In the middle of COP26, an ecumenical service was held in St Mungo’s Cathedral on 7 November  to mark the event and pray for its success.  The service was attended by church and civil representatives.  Music support was provided  by the St Mungo Singers, the Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Organist Prof. Malcom Sim and the RCS Brass conducted by Nigel Boddice MBE.

As the representatives entered the Cathedral, the words of Isaiah 55 – Seek the Lord while he is still to be found – were sung, reminding everyone of the need to act now.  The opening congregational hymn (All people that on earth do dwell) sought in turn to encourage those present that the  “Lord is God indeed” and to take comfort from that fact. These two messages of challenge and hope were echoed in the readings from Job 12:7-10 ; Psalm 22/23 and Matthew 25:31-46.

In the reflection by Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe of the united Methodist Church,  she spoke of this as an auspicious moment or us, a moment of journey and homecoming, even as Ps.23 was a psalm of journeying.  Our prayers should be prayers /heart songs for our world to change from ways of destruction – the destruction we had all witnessed.

We were walking in the valley of the shadow of death, rather than delighting in creation, and indigenous communities suffered disproportionately.  As the UN Report put it, humanity was facing Code Red.  But this is not the way it has to be, she said.  God can lead us to still waters where we can stop, be still and listen and engage.

Young Leo Tetteh with Mgr Gerry and Elspeth Glasgow, Ecumenical Officer of GCT

There was a special responsibility on Christians, who know the story of the Lord’s goodness, to prepare a table which should always have a place for everyone.  We are called to do the best we can for creation.  We can make a journey of return.

Another angle to the story was given in the recitation by young Leo Tetteh of St Denis’ Primary School of Robert Burns’ poem “A Man’s a Man for Aw’ That” reminding us that we are all brothers and sisters who must come together for the common good.

The final hymn for the service renewed the challenge to those present – Inspired by Love and Anger by John Bell and Graham Maule – with its words:

How long must some folk suffer? How long can few folk mind?

How long dare vain self interest turn prayer and pity blind?

The questions remain.

 

Many took part the previous day in the great Climate March through Glasgow