Summer Fruit!
Dear Friends
Summer is the time for fruit. Spanish peaches are fabulous, fresh pineapple can be wonderfully refreshing and Scottish raspberries are so full of flavour. Which is your favourite fruit? When in Africa we had the joy of growing Cape Gooseberries & mangos amongst other things. If you grow fruit yourself then you will know the delight of a tiny plant growing and producing fruit. It’s an amazing process. No matter how small our tomatoes or wonky our strawberries!
In Paul’s writing in Galatians he talks about the Holy Spirit working in us (our dark soil!) as Christians to produce love, joy, goodness, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control -the fruits of the spirit. What fantastic qualities to exude …and this is not an exhaustive list. I don’t know about you but I look at this list and long to see more of these qualities in my life.
God through the Holy Spirit is the gardener of our lives but may you & I know what we can do -preparing the ground, watering, feeding where needed, building a trellis etc to enable us to flourish.
May in this season of abundance we find that Living water for our thirsty souls and be filled with joy.
Slides from June Presbytery Seminars
Strengthening Your Congregation Through Stewardship PP Slides
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:9bb770f2-5a91-42fe-b527-224c9d67e968
Welcome PP slides
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:436ce73f-f0d4-439c-8845-c09d10c4c561
Welcome questions & suggestions attached
International Justice Mission slides attached
Internships- Final Call! -Call before the end of July
As a Presbytery we have been given £10K from Seeds for Growth to run 10 internship programs.
The Intern helps lead a local mission project for an agreed number of weeks or months. The project would ideally help the church make new contacts in the community and or develop faith amongst those involved.
It doesn’t have to be a young person but it could be anyone with some time on their hands.
Our experience is that this helps affirm the intern and draws them further into the life of the local church. It also enables the church to do a wee project it couldn’t otherwise do!
Got an idea do call me and lets chat further.
Worship in the Autumn > Season of Creation in September
Presbytery Mission Clusters
We currently have two clusters running > Roxburgh & Blindwells.
These gatherings offer space to find out what is going on with churches in your own locality and to pray and support one another. With Presbytery now covering such a large geographical area it is important to offer these smaller spaces for closer relationships with folks nearby. It is always good to pray together!
Curious or interested in a cluster in your area? Do get in touch.
Safeguarding Training
Further to the email below, just a reminder that there is still spaces left on the Ministries Training (formerly Leadership) on Wednesday 30th July if there is anyone in your presbytery that is still looking to attend this training and is available that day.
Thanks in advance
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
Christian Aid Kilt Walk Sept 14th in Edinburgh
Mighty Stride -20 miles
Big Stroll -11 miles
Wee Wander -5 miles
Join the team and start in Musselburgh with a short act of worship. Revd. Leslie Milton is the team leader for Edinburgh & West Lothian.
AMilton@churchofscotland.org.uk The Kiltwalk last year raised over £7 million for charity.
Funding Climate & Nature Action Grant
Small grants available to community groups to deliver action for climate & nature.
Particular interest where little history of such activity or where the project is led by Young People
www.eastlothianclimatehub.org/grant-funding/
Sharing Faith stories
https://churchmissionsociety.org/pioneer-blog/faith-in-conversation/
Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Week beginning Sunday July 6th
Dirleton linked with North Berwick Abbey
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
I pray that you have a hilarious/peaceful/restorative and blessed holiday at home or abroad.
Our weekly updates will resume again in August.
Best wishes
Peter
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
