PSP 202112 by Pilrig St. Paul's Church

PILRIG St PAUL’S CHURCH

DECEMBER 2021

THIS IS A REDUCED VERSION OF THE MAGAZINE FOR GENERAL PUBLICATION. MEMBERS AND ADHERENTS WHO WOULD LIKE A FULL PRAYER, PASTORAL and BEREAVEMENT OR THANK YOU LIST, OR A FINANCIAL UPDATE OR ARE ASKED TO CONTACT: magazine@pilrigstpauls.org.uk ANY THANK YOU NOTES AND CHRISTMAS GREETINGS INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE ORIGINATOR.

NFORMATION re PILRIG St PAUL’S MAGAZINE We welcome articles and thank you letters from members and friends. Articles are published in both the printed magazine and on-line, unless otherwise arranged with the editor (e.g. where personal information is concerned, including the names in the prayer corner, it would normally be omitted from the on-line version). All contributors must provide their name, please, which is normally attached to the article. We reserve the right to edit articles. Changes other than spelling or grammar will, where possible, be discussed with the contributor. The views expressed are those of individual contributors and not necessarily those of Pilrig St. Paul’s Church or the Church of Scotland. 2

PILRIG St PAUL S CHURCH DECEMBER 2021 ALL WELCOME 5th December 2021 Morning Worship 11am* Rev Matthew Bicket 12th December 2021 Morning Worship 11am * Rev Jessie Fubara-Manuel 9th December 2021 Leith Churches Together 1pm Lunch time Service St Mary’s Star of the Sea . Please bring a packed lunch 14th December 2021 Guild Christmas Celebration 19th December 2021 Lessons and Carols 11am 26th December 2021 Celebration of Christmas 11am Joint Epiphany Service provisionally January 9th, see intimations. *At present, the ministers from one Church for Leith are taking it in turns to take services at North Leith. We welcome guest ministers on these dates. COMMUNITY OUTREACH Our usual Christmas support for others follows a similar pattern to last year. We are again supporting Circle Families, many of our housebound members, and the work of local charities through our Christmas Offerings. If you would like to support all or any of the above projects and feel able to do so, then we are asking that you make a donation to the church. You can do this in a number of different ways. If you are attending worship during December, you can leave an envelope in the collection plate clearly marked “Christmas Offerings” and we can split it among the above causes. If you wish to support a particular cause 3

then you can mark your envelope “Circle Families”, or “Christmas Gifts”. If you are a UK taxpayer please remember to also mark your envelope with the words ‘GIFT AID’, which will increase the values of your donation at no extra cost to yourself. You can also donate via PayPal, BACS transfer and Cheque, for advice, please contact the treasurer. From our minister: John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1: 4 - 8 Dear All,

Many of us will be ‘marking off’ the days of Advent by opening a small cardboard flap that reveals a cosy scene, a small gift, or a piece of chocolate. However, the season of Advent does not begin on 1 December, but during the last days of November. In other words, our shop bought Advent calendars are cheating us out of several extra days!

Chocolate aside, there is a lot that we miss out on during the season of Advent if we let the shops dictate our Christmas. Take, for instance, John the Baptist. He’s hardly a festive character with his camel’s hair clothing; locust-eating; and yelling in the wilderness. Yet, John the Baptist’s story is intricately tied to the season of Advent and the birth of Christ. He is the one who proclaims that something big is coming. He calls us to get ready for Christmas - not by sending out cards and packages or decorating the tree; but by preparing our hearts for the arrival of love incarnate. Advent acts as a reminder that all the trappings of Christmas, which I love, are only signs of something better which is to come. Advent invites us to slow down and get ready. It helps us not to miss the meaning of Christmas because we are so caught up in our preparations. However, we choose to number the days of Advent, they remind us of the promise of new life coming into our world. We count them and remember the precious value of every day. We count them and remember that each day holds the possibility of new and limitless life. We count them in the knowledge that they are pointing us to something far more special than we will find behind the doors on our Advent calendars. Blessings Mark

Mark intends to put short reflections on our website and/or Facebook pages for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Pilrig St. Paul’s Church of Scotland Annual Stated Meeting Held on Thursday 23rd September 2021 Constitution of meeting

Maria Croall opened the meeting Minutes from last year Taken as read Approved by Alex Fleming 2nd by Pat Murray

Treasurers Report

Mark Wexelstein presented slides showing the income and expenditure for 2020 and compared this over the last 5 years. Total income was £85,223, a decrease of £858 from 2019. This includes £10,000 given in offerings from one member. Without that we would have had a large drop in income due to COVID. Total Expenditure was £89,085 an increase of £796 from 2019. As the buildings were closed for a lot of 2020 it shows the majority of our expenditure is not to do with day to day running costs. This means we had a deficit of £3,862 compared to a deficit of £2,208 in 2019 so the deficit increased by £1,654. Offerings were £32,972 an increase of £4,010 on 2019. This is unexpected due to the pandemic but as mentioned previously was due to the £10,000 from one member. The tax reclaimed was £6,021. This is lower than 2019 but part of the tax claim for the £10,000 was made in 2021. 6

Our income from hall lets was £22,677 compared to £39,087 in 2019. The reduction was expected due to the halls being closed from March 2020. The amount only remained at the level it is due to the permanent space rented by Vodafone. Ministry and Mission was £37,585, £4,478 higher than 2019. For 2021 all congregations have been given a reduction so we will pay £30,783. Fabric expenditure was £8,054, this is the same as 2019. Energy costs were £6,832 an increase of £226. We are still members of the Church of Scotland scheme and this allows us to get the best rates available. Insurance was £7,439. Telephone, Stationery & Printing was £702 a decrease of £1,034. Salaries were £16,944 compared to £17,333 a decrease of £389. Maria thanked Mark for his work. Congregational Number on Congregational Roll as at 31.12.2019 was 200 Statistics

Added by Profession of Faith 0 Certificate of Transfer 0 Restoration 1 Removed by Resolution of the Kirk Session 0 Certificate of Transfer 1 Death 13 Number on Congregational Roll as at 31.12.2020 was 186

Supplementary Roll 0 Adherents 4

Election to Membership of the Congregational Board

Due to come of the Congregational Board are Evelyn Torrance, Nancy Fleming Scott Gillies and Catherine Purdie. Evelyn and Nancy have agreed to continue as a member of the Board. This was proposed by Mark Wexelstein and seconded by Aileen Fraser. Scott Gillies and Catherine Purdie are not standing for re-election. As no one else was nominated at the meeting the Board was given power to coopt new members during the year if required.

Minister’s Report

Rev Mark Foster said this had been a year like no other in our lifetime. Many people will think the work just stopped during the lockdowns, but this wasn’t the case. A lot of work was carried out by the COVID team, Aileen Fraser, Maria Croall, John Innes, Mark Wexelstein and Catriona Blackwood and Mark Foster, all our procedures had to be brought up to date and several new ones had to be created. We also had to provide new risk assessments to the Church of Scotland to allow us to re-open. New IT was purchased and setup so we can now record and stream the services. Pastoral care has been online or by phone but this had enabled us to stay in touch with people. Flowers and cards have been sent out by Aileen Fraser, Catriona Blackwood and Christine Edington. 8

One Church for Leith has also continued with Mark Wexelstein and John Innes on the main group, Catriona Blackwood is on a sub group and she is going to be joined by Maria Croall. The minister thanked everyone who has helped to keep the church going over this year. Edinburgh Presbytery is to cut 30% of ministry staff over the next five years. Not all will be ministers but many will be. It is also expected that around forty churches will close. The minister thanked Mark Wexelstein for his work as treasurer during 2020 as along with the normal duties he has been involved in applying for several grants for the congregation

The Pastoral Committee wish all members and friends a Happy Christmas and a Good New Year.

Wishing all our friends peace and joy this Christmas and a Happy New Year. From Margaret, David and Gary F. Jimmy and Moira wish everyone at Pilrig St Paul's a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year in 2022. With Best Wishes for Christmas and the coming Year to you all. From Alex and Nancy We wish everyone a peaceful and joyful Christmas and good health and happiness in the year to come. Christine and Alec.

With best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my friends at Pilrig St Paul’s. Hope to see you all again soon. Antje A. John B sends Christmas greetings and a blessed New Year to all friends. 10

To all - Happy Christmas and All best wishes for 2022 from Ronald and Maureen E. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends in Pilrig St Paul’s Church. Love and Blessings, Irene E. Greetings for a Happy Christmas and New Year. Catriona and Bill.

PASTORAL COMMITTEE AND MAGAZINE

It has been good to have a positive response from members about the new flower arrangements. Thank you for the donations that have already come in. There is no magazine in January, but the February one will reflect those who have donated from December - February, after which, we should have the complete system up and running. We collected for the Sailor’s Society and Christmas Hampers in November. Thank you to all who donated. Thank you for articles received for this magazine. Please may I have articles for the February magazine by January 20th? Catriona Blackwood Pastoral Committee Member and Magazine Editor 554 6183 magazine@pilrigstpauls.org.uk

OFFERING ENVELOPES Due to the following reasons we have decided to change the offering envelopes available from January 2022. •

More people are now giving their offering by standing order or online. • We don’t know what restrictions, if any, will continue for worship in 2022 and the impact these will have on people attending the church on a regular basis. • At present any envelopes not used in the calendar year they are purchased for have to be recycled and can’t be used due to the date being printed on them. • The reduction in waste will save the church some money and will also help the environment as all envelopes purchased will now be able to be used. We are now going to have one envelope that can be used for both gift aid and freewill offering donations. These can also be provided to visitors to make a donation and they will have the opportunity to allow us to claim the gift aid on the donation. If you currently use the yellow gift aid envelopes can you advise me how many you require for 2022 and these will be provided with your current envelope number written on to the new envelope. This means there is no need for you to complete the gift aid information on the front of the envelope and therefore the amount of your offering is still only known by myself as gift aid convenor. If you would still like one for each week then you will receive 52 envelopes. However, over the last few years I have noticed some 12

people put their offering in monthly so may only want to have 12 envelopes for the year. You can also request any number inbetween 12 and 52. If you use the blue freewill offerings then there is no need for these to be numbered so just let me know how many you need and these will be provided. As there is no date on the envelopes if you don’t use all the envelopes requested in 2022 these can continue to be used in subsequent years.

If you have any questions please get in touch. Regards Mark Wexelstein Treasurer

Please consider making a donation by visiting our website www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk and donate using the PayPal button. You can also use the QR code below by scanning it on your mobile phone.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND GENERAL INFORMATION Radio, TV, Internet Audio and Visual clips and some live streaming worship services that you can listen to and watch from home: Thought for the Day: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00szxv6 BBC Radio Four Sunday Worship: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnds Songs of Praise: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ttc5

Recommended Podcast: https://robbell.com/portfolio/robcast/ WordPress site at https://onecfl.wordpress.com/ where you will find prayers, reflections and other items provided by the Ministers from the four Leith churches. Church website: http://www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pilrigstpauls/ If you wish to follow the readings that we use in church each Sunday you can access them at https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu// Sign up to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/f8740e88c94b/pilrig CrossReach links: CrossReach Prayer Dairy: https://www.flipsnack.com/8A56FE5569B/prayer-diary-february2021-january-2022.html

CrossReach News: https://www.flipsnack.com/8A56FE5569B/crossreach-newsediton-2-2021.html The Church of Scotland Social Care Forum: http://www.socialcareforum.scot/ For information regarding Girl Guiding and Scouts: www.girlguiding.org.uk hello@scouts.scot Sign up to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/f8740e88c94b/pilrig

Hello, I’m a volunteer at 2 local rescues and a Hedgehog Champion with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society/Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species How long is it since you last saw a hedgehog? The UK has lost a third of its population since 2000, and their numbers are declining as fast as tigers in the wild. They are now officially classed as vulnerable to extinction in the IUCN’s Red List for British Mammals. There are many reasons and it's sad to think that, for future generations, such a fate would make this lovely, prickly God’s creature only a character in storybooks. Here are 10 simple tips to help them: 1. Link your garden with a Hedgehog Highway. Hedgehogs travel between1-2 km a night searching for food and a mate. Leaving a small gap in your fence the size of a CD case will let hedgehogs through but be too small for pets. BHPT/PTES sell snazzy little recyclable Hedgehog Highway signs, for a few pounds. Ask your neighbours to do the same! 2 Create a wild corner in your garden so they can snuffle around for insects. 3. Tidy up netting and litter which can trap hedgehogs due to their spines. Even rubber bands dropped by the postie can become embedded in their skin, causing a slow, painful death. 16

4. Put out food and water. You can supplement their diet with wet dog or cat food (preferably not fish based). No bread, milk or mealworms, which are all extremely bad for them. For those who are into simple DIY you can make a feeding station to stop other animals having a free supper - details on the BHPS website/YouTube 5. Stop using chemicals especially slug pellets. Hedgehogs are a gardener’s best friend as they eat slugs as well as many other beasties which would otherwise be devouring your prize flowers and vegetables 6. Check before mowing or strimming. Hedgehogs often sleep in long grass or hedges during daytime and won't run away if they hear a mower, resulting in horrific injuries or death. Use gloves to move a single hog to safety. If there's a family, call the BHPS for advice on 01584 890801, the SSPCA on 0300 999 999 or Google to find your local Hedgehog Rescue. 7. Be careful with bonfires or simply burning leaves. Piles of debris are irresistible to a hedgehog looking for somewhere to hibernate or nest – build it on the day of burning to avoid a tragic end, or if you have to build it before then check carefully with a pole or broom, not a spade or fork. They are usually in the centre. 8. Make a home for hedgehogs. A log pile is one of the best features for encouraging all kinds of wildlife, and easy to make. It will encourage insects and provide nesting opportunities all year around. Alternatively, you can make your own hedgehog house – download instructions from the BHPS website. 9. Keep an eye out for hedgehogs when driving at night, & let it get over the road safely if you see one. If you see it too late try to steer so it will pass under the middle of the car where it is least likely to be harmed. 17

10. Record hedgehog sightings, including dead ones, on The Big Hedgehog Map website. This is important in building up a picture of where they are most active & how we can encourage local populations. A hedgehog seen during the day is usually in need of help & you should contact one of the organisations above. If you’d like to do more, you can become a Hedgehog Champion by registering on the Hedgehog Street website, where you can find lots of resources to make your gardens, neighbourhood and Parish, hedgehog-friendly zones. Moira G Falkirk

Prayer Corner: Please remember members of the congregation, their families, and other friends in your prayers: Please remember in your prayers members and friends of the congregation who are ill or infirm at this time. A full list is available in the printed version of the magazine. Please help to keep this up to date by letting the minister or Catriona Blackwood know of any changes we should make to this section, thank you. Some members prefer not to be named on this list.

CONTACT DETAILS PILRIG St PAUL S CHURCH 1b Pilrig Street Edinburgh EH6 5AH Church Office 0131 553 1876 mail@pilrigstpauls.org.uk HALL LETS General enquiries to: psp.halluse@gmail.com

Scottish Charity no. SCO07277 https://onecfl.wordpress.com