This week we will be looking at Celtic Christianity and a little bit of Medieval Scotland through material in the Reader and the links on the web pages http://www.schoolofministry.ac.nz/reformed/celtic.htm and http://www.schoolofministry.ac.nz/reformed/medieval.htm  ; there is a choice of exercise, and as usual the request that you respond to one another's responses later during the week.

This is an opportunity to identify some of the key players from the Celtic and Middle Ages period, especially people you may have heard of, but never looked at too closely. A number of New Zealand churches (and two schools that I know of) are named after people from this period.

You may also wish to draw up your own time line of key events and people for this and the other historical periods we study as we come to them.

There are at least 3 Presbyterian churches in New Zealand named after Margaret. There is a fairly uncritical entry on her in the old Catholic Encyclopaedia (a good source of pre-Vatican II early 19th century Catholic scholarship) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09655c.htm 

So, of the following exercises, ONLY ONE is required for discussion, but you can raise comments or questions about the other and about other material if you wish.

EITHER 1. Read and comment on the article by Donald Meek in your Study Guide and Reader.

OR 2 Locate information about a person from the period of interest to you (eg Patrick, Ninian, Columba, Kentigern, Margaret) and email the group about how their story can be relevant to Christian mission today.

It is clear there is a lot we don't know, and some rather fanciful tales, yet there are clues even there. Each of these discussion topics is in part an exercise in sorting out the truth that often lies in myth.

Don't get bogged down. Three or four paragraphs per email, or a page of writing, is usually enough in these discussions!

Happy digging,

John

John Roxborogh
Tutor