SEPTEMBER 2016
1
PILRIG St PAUL’S WELCOMES YOU SEPTEMBER 2016 There are many activities held on our premises, please see the notice board in Pilrig street (middle entrance). If you would like to rent our premises, please contact psp.halluse@gmail.com The food bank is designed to help individuals and families in crisis through the provision of emergency food supplies. Local care professionals in the Leith area refer people, with a food voucher, to the Foodbank distribution point where they are given their food supplies. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE HELPERS, EITHER FOR A WEDNESDAY 4.30-6pm IN THE OPEN DOORWAY OR TO COLLECT SUPPLIES. For further information, please contact Roy Eprile
THE DONATIONS BASKET IS IN THE VESTIBULE.
OUR WHEELCHAIR ENTRANCES ARE IN PILRIG STREET
If you want more information, or are unsure how to do this, please speak to Mark Wexelstein, Treasurer 2
CHURCH ACTIVITIES SUNDAY - 11am WORSHIP in the Sanctuary, followed by tea or coffee and a chat in the Session Room. Children’s activities from 10.50am: There is a creche for younger children, while those of school age join the congregation, including taking an active part in the all age 'Time to Talk' and then follow activities or projects. TUESDAY AND THURSDAY - 10.30-12.30 open doorway for coffee, a chat and quiet time in the sanctuary.
IN SEPTEMBER Sunday 4th - 11am Worship in North Leith Church see page 3 NO SERVICE IN PILRIG St PAUL’S Wednesday 7th - 10.30am Pastoral Committee meeting Sunday 11th - 11am Morning Worship Tuesday 13th - Guild informal meeting cancelled Thursday 15th – 7.30pm Board meeting Saturday 17th - 2pm Community Cinema see page 4 Sunday 18th – 11am Morning Worship Wednesday 21st - 2pm Knitting Bee Saturday 24th –10am-12 Stewardship Campaign see page 6 Sunday 25th – 11am Morning Worship CONTACTS Music and Choir - Colin Gray 07901 556 217 or at the Service Alternate Tuesdays - The Guild 2.00pm (Irene Wexelstein 476 1385) Beavers, Cubs and Scouts 5 3/4 - 14 years The 5th Leith Scouts Edinburgh North East Broughton Primary gym hall (Evelyn Torrance 552 1657) For Rainbows, Brownies and Guides please send all enquiries to www.girlguiding.org.uk . We have two groups associated with Pilrig St Paul’s Youth organisations take a summer break, please contact the leaders for further information.
3
“This is the good news …” Dear All, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ …” These are the instantly recognizable opening words of the Gospel according to St. Mark. The author starts by telling the reader that this is ‘good news’ i.e. something worth sharing, something worth celebrating. This month we are launching our new stewardship campaign entitled ‘More Than Bricks’. We too want to start by proclaiming the good news about Pilrig St. Paul’s, which is also worth sharing and celebrating. We aim to show that Pilrig St. Paul’s is more than the building on the corner of the street by showcasing the good news about the work that we do as a congregation locally, nationally, and internationally as an active member of The Church of Scotland. Our main event is taking place on Saturday 24 September from 10am -12 noon, which also happens to be Doors Open Weekend across Edinburgh, when we will join together and celebrate all that goes on in our building. On the day we will be asking members and friends of Pilrig St. Paul’s to review their giving to the church. You will receive more details elsewhere in this magazine (page 6) and by letter about the important role that you play in the good news of Pilrig St. Paul’s Church. We very much hope that you can join us on the day and even bring along family, friends, or neighbours to see and hear about the many things that we do at the church. We realise that some of you may not be able to attend in person and we will contact you to arrange alternative ways in sharing in this celebration. 4
With your support we will continue to celebrate the good news of Pilrig St. Paul’s in the local community and beyond. Shalom Mark The Leith Churches Forum congregations will be joining with North Leith Church on Sunday 4 September 2016 at 11am to celebrate their Bicentenary. Pastoral Care Team Summer is almost over and it has proved to be a busy one for the team with us pretty much focused on the end of year plans with various initiatives well under way. Many of us have been away on holiday and so we are looking forward to our next meeting that is being held on the 7th September. We already have a packed agenda and so we will need to make sure that there are lots of cups of tea that day! We are delighted to have Michelle Muhammad join the team and look forward to Michelle’s input to the work of the Pastoral Team. Leith Community Cinema Update Since our last update we have held three screenings all of which were enjoyed by all who attended. The films were Star Wars – The Force Awakens, Dad’s Army and Kung Fu Panda 3 We were delighted to receive funding from ShareGift to allow us to purchase new equipment for the cinema and we will be using the funds from The Scottish Government via The Big Lunch Extras team to purchase more equipment for our Community Café. Our next screening is taking place on Saturday 17th September at 2pm when we are showing Calendar Girls along with a Cream Tea. Tickets can be
5
booked via our website or completing the booking sheet in the Open Doorway. Doors open at 1.30pm. For full details please visit our website on http://www.leithcommunitycinema.com If you would like to help or be involved in any way with the Community Cinema and CafĂŠ please let me know, as we are keen to create a team to work with us on the on-going development of the cinema. The Knitting Bee Our Knitting Bee is going strong with 26 people involved including the Knitting Group that meets weekly in Leith Library. We have been delighted with the donations of wool and buttons and send a huge thanks to everyone who has donated to date. At our last meeting there were some great examples of sharing skills when two team members demonstrated crocheting for others and another brought a range of worked examples so the team could see the finished article. We meet monthly in the Open Doorway and always welcome new people so if you would like join us even if just for a cuppa please feel free to pop along. We are due to meet again on Wednesday 21 st September at 2pm in the Open Doorway. Training and Development I am looking forward to attending a course this coming month being run by Edinburgh Community Food Co-operative. It is a course that is required when you prepare and sell food to the public. This is the first step in the process as I then plan to seek funding to undertake a Train the Trainer course that would enable me to deliver training and certify people in basic food hygiene.
6
Helping Hands Please remember to let us know if you would like a visit or phone call from us or would like to arrange this for a member of our congregation you feel would appreciate this type of support. All you need to do is complete a Helping Hands form and pop it into the box in the Open Doorway of the Church or speak/call any of our team. Car Pool A reminder to everyone that, if you would like help to come to church, we can arrange that for you through our Car Pool. Please let any of the Pastoral Care Team know and we can arrange transport for you. Pastoral Care Team Mark Foster - Minister Catriona Blackwood – Elder, Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Magazine Editor Christine Edington Ella Gilfillan Linda Gill – Elder and Pastoral Care Team Leader Michelle Muhammad – Congregational Board Member Cathy Purdie – Contact for Special Needs Fiona Rankin – Elder Jeanette Sime – Elder and Roll Keeper Linda Gill Pastoral Care Team Leader 669-7409 or helpinghands@pilrigstpauls.org.uk
7
More than Bricks Those who follow the Treasurer's reports in the magazine and read the annual accounts should be aware that the congregation has been running a financial deficit for more than 10 years. And although we are delighted to announce that 2016 has seen an increase in the weekly offerings, we still need to ask all members and adherents to review their current offerings in support of the church's work. At Pilrig St. Paul's we have committed ourselves to the new three year stewardship cycle that the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland has asked every congregation across the country to adopt. This means that we will be asking you to reflect on the promises you made when joining the church to give a fitting proportion of your income, time, and talents (as resources allow) towards the work of the church. Each year we will focus on one of these three (Income, time and talents) starting this year with income. Over the month of September the stewardship team will be asking every member and adherent to review their giving to the church. We will also be asking people to consider paying by standing order and signing up for Gift Aid (if they have not already done so). Where does the money go? You may sometimes ask yourself (or the treasurer) where all the money goes to that is raised at church events or put into the collection plates. These are important questions and they are questions that deserve good answers. Because of your contributions, our congregation has been able to support the work of the church locally, nationally, and around the world. And the stewardship team wants to show you examples of the good work we are doing at an Open Day on Saturday 24 September (10am - 12noon). There, with a cup of tea or coffee in hand, you can view an exhibition showing all the 8
various activities that are supported by your financial contributions to the church. The Treasurer and other members of the Financial Board will be on hand to discuss any questions you may have about the congregation’s finances, and to talk you through the simple process of setting up a Standing Order and/or Gift Aid to make your offering to the church go further. The event will also be open to the wider community, including all those groups who use our premises throughout the week, and we hope that they will be inspired to see that Pilrig St. Paul's is far more than just a building at the corner of the street, or a venue for their group, but an active congregation that serves the local community. They too will be encouraged to make a donation and consider ways in which they may be able to support us in our community work. What next? We invite you to come and join us in the church on Saturday 24 September at any time between 10 am and 12 noon. This will be followed by opportunities to review and update your financial contributions to the church. We understand that people's circumstances change and that a review may involve increasing, holding steady, or even reducing your levels of giving. It is also true to say that every little counts – and even a small increase can help make a difference to the church. If you are unable to make it on the day you can contact the Treasurer, or your Elder, to arrange a visit to your home. This would take place following the Open Day on 24 September. Thanks The Stewardship Team
9
THANK YOU The Guides and Leaders would like to thank the minister and the congregation for all their help in helping us celebrate our 90th Birthday. (Apologies, this was omitted from the June magazine. Ed) I would like to say thank you for the card and flowers I received from the church, and to thank Linda and Nancy for coming to see me. It’s good to know people are thinking of you. Eileen Gilhooley Many thanks for the lovely flowers David and I received. It was kind of Antje to think of us. Margaret and David Fraser A big thank you to everyone who did the cleaning, saw to the bins, did the admin, ordered the Food Bank stock and came for the deliveries, while I was on holiday. Maria We were delighted to receive the flowers from the service to mark our 59th anniversary. Thank you for thinking about us. Ella and Ronnie Gilfillan Dear people of Pilrig St Paul’s, Thanks for the flowers I was given on Sunday. I was at a low point so the flowers came at the right time. Thanks to Frances and George McPherson for delivering them. Alex Allan Thank you for our lovely flowers and thank you to Irene for her visit and chat. I am home after 2 weeks in hospital and Willie is keeping well at the moment. Martha and Willie Cruikshank Thank you for the lovely flowers I received after my recent operation. They were much appreciated. I am now feeling much better. Frances McPherson 10
Murdo and Joy MacLeod would like to say thank you to the Minister and all our friends at Pilrig St Paul’s for the lovely get well cards and Birthday card to Joy, the beautiful flowers received from them while Joy was unwell and unable to attend worship for the past several weeks. They were all very much appreciated, as was also the Minister’s home visit in June. It is good to know that we were in your thoughts when we were in a situation of acute difficulty. May the grace of our Lord be with you always. Thank you very much for the flowers received on Sunday 31 st. They were beautiful and much appreciated. Evelyn Torrance Thank you for the flowers I received on Sunday. They are lovely. Maureen Eunson Thank you very much for the flowers from the service on Sunday. Jean Ramage. What a lovely surprise for me after the Service to receive the beautiful yellow and pink roses. Many thanks. Ruth Stalker Thank you for all the lovely flowers we have received over the past few months. All your thoughtfulness and support is very much appreciated by us all. Margaret Cameron and Family. A huge thank you to all who supported me in the Cancer Research Race for Life which I did in memory of my Dad, John Duffy, Stuart Sime and all who have been touched by cancer. With your support I raised £372.00. Together we will beat this disease. Thank you to Mark, our Minister, for requesting your support and raising awareness of the Race for Life. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you again. Michelle Muhammed (Duffy) BackCare – Lothian Branch 11
We are back. Our coffee morning will take place on Saturday 22nd October from 10.30am to 12 noon. There will be wonderful baking, books, DVDs, CDs, a tombola and a ‘lucky ticket’ draw. Please put this date in your diary. We look forward to seeing you. Fiona Rankin Prayer Corner Mark Wexelstein Helen Greig Gary, Margaret and David Fraser Frances Chambers Charlie and Joyce Forman The Davis family Margaret Gunn Murdo and Joy MacLeod Emily Dickson and family David and Lynn Cameron and family Frazer and Craig Garvey and families Betty Lauder and family
Jim and Jean Tait Mary Currie Matthew Green Jackie Allan Norrie Frazer Isabel Fyfe Isabel Pert Tom Gilzean Roy Eprile Hilda Winton
Please let Roy Eprile know if you would like someone included in the prayer corner. THE MAGAZINE It is good to be back after the summer. Thank you for all the contributions. There are lots of thank you letters from over the summer. I think they are all in, but if yours has been missed, sorry. Please let me know, and I will put it in next month. May I have articles for October by Sunday 18th September, please? I am particularly keen to have help with what’s on, page 1, as it is easy to miss something, so please keep me up to date with what is happening in your group. Thank you. Catriona Blackwood 12
MINISTER Rev Mark Foster (332 5736) MFoster@churchofscotland.org.uk SESSION CLERK John Innes - 33 Monktonhall Place, Musselburgh (07802 917910) pilrig@btinternet.com THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD CLERK Aileen Fraser (07936 716 765) ASSISTANT CLERK Maria Croall (07747 071 545) CORRESPONDENCE to: pspcongragationalboard@gmail.com The Clerk to the Congregational Board Pilrig St Paul’s Church, 1B Pilrig Street, Edinburgh EH6 5AH TREASURER Mark Wexelstein (665 6881) mark.wexelstein@googlemail.com ROLL KEEPER Mrs Jeanette E. Sime - 1 South Trinity Road (552 9652) PASTORAL CONVENER Mrs Linda Gill (669 7409) SAFEGUARDING CO-ORDINATOR Mrs Catriona E.W. Blackwood - 4 Cambridge Gardens (554 6183) cewblackwood@tesco.net PROPERTY CONVENER Eric Fisher (552 8982) 104 Crewe Crescent HALL LET GROUP psp.halluse@gmail.com ORGANIST and CHOIRMASTER Colin Gray (07901 556 217) SUNDAY CLUB LEADER Mark Wexelstein (665 6881) mark.wexelstein@googlemail.com CHRISTIAN GIVINGS CONVENER Mrs Irene Wexelstein - 15 Upper Hermitage (476 1385) MAGAZINE Editor - Mrs Catriona E.W. Blackwood - see above Distribution - Mrs Margaret Cameron - 35 Lorne Street (554 2139) Scottish Charity no. SCO07277 www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk www.leithchurchesforum.org.uk
13
Do you know someone who would appreciate being remembered in our prayers each Sunday, a visit, a phone call, a card in the post or perhaps some flowers from us? Please provide the details below and put this card into the box in the Open Doorway or contact: Linda Gill on 669-7409 or helpinghands@pilrigstpauls.org.uk Postal address: Linda Gill, Pastoral Care Team Leader, Pilrig St Paul’s Church, 1B Pilrig Street, Edinburgh EH6 5AH Member's Details Name .................................................................................................................... Address ............................................................................................................... Phone number................................................................................................. Please choose from the following, which you think would be most appropriate. You can tick more than one option Remembered in our prayers each week ……. Visit to their home ……. Flowers from the Service ……. Phone call........ Card posted to their home……. Would you like to help with this? Yes / No (If you select yes please also provide your contact details) ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. Pilrig St. Paul's Church SCO 07277
14
For more information, please see the leaflet on the notice board outside the Session Room or contact: Ilona Szczupak Ilona.szczupak@edinburgh.gov.uk Direct line: 0131 469 6294 Office no: 0131 469 5959 15