Since the Covid-19 crisis began, we have been producing a weekly newsletter for members. Edited versions of these are below.

If you would like to be included on the mailing list for this newsletter, email sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk

The contact details for the team, which appear at the bottom of each newsletter, are:

Church Office & Contact Details

Interim Moderator – Rev Ann Inglis can be contacted on 0131 629 0233 and by email at revainglis@gmail.com. During these times, Ann will be the first point of contact for any funeral requests.

Locum – Bob Gemmell can be contacted on 0131 331 4608 and by email at robertggemmell@btinternet.com

Session Clerks, Heather McHaffie and Paul Mitchell, can be contacted by email at sessionadmin@wardie.org.uk and sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk

Secretary is Catriona Gardiner, telephone 551 3847, email churchoffice@wardie.org.uk. Catriona is currently working from home. She is able to access the phone and deal with calls received.

****

You can access written versions of all our weekly services here

5 June 2020

Wardie held its first official ‘virtual’ meeting this week as the Kirk Session met with the Presbytery Advisory Committee to discuss the Vacancy situation. The meeting was held using the online meeting tool ‘Zoom’ and had over 30 people present. There are challenges to virtual meetings in terms of who can talk at one time but the meeting was a success. The next step in the process will involve another virtual meeting of the Kirk Session, details are shown below.

Best wishes, Heather McHaffie & Paul Mitchell, Joint Session Clerks

 

 

This is intimation that a virtual meeting of the Kirk Session of this congregation is to be held on 24th June 2020 at 7.30pm.

 

In recognition of the diversity of views within the Church about the historic and current doctrine and practice of the Church in relation to human sexuality and in the interests of the peace and unity of the Church, departure from the practice of the Church in relation to human sexuality is permitted in certain circumstances.

The purpose of the Kirk Session meeting just intimated will be for the Kirk Session to decide whether to depart from the Church’s practice in relation to human sexuality in order for applications for the current vacancy of a Minister to be considered from, amongst others, individuals who are in a civil partnership or a same sex marriage. In terms of the process for a decision to depart contained in the Ministers and Deacons in Civil Partnerships and Same Sex Marriages Act (Act I 2015), this will be the first meeting of the Kirk Session on this matter.  If the first vote is in favour of the decision to depart, it will require to be followed up at a subsequent meeting of the Kirk Session by a second vote in favour of the decision to depart in order for that decision to take effect. If the first vote is not in favour of the decision to depart, that decides the matter and no further vote will be held. The vote at the second meeting will decide whether or not the decision is made to depart.  Any vote on this matter must achieve a majority of those present and entitled to vote in order to take effect.

Ann Inglis, Interim Moderator

 

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow Edinburgh Churches and we have had good feedback from people who have visited both ;

Greenbank Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

Our friends at Greenbank Church will be celebrating communion and you are invited to join them (please bring your own bread and wine)

 

Zoom Quiz – Thursday 11^th June 7.30pm.

All are welcome to join in a Zoom quiz run under the banner of the Wardie 4MEN group but the quiz is open to all.

It will be a sports quiz with a dash of general knowledge thrown in and will last no longer than 40 minutes.  Again, it isn’t limited to just those who normally attend the events but to anyone who wishes to participate.

Topic: Wardie Church Quiz

Time: Jun 11, 2020 07:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5036551664?pwd=WHJEN3Z5Mzd1MDR5aFF3c2Rvemcwdz09

Meeting ID: 503 655 1664

Password: 180692

The date has been chosen in line with feedback given, hopefully it suits everyone. The ‘room’ will be open from 7.25pm. You mish wish to bring pen and paper along.

Paul Mitchell

 

Challenging Times

Fair Trade and the environment
Wednesday 10th June, 7.30pm-8.30pm
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/fairtrade-and-the-environment/
Join us online for a follow-up session with Colleen Tait of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to talk about the links between fair trade and the environment. A timely discussion with the need for a “green recovery” beyond the COVID-19 lockdown, linking social justice and climate justice.

Starting your Eco Journey
Monday 15th June, 7.30pm-8.30pm
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/starting-your-eco-journey-2/

Heather McHaffie will be giving a 15 min. presentation about our Gold Eco-Congregation Award at the following event: Another open session encouraging churches to become new and more active eco-congregations. Westray Parish Church in the Orkney Islands and Wardie Parish Church in Edinburgh will both share their experience and insight from registration to Eco-Congregation Gold Award winners.

Heather’s Gardening Tips

Self-seeding

Most plants set seed if you leave them long enough. This is a waste of energy in perennials, unless you want more, so it is good to deadhead. Shrubs will benefit from a light trim to remove old blooms. Some plants like foxgloves and forget-me-nots only live for two years – a small plant in the first year – flowers and seeds in the second year. This is a very easy way to have new plants. My forget-me-nots have nearly finished flowering now, so I take out the plants, shake off the seeds and put the old plants into the brown bin. Any unwanted seedlings can be thinned out easily. When I weed I am selective and leave some seedlings to continue growing or even transplant them elsewhere. You soon become aware of which plants migrate around your garden, and which ones you want. It pays to recognise seedlings and if you are not sure leave them to grow larger. For help with identification contact: heathermchaffie@hotmail.com

 

Social Media Target

If you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’ and give us a follow and a like. We are hoping to grow the number of people who follow us as it helps share information. So we currently have 351 twitter followers and we would like to grow this to 380 by the end of June. If you are on Twitter and don’t follow us please do so. Please also share some of our tweets and invite people to follow us. Our Instagram account is relatively new and we would like to grow this as well. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Poet’s Corner

In the time of quiet By Philippa Atkin

No one’s told the daffodils about the pause to Spring And no one’s told the birds to roost and asked them not to sing No one’s asked the lazy bee to cease his bumbling round And no one’s stopped the bright green shoots emerging through the ground No one’s told the sap to rest, deep within the wood And stop the sleepy trees from waking, wreathed about in bud No one’s told the sky to douse its brightest shades of blue And stop the scudding clouds from puffing headlong into view And wonder at the glory unfurling everywhere Look towards the future, after the ordeal And keep faith in Mother Nature’s power and will to heal

No one’s asked the lambs to still the springs beneath their feet, To stop their rapid rush and quell each joyful bleat No one’s told the stream to halt its gurgle or its flow And warned the playful breezes, not to gust and blow No one’s asked the raindrops not to fall upon the earth And fail to quench the soil in the season of rebirth No one’s locked the sun down, or dimmed the shimmer of the moon And even in the darkest night, the stars are still immune Remember what you value, remember who is dear Close the doors to danger and keep your family near In the quiet all around us take the time to sit and stare

 

As kindly suggested by Wendy, Marilyn and Rosemary

 

 

And finally – The Haircut

Danny had recently passed his driving test and decided to ask his clergyman father if there was any chance of him getting a car for Christmas, which was yet some months away.

“Okay,” said his father, “I tell you what I’ll do. If you can get your ‘C’ level grades up to ‘A’s and ‘B’s, study your bible and get your hair cut, I’ll consider the matter very seriously.”

A couple of months later Danny went back to his father who said “I’m really impressed by your commitment to your studies. Your grades are excellent and the work you have put into your bible studies is very encouraging. However, I have to say I’m very disappointed that you haven’t had your hair cut yet.”

Danny was a smart young man who was never lost for an answer. “Look, Dad. In the course of my bible studies I’ve noticed in the illustrations that Moses, John the Baptist, Samson and even Jesus had long hair.”

“Yes. I’m aware of that…” replied his father, “… but did you also notice they walked wherever they went?”

29 May 2020

22 May 2020

With the Government’s announcement this week of its phased approach to coming out of lockdown in four phases this is being closely looked at by all. This approach will have an impact on how Churches are allowed to function. We are keeping a close watch on guidance from the Church of Scotland.

It is with sadness that we have to intimate the passing of both Norman and Maisie Elliott earlier this month. Both were previous members of Inverleith Church and came to Wardie when Inverleith & St Serfs came together. We remember their family and friends in our prayers.

 Best wishes, Heather McHaffie & Paul Mitchell, Joint Session Clerks

 

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday.  

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow Edinburgh Churches and we have had good feedback from people who have visited both ;

Greenbank Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

 

Advance Notice – Sunday Service – 31^st May

10-10.30am – Pentecost – streamed live across Scotland.

The Moderator will lead a service to mark the birthday of the Christian Church, with contributions from many different places.  Like the disciples on that first Pentecost, here is the invitation to step confidently into whatever the future holds.  The Church of Scotland have asked all congregations to make this the service on that Sunday, so that as much of the Church of Scotland as possible will be gathered together in fellowship and praise. We will provide further details in next week’s newsletter.

 

Follow Us…

If you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’ and give us a follow and a like. We are hoping to grow the number of people who follow us as it helps share information.

Our Youth Worker, Mo, is looking after two groups within facebook ;

• Families page – with  picture requests on Wednesdays and material links for Sunday on the Saturday.
• Toddlers page – with recipes on a Thursday and something (craft/idea share etc) on a Monday.

We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

From Eco-Congregations Scotland

Making the most of the things we have – reuse workshop
Tuesday 26th May, 10.30am-11.30am
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/making-the-most-of-the-things-we-have/
You’ve heard “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”? Recycling is great, but reuse is so much better. Online workshop with Miriam Adcock of Zero Waste Scotland focusing on the “reuse” elements and how we can make better use of the things we already have. Whether it’s donating, selling, buying second hand, swapping, renting or repairing, please join us to chat about what we can do as individuals.

From energy efficiency to renewables 
Thursday 4th June,  2.15pm-3.15pm 
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/energy-efficiency-to-renewables/
Find out about how Home Energy Scotland can support you to make changes and become more energy efficient, learning more about the kinds of renewable energy you can use in your home. We will hear from Dean Wrigglesworth of Home Energy Scotland and have the opportunity to ask him questions.  

 

Heather’s Gardening Tips

Deadheading does not sound very exciting but makes a big difference to how many flowers you get and also to the appearance of your garden. Annual plants are programmed to set seed and die. If you cut off the developing seed pods they will continue to flower for much longer. For perennial plants it is still good to cut off spent flowers as developing seeds takes energy better put into flowering. Bulbs also benefit from deadheading, unless you want them to seed and spread. To build up energy for good flowers next year, bulbs need the seed pod removed, a little feeding is good, and the leaves must be left to die down naturally so that all the energy is returned to the bulb.

 

Zoom Quiz

It has been suggested that the 4MEN group gather via Zoom to enjoy a sports quiz with a dash of general knowledge thrown in.  Of course, it wouldn’t be limited to just those who normally attend but would be open to anyone who wished to participate.

If you would be interested in taking part, please drop me a note at Sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk and I can gauge interest. Please let me know a first and second choice night of the week for the quiz to be held. Paul Mitchell

 

Thy Kingdom Come:  21–31 May 2020 (Ascension to Pentecost Sunday)

The Moderator is encouraging everyone to join him in taking part in the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer movement.

Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair has backed the Scottish Church Leaders Forum in calling all Christians to join the ecumenical season of prayer, which will run from Ascension Day, 21 May to Pentecost Sunday.

The Scottish church leaders have released a statement saying: “On behalf of the undersigned churches in Scotland, we welcome the opportunity to participate in the Global Prayer Initiative: Thy Kingdom Come 2020. Now in its fifth year, the movement draws thousands of Christians together, across different denominations and traditions, to pray for their friends, family and neighbours to come to know the love of Jesus. In the face of the Covid 19 pandemic, Thy Kingdom Come resources have been adapted to enable churches, families and individuals to pray and worship in their homes, through a collection of resources, in line with social distancing guidelines. For the first time this year, Christians are not only encouraged to pray for others to know the love of Christ, but to also practically demonstrate their love and care through action during the 11 days, through an initiative called Prayer and Care. All key resources are available as digital downloads on the Thy Kingdom Come website and offer practical ways in which family and church can be involved. At this time especially, we commend this initiative to you and invite you to participate and pray: ‘Thy Kingdom come’.”

 

Poets’ Corner

Wild Strawberries By Helen Dunsmore

Wild Strawberries What I get, I bring home to you: a dark handful, sweet-edged, dissolving in one mouthful. I bother to bring them for you though they’re so quickly over, pulpless, sliding to juice a grainy rub on the tongue and the taste’s gone. If you remember we were in the woods at wild strawberry-time and I was making a basket of dock-leaves to hold what you’d picked, but the cold leaves unplaited themselves

and slid apart, and again unplaited themselves until I gave up and ate wild strawberries out of your hands for sweetness.I licked at your palm: the little salt-edge there, the tang of money you’d handled.As we stayed in the woods, hidden, we heard the sound system below us calling the winners at Chepstow, faint as the breeze turned. The sun came out on us, the shade blotches went hazel: we heard names bubble like stock-doves over the woods as jockeys in stained silks gentled those sweat-dark, shuddering horses down to the walk.

 As kindly suggested by Graeme Trotter

 

And finally

An edifice exists in a corner of our garden. It is held together by the residue of three quarters of a coat of paint, a quite nice pale brown. In the windows of this structure are notices…”The Howff”, “Grumpy’s shed, Grumpy’s rules”, “ A man’s shed is his castle ’til the wife comes home” and so on. You get the picture!

Unable to buy new paint, what was found in back hut was very mundane green stuff. It went like this:

Day 1: Start to paint. Day 2: Rest. Day 3: Paint more. Day 4: Rest. Day 5: Admire.

Please imagine pale brown with (sort of) total coverage of green. Army camouflage comes to mind. Notices are back in, but most importantly investigations have begun about one of those sooper dooper summerhouses that you see at garden centres. All welcome next summer to view it!

ANON

15 May 2020

Dear Friends

It is very pleasing to start the E-Newsletter with good news. As you will see from text below, the Presbytery of Edinburgh have made a decision regarding our Vacancy. We are being allowed to call a Minister in accordance with the presbytery plan which means we will be able to fully call a Minister. As you will read, there is a mechanism for the decision to be contested  but we hope that this will not be the case.

Presuming we can progress; we will be arranging a meeting with Very Rev Derek Browning and his advisory committee with whom we have to meet prior to moving forward with the next steps in the process. We are investigating if this meeting can be carried out in a virtual setting.

The process will still take a time and until we are able to meet fully as a congregation we will not be able to elect a vacancy committee.  That said, it is comforting to have a positive decision.

 Best wishes, Heather McHaffie & Paul Mitchell, Joint Session Clerks

 

INTIMATION OF DECISION OF VACANCY PROCEDURE COMMITTEE

To be sent to the congregation

The Vacancy Procedure Committee of the Presbytery of Edinburgh appointed to act in the vacancy at Wardie proposes that it will report to the Presbytery that it has agreed to grant permission to the congregation of Wardie to call a minister in accordance with the Presbytery Plan, and has agreed that the number to serve on the Nominating Committee shall be thirteen.

This action will proceed unless at least four persons, who are either communicant members of the congregation of Wardie or full members of Presbytery, together or separately submit to the Presbytery Clerk a request for this proposal to be considered at the next meeting of the Presbytery. Any such request must set out the relevant reasons.

Such requests should be submitted in writing to the Presbytery Clerk, by Email edinburgh@churchofscotland.org.uk by the afternoon of Monday 25^th May 2020.

If four valid requests are received, then the proposed action will be suspended and the approval of Presbytery will be required.

Rev Marjory McPherson, Presbytery Clerk

 

 

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow  Edinburgh Churches and we have had good feedback from people who have visited both ;

Greenbank Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

We continue to grow our online presence – if you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Service of Installation and Heart & Soul

Live on the Church of Scotland website and Facebook

Saturday 16^th May at 11am.

Rev Dr Martin Fair will be installed as Moderator of the General Assembly The ceremony will take place in the Assembly Hall with only a few people physically present because of the covid restrictions but followed by thousands of people across Scotland and across the world. The service will be captioned and there will be the option of BSL interpretation. Join us for an historic occasion and a clear statement that the Church is alive and active in these difficult days.

Sunday 17^th May, 2-4pm

The current crisis has meant that the original event, scheduled to have taken place in Princes Street Gardens on that day, has had to be cancelled but do join the team online for an afternoon of entertainment.

A number of features from the event in Princes Street Gardens can be transferred into an online format, and we’re going screen an abridged “Heart and Soul” at 2.00pm on May 17th — when the original event would have taken place. The programme will run until about 4.20pm.  A recording of the event will be available soon afterwards.

Hosted by usual presenters, Rev Ken Froude, Seonaid Knox and Rev Justin Taylor, the event begins with a replay of the service of installation for the new Moderator, Rev Martin Fair. The event features a mix of worship, music, stories and some exciting “In Conversation” guests.

Heart and Soul regulars “Fischy Music” will lead a special segment for all ages. Spread throughout the afternoon will be some very special conversations: Hugh Pym will be in conversation with Prof Jason Leitch and Viv Dickenson from CrossReach, discussing how they have all been tackling Coronavirus and also how their own faith has helped them.  Very Rev Susan Brown will be in conversation with Ross Greer MSP and Tara Shannon from COSY discussing climate justice.  Prison Chaplain Anne Stewart will be in conversation with Hospital chaplain Mark Evans taking about chaplaincy as a career and the impact of Coronavirus in their places of work.

No Heart and Soul would be complete without some hearty singing, and we’ve chosen some highlights from the archive over the last ten years of Heart and Soul, the Guild Big Sing and the General Assembly to round things off.

Gifts

Brian Cooper was pleased to receive an email recently from his contact at the prison service who arranges to collect the Christmas gifts the Wardie Church Family so generously provide every December:

“I thought I would share with you what we are doing with the surplus gifts from last year (Christmas 2019) – There are no visits taking place at the prison due to Covid-19. Mothers and Fathers in prison are having less contact with their children. The staff in the visitors centre are still working, but distributing food parcels to the families of those in the prison. We have been giving gifts to the children as part of this process. You can appreciate that these children fall in to the category of the most vulnerable and at risk. Because of your kindness and generosity we are in a position to continue to help these children – Thank you again”

Sewing Assistance?

Does anyone know someone who is making scrubs or similar, who could use a commercial sewing machine?  It is going free but it would be heavy to uplift. Barbara Purdie 0131 552 3530

Thy Kingdom Come

21-31 May 2020 (Ascension to Pentecost Sunday)

With so much of the world “on hold”, it would be easy to think that the prayer initiative:  Thy Kingdom Come is another casualty.  Not at all!  If there is one thing that is needed at this time, alongside the care we can offer, it is united global prayer.  Physical distancing has actually brought us closer together as we recognise our common humanity and the challenges we must face together.

The Church of Scotland is delighted to be part of Thy Kingdom Come in 2020, while recognising that it needs to take a new approach because of COVID-19.  In the light of this, the Thy Kingdom Come website has been updated and adapted for our new situation:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/

One of the Key themes for Thy Kingdom Come 2020 is prayer and care.  As we are praying for those we love to come to know the hope and love of Christ, we are also encouraging all to see how they can show God’s love towards them, by caring for them.  The website suggests practical ways this can be done:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/prayer-and-care

Alongside this, there is a very helpful resource “Thy Kingdom Come – five ways to get involved” which is easily adapted for congregations in lockdown.  Resources can be downloaded and print at home:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/5-ways-your-church-can-be-involved-years-thy-kingdom-come

Let us join together with Christians across the country and around the world for Thy Kingdom Come 2020.  Wishing you every blessing,

Rt Revd Colin A M Sinclair, Moderator, General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Helping with meals

You may remember the fantastic Scran Academy catering social enterprise Wardie supported a couple of years ago. The academy supports vulnerable young people to transition into the workplace through gaining valuable skills in a kitchen setting. But recently to respond to the coronavirus emergency Scran  have now partnered with a number of local organisations to source, prepare and deliver nutritious meals to those in need in Edinburgh 3 days a week. They have managed to ramp up production in recent days to nearly 2,000 meals a day. What a fantastic team effort.

You can help them sustain this lifeline for vulnerable people in Lockdown through funding or by volunteering. Check out their website for details at www.scranacademy.com or you can donate on their JustGiving page – JustGiving.com/crowdfunding/scranmeals. Thank you.

Judith Morrison

Heather’s Gardening Tips

Some plants naturally are very tall. It is always good to read the label when you buy one and perhaps choose a shorter variety. Also only feed moderately if it looks deprived. Some plants never need fed.  It is better to support plants as they grow so now is the time. Push short, twiggy branches in around the clumps and they are soon covered. If you are able you can buy purpose made supports in different heights. Some plants, such as Campanula and Delphinium, have flowering side branches. If you cut off the top growth the plants will be shorter and bushier. Don’t do this to plants that only have one stem for each flower!

Streptocarpus plants for sale

More than 20 new plants from leaf cuttings available soon; 4 varieties, some already with big buds, others following shortly. All proceeds to the Windows Appeal.  Ring (552 8021) or email me to reserve plants @ £2-50.  The last one is quite a different kind and needs to be pinched out regularly.

Rosemary Philip

 

Caring Thought

C	Care for each other
O	Offer to help anyone who needs it
R	Remember your neighbours and relatives who may need your support
O	Oh, please don’t buy everything in sight – there’s no food/supplies shortage
N	Never lose hope and faith
A	Ask is anyone needs anything
V	Value your friends, family and colleagues
I	I will try and help anyone I can
R	Rise above this awful virus
U	Unity, its important we pull together and beat this
S	Stay safe

 with thanks to Linda Coghill

 

Concert – Origin Scotland

There is a Worship concert onAscension Day, Thursday, 21^st May at 7.30pm, and is available via YouTube. The concert will feature Cape Town Massed Choir, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Allan McKinlay. Allan has a wealth of experience in leading worship, having been in full time music ministry now for over 12 years. He has toured all over the world, shared stages with some of the biggest names in Christian music. It’s of course free – there will be an opportunity to support the artists and the ministry of Origin Scotland if you wish. So please invite your friends, start some watch parties, and join us for this awesome service of worship with Allan and the team in South Africa!

 

Poets’ Corner

Spring By Gerard Manley Hopkins   Nothing is so beautiful as Spring – When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing; The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.   What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning In Eden garden – Have, get, before it cloy, Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning, Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy, Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

 As kindly suggested by Graeme Trotter

 

And finally

Yesterday I read somewhere about this person who has never had such a clean house and  immaculate garden!  May I compete??

Cutlery drawer … not done. Under kitchen sink … not done. Under bathroom sink … not done. Underwear drawer … not done. Shoes seen to … not done. Dramatically overgrown left side of garden … not done. 5876 photos culled … not done. Hoovering … very occasionally done!

Inside windows cleaned … not done. Can’t knit or sew anyway … not done . ’Hello’ magazines read … sort of, not really reading.

Ironing … only by absolute necessity. Enjoyed “zooming” with friends … done. Zumba’d to YouTube…done. Blethered for hours from front garden … done. Inside of house has strange appearance … sort of grey colour… possibly “stoor”… dusting, not done. Must stop now … going to DU——  …blether on phone!!

 ANON

 

If you have any suggestions for our ‘and finally’ section, simply drop an email to sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk.

8 May 2020

Dear Friends

Firstly, I want to say that I hope you are all well and keeping safe in these times in which we are living. Lockdown is not easy and can be particularly lonely for those of us who live alone. I had company for 4 and a half weeks. My daughter is an NHS Consultant working with Covid 19 patients and she sent her husband and two little boys, Matthew and Michael, to live with me. She herself became infected but was fortunate to have a very mild dose. After she was better they decided it was safe enough for the family to go home. So, it’s me and the dog again. I miss them – but the house is tidy!

Secondly, I want to thank many people in Wardie who are keeping in touch with the congregation while we are unable to have worship as normal and while our organisations are unable to meet. Particular thanks must go to Paul Mitchell for the huge amount of work he has done in getting hold of as many e-mail addresses as possible. He has been largely responsible for compiling the newsletters. So, many thanks, Paul. Thanks also to our locum Bob Gemmell who is providing a prayer and sermon on the website each week. The Kirk Session executive decided that, because Bob is in a vulnerable category on account of age, he should not be conducting funerals on our behalf. I will be doing that for the foreseeable future. To date I have conducted three and it is a very different experience from normal times.

Thirdly, I am aware that people have been asking about progress in the vacancy. Sadly, we are not able to make any progress at the moment. Even if we could get permission to call we would be unable to elect a nominating committee as that has to be done at a meeting of the congregation. I’m afraid that, as in other congregations, and as in other areas of life, we’ll need to be patient. The First Minister hasn’t consulted me but I don’t think churches will be at the top of the priority list for easing restrictions.

I trust that it will not be too long before we are able to resume church activities. In the meantime, keep well and safe, and: God be with you ‘til we meet again.

Every blessing

Ann Inglis, Interim Moderator

 

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow  Edinburgh Churches

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

We continue to grow our online presence – if you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Congregational Finance

The accounts for last year have been completed. The accounts are not particularly easy to understand as they have had to be presented in a different way than we used to. The outcome is a deficit in the accounts of just over £400.

This is better than we feared largely as the Property Committee spent far less on maintenance than their budget.

I suspect most of you are more concerned about the present and future than the past. Fellowship, community and worship are far more important than money. However we can go ahead knowing that we have a firm financial buffer and can do (within reason) what we think is right. There will be changes in income and expenditure but these are difficult to quantify.

We have lost hall rentals and income from some church organisations. However our expenditure on heating and light is reducing.

While some members will of course experience serious drops in income and will need to adjust their donations many of us are either pensioners (like me blessed with final salary pensions) and others are in key jobs. We do have large reserves. The whole point of reserves is to be there in times of need, the proverbial rainy day has arrived.

Les Purdie

Service of Installation and Heart & Soul

Live on the Church of Scotland website and Facebook

Rev Dr Martin Fair will be installed as Moderator of the General Assembly on Saturday 16^th May at 11am. The ceremony will take place in the Assembly Hall with only a few people physically present because of the covid restrictions but followed by thousands of people across Scotland and across the world. The service will be captioned and there will be the option of BSL interpretation. Join us for an historic occasion and a clear statement that the Church is alive and active in these difficult days.

As part of that ‘Big Weekend’ for the Church of Scotland, a special ‘Heart and Soul 2020′ event will take place (online) on 17th May 2020. The current crisis has meant that the original event, scheduled to have taken place in Princes Street Gardens on that day, has had to be cancelled. Full details next week.

A Message from Tilda

“Glad to hear you all are safe and doing well.  In India probably due to early lock-downs or some unexplained reasons, we still have very few cases. No cases have reached to our hospital yet. But we are preparing ourselves to deal with the pandemic once it flares up in India. We are under lock-down till the 3rd of May.  Much of India’s lockdown is the same as UK and our churches are also meeting online only.

The hospital has slowed down considerably and we see only emergency patients most of the day, consequently our revenue generation has also decreased. We have applied many cost cutting measures and thinking of a percentage cut for all the employees. But we are happy and continue to provide the required services and know that God will provide for us. We thank God that he has provided a church like yours which can uphold us in prayers. Right now that is what we need the most.”

The update above was provided in an e mail by the new Medical Director of the Evangelical Mission Hospital in Tilda, Dr Dennis Martin.  He recently succeeded Dr Satyajit Jiwanmail, a name well known to Wardie as he had been the Director at Tilda since 2006, but reluctantly felt the time was right to move away for the sake of his family’s (four children) education. More news of Dr Martin in a future article as he has also promised to send on the Tilda Hospital Annual Report.

So, it’s good news there are no cases of Covid-19 in Tilda but bad news that they are having to implement cost-cutting measures including a percentage cut for the employees, but even with the world in the grip of its biggest public health crisis in over a century Dr Martin has such strong faith to “know that God will provide for us” and  “we thank God that he has provided a church like Wardie”.

So now more than ever Wardie should remember all the staff and patients at Tilda in our thoughts and in our prayers and although we may not be meeting up just now or likely to be back in our church buildings for who knows how long, I appeal to all the Wardie Church Family to keep collecting and putting money aside in your homes so that we can not only achieve our £1000 target but exceed it in this unforgettable year of 2020!

Brian Cooper

Thy Kingdom Come

21–31 May 2020 (Ascension to Pentecost Sunday)

With so much of the world “on hold”, it would be easy to think that the prayer initiative:  Thy Kingdom Come is another casualty.  Not at all!  If there is one thing that is needed at this time, alongside the care we can offer, it is united global prayer.  Physical distancing has actually brought us closer together as we recognise our common humanity and the challenges we must face together.

The Church of Scotland is delighted to be part of Thy Kingdom Come in 2020, while recognising that it needs to take a new approach because of COVID-19.  In the light of this, the Thy Kingdom Come website has been updated and adapted for our new situation:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/

One of the Key themes for Thy Kingdom Come 2020 is prayer and care.  As we are praying for those we love to come to know the hope and love of Christ, we are also encouraging all to see how they can show God’s love towards them, by caring for them.  The website suggests practical ways this can be done:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/prayer-and-care

Alongside this, there is a very helpful resource “Thy Kingdom Come – five ways to get involved” which is easily adapted for congregations in lockdown.  Resources can be downloaded and print at home:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/5-ways-your-church-can-be-involved-years-thy-kingdom-come

Let us join together with Christians across the country and around the world for Thy Kingdom Come 2020.  Wishing you every blessing,

Rt Revd Colin A M Sinclair, Moderator, General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Pick a pebble

Paint a pebble to add to the collection outside the main church door. Use varnish if you can to preserve the paint. There are spare pebbles in the church garden just inside the wooden gate. Follow the arrows round the back of the church and help yourself. Happy painting!

Heather’s Gardening Tips: 3

Renewing old plants: When a perennial plant has been in the same place for a few years the soil might run out of nutrients. You don’t want to throw a once-loved plant away and it is difficult just now to buy a replacement. You can dig up the plant, discard the oldest part in the centre and you should have lots of small plants. You can plant them somewhere else or back in the same place if you add compost and some fertiliser and remember to water it.  It takes a little longer than buying instant colour but potentially gives you several plants instead of just one.

The Church Garden

Like any garden the Church needs to be planted out with seed if it is to produce a harvest. The following suggestions can help us to make our Church what it ought to be.

First, plant five rows of “peas”

Presence, Promptness, Preparation, Purity, Perseverance

Next, plant three rows of Squash

Squash Gossip, Squash Criticism, Squash Indifference

Then plant five rows of Lettuce

Let us be Faithful to duty, Let us be Loyal and Unselfish, Let us be True to our obligations, Let us Obey rules and regulations, Let us Love one another

No garden is complete without Turnips

Turn up with a smile, Turn up with new ideas, Turn up with determination, to make everything count for something good and worthwhile.

Originally from the Mint Methodist Church in Exeter, and found in Redland Park Recorder, with thanks to Rosemary Philip.

 Poets’ Corner

Everyone Sang By Siegfried Sassoon Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom, Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on – on – and out of sight.   Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted; And beauty came like the setting sun: My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Drifted away … O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.

 As kindly suggested by Graeme Trotter

Notices…

Writing notices for the Order of Service is harder than you think as these examples show;

‘Erratum:  In last month’s Church magazine we included a note intimating  on behalf of the Church Guild sincere thanks to the Misses Green for their illuminating and fascinating talk on the subject of “ Smoking Drugs”. Their talk was in fact on the subject of “Smocking and Rugs”. We hope the Misses Green will accept our deepest apologies for this unfortunate mistake’.

With thanks to Adam Gillingham

ANON writes this week…

Santa was coming to Trinity … or at least his hair was nearly there! Discussions with other men led to offers of a loan  of clippers. No thanks,  maybe not in this viral world. So … direct from the big warehouse in Dunfermline came a humongous box, at least four shoe box size. Only problem, the big warehouse was being fumigated at that time because self-same virus was in it!

So … a very big box sat in the hall for two days, creating havoc until we thought we could open  it. Inside, about the size of a tube of toothpaste where the clippers were. 18 hours later they were charged and ready to go. By this time Santa had aged into old Father Time and clasps were doing the job in private.

“Number two all over” was the instruction … sadly clippers went from zero to 20 … wrong scale all together. A valiant attempt was made. Nervously. Very nervously!

He never ever saw the back, which is just as well to be honest. Now that third cut has been done and man is back to clean cut and quite good looking, the barber of Trinity is preparing to charge £8 a go at the next Gala!

And finally

Matthew and Michael were in trouble. Their Granny had warned them twice that they were making too much noise and on the third occasion the warning became a full-blown “screaming like a banshee” event! Two of the three participants were in tears. Matthew was quick to want to make up and soon he and his Granny were cuddling and apologising to each other. Michael had not shed a tear. He made no approach to make up. His Granny asked if he was still angry with her. “No, I’m not angry with you, Granny” he replied, “I’m just a little disappointed in you.” His Granny said she was disappointed in herself too!!

*** *** ***

1 May 2020

This week’s intro comes not from the Session Clerks, but from the Church buildings…

I sadly miss the groups who came each day;
The old, the young, the somewhere in-between;
The ones who came for tea and cake and play;
The ones who came distressed and left serene;

The Rainbows, Beavers, Brownies, Cub Scouts too;
The Guides and Scouts with leaders keen and true;
The Badminteenies, Bouncers, Zumbists, who
Kept fit with exercise both old and new;

The party kids who came for celebration;
The Banner Group who chat – and sometimes sew;
The prayerful coming here for re-creation;
The Youth Groups here to play and learn and grow;

The music makers, Open Door and Guild;
Pilates, Drama, Ballet and 4Men;
They are why my lovely halls were built;
They made me happy –
AND THEY WILL AGAIN!

My sanctuary will sing aloud with praise;
My members will be here to greet you when
The world returns to healthy joyful days,
And I WILL WELCOME EVERYONE AGAIN

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow  Edinburgh Churches

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

We continue to grow our online presence – if you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

The Banner Group

The banner group are preparing to start their new project – a banner for the New Hall. Luckily the design had been enlarged and photocopied before lockdown. We have lots of gorgeous new threads to work  (see photo) with so we are very inspired and raring to sew. We won’t be able to do much until we can meet but members of the group can make a start on some of the less interesting but necessary preliminaries and then it will be full steam ahead.

From Our Youth Worker, Mo Brand

Kidz@wardie have made a great contribution to the Wardie Church Rock Garden at the front of the church (which anyone is welcome to add too) but some of the Kidz@Wardie families have also been receiving some crafty projects and challenges. The last one focused on a single family cross with the challenge for each family member to colour one section at a time whilst sharing; something about Easter, that they are thankful for and/or a prayer.

There was also sunflower seeds (with discussion ideas on new life and sower parables). The packs also contained some masks because there’s lots of talk about hero’s at the moment and some paper spring flowers to get creative (cards for family or a wreath to hang).

If you would like to be included in the next mailing please contact youthwork@wardie.org.uk

Were also now able to share that the material that we normally use for kidz@wardie has an open link so that everyone can access it, if you would like some inspiration for stories and activities (section for adults too!) then do check out www.rootsontheweb.com and look for the roots at home link on the right of the home page.

Heather’s Gardening Tips: 2

Have you thought of growing some vegetables? Best to concentrate on those that don’t take up too much space and that you especially like. Seeds can be ordered online or in small quantities from me! Containers could be used to provide salad leaves, cut and come again lettuce, and carrots. Chives are always useful. In the ground or a large container with robust support, runner beans are also ornamental. Remember vegetables need to be well fed. Any questions: heathermchaffie@hotmail.com

Eco Congregation Scotland – Love Your Clothes Workshop

Following on from our network meetings I am arranging a series of online meetings, more details will follow in coming days. As a first meeting we are hosting an online “Love your Clothes workshop” on Wednesday 6th of May from 2.15-3.15Pm with Miriam Adcock from Zero Waste Scotland.

If you would like to attend this event please follow the link to register on our website

An estimated £100 million worth of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year and has the 4^th largest environmental impact after housing, transport and food.  Join in our online workshop to find out why clothing and in particular ‘fast fashion’ is so bad for the environment and learn practical ways we can do our bit to address this.

Judith Macleod, Programme Coordinator, Eco-Congregation Scotland

Poets’ Corner

Kindness Naomi Shihab Nye Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness. How you ride and ride thinking the bus will never stop, the passengers eating maize and chicken will stare out the window forever. Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho lies dead by the side of the road.

You must see how this could be you, how he too was someone who journeyed through the night with plans and the simple breath that kept him alive.Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing. You must wake up with sorrow. You must speak to it till your voice catches the thread of all sorrows and you see the size of the cloth. Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore, only kindness that ties your shoes and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread, only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say It is I you have been looking for, and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.From Words Under the Words: Selected Poems. Copyright © 1995 by Naomi Shihab Nye.

 As kindly suggested by Graeme Trotter

 

Notices…

Writing notices for the Order of Service is harder than you think as these examples show ;

The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water’.  The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus’.  

Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.  

And finally

Today is Thursday. I know this, because I looked it up. Now as a teacher, I worked hard and often I had to work hard at home too. I always found the premise of “working from home” to be quite  a difficult one to accept. I reckon I’d just do the washing and paint my nails. Anyway, as I perambulate Trinity most days at 9am ish, I have been most impressed by the number of people at desks in windows with funny things in their ears and talking to thin air.

One day recently though, I came home and started the ‘moan at home’ mode.

“Well, that didn’t last long. There’s nobody working from home today!” Reply from my man – “It’s Saturday.”

I send abject apologies to all you home workers. You are allowed a day off. If only I knew, these days, what day of the week it is! ANON

If you have any suggestions for our ‘and finally’ section, simply drop an email to sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk.

*** *** ***

24 April 2020

From the Session Clerks

It has been a creative week with a good number of submissions and suggestions for items for the newsletter.Please keep them coming.

One question that we have been asked by several people in the last couple of weeks is what is happening regarding the vacancy at Wardie. In these current times there is little we can practically do anyway but it is our aim to ensure that when the lockdown restrictions are eased and the wheels of progress start to turn again that we are ready to go.

We remain thankful for the work and guidance of our Interim Moderator and Locum at this time.

Paul Mitchell & Heather McHaffie, Joint Session Clerks

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday. We have received many kind comments about providing this and it is proving a beneficial resource.  Please feel free to share the PDF with family and friends.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow  Edinburgh Churches

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

We continue to grow our online presence – if you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Email

We are striving to ensure that we have the correct addresses to allow us to keep in touch with as many people as possible. If you are speaking to a fellow member please ask if they are receiving this email and if they are not, please ask them to contact either of the Session clerks. Contact details are shown later in the newsletter.

The Next Step – Wardie Guild

Had this been a normal year, our Guild session would have been drawing to a close and looking forward to our twice-monthly Summer Coffee Bothy. Although, sadly, we have been unable to meet since 4 March, it is good to know that there have been regular phone and email contacts between members plus a weekly e-newsletter from Guild Headquarters. If you have not already given us your email and are, therefore, not on our e-newsletter distribution list, do get in touch.

The Guild Committee thought you would like to know that they, too, have been busy. As our Guild Theme for next session is ‘The Next Step’, we thought it was appropriate to take that ‘next step’ and plan our programme for session 2020-21. I am happy to tell you that it is almost complete.

We will start on Sunday 13 September with the Guild Dedication as part of the Sunday morning service. That will be followed by our opening meeting on Wednesday 16 September at 10.30am which, as usual, will be a short communion service.

We have brought forward our project fund-raising sale and coffee morning to November 2020 (so don’t dispose of the items you had looked out for our March sale which had to be cancelled).

We look forward to seeing everyone again and hope that you will enjoy the new season’s programme and find it varied, informative, inspiring and entertaining. Our aim is to provide friendship, fellowship and fun. Our meetings are open to all and I have no doubt you will receive a warm welcome whether you come along to join us or just come along to one (or more) meetings in which you are particularly interested.

Maureen Kelly, President, maureen@tandemkelly.co.uk

Heather’s gardening tips: 1

There are still seeds for bedding plants in the supermarkets so grow your own. Use garden soil if no compost, recycle tubs and cartons for pots. Try to use some fertiliser when you plant out at the end of May. Or if sowing in open ground. Read the instructions on the packet. Questions? Email heathermchaffie@hotmail.com.

Cheery content for our noticeboards

This week we’ve been sprucing up the content of our noticeboards. We’ll aim to refresh content regularly, so if you have any tips to make life easier under lockdown, any jokes, any uplifting poems or thoughts, or any emailable pictures to brighten the day of passers-by, please send them to news@wardie.org.uk. We can’t guarantee to include them but we will do our best! You don’t need to worry about how your content looks – we will put it in a nice Wardie-style format for you. Please mention if you’re happy for us to give your name as a contributor.

Life & Work – The Magazine of the Church of Scotland

During this challenging period, Life and Work is committed to helping keep our Christian community connected. The magazine will continue to be published as normal and distributed to our loyal readers. If for any reason you don’t receive your printed copy of the May issue, you can access a free digital copy.

Coronavirus – The coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on the Church at every level. Life and Work’s coverage includes:

    how local churches are responding by offering worship online

how the lockdown is impacting efforts to feed the hungry and homeless

reports on the closure of the national office and the cancellation of the 2020 General Assembly

reflections from our regular columnists

Also this month:

Feeding the Hungry – The daily reality at an Edinburgh foodbank

‘God’s Not Finished With Scotland’ – An interview with the Moderator-Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair. Plus short reflections from Dr Fair on ‘Fishers of Men’, from the passage he planned to use during the General Assembly

Plus all the regular columnists, news, reviews, letters, registers and crosswords

Subscribe online from £12, or download a digital copy for £1.99; or speak to your church’s Life and Work coordinator.

The May Life and work has still to arrive and I hope to deliver as many as possible with the April ones (still in the church) during my daily walk.

Regards, June Grieve, Wardie Life & Work Co-ordinator

Helping People Stay Connected

Desperately seeking your old computers

We have been approached by Glenn Liddall with an appeal for old computers, laptops, tablets, screens, mice and keyboards. Why would he want them you ask?

Glenn runs the charity People Know How, and along with a team of volunteers has been refurbishing old computers and getting them delivered to families and adults who are without a computer and access to the internet. They have teamed up with the charity Venture Scotland who are covering the logistics and delivering computers to people’s doorsteps. Volunteers are also helping people to set their computer up over the telephone and access the best deal for their internet.

We all know how important it is to stay connected at this time and Glenn has shared stories of supporting families to home school and connect by video call with loved ones. If you can make a donation please email contactus@peopleknowhow.org and People Know How will arrange collection from your front step or pavement. Furthermore, if you have connections with a business or organisations who have a number of devices – they would love to collect them.

For more information: https://peopleknowhow.org/staying-connected-coronavirus/

And finally

So, Thursday night on the street , once the clapping had stopped , the word went out “ last brown bin collection is tomorrow!” Oh No! And I had one and a half empty ones. Only solution, get up sharp, gardening clothes on and get cutting and pruning!

This I duly did at just after nine. One yellow plastic container nearly full. What is that noise I hear? No! It can’t be ! Yes it was! Rushing to put my meagre clippings into the brown bin, two very hard working and appreciated bin-men [or should it be people] were around. Says I in my inimitable fashion “ please could you come back in a hour?” The more mature man replies “wir no comin‘ back at a’ hen” “Oh Dear” I reply “thanks anyway” . The young man appears from behind lorry and starts , from a safe distance of course, an explanation of why they couldn’t turn the lorry round and come back in an hour. He apologised.

It took me a while to realise that he didn’t realise that I was joking. I must learn to improve my intonation lest any other valiant workers get the wrong message! And , no, you can’t have brown bin space. I completed my task yesterday! ANON

If you have any suggestions for our ‘and finally’ section, simply drop an email to sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk.

*** *** ***

17 April 2020

From the Session Clerks

It is a thought that not  many of us will not recall a stranger Easter than the one that we have just experienced. If you have had the chance to walk past the Church building you will have seen a beautiful Easter Cross made from flowers and then by the front steps the painted stones. The chalk drawings on the pavement were also wonderful to see. Anyone walking past could not have failed to see the message that radiated.

Churches all across Scotland, the UK and the world are having to innovate to stay and touch and the signs are that people are engaging. We continue to grow our online presence – if you don’t already follow us on Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’. We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Carey Nieuwhof, a former lawyer and the founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, is a much sought after conference speaker and podcaster. Two of his tweets (@cnieuwhof)  have caught the eye this week – the first is that he estimates that half of all churches in the USA are suddenly growing in these troubled times. The second was this:

“As much as many churches went online for the first time and everyone made digital their default, the long debate about whether online church is ‘real’ or not is settled. And even if it’s not settled theologically (a few still have questions), it is settled practically.”

Food for thought. Paul Mitchell & Heather McHaffie, Joint Session Clerks

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Sunday. We have received many kind comments about providing this and it is proving a beneficial resource.  Please feel free to share the PDF with family and friends.

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow Edinburgh Churches:

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

Intimation

It is with sadness that we have to announce the deaths of two our of members.

Derek Watson and John Lyon passed away earlier this month. Rev Ann Inglis has been in contact with both families and has looked after the funeral arrangements.

We remember the families of Derek and John in our prayers at this difficult time.

Email

A big thanks to all the Elders who have been in touch with their districts to keep in touch and also to ensure that we hold correct email addresses for everyone. We are striving to ensure that we have the correct addresses to allow us to keep in touch with as many people as possible.

Can you help Crossreach?

From the Church of Scotland Assembly Trustees

Crossreach, the social service arm of the CofS, are in urgent need of volunteers to help them continue providing vital care services to some of the most vulnerable individuals in Scotland during this unprecedented healthcare emergency.  The need is greatest in their residential care facilities and other services for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable just now.

Crossreach are particularly looking for volunteers who have experience of working in care and/or nursing. Potential helpers might have looked after a relative in the past or would even like to learn new skills.  In addition, those staff with existing membership of the PVG scheme would be fast tracked into helping as soon as possible and therefore this would be a great benefit. The types of tasks they need assistance with are keeping people company/engaged, help with feeding residents, supporting hydration needs, and general cleaning tasks.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is in place and would, of course, be provided.

If you are able to help, please email Mari Rennie, Crossreach’s Director of HR, at  mari.rennie@crossreach.org.uk.  They would be immensely grateful for our support at this time.

Quiz – A Reminder!

Our resident quiz master, Tom Kelly, has produced a stay-at-home quiz about Wardie Parish Church. With one exception, the questions can all be answered from the internet. The remaining question can be answered from the recent church history 1985-2015. So you should be able to complete the quiz from home!

Chocolate-based prizes are available. Access Tom’s Teasers at: https://www.wardie.org.uk/toms-teasers-a-wardie-church-quiz/

A New Minister

Rev Attie van Wyk, 38, a Kirk minister originally from South Africa who has yet to move to his new congregation of Edinburgh’s Liberton Northfield Church, was inducted remotely on Tuesday (14 April) at 7pm. The formal induction, hosted by Presbytery Moderator, Rev Dr Richard Frazer, and Depute Presbytery Clerk, Dr Hazel Hastie, was conducted using both Zoom and Facebook Live and watched by around 1,100 people.

Rev Attie van Wyk said “Although this was a first for the Presbytery of Edinburgh and for me, many of my family and friends expressed their gratitude being able to follow the virtual induction. Together with them I felt cherished and welcomed by the manner in which the online induction was conducted. I am very grateful unto our Lord that this was such a blessed event. I heard of the statistics being around 1,100 people tuning in to the online induction – this gives me hope and it shows that folk still appreciate being part of the body of Christ even though we couldn’t be physically together.”

Attie is still living in his old manse in the parish of St Andrew’s Lhanbryde and Urquhart in Moray, where he spent a one-year familiarisation placement with the Church of Scotland, and will stay on there during the lockdown period.

However, as a result, the two congregations of St Andrew’s Lhanbryde and Urquhart and Edinburgh’s Liberton Northfield have become closely connected through the lockdown and their use of technology to share in Sunday worship through YouTube, which Attie described as “a wonderful initiative”.

And finally

This week, the following tweets have been highlighted to us;

“In an unsettling reversal of my teenage years I am now yelling at my parents for going out.”

“Oh now everyone wants to know what introverts do for fun”

If you have any suggestions for our ‘and finally’ section, simply drop an email to sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk.

*** *** ***

10 April 2020

From the Session Clerks

In a week in which we saw the Prime Minister taken into hospital to aid his recovery against covid19 it was a reminder that this virus can strike anywhere.

Our NHS staff and the network of support workers continue to earn the gratitude of a nation for the unstinting work they do. This contrasts with the blatant disregard by some in the population when it comes to the need for social distancing.  As in so much of life, we see the best and sadly some of the less desirable traits that people can show.

Our thanks to all involved in preparing reflections for Holy Week which have been on our website and advertised across our social media channels.

This has been a strange Holy Week, not being able to gather to worship, to reflect and to share. Perhaps hardest of all will not being together on Easter Day, to share in the joy that it brings. May we still experience that joy, and where we can, share the good news with others. Happy Easter.

Paul Mitchell & Heather McHaffie, Joint Session Clerks

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for Easter Sunday. We have received many kind comments about providing this and it is proving a beneficial resource.  Please feel free to share the PDF with family and friends.

Online Resources

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend the services of two fellow Edinburgh Churches

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

PPC will post a Good Friday Service this evening at 7.30pm. PPC had kindly invited Joint Session Clerk Paul Mitchell to take part, by reading a bible lesson, but he was unwell when it was recorded.

Social Media

Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’ and follow us.  Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

Email

We have received several requests from people to be added to the list to ensure that they receive the newsletter. We have been successful in updating our records to the point that we have over 100 new or corrected email addresses in our system.

New Book

A book idea for the lockdown period

My fourth novel, ‘The Unreliable Death of Lady Grange’, is just out. It’s based on the life of an extraordinary historical figure – Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange, who in 1732 was kidnapped by her own husband and banished to the remote Monach Islands (west of North Uist) for two years, then for a further 7–8 years on St Kilda before spending her final lonely years on Skye.

I have written a work of historical fiction around her story and given her a voice – something that was unusual for eighteenth-century ladies! The book’s been described in reviews as ‘gripping’ ‘page-turning’ ‘intriguing’ (thank you!) and perhaps most pertinent in these lockdown days: ‘provides a ray of hope in these most harrowing of times.’

It is available to purchase from the following retailers – Blackwells, Book Depository, Guardian Bookshop. Sue Lawrence

Try your hand at our Wardie Church quiz!

Our resident quiz master, Tom Kelly, has produced a stay-at-home quiz about Wardie Parish Church. With one exception, the questions can all be answered from the internet. The remaining question can be answered from the recent church history 1985-2015. So you should be able to complete the quiz from home!

Chocolate-based prizes are available. Access Tom’s Teasers at: https://www.wardie.org.uk/toms-teasers-a-wardie-church-quiz/

If you have any suggestions for our ‘and finally’ section, simply drop an email to sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk.

This week, a few exclusive tasty suggestions from Sue Lawrence on how to take what may be lurking at the back of the cupboard and transform them into something tasty.

In these challenging and unprecedented times, many of us are resorting to larder ingredients for everyday cooking. Here are a couple of ideas:

Tinned chickpeas are of course great for hummus, but you can also use tinned butter beans or haricot beans: whiz these up with some tahini (if you have), olive oil, cumin and garlic then serve this with pitta to dip OR top with quick fried minced lamb zapped with ras al hanout or Za-atar in the spice drawer.

Alternatively, make a simple stew. Start by sauteeing onion and garlic then stir in some ginger or turmeric or chilli then, once golden, add a tin of chickpeas, sizzle a little then stir in a tin of coconut milk. Cook, covered, for about 20 minutes.

Tinned sardines are a lifesaver! I like them on toast of course, but another idea is based on a Sicilian pasta recipe: put some spaghetti on to boil. Heat a frying pan with olive oil and sauté some garlic for a minute then add a couple of handfuls of fresh breadcrumbs (white or brown), cook till golden & crunchy. Remove with slotted spoon, add splash of oil from the sardine tin then add the sardines, mash them up a little, return breadcrumbs to pan, add loads of freshly chopped parsley (or mint) and perhaps some freshly grated lemon zest. Drain the pasta, retaining a little of the pasta water. Toss the pasta and sardine breadcrumbs together, loosening with some pasta water if needed. Season with regular pepper or a good grinding from a chilli pepper mill.

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3 April 2020

From the Session Clerks

Thanks to all who continue to show great kindness at this time. The support within the congregation is strong and while we are limited by government restrictions re movement people are doing their best to look after those close to them – a real strong sign of community.

We are looking in the next few days at how we best update the noticeboards at the Church and also see how we can visually celebrate Easter when it comes.

Paul Mitchell & Heather McHaffie, Joint Session Clerks 

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for this week. It contains an opening prayer, a reading, a sermon by Rev Bob Gemmell and a closing prayer.

We pray that people will find this a good resource. We are looking at providing resources for Easter and we will pass on details in due course. 

Online Resources

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. You are warmly invited to join them online this Sunday morning at 10.30am via their website

We also recommend two Edinburgh Churches who have been looking at both live streaming and recording of services using the video conference software called “Zoom”

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

Letter from Ute

Dear Friends at Wardie Parish Church,

Many apologies for not writing earlier to you. It seems like a very long time ago since we left Wardie. The world we live in has changed dramatically in the space of only three months or so. When we left, we did so with the promise to keep in touch and to build bridges to the continent. What better time than a time of crisis to reassure each other that we are one in prayer, in faith, in hope.

Firstly, Kenneth and I would like to thank you all again for your very generous parting gifts, your extremely kind words and farewell. The love and hospitality you have shown us helped us on our way down South on a very dreich Friday morning. Once we had crossed the tunnel by train early next morning, we took the opportunity to go for a long walk along the beach of Bray-Dunes near the Belgian border. The tide was low as we walked towards Dunkirk. It felt strange just after having left Britain to arrive in a place where so many British people lost their lives to free Europe from the horrors of the totalitarian, racist, antisemitic state Germany had become under Hitler. We didn’t stop again until we arrived at my mum’s where we stayed overnight. The car did well but when we arrived the next day at the new Manse, it refused to budge again. Our first purchase in Germany was a new battery!

We are very lucky to live only 3 minutes’ walk away from the Black Forest. Baden-Baden is nestled along a valley by the river Oos. We both immediately started work in our new parishes – Kenneth in the Luthergemeinde Lichtental, I am ministering in the Paulusgemeinde Baden-Baden. Our offices are only 20 minutes away by bike, 10 min by car. In Germany, elders are elected for a period of six years and not ordained, but inducted. The last election took place last December so that I have a new team of six(!) elders. This is the number given to a congregation of just under 2000 members. Due to a long vacancy, church attendance is very low, between 20–30 people each Sunday. However, there is a very active youth group (around 12–15 young people, similar to Network) and the same is true for the young people preparing for confirmation. There is also a small team in charge of Sunday services for children which take place every so often. There is a lot of work to be done, but there is also a lot of potential and very enthusiastic people. I keep mentioning here all the great work that takes place at Wardie!

You can read the letter in full here

Youth Work

Our Youth Worker, Mo, has been busy providing suggested activities for our children and is staying in touch with families electronically.  One suggestion has been to make some ‘shouting stones’ based on Luke 19:30-40

Paint/draw on any stone you can find (teeny tiny ones welcome) and decorate them to stand out – If you’re taking daily walks and pass the church, consider adding these stones to the left or right of the steps by the main entrance – do take a photo (remember your paint may wash away or someone may take your stone so only leave if you’re very happy to brighten up the front of the church for a while and don’t mind if you don’t get them back).

Mo is looking for images of flowers (pictures or drawings) that can be sent digitally to her at youthwork@wardie.org.uk to create a digital version of the Easter flower cross. Images need to be with Mo by 8^th April

Traidcraft Stock for Sale

Biscuits – Ginger Stem £1.80, Double Choc Chunk £1.80, Fruit & Oatie £1.80, Chocolate Chip Cookies £1.00, Poppy Seed & Black Pepper £2.20.

Chocolate – Traidcraft Milk £2.35, Traidcraft Dark £2.35, Divine Smooth Milk with Gingerbread Crisp £2.40.

Cupboard – Pasta £2.05, Rice £3.15, Raisins £3.10, Sultanas £3.10, Dried Mixed Fruit £3.80.

Coffee  – Instant coffee (jar) £4.15, Ground Medium Coffee (strength 3) £3.75, Ground Ethiopian Coffee (strength 4) £3.80.

Household – Washing up liquid (750ml) £2.25.

If you are interested in an item/s please contact Sarah Boyd on 07905 075259 or  sarahlcboyd@gmail.com 

Social Media

Facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’ and follow us.  Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

And Finally

So how are we all coping? May I tell you of my experience this past week? Being in need of somebody to do the shopping  for us, we have depended on the supermarket that provides ORANGE carriers for our sustenance. We had no problem, lucky us, in getting a “ slot” because we were on their books as       “vulnerable” ie antiquated and used them before. Anyway, wonderful system produced everything we asked for…well almost ! Bread , gin, butter, mince, tonic, carrots ,wine and so on

But…I sent for Clairol number 600… you know that I could not possibly be this colour at 75, didn’t you? Sort of medium brown! What arrived was light blonde!! Now, if I was not going grey in the short term ahead…was I going blonde??

The lovely delivery man took it back without comment… wisely… and a wonderful neighbour phoned from the very shelves… and got it!! Yes!! That’s me in the garden… please chat if you pass. Let’s hope and indeed pray to stay medium brown. Best wishes to all

Sheila Mann

Quiz

If you are a fan of restaurants in Edinburgh and you know your phone emojis you may be interested in this quiz from the Evening News – link here

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27 March 2020

From the Session Clerks

It has been a busy week with changes to the guidance and instructions from the Government and the Church of Scotland on how we are allowed to operate. The Church Building is now closed and should only be accessed if there is a pressing need to do so.  Our aim to have the church open for prayer on Sunday 29th is no longer possible and that has been cancelled. The Garden is still available for people to work on, as this is outside, but this is a solo activity.

To adapt one of the best lines this week, “Our buildings may be closed but the Church is still open”.

We are seeing this across the country as the Church seeks to play its part in helping the nation through this difficult time. Locally we are restricted due to the instructions we have received but we are making a service available on our website with written prayers and a sermon.  We are also including links to some Churches who are experimenting with video services.

Our Elders have been asked to get in touch with those in their districts, checking email addresses and passing onto to our Locum and Pastoral Team leader any salient information. Members know that they are able to contact their Elder or Locum if they wish. Our Pastoral Care Team and volunteers are keeping in touch with those most isolated by telephone to keep in touch.

Please stay safe. And we look forward to being together at Wardie when it is safe to do.

Paul Mitchell & Heather McHaffie, Joint Session Clerks

Social Media

Wardie has launched a facebook page this week to allow people to have another way to connect with us. Facebook is tried and tested technology and has great capacity to share information. If you are a facebook user please look for ‘@WardieChurchEdinburgh’ and follow us.

We are also on Twitter @WardieChurch and on Instagram – wardiechurch

All those who are running these accounts are aware of the Church of Scotland social media policies and are ensuring that they are followed.

Worship

Please find attached a PDF containing the worship for this week. It contains an opening prayer, a reading, a sermon by Rev Bob Gemmell and a closing prayer. We pray that people will find this a good resource.

We are looking at providing resources for Easter and we will pass on details in due course.

Online Resources

Our Interim Moderator and Locum, Rev Ann Inglis & Rev Bob Gemmell, who are both involved at Queensferry & Dalmeny Churches. These Churches had been looking at live streaming services and indeed did so last Sunday. We had planned to provide links but due to the chance in Government instruction these are currently on hold.

We are pleased to recommend two Edinburgh Churches who have been looking at both live streaming and recording of services using the video conference software called “Zoom”

Greenside Church – https://www.greenbankchurch.org/recordings/live-video/

Palmerston Place Church – https://palmerstonplacechurch.com/online-church/

*** *** ***

20 March 2020

This newsletter is being sent to all members of Wardie Parish Church to help keep people up to date with what is happening  in these times of precautions against the coronavirus, which has impacted on every strand of everyday life.

For the next few weeks this will be a weekly newsletter as it is felt that this is an effective way of keeping in touch. There will be no ‘News at Wardie’ in April.

Our website is being kept up to date and will offer various strands of information are explained in this Newsletter.

We have already had a large number of people offering help during these trying times. We will seek to see how we can best use these offers – it is already a terrific example of the sense of care and family within the congregation.

Heather McHaffie & Paul Mitchell, Joint Session Clerks 

 Message from Rev. Ann Inglis, Interim Moderator

Dear Friends,

We are living in days of great uncertainty. Each news bulletin brings developments in the coronavirus outbreak both here and in other countries. Uncertainty inevitably leads to anxiety and, when people are isolated for lengthy periods, there is the likelihood of some people feeling depressed. All of us are seeing our lives affected. The Church of Scotland, along with other mainstream churches, has ceased to hold worship and all meetings and other gatherings have been cancelled.

We are developing ways of keeping in touch with members and of providing reflections, prayers etc. on this website. Look out for developments. We are also looking at ways of providing pastoral contact in ways which are very different from those with which we are familiar. A number of people have offered practical help. While we are very pleased that they have done so, we need to be very careful that we comply with all safeguarding matters and we are giving this matter careful consideration. A time such as this can either bring out the best in people or can bring out the worst. Let’s be sure that it brings out the best in us!

Given the above developments it is clear that the vacancy process will be delayed. As with all other aspects of our lives it would be useless to speculate about how long we will find ourselves in this situation. Be assured that we will keep you informed.

We are currently in the season of Lent. This season is traditionally when Christian people aim to deepen their spiritual lives as we journey with Jesus to the cross and beyond. It is a time to think anew about our faith and our commitment. Sometimes when people feel alarmed at what is happening around them in the world they lose faith, while others find their faith deepened as we realise once again that our God is a God who never abandons us. He doesn’t always stop bad things happening to us but he is there with us as we go through these times. God is our refuge and strength. In a time of change and confusion we should never lose sight of the fact of the promise made by Jesus that he will be with us always to the end of the age.

Easter is traditionally a time for celebrating with family and friends. That will not be possible for us this year. We can still celebrate the enormous truth that our Lord died and rose again – FOR US! I wish you a blessed Easter season as once again we rejoice that Jesus is risen.

Wishing you every blessing

Ann Inglis

The Wardie Co-ordinating Team met on 18^th March and the following was agreed regarding Worship, Communication, Pastoral Support and Governance.

Worship

• Following the guidance of the Church of Scotland, all worship services are all cancelled indefinitely.
• The church sanctuary will be open from 10.30am–11.30am this Sunday and possible future Sundays for private prayer. This is a chance to drop-in and is not a congregational gathering.
• We will be publicising via our website services that will be broadcast across the BBC on both television and radio. The BBC have promised increased religious broadcasting content.
• We will be looking at some locally produced content for our own website in the shape of a weekly message We will also link to some Edinburgh-based replacement service content that some churches are making for this time.
• Our Youth Worker, Mo Brand, will be preparing family packs and will have electronic communication with families and Network to allow parents to have material to use with their children.

Communication

• We are planning a weekly newsletter as a way of staying in touch. This would be emailed to all who have this facility.
• A limited number of paper copies will be safely delivered to the people who do not use email.

Elders are being asked to speak to all their district (by telephone or email) and ask for email addresses we do not yet have, if available.

Pastoral Support

• Telephone support will be made available to those who have additional visiting needs or feel isolated. This may be from our Locum or Pastoral Care Team.
• Safeguarding requirements mean that those providing assistance to vulnerable people must have the appropriate PVG certificate

Governance

• The Kirk Session is unable to meet at this time. It has been proposed that a small group consisting of the Interim Moderator, Joint Session Clerks and two further Elders to handle day-to-day decision making.
• There will be no Stated Annual Meeting at this time, Information on what would have been covered will be shared via the newsletter and website
• There will be delays over the Vacancy process as although we might obtain permission to call (although no Presbytery meetings) we cannot appoint a Nominating Committee with under the current guidelines the Congregation is unable to meet.

Contact

Bob Gemmell can be contacted on 0131 331 4608 and by email at robertggemmell@btinternet.com

Session Clerks, Heather McHaffie and Paul Mitchell, can be contacted by email at sessionadmin@wardie.org.uk and sessionprojects@wardie.org.uk

*** *** ***

News at Wardie

Below you can find links to the latest editions of our newsletter, News at Wardie.

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

June 2019

May 2019

April 2019

March 2019

February 2019

January 2019