| | | Geoff Army Chaplaincy Introduction |
 St.
Mungo's minister Geoff Berry was formally introduced to the Army
Chaplaincy service, along with Chris Kellock from the North Church at a
service in St. Mungo's on Thursday 19th April, at which time Geoff and
Chris gave up their roles as parish ministers.
A large
congregation made up of family, friends and people from all the
Penicuik churches, plus members of the Church of Scotland Presbytery
and the Army came to witness the introduction.
The Rev Neil
Dougal welcomed everyone and opened the service with the hymn Glory be
to God the Father. After a prayer John McCulloch read the readings from
Exodus 3, v1-10, and Acts 13 v 1-5.
The service continued with
the hymn, The Lord of the sea and Sky, before the Rev Graham Duffin
preached the sermon. This explored Gods call to all of us. Is it
dramatic like Moses hearing the voice from the burning bush as
described in Exodus, or more gradual, with quiet assurance over
time, as with Barnabus and Saul who were called to go to Cyprus from
the church at Antioch to do the work of the Lord? With most people the
calling is gradual and so it may have been for Geoff and Chris.
 The
apostle's creed was followed by the hymn Your hand O God has guided,
after which Geoff and Chris formally gave up their roles as parish
ministers with the Church of Scotland. After the hymn May the mind of
Christ my saviour, the Rev Neil Gardner, himself an Army Chaplian for
20 years, formally read the charges to Geoff and Chris, which they
accepted in front of the gathered congregation, and were accepted as
padre's into the Army Chaplaincy service.
The service closed with a prayer, the hymn Lord the light of your love is shining, and the blessing.
The
church hall was full after the service where people gathered to give
Geoff and Chris their best wishes on this new chapter in both their
lives. They both commence their chaplaincy training at the end of April
before being allocated to their regiments.
Our prayers go with
them, and may the love of God keep them safe and make them strong
a they venture into new pastures.
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