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Home  >  Features  >  General Assembly 2024: Fringe Programme

General Assembly 2024

Fringe Programme


Daily throughout the Assembly

Martin Hall, New College
Exhibition Area
Display tables of resources will be available to browse, as well as the CrossReach Heart for Art Gallery, showcasing a selection of the Artists' masterpieces.

Seeds for Growth
Online and in the Martin Hall
Come and chat with the Seeds for Growth team any lunchtime at the General Assembly. Bring your questions along to the Martin Hall to learn more about Seeds for Growth, how we can resource you and partner together towards new growth. Alternatively, join our online meeting on Monday 20 May, 7pm to 8pm, by dropping us an email at: grants@churchofscotland.org.uk


Sunday May 19

Hymnary supplement launch
7pm, St Cuthbert’s Church


Monday May 20

Living Generously – stories of abundance from around the church
12.30pm-2pm, Augustine United Church
Living Generously is a fresh and uplifting publication from the Church of Scotland Stewardship Team, encouraging us to recognise and respond to God’s generosity in all areas of our lives. Come along to share stories and be inspired by some of the book’s contributors as they share how generosity is transforming congregations and communities across Scotland. Discover how this flexible resource can be used by individuals, groups, congregations and new worshipping communities. Lunch will be provided.

Digital Ministry Drop-In Clinic.
12.30-2pm, Senate Room
The Rev Ruth Kennedy, Digital Ministries Advisor and Minister with Sanctuary First, hosts a drop-in clinic with Neil MacLennan, Sanctus Media and Stu Forsyth, Digital Parish. No appointments needed as this is the place to drop-in over the break with your wonderings and ask any questions you have about digital ministry: what is it? How can my church get there? What equipment is needed? What is good digital content and how do we produce it? Free and open to all (no food, just help!).

Alpha Youth
12.30pm-2pm, Augustine United Studio Theatre

The brand new Alpha Youth Series creates a space for teenagers to have meaningful conversations about life, faith & purpose. Come join us to preview this completely updated, high quality and free resource, and how it can give youth the confidence to run Alpha and invite their friends to explore faith.

Priority Areas and Public Life and Social Justice Team
12.30pm -2pm Quaker Meeting House
Learn more about the Minimum Income Guarantee over lunch with a panel of experts including people with lived experience of poverty and campaigners. Hosted by the Priority Areas team and Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group.

Towards Ministry
12.30pm – 2pm, St Columba’s by the Castle
Learn more about the gateway to ministries.


Tuesday May 21

The Church in the World Today
12:30pm-2pm, St Columba’s by the Castle
Learn from some of the visiting Delegates from our partners in other countries, each telling a unique and different part of the story of the world-wide family of Jesus Christ. How do we play our part in standing alongside our sisters and brothers around the world and what can we learn from them for us as a church in contemporary Scotland today?

General Trustees
12.30pm-2pm Quaker Meeting House, 2nd Floor Meeting Room
The General Trustees invite Commissioners to join them for lunch and a presentation on their work.  Information on the different funding streams available to congregations will also be given from representatives of both Historic Environment Scotland and the National Churches Trust.

Cairn Learning Communities
12.30pm-2pm Augustine United Church
Find out how gathering a few church leaderships in a presbytery for 4 weekends over 2 years to grow a culture of discipleship is changing churches across Scotland, and how  to get involved in what Cairn and FAPLT are partnering to deliver - Cairn Learning Communities.

Church Service Society Annual Meeting and Supper
5.30pm Greyfriars Kirk
John L Bell will give his Presidential Address on ‘The Life in Liturgy’. He explores how worship shapes not only belief but discipleship, how far symbol and symbolic actions can aid or impede devotion, and what is the effect of hymn texts whose dominant images celebrate the birth and death of Jesus rather than his ministry. For the Supper, book by Monday May 13: dgalbraith@churchofscotland.org.uk (£27.50 pay on the day).

Church of Scotland Evangelical Network
5.30pm-7pm, Costa Coffee, 1 Hanover Street

COSEN@GA: an informal chance to meet and chat over coffee, networking and praying together through the Church of Scotland Evangelical Network. - cosen.org

The Guild Big Sing at the Assembly
7pm, General Assembly Hall

Join the Guild’s “Big Sing”; a great evening of worship, praise, fellowship and celebration! Tickets are available from the Guild office, contact guild@churchofscotland.org.uk


Wednesday May 22

Church of Scotland Military Chaplains’ Association Service of Remembrance
12pm, St Giles’ Cathedral
Annual Service of Remembrance - everyone very welcome. For further details, contact the Rev Stephen A Blakey CStJ OCM, Honorary Secretary: 0771 254 2518.

Stories and Songs of Disability 
12.30-2pm; Augustine United Church
The Disability Inclusion Working Group of the Church of Scotland offers an opportunity to hear and share disabled people’s experiences of church. Come and join to make music, visit the market place, talk with different charities who work with disabled people in the church and society, and have some time for food and fellowship.

Meet the Risktakers of the Persecuted Church
12.30pm-2pm, Quaker Meeting House, 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Every day, millions of Christians risk their lives to follow Jesus. In more than 70 countries, Open Doors supports them by supplying Bibles, providing emergency relief and helping persecuted believers stand strong for the long-term. In Scotland, Open Doors helps the church to pray, give and speak out for those who share our faith but not our freedom. This year, the Open Doors Fringe Event will focus on current trends in persecution and stories of the risktakers who follow Jesus in the most difficult places.

Lunch and a Wee Sing with the Iona Community
12:30pm-2pm, Augustine United Church
Join Iona Community members and staff to find out how we’re transforming lives to change the world. We’ll share lunch together as well as stories of peace and justice, work and worship. You’ll have the opportunity to discover the latest resources from the Wild Goose Resource Group and Wild Goose Publications. You’ll hear about our Common Concern Networks and our youth work. You’ll find out how to stay at our centres, and how to join the Community. And you’ll have a chance to warm up your vocal chords with a Wee World Church Sing.

Finding Our Voice
12.30pm-2pm, St Columba’s by the Castle
Neil Glover launches his new book ‘Finding Our Voice’ with lunch and a special panel including the author, Doug Gay, Sally Foster-Fulton and Jen Robertson.

Open Evening on the Vine Trust Barge
7pm, Vine Trust Barge, Prince of Wales Dock, EH6 7DX
Established in 1985, Vine Trust is an international development charity working with long-term partners in Tanzania and Peru, supporting their home building projects for orphaned children and strengthening local health provision. Come along and hear, first hand, about the work of the Vine Trust from some of our partners in Tanzania. Refreshments provided.


Thursday May 23

Spill the Beans
12.30pm-2pm, St Columba’s by the Castle.

Members of the Spill the Beans Resource Team will introduce the Scottish intergenerational worship and learning resource that has been producing contemporary and creative ideas for over a decade.

Place for Hope
12.30pm-2pm Quaker Meeting House Library
Our churches face change, encounter difference and can struggle to manage conflict. This impacts the health and wellbeing of many in our churches and their ministries.  Now in its second year, Living Peace is a joint initiative between the Church of Scotland and Place for Hope to support a culture of peace and reconciliation that builds on our work together since 2009. Come and meet some of our team who will share their experiences of peacebuilding and reconciliation, exploring what Place for Hope continues to offer the church and community through the Living Peace programme.

University of Aberdeen Divinity Alumni Lunch
12:30pm-2pm, Senate Room

Join fellow graduates of the University of Aberdeen for a lunch sponsored by Christ's College.

New College Alumni Lunch
12.30pm-2pm, New College Main Reception Area
All New College alumni are warmly invited to the annual alumni lunch. There is no cost in attending, however a retiring collection will be taken. 


General Assembly 2024: Full coverage

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