Pluscarden Abbey: Entering into an Ancient Tradition

Pluscarden Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Morayshire, Scotland 

A little while ago I spent four refreshing and renewing days at Pluscarden Abbey, a medieval Ben-edictine monastery in Northeast Scotland. Only a short time before that I learned that the monastery was less than two hours away by car. I also read that male guests are welcome to stay in the guest wing of the abbey for times of personal retreat. So a few Sundays ago, after visiting some people and packing a small piece of luggage, I drove to Pluscarden Abbey. Four days later I drove back to St Fergus feeling refreshed and satisfied with my time there. 

The purpose of my going away to the Abbey was to spend time waiting upon the Lord for my next step in ministry at St Fergus Parish Church, the congregation that I pastor. I went because I wanted to be in a disciplined Christian community in which I could have a peaceful and quiet place to concentrate on my relationship with God. I was not there because I was tired, stressed out, or worn out. I was not there just for personal time. I was there to reflect intentionally on my first two years of ministry at St Fergus Parish Church. The result was that I had a wonderful time.   

The photo of the abbey above is the view that I saw as I approached it on foot that first day of my retreat. When I turned the bend and came onto the Abbey grounds I entered into the rich ancient traditions and heritage of Christian monasticism. I became part of a Christian community that is far greater than me. Being a Benedictine monastery, the community of monks there follow the Bene-dictine way of life.  The order is an ancient one founded by St Benedict in the sixth century after Christ. Benedictine monasteries spread rapidly throughout medieval Europe. 

The Benedictine order was part of Christian monasticism that is as old as Christianity itself. There have always been Christian men and women who have desired a life of prayer and contemplation. It began in Egypt and over time spread to Western Europe. There have been many different monastic orders over the centuries. In general monastic Christians committed themselves to witnessing to the eternal truths of God and practicing charity in human relationships. Monasticism has flourished as a protest against materialistic society and the resulting worldliness and social disharmony.

The Benedictine movement is one of the most prominent orders throughout Christian history. The women and men who commit themselves to the Benedictine order participate fully in the general monasticism described in the previous paragraph. They are particular from other monastics in that they commit themselves to following the Rule of St Benedict. The Rule is a specific guide in life and a lived way of expressing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pluscarden Abbey is one of sixteen Benedictine houses in Britain. There are also eleven houses of Benedictine nuns. In 1988 there were 600 monks and 334 nuns in the Benedictine houses in Britain. There are currently 21 monks in Pluscarden Abbey.

Like their Benedictine brothers and sisters, the monks of Pluscarden Abbey see their primary service as prayer, regular observance of Roman Catholic holy rites, and living life in community. They withdraw from the world, yet commit themselves to praying for the world. According to Benedict's Rule, guests receive hospitality. Men and women are welcomed and received regardless of faith. There is a wing of the abbey set aside for male guests. There is a guest house not too far from the abbey for women. The Benedictines affirm that hospitality is a requirement of the Gospel. I was blessed by the hospitality of the monks of Pluscarden Abbey. I hope to write more about that in future postings.

Blessings to you and yours,  

Saying 'See You Later' to Abi

Rev Dr Abi Ngunga 

Abi Ngunga, minister of St Andrews Church in neigh-
bouring Peterhead, is leaving the area to be minister
of a Church of Scotland congregation in southwest
Scotland. The news of his leaving was a shock to me,
something I never thought would happen for several
years. It was hard news to receive. But after several
weeks of processing what was happening, I truly see
his moving as of the Lord.

I have known Abi for just over two years - ever since
I moved to St Fergus in June of 2012. Abi and I hit it
off from the very beginning. He is a close friend, a dear
brother in Christ, a fellow pastor/scholar, and a won-
derful colleague in the Gospel ministry. We spent a lot
of time together travelling and participating in the re-
cent General Assembly and a Scottish Theological So-
ciety conference. Whenever we are together, we are al-
ways talking with one another, sharing deeply from our
hearts and minds. Theologically and ministry-wise, we
are a lot a like. We both are energised by what the oth-
er is thinking and action.

I wrote about Abi in a previous posting entitled Andwele - 'God Brings Me' (14 October 2013), but I did not refer to him by name. He was born and grew up in a small village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was so keen to receive an education that he walked seven miles to the nearest school for his first eight years of schooling. At the end of the day it was seven miles to walk to get back home. He accepted Christ when he was in his late teens and was recognised for ministry training. He received training from the Christian and Missionary Alliance school in the DRC and served in ministry there. Soon he was tapped to pursue further theological and biblical studies in Kenya. After a time of ministry in Kenya, he was selected for PhD studies in biblical studies at the University of Aberdeen. Abi's thesis deals with the theme of messianism in Greek Isaiah. His thesis has been published as a scholarly book and scholarly pursuits are an interest of his, perhaps in the future. Abi is married with three children, ages 11, 17, and 24, or there about. Abi's first language is French; his children are bilingual and bi-cultlural, having grown up in Kenya and Scotland.

But Abi's passions are evangelism, preaching, prayer, and pastoral ministry. He comes out of vibrant and energetic Christian churches of the DRC, Kenya, and Aberdeen. Abi came to St Andrews Church in North-East Scotland a year and a half before I arrived in St Fergus. Both of us are called to be pastors of congregations in the Church of Scotland. Therefore we both value preaching, teaching, praying, and shepherding God's people. Abi is a gifted evangelist and preacher; I too am a preacher, but my gifting is more as a teacher of theology and Scripture. Both of us see prayer as essential to revival breaking out here in the North-East. Abi and I are aggressive in reaching out to and working with other Christians and churches in Peterhead. In May, when the Open Brethren in Peterhead had evening evangelistic services for three weeks, Abi and I attended services in order to show our support for what they were doing. The Brethren are not known for reaching out to other churches, so Abi and I went to them. Abi also cancelled Thursday night Bible study in order that the group could to attend the service. It was good to be with our Brethren brothers and sisters to support them. That is the way Abi thinks, and I supported him in that.

I view the Christian community in Peterhead (and St Fergus is with them) to be like a professional football team; not in the sense of World Cup football, but in the sense of a National Football League  team in the USA. Both Abi and I were 'drafted' by our churches to be quarterbacks. Both of us gifted, talented. and experienced. But Abi is what I call a franchise player: that is, a winning team is often built around a franchise player such as Abi. I am good as a player and gifted, but I am not a franchise player. I was converted from quarterback to wide receiver. With Abi as quarterback and me as wide receiver, we were a dynamic duo. We know each other, we anticipate each other, and we connected for exciting touchdowns. We worked well together. But the Christian community here in Peterhead is just learning how to work together. We are not Championship caliber yet; we are not even playoff ready. We are learning to win now, but we have a long ways to go.

Since the days when he came to Christ, Abi has been involved with an active, energetic Christianity in the DRC, Kenya, and even Aberdeen. That has not been the case here in North-East Scotland. The Lord used Abi mightily for His Kingdom purposes here. He was faithful to his calling to be here in Peterhead. As I look back on Abi's time here, it seems that he was being prepared here for ministry elsewhere. The church that has just called Abi discerned his skills and gifts and, with prayer and waiting on the Lord, pursued him. Their minister had recently retired after over thirty fruitful years of Gospel ministry. They heard about Abi, came to hear him preach in Peterhead, had him preach at a neutral pulpit, and then voted on him after the whole congregation heard. It was an unanimous vote in favour of calling him to the church. The people of the church discerned God's hand upon Abi as their minister. Abi and his wife also had a strong sense of the call to ministry at that church. I sense it is of God that this is happening. The calling church is playoff caliber; it is even Championship-ready. Abi is their man for such a time as this. Abi has been prepared for this new position.

I am saddened to see Abi go, but I know for sure that this is of the Lord. I am committed to staying here in St Fergus/Peterhead until the Lord calls me elsewhere. Both Abi and I have been seeing God doing amazing things here. We pray that the Christian community in Peterhead may soon become a 'playoff' caliber team. The Lord is raising up men and women for positions of leadership in this community. I have served in Christian communities that are not playoff contenders, but struggle to have a winning season. I am used to it; it is what God has equipped me to do. Abi is tailor made for energetic, vibrant churches such as the one he soon will be servicing. I affirm Abi's call to the new position, but my place is here in the Peterhead area.

I am already missing Abi. His departure from the North East will leave a big void in leadership of the Christian community here in Peterhead. But already God is raising up women and men who are assuming leadership. I am not saying goodbye to Abi, I am saying see you later. As men and women in Christ, we know that we never say goodbye, but see you later. May it be so, Lord Jesus. As always, I covet your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,