Just Festival 2015

Bigger than ever, Just Festival is celebrating its 15th year with over 300 events and performances from 7-31 August. For further information, visit the Just Festival website, or view the programme here.

Glen 15

This year’s Scottish Episcopal Church Provincial Youth Week – Glen 15 – takes place this week (2-8 August) .  Young people from churches across the province are meeting for a week of fellowship, worship, activities and sports.  Please hold them, and the leaders for the week, in your prayers.

Heritage Lottery Funding for Kirriemuir Church

St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Kirriemuir  has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund  to repair the church building. Development funding of just over £15,000 has been awarded to help progress plans, with an indicative grant of £155,000 to help with urgent works. St Mary’s is an early work in gothic revival style of the distinguished architect, Sir Ninian Comper and has associations with playwright and novelist, Sir James Barrie, providing the venue for his funeral in 1937.

The project is presently in the development stage and work on the building is expected to begin in 2016.

Responding to the news of the grant aware the Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said“I am delighted to hear the news of this grant which will help us to restore and sustain St Mary’s. This is one of the most beautifully and architecturally significant churches in our diocese. The congregation and the wider church are determined to ensure that it continues to be at the heart of the community as a place of prayer – and of welcome and mission. We welcome this support which will help us to sustain it for the future.”

Congregations encouraged to support General Synod initiatives

The Church in Society Committee received approval from this year’s General Synod to encourage congregations to join Eco-Congregation Scotland (ECS) and to work collaboratively with other concerned organizations on issues of climate change by exploring ways to engage with local “green” initiatives and to consider both personal and congregational impact on the climate. Eco-Congregation Scotland has excellent resources for congregations including worship materials and an Eco Chaplain, Trevor Jamieson, who is more than willing to meet with congregations and/or preach. See www.ecocongregationscotland.org or call on 0131 240 2274

The General Synod also commended those Scottish Episcopal Church congregations which pay the Living Wage, including to part time and temporary staff, and urges all congregations to pay the Living Wage to all staff by 2016.

In addition, General Synod welcomed the establishment of the Churches Mutual Credit Union (CMCU) in February of this year and urges member churches to support the CMCU by making its work and the financial support it offers known to members in parallel with continuing their support for local credit unions.

The Liturgy Committee has completed its work on a Service of the Word which is now an approved liturgy of the SEC and has been added to the Schedule to Canon 22: Of Divine Worship and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church. This service is of particular use for those congregations who do not have a priest regularly leading the worship or for ecumenical services and brings with it a wealth of resources that can be used in other services. The Service of the Word will be available in hard copy from the General Synod Office and also downloadable from the SEC website.

The Provincial Overseas Committee has been renamed the Global Partnerships Committee (GPC) and General Synod approved the GPC motion that members of the Scottish Episcopal Church be encouraged join the Scottish ecumenical initiative, promoted by Christian Aid, in praying for Israel/Palestine on the 24th day of every month. This initiative was supported by a motion which called for the recognition and support of the Pope’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine and his call for reconciliation.

Updates

On 9 July 2015, the Rev Andrew Tucker was appointed Rector at St Mary on the Rock, Ellon and St James the Less, Cruden Bay.

The Rev Peter Kirk died on 28 July 2015.  Peter served many years at St Columba’s, Bathgate, Diocese of Edinburgh.  May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.

In the media

The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow featured in the BBC’s Songs of Praise programme on Weddings – broadcast on Sunday 26 July.  You can see the programme here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06496x1/songs-of-praise-26072015

The Rt Rev Dr Nigel Peyton, Bishop of Brechin, took part in BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme on 19 July in which he talked about the book he co-authored – ‘Managing Clergy Lives’.  You can listen to the Chapter titled ‘Clergy Life’ here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b062hn6n

Scottish Episcopal Church Website Review

The current website of the Scottish Episcopal Church was launched almost 18 months ago, and has largely received positive and encouraging feedback across the whole site.

In line with good practice of reviewing our key communication tools, at the recent meeting of the Information and Communication Board a sub-group was appointed to carry out a systematic review of the website. The group will commence its work over the summer. Work already identified is in progress.

The sub-group will serve an ongoing annual function of review of the website – recommending content amendment, minor updates and making suggestions, when appropriate, for major revision.

Should you wish to make any comment regarding your use of the website or suggest areas of further development then please contact the Communications Officer at the General Synod Office on press@scotland.anglican.org or call 0131 225 6357.

Mothers’ Union appoints new Chief Executive

Mrs Beverley Jullien has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union.

During her successful career in both the corporate and education sectors Beverley Jullien has been at the vanguard of women’s representation at senior board level, including leading the merger of Astra and Zeneca in the UK in 2000 and a period serving as Vice-President [for AstraZenecca.]

Beverley Jullien said “I’m delighted to be joining Mothers’ Union. This offers a wonderful opportunity to apply the skills and experience I’ve gained in my career to a new role in the not for profit sector. I’m excited to be joining a worldwide organisation of over four million members, men and women working together to support families through fighting poverty and injustice and tackling family issues.”

As well as her global experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Mrs Jullien’s previous roles have included a Pro-Vice Chancellorship at London South Bank University. Alongside her considerable experience at corporate board level, Mrs Jullien will bring to Mothers’ Union her extensive understanding and experience of the not for profit sector: she set up a unique service for the British Olympic Association for the 2012 London Games to help professionalise Sports Governing Bodies; she has served on the Open University International Advisory Board, and volunteers regularly in local community outreach and fundraising.

Prayers for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

General Synod 2015 approved the Global Partnerships Committee motion that members of the Scottish Episcopal Church be encouraged join the Scottish ecumenical initiative, promoted by Christian Aid, in praying for Israel/Palestine on the 24th day of every month. This initiative was supported by a motion which called for the recognition and support of the Pope’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine and his call for reconciliation.

As well as praying as an individual and with others in your own church community you can join with others on the following dates and time:

24 August 7-9pm: Abbotshall Church of Scotland, Kirkcaldy
24 September 7-9pm: St Kentigern’s Church of Scotland, Kilmarnock
24 October 10.30am-12.30pm: Selkirk United Reformed Church, Selkirk
24 November 7-9pm: Knox United Free Church of Scotland

Christian Aid Harvest Appeal

Harvest worship resources to highlight the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal  are now available from the Christian Aid Scotland website http://www.christianaid.org.uk/scotland/

Harvest collection envelopes and posters will be available from your local Christian Aid office.

For further information contact Mary Mulligan , Churches Development Officer, MMulligan@christian-aid.org

Vacancies

Vacancy: Communications Officer, Diocese of Edinburgh

Vacancy: Provost, St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth 

Vacancy: Priest-in-Charge, St Peter’s, Stornoway & St Moluag’s, Eoropaidh

Vacancy: Priest-in-Charge, St Ninian’s, Dundee

Vacancy: Children And Families Worker, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness