Ordination and Induction at Lochbroom
On Tuesday, 21st November, the Western Presbytery met in the Ullapool Church at 6 p.m. to ordain and induct Mr Neil M. Ross, B.A., Probationer, to the holy ministry and the pastoral charge of Lochbroom. The church building was comfortably full and associated with the Presbytery were Revs. A. F. MacKay, A. MacPherson and D. B. MacLeod of the Northern Presbytery and Rev. F. MacDonald of the Skye Presbytery.
The Presbytery was constituted in the Vestry and the usual proclamation was made at the church door. Thereafter the Moderator, the Rev. Alfred E. W. MacDonald, preached an appropriate sermon from Numbers Chap. 27 vv. 16, 17. The Clerk then gave a brief narrative of proceedings in the Call, which had been signed by 13 members and 43 hearers.
At the request of the Moderator, the Clerk put to Mr Ross the “Questions” appointed to be put to ministers on their induction and Mr Ross signed the Formula in the presence of the congregation. Thereupon with the imposition of the hands of the ministerial members of the Presbytery and with solemn prayer led by the Moderator, Mr Ross was set apart to the office of the ministry. The Moderator then inducted him to the charge of Lochbroom and the brethren gave to him the right hand of fellowship. The newly-inducted minister was then addressed suitably by his brother, the Rev. J. W. Ross, Lochcarron, and the Rev. A. MacAskill, Lochinver, exhorted the congregation as to its duty in appropriate terms. The Moderator then asked Revs. A. F. MacKay and F. MacDonald to speak, when reference was made, respectively, to Mr Ross’s former connection with the Inverness congregation, and that until recently Skye had been part of the Presbytery which had oversight of Lochbroom. The Clerk conveyed to the meeting a message of good-will from the Southern Presbytery. After the Benediction the congregation met its new pastor at the church door.
So there was witnessed in the once highly favoured parish of Lochbroom the beginning both of a new ministry and of a new pastorate to the congregation. May the Lord of the harvest give souls for Mr Ross’s hire and may many have to praise God for ever for his labours in these parts!
A.M., Clerk.
Induction at Tain
The Northern Presbytery met in the Tain Church on the evening of Friday, 24th November last for the Ordination and Induction of Mr John Ross as pastor of the Tain and Fearn congregation. The part of the minute calling the meeting was read, the Edict reported as served, the proclamation made thrice at the Church entrance, and then the Moderator went to the pulpit and preached from the words in Isaiah, chapter lxii, verses 1, 6 and 7: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest . . . I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which will never hold their peace . . . And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” The sermon, listened to by a large, attentive and representative congregation which quite filled the church, was most appropriate for an induction occasion and outlined the settled purpose of Christ for his Church, the appointment of watchmen and their own and the people’s relative duties. When public worship was ended, the narrative of the steps taken in the Call was read by the clerk and, when the stated Questions were put and satisfactorily answered, the Formula was signed. Mr Ross kneeled and with imposition of hands by solemn prayer by authority of the Presbytery and in the name of the Divine Head of the Church was set apart to the office of the ministry and settled over the Tain and Fearn congregation as their pastor by the Moderator. Rev. R. R. Sinclair then addressed the newly inducted minister and Rev. J. Tallach the people and their remarks, practical and appropriate, were designed to be helpful to minister and people. Many of our people had gathered from other parts of the Church and from these the Moderator called upon Rev. A. Murray on behalf of the Western Presbytery to speak, Rev. F. Tallach from the Skye Presbytery and Rev. Ian Tallach from the Southern Presbytery. Rev. R. R. Sinclair had been requested by the office-bearers publicly to thank Rev. D. B. MacLeod for the meticulous way he had carried out his duties as Moderator during the vacancy which Mr MacLeod feelingly acknowledged. The service was then concluded with the singing of a few verses of Ps. lxxii. Rev. J. Ross then went to the door of the Church to shake hands with the people as they departed. His name was added to the Presbytery Roll of members, and he returned to take his place on the court which continued to sit to deal with further Presbytery business.
In the course of the proceedings the Moderator remarked on one striking aspect of that evening’s service of Induction, so unusual in the history of the Church, that in the one week two ministerial brothers were settled over congregations of the Church, Rev. N. Ross who was present that evening over the Ullapool congregation on the previous Tuesday, and now later in the week, Rev. J. Ross had become pastor over the Tain and Fearn congregation. It had been the expressed conviction of the previous minister, the late Rev. J. Nicolson, that after his departure the congregation would not have to wait long till a successor would be appointed. It must be strengthening to the hearts of all the friends of the Gospel who love the gates of Zion that in an age of great declension such as ours, the Great Head of the Church has given this undoubted mark of his favour to our Church. May the Lord bless both of these ministers in their new fields of labour. A.F.M.
Young People’s Conference
The Young People’s Conference will be held at Kilravock Castle, Croy, Inverness-shire, from Tuesday, 17th April to Thursday, 19th April (D.V.). A fuller notice will appear in February.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Northern: At Dingwall on 23rd January at 2.30 p.m.
Skye: At Portree on 6th February at 11 a.m.
Southern: At Glasgow on 13th February at 6 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 27th February at 11.30 a.m.
Western: At Laide on 6th March at 11 a.m.
Financial Year End
As the financial year ends on 31st December 1978, Congregational Treasurers and Deacons’ Courts are reminded that all Funds in respect of 1978 should be in the General Treasurer’s hands by Saturday, 6th January, 1979, God willing. Funds received after that date will be credited to 1979.
Congregational Financial Statements
By appointment of Synod a copy of all Congregational Financial Statements should be sent to the Finance Committee. Statements in respect of 1978 should be sent to the General Treasurer by 31st March, 1979, God willing.