MAY 2016
Pilrig St. Paul’s Church 1
PILRIG St PAUL’S WELCOMES YOU MAY 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 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 crèche 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 MAY Sunday 8th May We welcome members of the 41st Guide Unit. They have just celebrated their 90th birthday The Guild Informal summer meeting: 10th May at 2pm Christian Aid Week 15-21 May There will be envelopes available for donations Sunday 22 May 2pm-6pm Heart and Soul 2016 Princes Street Gardens See back cover CONTACTS Music and Choir - Colin Gray 07901 556 217 or at the Service Alternate Tuesdays - The Guild 2.00pm (Monthly in the summer) (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) 3
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RENT OUR PREMISES, PLEASE CONTACT psp.halluse@gmail.com
“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” - Matthew 7; 7 The Minister’s Cat – A Short Story The Minister decided to get himself a cat and soon afterwards a two-month old kitten took up residence in the manse. However, during one of its first visits to the back garden it climbed up a tree and became too afraid to climb back down again. The Minster tried coaxing it down with food, warm milk, etc. but to no avail. The kitten would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb up and rescue the cat and the church step ladders were just too short, but after some thought on the matter, the Minister had a bright idea. He decided that if he tied a rope as far up the tree as he could reach from the ladders and attach the other end to his car, he could then drive away slowly so that the tree bent down to a point where he could reach up and rescue the kitten. So that's what he did. He tied one end of the rope as far up the tree as possible and the other end to the front bumper of his car. Then very slowly he reversed away from the tree, all the time keeping a close eye on the kitten. He figured if he went just a little bit further, then the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But at that moment, the rope broke, the tree went "boing!" and the kitten instantly sailed off through the air and out of sight. The Minister felt terrible. For the next few days he walked around the local neighbourhood asking people if they'd seen a 4
little kitten. But no one had. So finally he prayed, "Lord, I commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his normal business. A few weeks later he was at the supermarket and bumped into one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping trolley and was amazed to see several tins of cat food. He was surprised because he knew that this particular woman had an aversion to animals, so he asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you don’t like animals?" "You won't believe this Minister" she replied, “A miracle has happened!” She then told him how her daughter had been nagging her for weeks to get a cat as a family pet, but she kept refusing. It had all come to a head a few weeks before when her daughter had begged her again for the umpteenth time for a cat – at which point she had replied "Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it." “And then the most amazing thing happened,” said the woman. “I watched my daughter go out in the back garden, get down on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the sky, with its’ paws outspread, and landed right in front of her." Never underestimate the power of prayer and God’s unique sense of humour. Shalom Mark
The next volunteers’ evening is Thursday 2 June at 7pm in South Leith Parish Church Halls at 7pm. (not 7.30pm) The summer food collection dates for Tesco Leith are Fri and Sat 1 and 2 July and possibly Thurs 30 June. If you can help with this, please inform Roy Eprile 5
Providing Church Flowers in May 1st Ella and Ronnie Gilfillan 15th Margaret and David Fraser 29th John Brown
8 th 41st Guides 22nd Eric Fisher
Please contact Aileen Fraser about a date if you would like to contribute flowers and Catriona Blackwood if you have a short article about the significance of your chosen date. PLEASE SEE PAGE 14 FOR THE MINUTES OF THE STATED ANNUAL MEETING Pastoral Care Team Our year is progressing well so far with lots of activity and energy across our team. This article will give you a flavour of what we are up to in the next few months. We are always happy to welcome new people to our team so please do ask if you are interested in getting more involved with Pastoral Care whether you want to commit to becoming a team member or just helping out with specific activities as they come along.
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Knitting Mission 2016 Thank you to everyone who has joined our Knitting Team and or donated wool. We now have 16 people involved including some of the residents from Jamieson Place Sheltered Housing development. We are holding our launch event on Thursday 20th April when we have a group ‘cast-on’ planned to set us off for this year’s project. You will hear more about what we have been up to later in the year. Business Cards Catriona has kindly made a supply of business cards that are now located in the Open Doorway and from anyone in the Pastoral Care Team. The cards will be handed out to visitors to give them our Church address, website and facebook so they can keep in touch with us once they return home. We would ask that all Duty Team leaders make sure that their teams are aware of the new cards. If you are planning on visiting other churches and would like to leave our details please feel free to take one of these cards with 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 By the time you read this article we will have announced where Paddington was heading on his holiday. Thank you to Fiona Rankin for 7
knitting and running the completion. We will update next month on the amount raised from the sale of tickets. Big Lunch – Queens’s 90th Birthday Celebration You are invited to join us for our Big Lunch this year that 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. Please put your name down on the sign up sheet so that we have an indication of numbers for our catering. On the same day Leith Community Cinema will be screening the recently released film Dad’s Army at 3pm. If you would like see the film please also mark your name down on the sign up sheet. Tickets are by donation for this with the suggested amount of £3.
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Leith Community Cinema Update In April we screened The Good Dinosaur, a Pixar animated film that was enjoyed by our audience of over 70 people. The children enjoyed the reading corner held by Sandra Wright who is Leith librarian, the craft table run by Evelyn Torrence and voted for their choice of film for our summer screening. Our community café run by Catriona and Stephanie offered the adults refreshments and home baking. Thanks to Tesco Community Champion Kirtsy Hannigan for helping out and the donation of fruit for the children. Apart from the screening of Dad’s Army on the 15 th May our screening programme plans are well under way with Star Wars The Force Awakens and once we have the votes counted from our planned mailshot, we will be announcing our summer screening films and dates. 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 4th May at 11am in the Session Room and will also run on the 1st of June. If you would like to join the class please add your name to the list in the Open Door. There is no charge for the class. 9
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. Cathie Purdie We are delighted that Cathie Purdie has taken on the roll of contact for those with Special Needs for our congregation; we are sure Cathie will do a great job and that the new role will fit well with Cathie’s involvement in the Pastoral Care team going forward. Pastoral Care Team Mark Foster - Minister Catriona Blackwood – Elder, Safegaurding Co-ordinator and Magazine Editor Christine Edington Ella Gilfillan Linda Gill – Elder and Pastoral Care Team Leader 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 10
LEITH FESTIVAL GALA DAY SATURDAY 11 th JUNE 2016 We will be helping organise the tea tent again this year. If you can help, or bake, or better still, do both, Aileen Fraser will be delighted to hear from you! Please see her after church or phone 07936 716 765. Local Church Review The most recent method of Church Governance is the Local Church Review where a small team from Presbytery comes to the church to hear our story about how we endeavour to be the church in this place. Part of this process is that the congregation is invited to provide self-assessment for a series of information packs on Facts and Figures, Our Church Today and our Action Plan for the future. A team from the Kirk Session has been working on the first two packs providing factual information about the congregation and a narrative summary of what happens here. Thanks are due to the team members for all their hard work to this point There will be a morning conference of Elders and Congregational Board members on Saturday 7 May to discuss the Local Church Review, revise the information packs and help formulate our action plan for the years ahead. (Electronic and paper copies are available from me for those who haven’t received one yet) These documents will form part of the submission to Presbytery about our congregation so it is very important they accurately reflect the work of the congregation and acknowledge the areas where we could improve. John Innes Session Clerk
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Prayer Corner June Welsh Jack McArthur Mark Wexelstein Jim and Jean Tait Isabel Hannay Helen Greig Matthew Green Frances Chambers Norrie Frazer Betty Lauder and family The Davis family Isabel Fyfe Margaret Gunn Isabel Pert Murdo and Joy MacLeod Charlie and Joyce Forman Mary Currie Gary, Margaret and David Fraser David and Lynn Cameron and family THANK YOU Thank you for the Easter Card and lovely flowers received after the service Alex and Nancy Fleming Thank you very much for the flowers received on Sunday. They were beautiful and much appreciated. Jean Ramage John Brown wishes to say thank you for the lovely Church flowers, also to Mark Wexelstein and Katie for their visit. A big thank you for all the good wishes and prayers for Gary during his recent illness. The flowers were also much appreciated. He is now well on the road to recovery. Margaret and David Fraser. Thank you for the beautiful daffodils I received in church on Easter Sunday. The flowers are lovely and bright. Thank you to Mark also for a moving and uplifting service. Sadie Duffy 12
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PILRIG St PAUL’S CHURCH MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL STATED MEETING HELD IN THE SANCTUARY FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP ON 3 rd APRIL 2016 Constitution of the meeting: Rev Mark Foster opened the meeting. Minutes from last year Taken as read Approved by Catriona Blackwood, seconded By Eric Fisher Treasurers Report Mark Wexelstein presented slides showing the income and expenditure for 2015 and compared this over the last 5 years. Total income was £79,212, a decrease of £5,136 from 2014. Total Expenditure was £90,642, a decrease of £4,033 from 2014. The deficit of £11,430 was less than the budgeted deficit. We have run at a deficit for at least the last 8 years and if this continues at the level it is we will have no funds left in around 5 years. Offerings were £28,496, an increase of £465 on 2014. This was encouraging and this has continued in the first quarter of 2016. The tax reclaimed was £3,521. The claims hadn’t been made as often during 2015 so the amount is lower than previous years. However even when you add on the amount claimed up to the end of December 2015 this has decreased despite the increase in offerings. Mark asked anyone that was paying tax but not currently part of the Gift Aid scheme to speak to him so this could be setup. Mark thanked Maria for her work on the completing the weekly banking and updating the information for the tax claims. Due to this help the plan is to claim the tax each quarter in 2016. 14
Our income from hall lets was again our largest source of income and was £36,173 compared to £39,253 in 2014. The drop was due to the fact the AHSTF didn’t use us a Fringe Venue in 2015 and that reduced our income by around £4,000. If you take that in to account the income from other hires had increased thanks to us having a full time hall lets manager. Fundraising was £2,206 down by £720. The decrease was due to the fact we only held the Pilrig Parlour for three Saturdays and not three weeks in 2015. Mark advised he hoped to do this again in 2016 under the Community Café name. He thanked all the people who had helped with fundraising. Ministry and Mission was £27,795, £608 higher than 2014. As this is based on income this should be lower going forward. Fabric expenditure was £4,565 a decrease of £3,012. There is work required in the Manse this year so it is expected to be higher in 2016. Energy costs were £7,718 this is £124 less than 2014. We are still members of the Church of Scotland scheme and this allows us to get the best rates available. Insurance was £9,573 an increase of £304. Telephone, Stationery & Printing was £2,860 a decrease of £127. Salaries were £21,581 an increase of £2,859. The increase is due to tax being paid in 2015 for 2015 for 2014 and an increase in salary for Maria. Mark Foster thanked Mark for his work and Maria for her help. Congregational Statistics Jeanette Sime reported: Number on Congregational Roll as at 31.12.2014 was 228 Added by Profession of Faith 0 Certificate of Transfer 5 Restoration 1 15
Removed by Profession of Faith 0 Certificate of Transfer 0 Death 6 Number on Congregational Roll as at 31.12.2015 was 228 Supplementary Roll 9 Adherents 4 Maria thanked Jeanette for her work. Election to Membership of the Congregational Board Due to come off the Congregational Board are: Ella Gilfillan Michael Head Moira Fergie Ella Gilfillan and Michael Head have intimated they do not want to stand for re-election. Maria thanked them for their service over the last 6 years. Moira Fergie has agreed to stay on the board. As no one else is wishing to come on the board we require power to co-opt members during the year. All agreed. Minister’s Report Mark thanked all the office bearers for the work they do and reminded us that this is completed by volunteers. Currently in Local Church Review and the report shows we do a lot of work in the community. We are not as good on discipleship and evangelism and need to look at this. 16
We also need to look at our finances and are due for a Stewardship campaign. This is a time to assess what we all give. Ministry and Mission should be at ÂŁ46,000 to be covering all our costs for the wider church. We are not at this level. Path of Renewal has started. A lot of training for Mark. He will work with a small group on this with some from the fringes and the community to be on this. Mark thanked everyone for their support and prayers. The meeting closed at 12.45pm
The Magazine Thanks to everyone who has helped to make this a bumper magazine. The next one will be the last before the summer break. Please let me have articles for it by 22nd May. Catriona Blackwood
15 - 21 May 2016 17
MINISTER Rev Mark Foster (332 5736) MFoster@churchofscotland.org.uk SESSION CLERK John Innes - 33 Monktonhall Place, Musselburgh (07563 248722) pilrig@btinternet.com
Scottish Charity no. SCO07277 www.pilrigstpauls.org.uk www.leithchurchesforum.org.uk OUR WHEELCHAIR ENTRANCES ARE IN PILRIG STREE 18
Cover design by John Innes
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 19
'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. The event this year takes place in Princes Street Gardens in the heart of the capital city. www.heart and soul.org.uk
Heart and Soul 2016 Princes Street Gardens Sunday 22 May 2pm-6pm 20