PILRIG St PAUL’S CHURCH
APRIL 2016
PILRIG St PAUL’S WELCOMES YOU APRIL 2016
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.
If you want more information, or are unsure how to do this, please speak to Mark Wexelstein, Treasurer
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 APRIL ANNUAL STATED MEETING 3rd April after the Service COMMUNITY CINEMA THE GOOD DINOSAUR (PG) see page 5 THE GUILD April 12th Beetle Drive April 26th A.G.M. APRIL 14th 7.30pm JOINT SESSION and BOARD MEETING SUNDAY 24th APRIL 11am COMMUNION 2.30pm SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING AND REMEMBRANCE See back cover CONTACTS Music and Choir - Colin Gray 07901 556 217 or at the Service 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 contact 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 1
CHRIST IS RISEN! HE'S RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA! The Easter season provides us with a wonderful opportunity to think about our faith. According to the gospel accounts of the Easter story there are different types and different levels of faith. There is faith that is based on signs, and there is faith that needs no signs. There is faith that is weak and faith that is strong. There is also faith which is growing and faith which is faltering. Most of us want our faith to be a "once and forever" thing. We don't want to have to keep struggling and deciding what we believe. However, the bible reminds us that faith is not a decision that is made just once, but a decision that is made anew in every situation. We see from the gospel accounts that all of Jesus’ followers had to re-define their beliefs in the light of the resurrection. They did so in their own unique ways and all in their own time. For some it happened quicker than others, but for all of them it was a process of development that continued throughout their lives. The American preacher and theologian, Fred Craddock, writes, "For some, faith is as gentle as a child on grandmother's lap, but for others, it is continual wrestling with doubt." In reality, each of us must come to our own faith, in our own way and through our own experiences. That means there will be times when our faith feels strong and steady and times when it feels uncertain or lost. The important point being that faith doesn’t remain static, but responds and develops to our current situation in life - whatever that may be. Keeping our lives open to the challenges of life, the message of scripture, and the experiences of the world around us is the basis for a faith that will continue to grow and develop. This is the power of a living faith that brings us to a deeper understanding of the ministry of the Risen Christ who continually comes to challenge and change our faith, our lives, and our world. May you know the power and blessing of the Risen Christ in your lives this Easter and beyond. Shalom Mark 2
THE LUNCH CLUB The Lunch club was set up in St Paul’s Church, providing a friendly meeting place with inexpensive food. WHERE ARE WE NOW?
AT PILRIG ST PAUL’S
WE MEET on a Wednesday at 12 noon in the session room. WHO CAN JOIN? Anyone, member of the church or not. WHAT DO WE EAT? At present we bring our own, but with just a few more people we would be entitled to buy it in ready to eat under a council scheme. We have people on the waiting list who want to join as soon as they don’t have to bring their own food! What does it cost? About £3 a week when using ready to eat food. Are you interested? Do you want to know more? Contact Alec Allan, 554 3174, he’s waiting for your call! ANNUAL STATED MEETING The Annual Stated Meeting of the Congregation of Edinburgh: Pilrig St. Paul's, will be held at the close of the 11 am service on Sunday 3rd April 2016. At this Meeting the Audited Congregational Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31st December, 2015 will be submitted together with the Congregational Statistics and Elections to Membership of the Congregational Board made as appropriate. The Board look forward to welcoming all members of the congregation for this short, important meeting. Aileen Fraser Clerk to the Board 3
PASTORAL CARE TEAM Early in March we held our first team meeting of the year where we set out our plans for 2016. The agenda was full however we managed to work our way through and are happy with the priorities we have set ourselves for Pastoral activity over the course of this year. Our main focus is to ensure that anyone in need of support receives it through a visit, call, card or flowers. Each month we are always happy to hear from people who have received and appreciated this support. Knitting Mission 2016 After the success our knitted cardigan tea cosies the team have agreed a new initiative for this year. This time it is not being done with the aim of fundraising as the knitted or crocheted items will be gifted to people. If you would like to help us by getting involved in the knitting crochet or by donating wool please let any one of our team know. If you join the knitting team you will find out more information about our plans as it is a bit of a secret mission, however be assured that you will not have to sign the official secret act to be part of it! All will be revealed later this year. Business Cards Cathie Purdie asked us to consider arranging for small cards that could be handed out to visitors to give them our details. As a result we are now preparing a supply of small business cards carrying details of our Church address, website and facebook details that will be available in the Open Doorway. These will be used by the duty teams to hand out to visitors to our services on Sundays or given to visitors to the Open Doorway during the week. Supplies will be available in the Open Doorway. If you are planning on visiting other churches and would like to leave our details perhaps you could take one of these cards with 4
you and place in the offering plate at the church you are visiting. Please see any of our team if you would like a card or help yourself from the supply in the Open Doorway. Paddington Fiona Rankin has kindly knitted a ‘life size’ Paddington and is offering the opportunity to guess his destination. The cost is £1 a guess. Please see Fiona (and Paddington) after the service. Student Accommodation in our Community Christine Edington brought to our attention the number of students now living in our neighbourhood in the newly purpose built developments and at our meeting we agreed that we should engage with the people running these new developments. Our initial contact was favourable and we are hopeful that we will be able to extend pastoral support in the future and enhance our involvement in our local community. Big Lunch – Queens’s 90th Birthday Celebration You are invited to join us for our Big Lunch this year which is taking place on Sunday 15th May from 1pm-3pm in the upstairs hall. We will be celebrating our community and the Queen’s 90 th Birthday. Invitations will be in the pews each Sunday in April and we would ask that you put your name down on the sign up sheet so that we have an indication of numbers for our catering. Leith Community Cinema By the time you read this article our March screening of Bride and Prejudice will have taken place. This was a test of a different genre of film, adding food and drink in line with the theme of the film and also an evening screening. The next screening will be held on Thursday 7th April at 1 pm when we will be showing ‘The Good Dinosaur’ (PG rating) Tickets are £3 for adults and £2 for children. In April we are also holding a get together for the team who have been involved in the cinema to date. 5
For more info 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 Café please let me know, as we are keen to create a team to work with us on the on-going development of the cinema. Dance Class Our next Dance Classes is being held on Wednesday 6th April at 11am in the Session Room and will run until June on the first Wednesday of each month. If you would like to join the class please add your name to the list in the Open Door. The class will cost £3 each week you attend. 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. Linda Gill Pastoral Care Team Leader 669-7409 or helpinghands@pilrigstpauls.org.uk Pastoral Care Team Mark Foster - Minister Catriona Blackwood – Elder and Magazine Editor Christine Edington Ella Gilfillan Linda Gill – Elder and Pastoral Care Team Leader Cathy Purdie Fiona Rankin – Elder Jeanette Sime – Elder and Roll Keeper 6
Thank you Many Thanks for the lovely flowers I received from the Church, and thanks for the visit from Catriona. Isabel Pert Thank you for the lovely flowers I received from Jeanette Sime on the occasion of my birthday. Unfortunately it ended sadly as a long-life friend’s husband died later the same night in Fife. The following week I received another beautiful bunch of flowers. They were both very much appreciated at this sad time. Fiona Rankin. Thank you for all the cards, and the flowers, which I received when I was ill recently. I am on the mend now, and back to doing things. Thanks to Lily and Maureen for their visit. Ann Gowans 41ST GUIDE UNIT 90TH BIRTHDAY The Unit celebrated their 90th Birthday on 26th March. We joined with the Rainbows and Brownies for a Birthday party with games and cake. In April we are going away for the weekend to Canty Bay near North Berwick, where a weekend of games, crafts, fun and food will be in abundance. We will be joining in the morning service on Sunday 8th May. We look forward to seeing you there to share some more cake! Leaders of the 41st. Congratulations to the guides. I hope you have a great weekend! See you at the Service on the 8th. Ed 7
Providing Church Flowers in April 3rd Lily Gilhooley 17th Frances and George McPherson
10th Margaret Cameron 24th Flower Fund
Please contact Aileen Fraser about a date if you would like to contribute flowers and Catriona Blackwood if you would like to write a few lines about the significance of your chosen date.
Sunday, 24th April 2016 11:00am Communion Service This is the Lord’s Table. ANYONE who loves God and responds to Christ’s invitation to join together in this feast is welcome to join us in the celebration.
Prayer Corner June Welsh Jack McArthur Mark Wexelstein Jim and Jean Tait Isabel Hannay Helen Greig Matthew Green Frances Chambers Agnes MacAuley Betty Lauder and family Evelyn Turner Isabel Fyfe Margaret Gunn Isabel Pert Murdo and Joy MacLeod Charlie and Joyce Forman Mary Currie Norrie Frazer Gary, Margaret and David Fraser David and Lynn Cameron and family Please contact Roy Eprile if you have a name for this list. 8
About Heart and Soul 2016 'Heart and Soul' is a regular event to celebrate the life and work of the church alongside the annual gathering of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly.
Location, Venue and Travel The event this year, takes place in Princes Street Gardens in the heart of the capital city. Centrally located, a number of public transport options make travel easy.
Contact If you would like to contact us about 'Heart and Soul', then please email us: info@heartandsoul.org.uk.
The General Assembly The Assembly meets at the same time in May each year for a week, usually in the Assembly Hall on the Mound and comprises around 850 commissioners who are ministers, elders and members of the diaconate.
HEART AND SOUL PRINCES STREET GARDENS SUNDAY 22 MAY 9
CAN YOU VOLUNTEER TO HELP AT PILRIG St PAUL’S? There is plenty to do with the open doorway, foodbank, coffee on a Sunday, pastoral work etc. Do you have ideas for other projects led by the church? Whatever your skills, you could be of help and inspiration to fellow members.
If you are interested in helping with any of these, please contact the leader/convener who will be happy to tell you about what is entailed
Some of these voluntary posts involve being on our safeguarding register. If you are not already on it, the safeguarding co-ordinator, is happy to advise you about this and set up all the necessary details. The Magazine Thank you for all the items for the magazine this month. Please let me have articles for the May edition by 17th April. Catriona Blackwood
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SNAKES, SNAKES AND MORE SNAKES! REMEMBER ALL THOSE BOTTLE TOPS WE GAVE TO EVELYN TORRANCE? JUST LOOK AT THEM NOW!
Scottish Charity no. SCO07277 www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk www.leithchurchesforum.org.uk OUR WHEELCHAIR ENTRANCES ARE IN PILRIG STREET 12
Cover photo by Catriona Blackwood
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)
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