It was a privilege to be at Patrick's Farewell Service last night and to deliver a tribute on behalf of the Milngavie Churches. Tributes were also given by Andrew Scott, Session Clerk of Milngavie United Free Church and Rev Dr John Evans, Moderator of the UF Presbytery of the West.
The hymns were all appropriate for the occasion and a very fine Word was preached by Rev George McDonald, a friend and fellow countryman of Patrick's.
There was a positive spirit throughout the service and afterwards a high quality supper - which is what we have come to expect from this warm and friendly congregation.
Patrick has had a short ministry in Milngavie but he has left us with the impression of a highly gifted man whose faith has been beaten out on the anvil of many personal challenges. He returns to his homeland of South Africa with the prayers of the Christian community supporting him. We trust he will find a place where he can make his own unique contribution to the advancement of the Kingdom.
We will also be praying for the congregation of Milngavie UF. They had a long vacancy last time but under the leadership of Andrew Scott things held together and the witness of the congregation was maintained. I hope this will be true for the present vacancy.
