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
The trees have started to turn red, yellow and brown. Autumn is rich in colour and has amazing ever changing delicate light. At Forest church on Sunday we talked about when the time was right the trees would let go of their leaves in order to allow new life to emerge and grow. We discussed the importance of letting go in our lives and in our churches so that new life might emerge. We mentioned Elijah letting his mantle fall on to Elisha (1 Kings 19) and the importance of encouraging younger leaders. It was noted that some other bushes in our locality have ‘sprouted over summer’(!) and are needing to be thinned out in order to let the light back in. We paused and reflected on these actions from and with nature that can be related to our own spiritual lives. We finished our time by enjoying a spectacular jammy piece!
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In these contested times when people are pitched against one another, when life feels more demanding and the cost of living continues to rise it was a delight to receive an update from the Cook Club in Musselburgh. Leslie Milton reports on the gathering last month…
See the photo above
This week on September 5th we had our busiest day for a while. A two course meal for thirty people - soup from the Produce bank and chilli con carne from Fairshare -was shared by a group of friends. This is a project of Musselburgh Churches Together, which meets every week from 3:30 pm in St Peter's Episcopal Church. The Cook Club receives its food from Fair Share (which is a managed by Cyrenians in Edinburgh). They helped us set up, but for over two years we have been entirely self-supporting. We've had funding from a number of local sources. We cook and eat together - it's important that it all happens around one long table. Volunteers are drawn from St Andrew's High, St Peter's, St Michaels, Northesk and Our Lady of Loretto, and as a whole it is a project of Musselburgh Churches Together.
Blindwells New Church Appeal…
Thank you so much to those of you who have already responded to the appeal and those thinking about it. The Seeds for Growth application is being prepared for submission. made.
The Mission Officer would be delighted to share more details with you or to come to your kirk session to chat more if this is of interest. Thank you!
See details attached in A4
Presbytery Youth Christmas Video Competition
All youth groups from secondary school aged to early twenties are invited to submit an entry.
The closing date for entries is Monday Dec 1st
Make a 4-5 min video to show at an intergenerational cafe church discussing the meaning of Christmas.
*The winning videos will receive a cash prize for developing their group*
Presbytery Youth Leaders Network Gathering -Peebles, Leckie
Saturday Oct 18th from 1030
If you help lead young people’s work do join us and share stories & best practice etc.
‘The Quiet revival’ -Exploring & expressing faith in extraordinary times
Loanhead Church Halls, Friday October 24th 915-1300
Halloween Resources
https://www.hopetogether.org.uk/Shop/Products/503414/Shop/Other_Resources/Trick_or_Truth.aspx
look at other old Ely resources…?
See attached for a range of ideas
Ministers > Offer of a ‘pastoral break’ in Elgin from Blair Robertson.
See attached for details
AI and the church > the recent Motherwell conference
I have heard positive feedback about this conference where best practice in using Artificial Intelligence was shared by church leaders.
I was told AI is good at structuring material. It can suggest bible study questions from talks. It can help find relevant themes.
If you were at the conference and have more feedback please get in touch to share more ideas.
New College -Festival of Books & Belief Nov 7-8th
Tickets for the New College Festival of Books and Belief are now available! The programme is here: https://divinity.ed.ac.uk/new-college-festival/programme
Note that Liz MacWhirter from Skirling is taking part.
Bible Sunday resources from the Bible Society
Latest resources for using on Bible Sunday
Conversations with New College about June visits
We are exploring with the Principal about a possible special ‘week’ for those in training for ministry of Word & Sacrament. It is hoped that this experience could help demonstrate new contextual ministry to students and help ministers involved reflect theologically on what they are doing.
See info attached
In the Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Please remember to pray for one another!
We continue this week to pray for folks at Earlston linked with Gordon St Michael’s linked with Greenlaw linked with Legerwood
Week beginning October 5th
Gorebridge
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Please pray for the Hilltop project and as they celebrate their 50th jubilee anniversary.
Finally, some more seasonal fruitful words from Jock Stein. It’s taken from a poem called ‘Plums & Prophecy’
I shook the plum tree gently,
picked up fruit that fell at once;
shake the tree much harder
and the fall is like the dance
of life, for some are rotten,
some are fit, and some are taken
by surprise, as war and peace
leave one guy whole, and others broken
by the winds that shake us,
make our faith a fragile leaf
that falls or flies in hope
an unseen hand will keep it safe.
See attached for the complete poem
May God bless you in your service
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