PILRIG St PAUL’S CHURCH NOVEMBER 2017 1
Cover shows the collage of knitted poppies and art work made for the 2016 Remembrance Sunday. Further information available from Fiona Rankin and Evelyn Torrance. 2
PILRIG St PAUL’S NOVEMBER 2017 Friday and Saturday 3rd&4th November Community Cinema - see page 10 Sunday 5th November 11am Morning Worship Wednesday 8th Nov Leith Churches Together Ecumenical Service 1pm South Leith Parish Church Sunday 12th November 10.50am Remembrance Service PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER TIME 1pm AGM Leith Community Cinema (SCIO) Tuesday 14th Nov 2pm Guild - joint meeting with Inverleith St Serf's Guild at Pilrig Paul's Thursday 16th November 2pm Open Doorway knitting bee Sunday 19th November 11am joint Seafarers Service in South Leith Church THERE IS NO SERVICE in Pilrig St Paul's that day Sunday 26th November Morning Worship at 11am Guild Sunday Tuesday Nov 28th Guild - Seagull Trust Cruises We are holding a Christmas Tree Festival from 30th November to 2nd December – see page 6 PROVIDING FLOWERS IN NOVEMBER 2017 5th Catriona Blackwood 12th Shelagh Collier Green th 19 No Service at Pilrig St Paul’s 26th Guild Please speak to Aileen Fraser if you would like to provide flowers for the Church. 3
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY - 11am WORSHIP in the Sanctuary, followed by tea or coffee, and a chat, in the Session Room. 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’. ACTIVITIES Alternate Tuesdays - The Guild 2.00pm Every Tuesday and Thursday 10.30-12.30 come to the open doorway for coffee, a chat, and quiet time in the sanctuary Wednesdays - Lunch club 11.30 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts 5 3/4 - 14 years The 5th Leith Scouts Edinburgh North East (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) TO RENT OUR PREMISES, PLEASE CONTACT psp.halluse@gmail.com
OUR WHEELCHAIR ENTRANCES ARE IN PILRIG STREET
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Dear All, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:11 The Rev Richard Floyd, Pastor Emeritus of First Church of Christ (UCC) in Pittsfield writes: My secular friends sometimes ask me, "Why the church?" I hear myself come up with different answers at different times. "Because of the community." They say, "Couldn't you just join a book group?" "Because of the morality and ethics, and the passion for justice." They say, "There are lots of decent, ethical, moral people outside the church." They are quite right. There are many groups that do many of the things the church does, and some of them do it better. I think many organizations working for peace and justice, and for protecting the environment, are better organized and more efficient than the church in doing this vital work. And I admit that the church can be a maddening place, slow-footed for needed change, too often liberal on matters that should be conserved, and conservative about things that should be shaken up. My love for the church is not blind. But my best answer to the question, "Why the church?" is simply, "Jesus Christ." He is the one unique, distinctive thing that the church has that nobody else does. I find that after a lifetime in the church the compelling figure of Jesus Christ in all his complexity and incomprehensibility still engages me deeply. 5
Without Christ the Church risks becoming a religious voluntary association with a long list of community ventures and good causes it supports. Paul knew this when he employed a building metaphor to say that Christ is the only foundation on which the church can rest. As Floyd says, Christ is also the best answer to the question “Why the Church?” I was recently speaking to a church member from another congregation and we got on to the subject of non-church friends. I asked her if she ever mentioned her religious beliefs to her nonchurch friends. “Of course not!” she said, with a look of horror at the very thought of it. I strongly suspect that she isn’t alone in her views or her reaction. As members of Christ’s Church we must seek to embody Christ in all that we do, and do so in ways that will encourage others to ask us “Why the church?” And when they ask we must not be ashamed, or embarrassed, or reluctant to tell them about Christ. If we wish the Church to survive then we need to be more open about our belief in Christ, who is the reason why we worship God, serve our local community, pursue justice, care for one another, and welcome others in. Christ is the heart of all that we believe and all that we do, the foundation from which we operate as a church, that is why we call ourselves Christians. Shalom Mark Leith Churches Together Ecumenical Service Wednesday 8th Nov 1pm South Leith Parish Church Leith Churches Together Ecumenical Service Wednesday 13th December Ebenezer United Free Church 1pm 6
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 PARTICULARLY REQUESTED FOR NOVEMBER– UHT milk, sugar, fruit juice, jam, tinned puddings The Magazine Thank you for all the contributions received this month, and for meeting the deadline. Please may I have articles for the December magazine by Sunday 18th November. Life and Work I am now taking orders for Life and Work for 2018. It is published every month and costs £27.50 for the year, or £13.75 if two share. There is now also a digital edition which can be purchased by visiting www.lifeandwork.org Thank you, Catriona Blackwood
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CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2017 At Pilrig St. Paul’s we are always seeking new ways to engage with the local community, build and strengthen our relationships with others, and share the good news of our Faith. We hope to do all three of these by holding a Christmas Tree Festival in the church from 30 November to 2 December. Over the three days we will exhibit trees that have been sponsored and decorated by a number of local businesses and groups. The Church will be open for visitors to come and view the trees, vote for their favourites, and have a cuppa and a chat. On Saturday we plan to have the added opportunity for children to visit Santa and receive the gift of a Nativity Story Book from the Church. The costs of this event will be largely covered by sponsorship of the trees and an entry charge of £3 for visitors (which will include refreshments). On Sunday 3 December we will worship among the trees as we begin the season of Advent and we hope that friends and supporters from the local community will join us for this special service. There are a number of ways in which members can help. We will be looking for teams of volunteers to help with stewarding, serving tea/coffee, etc. during the three days of the festival. We will also be looking for some help with publicity, organising, baking, leafleting, etc. in the run up to the event. And we are looking for your prayers for the success of this venture. If you are able to help in any way, then please speak to Bill Wright or the Minister.
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THANK YOU Thank you for the lovely flowers I received recently, and also to Christine for bringing them to me. I appreciated them very much. Margaret Cameron Thank you so much for our lovely flowers we received after the loss of my sister. Chrissie my sister was married on 26 th September 1947 in St Paul’s, Lorne Street. She has lived in Northumberland for the past 70 years. Thank you to Nancy and Lily for our visits. Martha and Willie Cruikshank Dear Friends, Thank you for the nice flowers. It is very kind of you to think of us. Also thank you to Eric for bringing them. Eileen and Donald Fraser John Brown wishes to thank all friends for their hospital visits, telephone calls and get-well cards which were all much appreciated. Thank you for the beautiful flowers I received recently. Ella Gilfillan Jim and Moira Fergie would like to thank Mark the Minister for the box of Maltesers and also for his resistance to temptation over the past three weeks that we were on holiday. My temptation succumbed a lot sooner. Thank you very much for the beautiful flowers I received from the Church for my birthday. They were very much appreciated. Love and blessings. Irene Eprile Many thanks for the beautiful bouquet of flowers that I received from Margaret and David Fraser. They are still blooming beautifully, and I very much appreciate them. Joyce Laughlin 9
Fiona Rankin would like to thank everyone in Pilrig St Paul's who have supported our coffee mornings. My special thanks to Ann Gowans and Alex Allan for taking care of everything in the kitchen for us over the years. I am resigning from the committee in March after 22 years, so this was my last time helping to organise the event. However there is a date booked for next year. Although I am a national member, I am keeping in contact with the branch and may use the hydro-pool now and again. But I will still pass on any information and news. Our final total for Saturday 8th October was ÂŁ585. A great effort by everyone. Thank you all again. I would like to say thank you for the flowers I received from the Church when I was not well recently and thanks for the cards I received also for everyone's good wishes sent by Mark on a Sunday. Irene Wexelstein
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PASTORAL CARE TEAM The Pastoral Care Team is due to hold a meeting to review activity over this year and make plans for 2018 activity. If you would like to join this meeting or be part of the team please let any of our team know and we will include you in the planning and any meetings held. We are always happy to send cards, make visits and phone calls to members or arrange for delivery of the flowers from our Sunday service. Please let us know if you are aware of someone who would appreciate and benefit from any of these contacts from us. Welcome Pack The pack has been prepared by Catriona to help anyone new to our congregation find out more about how things happen and who to speak with to find out more. The ideal opportunity to think about giving a Welcome Pack would be if you are part of the door duty team on Sundays or if you notice someone new sitting near you in the pew. It can be provided to anyone worshipping with us. Knitting Bee We were pleased to be able to parcel up our 30 Twiddlemuffs at our last meeting. They are all ready to be gifted out to Care Homes, Support Organisations and individuals across our local community. Thank you to Mr & Mrs Leithead who dropped in to our last meeting with a lovely donation of Twiddelmuffs to add to our collection – it was much appreciated. Leith Community Cinema Update We are delighted to announce that OSCR has granted Leith Community Cinema charitable status. This will enhance any funding applications we make as funders view the endorsement of OSCR as very positive due to the rigour of the applications process and the on-going auditing of any OSCR registered charity. Our conference on the 14th October went well with good attendance and also great suggestions and ideas for developing 11
the cinema and in particular our programme for 2018. The key finding and actions will be presented at our AGM on the 12 th November at 1pm. All members of Leith Community Cinema are invited to attend this meeting. The agenda will be sent to all members ahead of the meeting. Please consider helping out at our screenings. Those who are regulars with us enjoy the opportunity to meet with other members of the team and engage with our audience. Even if you don’t want to see the film you could offer to help out at the café and crafting for children beforehand. Or perhaps you could offer to help with the set up and clear away as we are always looking for some extra hands to do that. This is a perfect opportunity for us to engage with the wider local community and make connections through this outreach engagement. Our next two Community Screenings are taking place in November when we are showing Sing on Friday 3 rd November at 2pm and Viceroy’s House on the 4th November at 2pm. Tickets can be booked via eventbrite on the links below. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sing-tickets-37750385419 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/viceroys-house-tickets37750470674 There will be one final screening in December this year when we are showing the film Elf. This is a film that appeals to all ages so please book your place and join us. Bookings will open in November for this screening. 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. 12
Pastoral Care Team Mark Foster - Minister Catriona Blackwood – Elder, Safegaurding 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
Linda Gill Pastoral Care Team Leader 669-7409 or helpinghands@pilrigstpauls.org.uk
Prayer Corner The Wexelstein family Norrie Frazer Emily Dickson and family Sybil Muir David and Lynn Cameron and family Frances Chambers The Davis family Murdo and Joy MacLeod Martha and Willie Cruickshanks Mrs Hunter and family Catriona Blackwood and family Evelyn and Euan Robertson Frazer and Craig Garvey and families Doreen and Arthur Johnston
Jim and Jean Tait Joyce Loughlan June Welsh Isabel Pert Margaret Gunn Anne Dunn Isabel Fyfe Arthur Baxter Matthew Green Margaret Thomson Elspeth Dixon Helen Greig Rev Kristina Ross Gary, Margaret and David Fraser
Please let Roy Eprile know if you would like someone included in the prayer corner
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PILRIG ST PAULâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHURCH 1b Pilrig Street Edinburgh EH6 5AH www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk Church Office 0131 553 1876 MAGAZINE psp.churchmagazine@gmail.com MINISTER Rev Mark Foster (0131 332 5736) MFoster@churchofscotland.org.uk SESSION CLERK John Innes - (07802 917910) pilrig@btinternet.com THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD Church address and phone number CLERK Aileen Fraser (0131 553 1876) ASSISTANT CLERK Maria Croall (07747 071545) pspcongragationalboard@gmail.com TREASURER and CHRISTIAN GIVINGS CONVENER Mark Wexelstein (0131 665 6881) mark.wexelstein@gmail.com ROLL KEEPER, GUILD CONVENOR Mrs Jeanette Sime - (0131 552 9652) PASTORAL CONVENOR, CINEMA LEADER Mrs Linda Gill Linda Gill <lindagill365@sky.com> linda@leithcommunitycinema.com SAFEGUARDING CO-ORDINATOR, MAGAZINE EDITOR Mrs Catriona Blackwood - (0131 554 6183) cewblackwood@tesco.net PROPERTY CONVENER Eric Fisher (0131 552 8982) eric.fisher@hotmail.co.uk HALL LETS psp.halluse@gmail.com ORGANIST and CHOIRMASTER Colin Gray (07901 556 217) PRAYER CORNER, FOODBANK CONTACT Roy Eprile MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION Mrs Margaret Cameron (0131 554 2139) LUNCH CLUB Alex Allan (0131 554 3174) Scottish Charity no. SCO07277 www.leithchurchesforum.org.
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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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Copies of the CrossReach information sheet are available from our representative Christine Edington.
For the full selection and to order yours now, visit www.crossreach.org.uk/shop or phone 0131 454 4374
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