By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie welcomed former Jamestown Parish Church minister the Rev Norma Moore, pictured above, to lead Time for Reflection at the Scottish Parliament.
The Dumbarton constituency MSP nominated the retired Minister to deliver her contribution at the start of Parliamentary business at the start of November.
The Rev Norma first came to Jamestown Parish Church in 2004 with many local residents surprised that a female minister had been appointed. Norma went on to be a successful and popular leader of the church during her 13-year tenure prior to her retirement in 2017.
Over that time, she forged close links with the Preparation for Life project, a residential unit for vulnerable young people and also worked to establish a bursary scheme to educate Palestinian Christian children in the West Bank.
Norma was also chaplain to both Jamestown and Haldane primary schools and has been involved in Action for Churches Together in the Vale of Leven, promoting stronger links between parishes.
While minister at Jamestown Parish Church, she conducted an annual service to commemorate the evacuation of Dunkirk and the involvement of Skylark XI, the little ship, in Operation Dynamo to rescue allied troops during World War II. The Skylark was rescued from the River Leven where it was partially sunken and has gone on to become a project for people recovering from addiction through Alternatives.
Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton MSP said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Norma and her guests to Parliament to lead Time for Reflection.
“When Norma told me she would be talking about committees, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the content of her contribution really struck a chord with me as I am sure it will have with many Members of the Scottish Parliament.”