Introducing Rev. James and Anna May Watson

Rev. James Watson and wife Anna May - Summer guest pastor from Scotland

“There’s a word in my warne, but it’s o’er far down”

(An old Scot’s saying used to indicate that one cannot think of the right word at that moment.  A bit like having a word on the tip of your tongue!)

In some respects that is how Anna May and I feel as we seek to find words to introduce ourselves to the people ofWillow Grove.   We were a little overcome/ excited/ thrilled when Pastor Cynthia telephoned to offer us this unique opportunity of participating in your great adventure – ‘out of the boat’;   now it is all about planning and getting to know each other – so here goes.

James was born in Glasgow an only child:  according to him his parents got it right first time!    He was educated at Jordanhill College School before going  to Glasgow University where he graduated as a Bachelor of Science majoring in Astronomy and Mathematics.   From there he attended Trinity College,Glasgow studying for his Bachelor of Divinity under Professor William Barclay.

James’ first Church was in Dunfermline after which he included education in his career choice serving as Principal Community Education Officer for Greater Glasgow followed by being invited to be National Director for Youth for Understanding UK, which involved world-wide travel and establishing the first scholarship programme with the Japanese Government.   In between he served as Parish Minister for Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk, in the Scottish Borders, before concluding his ministry as Parish Minister for Coldstream & Eccles where we continue to live after his ‘second retirement’ in March 2011.

James’ hobbies include golf, bridge, reading, walking, Rotary and The local Burn’s Club and 1513 Club.    He has, of course switched allegiance from the Chicago Bears to the New York Giants – not a hardship since they have a Scottish kicker (Lawrence Tynes).! He has three daughters and is grandpa to two boys in Dunfermline, Andrew (nearly 13) and Cameron (11) as well as one due in Glasgowin February 2012.

Anna May was born in Glasgow, of Edinburgh parents and has an older brother,  William.    She trained at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, specialising in Burns and Plastic Surgery after qualifying and then going on to practice District Nursing in Glasgow.
Anna May had three sons though David, the eldest, was unfortunately killed in Canada in 1986,  shortly after she had moved to Langholm to become Matron of the Thomas Hope Hospital, where James was the chaplain.  She, too, is a grandma to Drew, aged 7)  near Carlisle.  During the re-furbishment of the Hospital they worked closely together and became good friends.    After James left Langholm to take up a post with Greater Glasgow Scouts they kept in touch and married in 1993 in Glasgow University Chapel.

Anna May’s hobbies/interests include music, theatre, reading, bridge (novice), walking, Inner Wheel and most of all meeting people.

We have travelled widely in Western Canada, America and Europe and enjoy seeing new places, sampling new cultural experiences and meeting people.  We are both very excited about living in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and being part of this great Willow Grove Journey with Pastor Cynthia.

James and Anna May
Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scotland

The IPhone Is Not So Smart in Scotland

I don’t have an IPhone, but the article linked below does make me wonder about gearing up to understand native Scots this summer.  Apparerntly the IPhone cannot understand people with a Scottish brogue or burr.   I always enjoy hearing people speak with a Scottish accent.  It sounds familiar to me, even though I have never been to Scotland.  It is another thread of my inner life - somehow I feel at home when I hear a someone speaking with a Scottish accent because of my familial and Presbyterian heritage.  Here is a sample from the article of a reporter from Scotland asking his IPhone questions.  The voice on the phone is named Siri.

Reporter: “Siri, why do you have trouble understanding Scottish people?”
Siri: “Let me check on that…. I don’t know that. Would you like to search the Web for it?”
Reporter: “Do you like Scottish people?”
Siri: “This is about you, not me.”
Reporter: “Are you deliberately trying to annoy people from Scotland?”
Siri: “No comment.”

Are there accents or dialects that you find pleasing or somehow make you “feel at home”?  Are there others to which you have a negative reaction for no apprarent reason?  My hope is that there are moments in our faith journeys that we have a Pentecost moment, the story in Acts 2,  when the disciples spoke in their natives tongues, but everyone understood each other.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-scotland-siri-20120131,0,5361422.story?page=1

Learn more about Holy Adventure Summer 2012 on Jan. 29

Come tomorrow to Willow Grove Church.  Worship at 10:00 am as we praise God in song and silence, Word and worship.  The theme for service is Journeys.  How would you describe your journey in life?  Where are you now on this journey of faith?  What do you need to know your direction and path?  Road map, trail map, GPS, or compass?  After worship and congregational meeting, come downstairs to Ryno Hall for lunch.  You will hear all about the exciting plans for next summer.  I will talk about my plans for my sabbatical. including our family trip to England and Scotland.  Members of the Sabbatical Planning Team will talk about the guest pastor who is coming from Scotland, journeys/events that will happen between now and the summer, financial information, and information about the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Grant.  A sheet of Frequently Asked Questions will be distributed.  And you can ask any question you have about this summer adventure.

Poet Robert Burns Day

Today is Robert Burns Day.  Robert Burns  (January 25, 1759 –  July 21, 1796)  was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the “National poet” of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the “Scots language,”, although much of his writing is also in English and a “light” Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland.

As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected “Folk music” from across Scotland, often revising or them. His poem (and song) “Auld Lang Syne” is often sung at on the last day of the year. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today include “A Red, Red Rose, ” “A Man’s A Man for A’ That”

My life journey is reflected in songs I sing and in words I preach.  Burns said it this way:

Perhaps it may turn out a sang, (song)
Perhaps turn out a sermon.
        Epistle to a Young Friend, (1786)

Today I am grateful for Robert Burns and other poets who invite us to savor words and treasure the gifts of each day.

Did you know?

For the NY Giants fans in Willow Grove Church and others who read this blog, here is a little Scottish trivia.
       Lawrence Tynes is the Scottish American football placekicker for the New York Giants. Last night, Tynes kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime against the 49ers to send the Giants to Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots.
        He was born on May 3, 1978 in Greenock, Scotland Tynes was a standout kicker for the football team at Milton High School in Milton, Florida. In addition, Tynes was a stellar soccer player. Tynes attended Troy University, graduating with a degree in criminal justice, and holds school records for career field goals (45), and points (262). Tynes is the seventh Scottish-born player in NFL history and the first to have won a Super Bowl ring.
       Our Scottish guest pastor emailed me last night and is proud that Lawrence kicked the winning field goal.

A Call to Worship from Iona

St. Martin's Cross, Iona

A Call to Worship  
Leader:  In the beginning, before time, before people, before the world began,
People:     God was.
Leader:     Here and now among us, beside us, enlisting the people of earth for the
purposes of heaven,
People:     God is.
Leader:     In the future, when we have turned to dust, and all we know has found                                its fulfillment,
People:     God will be.
Leader:     Not denying the world but delighting in it,
not understanding the world, but redeeming it,
through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
People:     God was, God is, God will be.
                                             from the Iona Community Worship Book
                                                 Wild Goose Publications
http://www.ionabooks.com/1112-1901557502-Iona-Abbey-Worship-Book.html

Exciting Steps

 

 

 

I am feeling more excited each day as my sabbatical and trip abroad get closer.  Some recent steps toward the reality….

• Airline tickets purchased for our family to travel to  England and Scotland in July
• Reservations made to stay in a flat for 2 weeks in Edinburgh
• Sabbatical Team invited a Scottish pastor and his wife to come to be the guest pastor over the summer.  (More information about him at the all church lunch on Jan. 29)
• Hung a map of Scotland and England on the wall in our dining room.
• Wearing my new Celtic knot earrings and necklace that Jeffrey gave me for Christmas
• Started this blog and am learning how to write both my candid and deep thoughts about this journey
• Sent registration forms to Clan Cochran and Clan Stewart organizations in the US to feel more connected and learn more about my heritage
• Created a notebook with all my info about my sabbatical, trip to Europe, retreat centers, Celtic Spirituality, voice lessons, genealogy research and other topics.  There are 16 colored tabs.  It makes me feel organized.
• Met with Meaghan who is helping me with my blog and encouraging me in this new venture.

I have been praying to God for guidance and patience as I have moments of pure joy as I think about this gift of an extended Sabbath and moments of concern about the health of some people I love.  That is life –  a mixture, a tapestry of woven threads – a journey of moments that are peaks, valleys and many on the flatlands.  Through it all I pray that I will be a person of gratitude.  Today I am very grateful for these steps along the journey.