Parish News Round-up

Thursday July 30

Our regular round-up of news received from churches

Please send items of parish news to magazine@lifeandwork.org or Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN. Digital photographs should not be reduced. Please check the quality of your pictures: images which are blurry or too dark cannot be used. If there are children in any pictures please confirm that their parents or guardians have given permission for publication.

A Tree of Life Walkway invited hundreds of visitors into a city centre church to pause and reflect.

The pop-up installation at St Andrew’s and St George’s West in Edinburgh was created using ribbon pathways to lead visitors through the seasons, represented by scattered blossom, leaves and snowflakes.

Families, couples, singles and friends walked, paused and reflected, adding their own colours to a tree, washing their hands, tasting the fruits of the season, contemplating a picture, choosing a perfume for the sanctuary, planting a seed.

The Tree of Life Walkway transformed the sanctuary for 3 days, opening until 10pm, before the space was restored for Sunday’s services.

It exceeded our expectations” said St Andrew’s and St George’s West minister Rev Ian Gilmour. “Many people were very moved.”

The Tree of Life Walkway was created for the sanctuary space by ministry student Ishbel Smith and a small team of volunteers from the church, using props provided by the congregation.

On July 19 a number of senior elders of the Border Kirk Carlisle received Long Service Certificates.

Ken Irving and Alex McCutcheon have served for 47 years, whilst Alfred Brown, has served for 45 years (above). David Scott was unable to attend on the 19^th but received his 45 year certificate earlier (left).

Six churches in the Portobello area of Edinburgh collaborated for the first time in a successful summer holiday club.

From July 20-24, 76 children and 40 volunteers filled the halls at the Portobello and Joppa Parish Church (PJPC) and the church and garden’s of St Mark’s Scottish Episcopal Church. The other churches involved were St Mary Magdalene’s and St John the Evangelist Catholic Churches, Central’s Portobello Missional Community and Portobello Baptist Church.

During the week, the children participated in worship, games, arts and crafts, Bible Study, gardening, drama and music with a few extra surprises along the way. The club followed a Scripture Union curriculum called Waste Watchers, on the theme of transformation. A space in St Mark’s grounds was transformed into a beautiful garden that the children can visit whenever they want to.

Michelle Brown, Family Worker at PJPC, said: “It was a fantastic week and a great joy to see this holiday club take shape in the planning and then take place. We are already thinking ahead to holiday club 2016 as the children and volunteers have all had such a wonderful time and we are looking forward to doing this again next year.”

Right" Laurens de Jager, PJPC associate minister, preaching during the holiday club.

As part of the Berwick-Upon-Tweed Literary Festival, Professor Jane Dawson of Edinburgh University will be giving a talk on John Knox on Friday October 16, 4pm in the town's Guild Hall. Tickets are £5. Knox spent two years in Berwick, so the talk will have a fascinating local resonance. Further information can be found at www.berwickliteraryfestival.com

Comments

There are currently no comments on this post

Add a reply

All fields are required. Email address will not be published.