Life & Work Magazine
Life & Work Magazine


16 mins

PARISH NEWS

SCHOOLBOY WALKS FOR CHRISTIAN AID

In May each year children from Dumbarton: Riverside Parish Church Sunday School usually have a sponsored walk for Christian Aid.

It could not happen this year because of the Covid-19 crisis, but Andrew Makeham, decided to take matters into his own hands.

Using his one-hour slot for exercise, he set himself a target of walking two miles every day during Christian Aid Week, with the hope of raising £100. He opened (with his parents’ support) an online giving page, and each day uploaded a report of how he was doing, where his walk had taken him, and a photo.

In the end he walked over 20 miles during the course of the week, in sun and rain, along the shore and up the hills. Advertised on the Church’s Facebook account (among other places) he raised £900 including Gift Aid.

BELLSHILL ORGANIST REACHES NEW AUDIENCE

The organist and webmaster at Bellshill Central Parish Church has combined his duties every week to entertain hundreds of viewers through live broadcasts.

Hundreds of viewers have joined Alan Mathew in weekly online broadcasts during his regular safety check on the organ.

Members of the congregation and friends from as far away as the Channel Islands have taken part by choosing favourite music for the weekly broadcasts. In recent weeks Alan has also given insights into the workings of the organ, which dates from 1930.

Alan explained: “As I need to check the organ each week to comply with insurance, and as part of that letting the blower run and check each rank of pipes is working, I thought instead of just playing random pieces of music I could take requests. Little did I know this would evolve into a 40 minute episode once edited together.

“It’s great to let people feel like they are in their regular pew, hearing the mighty, majestic and inspiring sounds from the organ. It’s been really enjoyable to sit in the organ pit and give an insight as to what my hands and feet get up to.

“Once things return to normal I will certainly continue the videos perhaps on a monthly basis, but until then they will be premiered each Sunday and Wednesday at 8pm via the church’s YouTube channel and added to our websites pages.

“This is a part of our music ministry that will certainly continue post Covid-19.”

CENTENARIAN CHORISTER

The longest serving member of the choir of Hamilton Old Parish Church has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Peter Condie, who was baptised in the Lanarkshire church, reached the milestone in May.

He joined the choir in 1932 and still regularly takes his place in the tenor section– meaning he has served with the choir over an 88-year period (excluding war service in the RAF from 1939).

The great-great grandfather has been an elder since 1973 and although now inactive has now retired from the office.

He is pictured at the Church in his choir robes.

CARING FOR THE NEEDY IN BERMUDA

Volunteers at Christ Church Warwick, the Church of Scotland’s presence in Bermuda, have spent the past few weeks doing laundry, cooking and delivering food to the needy on the island. More than 160 meals are prepared each day, and the church is part of an island-wide feeding programme begun in April with private sector funding.

The church has also kept up with its laundry services for vulnerable people, with loads taken to and from a nearby shelter every other day.

However David Thompson, the Christ Church elder who co-ordinates the programme, has expressed concern about what happens when the funding for the programme runs out at the end of this month.

ONLINE SERVICE HONOURS ST MARGARET

Every June hundreds of people flock to Dunfermline to take part in a pilgrimage honouring the life of St Margaret, who lived in the Fife town throughout her reign in the 11th century and was known for her piety and charity.

Last year a special ecumenical service opened the day at Dunfermline Abbey, the home of an outdoor shrine to St Margaret, who lived on the site.

The Coronavirus Covid-19 had resulted in the cancellation of this year’s pilgrim visit and procession, but thanks to technology, a special ecumenical service took place online, bringing together congregations from the Church of Scotland, local Roman Catholic and Episcopalian churches.

Minister at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, the Rev MaryAnn Rennie said: “Our congregations have formed new bonds through this annual celebration of the life of St Margaret and we felt it would be good to bring people together again online, even if we could not be physically present together.” A special pre-recorded service, including contributions from St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church, Holy Trinity Church and the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, was broadcast online on YouTube and Facebook Live on June 7.

The service included prayers and readings read by members of all three congregations and a song about Margaret written by Wayne Pearce, minister of Edzell Lethnot Glenesk linked with Fern Careston Menmuir.

DIGITAL YOUTH

The youth work arm of Aberfeldy Parish Church, the Breathe Project, has responded to the Coronavirus Covid-19 with a programme of digital opportunities for children and young people in the Highland Perthshire area.

Overseen by the church’s youth work manager, Franny McGrath, volunteers and sessional workers, the programme has ensured young people are are ‘still connected’ through Netflix parties, daily fitness classes, teen drop ins, various challenges and a weekly session watching and discussing The Chosen, a TV drama based on the life of Jesus.

More recently the team has launched a families and young peoples app, with support from Aberfeldy Community Council and the TSI Wellbeing Fund. The app that allows secure access and monitored communication between families, young people and trusted youth workers, and has various strands which including Btv (Breathe TV), where there are tutorials on craft and baking.

The church was also involved in the Aberfeldy Churches Together response to the needs of families facing hardship during the lockdown. The Breadalbane Community Larder is serving 40 food packages a week.

CARDS AND HEARTS

The minister of St Margaret’s Church, Glenrothes, the Rev Eileen Miller, recently delivered 175 cards to the residents of four care homes in the parish to let them know that they are missed.

Before the lockdown, members of the Church enjoyed visiting regularly to lead short worship services and singalongs for the residents.

There are two projects currently taking place which are keeping the knitters and sewers in the church busy.

Pairs of hearts are being knitted for the residents and families of Woodside Court Care Home who are separated by the lockdown. The idea is that one heart is given to a resident in the Care Home and the matching one to a family member as a symbol of their connectedness even during separation.

The other project is making laundry bags for nurses and carers to carry their uniform to/from work.

The craft team includes Moira McEwan, Liz Rollo, Barbara Robertson and Helen Morrow.

The photo shows 40 laundry bags being delivered by the Rev Eileen Miller to Nicola Proctor, Manager of Woodside Court Care Home.

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THANKS FROM CHRISTIAN AID

Christian Aid has thanked the Church of Scotland for its contribution to this year’s fundraising week in May, which it has described as ‘a week like no other’.

The Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic lockdown resulted in the cancellation of much of the regular Christian Aid Week activities, but the charity has praised fundraisers for reaching out without leaving home.

It paid a special tribute to the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, who spent his first evening as Moderator hosting a live Facebook quiz for Christian Aid, raising over £1000.

A spokeswoman for Christian Aid Scotland said: “Churches the length and breadth of Scotland amazed us with their creative digital flair. From a Songs of Praise on Zoom in Dunbar to a Junior Church keep fit challenge at St Mary’s in Motherwell. In Dunblane, the Boys’ Brigade recorded a video for Facebook, urging the local community to support Christian Aid Week via the e-envelope.

“The effort and energy to fundraise for Christian Aid Week was truly inspiring, made all the more impressive given the context of the lockdown and a global pandemic.

“One supporter at Dollar Parish Church, Ashley Leitch, told us that Captain Tom had inspired her to embrace digital fundraising, despite her nervousness around computers – ‘if Captain Tom can do it, then so can I’.

“And that’s just what she did. Dollar and Muckhart’s Christian Aid Week JustGiving page raised nearly £3000 (including gift aid).” The spokeswoman added: “All the monies raised will help families around the world to overcome poverty and injustice, wherever the need is greatest.

Thank you.”

MINISTERS’ COVID-19 ORDEAL

Two Church of Scotland ministers said they feared they might not survive after falling ill with the Coronavirus Covid-19.

The Rev Julie Rennick, 60, and the Rev Dan Harper, 38, said they had never felt so ill in their lives.

Mrs Rennick, of Larbert West Parish Church in Forth Valley said it was a terrifying experience and at one point she considered writing goodbye letters to her three adult sons .

Mr Harper, minister at Bridge of Allan Parish Church in Stirlingshire, said he felt like he was “drowning in fresh air” and feared that he might never leave hospital alive.

Both Mrs Rennick and Mr Harper have made a good recovery but have not yet returned to full health.

The pair leaned heavily on each other for moral support and said they are eternally grateful to the ‘brilliant’ medical professionals who assisted them, and very thankful to everyone who offered heartfelt prayers for a speedy recovery.

They spoke about their ordeal in an interview with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Martin Fair.

The interview is the first of a new series of in-conversation videos shared via social media, called ‘It’s a Fair Question’.

The video is available at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-andevents/news/2020/A-real-dark-nightof-the-soul-moment-ministers-revealharrowing-battles-with-COVID-19

AWARD FOR FORMER MODERATOR

A former Moderator of the General Assembly has been presented with a prestigious award which recognises her work in helping educate people about the genocide in Bosnia 25 years ago.

The Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood said it was an ‘honour’ to be awarded the Kulin Ban’s Charter Award by the Archives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dr Hood is the chairwoman of the Remembering Srebrenica Scotland charity which works to spread the message about the crimes which took place in and around the town of Srebrenica in July 1995.

It was the greatest atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.

Dr Hood and her team, which include secondary school teachers, keeps their memory alive by organising commemoration events and providing education resources for Scottish schools.

She said: “It is an honour to be recognised by the Archives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of the charity’s work to remember the Srebrenica genocide.”

’END DIVISIONS’ PLEA FROM MODERATOR

The Moderator has made an appeal for Christians to play their part in the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign.

Writing the week after the death of George Floyd in the US, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair wrote: “‘Along with folks from around the world, we in Scotland have watched in horror at the turmoil that has spread from city to city across America in response to the death of 46-year-old George Floyd on May 25 at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Several officers were summarily dismissed from their positions and one is to stand trial for murder.

“The cry of ‘Black Lives Matter’ is heard again on the streets and the frustration of one more black life lost in such a fashion has erupted into a catastrophic round of destruction and violence.

“Many will remember that Martin Luther King also said that, ‘a riot is the language of the unheard’ and that although he advocated non-violent responses, he condemned the conditions that led to such unrest in the first place.” But he added: “We plead for people of reason and goodwill from across every community to come to the fore to bring an end to the present cycle of violence but just as importantly to begin the mammoth task of addressing the underlying divisions that continue to be a scar through too many of our nations and communities.

“We call particularly on people of faith to give expression to Jesus’ words that ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.’”

ACTION PLAN PUBLISHED FOR ABERDEEN AND SHETLAND

An action plan for the newly-formed Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland has been published.

The authors said the 10-year action plan represented an exciting opportunity to reform the Kirk and reinvigorate the followers of Christ to help them share the Gospel in new, innovative ways and will be subject to a vote on October 3.

It focuses on ensuring the right buildings are in the right places and investing more in people.

The proposals seek to create a sustainable structure to enable people to draw strength from their faith and fellowship and engage in mission work more effectively.

Under the plans drawn up by the Presbytery’s planning and deployment committee, nine new area groupings of churches will be created across Aberdeen to pool and share resources.

Convener, the Rev Scott Rennie said: “The Church has a bright future and the groupings will enable congregations to work together in areas of shared mission and objectives while providing continuity in individual congregational relationships.

“They will also provide a foundation for team ministries when the structures for those come along as well as encouraging Kirk Sessions and congregations to consider the new structures necessary for union.” Mr Rennie said: “Our vision is a Presbytery which, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, encourages and enables our congregations to re-imagine and renew their life and work for mission in the 21st century.

“Mission remains the primary principle for planning and we believe the future can be bright for the Kirk.” A total of 13 parishes across Shetland have been brought together in a single parish to ensure that mission, worship and pastoral care can be carried out effectively.

The 10-year plan sets out the time scale for the disposal of buildings on the islands over the next couple of years.

If accepted, the Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland will review the plan annually and a more detailed progress analysis will be undertaken after five years.

GUERNSEY CHURCH REOPENING

The minister of a Church of Scotland in the Channel Islands said it was ‘a wonderful day’ as his church became the first in the denomination to reopen for worship following the coronavirus lockdown.

Guernsey St Andrew’s in the Grange had been closed since mid-March, like all Church of Scotland churches, and worshipping through pre-recorded online services. However, on Sunday June 21, with the island released from lockdown, the church doors were reopened.

The Rev Dr David Coulter said: “Some may recall the 1965 Broadway Musical by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd”, which included the songs: “A Wonderful Day Like Today” and “Feeling Good”. From a congregational perspective it felt really good and was indeed a wonderful day, to be back in our Church worshipping together and what struck me most was the roar of the crowd as folk gathered and chatted with their friends before and after the service.

“It was a privilege to welcome our congregation back to Church and to know that post pandemic the Church doors remain open and all are welcome.”

COVID-19 EXACERBATES SOUTH SUDAN CRISIS

While the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has been the major issue in the UK and many countries worldwide in 2020, in South Sudan it is just the latest in a series of crises which have piled one on top of another, leaving 1.3m children in this new and under-resourced state likely to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.

Anthony Rama, South Sudan Country Director for international development agency Tearfund, explained: “It’s not just coronavirus – people are facing multiple challenges. Last year there was serious flooding in the areas where Tearfund works, which wiped out crops and brought water-borne diseases. We’re concerned that the next rainy season, which normally starts in August, will bring more flooding.

“There is ongoing intercommunal violence, despite efforts to make peace sustainable. Because peace is slow to realise, it is hard for individual households to build their own livelihoods or grow food.

The restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic add to these difficulties because travel and economic and social interactions are limited. This is why it has been so hard for families to make sure their children can eat properly, and why we are seeing more children becoming malnourished.” In South Sudan, many children go hungry and many more don’t get enough essential nutrients. Poor quality water brings recurring bouts of diarrhoea, and access to health care is made difficult by factors such as long distances, poor roads, flash flooding and now coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

The national prevalence of under-five-yearold stunting and wasting – two outcomes of child malnutrition – in South Sudan are both much higher than the average for developing countries.

In three districts in South Sudan, Tearfund is the only agency running feeding programmes. Tearfund launched an appeal in June to continue and extend this vital work and has organised mobile feeding stations which move between villages, as well as static ones in health centres.

Anthony Rama said: “We know there is much more need than we are able to meet at the moment, and much more we want to do. Just training volunteers to help educate other mothers on nutrition and hygiene – this alone is hugely helpful even without the added benefit of supplementary feeding.

Getting volunteers out into the community makes a significant difference.” To support Tearfund’s work in South Sudan, visit www.tearfund.org/martha (Tearfund)

KOREA PEACE MESSAGE

A Joint Ecumenical Peace Message for the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War was publicly delivered on June 22 during a live-streamed event.

Co-sponsored by churches and councils of churches around the world, especially from countries that participated in the Korean War, the message describes the Korean War as an ‘appallingly destructive conflict’ after which no peace treaty was ever concluded.

“Seven decades after this war began, it is time to acknowledge that it ended long ago,” the message reads. “New challenges to peace and stability in the region have arisen in the meantime, but we do not believe that the resolution of those challenges will be facilitated by keeping that 70-year-old conflict open.” The message also calls for suspension and cancellation of any further military exercises in the region. “We appeal for the fulfilment of the letter and spirit of all the agreements that had given so much hope of progress towards peace on the Korean Peninsula – in particular the Panmunjom Declaration of April 2018, the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018, and the Singapore Joint Statement of June 2018,” the message reads. “We pray for the realisation of the vision of the Korean Peninsula as a nuclearfree zone, and a world completely free from the threat of nuclear weapons.” Throughout 2020, the World Council of Churches, together with the National Council of Churches in Korea, has been observing a Global Prayer Campaign, “We Pray, Peace Now, End the War.” All churches and Christians are invited to pray for the formal end to the Korean War and the replacement of the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a peace treaty.

(WCC)

PC(USA) APPOINTS NATIVE AMERICAN CO-MODERATOR

One of the new co-moderators of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) said ‘The world needs a church that has no fear over its diversity’, after becoming the first Native American to serve as a moderator and synod executive in the church.

PC (USA) elects two co-moderators to serve for two years. Elona Street-Stewart, executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and a descendant of the Delaware Nanticoke tribe, and the Rev Gregory Bentley, pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama, were installed as co-moderators of the 224th General Assembly on June 20.

PC(USA)

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This article appears in the August 2020 Issue of Life and Work

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  COPIED
This article appears in the August 2020 Issue of Life and Work