PILRIG St PAUL’S CHURCH
MARCH 2017 1
WELCOME TO PILRIG St PAUL’S MARCH 2017 Sunday, March 5 11:00am Sunday Worship Wednesday, March 8 1pm Leith Churches Together lunchtime ecumenical service Duke St. United Reformed Church see back cover for full details and more dates. Thursday 9 March, start of joint churches Lenten Group, see page 9 Sunday, March 12 11:00am Sunday Worship Tuesday, March 14 2:00pm The Guild Project: All Friends Together Sunday, March 19 11:00am Sunday Worship Sunday, March 26 11:00am Sunday Worship Tuesday, March 28 2:00pm Beetle Drive For information about the Community cinema on 9 th and 10th March, please see page 12 OPEN DOORWAY EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 10.30-12.30 come to the open doorway for coffee, a chat, and quiet time in the sanctuary. PROVIDING FLOWERS IN MARCH 2017 5th March Jean Ramage 12th March Evelyn Torrance 19th March Margaret Cameron 26th March Flower Fund Please speak to Aileen Fraser if you would like to provide flowers for the Church. 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 2
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY - 11am WORSHIP in the Sanctuary, followed by tea or coffee, and a chat, in the Session Room.
There is a crèche for younger children, while those of school age join the congregation, including taking an active part in the all age 'Time to Talk’.
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
THERE ARE MANY OTHER 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
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"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 Dear All, I've never been very concerned with trying to use theological or philosophical arguments to prove to other people that God exists, especially when those suffering hard times around me want to question the existence of God. I don't think that painful moments are the best time to try and convince someone that God exists - or worse, to explain why God exists and yet somehow lets horrible things happen to them. Instead, when people are hurting and/or questioning the existence of God in their lives, I believe it's time to exemplify God by showing how powerful God’s love can be. Our response doesn’t need to be complicated. It doesn’t need to have a religious label or a theological explanation attached to it. It doesn’t even need to be presented as faith. It just needs to be a caring word; a listening ear; a plea for justice, equality, and fairness; or a gesture to remind them that there is still a source of good and love in the world. Some of the best theology I have seen and heard throughout my years of ministry has come from ordinary folk. Folk who have shown me, and others, glimpses of God through the care, and concern, and love that they have shown. It’s true, when they say, “They will know we are Christians by our love”. Because there is no greater way to share our faith with others than by sharing our love with others. 4
So often we freeze when challenged by others to prove that God exists or are asked why some people suffer. We don’t know what to say – and so we say nothing at all. Instead let us remember that we don’t always need to remind folk that God exists. We just need to remind them that love does. The Love that we show for others endures as long and as strong as any Faith or Hope that we would wish to give them. And it is still the greatest way to let them find God for themselves. Shalom Mark 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. For further information, and to volunteer to help on a Wednesday, please contact Roy Eprile
THE DONATIONS BASKET IS IN THE VESTIBULE. DONATIONS OF POT NOODLE, CUP-A-SOUP AND SMASH ARE PARTICULARLY ASKED FOR IN MARCH, PLEASE.
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THANK YOU
Thank you for the flowers I received in December. I would also like to thank everyone for their encouragement and prayers in 2016 when I was ill. Mark Wexelstein Belated thanks are sent for the gifts which we received at Christmas and for the flowers which we received after the Church service on 29th January, both of which were kindly delivered by Catriona Blackwood. We regret that we have not been able to attend the 'Means of Grace' and join in worship along with you for several weeks now, but hope to do so as soon as we are enabled. It is good to know that you remember us in your prayers. Murdo and Joy MacLeod Thank you to Linda for the lovely flowers I received after my recent illness. Also many thanks to those of you who came to my aid on Communion Sunday when I felt unwell, the glass of water seemed to work wonders. I’ll try not to let it happen again! David Fraser. I would like to thank the church for the flowers I received and for all the get well cards and well wishes I received when I was ill and then in hospital. These were very much appreciated and helped me to recover from my operation. Katie Wexelstein
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Tea/Coffee mugs – We are still giving away free "One Church for Leith" tea/coffee mugs. You can pick one up after the service by speaking to anyone on duty at the doors. Postcard Search 2017 - The theme of this year's search is "The Psalms". Send in a card that you feel shows a verse or verses from one of the psalms. You must write which psalm and verse(s) it is on the back of the card so that the Minister doesn't have to guess. All entries should be sent to the Church Office (1B Pilrig Street Edinburgh EH6 5AH) by Sunday 24 September. The magazine Thank you for all the articles and information received this month. It is particularly encouraging to have so many by email. Please may I have articles for April by 19th March? Thank you, Catriona Blackwood
Crossreach I thought it might be interesting and informative to list some of the areas in which Crossreach works. Children and Families: Eight different services ranging from the Daisy Chain Early Years Project to Residential Children’s Services. Counselling and Training: Services ranging from one to one counselling to help for those suffering from post natal depression. Criminal Justice: Counselling support to individuals in prison and also help for families visiting prison inmates. Homelessness: Accommodation and support for the homeless in Stornoway, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Learning Disabilities: Residential Care for people with multiple learning disabilities, Day services for those with various disabilities such as epilepsy, autism and dementia. 7
Mental Health: Innovative mental health services in Kilmarnock, Alloa and Glasgow. Older People: Day Care, Care Homes for those with dementia and Residential Homes for the elderly. Substance Misuse: Counselling, Residential and Housing Support Services. As you will see from the above list, the huge variety and scope of the projects run by Crossreach is absolutely amazing. Crossreach carries out this work in the name of the Church of Scotland, i.e. in our name, acting out the command of Jesus to love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves. Each year Crossreach prepares three issues of Crossreach News – a free magazine giving updates on the various projects which it is running. Issue 1 for 2017 is available in the Open Doorway, and I would strongly encourage you to pick up a copy, read it, and then perhaps pass it on to a friend. In this way we can all learn more about the great work being done by Crossreach, an organisation worthy of our prayers and our support. In a recent sermon, our Minister said that in today’s world, people need to be reminded that love exists. In its caring outreach that, it seems to me, is just what Crossreach is doing. Christine Edington (Crossreach Contact)
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Office 365 The church has signed up with Microsoft to be able to provide the online version of Office 365 Enterprise free of charge to anyone volunteering for the church. This works in your browser or on a phone or tablet. We can also supply Office 365 Business Essentials at £1.80 per user per month (this includes the desktop software) or we also can order the Desktop version of Office 2016 Standard (PC or MAC) for £25 which is a considerable discount on the retail price. (you would be expected to pay for this yourself) If you are interested in having an online account or the desktop software, please speak to John Innes or drop him an email at pilrig@btinternet.com to get it set up. Hall Let Staff The annual accounts show that the letting of the halls is the largest income we have in the congregation. Maria manages to cover most of the events but more help is always welcome. We have a small group of people that volunteer to open and lock up after events that don’t require us to have staff on the premises while the event is on. The person who opens up has to let the people hiring the hall in, show them where any facilities are they are using and show them where the toilets are. For locking it up you have to make sure the halls are left in a reasonably tidy condition, nothing has been left behind and all the lights are off. 9
We do charge the people booking the hall for this so we can pass on the payment or you can decide to leave it as a donation to the church. If you are willing to add your name to the volunteers we have or want more information then please speak to Maria Croall or Mark Wexelstein. Thank you. Mark Wexelstein (Treasurer) One Church for Leith: The Rev Rob Mackenzie is planning a joint churches Lenten Group - Thursday evenings for five weeks starting Thursday 9 March, based around the movie 'The Theory of Everything'. You don't need to have seen the film to take part in the group. If you are interested in participating please contact the minister for further details. There will be a cost of roughly £6 per person, to cover the price of materials.
Pastoral Care Team Team Update Last month we held our first meeting of 2017 and spent the time reviewing our progress last year. We started with a reading from Peter chapter 5 verses 2-3. Be shepherds of God’s flock of God that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 10
Key activity in 2016
All requests for visits, cards, calls or flowers completed Pastoral Cards sent to all members of congregation New team member – Michelle Supported Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance Meetings/contact with other Pastoral Care teams – Duddingston Church Indian Dance classes Introduced generic Church business cards for the Open Doorway New labels for flower delivery Supported a number of our congregation with health and social care issues/contact Re communicated car pool, offering transport to members to enable them to attend Sunday worship and other events held in the Church
Our plans have now formed for this year with the following key areas for action.
Introduce a Welcome Pack for people new to our Church that will help them know who does what and how things work in Pilrig St Paul’s. Expand the team delivering flowers after the service each Sunday. There will be more details on this next month. Support Mark with the annual service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance Support Mark with a new initiative of a Carers Service. This will be aimed at those in a caring role offering them the opportunity to step away from their role for a short while sharing some time with others in caring roles.
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Leith Community Cinema Update We have now constituted the cinema and started the process of being recognized as a registered charity. We have appointed four trustees and others have taken on lead roles in specific areas involved in running the cinema. Trustees Mark Foster – Trustee Linda Gill – Chair Scott Gillies – Secretary Mark Wexelstein – Treasurer Box Office – Christine Hanny Community Café – Catriona Blackwood. A number of other lead roles are still to be confirmed and will be communicated in future articles. If you are interested in getting involved please let any of the team know and we will update you on the various opportunities. We had a success double screening weekend in February with Storks and Mamma Mia being shown. We had good attendance at both and positive feedback as well. Here are some of the quotes from the feedback sheets from both films. ‘fab & fun” ‘ very friendly volunteers, great mix of people. Delighted to have discovered you’ ‘ loved it, the music & fun of the movie was much better than expected when with friends in a friendly atmosphere. Thankx’ ‘snacks were great’
‘crafts were fabulous’
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‘Loved the pot fruit option for the kids. Also stork craft was lovely with very helpful and friendly staff. Thank you.’ You can now reserve your ticket for our March screenings via our website or facebook pages. Thursday 9th March we are collaborating with Inspiring Leith to show a screening of the Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake. I would encourage everyone to book a ticket and come along to see this significant film that follows the story of two people and how they navigate the welfare system. There will be a lunch at 1.30pm followed by the film at 2pm and a discussion group afterwards. Friday 10th March we are collaborating with Gumption Girls to screen Girl Rising, an innovative documentary at the heart of the campaign to change the way the world values girls. Doors open at 5.30pm when the Community Café will be open serving hot snacks and the film will be screened at 6pm. We look forward to seeing you at the cinema this year. 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. 1 Peter Chapter 4 v 11 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Linda Gill Pastoral Care Team Leader 669-7409 or helpinghands@pilrigstpauls.org.uk 13
Pastoral Care Team Mark Foster - Minister Catriona Blackwood – Elder, Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Magazine Editor Christine Edington – CrossReach Co-ordinator 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
Prayer Corner Max MacFie Christine McGonigal The Wexelstein family Jim and Jean Tait Helen Greig Robert and Karen Wood Elspeth Dixon Joyce Loughlan Matthew Green Margaret Gunn Frances Chambers Anne Dunn Norrie Frazer Sybil Muir The Davis family Isabel Fyfe Murdo and Joy MacLeod Tom Gilzean Emily Dickson and family Isabel Pert Irene Brown and family David and Lynn Cameron and family Frazer and Craig Garvey and families Gary, Margaret and David Fraser
Please let Roy Eprile know if you would like someone included in the prayer corner. 14
MINISTER Rev Mark Foster (332 5736) MFoster@churchofscotland.org.uk SESSION CLERK John Innes - 33 Monktonhall Place, Musselburgh (07563 248722) 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 OUR WHEELCHAIR ENTRANCES ARE IN PILRIG STREET
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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
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Leith Churches Together
Encouraging support and cooperation between the churches of Leith Leith Churches Together holds a monthly lunchtime ecumenical service, hosted and led by different churches in turn. It usually lasts 25-30 minutes and is followed by a simple lunch and get-together. Services for the first half of 2017 as follows: Wednesday 08th March
Duke St. United Reformed Church
April
No service - Holy Week/Easter
Wednesday 10th May
Ebenezer United Free Church
Wednesday 14th June
Pilrig St. Paul’s Church of Scotland
Wednesday 12th July
St. James Episcopal Church
We meet at 1pm. All welcome! Visit our website www.leithchurchestogether.org.uk 17