6 October 2025

Initially, there were six charges in the North Fife Cluster. Now there are four and soon to be three as a result of three unions. Another union is scheduled to happen before 2027. Then there will be two charges. As Facilitator, I picked up from Kirk Sessions their desire for a whole Cluster service.

We had it yesterday  – a celebration of the 375^th anniversary of the Scottish Psalter. We sang some metrical Psalms – one unaccompanied and several others in a contemporary idiom, one accompanied by a newly formed Praise Band. We called it ‘A Festival of Psalms’.

Since retirement, I have never worshipped in a church that was full nor have I heard a choir of more than thirty singers lead the praise as well as singing an Introit and Anthem.  It was formed from singers in all four charges where only two have choirs. Others were glad of the opportunity.

Three things contributed to this successful initiative. Firstly, each charge produced at least two people to shape the service. Right from the start, people were willing to take responsibility for some aspect of the worship and literally run with it. Delegation worked beautifully.

Secondly, there was valuable interaction amongst the charges – choir practice, a survey of favourite Psalms and the collection of people’s hands. Volunteers visited all the worship centres inviting worshippers to pencil round their hand and cut it out to be incorporated into the above banner.

Thirdly, all sorts of talents were recognised and celebrated in the worship –solo  voices, musical instruments, floral art, recitation of poetry, drama, children’s voices and the hidden voices of people in the pews whose moving comments on their favourite Psalms were articulated movingly and effectively.

Several people commented on how uplifting the service was and how coming together to create such a wonderful worshipping community was a marker for the future. It could happen but only if people caught the vision and shared their gifts raising their hands in praise to the one enthroned on the banner’s golden cross!