The following is the text of a letter sent by our minister to members and adherents of both congregations, dated 26 November 2023. [NOTE: This post was originally published on 27 November 2023 and republished on 12 January 2024 so as to ‘bump’ the information to the top of the website].

Minister’s Letter – Sunday 26th November 2023 – Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

Dear Friends,

The union of St. Gerardine’s High and St. James’ Parish churches will become effective on 1st January 2024.

I would like to ensure that you are up to date with arrangements in advance of the new year.

As we look forward to the union of the parishes, it is important to understand that the two uniting parishes, their histories and heritages continue into the new relationship. This is a coming together of the parishes which is best understood as a marriage rather than a new birth.

The newly united parish will be known as Lossiemouth Church of Scotland.

Weekly Sunday services will be held in the current St. James’ building at 10am.

The united Kirk Session will consist of the elders currently serving on St. Gerardine’s High and St. James’ Kirk Sessions. Members of the united Kirk Session will be the local charity trustees of Lossiemouth Church of Scotland.

As Lossiemouth Church of Scotland will be operating under a Unitary Deed of Constitution there will be no Congregational Board.

The Kirk Session will be responsible for all matters; spiritual and temporal.

It is possible for the Kirk Session to proceed without delegating any of its work, but I think this would be a missed opportunity.

To assist the Kirk Session and to encourage as wide a participation as possible in the life and ministry of the church, I would like the Kirk Session to be supported by a number of action groups which will be convened by elders and will report to the Kirk Session.

It is anticipated that there will be five action groups concerned with

• Worship,
• Nurture,
• Outreach,
• Finance & Property, and
• Communication & Social.

The Kirk Session will appoint its principal office bearers and convenors at its first Kirk Session meeting on 18th January 2024.

In the meantime I would like to encourage you to consider serving on an action group.

I would hope that all the current members of the Congregational Boards would be willing to continue to serve in the areas of church life that most interest them or where there is a desire to offer time and help.

But I would like to extend the welcome to serve beyond the current leaderships to all who have a willingness to help.

Please do not wait to be approached.

Instead speak to myself or a current member of the Kirk Sessions and if you have a preference of which group or groups you would like to be involved in, please express that preference.

I would like to make some comments about the St. Gerardine Church building and Hall.

Sunday worship services will cease in the St. Gerardine building at the end of 2023.

However, the Kirk Session will continue to be responsible for the welfare of the building until it is moved into new ownership.

Clearly, it would not be desirable for the building to be closed up and out of use during this interim period.

Therefore, the building may still be used for special services and funeral services.

The Kirk Session are planning to hold a service of thanksgiving for the provision of the St. Gerardine building on Sunday 24th March 2024 at 6pm.

This will be preceded by an event on Saturday 23rd March in St. Gerardine hall which will consist of a display of photographs and memorabilia associated with the building through the years.

If you have any items that you would like to offer for display please do contact me.

I am grateful to both Kirk Sessions and Congregational Boards for the goodwill and generous spirit which have characterised planning meetings.

New opportunities for fellowship with our neighbouring parish of Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman have proved fruitful as we look forward to the prospective union with our neighbours in due course.

If you wish to discuss any of these matters further please do not hesitate to contact me.

Every blessing to you all this Advent and Christmas season,

Rev. G. D. McKee on behalf of the Kirk Sessions