Presbytery Update May 12

Hello everyone,

There are times in life when you find yourself doing things and the first thought is how did I end up here! Such was the case when last week I found myself in Lund, Sweden, playing golf for the Church of England against the Church of Sweden. England/Scotland won 13 points to 9 for those interested. However the golf was not the highlight of the trip. On Monday afternoon we all gathered in the crypt of Lund Cathedral for a mass. [See 2 pics of Lund Cathedral] As someone originally from the Western Isles, the idea of a mass was a bit out there but gave it a go. The mass was like a typical service over here. There was praise led by a small choir, prayer, the reading of the word and the exposition of the word. This was followed by communion via tincture before we said the blessing to one another. It was awesome!!!

 

Competitors were really brothers and sisters, reminding us we were brothers and sisters first, competitors second. Though separated by hundreds of miles we shared a common worship, a similar liturgy but most of all the same saviour. Often it is in the experience that takes us out of our comfort zones that we find God. How did I end up here? It doesn’t matter because God usually is there before us anyway. We follow, he leads.

 

A few decisions under powers to let you know of.

 

26/03/2025 Presbytery Council Grant permission to progress the call in the Charge of Duns and District
26/03/2025 Presbytery Council Grant permission to progress the call in the Charge of Coldstream l/w Eccles and Leitholm
24/04/2025 Presbytery Council Agree the usual size of a nominating committee would be 13 unless there were local reasons for a lesser number.
12/05/2025 Presbytery Clerk Appoint Rev Graham Astles as Interim Moderator in Roslin from 30th June 2025, on the stepping down of Rev Stephen Manners.
12/06/2025 Presbytery Council Concur with the requisite votes for creating the linked charge of Earlston l/w Greenlaw l/w Gordon l/w Gordon as part of the adjustment to bring into being the Duns Legacy approved mission plan.

 

For Prayer this week:

 

May 18th                Cockenzie and Port Seton

We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.

We thank God for bringing members to a combined place of sharing and caring in this recent union.  We commend the new and continuing activities, and all who meet in this Christian place, to God’s care as mission priorities will be explored in the coming year.

 

 

There are attached a couple of pics of Lund Cathedral and a pic of a day on finding God through ACORN. Also the latest agenda from the Mission Committee who met today.

 

Please remember these emails are intended for anyone and everyone. We hope you find a blessing in them. If you have a good news story to tell or a request for help, send them in and we will share them out. We are a family, we celebrate together and we mourn together. We will spend eternity together so we might as well work together here! All for the Glory of God.

God Bless

Norman Smith
Presbytery Clerk

2:30 pm, Saturday 5 July 2025 – Seasons of the Northesk Organ: A 120-Year Journey

Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons alongside other festive works, the recital celebrates the journey of the Northesk organ and its enduring resonance through the ages. It will include a special talk by Simon Fairnie, Northesk Church Historian, presenting a potted history of the organ. Entry to the recital will be entirely donation based, no ticket required, with any funds raised going to support the life and work of the church.

 

As part of the recital/celebrations, we were hoping the Presbytery could offer words of congratulations as a 'happy birthday' to our organ and its contribution to the worship and praise of God at Northesk for these last 120 years. We were thinking this could come in the form of a short-written statement or, if someone is available, for someone from Presbytery to come as a special guest and say a few words during the recital.

Dear Lothian and Borders Presbytery,

 

We’re delighted to be sending you the May 2025 Presbytery Newsletter from Church of Scotland Learning, which you will find attached.

The current edition highlights:

  • an event: our upcoming live webinar, ‘Church in a Changing Landscape’ on 19th June
  • a story: how a Church of Scotland Learning module is making a difference
  • an opportunity: some options and opportunities for how the Church of Scotland Learning team can serve you in your context.

We would encourage you to share this newsletter, either digitally or printed, with those in your Presbytery network.

During the week of the General Assembly, the Church of Scotland Learning team will be available on two specific days:

 

  • Saturday 17th May – at a lunchtime event hosted by the People and Training Team in the Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace EH1 2JL at 12.30pm.
  • Tuesday 20th May – we’ll be available at coffee and lunch times at the General Assembly, look out for our purple People and Training lanyards! A People and Training stall in the Martin Hall sharing information about the teams work is available all week.

 

The team would love to connect in person with you on either of those days, so please do come and introduce yourselves.

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is any further support we can offer you in your Presbytery.

 

With very best wishes,

 

The Church of Scotland Learning team

 

 

To Presbytery Clerks

 

I’d be very grateful if you could circulate the following message to ministers and contacts in your presbytery.

 

The Scottish Parliament will consider the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday 13 May at Stage One.

 

This will be a debate and then a vote on the general principles of the Bill. If it passes it goes forward for further scrutiny and amendment. If it does not pass, the Bill falls.

 

As you may know the Church of Scotland has traditionally supported the current law which prohibits assisted dying. This position is being reviewed, as we find that, as in wider society, there is a diversity of opinion in the Church on this issue. A Report has been prepared for consideration at the General Assembly, which will be debated on Monday 19 May 2025.

 

We believe that all life is sacred, created by God. Human life is particularly special, as we are created in God’s image. At the heart of our concern is a conviction that it is the right and duty of the Church, of society, and of each one of us to uphold and protect the dignity and worth of human life. This principle can lead to divergent opinion on assisted dying. Our historic position has been that we should not seek to end life prematurely. Where there are terminally ill people who suffer, we should provide them with the best care and support at the end of their life. Some in the Church support the idea that an individual can make their own mind up regarding their life, and if at the end of their life their suffering is intolerable, a decision to end it should be a matter for them. This is the context for the review of our position.

 

MSPs are given a free vote on this issue; this means they do not follow any party line but can vote according to their own conscience. While some MSPs have expressed a fixed view on the Bill already, many are still keen to hear from people in their constituencies or regions with ideas and experiences which could impact their decision. Some MSPs have told me that they may support the Bill at Stage One as they support the proposal in theory, but that they would be prepared to vote against the Bill at a later stage if the evidence and argument means that this particular Bill is not the right one.

 

This means I am writing to strongly encourage you to write to your MSPs now and share with them your own thoughts and ideas.

 

How to do this: to find the names of your MSPs and their contact details visit the home page of the Parliament website and enter your postcode in the ‘Find MSPs by postcode’ box. You have eight MSPs, one for your constituency and seven for your region. They have equal voice and vote in the Parliament and you should write to them all.

 

In your message you may want to reflect on:

 

 

 

 

But more important will be your own views and experiences. The Church has extensive experience of walking with people in the final stages of their lives, in the support of family and friends of a dying person, and through marking someone’s death by leading funeral services. We are aware that many MSPs have taken the time to speak with parish ministers and hospital and hospice chaplains in recent months. Now is the final opportunity to do so before MSPs make their decision.

 

With every good wish

 

David

 

David Bradwell

Public Life and Social Justice Manager & Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer | Faith Action Programme | The Church of Scotland

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