60 nations sing with one voice

The Edinburgh 2010 conference began with a moving, multicultural service in the South Hall at Pollock.

We gathered outside the building in the sunshine to the sound of the bagpipes, surrounded by small ‘peace palms’ seemingly growing from under surrounding bushes. These cloth, embroidered palms were the work of Carol and others in St James.

We entered the building and deposited stones from our various countries on a huge sheet forming the shape of a celtic cross.

John Bell led us in singing in up to four different languages, and Carol led us through a meditation on three  encounters between Jesus and people whose lives were changed. We left the building each chatting with a couple of strangers about which of these gospel character we would most like to meet.