Cornerstone No. 187, page 6
Letter from the Interim Moderator
Hi there… (again!)
Six months in, and I’m beginning to feel very at home in Geneva… More
importantly, so is the dog! And when the dog is happy, my wife Lindy is happy…
and when she is happy - I’m happy! Funny how those things work!
We’ve grown to love the Lake – its changing moods and its unfailing capacity
to bring delight – whether sailing
across it, swimming in it, or simply
sitting at a table with a cool
refreshing drink, savouring the
sunshine and the ambiance.
Brilliant. We feel very settled, very
happy, and very fortunate.
We’ve been blessed with lots of
visitors – more, I suspect than if
we had been living in Shotts or
Clydebank (no offence!) – and
showing them the sights has been
a joy. The effect of all the visitors
is, however, that we have eaten
out and eaten well on far too many
occasions. This will need attention
or the new suits I bought to come to Geneva will no longer fit… An occupational
hazard I had not anticipated!
Worship at the Auditoire is a delight – and the sense of connectedness to a
history of faith and service that goes back so far, and has been so significant
for the world, is humbling and enriching. Meeting people from all across the
world, who come to walk the Reformation Trail and whose sense of gratitude
towards the Reformed tradition runs deep, generates real warmth and a sense
of privilege. People have travelled so far and with such purpose, we must do all
we can to allow them space and time to soak up the history – and we must offer
them the kind of welcome that is genuine and is truly meant.
I’m sure that you will be dealing with things in this difficult period within the life
of the congregation, and that your prayers and compassion will reach out to
Ian. I trust the variety and range of worship experiences over this period will
be an enrichment – and that before too long, you will have your own pastor and
friend back with you.
Yours
Laurence Twaddle