March 2025 College Gathering
The March College gathering started on Ash Wednesday so we took the opportunity to explore this special day which marks the start of Lent. We looked at the practices of fasting and ashing found in the earliest Church, how fasting influences Islam, and how these practices fell out of favour in the Reformation but have renewed interest in a more ecumenical age. Andy Braunston led an Ash Wednesday Communion service and offered the imposition of ashes.
On Thursday we explored what we mean by the word Sacrament and then our understandings of, and feelings about, Holy Communion. Discussion turned to practical matters as students practiced leading a Communion prayer and explored some of the choreography typically used in the URC. For students from the Synod of Scotland this fulfilled their Lay Presidency training requirement so that, if pastoral necessity requires, they can preside at the Sacraments on placements within the Synod. The day ended with a shared meal together.
On Friday our attention turned to how Artificial Intelligence engines can be tools for academic research – and discussed the possible pitfalls of using them.