revealed 8 November 2024
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A lady with a deep ardour for the human spirit and the reason for soccer has been appointed to the Church of Scotland ministry.
The Rev Don Westwood, a “true believer in religion and soccer”, celebrated the beginning of a brand new chapter in his journey at Greyfriars Parish Church in Lanark, South Lanarkshire.
Members of the family, associates and colleagues regarded on with pleasure as ministers laid arms on him as he took his ordination oath as a Minister of Phrase and Sacrament.
Ms Westwood, Livingston Girls’s Soccer Membership chaplain, will function an assistant minister in Clydesdale and supply pastoral and outreach assist to the native congregation.
“I really feel so blessed and inspired by the congregation and my household and associates who’ve traveled with me earlier than, throughout and into the way forward for my ministry coaching,” he stated.
“My coronary heart was so full to see so many individuals gathered at Greyfriars on Wednesday evening who love God and love individuals, calling us all to be Kingdom builders collectively.
“In a time that feels difficult for the Church as a neighborhood, it was an incredible reminder that God shouldn’t be finished with us but.
“I’m excited to see what God has in retailer for me on this subsequent section of my ministry journey, and the place He’s calling me to serve.”
Mrs Westwood lives in Carluke, South Lanarkshire and is married to Graham and they’re the proud mother and father of Logan, Eilidh and Sophie, aged 16, 13 and 9 respectively.
Christian values
The minister grew up in a Christian household in Bathgate, West Lothian, and each his mother and father grew up in Whitburn South Parish Church.
He revealed that his uncle, who was a minister, baptized him within the hospital as a result of he was born prematurely and it was not sure that he would survive.
“After that, I bought a blessing within the church and it has been part of my life ever since,” stated Mrs Westwood, who has a brother, Ewen.
“I used to be all the time conscious of God as a result of I noticed God’s love in motion by way of my mother and father and my grandparents.
“They love God and love individuals and that is one thing I’ve carried with me all my life.
“After I left college I labored in nursing and I developed sturdy management expertise in my position as a supervisor and these expertise I’ve taken into my ministry.
“Having the ability to speak about my religion and pray for others once they do not feel in a position to pray for themselves is a present and a blessing.”
After she left nursing, Mrs Westwood labored as a minister’s assistant at Palmerston Place Church in Edinburgh which helped her develop a spread of recent expertise to face her in good stead for coaching in ministry.
He skilled at Boghall Parish Church in Bathgate, St Mary’s Parish Church in Motherwell, Greyfriars Parish Church in Lanark and spent his probation at Kirkton Church in Carluke.
“Throughout this time, I used to be formed by my supervisors but additionally blessed and nurtured by the congregation I used to be positioned in,” added Mrs Westwood, who has a BA in Theology from Highland Theological Faculty in Dingwall.
“They inspired me to be myself, simply as God known as me to be.
“Ministry requires good and devoted associates, a lot prayer and the data that you’re geared up and sustained by God.
“It is available in many varieties and a part of my ministry is my time spent as chaplain with the Livingston Girls’s group.”
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Ms Westwood stated it was a “privilege” to supply pastoral assist – concern for psychological, emotional and non secular well-being – not only for gamers, however for everybody concerned with golf equipment.
He’s all the time completely satisfied to debate Christianity when requested, however principally he shares the fruits of the Holy Spirit by exhibiting persistence, kindness, goodness, consolation, steerage and humility.
Mrs Westwood stated: “The Church is larger than our partitions as a result of we love individuals the place they’re.
“All through my ministry, I’ve been guided by two phrases that I maintain coming again to – ‘Go and provides to God’ and ‘Love God and love individuals’ – and neither has led me astray.”
