April

26  Duke Street

This month Duke Street enters a partnership with Karl and Kerry to launch ‘the 3rd place’.  This begins on Wednesday 4th March and will run as a pilot project on Wednesday mornings from 9am to 1.30pm over three six week blocks.   The 3rd place will offer a safe and open space where folk can explore various creative projects on offer or bring along their own projects to work on. People can drop in and out at any time during the session or can stay for the whole session if they wish. Teas, coffees and biscuits will be provided. We really are looking forward to bringing this creative project to life, building our relationship with the community of Leith and seeing where this takes us.

God of opportunities,

We thank you for the vision that has inspired the 3rd place in Duke Street.

Give courage, strength and wisdom to those who are leading this project.

And give a sense of welcome, purpose, fellowship and joy to those who come along.

Make Duke Street be a beacon of your grace in the community of Leith, working in Jesus name.

Amen

May

3   Dumbarton

The Dumbarton  congregation began in May 1878 with 20 members. 140 years on, having moved out of the church building a few years ago the congregation is once again about this size. They continue to meet faithfully for worship on Sundays, mostly meeting in the  Church hall of St Augustine Scottish Episcopal Church, but on occasion joining the St Aug’s congregation, nearby Dalreoch United Free Church or  Helensburgh URC. They are grateful to those who come to lead worship. With Helensburgh URC, Dumbarton URC forms a joint pastorate and will be seeking to discern their possible future in relation to other URC’s in the area and other denominations in the town. Currently they focus on regular Sunday worship and pastoral care of one another and remain part of Dumbarton Churches Together. In the present difficult circumstances with gathering for public worship not possible:
 
Please pray for our congregation and others around the country who are separated at this time but seek to be united in the Spirit
 
Please pray that the congregation will receive strength & guidance to discern future possibilities and how to grow in partnership 
 
Please pray for our host congregation of St Augustine Scottish Episcopal Church as they seek to discern future ministry
 
Please pray for those in need, especially the sick, those in care, in hospital or housebound
 
Please hold the ancient town of Dumbarton in your prayers and especially remember the churches of the town who together have committed to ‘Awake Dumbarton’ through prayer and witness.

10 Dunfermline
At the time of writing this the extension of the ‘lockdown’ had just been announced. Although this is a difficult time many of us have accepted that it is important to protect ourselves, especially given the age profile of our congregation. During this time we have tried to stay in touch and spend time in prayer. Our minister sends out a daily reflection, many of us link to the URC Daily Devotions, there is a weekly coffee morning (on Zoom) and a weekly service for the Pastorate is available on line. Some also take the opportunity to ‘visit’ other Churches broadcasting their services. Those who are not on line have received one service in print and it is hoped to do this once a month till we can meet again. Perhaps more importantly, our building may be closed, but we are still a Church and so many of us stay in contact with a phone call every so often and sharing together.
 
Caring God,
You know the difficulties each and everyone of us face at this time; separated from friends and family; unable to go out as we wish; not meeting as a congregation; being anxious… …but we also celebrate the good things that we hear and can see happening in our community. Messages delivered; smiles and greetings from strangers as we walk; sharing in a different way in worship… …So even in this difficult time we give thanks Lord, thanks that we know you are walking with us each step of this journey; thanks for those who do so much at this time; thanks that each day we have the space to reflect and pray.
Amen

17 Dunning
Dunning is a small enthusiastic congregation of 6 people who meet every 2 weeks. Most of us are octogenarians (or above) and have made the decision that when the time comes we shall close the doors with grateful thanks for the fellowship we have shared since 1974. Of course, the current social isolation has had a major impact on our lives with many of us being in the most vulnerable age group. But this does not stop us sharing together – phone calls, the internet (for those of us who have it), prayer. Those of us on the internet have links to online worship and for Maundy Thursday the words of the service have been delivered. We meet in the Community Hall so have always been in the situation of a Church without a building – more than ever we see Church is each and every one of us.
 
Prayer
Loving God, at this time of writing we are in the midst of lockdown for our own health and safety as well as others. We know you are walking each step of this journey with us; in the moments when we are down you comfort us; when we are lonely missing our families you sit with us; you are here with us. We pray for the safety of others and that people respect the new rules we live by. We also pray for the time when lockdown is lifted and we all come together again in society. There is much good at this time with people volunteering and helping others in more ways than in the past – our prayer is that through this difficult time the good changes we have seen will grow and we become a better society than we were when we entered into this period.
Amen.


24 East Mains, East Kilbride
East Mains URC – contribution to Synod Prayer Cycle 2020.
There are usually eight adults and two young people who gather for worship at  East Mains. As the lockdown continues people are missing the opportunity to worship together and to see one another, but, as with many congregations, people are keeping in contact by phone and are appreciating the worship resources provided locally and nationally by the URC. Everyone looks forward to when we may worship together again.
We invite you to pray with us and for us.

Risen Christ,
Your word to anxious and bewildered disciples was ‘ Peace be with you.’
In these days of pandemic when we also often feel anxious and bewildered, speak your word of peace to us.
May we live with gratitude for all  those in our communities ensuring essential services are continuing to function.
May we live with appreciation for the kindness shown to each one of us by family, friends and church fellowships.
May we live in hope, that the coming together of communities in this time of crisis, will not be forgotten once the crisis abates, and that we may play our part as we ‘walk the way, living the life of Jesus today’. Amen.


31 Essenside Drumchapal