Hello everyone,
If you remember a few weeks ago we asked if anyone objected to a declaration of friendship with the Presbytery of South Busan in Korea and the John Ross Memorial Congregation that has taken over our building in Newton, and offering associate membership to Rev Dr JunSoo Park their new minister. Last Wednesday night his induction service and the dedication of the building took place (click here for the order of service). There were lots and lots of people there as you can see from the picture below. A delegation came all the way from South Busan Presbytery as well as people from New College and the wider Church of Scotland. Together everyone joined in singing praises and glorifying God. Truly this was friendship, fellowship, and food spanning the globe but most of all it was one family gathered to worship Jesus Christ. Reverend Park will now be invited to become a corresponding member of Lothian and Borders Presbytery. When you think of all the people from all the countries with all the different languages who worship God, our faith is an amazing thing. This occasion reminded us just how global our faith is.
Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Please continue to pray this week for Bonnyrigg Parish Church.
Week beginning Sunday 13th April for the Parish of Bowden & Melrose
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Pray for Donald Scott as he settles in as Locum, and for Rosie Frew as she prepares to be Moderator.
Pray for our outreach through Open Door, Messy Church and our hospitality to walkers on St Cuthbert’s Way.
Decisions taken under powers since the last update are below.
| 21/04/2025 | Presbytery Council | On the resignation of Mr Roger Dodd, appoint Mr David Menzies as Property Convener for a period of 1 year in the first instance. |
| 26/03.2025 | Presbytery Council | Grant permission to progress the call in the Charge of Duns and District |
| 26/03.2025 | Presbytery Council | Grant permission to progress the call in the Charge of Coldstream l/w Eccles and Leitholm |
Below are a series of adverts/requests for various activities. Feel free to share or publish.
As always, feel free to share this email with anyone and everyone. If you have any feedback or suggestions, they are most welcome.
Link for the latest Presbytery Council Agenda 26th March 2025
May God bless you in the sunshine as he has blessed us through the rain! It is certainly good to see blue skies again.
God Bless
Norman
Hi Everyone!
Now less than a week away from Gladsmuir’s “Passion Sunday Blues” (13th at 6.30pm) I would be very grateful if you would forward this e-mail on to members of your congregation.
It contains:
- The Press Release which forms the basis of the East Lothian Courier piece which will be placed on their website very soon; and
- The our “Sing at 6.30” flier for 2025, outlining our monthly “Big Sings” between now and September.
It will be lovely to see you and yours this coming Sunday if you can join us.
Have a good week, and thank you once again,
Robin
Rev Dr Robin Hill
Minister, Gladsmuir linked with Longniddry
Dear Norman
Here I am once again asking for your help to pass on the 2025 Traprain Pilgrimage information to all your Presbytery contacts please
The date is Saturday 10th May starting at Athelstaneford church at 10am walking through Gilmerton estate onto Crauchie, then Markle & finishing at Prestonkirk church Stables
Approx 5 miles & most of the route is off road through lovely East Lothian countryside
To help with stewarding we request that the pilgrims register either on the church website – www.parishof traprain.org.uk or by email – david.armatage@talk21.com or text /phone 07841628113
Thank you Norman for your help to promote this event
Kind Regards
Emily Armatage
Dear friends,
We would be grateful if you could circulate this invitation to presbytery members and relevant contacts. A flyer is linked here as well as the email invitation below:
The Church of Scotland – Faith Action Programme (Public Life and Social Justice) team invite you to the first in a series of online Conversations: Our Voice in the Public Square at 12.30 – 1.30pm on Wednesday 23rd of April.
Val Brown, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, will facilitate our first conversation which poses the question: How can we speak up for our values of justice and mercy while walking humbly in the increasingly strident and divided public debate in Scotland and the world today?
Join the team to share experiences and learn from one another’s perspectives on how we can act, both individually and together as a Church. We’d also like your views on what topics you would like to address through future conversations.
To attend please register here by Monday 21st of April and we will send you a link to join the call.
Many thanks and best wishes,
David
David Bradwell (he/him/his (why am I sharing this?))| Public Life and Social Justice Manager & Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer | Faith Action Programme | The Church of Scotland
121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN | Switchboard Tel: 0131 225 5722 | Direct Tel: 0131 376 9104 | Email: dbradwell@churchofscotland.org.uk
Working Pattern: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, working a combination of in the office and remotely. I work flexibly and may occasionally send emails outside normal working hours. Please do not feel under any obligation to respond outside your own working hours.
Dear Presbytery Clerks,
I hope you are well. Please find the links below for further dates for Leadership Safeguarding Training. We would be obliged if you could send these dates to ministers and associated roles in your presbyteries so they can book on (Retired Ministers who do not have a current role need not attend). Ministers’ for the purposes of the Safeguarding Training Learning Pathway means parish ministers, Interim Ministers, Transition Ministers, auxiliary ministers, probationers, OLM, readers, locums and Armed Forces chaplains.
Here are the dates and links to book:
Individuals must have attended Introductory and Advanced training prior to this module which is the last in the training pathway. We would ask that these training course have been completed within the past 3 – 5 years. Refresher training thereafter is mandatory every 5 years (only the highest level previously attended, which would be Leadership training).
If your presbytery requires face to face training for Leadership Safeguarding Training, please don’t hesitate to fill in the form here and we will do our best to accommodate.
I have included the International Presbytery and England in this email as we have reviewed the content and agree that it is appropriate for you to attend the same course alongside those in Scotland.
We will continue to send additional dates as and when we have them.
Many thanks again,
Noelle
Noelle Maye (she/her/hers (why am I sharing this?)| Safeguarding Training Officer | Safeguarding | The Church of Scotland
121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN | Switchboard Tel: 0131 225 5722 | Direct Tel: 0131 240 2256 | Mobile: 07890954027
Email: nmaye@churchofscotland.org.uk
Gary is a local publican ex military police who makes regular trips to Ukraine with various types of aid depending on requests. Andrew is an organist in Skirling, retired local GP who often travels with him
There must be some redundant large print bibles floating around?
Isobel
Begin forwarded message:
From: andrew Goldie <
Subject: Bibles for Ukraine
Date: 31 March 2025 at 12:49:17 BST
To: Isobel Hunter <>
Hi Isobel,
On Gary’s next trip he is going to Bashtanka in Ukraine. The local Pastor has asked if he might be able to bring five large print bibles in English. Do you think you could help with this? What with all the church closures just now I wondered if there might be a number of large print bibles kicking around.
Andrew
If you can help, get in touch with Norman.
Dear Presbytery Clerk
For over 50 years, the Christian Aid Booksale at the Edinburgh New Town Church (formerly St Andrew’s & St George’s West) has been a significant fundraiser for the work of Christian Aid. In this, we have been supported by friends from the Church of Scotland family across the country, and from many other churches.
After a gap in 2024, we are delighted that the Booksale is back again this May.
I attach details of the dates of the 2025 Sale, together with arrangements for donations of books and other material. This information is also available at Christian Aid Sale 2025 – Edinburgh New Town ChurchEdinburgh New Town Church.
We would be immensely grateful if you could help us to spread the word so that we can continue the support for Christian Aid and its vital work around the globe.
W George Burgess
Chair of the Steering Group
Dear friends and colleagues,
Part of the digital ministry strategy is to create resources and host sessions to enable us to create locally produced resources and teams. We have produced digital ministry resources for Holy Week based on the lectionary readings for use in services, sharing on websites and social media, or leaving! If appropriate, would you be happy to share this email and resources with your Presbytery office, members, and Churches please?
A theme appeared through the readings of the servant heart of Jesus which underpins the content as we seek to explore the mercy found at the throne from Hebrews 4:14-16, a reading for Good Friday.
Each day has a different item of content with multiple contributors from across the Church. Horizontal videos are typically best for Facebook, Youtube and websites. Vertical reels are usually best for Instagram and TikTok. The blog has images and can be shared on multiple platforms or might be helpful for a service.
The Tennebrae service for Good Friday has no licence requirements as it is a bespoke creation by Phill Melstrom, national worship development worker.
Holy Week content (free to download) and suggested descriptions/text are in the folder here https://we.tl/t-ltEcd5rJ12 I have a wee technical problem with the video for Thursday and will forward that to you as soon as I can.
Overview:
Palm Sunday; ‘Holy Week @thestart’ (intro to what Holy Week is) by Rev Ruth Kennedy, Digital Ministries Advisor. Vertical and Horizontal videos.
Monday; ‘the value of Mary’ artistic reflection by Linda Hoskins, Christian artist in Edinburgh (LindaHoskinsArt). Vertical video only.
Tuesday; ‘Inside not outside?’ Thoughts by Rev Trish Archibald, Assistant Minister, Stirling North Parish Church. Vertical and Horizontal videos.
Wednesday; ‘Mercy that serves to the end’ Blog (possible sermon points) by Neill Shaw, Priority Areas Development Worker. Word and pdf.
Thursday; ‘Jesus held my feet’ testimony by Steven McLeish, Scotland Country Head, The Leprosy Mission.
Good Friday; ‘Tennebrae Service’ explanation and 13min service by Phill Melstrom, Worship Development Worker. Horizontal video with readings and lyrics included.
Holy Saturday; ‘Hope for Holy Saturday’ reflective poem by Christine Colliar, Reader and Candidate for OLM, Scots Kirk Lausanne. Vertical and Horizontal videos.
Easter Sunday; ‘Easter Message from the Moderator’ will be shared on the national platforms.
If you share the content on your social media, we would love it if you might please tag ‘the Church of Scotland’ as it will help us know that these types of digital ministry resources are useful.
Thank you, and bless you in all you are and do for God.
Grace to you,
Ruth
Rev Ruth Kennedy, Digital Ministries Advisor, Faith Action, The Church of Scotland
121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN | Switchboard Tel: 0131 225 5722 | Direct Tel: 07734385407 | Email: rkennedy@churchofscotland.org.uk
Scottish Charity Number SC011353
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http://ascend.churchofscotland.org.uk/