This week’s, and previous weeks’ news, can be found on the front page of the Presbytery website
https://lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/home/news-events/
Dear Friends
Self-optimisation recently got ridiculed in the media as a current cultural obsession.
What is this??! Well in essence this term involves asking how might I improve my life by making certain changes to my lifestyle. How can I make the most of things? For some this might mean saving time by brushing teeth in the shower or preparing food the night before…
Despite sounding like a computer feature such behaviour is understandable.
For when it feels like so much is fragile or falling apart in our world it is easy to look for meaning in activity or in doing something. It’s hard to resist the pull of productivity and even self–optimisation in small ways. It is a very human attempt to provide control, order and habits that we think might lead to a better life. It makes me think of the well-known phrase related to old Army comedy shows ‘Well, don’t just stand there! Do something!’
Thanks in part to the Protestant work ethic many of us in the church have for years been schooled in asking ‘…and how can I be helpful!? Like Martha we value being useful. The problem is however that busyness is not holiness. Have we yet learned how to be valuable without being ‘useful’!? That day Jesus came to visit Martha had so much on her to-do list and what does Mary do…?!!
As Christians we believe that we are loved for who we are before we do anything. We believe too that God is the one who is the primary agent of transformation not us. This is God’s world not ours. God delights in us when we surrender our lives to him and we pray, we listen, we take time to notice, to give thanks and in all things seek first God’s kingdom. What if as Christians we turned that well known phrase around -‘Don’t just do something! Stand there!’
Hello from the new Presbytery Clerk
Thank you for the opportunity of being your Presbytery Clerk. In my first week in the job, I have really enjoyed learning about the Presbytery and being out and about meeting new people. I am very much looking forward to getting to know you and working alongside you as we serve Christ together.
Dan Carmichael
DCarmichael@churchofscotland.org.uk
Pentecost celebrations at West Tweeddale
“To celebrate Pentecost West Tweeddale Parishes had a birthday party for the church complete with ice cream, birthday cake, games and competitions. As part of the celebrations we also showcased the varied ways the church is active in our community.
The idea started when a group of us attended the Leading your Church into Growth (LyCiG) conference at the beginning of February. On the last day, we were challenged to come up with something that invited our community to engage with the church. With 6 churches scattered over a wide area in our parishes, opportunities to work together are rare and require a lot of organisation. We wanted to do something that brought us together and at the same time reach out to people who have at present little involvement in the church but might be encouraged to explore further.
A letter of invitation was sent to every organisation which was connected to the church in some way inviting them to come along and showcase what their organisation was doing in the community. Over 20 organisations responded and on the day, most brought along some sort of activity that drew people to their table. A grant from the Presbytery Good Ideas fund allowed us to make everything free of charge and the bakers in the community outdid themselves, we ended up with an amazing afternoon tea spread.
We’d prepared our congregations for the event by asking our worship leaders to base their services between Easter and Pentecost on the ideas of sharing our faith and inviting people to journey with us in that faith. Part of the work building up to the event was putting together a short questionnaire which we launched at the event, inviting people to tell us what they thought about the church and what they might engage in. Once complete it will hopefully colour our conversations when we meet in the Autumn to plan. Having some sort of enquirers group is one of our hopes.
The weather on the day could not have been better, the atmosphere was brilliant and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, The feedback was ‘can we do it again next year?’”
Interview with Neil Dougall
After twenty three years at St.Andrew Blackadder in North Berwick Neil stepped down as parish minister. Having served the church at a variety of levels Neil surveys changes in ministry and identifies the challenges ahead. Find the interview on the Presbytery Youtube channel https://youtu.be/f2dMWZNYeCE
Church websites meeting Weds 10th June 730pm
Our church websites are often the first thing that people see of our churches. What do they say about us!? Are they attractive or invitational?
Join with us online at 730pm on Weds June 10th as we think about communication and share best practice. Alison Murray, a local webmaster will kick us off by sharing her experience of setting up a site. Please join us and bring your questions or discoveries!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84616821108?pwd=iZ1mvAUDHR6L2VL63KiHr7HOrr7eYa.1
Meeting ID: 846 1682 1108 & Passcode: 293034
Resources for Enquirers
The Mission committee asked for a list of resources for people searching for faith. Here is an initial list. Please let me know what you have used and I’ll add it to the list. The resources will vary in length and emphasis but all have been useful in different contexts.
See attached
Wanted- A Pulpit Bible
“Do you have a spare pulpit Bible? ITW (Innerleithen, Traquair & Walkburn) Church are looking for an NIV pulpit bible for Traquair Kirk. The old one is beginning to fall apart and we wondered if there might be one spare from a local union or building closure that we could bring back into use.”
Fraser Edwards, Minister
East Lothian Street Pastors
“Street Pastor patrols are already an important part of life in certain border towns as well as elsewhere in Scotland. We are looking to draw together a team for East Lothian. The good news is that East Lothian’s Chief Inspector, Ben Leathes, is eager to have Street Pastors in Musselburgh, Haddington, Wallyford, and other local towns. As well as patrols there are also opportunities to support Street Pastors East Lothian through:
- Prayer,
- Local church facilities for patrols
- & Funding
You would be joining a large family which currently consists of 13,000 Street Pastors across the UK, backed by 30,000 Prayer Pastors. Please consider joining us. secretary@elsp.org.uk
Locum Minister wanted
Dryburgh District Churches are inviting anyone interested in acting as a locum minister during our current vacancy to get in touch.
“The post will be vacant when our current locum, Rev Rob Jones, leaves at the end of June - although I hope that we are covered for pulpit supply in July, so really from the beginning of August. Anyone interested should contact our Interim Moderator, Rev Mike Taylor (e-mail; godsborders@gmail.com) for further details.”
Magnitude Festival
“Magnitude is a five-day annual Christian youth festival for young people aged 11-18
18-22 July at Lendrick Muir
Find out more at MAGNITUDE.ORG.UK
For information about being part of the Church of Scotland site contact Carrie Brown, Church of Scotland Lead for Young People CBrown@churchofscotland.org.uk
Finally in the Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Week starting June 14th we pray for Bowden & Melrose
We remember this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
“We give big thanks for Donald Scott who has served as locum minister for this past year and for Rosie’s year as Moderator of our national Church. Pray for Rosie as she moves back to Melrose.”
It was brilliant to be present at the induction last week of Moira Taylor-Wintersgill to Duns & District & of Kerr Wintersgill to Coldstream & District linked to Leitholm. Such joy and excitement. Do pray in these important first few days for all involved in these communities and for the wider Berwickshire grouping as they begin working together more closely in mission and ministry.
May you have a great week whatever you manage to do or not!
Love & prayers
Peter
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
Website: www.lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552394798223
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LothianandBordersPresbytery/videos
Instagram: Presbytery of Lothian & Borders (@pres_lothian_borders)
The Church of Scotland
Scottish Charity Number SC040976 This email transmission is privileged, confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you must delete the message immediately without processing it further and you are asked to notify us of the error by email to the sender. All messages passing through this gateway are checked for viruses but you are strongly recommended to check for viruses using your own virus scanner as the Church of Scotland will not take responsibility for any damage caused as a result of virus infection.
The Church of Scotland - Scottish Charity Number SC011353 This email transmission is privileged, confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you must delete the message immediately without processing it further and you are asked to notify us of the error by email to the sender. All messages passing through this gateway are checked for viruses but you are strongly recommended to check for viruses using your own virus scanner as the Church of Scotland will not take responsibility for any damage caused as a result of virus infection.