|
Evening Sermon - 26th
June 2016
St Columba
and Iona Community
Saint Columba was born on 7
December 521 near Lough Gartan in County Donegal. He was baptised
in Temple-Douglas in the parish of Conwal by his teacher and
foster uncle Saint Crunathan. It is not known whether he was
named Columba at birth or later in life.
He became an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading
Christianity in what is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish
mission. He is remembered today as a Christian saint and one
of the twelve apostles of Ireland and founded several monasteries
there. Around 563 ,he and his companions crossed to Kintyre
and settled in Iona then part of the Irish kingdom, and founded
a new abbey there as a base to spread Christianity among the
Pictish kingdoms who were pagan. He spent most of the remainder
of his life in Scotland. St Columba died on 9th June 597.
The
Iona Community
The Iona Community is a Charity and is Ecumenical committed to
working for peace and justice. It has 3 centres on Iona and one
on Isle of Mull. They welcome individuals or groups to take part
in weeks of activity on a variety of themes. They publish their
own hymn book and own Wild Goose publications. The community
includes men and women from all walks of life and different
Christian traditions. They engage with people of good will across
the world reflecting and praying for justice and peace. They
commit themselves to daily prayer and Bible study sharing in
the corporate life and organisation of the community.
They work with young people and have a centre in Glasgow where
there is a Youth Team.
Mission
statement
The Community is motivated by a shared commitment to Jesus Christ
and his proclamation of a just and generous new order by a creative
spiritual practice of prayer, song, silence , and Sacrament.
Summary
The very good thing about the community is that they welcome
all people. The Rev'd Colin Gough, from my last Parish, took
a party from the parish over for a week to this community. When
you talked to them, it was clear that the whole experience really
'touched them'.
Long may this true work of bringing people together to serve
our Lord continue.
|
