Huttonian had to take the collection this morning at the 1030 Piscie service in Duns and had been musing about the difference between the Church Of Scotland-as in the Kirk at Hutton and the Episcopalian Church of Scotland (The one with bishops) The former may represent the Scottish character more faithfully with the request in the Lord's Prayer- 'forgive us our debts' rather than the C of E's (and Episcopalian) urging forgiveness of 'trespasses* or other sins' No cash involved.
Debt is an issue ingrained into the Scottish conscienceness. Like the well known example of one Jamie McIntosh lying awake at night moaning and groaning, complaining to his wife that he could not get to sleep over worry about his debt to Murray Cameron across the street. When the wife could stand it no more she flung open the window and yelled ' Look here Murray Cameron, there is no way that my Jamie can ever pay what he owes you. So you might as well forget it' Turning to her husband she said 'You can sleep the now; its Murray who is going to have to do the worrying'
The Rector announced the Offertory Hymn and I noticed a couple I had not seen before scuttle out before I and the collection bag could reach them. And the most well heeled pew in the church, two house guests of a Laird spent so much time fumbling for change-the collection seemed to come as something of a surprise, that the man in front of whom I was poised (his wife was doing the fumbling rummaging through her bag) waved me away saying that he would be ready when I came back-but he made no attempt to intercept me as I returned up the aisle. And to say that they left immediately after the service like a dose of salts is saying something for the traditional rapidity of modern salts.
Piscies have a reputation of attracting 'White'Scots,in some cases more English than the English themselves but I wondered if it was wise for the Rector to dwell on England's stunning victory against the French. After all Duns is in Scotland...
Isn't it?
Labels: Church of Scotland, Piscies
