Reports from Meeting

REPORTS FROM MEETING

Link Tertiary Report

Carol Robertson

The following bullet points were proposed and agreed by Chapter:

• The decision on the change to TSSF Statutes to accommodate non-Anglicans taking office was confirmed by Chapter, subject to feedback from Areas.
• LTs will be given contact details of all AMs in the Province to facilitate contact when Tertiaries move from one Area to another.
• The 1999 TSSF Review recommendations were discussed by Chapter and Areas will receive a note with salient points in due course for their consideration.
• Bulk subscription of the Franciscanwill continue for the next 3 years and then be reviewed again.
• TSSF at Greenbelt was a success and will be repeated.
• TSSF Data-base changes are now to be notified to the Membership Secretary () and Provincial Secretary () – and no longer to the Provincial Comms. Coordinator (PCC).
• Formation team continues with further work on Spiritual Direction, Lifelong Formation and Anglicanism and the centrality of the Eucharist in Franciscan life.
• PNG would welcome invitations from Areas not yet visited.
• Nomination forms are about to be distributed for a new Provincial Formation Guardian and Provincial Communications Coordinator. Tertiaries .are asked to recognise that they have a statutory obligation to vote

The value of Spiritual Directors and the need for lifelong formation is still being discussed at Chapter. There are no black and white formats for ensuring these. Each Area needs to develop programmes which they will find helpful and we are encouraged to share good practice.

A suggestion I came across came from North America for individual formation sounded exciting and definitely challenging.They suggested that professed members may every so often (perhaps every seven years) go somewhere and do something that is completely disconcerting and confounding of their knowledge and familiar surroundings so that they can open up to God in new ways through the new voices they encounter.

Closer to home we are being encouraged to take time to explore 1998/99 review which looked at ‘our’ vision for the future as an Order and how/what we expect/hope for when it comes to the structures necessary to administer the organisation of a dispersed community. Everyone should have received some information about this. Conveners were to post it out to members of their local groups with no access to e-mail.

As a result of the readership survey there are going to be some changes to the format of the Chronicle, we should be going to get more colour as well as varied content.

Area Minister’s Report Tim Daplyn

This is my first report since my installation as Area Minister at Francistide 2011. As I write, Brother Wind is lashing Sister water into storm waves upon the beach while Brother Fire heats a steaming kettle. Winter is here at last in the North West and happiness is a full log basket!

First, I would like to record my personal thanks to Freda Alexander for her term of service as our Area Minister. Soon after my appointment I was able to have something of a handover meeting with her and also a catch-up session with Carol as our Link Tertiary about current issues within our area and those affecting the Third Order as a whole.

I have asked Freda if she would be willing to continue the work which she and others have started in facilitating and encouraging participation in ‘hermitage’ retreats. She has said that she would welcome further opportunities to explore what is proving to be a fruitful and authentic expression of our Franciscan Spirituality.

I welcome European Provincial Chapter’s re-visiting of the 1997-9 TSSF review principles and hope that we in Scotland may contribute to that process. The review and subsequent re-organisation of our order resulted in fundamental changes to our structures and in the way individual tertiaries are now expected to relate to one another, to the Third Order and the wider Christian community in which they live out their rule of life. Ten years on, it is right that we try to see what the effect of those changes has been and to what degree the original aims and ambitions of the review have been achieved or met.

In concluding this brief report I would like to express my thanks to TSSF members for their messages of welcome as I started my period of service and also all the officers and members of the Scotland Area Team for their continuing and unstinting work on behalf of us all.

Area Formation Guardian’s Report

Paula Elliot

1. Reports

As in previous years I have now received the bulk of reports although a fair number remain outstanding. There remains an issue with those members who, due to ongoing illness or advancing years, find it difficult to return reports.

2. Renewals

Of those who returned forms, 15 renewed in Hamilton, 4 in Forres, 10 in their local group and 4 elsewhere. These included renewing with tertiaries outside of Scotland, or in one case, due to the remoteness of their location (Shetland), the renewal was in absentia. One or two tertiaries had still to make arrangements for renewal but the intention was to renew in their local group, when the opportunity arose.

3. Issues

The issues do not change. We have a number of elderly and infirm members where communication can be difficult. The isolation of some tertiaries living in remote areas can also present problems. The role of the small group is crucial and evidence suggests that not all members feel supported by their local group. This is not confined to the elderly or isolated but seems to be felt by a significant minority.

The local groups could perhaps have a role in actively encouraging, even monitoring the return of annual reports. The Report is the only means we have, as a diverse and scattered community, of gauging involvement and commitment as well as identifying personal issues. This is compromised by those who routinely do not return their form.

It must be said however that many tertiaries clearly feel supported by the Order and find being a Franciscan a meaningful part of their own Christian journey, often in very difficult personal circumstances. It has been a humbling experience this year to read some of the personal comments added to the reports. Many have a very difficult road to follow indeed, and if being a part of the Third Order can help, this is greatly to be valued.

Area Novice Guardian’sReport

Maureen Russell

At the Feast of St Clare in St Margaret’s Church Renfrew, its incumbent, the Rev Dr Donald Orr was professed as a Tertiary. Mary Arnold made her profession at the Francistide Gathering in Forres.

I was in contact with three enquirers during the year. Two of whom I had been in correspondence since 2010. As I felt that each of these three meetings was positive and hopeful, and they expressed a desire to proceed, I arranged a NG to take each one forward. However to date, I am unsure as to whether any vocational exploration has begun as yet.

Last week there was one new, very tentative enquiry. It was made through a prison chaplain regarding a prisoner in Carstairs Hospital who has expressed a desire to explore Franciscan Spirituality. There are obvious difficulties, however this situation is intriguing for TSSF and we are looking into the matter and consulting with Provincial people.

Retreat SecretaryElaine Jenkinson

The letter of invitation for the Retreat was sent out on 10th October. It was delayed slightly to have the opportunity to speak briefly with Tim following his installation as Area Minister. There have been a few deposits and two apologies received for the 2012 Retreat.

Update:There was some response to the reminder sent out in December but alas insufficient to make the Retreat viable. Therefore it was with much regret that I notified the Retreat House at Kinnoull to remove our bookings from their records and wrote to Brother Damian to let him know the Retreat would not now be going ahead. The deposits of those who had booked were refunded.

St. Mary’s Kinnoull have diaried a weekend (12-14th April 2013) at a cost of £102 and Sister Joyce Minister General of 1st Order has agreed to come to lead us in 2013. She will have stepped down from office by then. No deposit has been paid.

St. Mary’s Kinnoull have diaried a weekend (2 May 2014) but unable to indicate a cost. No deposit paid.

Local Group Reports

Edinburgh GroupJenny Cheesbrough

Our programme has been as follows:
In May we joined a group of people from various local churches at St John's in the West End to consider the topic "St Cuthbert and Reconciliation". In June we experimented with having an afternoon meeting rather than a morning session and gathered at Dorothy's house for a talk by Helen on The Canticle of the Sun. In July we met at Nancy's house and selected "Ten Evenings with God" as a book for discussion at future meetings.

In August anumberof our Group were able to atttend the St Clare Eucharist in Renfrew.
Freda led the discussion on the first chapter of "Ten Eveinings" at Anne's housein September and it was so successful that we decided to try and meet monthly to keep some continuity. Most of us were present at the St Francistide Eucharist in Hamilton and were delighted to meet our sisters and brothers from other Groups and renew our promises with them. It was a happy occasion when we said thank you to Freda for all her love and care and welcomed Tim.

We discussed Chapter 2 of our study bookat Liza's house in October and on this occasion Hanna was able to renew her promises. In November we met at Liz's house and Helen introduced us to Chapter 3. Dorothy and Kristine renewed their promises. Our study and discussion of one chapter at a time of "Ten Evenings" has been useful and fruitful and we shall probably work our way to the end in similar fashion.

Jan has opted to attend Edinburgh meetings as transport here is easier for her. We have had no enquirers and have no novices at present.

Central Group Judy Hirst

We have met infrequently since the last area team meeting. I have been away all summer and have not been around to arrange meetings. We had a successful meeting in October and Michael Benton led us on David Torkington’s ‘Wisdom from Franciscan Italy’. Those who were present and hadn’t had the opportunity to renew did so on the evening. I had also arranged a visit to Michael Hare Duke in Perth as he finds it difficult gets to meetings, but unfortunately both himself and Baa were unwell and we had to postpone. Hopefully another meeting can be arranged in the New Year.I am still hopeful that a replacement convenor for the group will be found, and again would like to thank the Edinburgh Group for all the support I get from them.

Glasgow GroupJohn Macleod

After a quiet summer, the Group met again on 26th September at the home of Jill & Drew Cunningham. It was a restricted gathering as it had been difficult to find a date which suited everyone so in the end we simply proceeded with as many as we could get. And it was a good evening, we celebrated the Eucharist together, had a chat and discussed upcoming events.

At the beginning of September I finally issued to all the Diocesan clergy the letter, on behalf of the Group, in terms of which we offered to meet in charges, pray with & for them, lead Quiet Days and so on. It has to be said that there has not been a huge response, nevertheless, the Rev’d Nicholas Taylor invited us to hold one of our regular Group meetings at St. Aidan’s, Clarkston and in addition, the Rev’d James Milne asked us to conduct an Advent Quiet Day for his charge, St. Bride’s, Hyndland.

On 9th October we hosted the Francistide Celebration & renewal of Vows for the Scotland Area (South) at St. Mary’s in Hamilton and we deemed that to be our meeting for that month. The Rev’d Donald Orr was professed at Claretide.

Our (16th) November meeting took place at St. Aidan’s, Clarkston, and we were delighted to welcome five members of the Helensburgh Group who travelled across to join us. We hope to reciprocate this event in the New Year. Again we opened our meeting with a celebration of the Eucharist and Lawrence Osborn then gave us an excellent address on Science and Franciscanism which, I understand, derives from a chapter which he is contributing to a book due out next year. It was a good meeting, excellent to see Peter, Julie and the others – the problem with the structure of the meeting, I now realise, is that I didn’t think out how much time we would spend just chatting & we could have done much more of it, which would have been just fine.

On 26th November, the Group conducted an Advent Quiet Day at St. Bride’s, led by myself, delivering three of the addresses, and by Donald Orr who delivered the fourth address in the form of an illustrated talk on some pieces of Renaissance Art. As far as I can tell from people’s responses, the day went well.

I think we are in reasonably good spirits.

Fife GroupAshley Cummins

The group has met regularly during the year, though with occasional absences
due to illness, and has studied various aspects of the gospel including
parables and miracles. Our different theological backgrounds and perspectives
have provided us with plenty of food for thought and spiritual reflection.

Helensburgh Michael Blake

A major part of our group's work is in support: for Barbara who, considering her total blindness does amazingly well where surroundings are familiar; for Peter, who is still regaining his health; and of course for Julie.

We have met about four times in the past year, mostly at Peter's and Julie's house. We also celebrated the Eucharist at Francistide, when James Tabor officiated at his residence; James is due to move away in the Spring with the Royal Marine Chaplaincy.

Our meetings are largely social, although we do celebrate the Eucharist when a priest is present. Some of us would like to see more group study, and with this in mind we were kindly invited by Glasgow Group on 16th November to their meeting at St Aidan's (see report of Glasgow Group). Given the success of that meeting, it was thought that Helensburgh would benefit from greater collaboration with Glasgow, and we hope to hear from John Macleod about future meetings.

Inverness groupEric Nicholson

During the year we have held 5 Group Meetings, all of which have been greatly enjoyed and found to be helpful. We celebrated Claretide with the Eucharist, followed by a bring and share lunch. This was a good occasion as we had invited spouses and the fellowship we experienced was very warm and friendly.

Our Renewals took place at Francistide and it was good to be joined by our Area Minister, who was making her last visit to us in this capacity, three other Tertiaries were also able to be with us. What a lovely occasion

Also we have had some comings and goings, firstly, because of the pressures of work, Tim Daplyn felt unable to continue, as Convenor of this group. In the event I have been elected to serve as Convenor and, as far as I am able will do my best in this capacity. It has been good that Tim, a member of this group, has now been able to arrange his workload to allow him to be the new Area Minister and the whole of this Group wish him well in this capacity.

The current make-up of the InvernessNorthern Group is now10 (5 Tertiary Priests, 1 Tertiary Deacon3 Lay Tertiaries, ( 1 of whichresides in a Nursing Home) and 1 Enquirer.

As a Group we were pleased to welcome The Rev Christine Mylne, and her husband the Rev Colin Mylne. Christine is now ministering in Glenurquhart and attending their first meeting with us in November.

At our last meeting we arranged dates and venues for a programme for 2012 and I am pleased to report that this was met with apositive approach and with much enthusiasm.

Dumfries & Galloway GroupAnn Gault

Ann reported that Sylvia Elliot’s house is now on the market and when she has moved Ann and Clem will be a group on their own.

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Contributions from Members

Gluten-free or Wheat-free Bread

Ingredients:

175g gluten-free or wheat-free flour

2 teaspoons gluten-free baking-powder

I large or 2 small eggs

150ml soya milk

2 teaspoons runny honey

2 dessert spoons oil

Method:

• Pre-heat oven to 190°C (fan-oven).
• Lightly oil your chosen baking tin.
• In a bowl, mix flour and baking powder thoroughly together.
• In a separate bowl, beat together egg, soya milk, honey and oil until they are well-mixed.
• Mix all ingredients together to form a soft batter.
• Spoon into the prepared baking tin and bake for 25 mins (fan oven) until firm and well-risen. Leave plenty of room in the oven for the bread to rise.
• Turn out onto a rack to cool.

Flour:

For gluten-free flour use cornmeal, buckwheat flour, gram (chickpea) flour, rice flour. Gram and buckwheat flours make a very savoury loaf. Rice flour makes a blander-to-sweeter loaf. Cornmeal makes a loaf with a lovely golden colour.