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
It was a pleasure last week to join the Moderator, The Very Rev. Gordon Kennedy, and his wife as they met up with Sue Mckenzie & Erika Pryde to hear of their work in Newton, Danderhall. From announcing their arrival there by repainting the peeling railings outside the hall their service has included starting new groups, running a community pantry and has always been to offer the community a warm welcome at the café. In all this Erika and Sue have combined energy with care. In reflecting on the joy of currently having baptisms at their Sunday worship gatherings Sue, who is training to be an ordained local Minister, recognised that flourishing and flowering only happens in God’s time and for most of the seven years their work had been about looking after ‘the roots’ -often unseen work. They are currently looking to start an SU group in a local school.
In conversation with
The latest short interview is with Revd. Nicola Frail, Lead Chaplain at the Borders General Hospital.
Seeds for Growth (S4G) Mission Funding
Level 1 -encourages experiments, new community engagement…
S4G is keen to help churches give it a go! Level 1 grants are up to £1000...
Recent awards have included: paying for someone to conduct a community audit for mission; to develop seasonal outreach events with young people and to promote a new mid week intergenerational community…
Blindwells Update
https://lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/home/employment-vacancies/
The post of Community Pioneer is being readvertised after we failed to appoint first time round. Thanks for all the ongoing interest & prayer. If you want to know more contact the Mission Officer.
Training for Interim Moderators
A choice of dates for the next online Interim Moderator training sessions for November with Victoria Linford, Presbytery Resource Advisor.
Wednesday 18 November 2026 from 7pm-9.30pm.
Tuesday 24 November 2026 from 2pm-4.30pm.
Please let the Presbytery Clerk know…
As you know, this training is required for Elders and Deacons before they can be appointed as Interim Moderators (section 5.3.2.2 of the Church Courts Act). The training is also open to Ministers who’d like training or simply a refresher. Interim Moderators have to be members of Presbytery, so if not already members you would need to be able to admit them to membership at least for the duration of their appointment as IMs.
Stewardship Webinar: Preaching Generosity - Weaving stewardship into Lectionary Year B
Tuesday 27 October 2026 from 4pm - 5pm
Online via Zoom
This second event in the Preaching Generosity series turns to Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary. This one-hour session is designed to equip you with practical ways to integrate stewardship themes into your preaching and worship throughout the year. During the event, we will:
- take an overview of Revised Common Lectionary Year B, with a specific focus on Mark's Gospel
- signpost resources for encouraging generosity as an expression of discipleship
- hear from our guest panellists, Rev Fiona Anderson, Very Rev Dr Derek Browning and Rev Douglas Hamilton, as they reflect on the theme and share insights from their own ministry and experience.
Register now for the webinar: https://PreachingGenerosityYearB.eventbrite.co.uk
Thriving Church Lab:
Curious about what God is doing through churches in Scotland?
This is a brand new filmed podcast series from the Church of Scotland exploring what God is doing in congregations and projects that are seeing signs of creativity, growth and renewal in their local context, and discovering how they got there...
Across the Church, many people are asking practical questions about growth, renewal and mission. Thriving Church Lab creates space to explore those questions with humility and hope.
It recognises that thriving may look different in every community: a small team beginning to pray together, a congregation trying something new, a deeper connection with local people, or fresh opportunities for encountering God. By sharing real stories, including the experiments, mistakes and learning along the way, this series aims to encourage us to notice what God is already doing, ask better questions about our own contexts and take next steps.
The first episode is available now at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/thrivingchurchlab
Bible Sunday (Scottish Bible Society) Oct 25th
Downloadable resources and other information is to be found at www.scottishbiblesociety.org/resources/bible-sunday
New College Festival of books & belief Nov 6-7th
The School of Divinity's sixth New College Festival of Books and Belief will be held on 6-7 November 2026.
Join them for another wonderful celebration of thinkers who are asking the big questions in their work.
https://divinity.ed.ac.uk/new-college-festival
Tearfund -Invite a speaker your church
The Very Rev Dr Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, recently wrote, "I have seen for myself the difference Tearfund’s approach makes and how, when the church steps forward in faith, entire communities can be transformed. I’d love to encourage you to give what you can to support Tearfund. Could you fundraise as a church, lift an offering, have a speaker, or sign up to give monthly what you would have spent on a coffee?"
Tearfund Scotland's passionate speakers are available to visit your congregation. Whether for a Sunday service, a midweek fellowship or guild meeting, a youth event, or a prayer breakfast, a speaker can help bring global stories of hope and transformation directly to your church.
Please contact Tearfund Scotland directly at scotland@tearfund.org
Wanted -A Pastoral Assistant Part-Time -in Edinburgh North West Kirk (Cramond-Pilton)
The Pastoral Assistant will collaborate with the minister and other staff, supporting our District Elders and Pastoral Visiting Team. They will engage in the pastoral care of our congregation and the local community in the parish and contribute to our worship services focused on an older age group. The role involves taking congregational and parish funerals and bereavement care. We look to welcome someone who can bring fresh ideas to support our ministry.
20 hours at week @ £19,760 gross. Initially two years but can be extended.
See attached.
|
Finally in the Presbytery Prayer Calendar
We continue this week to pray for our friends at Earlston, Gordon, Greenlaw & Legerwood.
Then in the week beginning Sunday October 18th we pray for Eddleston linked with Peebles: Old linked with Stobo & Drumelzier
Please pray for the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
“We pray for the continuing discussions regarding the future of the Peebles Cluster and ask that Jesus continues to bring growth to our churches and the Holy Spirit gives vision to our planning.”
“May you let go of anything that hinders or entangles and run with perseverance the race marked out for you” Hebrews 12.1
Love & prayers
Dan & 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)