My Scottish Kirk
My Scottish Kirk
August 30, 2026
My involvement in the local kirk (church) is steadily growing, and this week it seemed I was either at the kirk or with kirk members almost every day. It made for a full and good week.
On Sundays, after worship, we gather for coffee and cookies. I’ve come to truly enjoy this time of fellowship — it’s where I meet the other women in the kirk and begin to feel part of the community. When the gathering winds down, someone usually offers me a ride home, which I gratefully accept since I take the bus to church in the morning. Sunday, August 23rd was no exception. Kay offered me a ride, along with two other women.
One was Fran, who suffered a stroke at just thirty years old. Now in her sixties, she still has a speech impediment that makes her difficult to understand, but she is warm and gracious. Originally from Peru, she had been teaching Spanish at the University of Aberdeen when her stroke occurred. The other woman was Barbara, who was scheduled for exploratory surgery the next day. She already knew she had cancer, but the surgery later revealed it was more extensive than expected. She is now on my prayer list.
As we were heading out, Kay asked if we’d like to sit in her garden (yard) since the day
was so lovely. This is probably a good moment to mention Scottish gardens: they’re smaller than most American yards, but charming, tidy, and nearly always enclosed by fences, walls, or hedges — front and back.
Kay’s back garden had a summer house (what we might call a “she shed”). We sat there for half an hour, sipping water flavored with lavender and lemon — light, refreshing, and unexpectedly delightful. While we relaxed, Kay’s husband was roasting vegetables for lunch. The meal was marvelous: potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, and more, served with a sauce of yogurt, honey, and lemon juice. I’m not usually a big fan of vegetables, but prepared this way, I could easily become a vegetarian.
For dessert, Kay assembled strawberries, raspberries, and meringues. She’s one of those women who can invite people over on the spur of the moment and produce a wonderful meal with seemingly no effort. I know her husband handled the vegetables and sauce, but still — I can spend several days preparing for company. After dessert, we finished with coffee and cookies. It was a delightful afternoon with delightful people from my kirk.
On Thursday, the Women’s Bible Study resumed after the summer break. The ladies are studying Proverbs, though this first meeting was mostly a “how was your summer?” gathering because the group leader was out of town. There were six or seven of us — a small, friendly group. We talked, shared, and prayed a bit.
As we were leaving, I asked if anyone wanted to go to Tesco, where there’s a Costa coffee shop. Last year, I loved meeting for coffee after my Irish women’s Bible study, and I’m hoping to begin something similar here in Aberdeen. One lady agreed to join me, and we had a lovely time getting to know each other. I’m already looking forward to next week’s study — and hopefully coffee afterward.
That evening, Kay picked me up for a house kirk (what we’d call a small group in the U.S.). We also collected two other ladies. The meeting was familiar: a Bible study followed by prayer. It was warm and welcoming, and I’ll gladly go again whenever I have a ride.
Of course, I didn’t spend the entire week in Bible studies. I also explored a bit.
I took a tour of the Royal Deeside. Aberdeen sits between two rivers — the Dee and the
Don — and the Dee flows through Balmoral, giving the surrounding land its “Royal Deeside” name. Our first stop was Dunnottar Castle, perched dramatically on a bluff above the North Sea. I disappointed the tour guide by refusing to walk down 200 steps to reach the castle entrance — and up nearly as many to reach the ruins. As I descended, I asked people whether the climb was worth it. Most were noncommittal. Having already
seen plenty of castle, abbey, and church ruins in Scotland and Ireland, I decided I didn’t need another. Instead, I enjoyed a peaceful walk along the bluff, watching the waves of the North Sea.
We spent the rest of the day following the River Dee, stopping at scenic spots and
visiting the villages of Ballater and Braemar. It is truly beautiful country, and I had an enjoyable day. I had lunch with a young woman from Italy who was visiting friends in Aberdeen. Scotland is beginning to promote itself as a place to escape Europe’s summer heat, but my Italian companion was eager to return to the sunshine of home.
Later in the week, while looking at a map of the area near my apartment, I noticed a place called Bonny Muir Green. Curious, I went to investigate. It turned out to be a collection of garden allotments where locals grow vegetables. This particular site has expanded beyond gardening — it now includes a café and
play areas. I visited and found the growing season nearly finished. I ordered a panini for lunch and watched people play table tennis. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
I’m grateful that my kirk is restarting its programs and that I continue to discover interesting places in my local area. Aberdeen is becoming more familiar, more comfortable — and more like home.
Weather: Cloudy
Highs: 61 F (16 C), Lows: 56 F (13 C)
Sunrise: 6:05 AM Sunset: 8:10 PM (20:10)
Hours of Daylight: 13 hours and 44 minutes
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