Parish News: Lockdown Special

Thursday April 23 2020

In addition to the large number of churches conducting online worship during the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown, and supporting local foodbanks, churches throughout Scotland are continuing to meet and serve their communities in a series of imaginative ways.

Here is a selection. We know we are only scratching the surface of everything that is going on, so please do tell us what your church is up to at this time. You can contact us on magazine@lifeandwork.org 

The churches in Lanark, South Lanarkshire – Greyfriars Parish Church and St Nicholas Parish Church – have helped set up Lanark Helps, a voluntary telephone support helpline for vulnerable people in the area. Volunteers for the scheme (among other things) deliver prescriptions, top up energy meters and shop for people who are vulnerable or isolating. The service is available for people in Lanark and surrounding villages, and can be called on 01555 437051 or visit www.lanarkhelps.org.uk 

Barclay Viewforth Church in Edinburgh introduced a helpline for the local community, picking up groceries and prescriptions. The main users of the service have been people in a nearby sheltered housing complex. The helpline number is 07902 965 522

New Laigh Kirk in Kilmarnock holds an online coffee catch-up every Tuesday morning at the church’s Facebook page.

The Bunillidh Church of Scotland, in the Parish of Kildonan and Loth, Helmsdale in Sutherland, is keeping in touch with its members through a letter, written by session clerk Ina Macpherson. Each week it includes a sermon from the Interim Moderator and information about the times of TV, radio and online services.
The church also managed to get the usual knitted chickens and chocolate eggs to the local primary school, even though the regular Easter service was cancelled. Ina added: “As a thank you to everyone, from the NHS, local shop, community transport - the list is endless – on Thursday nights at 8pm I ring the church bell for five minutes.”

Members of Pitlochry Church of Scotland, as well as people of all ages across their local community, have been busy producing drawstring laundry bags for local NHS Tayside staff to put their uniforms in. The project co-ordinator, Rachael Wood, got the idea for the bags from Facebook. “Pitlochry Church of Scotland knew that lots of our ladies like to sew and are very talented but are isolated at home with time on their hands,” she said. “We put out a call for help through our church Facebook page and volunteers started to come forward immediately.” Full story on the Church of Scotland website.

St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh city centre hosts 80 homeless guests every Sunday with a hot three-course ‘grab and go’ meal cooked in the church kitchen with charity outreach partner Steps To Hope.

RockSolid Dundee, a youth charity set up by Douglas and Mid Craigie Church, with the support of other city organisations, is distributing around 200 lunches per day to local families, as well as delivering food parcels to people who cannot leave their homes. Full story on the Evening Telegraph website.

Post Tags: coronavirus, parish news round-up

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