PARISH NEWS

Thomas Baldwin and Jackie Macadam highlight the response of local churches to the pandemic.

DURING the Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis, churches have often been at the vanguard of helping people in their communities, sometimes with innovative ideas, sometimes using their knowledge of their local areas to make sure help gets where it needs to be.

South Leith Church in Edinburgh is doing its best for the community – and the community is keeping its own spirits up too. The Rev Iain May said: “Leithers are a proud lot and have a great sense of identity with their town of Leith. Recently, as people are self-isolating and just trying to lift their own spirits and those around them, the Proclaimers song Sunshine on Leith has been heard more and more in the most unlikely of places. Recently I was walking down a local street, and someone had placed loudspeakers on the window ledge of a tenement building and as I walked by, on hearing this Leith anthem being broadcast in the street, my sense of wellbeing was lifted a bit higher.

“These are challenging times. Churches have suspended services; church halls have closed; numerous church and community activities have ceased. Community cafés are closed. Youth and uniformed groups suspended for the duration.

“Yet, there is so much still happening. Social media is being used to keep in contact with members of the church and the numerous church and community groups. Technology is being used to stream services, to ensure folks still have a connection, a sense of belonging, with their church and wider community.

“There will be difficult times ahead. There will no doubt for many, be a great deal of sorrow. Hearts will be broken. Yet, by being present and available, be it by telephone, via the web, we as the church, as the people of God, can show all in our community that the church is alive and there for them.”

The Mill Café at Balerno Parish Church, near Edinburgh, has done a trial run of a ‘soup kitchen’. The Café itself had to close, but the staff will now aim to offer a free homemade soup and scone, in disposable cups, to make a healthy meal available to vulnerable members of the community. For those self-isolating, healthy friends can collect and drop off a cup to those at home.

Athelstaneford Church in East Lothian, via the Village Hall Committee, are mobilising people to be aware of, supportive of and keep contact with the elderly and housebound. The Rev Tom Gordon says: “The church community – which is quite small and older too, will simply ‘piggyback’ on the hall committee and give it as much support as possible, rather than starting a different initiative and possibly duplicating what’s already in place.”

A minister in Angus found a novel way to serve her community when she volunteered to man the doors at her local pharmacy. The Rev Donna Hays of Fowlis and Liff linked with Lundie and Muirhead churches, took a turn standing outside preventing people from entering the building and keeping order in the queue of people waiting for their prescriptions she said: “Some were still trying to grasp the idea of social distancing, but on the whole it was good-natured, quiet and subdued. Folks were very patient with me trying to get through the questions on the clipboard.

“One person who thought he would become somewhat unruly was quickly dealt with by an old lady who told him to behave and stand in the queue like everyone else!

“It was wonderful seeing people wanting to comply and help out in whatever way they could.”

This is not the only way Donna’s churches are helping in the crisis.“We are also helping the local volunteers by supplying the lists we use for distributing our Christmas magazine (a 2100 print run to all homes in our linked parishes) which they used for a community leaflet with contact help for the vulnerable and elderly. Two of the churches are being used for storing food.”