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Welcome to Synod of Scotland Enews.
Remember, this is YOUR Enews so please tell us what your church is up to. Please, email your stories and information about events in your church.
Please forward this Enews to people you know and put a link on your church website!
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Synod Prayer Cycle 2017
Prayers for churches around the Synod and the world are on the synod website and Facebook Page. Please join with the rest of the Synod in prayer, and pray for the following congregations
September
24 Port Glasgow
October
1 Priesthill
8 Righead
15 Rutherglen
22 Saughtonhall |
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Jack's retirement dinner took place at the Glynhill Hotel in Paisley on Friday 15th Setpember. It was well attended by colleagues and members of churches where he had been minister.
Rev John Smith, a longtime friend and colleague spoke brilliantly about Jack's ministry and outstanding contribution to the development of the church's thinking and to the training of its ministers and congregations and his disastrous effect on technology!
Myra Rose, chair of the College Committee, wished Jack a long and happy retirement with gifts of a sombrero and a beautiful silver quaich (filled with blueberries!) and a cheque.
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Deadline for next e-news is 13th October 2017.
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All the latest news from See Me is available here...
See Me have launched a new resources for young people - "It's Okay". This includes: a video (clean version), a downloadable "What's on your mind" card for young people suggesting ways to explain how they're feeling and places can turn for help and tips to identify good listeners to approach for help and resources for adults and linked to curriculum for excellence including activities that could be used with groups of 11-18yr olds in the 'What's on Your Mind?' pack.
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Scottish Churches Housing Action newsletter
http://www.churches-housing.org
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Eco-Congregation Scotland Newsletter which includes links to useful material for worship leaders in September and an opportunity for churches with space to park a bus to partner with Royal Zoological Society in their work with children.
http://mailchi.mp/859964383326/latest-news-from-eco-congregation-scotland?e=3c6c2c4469 |
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URC Youth Assembly
19-21 January 2018
Whitemoor Lakes, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Book HERE |
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The Induction of Revd Mitchell Bunting (Bungie)
to the Joint Pastorate of Dumbarton United Reformed Church and Helensburgh United Reformed Churchwill take place at 2pm on
Saturday 7th October 2017 at Helensburgh United Reformed Church 35, West Princes Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TF
rsvp: Church Secretary
Tom Woodbridge: tom_woodbridge@hotmail.com for Dumbarton
Stephen Alexander sj.sm.alex@btinternet.com for Helensburgh |
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The Church of Scotland is partnering with Oikocredit, Christian Aid Scotland and Eco-Congregation Scotland for its annual Good Money Week Conference
to show how our financial investments can have an impact on Climate Change. It is taking place on 12th October at Saint Andrew's and Saint George's West Church,
George Street, Edinburgh. To register see https://fmcc17.eventbrite.co.uk
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On Sunday 27th August around 50 members of the five Churches in The Fife and Tayside Pastorate met in Newburgh for a joint service. With 50 miles between our farthest Churches it was good to join together and share in this worship.
The service was led by our minister Revd Alan McGougan with prayers led by Revd Linda Rice and Revd George Sykes. Dunfermline’s organist, Diane McBeth, led our singing and the Bible readings were led by John Summers from Dundee and Amelia Barbour from Dunfermline. Tea and cake was provided by Newburgh members. A truly ‘pastorate’ service with contributions by part of ‘the ministry team.
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Church Action on Poverty - with support from ACTS - are holding a conference “Stories from the Edge” at the Conforti Institute, Coatbridge, ML5 4JS on 12 October. This will look at faith in post-industrial Scotland, particularly in smaller towns affected by deindustrialisation and resulting unemployment in the 1980s. You can book online at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stories-from-the-edge-conference-tickets-34854005268 |
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Autumn Perspectives Lectures - Wellbeing in the Workplace
With our partners, WPCS are delighted to invite you to the forthcoming series of three Perspectives lectures on 'Wellbeing in the Workplace' taking place in Palmerston Place Church, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AA over September, October and November.
Various articles by business leaders recently have commented on mental health issues in the workplace. When chaplains talk with these business leaders they recognise these issues have a tremendous cost for people's lives in terms of poorer health and relationships apart from the financial cost ( http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/david-watt-mental-health-issues-must-be-joint-effort-1-4542170 ). Therefore it is increasingly important to recognise that we can all play a part in being agents of prevention rather than cure to support workforces. Our three very experienced speakers are exponents of this principle , while often having to deal with the downside when things go wrong. We welcome a workplace chaplain, a psychologist and a trade unionist to give their perspectives of how they meet the challenges of everyday working life and how they try to provide wellbeing in the workplace.
We would be pleased if you can confirm you are attending any of these three lectures by emailing us on info@wpcscotland.co.uk to gauge numbers. |
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Hidden Wounds in Our Midst
A day to explore how, through preaching, worship, prayer, listening and learning, we begin to discern the challenge the gospel poses for our relationships, calling us to repentance, and enabling restoration and healing. The purpose of the day is to equip those involved in pastoral care and anyone who preaches, teaches or speaks into the issue of domestic abuse.
Keynote speakers:
Kathy Galloway and Elaine Storkey
Saturday, 20th January 2018, from 9.30am to 3.30 pm at St Thomas Church, Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4QG
Our keynote speakers
Kathy Galloway is a practical theologian, campaigner and of the Church of Scotland, Kathy was Head of Christian Aid Scotland and a former Leader of the Iona Community. As Church Action on Poverty Link worker for Scotland, she has worked for a charity that supports women experiencing abuse in a religious context. She writes poetry and has published widely on justice issues, liturgy and spirituality.
Elaine Storkey is an experienced writer and speaker in relating the Christian Gospel to contemporary culture. She was President of Tear Fund and has been one of the longest-serving members of the Church of England’s General Synod the global incidence of violence against women.
The day includes worship, sermons by Kathy Galloway and Elaine Storkey as well as a range of workshops that explore key issues, such as scripture and theology, prophetic preaching, pastoral responses and prayer ministry, sociological perspectives, liturgy and communal action. The workshops will be led by Kathy, Elaine and a team of local practitioners.
The costs are £20 per person, but do let us know if you require a reduced rate. Please bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Further information, including the full programme, a list of workshop options, travel directions, information about parking near St Thomas Church and a booking form can be found at: http://www.cumbriachristianlearning. org.uk/event/wounds. Or phone us on 01768 807765.
The deadline for booking is Thursday, 30th November.
How might we preach prophetically, facing the challenges of domestic abuse from a faith perspective?
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The Scottish Autumn Synod meeting took place at the Wynd Centre, Paisley on Saturday 16th September, where new ministers to the Synod, new elders/deacons were welcomed by the Moderator, and members said farewell to Bungie as Ecumenical Officer for the Synod and wished Jack a happy retirement as Principal of the College and the Synod Training Officer.  |
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Identity and Belonging
A collaborative conference between Faith in Older People, Interfaith Scotland, Stonewall, Marie Curie and Edinburgh University Chaplaincy
Tuesday 17th October 2017 : 10am-4pm
Burgh Halls, Linlithgow
Fundamental to our spiritual, emotional and physical well-being is our sense of personal identity and where we feel we belong. We often make assumptions about where other people belong based on, for example, work, class or religion. We need to challenge these assumptions and to make a space to consider what we as individuals understand as our own ‘self- identity’ and how this is affirmed by those around us.
This collaborative conference will consider the issues from different perspectives – faith and culture, end of life, sexuality and spirituality and how they interlink.
The aim of the conference is to address:
‘Where does our sense of identify and belonging come from? How does religion, culture, sexual orientation, class and family influence our sense of being human and our attitudes to our society?
Our conference aims to discuss these issues and to consider practical action that could be taken to engender a stronger sense of ourselves as members of different communities and as citizens.’
Speakers
Rev Harriet Harris – Edinburgh University Chaplaincy
Maureen Sier – Interfaith Scotland
Maureen O’Neill – Faith in Older People
Sophie Bridger – Stonewall
Richard Meade – Marie Curie
Lord Bracadale – Chair of the Independent Review on Hate Crime Legislation
Format Roundtable discussions
Style Informal and participative
Please register at www.fiop.org.uk stating any additional requirements
Cost: £40 which includes coffee breaks and lunch
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Scottish Interfaith Week
12-20 November 2017
13th November 2017: The launch event for Scottish Interfaith Week will take place on 13th November at Discovery Point in Dundee (early evening). Please do come and support the launch of this important week and contact Frances for more information on frances@interfaithscotland.org |
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