Housecall
Articles taken from St James’ Monthly Magazine
St
James’ Ella Lynch attended this year’s General Assembly. Here she
shares with us her take on the proceedings
Reading: Matthew 14: 23-31
Attending the
General Assembly was wonderful experience for me - out of 900 people I only
recognised three members of Edinburgh Presbytery - but it felt like a large
family gathering because everyone spoke – no-one was a stranger as it
should be in church.
The opening
ceremony was dignified and memorable as the procession of past moderators,
principal clerks and lawyers gowned and/or wigged made their way into the hall
and the new Moderator, John Christie, was installed. The Lord High Commissioner, Lord
Wilson of Tullyord and his Lady then arrived preceded by the Mace and the
Purse-bearer and took their place on the balcony. There was a sense of history in
this beautiful old building where commissioners have met annually for centuries
to discuss the business of the Kirk.
The stage is apron style with a balustrade – referred to as the
playpen – and surrounded on three sides by comfortable seating on tiered
levels thanks to upgrading when the Scottish Parliament met there before their
new building was ready. There are
three large screens suspended from the ceiling and an excellent microphone
system at convenient points.
The hymn singing,
often unaccompanied was stirring and uplifting and the prayers and address each
day were appropriate and meaningful. The organisation was impeccable and ran
like clockwork. The Moderator
skilfully ensured the proceedings went smoothly and using humour did not allow
debates to get out of hand or stray off the topic. . New Commissioners were encouraged
to ask questions or move amendments
Everyone is issued
in advance with an Order of Proceedings book and the Blue Book - a volume of
reports from Councils and Committees to the Assembly - and it was important to have read over
the relevant section beforehand as business moved at a fast pace. Conveners addressed the Assembly on major
points and recommendations in the report before questions and amendments prior
to voting.
Major changes are
proposed in how the Church operates both financially and in how to mission to a
society which is no longer mainly Christian. We have to realise there are other
ways of doing things - a new mindset is required and commitment and special
training necessary. Some of the
proposals are:
a) Presbyteries
have to begin an immediate review of how they operate with the acceptance that
one size does not fit all.
They have until 2014 to do this. Glasgow already have a pilot scheme
running.
b) With a deficit
of £5.7M it is clear we have more ministers than we can afford so there
will have to be a reduction in posts. As the Report says we need to
prune in order to grow. The
proposal is that as ministers retire they will not be replaced.
c) Presbyteries must be able to make changes
in manned charges and the Ministries Council was instructed to bring forward
detailed plans to the 2011 Assembly which would reverse the present presumption
that unrestricted tenure is the norm.
d) We need pioneer ministry in areas with
no traditional concepts of church.
We have a responsibility for those who care little for God - our core
business. At the moment we have too
many buildings in the wrong place – a strategic plan has been called for
to report to the General Assembly in 2012.
e) The importance
of being a child friendly church to welcome and engage with young people was
stressed. The Youth Assembly
takes place at Stirling University 3-6
September – The theme “To Boldly Go’ will be exploring
the field of mission. Congregations were urged to
encourage their youth to attend.
f) St. Andrews
Press is running at a loss of £160,000 for the current year –
decided to retain the service for producing material required but on a tight
budget with a reduced staffing level.
g) The Guild report
was positive – at a time of cutbacks and recession, of financial
difficulties for families and individuals Guild members continue to increase
support for those affected by poverty and those living on the margins of
society. One London Church
ran Souper Sunday so successfully they now intend running a Sundae Sunday.
h) 40 years ago
women elders were welcomed in the Church and a year later women were welcomed
as ministers - despite this some churches neither have women elders nor women
ministers. Presbyteries will
be instructed to submit a list of male only Kirk Sessions for publication in
the Council Report.
i) Stewardship -
increased giving is necessary and encouraged - detailed proposals are being
called for next year’s Assembly.
This is only a brief
look at some of the radical changes afoot - the remits booklet will detail the
instructions and recommendations.
Mission is at the heart of the proposals and it appears to me that much
of this links in with “Unless the Lord builds the House” which asks
the local church to consider being reshaped for its purpose, the same demand
being placed on the agency through which they work together - the Presbytery of
Edinburgh.
Going back to the
reading at the start the Moderator referred several times to Peter being
prepared to risk himself by leaving the safety of the boat and linked that to
congregations and ministers being the people on the boat having to get out of
the boat and face the unknown.
The highlights of
the Assembly for me were:
The sense of being the family of the church,
The dignity of the proceedings
The frequent restatement of our vision - faith, hope
and love
The fact that a mere elder of the Kirk can be a
commissioner with a vote
The sense of humour which lightened the proceedings
The singing
The scale of the whole organisation
The realisation of just how much work goes on behind
the scenes
The moving Sunday afternoon service celebrating the 450th anniversary of the
Scottish Reformation and Hyndland School particularly their version of the Lord
is my Shepherd arr. Howard Goodall (the Vicar of Dibley tune)
The clapping out ceremony at the finish
The Saturday night play in the Story Telling Centre
“An Island between Heaven and Earth” – a tribute to the
Rev.George McLeod
I feel privileged
to have had this experience.
Going on Holiday ?
It doesn’t
matter if you are travelling in the UK or abroad, if on your travels you attend
a church service or visit a Church, please can you bring back any magazines,
order of service sheets or leaflets that the church has to offer.This is for
two reasons – one is to show the Junior Church what other Churches at
home and abroad are like (pictures of buildings, their history etc) and the
other is to allow the Communication Team to get ideas or inspiration from what
other churches are doing.
Fairtrade
There is widespread
agreement that TRADE is the major route out of poverty for many poor developing
countries. But not just any kind of trade. It has to be FAIR. The ruthless
pursuit of huge profits by large multi-national companies, some more powerful
than governments, has brought with it environmental desruction, loss of homes
and livelihoods, disease, displacement of whole peoples and other human rights
violations and connflicts.
Tax avoidance by
some major companies means loss of tax reveue of about $160 billion annually by
developing countries – more than one and a half times the UN Aid budget.There
is an urgent need to hold all such companies to account – but how ?
Most of the main
church demoninations in the UK are major shareholders. Shareholders, as company
owners, give their companies their mandate to operate. What companies do,
therefore, they do in our name. Investment involves responsibility. It was a
growing awareness of this that lies behind the joint action of the churches to
set up the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.
Its aims are to ;
Support faith communities and responsible investors
in engaging with companies on the basis of Christian and ethical values.
Help church members understand how funds are
invested and can be used as a basis for encouraging more responsible business
practice.
Help church members understand what they themselves
can do towards this end.
Portobello Council
of Churches has agreed to support this vital work by becoming an Associate
Corporate member of the ECCR with rights to participate in policy-making and
campaigning. This article aims to provide basic information and more will
follow on progress during the year ahead.
Great Effort
Our congratulations to Ian McMillan who ran the Edinburgh
Marathon for charity on behalf of Bobath Scotland, a therapy group that his daughter
Greta attends.Ian, who has joined Portobello Running Club, told us “I
managed a finishing time of 3 hours 20 minutes and 13 seconds. I was positioned 434th out of a field of
9459 runners, which brought me into the top 5%.”“I was
exceptionally pleased with this time.
Although the weather was fantastic for gardening or being on the beach,
it was very difficult for running.
It was a great event though, and the crowd, particularly through
Portobello, were fantastic.”Ian added – “I also ran for a charity
called Bobath Scotland, who help children with cerebral palsy. Greta attends their physiotherapy
sessions at their centre and as well as really enjoying them, has really
benefited”Ian is hoping to raise £1,000 through his running
efforts, if you’d like to help then details can be found at www.justgiving.com/greta-ian
Christian Aid Week
The Christian Aid door to door house collection for St
James' this year raised a total of £1256.22 – a terrific effort.
This was £6 up on last year, and of the money collected, £294.54
was gift aided. Thank you to all who delivered and collected, all your efforts
are very much appreciated.
Anticipation. Excitement. Enthusiasm. Change.
Four words which may well have described the atmosphere
John Knox brought on his return to Scotland from Geneva. A powerful
communicator, his preaching helped to change Scottish Christianity forever.
Indeed many would argue that the Reformation, as it was to be called, had a
profound influence on all strands of Scottish society. It is worth remembering,
in this 450th year since the Reformation, that it was not a once and for all
event. A reformed church is a church reformed, always being reformed - a
persistent reminder that the Church of Scotland is dynamic, not static, its
character underpinned by Word and Sacrament and energised by the Holy Spirit.
The Church of 2010 is not the Church of 1560. Over the years many traditions
have been established and while good ones remain others are, quite rightly, set
aside and replaced with new ways of being the Church of Scotland in the
increasingly complex world of the 21st century. The Annual Review reflects this evolving
process. It describes vividly the way in which the Church seeks to be the Body
of Christ, its rich diversity reflected in the stories told: from Paul's
shipwreck on Malta to 1500 years of worship in Luss; from John Calvin to
Edinburgh 2010; from Society, Religion and Technology to the Forget-Me-Not
project. The Review allows its readers to take some pride in the achievements
of congregations all over Scotland and beyond. It also allows readers the
opportunity to reflect on a changing church in a changing society. Copies of
this will shortly be available in St James’.
St James’ Gardening Group
Our gardens continue to be well tended and are a welcome
sight to all who venture to St James’. The group are always keen to
recruit new volunteers. If you have a couple of hours to spare on a Monday from
10am – 12 Noon you will be warmly welcomed at the Church gardens. You
don’t have to be an expert; the work is light, the company is good, and
the tea and coffee are free
Christian Aid Booksale
This annual event takes place in May at St Andrews and St
George’s Church in George Street. Donations are being sought for Books -
Pictures - Printed Ephemera -Antiques & collectables - Sheet music -
Records, CDs, tapes -Stamps and Postcards -Toys games and jigsaws.The sale
itself starts on Saturday 8th May(10am – 4pm), closed Sunday 9th, re-opens
10th-12th May (10am - 3.30pm), late night opening on Thursday 13th May (10am
– 7pm) and finishes on Friday 14th May (10am – 3.30pm) At its close
last year's sale had raised the fantastic sum of £111,386. That amount
rose to over £113,600 in the weeks following the sale and the cheque was
dedicated and handed over to Christian Aid at the 11am service on Sunday 14
June 2009.
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Easter at St James’
What a busy time Easter was at St James’. Each night
there were services for Holy Week and the Church was open all day on Good
Friday. Both services on Easter Sunday were very well attended. Thanks to all
who provided the Breakfast after the early service, there was a great feeling
of fellowship as we shared a meal together on a very special day. Thanks to all
who helped deliver our Easter Greetings around the Parish.
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Changing Church
‘We need to be a befriending church, not just a
friendly church’.
Back to Church
Sunday is an opportunity for worshippers to invite a friend to come with them
to church on a particular Sunday. This year Back to Church Sunday falls on the
26th September and as in previous years material is available to help
congregations plan for and invite people to join them on that day. Earlier this
month, Michael Harvey, Back to Church Sunday developer, spent two days in
Scotland introducing material for 2010 and reflecting on Back to Church Sunday
2009, the first year Back to Church Sunday had been widely marked throughout
the country. Last year 383
congregations (including ours) from denominations across Scotland participated
in Back to Church Sunday and evaluation forms revealed that 5952 people
accepted an invitation to come back to church (was over 82,000 across the UK)Of
those 12% or 714 people, are now regular weekly attenders in
congregations. Back to Church hopes
to build on these successes in future years. ACTS Mission Network is continuing
to work in partnership with Back to Church Sunday to support congregations who
wish to participate in Back to Church Sunday.
At St James’, the Kirk Session have already discussed
Back to Church Sunday and have agreed that we will be participating again this
year. However while the Minister and Kirk Session will lead the initiative at
St James’, it requires all of us to take part by inviting a friend,
neighbour or relative to St James’ on Sunday 26th September.Please start
thinking about who you may wish to invite to Church that day. Back to Church
Sunday is now the largest single local-church invitational initiative in the
world. It is based on the simple step - and that we should invite someone we
already know to something we love; invite our friend to our church.
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Football
Night
The 3rd Annual Football night once again brought in a good
crowd, and they were well entertained by our guests as Allan Preston, Jimmy
Sandison and James Bee battled it out against Dougie McDonald, Steve Cowan and
Hearts Assistant Manager, Billy Brown. The latter were successful in the
Question of Sport contest and all guests then took part in a question and
answer session that could have continued long into the night.Thanks to all who
were involved behind the scenes in making this event successful. Over
£430 was in the end raised for Church Funds.
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Loop System
The main Church hall now has a new induction loop system. An
induction loop allows users with a telecoil equipped hearing device (switched
to the T or MT position) or anyone wearing an Induction Loop Receiver to listen
inductively to sound transmitted through a magnetic field without the
interference of background noise.
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Lent 2010
A big thanks from the All Age Learning Group to all who
attended one or more of the Lent Study Groups.The sessions were led by
different visiting speakers and proved to be very popular as the
‘Stations of the Cross’ were examined over the four meetings.