FAITH IN ACTION

Rev Dr Scott JS Shackleton

Head: Faith Action Staff – Ministries & Mission Support

February, the month of St Valentine, love and romance, makes me think of arguably one of the UK’s best films, Love Actually, which features the song ‘Love Is All Around’. In the film, Hugh Grant’s character speaks of the text messages of love sent by passengers on the planes hijacked on 9/11 – which surely demonstrates the reality of this sentiment. Perhaps this message of hope is what we might speak of in terms of Jesus and resurrection and the place of the imperishable you in Christ. Love is Faith in Action.

Rev Karen Hendry

Convener: Faith Impact Forum

Yes, February is that time of year when love hearts are all around. You can’t escape them on the greetings cards and adverts encouraging you to buy something for that loved one in your life. I’ve often heard it said that love is a verb. It’s what we do that matters, not just for one day of the year, but what we do consistently every other day too, amidst the everyday practicalities of life.

You’ll be glad to know that as a Church we are right there, engaged in this, seeking to share the love in the world through what we do, not just in what we say. At any one time several groups within the Forum will be working on responses to current matters, as can be seen in this issue’s articles around schools, climate change and the war in Ukraine.

We hope what we do helps you find ways to share God’s love too..

David Moodie

Churches Support Officer, Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees

Our welcome to Ukrainian refugees

Since the war in Ukraine began, more than 20,000 Ukrainians have arrived and are living in Scotland. From Strathpeffer to Stranraer, there are now Ukrainians living in every part of the country, including in communities that have never hosted refugees before. Building on the Church’s longstanding work of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to Scotland, congregations have stepped up and are leading the way in welcoming Ukrainians.

Churches have opened information hubs, organised trips and activities, collected money and materials, started language clubs, not to mention the many church members who are hosting Ukrainians in their homes. The response has been incredible and shows yet again that churches are places of welcome and hospitality.

However, there is still more to be done. Finding accommodation for all the people who have arrived is a huge issue and the need for hosts is as great as ever. Help with learning English is consistently raised as a priority need. Young people whose lives have been uprooted will need help settling into new schools and homes. And as we look to the long-term, people will require ongoing pastoral and spiritual support from their local church. Churches are uniquely placed to make a real difference, and also have much to gain from the friendships that will be built.

If you or your church are already supporting Ukrainians, or would like advice or support to begin work in your community, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at david.moodie@churchofscotland.org.uk

Isobel Booth-Clibborn

Children’s Development Worker

‘As a church we have been involved with our local schools for many years. We hold special events around festivals, do a ‘Back to School with God’ service and pray for the school regularly. We contribute to assemblies and support pastoral care with young people.’ (www.suscotland.org.uk/pray/prayfor-schools-scotland).

The Church has many exciting opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus through schools’ work. We are encouraged by the annual congregational statistics, which show that 723 congregations across Scotland support schools in some way. Many ministers are active as school chaplains, some congregations have paid staff who connect with schools regularly and others have volunteers who are committed to schools’ ministry. Every local authority has a Church of Scotland Local Authority Representative, who can contribute to and support areas of policy and quality improvement, particularly in the areas of Religious and Moral Education and Time for Reflection.

Many churches are saddened that they have few children and families attending on a Sunday morning but are now shifting or broadening their ministry with children and young people, supporting families and connecting with young people where they are – in their homes and in schools. The Curriculum for Excellence encourages schools to develop local partnerships – and what better partner than the local church?

There are many ways to build supportive relationships with pupils and staff and develop connections with schools, such as leading assemblies or small groups, mentoring and class support. Other opportunities might be in home baking, sharing Bibles, or signposting RME resources. Praying is something that we can all do – did you know that 63% of all schools in Scotland are prayed for regularly through ‘Pray for Schools Scotland’ (an initiative of Scripture Union Scotland)?

The Faith Action Programme’s Education and Schools Group supports the engagement of congregations with their local schools. We are planning a number of training events in 2023 to encourage church involvement and equip those working in schools’ ministries. If you have a connection with schools please consider joining our database so that we can let you know of relevant events, training and resources.

Another valuable resource is the ‘Serve Your Local School’ (SYLS) website and Facebook group, which share stories and resources to encourage local churches to get involved with schools in a variety of ways.

For more information contact childrenandyouth@ churchofscotland.org.uk

Rev Justin Taylor

Chair: Net Zero Strategy Group

American singer-songwriter, Billy Joel sang, “We didn’t start the fire.”

Who is to blame for Climate Change? Most of us would say, “We didn’t start the fire”, but we have benefitted from it. Years of exploiting the Earth’s resources for financial gain have meant some profited, whilst others were exploited for these resources. However, things have changed recently, and we can see the deadly impact of this way of living affecting us all.

Climate Change is an inferno, out of control; this, coupled with our desire for comfort, can leave us apathetic. We want things to change, but the task seems too big, and what difference can I really make other than turning down my thermostat?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke of costly grace, meaning doing the right thing, even at a significant personal cost. Sacrifice is central to the Gospel’s message but is something we don’t like to do.

“ Our move towards Net Zero should be filled with joy and discovery, not guilt and shame.”

I’m no saint when it comes to reducing my carbon footprint. I take the car when I can ride my bike; I choose unethical rather than ethical clothes; I turn the heating up rather than get a jumper. But this is a journey. It’s about setting our intention and working towards it. Our move towards Net Zero should be filled with joy and discovery, not guilt and shame.

Achieving Net Zero as a Kirk is not just an institutional exercise; it needs to filter down into Presbyteries, congregations, and our homes. We need to ask challenging questions and set ambitious targets. As the dust starts to settle in Presbyteries, what are your Presbytery and local congregation’s intentions for achieving Net Zero? It is no use having the right building in the right space if there is no sustainable world. How can individual members think about reducing their carbon footprint as a prayer to God? When we say ‘Amen’, what intention are we going to live by?

Could you imagine if all these parts of the Church worked together? How much change could we affect, and how could we inspire others in Scotland and the world to take up the challenge?

I look forward to the day when we can say with one voice, “We didn’t start the fire, but we sure put it out.”

For more information contact cflenley@churchofscotland. org.uk

Rev Dr Rory Macleod

Minister Of Strath And Sleat

For our Gaelic readers

Tha sinn air tighinn gun phàirt sin den bhliadhna air am bi daoine a’ smaoineachadh mar àm lom agus trominntinneach. Ach nam bharail-sa co-dhiù, ’s e an Gearran am mìos as fheàrr leam. Is dòcha gur ann air sàillibh ‘s gu bheil mo cho-là-breith ann, ach is toil leam a bhòidhchead rag nuair a bhios an aimsir fuar is soilleir cuideachd. Tha tòrr den luach a tha sinn a’ cur air rudan an crochadh air ar beachdan. ’S urrainn na beachdan againn ar n-eòlas pearsanta athharrachadh gu h-iomlam. Le bhith ag aithneachadh Dia mar Chruthaidhear iarraidh sinn luach a chur air a’ chruthachadh gu lèir, gu sònraichte nuair a gheall Ìosa a h-uile càil a dhèanamh ùr!

For further information visit: www.churchofscotland.org.uk