comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Most people arrived a little early and sat and chatted quietly.
Most were adults, with just a few children.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good morning to all! You are always welcome."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
The paper we were given had the hymns, the prayers, the Bible
readings, and the order of service.
What musical instruments were played?
An organ led our hymns.
Did anything distract you?
The elders all wore tartan kilts and the minister wore tartan
trousers. I really enjoyed seeing all these! At a wedding that
took place later in the day, the minister wore a kilt.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
There were lots of hymns interspersed with Bible readings and
meditations. Everyone sang the hymns well, and so did the organist,
playing the tune so we all understood it before we sang. There
was no communion service today.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
16 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how
good was the preacher?
9 – Pastor Sherrard spoke very clearly.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
"Three persons in one God" is a massive challenge to understand.
The Hebrews worshipped one God, unlike others who worshipped
all sorts and numbers of divinities. We see God in three wonderful
ways, which are always present: the Creator of the world, Jesus
his Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was born not to
condemn us, but to save us, we are spiritually born through
baptism. We are lifted up to heaven just as Jesus was lifted
up on the cross. The Holy Spirit spoke through Jesus. God's
will is done here as it is in heaven. Have faith in Jesus; be
lifted up to heaven like Jesus. Live God's way. The gift of
God is in us, inspiring us.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
I felt inspired by God's love and care for me, a feeling that
the whole service confirmed.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The overturned boat appearance of the roof made me think of
the people who, down through history, lost their lives on Loch
Lomond and may even be buried here in the churchyard. That was
a bit depressing.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Almost at once, members smiled and said they'd like us to come
with them to the pastor's residence for tea, coffee and biscuits.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Lots of pleasant informal chat over tea, coffee, milk and plenty
of biscuits in the minister's home.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 – If I lived in or very near Luss, I would feel very happy to belong to this church.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
I felt very happy to belong to God as a Christian, and to keep remembering all about God, the Trinity.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The effigy of St Kessog and all of the other reminders of how
old this Christian community really is. |
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| The Mystery Pilgrim |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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