Linklines 30.01.09
New website
An appeal has been launched for a computer expert to help put the finishing touches to a Christian website.
Scalloway man Peter Jamieson has launched the site on www.justworship.witnesstoday.org, which shares what Peter and a group of fellow believers are doing as they relaunch a series of meetings in rural churches over the winter.
The website can already be accessed and includes links to churches and Christian organisations.
There is also a link enabling people to leave testimonies which could act as a way of encouraging other Christians.
The site, however, is still not completely finished. Mr Jamieson said its main creator has left the isles, leaving him looking for a replacement to help make it a success.
“The site itself is only half built and there is plenty of scope for someone with a keen interest to employ any new ideas they might have.”
Anyone willing to spare a few hours should email him on justworship@inbox.com.
Mr Jamieson, who worships at the Emmanuel, was one of the names behind a series of church meetings across the isles last August.
They were so popular that a second wave of meetings has just been launched.
The group of 20 met at Gruting on 18th January, and further events are scheduled for Vidlin on 8th February and Burra on 22nd March.
A reformed drug dealer who blames alcohol misuse for his descent into addiction and crime, Mr Jamieson’s harrowing story was told in The Shetland Times in 2007.
Pastor retires
People from across Shetland gathered in East Yell Chapel on Tuesday 13th January to celebrate the 80th birthday of pastor Douglas Graham. Mr Graham has retired after a record 19 years of faithful service as pastoral assistant for the Methodist church in the North Isles.
The evening took the form of a social with a programme of music, dialogue and poetry. Chairman of the Shetland Methodist district, Jeremy Dare, paid tribute to Mr Graham and circuit steward May Anderson presented him with a cheque on behalf of the district. Mr Graham had conducted his farewell services in Haroldswick and East Yell the previous Sunday when gifts from the local congregations and the Unst community were presented to him.
It was in the summer of 1989 that Mr Graham first arrived in Shetland, in answer to an advert, and took up residence in Unst. Since then he has worked tirelessly, preaching mainly in the North Isles, but also taking services in many Methodist churches throughout Shetland.
He will be particularly missed for his devoted pastoral work.
Mr Graham has now left Shetland to start a new life in Fenwick, near Lindisfarne.
Communion service
A special communion service is due to take place on 15th February at St Colman’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Burravoe, Yell.
The event is being held to celebrate St Colman’s Day, the church’s patronal saint.
The choir from St Magnus Episcopal Church will be attending, and all are invited.
The service starts at 2.45pm and there will be refreshments afterwards.
Christian unity
A week of prayer for Christian unity was held from 18th January to 25th January.
To kick off the week, over 100 people from all the west side churches gathered in the Church of Scotland in Aith. Ministers and a number of others took part in a service on the theme of reconciliation, using material prepared by Christians in Korea. Harry Howorth was the preacher on that occasion.
In Lerwick the multi-purpose room of the newly refurbished St Columba’s Church provided a welcome on the six days from Monday to Saturday.
Church leaders from the town led meditation and prayer on topics ranging from war to hope.
The 25 people who were able to join in over the week were encouraged and appreciated the annual opportunity to pray together.
Ryan Taylor
