FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 2nd – 9th FEBRUARY 2025
Just as I posted the log last week the warning about Storm Eowin, like to storm itself, was gathering force. My webmaster for St Mungo’s kindly contacted me to ask if I wanted any message put up on the website and on social media. We agreed that we should inform people that the church might be closed and that we were advising people to stay at home for their own safety. However, as Father Gareth was also on call for the Royal Infirmary that day, he decided that he would head into the church early in the morning, well before the 10am red alert, and remain there for the rest of the day until it was safe to come home in the evening.
On the Thursday evening, I prepared a meal for my brother that he could microwave the next day, as I was unlikely to be able to get to him through the storm for my usual caring duties. I had to smile when a general text came in from his housing association to give various bits of advice, including tying down his trampoline. This wouldn’t be necessary, seeing as how he lives on the top floor and has poor mobility, so I was spared trampoline duties. I smiled even more the next day when I saw the report on the news about rail disruption, including footage of a trampoline in the middle of some railway tracks. It was while I was in his house that the government alert came in on my mobile and that seemed to vindicate the action being taken.
On the day of the storm Father Gareth had one person for the 10 o’clock Mass and five people for the 12.15pm Mass, and of course his presence meant that we were accessible on the live stream as well. The rest of us stayed at home in Bishopbriggs listening to the whistling wind and watching the trees swaying wildly outside, as we have a wooded area behind the house. Thankfully none of the trees came crashing down, and nor did the fence that separates us from the wood, even though there were moments when I was convinced it was going to collapse. Neither St Mungo’s nor St Roch’s had any discernible, serious damage. A few tiles came off the roof in St Mungo’s, and a window, high up in the hall, blew open in St Roch’s, but I’m hopeful we can deal with those issues without too much hassle.
I was reminded of an hilarious episode of the Vicar of Dibley when a storm brought a tree crashing down on the church, sadly shattering a beautiful stained-glass window. There was a great debate in the parish council as to whether this storm was as bad as the many previous storms the village had experienced over the years, described by various council members as the great storm, the really great storm, the great winds, and many more. Then came the shock of discovering how much replacing the window was going to cost. To cut a long story short, a benefactor provided the necessary funds to replace the window, but the funds were donated instead to the relief effort after an earthquake in Colombia, and a plain-glass window was fitted instead, which looked out onto, and gave a beautiful panorama, of the stunning countryside beyond the window, God’s work of art, and far more beautiful than any window could ever have been. It was a very funny episode, but with a poignant message at the end.
Both in St Mungo’s and St Roch’s, we have parish council meetings next week. I like to call them my Vicar of Dibley meetings, because there are great characters around both tables. Thankfully, we have no major storm disasters to discuss. However, in these times in which we live, who knows what other climate challenges the weeks and months ahead might bring.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
Just as I posted the log last week the warning about Storm Eowin, like to storm itself, was gathering force. My webmaster for St Mungo’s kindly contacted me to ask if I wanted any message put up on the website and on social media. We agreed that we should inform people that the church might be closed and that we were advising people to stay at home for their own safety. However, as Father Gareth was also on call for the Royal Infirmary that day, he decided that he would head into the church early in the morning, well before the 10am red alert, and remain there for the rest of the day until it was safe to come home in the evening.
On the Thursday evening, I prepared a meal for my brother that he could microwave the next day, as I was unlikely to be able to get to him through the storm for my usual caring duties. I had to smile when a general text came in from his housing association to give various bits of advice, including tying down his trampoline. This wouldn’t be necessary, seeing as how he lives on the top floor and has poor mobility, so I was spared trampoline duties. I smiled even more the next day when I saw the report on the news about rail disruption, including footage of a trampoline in the middle of some railway tracks. It was while I was in his house that the government alert came in on my mobile and that seemed to vindicate the action being taken.
On the day of the storm Father Gareth had one person for the 10 o’clock Mass and five people for the 12.15pm Mass, and of course his presence meant that we were accessible on the live stream as well. The rest of us stayed at home in Bishopbriggs listening to the whistling wind and watching the trees swaying wildly outside, as we have a wooded area behind the house. Thankfully none of the trees came crashing down, and nor did the fence that separates us from the wood, even though there were moments when I was convinced it was going to collapse. Neither St Mungo’s nor St Roch’s had any discernible, serious damage. A few tiles came off the roof in St Mungo’s, and a window, high up in the hall, blew open in St Roch’s, but I’m hopeful we can deal with those issues without too much hassle.
I was reminded of an hilarious episode of the Vicar of Dibley when a storm brought a tree crashing down on the church, sadly shattering a beautiful stained-glass window. There was a great debate in the parish council as to whether this storm was as bad as the many previous storms the village had experienced over the years, described by various council members as the great storm, the really great storm, the great winds, and many more. Then came the shock of discovering how much replacing the window was going to cost. To cut a long story short, a benefactor provided the necessary funds to replace the window, but the funds were donated instead to the relief effort after an earthquake in Colombia, and a plain-glass window was fitted instead, which looked out onto, and gave a beautiful panorama, of the stunning countryside beyond the window, God’s work of art, and far more beautiful than any window could ever have been. It was a very funny episode, but with a poignant message at the end.
Both in St Mungo’s and St Roch’s, we have parish council meetings next week. I like to call them my Vicar of Dibley meetings, because there are great characters around both tables. Thankfully, we have no major storm disasters to discuss. However, in these times in which we live, who knows what other climate challenges the weeks and months ahead might bring.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
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