Christmas Message from Glasgow Cathedral Provost

A gorgeous pic and a Christmas Message for the LGBT+ Communities

Dear I was asked this year to write a special Christmas message for the LGBT+ communities. It has now been published by Kaleidoscot – an online publication for LGBT folk in Scotland. You can read the message and also see a gorgeous new photograph of St Mary’s illuminated for Christmas which has been taken by a member of the congregation, Martin Hammond, over on the blog here: http://thurible.net/2015/12/23/a-christmas-message-for-the-lgbt-communities/ “When Mary was pregnant with Jesus she sang a song of justice that is part of what moves me every time I hear it. “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” We sing that song of justice every week in my congregation and I have it running through my mind whenever I go on a demo or a Pride march. “Intrinsic to the Christmas story is Mary who simply wants the world to change. With songs like her Magnificat that we have recorded in the Bible, you can imagine her singing feminist lullabies and protest ditties to the babe in the manger.” All good wishes for the feast when it comes. regards KELVIN

The Provost of St.Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow (Scotland) reminds us of the fact of God’s concern for the poor and marginalised of the world – in this case, those of the LGBT Community that the Most Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth is addressing.

Open about his own homosexual orientation, Father Kelvin is a doughty supporter of the local and national gay community, and also a critic of the Christian Churches’ attitude towards people who are ‘different’ in their intrinsic sexual nature. His ‘Kelvin’s blog’ is well-known throughout the Episcopal Church of Scotland – and beyond in the more liberated Anglican world – for its outspoken call for the Church to beciome inclusive – rather than dismissive – of the gay community.

There can be little doubt that clergy in the Anglican Communion like Father Kelvin can have a beneficial effect on those who question the Church’s capacity for the toleration of sexual minorities. His thinking advocacy has no doubt helped to influence the Scottish Episcopal Church’s more open attitude towards LGTBQ people in their congregations.

His clear identification with the “Song of Mary’ and its revolutionary suggestion of God’s ‘lifting up the lowly’ will bring comfort to many who read his message this Christmas.

“Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus”.

Venite adoremus, Christ the Lord!

Father Ron Smith