From The Editor

CHRISTMAS has always been my favourite time of the

PRAYER

The time of waiting and wonder, The time of longing

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LETTERS

The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers in his contribution to

The Big Question

This month’s question is: ‘What do we owe the people who are working on Christmas Day?’

Justice for all

Ron Ferguson says the poor are paying the biggest price for an economic recession triggered by the wealthy.

Reaching out

Celebrating the Christmas message best comes by reaching out to others says the Moderator, the Rt Rev Susan Brown.

Leading and teaching

Continuing his emphasis on the need to change church structures, the Very Rev Albert Bogle reflects on leadership and nurture.

‘Compelled by the love of Christ’

Christmas Day is a UK public holiday. But for some, it will be a normal working day. Jackie Macadam learns how some people will spend the day supporting and helping others.

Shocking Knox

Thomas Baldwin meets the two women at the helm of New College in Edinburgh.

Iona Library renovation celebrated

The Duke of Argyll joined celebrations in October to mark the completion of a project to refurbish the library on Iona, home to the Iona Abbey Heritage Collection.

The Big Picture

Digital photographs only should be sent to magazine@lifeandwork.org

From Glasgow to South Lanarkshire

John R Hume charts the history of Rutherglen and some of its churches.

O little town of Bethlehem

Chris Wigglesworth reflects on a personal journey to Bethlehem.

‘The love of God transcends everything’

David McKee reflects on a study visit to the Holy Land.

From Monty Python to ministry

Thomas Baldwin reports on the appointment of the Moderator-Designate of the 2019 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

375 Years of Scots International Church in Rotterdam

Ruud F Witte reports on the anniversary celebration of the Scots Kirk in Rotterdam.

WORLD NEWS

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the

This is Christmas?

The Rev Dr Margaret Forrester considers the message of Christmas from the perspective of the innkeeper’s wife.

REGISTERS

MINISTRIES

CROSSWORDS

14 US states where Protestant fundamentalism is dominant

Czech connections

The Rev David Sinclair describes an exchange between the Church of Scotland and ministers in the Czech Republic.

Nativity symbol

The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers examines the story of the birth of Christ.