The Rector - Neil Brice

Neil Brice was appointed Rector of St Magnus in Lerwick and St Colmans on Yell in July 2010. Previously Rector of the Benefice of the Orwell Group, five parishes in Cambridgeshire, Neil fulfilled a long standing passion to live in Shetland in November 2009. He currently works half time for the Episcopal Church and half time in Community Mental Health social work, (which he really enjoys).

St Magnus Rectory, 14 Greenfield Place, Lerwick. ZE1 0AQ

Dear all,

CONGREGATION DAY, SUNDAY 31^st October 2010

I would like to take this opportunity of inviting you all to join me on the 31^st October for what we are calling a “Congregation Day”. One of the important aspects of life at St Magnus which was highlighted at my appointment in the early summer was the need to enhance communication. If we are going to grow together as a family of faith here then good communication is of course vital, and the first skill of communication must surely be listening. We need to listen to each other.

The Congregation Day will hopefully enable this communication to happen more.

It will be based around our normal Sunday worship and we will begin at 10.45 as usual with the Eucharist. Coffee and refreshments will follow in the Hall, followed by a soup lunch during which we can begin listening and talking to each other. During the afternoon I hope we can focus on some issues which I have become aware both the Vestry and the Congregation want to begin to air and I can also share some of my feelings now a few months into being your Rector.

I propose to bring Evening Prayer forward on this day to 5.00pm so that we can conclude the day in corporate worship and prayer as we began it.

The day or any part of the day is open to you all. Join in as much or as little as you feel able, and come and go should you wish. Whatever time you feel able to spend at St Magnus on this day will be a valuable contribution to our ongoing life together. If there is anything that can be done to facilitate you in being able to take some part in this day then please do not hesitate to ask.

This day will greatly enhance hopefully the life and direction of St. Magnus congregation and ministry in this place. In November probably, the Annual Meeting will be taking place and The Vestry will be setting and presenting goals for the future. We are in an exciting future, let us all feel part of who we are in this place.

With every blessing,

Your friend and priest,

Neil

Oct

Bible Reading Marathon Successful!

Submitted by stmagnusadmin on Mon, 10/03/2011 - 18:19

On Friday 24th June at 4.30pm the church began a Bible Reading Marathon. The aim of the exercise was to read continuously without stopping the entire bible in public and getting as many people as possible from Shetland to take part in the reading.

Sir John Scott, the Lord Lieutenant, began our reading with Genesis 1:1 and we continued from then with each reader changing every ten minutes. Many people had offered to read and we had Sunday Schools including our own taking their own turns. The atmosphere for the whole weekend was heartening and electric, and many people kept returning just to experience the feeling again. The final chapters of the book of Revelation were read by The Dean Emsley Nimmo and Bishop Bob and when Bishop Bob concluded with the final 'Amen' the congregation then gathered for the start of a Thanksgiving Service responded with a resounding, 'Amen, Amen!'

The whole weekend and the Thanksgiving Service were to give thanks for the £585,000 work of restoration of St Magnus Church Building, and as Bishop Bob preached at the Thanksgiving Service on the Monday night, we were setting our faces to the future mission and work of the church here. The church looked stunning for the weekend and the worship and many hours of loving attention and cleaning and decoration were duly admired and acknowledged.

Following the service we held a reception in the Church Hall and those gathered admitted they had been moved by the Bible Reading and the worship, greatly enhanced by the church choir who sang anthems and led the fine singing.

It was on June 27th 1864 that St Magnus church was dedicated to the glory of God and for service in this community. We felt it fitting and right that we should choose this occasion for the service of Thanksgiving. There has been a huge sense of connectedness with past pioneers here and we have expressed thanks for all that has been achieved here down the past 147 years. We are now left wondering how to celebrate the 150th anniversary

St Magnus Episcopal Church Lerwick

Scottish Charity No. SC014584