PARISH NEWS

Gifts that give back

Gifts that Give Back is an appeal for funds by the Thondwe Community Partnership, a 15-year initiative of the parish of Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn, which in 2023 helped repair damage caused by a cyclone in Thondwe, Malawi.

In November two members of the congregation, Denis Robson and Dave Kerr, travelled the 7,713 miles to Malawi to visit the partner villages to see how the link could be strengthened and lives improved. More than £4,000 has been donated, some of which has been spent on projects since the storm including 650kg maize for three months to 22 people impacted by Cyclone Freddy, homes are being re-roofed and 24 bags of cement will help with repairs to a cyclone damaged bridge, which 1,000 children use to get to school.

Thondwe is a market town of about 25,000 but the church works with about 1,000 adults and 2,000 primary pupils in a few villages.

Dave Kerr said: “This appeal seemed to catch people’s imagination and many people say they prefer to give to the Thondwe congregation because they know who is receiving the funds compared to giving to national charities.

“They know the families, mostly by name and know that they will benefit in a big way.”

The Rev Fraser Edwards, minister of Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn said: “There are a number of really interesting projects going on. We had an incredible response to the Christmas gifts appeal and folk were buying things like chickens, solar lights and menstrual hygiene kits for Malawi instead of socks and selection boxes.”

“The money also paid for a three-hour Christmas party, including games, singing and dancing for 130 children from the partner church organised by Memory Sathawa, the Sunday School Superintendent. The children listened to young pastors speak about the meaning of Christmas and extending love and sharing to others.

“So, the spirit of Christmas thrives in Thondwe at a time of food scarcity with the warmth of two congregations coming together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.”

Moderator at bicentenary celebrations

The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, was the guest preacher as part of the bicentenary celebrations of Pathhead Parish Church, Kirkcaldy, in Fife.

Pathhead was built in 1823, initially as a chapel of ease from Dysart Parish Church. Following the Disruption of 1843, part of the congregation separated to form Pathhead East Free Church. The two congregations united in 1958, and made their home in the present building which had been rebuilt following a fire in 1953.

At a service in February, a specially commissioned hymn, The Light of Christ by organist Alan Urquhart was performed by Linda Hugh, and the Moderator joined the congregation for refreshments and fellowship afterwards.

The service formed part of a series of events marking the church’s bicentenary, including a ceilidh, a main bicentenary service in November preached at by Presbytery Moderator the Rev Jim Reid, and attended by former ministers and the local MSP, a bicentenary concert featuring Fife’s Kingdom Brass Band, a Christmas Fair and most recently a Scottish night with Kirkcaldy and District Pipe Band, country dancers from the local Sinclairtown Primary School and jazz musician Richard Michael.

Further plans include a quiz night and Fife Pilgrim Way walk and picnic.

Long service

The congregation of St Columba’s Church, Glenrothes, Fife, marked Eric Christie’s 60 years as organist and choirmaster. Minister, the Rev Alan Kimmitt, said: “Through his passion for music, Eric, working with the choir and Val on the flute, has been a great blessing to the congregation and also to countless young people who have been members of the Junior Choirs at St Columba’s. We wish Eric and Jean all the best as Eric makes the transition from the organ to the pew.”

Sandra Clark and Eileen Sharp, of Abbotsgrange Parish Church, Grangemouth, have been presented with long service certificates for 30 years’ service. The presentation was made by the Rev Colin Mailer.

Members of Falkland Church Lunch Club enjoyed a 30th birthday celebratory lunch in the Covenanter Hotel in Falkland. Having been a volunteer since its inception, Isobel McBain was presented with a certificate of long service signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly and a bouquet of flowers by the Rev Jeff Martin, interim moderator.

On Sunday January 28 a long service certificate representing 30 years’ service was presented to Mary Thomson of Springburn Parish Church, Glasgow, by the minister, the Rev Brian Casey.

Three elders of Thurso West Church, have received certificates of long service for 30 years. Left to right: Ian Manson, the Rev Lyall Rennie (interim moderator), Alan Sparling (session clerk), Malcolm Clasper. Not pictured: Joan McLean.

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Hymnary supplement launch

A new supplement to the Church of Scotland’s hymnary will be launched during this year’s General Assembly.

God Welcomes All is the first addition to the Church Hymnary since the fourth edition (CH4) was launched in 2005. It is a collection of over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world. The majority have been written in the last 20 years, including songs by well-known writers such as John Bell, Getty Music, Phil Wickham, Fischy Music, Shirley Erena Murray, Sinach and Rend Collective.

With a focus on hospitality and welcome, the collection includes songs based on scripture, for different parts of worship, and the Church year, and covering contemporary themes such as creation and the climate crisis, lament, healing, pilgrimage, ageing and dementia, migration, and reconciliation.

The launch event will take place at St Cuthbert’s Church on Sunday May 19 from 7-9pm, and will feature special guests who have songs included in the collection. Tickets are free but expected to go quickly.

Attendees will be encouraged to sing (although just listening is allowed) and the organisers are also forming a choir to help lead singing on the night. There will be a rehearsal in the afternoon before the event and online rehearsals in advance. Singers should be able to read music.

To reserve your place, or if you wish to be part of the choir, book at https://forms.office.com/e/nkc3VYd1i3

New poll on church, politics and society

A Scottish thinktank has launched a major new opinion poll hoping to hear Christians’ thoughts on politics, government, policy, civic engagement and faith.

Logos Scotland’s poll, launched yesterday, is aimed at discovering how Christians experience politics and society in Scotland, any experience of discrimination and prejudice and whether they feel listened to by the Scottish Government.

Shona Haslam, chief executive of Logos Scotland, said: “This is a vitally important survey to find out how Christians are feeling in modern day Scotland. We have seen over the past couple of years many Christians in the public eye being asked about their faith, and we are interested to know how people are feeling about their place in society and how confident they are in speaking up.

“The results of this survey will give us a really clear indication of how Christians feel about Scotland today and we would love it if as many people as possible could take part.”

The results of the poll will be published in the summer. It can be accessed through Logos Scotland’s website, logosscotland.org

New courses added to learning platform

New courses aimed at encouraging people to explore their faith as well as supporting local church office holders in their roles have been added to the Church of Scotland Learning platform.

Since being endorsed by the General Assembly and then launching in August of last year, anyone with a Church of Scotland connection has been invited to use the free resource, with around 700 people doing so by January.

The latest modules to be added to the site will explore becoming an elder, becoming a session clerk, growing as a leader, exploring your calling and spiritual gifts, and funeral ministry.

Kay Cathcart, People and Training Manager for the Church of Scotland, said: “This is a challenging time for the church, and so we are delighted to provide materials which inspire, and equip, and will build towards a hopeful future.

“I would encourage anyone involved with the Church of Scotland to join hundreds of others by signing-up for free.

“Whether you’re a member, minister, deacon, reader or elder we’ve created resources which have been tailored to support people across the Church in their faith journey.”

As well as the new courses, the original study options which range from conversations in discipleship to equality, diversity and inclusion, will remain available.

Church sends best wishes to King

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said the church’s prayers will be with King Charles as he receives treatment for cancer.

Following the announcement of his diagnosis, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton said: “We are extremely sad to hear that His Majesty King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer.

“This is a diagnosis that many face in their lifetime and which is always shocking news to receive.

“We assure the King of our prayers as he undergoes treatment and wish him well for a speedy recovery.

“We remember too Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family in our prayers during this difficult time.”

Alcohol pricing call

The Church of Scotland has urged MSPs to back proposals to increase minimum unit pricing of alcohol to 65p.

Emma Jackson, convener of the Public Life and Social Justice group, wrote to party health spokespeople and the Scottish Government ahead of a ministerial statement at the Scottish Parliament in February.

The measure is aimed at controlling alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations.

She made the point that inflation has eroded the effectiveness of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) as the level at which it has been set – 50p – has not kept pace with prices.

A study by the University of Sheffield stated that the original 50p price was now equivalent to 41p.

Ms Jackson wrote: “If we want to see the 24% of the population who consume alcohol at hazardous or harmful levels reduce consumption and therefore reduce all its associated harms, we need the level of MUP to be uprated to 65p. 

“To not do so would be to render the policy ultimately useless and could lead to an additional loss of more than 1,000 lives over 20 years.”

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WCC Jerusalem visit

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay and delegation met with Sheikh Azzam Khatib, director of Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem on February 18, reiterating the WCC’s commitment to maintaining Jerusalem as a city of all three Abrahamic religions.

Part of a week-long visit by the WCC general secretary to the Holy Land – an expression of solidarity in what’s happening in Israel and Palestine as well as of the WCC’s ongoing work for just and lasting peace in the region – the meeting with Sheikh Azzam Khatib centred on the situation of Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem today, amid ongoing war and military occupation.

The Sheikh Azzam Khatib described the present-day situation in Jerusalem, including in view of recent demands by Israeli far-right politicians to limit Arab-Israeli worshipers on the Temple Mount during Ramadan this year.

The WCC has consistently spoken out against initiatives that threaten the delicate historic set of relationships, rights, and obligations encompassed in the Status Quo arrangements and which risk further destabilisation of the situation in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Pillay observed.

“The WCC is deeply concerned by reports that the Government of Israel may impose additional exceptional restrictions on Arab[-Israeli] worshippers at the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. Especially in a time of such profound tensions in the region, such measures would be deeply provocative, as well as violating principles of international human rights law related to freedom of religion or belief, and of the historic Status Quo arrangement in the Old City of Jerusalem,” Pillay said.

“We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to refrain from imposing such provocative and unwarranted restrictions which would add fuel to an already volatile situation, we need to encourage the co-existence of all three Abrahamic religions in the Holy Land,” he concluded. (WCC)

Iran situation ‘like 1984’

Life for Christians and other minority faiths in Iran is increasingly resembling the dystopia portrayed in George Orwell’s novel 1984. That is the conclusion reached by one of the authors of a new report by the group Article 18 (in collaboration with partner organisation Open Doors UK, Middle East Concern and CSW) on the persecution of Christians within Iran.

‘Faceless Victims – Rights Violations Against Christians in Iran’ was launched in the UK Parliament on February 20.

According to Article 18’s Mansour Borji: “The parallels between Orwell’s ‘1984’ and the experiences of Iranian Christians are not mere fiction but a harrowing reality. Christians have long been surveilled and violently pressured in Iran, it’s the extent of this which has grown – especially the use of new sophisticated forms of cyber surveillance that is so shocking. It’s a call to the global community to recognise and respond to the systemic suppression faced by Christians in Iran.”

Among the parallels to 1984 described in the report are high tech surveillance and privacy invasion, extreme pressure to recant undesirable ideas and beliefs, encouragement for citizens to spy and inform on each other, and control of language which effectively bans Christian worship in Iran’s native tongue, Farsi.

The report chronicles a brutal clampdown by the Iranian regime last year, as the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 approached, with over 100 Christians arrested. According to the report: “By the end of 2023, at least 17 of the Christians arrested during the summer had received prison sentences of between three months and five years, or non-custodial punishments such as fines (and) flogging.”

Mansour adds: “We call on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all Christians detained on charges relating to their faith and religious activities. And they need to clarify where Persian-speaking Christians may worship freely in their mother tongue, without fear of arrest and prosecution”. (Open Doors UK)

WCC/Catholic meeting

Bringing together representatives from the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Joint Working Group between the WCC and the Roman Catholic Church met online on February 21 for its first executive meeting.

The primary objectives of the meeting were to facilitate a deeper understanding among participants through personal introductions, as well as sharing insights into their respective work and ministries. Continuing participants reflected on the recent history of the Joint Working Group.

The meeting included updates on recent activities of the parent bodies, ensuring participants were informed about ongoing initiatives and priorities. Core discussions centred on the future work of the group.

This focused collaboration underscores the commitment of both the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches to advancing shared objectives through the Joint Working Group. (WCC)  

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