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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 2019
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
January 2019
20 Prayer for the Week for Christian Unity
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
we give you thanks for this week of prayer, during which we are united with your people around the world in the search for Christian Unity.
In particular we give you thanks for the witness to the Gospel made by Christians in Indonesia, where religious intolerance threatens the peace of civil society, and where exploitation of the environment threatens both the fabric of economic and social justice and the wellbeing of your good creation.
With them, we long for the unity of your people, for which our Lord prayed; with them we long for the coming of your kingdom, where all creation will live in justice and peace;
So we join with the Christians of Indonesia in seeking your liberating love, which frees us from all forms of injustice and slavery, and points us towards your justice.
Grant us your Spirit, we pray, that we may offer ourselves in your service, doing what is just and true, being living signs of your coming Kingdom; for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
27 Annan
Pray for the church family in Annan as they continue to try to bring God and his love to the burgh, in reaching out to community groups, and youngsters attending Rainbow Tribe ecumenical choir, Spectrum, Sunday Seekers and the Girls’ Brigade.
Think of a church isolated in many ways from the Synod yet striving with other local churches to serve in a community devastated by the loss of a major employer and where re-generation is changing established patterns.
February
3 Augustine United Church
Christian Education is an important part of Church Life at AUC. Without looking for narrow answers, we have many opportunities to explore together how to follow Jesus today and ways to read scripture with confidence and openness. We have recently added Adult Education opportunities on Sunday mornings 9.15-10.15am to suit city dwellers with busy working weeks and early risers. Please pray for all who participate in these and other education opportunities at AUC (for all ages) that we may be strengthened in love and hope, discovering Jesus' good news in our shared wrestling.
10 Avonbridge
17 Barrhead
Lord of time,
at the start of this new year,
we thank you for all that has gone before,
the generations that built and sustained our churches,
the witnesses of faith passed on to generation after generation.
We thank you for the contemporary Church,
faithful to your Gospel in difficult times,
when indifference, hostility and self-inflicted wounds
hinder the proclamation of your love and life to a broken world.
We ask that you bless us as we look back and look forward,
learning what we need from the past,
so that we are equipped in the present,
to ensure a legacy for the future. Amen.
24 Bathgate
Dear Lord,
We thank you for every good gift that you have given to us, and as we look forward to this New Year we wonder what new gifts we might receive.
We thank you for the gift of pulpit Supply where we are support by other Ministers and Lay Preachers. Lord your presence and guidance are always near to all.
We pray for our sister Church in Avonbridge as they have a new renovated Church building, and as they seek to find new ways of meeting the needs in their community. We pray that they may receive the help and the support that they truly need, whether from their community or others.
We pray your blessing on the Churches within the Synod of Scotland these are difficult times, and we need to support one another that we may continue to worship and serve you. This we ask in your name. Amen.
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Scottish United Reformed and Congregational College
A Brown Bag Lunch Lecture
at
Meeting Room, Synod/College Office,
113 West Regent Street, G2 2RU
Wednesday 6 February
The Ecumenical Scene in 2019
A Congregationalist's View
Revd Thomas R Wilson
Knightswood Congregational Church
No booking is necessary. Please just turn up with your packed lunch
(in a brown bag or otherwise!)
A chance to listen, eat and discuss together.
Tea and coffee will be provided.
BREXIT and the Book of Ruth
The Scottish College presents this public theology event:
Tuesday 12 February University of Glasgow
14.00 - 17.00
Wednesday 13th February Morningside United Church, Edinburgh 14.00 - 17.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Svalbard Conference
Offering to Talk
I’ve spent a remarkable few days at a conference in Svalbard, in the High Arctic but under Norwegian jurisdiction. It’s been the polar night 24 hours a day, as the North Pole is only about 600 miles away.
The stories have been varied from coal miners of old to a world seed bank in case of world disaster, polar bear visits and husky sled riding, exploration in a harsh climate to modern Nordic tourism.
And here (probably) there’s the most northerly church in the world. If you’d be interested in a talk (illustrated) to your church group, be in touch.
I’ve also my talk on that wayward, adventurous, free-thinking Swedish girl, Pippi Longstockings, if you didn’t fit it into your schedule for this session.
All the best, Jack
Emeritus Professor of Nordic Theology
jdyce@urcscotland.org.uk
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Deadline for next e-news is
8 February 2019.
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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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Adventures in Faith
To receive the newsletter email adventures@dioceseofedinburgh.org or visit www.facebook.com/DioceseEdinburgh |
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Scottish Churches Housing Action newsletter |
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To sign up to the Eco Congregation Newsletter click the link below
http://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/contact-details/email-mailing-lists/
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JPIT
to receive the Joint Public Issues Team newsletter click here |
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Christian Aid events in February and March could be included in Enews ahead of then:
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/events/gatherings-2019
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The latest newsletter from the Scottish Churches Disability Group is available on their website: http://scdg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/18-Dec-SCDG.pdf |
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News from Carluke....................
Carluke Kidz of Carluke URC have now completed the homeless challenge set at the Synod meeting in March.
The girls made and sold Christmas cards, they raised £100.00 for the homeless.
Carluke United Reformed Church welcomed worshippers from the town's three Churches of Scotland as the churches celebrated Epiphany together. The service was led by Rev David Coleman, chaplain to Eco Congregation Scotland. David stressed the importance of taking action now if we are to save the world from the devastating effects of climate change. As part of the worship, an epiphany hymn recently written by David received its world premiere. |
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News from Peedie Kirk...................
Locals are still talking about the Kirkwall Council of Churches ecumenical ‘Christmas Celebration’ held in the Peedie Kirk hall on 14 December. Produced by a member of the Peedie Kirk a packed hall enjoyed participating in community carols led by the Island’s Roman Catholic priest. This was followed by a musical nativity. This told the nativity story using new words set to Abba tunes. It was acted by people drawn from 8 local congregations (7 denominations and 4 ministers!). The wardrobe mistress for Chicago provided a fantastic range of 70’s style costumes all on a budget of under £20, as funds being raised were going to support Christian Aid. Lighting and a lighting truss were borrowed, and the Peedie Kirk’s sound and projection system, bought with help of the Inverurie Trust, completed the technical provision. The evening was rounded off with mulled non-alcoholic wine and mince pies, overall raising over £800 for Christian Aid. |
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Public training courses from Interfaith Scotland
Working with People from Diverse Religion and Belief Backgrounds
Tuesday 5th March, 0930 to 1300,
Course cost - £40 per person
In this half-day course, delegates will improve their confidence in working with the religion and belief of people they engage with. We learn about the core beliefs and cultural practices of the main faiths, and the individual needs that may arise from a person’s faith or belief identity. The course is designed for those who work directly with users of services, but is also relevant to HR staff, equality officers and managers who may need to respond to the needs of staff from diverse religion or belief backgrounds.
- Introduction to the topic. Do you choose your religion?
- Religion and belief as a Protected Characteristic. How does it compare to Race, Age, Disability etc?
- Chronology of religions quiz and discussion. An interactive group exercise which invariably prompts a range of questions and helps delegates identify gaps in their own knowledge.
- Faith demographics in Scotland. How is religious identity changing?
- Core beliefs and cultural practices of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism
- Responding to individual needs. A chance for delegates to discuss the impact of religion and belief on their own working role. Sub-topics within this could include:
- Gender roles and expectations
- Clothing and dress
- Dietary needs and fasting
- Prayer times, festivals and holy days
- Cultural ideas related to death and dying, sickness and disability
- Common misperceptions and stereotypes to avoid
- The Equality Act duty to ‘foster good relations’
Three mottos for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Tuesday 14th March, 0930 to 1300, Course cost - £40 per person
Diversity takes a wide variety of visible and invisible forms – many more than the nine Protected Characteristics of the Equality Act (race, religion & belief, disability etc). A staff team composed of people from many backgrounds and identities, with varied personalities, skills and perspectives, has many advantages. But sometimes differences between people can be a source of tension, misunderstanding and even hostility. Similarly in our work with service users we often overlook discrimination because of the differences between our life experiences.
In this interactive workshop, delegates will consider three models that provide insight on our interactions with people from different backgrounds and identities. They provide touchstones to aid empathy and improve equality & inclusion. Through discussion of different case studies, we’ll consider: why some people ignore or deny the disadvantages that others experience; how to respond to misunderstandings or offence; and the impact of our inner narratives on our interactions.
Course topics:
- Which aspects of diversity are protected by law and why?
- Identifying unintentional discrimination and why it is often hidden from us
- Separating intention from impact in communication
- A communication technique for overcoming division and misunderstanding
We hope you enjoyed looking at the theme of ‘Connecting Generations’ during Scottish Interfaith Week 2018. We hope this has inspired you to continue to be involved in intergenerational activities, and we wanted to let you know about an organisation called ‘Generations Working Together’ that supports and runs projects all over Scotland to bring young and old together in helpful and inventive ways.
Generations Working Together has a head office in Glasgow with staff who can provide support if you are interested in starting a project in your local area. There are also local networks throughout Scotland that meet on a regular basis so you can find out more about what intergenerational activities are going on in your local area.
You can join Generations Working Together for free to receive more information and access to their training course. They also have a national conference on 6th March in Glasgow. All the details for these opportunities are outlined below.
Joining GWT membership (completely free):
You can choose to join one or more networks depending on your interest. https://generationsworkingtogether.org/join/
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News from Fife and Tayside Pastorates..........
Coaltown of Balgonie – Do not normally have an offering at their Christmas Eve Service, at Christmas they had a retiring collection for which £77 was raised. This will be donated to Shelter Scotland.
Dunfermline – Continue to take soup and cake out on the streets for the homeless each Saturday as we have been doing for about 15 months now. Additionally it was agreed that our retiring offering on Communion Sundays in January – March 2019 will be donated to Shelter Scotland.
Newburgh – In February will be holding a Prize Bingo Tea in the Church and all monies raised from this will also be donated to Shelter Scotland. |
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News from Dumbarton and Helensburgh.......
Christmas Tree Festival at Helensburgh URC - a large number of visitors came to enjoy 40 trees decorated by local charities and community groups with a programme of live music throughout the week. The festival ended with our Gift Service (shown in the photo). We raised funds for two charities, one local - Embrace, and one overseas - Osiligi Charity projects.
On the Sunday before Christmas as part of our carol service the congregation of Helensburgh URC stepped forward to put on a ’scratch Nativity play’ narrated with no rehearsal retelling the well known story with a lot of fun and improvisation.
Late on Christmas Eve leading up to midnight the congregation of Helensburgh URC gathered for carol singing outside the church building. As the clock rolled over to Christmas Day we greeted each others hand shared some warming mulled wine.
On Christmas Day, following the morning family service at Helensburgh URC, the congregation and local friends provided a Christmas lunch for folk in the town who might otherwise have been on their own. The photo shows one of our members entertaining those gathered. We are grateful to all the volunteers and to the sponsors of the occasion.
Video link for Sunday Worship
On 30th December, inspired by Fife and Tayside, the congregations of Dumbarton URC and Helensburgh URC worshipped together in two places via a video link. Bungie (Rev Mitchell Bunting) led the service and preached from Dumbarton and the readers and music was led from Helenbsurgh. Not without technical challenges the experiment was still deemed very successful with some attending Helenbsurgh even saying they could hear and see the minister better :-) The following Sunday part of the service was streamed so a remote family member could participate in their nephew’s baptism. |
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