GRAPEV NE

INTRODUCING KATE PEARSON

www.mayfieldsalisbury.org

Mayf ie ld Sa l i sbur y Par ish (Edinburgh) Church of Scot land

SERMON: A SCOTTISH ASHRAM? ELDERS: SERVICE OF ORDINATION

September 2017 Issue 229 Scottish Charity SC000785

Dear Friends,

September is a month of change atMayfield Salisbury. We will welcomeHilary Leslie as our new Youth Worker.Hilary is an American citizen with youthwork experience in Pennsylvania,Louisiana and Northern Ireland. Hilaryaims to lead discipleship programs, ayouth club, discussion forums andoccasional retreats while helping to shapeour early service and occasional eveningservice with greater youth participation.These are exciting times!

Towards the end of September, wewelcome the Revd Laurene Lafontaine,an American citizen who has beenaccepted for the Ministry of Word andSacrament in the Church of Scotland.Laurene was ordained in 1987 in thePresbyterian Church USA. She will spendbetween 9 months and a year with us on aprogramme of familiarisation. Laurenehas served in a number of roles inColorado and Minnesota, and has activelyworked for the full inclusion of LGBTpeople in PCUSA. Again, we lookforward to Laurene’s ministry among us!

On Sunday 24 September, sadly, we will besaying ‘Goodbye’ to our PastoralAssistant, Sheila Bryer. Sheila has beenan enormous blessing to us over the yearsof her ministry among us. I shall verymuch miss her insight, sensitivity, care,humour and spiritual companionship. Wewish her well on the road that lies ahead.Here is one of Sheila’s poems:

Ballad of the Hawthorn TreeI have grown as I would, between fields,a landmark. Never the finest specimen but tough, resilient, used to margins.

At first I barely noticed him, the child beneath, solemn and still.But why did he lift his small arms so -

and why should he sigh?Could it be for my blood red berries,my unforgiving thorns?

He went his way smiling; made no reply; left only longingfor an upturned face that mirrored the sky.

Every blessingScott

THE MANSE Revd Scott S. McKenna

SPIRITUAL GROWTH FUND The congregation has a fund administered bythe Kirk Session the purpose of which is to resource spiritual growth. One useof the fund is to support individuals who wish to undertake courses designed tohelp with personal spiritual growth, such as silent prayer, Spiritual Direction orIgnatian Spirituality. To be eligible, applicants need to explain how undertakingsuch a course would be beneficial to them and Mayfield Salisbury or the widerChurch. You can apply for a grant from this fund by contacting the Minister.

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INTRODUCING KATE PEARSON

We are delighted to welcome Kate Pearsonas organist at Mayfield Salisbury. Katehas been playing at our services since July2017. She was previously the organist atSt. John the Evangelist Church in Bexley,Kent, and assistant organist at theShadyside Presbyterian Church, inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has aBachelor's degree in organ performancefrom the Oberlin Conservatory of Music,in the US, and a Master’s in organperformance from the Escola Superior deMúsica, in Lisbon, Portugal.

During her organ studies in Lisbon, Kateparticipated in Early Music festivals inMafra, Portugal, and Daroca, Spain, andalso played for services at the JerónimosMonastery and the Monastery of SãoVicente de Fora in Lisbon. She has givenorgan recitals in Heinz Chapel, Pittsburgh,

the historic organ at São Vicente, Lisbon,on the unique set of six organs in theBasilica at the Palace of Mafra, Portugal,and most recently at St. Mary's Cathedral,in Edinburgh.

Apart from music performance, Kate alsohas degrees in East Asian studies fromOberlin College, in the US, and a Mastersdegree in Library and Information Sciencefrom the University of Pittsburgh, inPennsylvania. Since February 2017, Katehas been living in Edinburgh with herhusband João, who is an AssistantProfessor of Electrical Engineering atHeriot-Watt University. Kate has beenenjoying getting to know everyone atMayfield Salisbury Church.

Catriona Spratt

It is a passionate tale of treachery, tears,jealousy and reconciliation. The story ofJoseph is an Old Testament myth about aHebrew shepherd boy rising from the pitof betrayal and imprisonment to serve asgovernor of Egypt, Pharaoh’s most seniorofficial. Decades after Joseph was soldinto slavery by his eleven brothers, thetables are now turned. Now it is thebrothers who are in desperate need.Famine has struck their land. Thebrothers travel to Egypt in search of food;the survival of their families depends ontheir success. Unaware of the governor’strue identity, the brother’s make their plea.Finally, Joseph can bear it no longer.

In our lesson today, we hear of his tears:Joseph wept so loudly that the entirehousehold of Pharaoh heard him sob. Heasked his brothers, ‘Come closer to me’.He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whomyou sold into Egypt.’ Joseph tells them tobring their father to Egypt, to bring alltheir families and livestock, and to be sureof their safety and survival. In tears,Joseph kissed and embraced his brothersbeginning with Benjamin. The myth, orfaith narrative, has much to say abouthuman nature: parental favouritism,sibling rivalry and how we might perceivethe presence of God in suffering, in thetwists and turns of our life. The Joseph

myth is almost a repeat of the Jacob storywith many parallels: both had motherswho for many years were unable to givebirth; both were hated by their brothers;and in dreams, both encountered angels.For me, what is most striking about theJoseph story is Joseph’s love, compassionand forgiveness. When he saw the facesof his brothers, when he felt their need, hecried. There is no rage or vengeance; noplot or scheming for revenge. His heartbreaks.

For me, the myth of Joseph conveys thelove, compassion and forgiveness of God;the sensitivity and tenderness of theTranscendent. Joseph embodies theEternal. As is often the case in Jewishstories, details matter; names matter. Thename Joseph is almost certainly anabbreviated version of Jehoseph. ‘Jeh’ atthe beginning is from Yahweh, the nameof God. Later, it is this God Yahwehwhom Moses will encounter in mysticalvision on Mount Sinai, the God who says,‘I have heard the cry of my people.’ Inthe myth of Joseph, Jehoseph, we glimpsethe unutterable beauty of the One whoholds the universe in being.

In our Gospel story today we areconfronted with the uncomfortablemoment when, it appears, Jesus called a

SERMON Revd Scott S. McKenna

A SCOTTISH ASHRAM?CO-PILGRIMS IN A WORLD OF DIVERSITY AND COLOUR

Sunday 20 Aug su t 2017

Genesis 45: 1 - 15 St Matthew 15: 21 – 28

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Jacob receives the bloody robe of his son Joseph. Painting by Pelegrí Clavé (1811 - 1880)

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woman a dog. Jesus had travelled to thedistrict of Tyre and Sidon. He met aCanaanite woman who begged Him forhelp. She said that her daughter wastormented by a demon. Believing that Hewas to help only the children of Israel andnot Gentiles, not non-Jews, Jesus said, ‘It isnot fair to take the children’s food andthrow it to the dogs.’ Undeterred,kneeling before Him, she said, ‘Yes, Lord,yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fallfrom their master’s table.’ What do youhear and see in that moment, in thatexchange? Her use of the word ‘dogs’ ispoignant: can He look on her face - nomore than an arm’s length away, gaze intoher eyes, and call her a dog? ‘Yes, Lord,yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fallfrom their master’s table.’ Can Jesus bearsuch a diminution of her humanity? Hesaid, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be

done for you as you wish.’

The district of Tyre and Sidon was Gentileterritory: the inhabitants were not Jews;they had different customs from thepeople of Israel and a different religion.The woman was Canaanite. Only twice inthe Gospels is a non-Jew commended forhis or her faith: this woman and a Romancenturion. Looking at her face, gazinginto her eyes, can Jesus bear to call her adog? Perhaps when Jesus first used theterm there was something in His tone,something in His eyes, which encouragedthe woman to challenge the acceptedcustom? It is to our country’s credit thataccepted customs are challenged: I thinkof the Pride March in Glasgow yesterday.It is to the credit of many in the UnitedStates that extreme views, views whichdehumanise, are challenged.

Jesus was a teacher of kavannah. It is thepractice of inwardness, intention and thestirrings of the heart. What lies in theheart, the soul, is what truly and ultimatelymatters. Before encountering the woman,Jesus had been teaching about what defileshumanity. He said that it is not what goesinto the mouth which defiles a person butwhat comes out of the mouth. Alt-Righttake note! Jesus understood that what liesin the heart is the measure and beauty of ahuman being. I suspect that Jesus’ use ofthe word ‘dog’ has implied within it theassumption that He did not and could notbelieve that. What mattered, whatmatters, to Jesus is what lies in the heart.

In the story set in Tyre and Sidon with aCanaanite woman I hope you noticed thatJesus crossed a number of boundaries:geographical, ethnic, gender and religious.When we look into the heart of anotherhuman being, the importance of these

differences fades. They do not disappear,but become secondary. To use Shylock’sfamiliar phrase, ‘If you prick us, do we notbleed?’ As we look to the future in the21st century, what will the next onehundred years mean for the religions ofthe world? Through ease of travel andcommunication, what impact will thereligions have on the world and, moreimportantly, on each other over the comingdecades?

On the site of Berlin’s earliest church, StPeter’s, dating back to 1350, a new Houseof Prayer is being built. It is the world’sfirst House of Prayer to be home for allthree Abrahamic faiths. The House ofOne will be a place of prayer, meditationand worship for a Jewish, Christian andMuslim community. Rabbi Ben-Chorinhas said, ‘Berlin is the city of wounds andmiracles. It is the city in which theextermination of the Jews was planned.

The House of One, Berlin. Image from www.house-of-one.org Copyright.

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Now, the first house in the world for threereligions is to be built here.’

In 1964, after he received the Nobel PeacePrize, the Revd Dr. Martin Luther Kingsaid, ‘We have inherited a large house, agreat ‘world house’ in which we have tolive together - black and white, Easternerand Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholicand Protestant, Muslim and Hindu - afamily unduly separated in ideas, cultureand interest, who, because we can neveragain live apart, must learn somehow tolive with each other in peace.’ Berlin isworking towards this. The ChristianPastor, Gregor Hohberg, said:

From the foundations of the old churcheswill grow a new place of worship, one thatwill allow people of different faiths topray side by side. The people who comehere will remain true to their own religion,continue to draw from its power, andengage in peaceable dialogue with oneanother and with members of the city’ssecular population. This house will behome to equality, peace, and reconciliation.

The Imam said,

We want our children to have a future inwhich diversity is the norm.’ On theirwebsite, we read, ‘One earth, onehumanity, House of One.’

As our world shrinks into a global village,groups with different perspectives willincreasingly need to learn how we livetogether peacefully with difference. Weare living through a change of era, onewhich involves the spiritual evolution of

humanity. As cultures and religions arepressed ever nearer, one possible outcomeis fundamentalism, intolerance,indifference and dogmatism. Like Jesusand the Canaanite woman, we need to lookinto the face of the other, into the eyes ofthe other, feel the hurt of the other; seethe Spirit within the other, and learn to seeourselves as co-pilgrims, seekers aftertruth, human beings wrestling with theMystery we call God.

Spirituality is a way of perceiving the depthdimension of life; it is an awareness of theOne who holds all things, is in all things, ineach of us. In spirituality, we are to openthe heart; experience the Spirit. Themystics say that human beings areoverwhelmed by the incomprehensibilityof God: words dissolve into silence.Religions are guides for the believertowards the Divine, but they can also blockthe way. In the 21st century, we are tocherish our own faith tradition but be opento the spiritual depths of other faiths, tothe Divine in other human beings, in thosewho are different from us. The Logos ofChristianity, the Word of God, fills thewhole of creation and is manifest indifferent ways and persons across cultures.

In India, ashrams, including Christianashrams, nurture spiritual practice whichtruly honours the faith experience ofothers. From shared meditative silence,Scriptures are read from different faiths,new insights are gained. We see newdepths in our own sacred stories. TheIndian Jesuit, Painadath, said:

Christians need to open their hearts toChrist within, experience Christ within astheir guru….Christ is experienced not as ateacher outside, but as the inner master, theSadguru, who inspires us from within thecave of the heart.

Our destination is not one monolithicworld faith, but a home in which we findharmony with others. The purpose of theashram is wholeness and holiness. In the20th century, one of the greatestachievements for the Church in Scotlandwas the rebuilding of the abbey on Iona, asacred building to house and fosterecumenical community. In the 21stcentury, our need is to house and nurtureinter-faith community: a Scottish ashram,or something like it?

At the end of the story of Jesus and theCanaanite woman, the woman’s daughter ishealed. The daughter was demon-possessed. If we depart from the literal

interpretation of Scripture for a moment –something I don’t often do! – what mightJesus’ healing of the daughter mean in thefaith narrative? Children are our future.For me, the healing of the daughter is thehealing of our future. The demons whichcursed the daughter, which cursed thefuture, were the divisions whichdiminished, deformed and dehumanisedthe woman’s life, the life of Jesus andhuman society. In seeing the Divine inher, she seeing the Divine in Him, togetherthe woman and Jesus healed thebrokenness of humanity; they healed thefuture. They overcame their differences,saw into the heart, and in so doing broughtwholeness and holiness.

Iona Abbey by Oliver Bonjoch

The Web & The WordA selection of sermons preached atMayfield Salisbury Church, in audio,video or text formats, may befound on our website: www.mayfieldsalisbury.org

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SESSION MATTERS Catriona Spratt

Kirk Session met on 20 June 2017 when thefollowing were discussed:

Correspondence: A letter was receivedfrom Bethany Christian Trust thanking usfor our donation of £1000.

Stretcher Some elderly members hadfainted in church recently and it wassuggested that we acquire a stretcher onfour wheels. Prices have been investigatedwith the best price so far being £700.14for a stretcher recommended by 121.Session was very supportive of theproposal.

First Fridays Friends Outing A canalcruise from Ratho has been organised forour Friends for August. The cruise is runby the Seagull Trust which is a charityfunded by donations. Session happilyapproved the payment of £100 from theButtberg Bequest as a donation to theSeagull Trust .

Familiarisation Candidate FromSeptember Mayfield Salisbury will beassisted by a ‘familiarisation candidate’ fora period of 9-12 months. The candidate isan American citizen and she is an ordainedPresbyterian minister with considerableexperience. She will work fulltime and willbe paid by the Ministries Council. At theend of her familiarisation period she canapply to be a minister in the Church ofScotland.

Serving of communion at 10.45 service Concern had been expressed about the

time it takes at 10.45 Communion servicesfrom the breaking of the bread to serviceof the bread to the pews. An investigationinto timings at the 9.30 and 10.45Communion services had discovered thatthere was not a great deal of differencebetween the timings. Session recorded itsgreat appreciation of the efforts of AnneAithie and Jo Scott in this research.

Collection of offerings at 10.45 service There was a concern that as a highpercentage of members pay their offeringsby standing order. Little money orenvelopes now go into the offering plateswhich can be embarrassing for thecollectors and puzzling for visitors. Therewas a lack of enthusiasm about placing theplates at the doors instead as the platescould be easily missed and collection inthe pews still does encourage people togive. It was agreed that, from thebeginning of July, each of the collectorswould have one plate instead of two.

Presbytery Elder The Session electedAileen Agnes Nimmo, a bona fide Elderof the Congregation of MayfieldSalisbury, to represent them in thePresbytery of Edinburgh from 1 July 2017to 30 June 2018. A report to Kirk Sessionby the Presbytery elder on recentPresbytery matters had been circulatedbefore the meeting and was taken as read.The report mentioned the appointment ofRevd Marjory McPherson as PresbyteryClerk from 5 September 2017.

New Elders Session was delighted that the following

twelve Church members had accepted theinvitation to become elders: HoneyBallantine, Morven Cadell, Ailsa Garland,Charles Garland, Steve Holehouse, JoyceJackson, Jean MacGilchrist, Kate O’Brien,Anne Robertson, Anne Steele, TriciaStevenson and Jeff Stevenson. It washoped that their ordination would takeplace at the 10.00am service on one orboth of 20 and 27 August.

Summer services The 10.00am servicesrun through July and August. The Ministerwill take the service on 2 July butthereafter departs on holiday, returning towork on 8 August. Tom Cuthell will leadthe services on 9, 23 and 30 July and 6August and Iain and Isobel Whyte theservice on 16 July. The minister for theevening services has yet to be organised.

The Afternoon Service on 11 July will bemore in the nature of an afternoon teawith some hymns, and members will beinvited to bring poems which they mightlike to read out.

Sheila Bryer is very much missed, havingbeen signed off work. PVs will cover forSheila in her absence e.g. doing hospitalvisits. If PVs are on holiday, churchmembers should speak to an elderregarding any pastoral issues.

Business Committee (BC) Youthworker /youth minister appointment: Ourproposed youth appointment is a UScitizen. The church has been awarded asponsorship licence to employ her andalso a certificate of sponsorship by theimmigration authorities. The next step is

for the appointee to apply for a visa.

CCTV extension: following recentvandalism in the church grounds, BCapproved William Mearns’ proposal toextend the existing CCTV coverage withfour cameras covering the back gardenarea at a likely cost of £1500.

Organist: Dorien Schouten finishesplaying for us on 25 June. We have beenextremely fortunate in having her as ourorganist for these nine months and haveenjoyed hearing her play. Our new organistwill be Kate Pearson who commenceswith us on 1 July.

Fabric Renovation of Sanctuary Phase 2:The Fabric Convener Peter Grantreported that as part of the renovationscheme the West windows are to haveexternal glass with air vents fitted at a costof around £7,000. As regards the Nativityscene windows in the North Transept,Peter and William Mearns had looked atthe windows with representatives fromCARTA who had decided that thewindows did not require to be removedand repaired. All that was necessary wasthat the external clear glass be removed,the stained glass cleaned and new externalglazing with air vents installed. This wouldcost £13,000.

Level access to front door: The architect’sdrawing of the ramp was shown. Peterexplained the drawing and said that it hadbeen submitted to the Council.Neighbours would have until mid-Augustto comment. It was still to be clarifiedwhether Listed Building Consent would

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We have been encouraged this year tothink of the way ahead for ourcongregation. I wonder if we rejoiceenough and embrace enough of the wide,exciting range of worship and fellowshipon offer? I recently urged myself to get upearly and attend a 9.30 service. What a joy!Did you know that Dr Andrew McLellan isgrowing a potato plant with the children?(It is safely in Scott’s care between DrMcLellan’s visits)

Or why not come early on a Sunday andhave a coffee/tea in amongst the

marvellous youngsters and their parents?Or try the ‘traditional’ service? It hasenormous strengths. Try staying forcoffee/tea after it. Evening worship is richin variety, very peaceful and calming andSHORT!! Afternoon services are soheartwarming as old friends grasp at theopportunity to worship and chat together,the Upper Hall decorated in the theme ofeach service with a beautiful order ofservice sheet. Prayers on a Tuesday? Let’scome out of our ‘comfort zone’ and trysomething different!!

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also be required for the ramp. Theestimated cost for the ramp is £40,000but the price could not be fixed untilplanning permission had been obtained.Having obtained the advice of theTreasurer , the BC propose that this sumshould be raised from a combination of£15,000 from the Fabric Reserve Fundand £25,000 from a low level appeal (withany shortfall coming from the LegaciesFund). If Session chose to deploy theLegacies Fund it would be modifying itsearlier decision to retain this fundexclusively for the musical life of thechurch. However, this fund is in a robustcondition having been recently augmentedby further legacies. After discussion,Session approved the drawing of the ramp, the estimated cost of £40,000 and theproposed funding of £15,000 from theFabric Reserve Fund and £25,000 from alow-level appeal (with any shortfall beingfunded from the Legacies Fund). Peterwas thanked for all his work on thisproject and the BC were tasked with

considering the low level appeal.

Christian Aid (CA) CA Convener Aileen Nimmo hadproduced a report which included thanksto all who helped and supported theappeal during Christian Aid Week. TheSolidarity Lunch was well received andchildren from the 9.30 service helped toset up, serve, host and clear up. Themoney raised that week was £7,179.26.Dates for the diary included the CoffeeMorning on 26 August, a Harvest Ceilidhon 28 October and a Christmas Craft andCoffee Morning on 9 December.

First Friday Friends (FFF) Sandra Carter reported that FFF continuesat its own rhythm, reflecting the naturalwinding down of the attenders. Sandraand Anne Mulligan had attended a talk onloneliness and isolation in old age at whichMayfield Salisbury were quoted as alwaysdoing things for the aged –so we mustcontinue doing these things!

WORSHIP Rosemary Currie

Welcome to New Elders!

ELDERS: SERVICE OF ORDINATION

Honey Ballantine Morven Cadell Ailsa Garland

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Charles Garland Steve Holehouse Joyce Jackson

Jean MacGilchrist Kate O’Brien Anne Robertson

Anne Steele Tricia and Jeff Stevenson

NEWSEDINBURGHINTER FAITHASSOCIATION

Eilie Blackwood

Looking back over EIFA’s history in the city, it is amazing toread of the lead and support it has offered over visits by greatpeople of our time. They have been eminent religious andspiritual leaders, such as the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, HisHoliness The Dalai Lama, Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, ChiefRabbi David Rosen, and other distinguished persons such asArun Ghandi, Karen Armstrong, Nobel Prize winnerMairead Corrigan and many others. EIFA organisesnumerous public events that educate, inform and provide aplatform for engagement and understanding of diversitywithin religious and spiritual traditions and associated multi-cultural beliefs. For more information, look at the news pageon the EIFA website: www.edinburghinterfaith.com

LADIESBADMINTON

COUNTRYDANCING

aaithie@hotmail.com0131 667 7701Anne Aithie

Ladies Badminton will resume on Monday 4 September at2.30 pm. We meet in the lower hall. All newcomers arewelcome - please contact Anne Aithie.

Country Dancing starts for the season on Tuesday 19September and the next is 3 October. We meet fortnightly inthe Upper Hall from 7.45pm to 9.30pm.

Dances are walked through first -new and old favourites. Allstandards welcome. A full list of dates will be issued.

The Thursday Club @ Mayfield Salisbury will recommenceon 5 October. We are primarily a friendship club and open toall retired ladies and gentleman in the area. The team have afull programme of entertainment for you to enjoy, to saynothing of the wonderful tea and cake!

We would be delighted if you would like to join us. Pleasephone Deirdre for more information. Thank you! Syllabus on page 18.

CHRISTIANAID PRAYERTHOUGHTS

Eilie Blackwood

Pray for Christian Aid partner the World Young Women’sChristian Association, who work to amplify the voices ofyoung women from all over the world, helping them to havean influence on global decision-making and to strengthen theecumenical movement for gender justice.Read John 3: 13 - 17

THURSDAYCLUB

Deirdre Eustace07785301182

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Everyone is very welcome at the next Afternoon Service onTuesday 12 September at the usual time of 2.30pm untilaround 4.00pm. The Revd Scott McKenna will be officiating.

Arrive via the level access of Upper Hall [via West Mayfield].

These mid-week gatherings are especially appreciated by theless mobile in our parish community. The short service isfollowed by tea and fellowship. Assistance is given onarriving and leaving and we all remain seated at our tea tablesthroughout the afternoon.

If you need further information or if you are unable toarrange a lift, please ask your own Pastoral Visitor (PV) orany Elder. They are welcome to liaise with Anne Sturrock.

Diary note: The last Afternoon Service of 2017 will be Remembrance on Tuesday 14 November.

AFTERNOONSERVICE OF

HOLYCOMMUNION

TUESDAY 12

SEPTEMBER

2.30PM TO 3.45PM

Anne Sturrock

FLOWERS

Jane Main 0131 667 1711

Chrystine Patterson 0131 662 4506

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WEBSITEGALLERY

Kirstine Baxter

Our website gallery contains many photographs of pastchurch events. To help me keep it up to date, if you takephotos at one of our church events and the people involvedare happy for one or two of these to appear on our website,then please give copies to William in the office either by emailor via a memory stick. Thank you very much.

We have recently added First World War era photographsfrom the archive to the website. These can be found at:www.mayfieldsalisbury.org selecting Gallery and thenBuildings and History.

Flowers during July and August were donated and arrangedby Norma McClure, Mrs J McClements, Diana TudhopeRosemary Currie and Jane Main. Thank you all and all thedistributors very much.

Many thanks also for the response to our item in theIntimations for information on possible recipients for flowerseach Sunday. This is really helpful so all suggestions are mostwelcome. Please include contact details if known, as theflowers are sometimes sent to people who are not members.

121,474 shoeboxes received in2016 were distributed in Albania,Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo,Moldova, Pakistan, Romania,Serbia and Ukraine

Blythswood Care

Grateful thanks to those who have alreadydonated shoe boxes towards this year’scollection target to cover and deliver 200shoe boxes (regular size) with separate lidsfor use at the Big Sort at Craigmillar ParkChurch (CPC) in November. Boxes canbe left on the top shelf above the coathooks inside the West Mayfield entranceof Mayfield Salisbury Church.

Empty boxes? Our empty boxes from M-S are used to replace a small percentage of

7000+ filled boxes donatedfrom around South EastScotland which are damagedor unsuitable, enablingfestive contents to bequickly transferred to a pre-covered replacement box,saving precious time for thevolunteer sorters. Volunteersorters can help at CPCfrom the 6 to 17November. Moreinformation later.

Can I fill my ownshoebox? If you wouldlike to cover and fill yourshoebox with prescribedgifts (for a baby, toddler,young person, man orwoman or elderly man or

woman) the instructions and gift check listwill be available after mid-September – soplease look out for Blythswood Careleaflets or check on-line! And, a reminderthat monetary donations are welcome, too,and will be passed on to Blythswood Care.

www.blythswood.org/shoebox

Has a year passed already? As in previousyears, a team will be receiving and coveringthe final batch of shoe boxes/lids in theUpper Hall on Monday 23 October from2.00pm to 4.00pm. Dexterous volunteerswelcome !

Thanks to all.Anne Sturrock

BLYTHSWOOD CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2017

Please prioritise gifts for the Grannies and Grandads – sadly, they are often overlooked.

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The Minister and Kirk Session areextremely grateful to everyone who hastaken part in the congregationalconversation. It has been a rich and veryworthwhile experience, so thank you! Ithas been beneficial and therapeutic toshare our stories and perspectives with oneanother.

As a congregation, as we reflect on ourspiritual journey together, we have aconsiderable amount to give thanks for.At Mayfield Salisbury, we are fortunate tohave three diets of worship each week aswell as our regular afternoon services.There are too many excellent examples tomention of the diverse ways in which weseek to live out our calling. Without everbeing self-righteous, it is appropriate thatwe acknowledge to ourselves thetremendous amount of good work doneby members of the congregation.

At the end of this conversation, it is nowpossible to distill a number of broad,achievable objectives. These are:

1. Strengthen congregational fellowship

2. Support and develop our commitment to youth work

3. Increase our presence on the internet and in social media

4. Introduce flexibility for Elders, where requested

5. Continue to improve accessibility inour building

As yet, there is no agreed programme ofaction in order to reach of these objectives.However, some examples are:

Objective 1: a number of informalreceptions at the manse involving arange of people from across thecongregation; a renewed initiative topromote more house groups; coffeemachine provision throughout theweek; TV monitor in halls entrancepromoting the work of the church andsharing information

Objective 2: appointment of a youthworker (establish youth group for 12-16s to meet on an evening; moreinvolvement of young people inworship, possibly an evening service;art, craft and activity support forSunday School staff; links to otherchurch youth groups); children’s choir

Objective 3: Dedicated and informeduse of Facebook, Twitter & blogs

Objective 4: fixed-term years ofservice for new and existing Elders

Objective 5: Provide ramp at the WestDoor (Mayfield Road) and improveease of access at North Door (WestMayfield)

These five objectives and theaccompanying examples are not anexhaustive list but they are achievable.Taken together, they further enrich ourwitness at Mayfield Salisbury. Is thereanything that we can reasonably add to thislist of objectives or to the examplesmentioned?

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION

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Sept. 1 Song of Songs 5,6 / I Timothy 5Sept. 2 Song of Songs 7,8 / Psalms 99-101Sept. 3 Isaiah 1,2 / I Timothy 6Sept. 4 Isaiah 3-5 / II Timothy 1Sept. 5 Isaiah 6,7 / II Timothy 2Sept. 6 Isaiah 8,9 / Psalm 102Sept. 7 Isaiah 10-12 / II Timothy 3Sept. 8 Isaiah 13,14 / II Timothy 4Sept. 9 Isaiah 15,16 / Psalm 103Sept. 10 Isaiah 17-20 / Titus 1Sept. 11 Isaiah 21,22 / Titus 2Sept. 12 Isaiah 23,24 / Titus 3Sept. 13 Isaiah 25,26 / Psalm 104Sept. 14 Isaiah 27,28 / PhilemonSept. 15 Isaiah 29,30 / Hebrews 1Sept. 16 Isaiah 31,32 / Psalm 105Sept. 17 Isaiah 33,34 / Hebrews 2Sept. 18 Isaiah 35,36 / Hebrews 3Sept. 19 Isaiah 37,38 / Hebrews 4Sept. 20 Isaiah 39,40 / Psalm 106

Sept. 21 Isaiah 41,42 / Hebrews 5Sept. 22 Isaiah 43,44 / Hebrews 6Sept. 23 Isaiah 45,46 / Psalm 107Sept. 24 Isaiah 47,48 / Hebrews 7Sept. 25 Isaiah 49,50 / Hebrews 8Sept. 26 Isaiah 51,52 / Hebrews 9Sept. 27 Isaiah 53,54 / Psalms 108,109Sept. 28 Isaiah 55,56 / Hebrews 10Sept. 29 Isaiah 57,58 / Hebrews 11Sept. 30 Isaiah 59,60 / Psalms 110,111Oct. 1 Isaiah 61,62 / Hebrews 12Oct. 2 Isaiah 63,64 / Hebrews 13Oct. 3 Isaiah 65,66 / John 1Oct. 4 Jeremiah 1,2 / Psalms 112,113Oct. 5 Jeremiah 3,4 / John 2Oct. 6 Jeremiah 5,6 / John 3Oct. 7 Jeremiah 7,8 / Psalms 114,115Oct. 8 Jeremiah 9,10 / John 4Oct. 9 Jeremiah 11,12 / John 5Oct. 10 Jeremiah 13,14 / John 6

THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

CONGREGATIONAL REGISTERNEW MEMBERSAnne ListonEdith BarrowcliffeDavid and Dorothy Strachan

DEATHJames Lawrie

THURSDAY CLUB SYLLABUS 2017 / 2018October 5 Second Row Singers

12 Mary Welsh Dunfermline Abbey19 Eric Melvin Deacon Brodie26 Dixieland Band

November 2 Graham Cruikshank Scottish Pottery9 Graeme Aithie Venture Scotland16 Christmas Bring and Buy Sale (to include AGM) 23 Sangstream Singers30 John Graham Forts, Camels and Rolls Royces, a trip to Rajasthan

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARYSEPTEMBER

Sun 3 9.30am All-Age Informal Worship (SSM)10.45am Morning Service: 12th Sunday after Trinity (SSM)7.00pm Communion round the Table (SSM)

Tues 5 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary7.30pm Kirk Session

Sun 10 9.30am All-Age Informal Worship & Communion (SSM)10.45am Morning Service: 13th Sunday after Trinity (SSM)7.00pm Evening Service: ‘Godly Play’ (EB)

Tues 12 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary2.30pm Afternoon Service (SSM)

Sun 17 9.30am All-Age Informal Worship (Revd Dr Anne Logan)10.45am Morning Service: 14th Sunday after Trinity (AL)7.00pm Evening Service (Sheila Bryer)

Tues 19 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 24 9.30am All-Age Informal Worship (SSM)10.45am Morning Service: 15th Sunday after Trinity (SSM)7.00pm Communion round the Table (SSM)

Tues 26 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

OCTOBER

Sun 1 9.30am All-Age Informal Worship (SSM)10.45am Morning Service: 16th Sunday after Trinity (SSM)7.00pm Evening Service (Eilie Blackwood)

MAYFIELD MILERS UPCOMING WALKSSEPTEMBER

Wed 6 7.30 Planning meeting – Church House - If anyone has ideas for walks but is unable to be present, please send suggestions to Bob McNie 667 9391 or rmcnie@btinternet.com

Wed 13 Belhaven Bay to John Muir Country Park 5mls Molly Woolgar 667 26889.30 Waterloo Place, north side, 107 East Coast Buses -destination Dunbar

Mon 18 Ormiston – Tranent 3-4 mls Jenny McCallum 667 2888 10am Waterloo Place, north side, 113 Lothian Country Buses to Pencaitland.

Sat 30 Morningside – Portobello 3-5mls Bob McNie 667 9391 10am Morningside Clock – mostly level through public parks – number exits.

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Copy Date for next issue: 7.00pm on Friday 22 September

WHO’S WHO IN MAYFIELD SALISBURY

Mayfield Salisbury Parish (Edinburgh) Church of Sco

tlan

d Sco

ttish Charity Number SC00

0785Minister

Revd Scott S McKenna scottsmckenna@aol.com 0131 667 1286

Pastoral Assistant Sheila Bryer s.bryer@btinternet.com 0131 672 2232

Church ManagerWilliam Mearns churchmanager@googlemail.com 0131 667 1522

OrganistKate Pearson kate.q.kate@gmail.com 0744 238 2296

Session Clerk Angus McIntyre angusbmcintyre@gmail.com 0131 557 8458

TreasurerJohn Graham culkein@btinternet.com 0131 667 6331

Gift Aid Donations & Roll KeeperHugh Somerville hs.somerville@btinternet.com 0131 667 9797

Church Office18 West Mayfield, Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ0131 667 1522 orchurchmanager@googlemail.com

Pastoral CareFor Home or Hospital visits, pleasecontact Sheila Bryer - 0131 672 2232 s.bryer@btinternet.com

Mayfield Radiomayfieldradiounit@gmail.com0131 667 7742

Grapevine Submissions William Mearns 0131 667 1522 churchmanager@googlemail.com

Grapevine DistributionKirstine Baxter 07549 913 813churchmanager@googlemail.com

Staff Days OffMinister: Mondays (generally)Pastoral Assistant: FlexibleManager: Monday PM & Friday