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Stornoway, Lewis
The Rev David Karoon, a former Free Church minister in Arran, was inducted to the charge of the new Stornoway congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland on Saturday.
It is the first RP congregation in the Western Isles and the first in the Highlands for 135 years. The last one was in Wick in Caithness which was established in 1839 and continued until 1876.
The congregation was augmented by others from local churches and about 40 people from the RP congregations in Airdrie and Glasgow.
Adverse weather conditions prevented many of them arriving on Friday evening when the ferry was cancelled and they had to stay overnight at Ullapool but managed to arrive on Saturday morning in time for the service in Stornoway Town Hall.
In addition to the induction of Mr Karoon three elders and three deacons were inducted.
The Rev Kenneth Stewart of Glasgow RP Church took his text from Colossians 4 verse 17: 'Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.'
He said that that would be the task of the new minister and also the deacons.
He said it was an important message addressed to Archippus and it came like a bullet at the end of the letter. It was also a public letter not a private one. The whole congregation was to see that Archippus took heed of the ministry which he had inherited.
Mr Syewart said Mr Karoon would be a servant of God to the congregation and that service could only be done 'in the Lord' and He would give him strength. He also stressed the solemn duties of the elders and deacons.
The vows to the office-
Mr D R Macdonald, one of the new elders, then presented Mr Karoon with a monetary gift, and Mrs Marietta Macleod presented Mrs Shirley Karoon with a similar gift.
Following the presenations the new minister was addressed by Mr Quigley who quoted from from John 15 verse 8: 'Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.'
He said they must abide and dwell in Christ. He challenged the new minister and the elders and deacon to think about how they were going to enable their people to abide in Christ. These were days of hope and expectation.
After the service the congregation adjourned to the County Hotel where there were given a excellent lunch provided by the ladies of the congregation.
The Rev Donald Macdonald, one of the new elders, then presented Mr D R Macdonald with a book token in recognition of all his hard work for the congregation over the past few months.
Stornoway RP minister inducted 31/10/11
By Bill Lucas
Rev David Karoon (centre) with the two officiating ministers, Presbytery elders and
the newly inducted office-