Dear Friends
How do you celebrate the resurrection? In your church and in your family?
In the Greek village of Vrontados, each year during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations, members of two rival churches hold a traditional “rocket war” by firing thousands of homemade fireworks toward each other while services are held. The goal for each side is to hit the bell in the tower of the opposing church. The festival, called Rouketopolemos, has been celebrated by the churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani for at least 135 years.
I have sometimes sensed in myself, in years past, that by the time I have led & participated in multiple Holy week services by the time Easter day comes there is more of a sense of relief rather than explosive joy! I’d love to hear how, and where, your church celebrates the resurrection. Especially if you have Easter baptisms. I am delighted that we have received several video entries from young people’s groups for our Easter competition. I hope that these will appear soon on the Presbytery YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzLYiOnBYAeXZmh9TammhDg
Last week in Bonnyrigg we had the first of these two mission storytelling occasions. Those present found it encouraging and instructive as we talked about engaging schools, developing youth work, growing youth ministers, using church gardens, caring for families and steps beyond connecting towards faith.
Please contact the Mission Officer to confirm your place at this the second of these events.
Know your community > Coldstream Church Hall
10am-3pm Wednesday June 11th
Exploring the power of Community Research, Community Profiling, and Asset-Based Community Development. Place-Based Approaches; Partnership Working; Asset Mapping and much more.
The session will be led by Catriona Milligan, Community Development Worker at Gorbals Parish Church & Andy Whittet, Inform Research. Please register with the Mission Officer
The Presbytery Pilgrimage starts on Monday
Contact the Mission Officer for more information and to register your place.
A prayer for worship to use around intercessions that I came across that offers Easter hope and one that I think captures well the challenges in our world at this time… I think it was written by Ruth Harvey?
When we are despairing
When the world is full of grief
When we see no way ahead
And hope has gone away
Roll back the stone
Although we fear change
Although we are not ready
Although we’d rather weep and run away
Roll back the stone
Because we’re coming with the women
Because we hope where hope is vain
Because you call us from the grave
And show the way
Roll back the stone
Presbytery Prayer Calendar
We continue to pray this week for Wallace Green, Berwick Upon Tweed with Lowick & then
Week beginning March 30th Ministry Training & Next Steps
We give thanks and pray for all those in training for mission & ministry; for students Greg Robertson & Andrew Henshaw; for those doing their probationary period -Sarah Cook in Jedburgh & Oxnam, Michael McMullin at St. Andrews High, Musselburgh; & for Assistant Ministers Jelias Mutimbairi & Tim Linford as they discern their next steps in ministry.
Love and best wishes
Peter
Attached:
Latest list of Concerts to be held at St.Mary’s Haddington
The CS Lewis weekend at the Whitchester Retreat Centre just outside Hawick
