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New Helmet and Camouflage with prayer book and other "spiritual" support items
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| | | Army Padre leads Service - 26 September |
 The
Army came to St. Mungo's on Sunday 26th September, when Padre Stephen
McCaulay, chaplain to the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The
Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Glencorse Barracks led the morning
service.
Stephen flies out to Afghanistan soon to join the
Regiment who are in the process of starting their tour of duty out
there, and took our service while Geoff was on holiday.
 He
brought with him a number of items that our young soldiers are provided
with; the new helmet and camouflage and a flak jacket for physical
protection, which Jimmy Kinloch donned to relive his days in the
forces, and a range of items for the troops spiritual protection.
The
regiment have been in training since January for this tour, and in that
time they have been taught five behaviours; Courage - moral, "doing the
right thing", Discipline - self discipline, Respect of Others - their
needs and cultures, Integrity - honesty and being yourself, Loyalty -
to yourself, your mates, Queen and Country, Self Commitment - being
prepared to operate 24 hours a day, in summary SACRIFICE.
Stephen
showed us a range of items that soldiers carry on their person for
spiritual support; the operational service prayer book, new testament
bible, psalm cards, and a coin with the Ten Commandments written on one
side, the other with John 13 v16. A basket of coins was available after
the service for members of the congregation to take one.
I n
addition to these talismans, Stephen brought along Baxterbear. Baxter
first saw operational combat in the far east during the second world
war where he had a bit shot from his ear when his owner, a pilot in the
army, was shot down. Stuck in a tree for several days Ghurka’s
eventually found them and stitched a tartan patch on Baxter’s
arm, Baxter Tartan of course! Stephen gave the Sunday School a
Baxterbear to look after.
We should be proud of our soldiers,
these young men and women, many only 18 or 19, who may have seen little
of the inside of a church, or religion, yet find the spiritual support
an essential part of their profession, especially when defending our
culture and way of life from those who would like to destroy it. Truly
Christian soldiers.
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