Welcome

“ Flicking through the historic volumes of Life and Work from 1879 onwards, readers can find endless accounts of innovation and engagement and outreach within local communities…

JUNE in Scotland this year marks the end of the school year for many.

For some families there are holidays on the horizon – others may not be so fortunate because of cost, caring responsibilities and a multitude of other reasons. For some summer is not a time of relaxation but a time of stress because of closures or reduction in service provision offering respite or care. It can also be a time of financial pressure as term time services are not necessarily available.

Much recent public attention on the Church of Scotland has focussed on buildings closures and finance – the cost of the legacy of the union of 1929 when the Church, torn apart by the Disruption, finally healed its wounds but inherited many more buildings than it needed.

But the value of the social capital of the Church is frequently forgotten. Local churches know their local community needs and step up, particularly during the summer, thanks to thousands of often unsung volunteers.

For some it will involve welcoming tourists and visitors to their historic building. For others it will be providing much needed holiday clubs to support parents and families or cafes for those facing hunger in the summer months.

Some will offer support to those caring for others in the form of a dementia or carers’ project – sometimes offering much needed respite for a short time each week.

With the advent of school holidays, some parents may also be concerned about the cost of equipping children for their return to school. School uniform banks and also offering school supplies have been another way in which some churches have supported their communities during the summer months.

This is not a comprehensive list of the work undertaken by our churches in summer – each operates within the unique context of its local community.

Flicking through the historic volumes of Life and Work from 1879 onwards, readers can find endless accounts of innovation and engagement and outreach within local communities – demonstrating that care, compassion and love – all rooted in love in Christ’s name – has long been a measure of the Church of Scotland.

The opportunity to be a part of a project helping others can also engage hearts and minds and bring a diverse group of people together to work on a unifying project which makes a difference.

As the season changes, may all be touched by the love and care of God through our churches in the summer months ahead.

Lynne McNeil Editor