WHAT IS RELIGION? YOUTH UPDATE REVD GEORGE MATHESON DD PASTORAL LETTER Laurene Lafontaine Dear Friends
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Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 Issue 231 Scottish Charity SC000785 GMayfield SRalisburAy ParisPh (EdEinburgVh) Ch urcNh of ScotE land VISIT TO THE VATICAN SERMON: WHAT IS RELIGION? YOUTH UPDATE REVD GEORGE MATHESON DD www.mayfieldsalisbury.org PASTORAL LETTER Laurene Lafontaine Dear Friends, As we embark on our journey through Advent, I am mindful just how busy it tends to be during this time of the year. In the midst of the busyness, holiday parties, and demands of everyday life, we are invited to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. Advent is my favourite season of the Christian year. As a child (and I confess, even now), the lights of this season were a wonderful reminder of hope, joy and delight. Advent is a vital reminder that Jesus came into this world as a mere baby as we all have. With anticipation and expectancy, we are encouraged to ponder the meaning of Christ’s birth for our lives. Fr. James childlike wonder and joy. Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor of America Magazine: The Jesuit Review, offers Blessings and peace, that ‘Christians desire the coming of Christ into their lives in new ways, a desire Laurene that is heightened during Advent…The I am Silent … and Expectant deepest-held longings of our hearts are How silently, our holy desires.’ During Advent, we have how silently, this opportunity to set aside the societal the wondrous gift is given. expectation of the holiday busyness to create moments of quiet reflection in I would be silent now, which we can explore our own inner Lord, longings, needs and desires. As we and expectant … prayerfully prepare for the birth of Christ, that I may receive we are invited to experience the the gift I need, transformative power of Christ’s presence so I may become anew in our lives. May we experience this the gifts others need. Advent with a profound sense of expectancy, and may the lights of this Revd Ted Loder season enable us to reconnect with our Guerrillas of Grace 2 REVD GEORGE MATHESON DD At St Mary’s College in the University of tradition than Thomas Chalmers or St Andrews under the supervision of the George Macleod. Very Revd Professor Ian Bradley, I have been researching the life and thought of Matheson stressed the importance of the the blind poet preacher of Innellan for the inner life, the immortality of the soul past four years. Having survived my viva (rather than resurrection) and the practice in early November, I have to make a small of stillness and silence. He encountered number of minor changes and my PhD the darkness of God in his own darkness, research will have come to an end. both physical and spiritual, and the silence of God in his own silence. Perhaps his With the end in sight, I would like to greatest contribution was his imaginative thank everyone who has offered support engagement with Scripture and the and encouragement over these years, not immediacy of the stories in his own soul. least the Kirk Session for its generous annual book allowance. My research has Again, I am grateful to the support which been thoroughly worthwhile, both I have received from members of personally and professionally. It has been Mayfield Salisbury. a tremendous discovery that the Church of Scotland has had within its own ranks a Scott McKenna mystic: Matheson is no less a giant of our 3 YOUTH UPDATE Hillary Leslie The first few months into my time here as Night BBQ which not only had beautiful the Youth Worker at Mayfield Salisbury weather, but a lot of youth who showed have been very exciting! Since September, up to spend time together. we’ve had several gatherings with the 9-16 youth that were both promising and In December we’ll host a few more encouraging as we move into the new year. evenings for the youth to socialise, as well Additionally, Scott and I have met with the as to participate in charitable work. And Church of Scotland Campus Minister at of course, the Christingle service on 23 the University of Edinburgh in order to December will host many kids from the connect with university students in the church and the surrounding area – a great coming academic year. time to spread the word about the Youth Club! In October, we gathered with the 9-16s youth and their parents to fill out surveys 2018 is Scotland’s Year of Young People, regarding the content of a Youth Club in an encouraging nation-wide initiative to order to collectively combine our ideas support youth. I encourage you to be about creating a space that is both praying for our youth throughout the year, enjoyable, educational and welcoming to as well as asking how you can be involved. friends and non-church goers. In 2018 is going to be a wonderful year! November we had our first annual Bonfire 4 5 WOMEN FOR WOMEN AND FRIENDSHIP How the Mission Aviation daughter back to live in her mother’s Fellowship(MAF) rebuilds lives after house. One evening, the family’s stove serious burns exploded, covering them with flaming oil. Her daughter died and Jahanara’s left hand Burns from cooking stoves or oil lamps was so badly burned that it became are a common form of useless. Similarly, after injury to women in her dress caught fire, 4 poor communities in year old Atiya was left Bangladesh and often unable to close her lead to a life of mouth and with her isolation, with loss of right hand fused to her dignity and hope. body. Both of them Women for Women, one of MAF’s were treated and their lives transformed by partners in Bangladesh, is an international the plastic surgeons who had been able to group of female plastic surgeons who travel safely and quickly to the Hospital volunteer to spend time overseas helping Ship by MAF’s float planes. other women. In Bangladesh, they fly ---------------------------------------------------- with MAF to work with patients on the Extracted from a more detailed account, a copy of Friendship Hospital Ship moored by a which is available on the notice board in the river bank. corridor behind the church office. When she was deserted by her husband, 23 year old Jahanara took her young Morley Sewell 6 BLYTHSWOOD SHOEBOX THANKS Norman Weibye, Co- ones. And, special ordinator of the appreciation to Kristin Craigmillar Park Church Tulloch who knitted 130 Sorting Centre for woolly hats of all sizes Edinburgh and The and five scarves (and to Lothians’ contributions, those who helped her sew thanks everyone at them up!). Mayfield Salisbury who contributed in any way Last year, Blythswood’s towards the successful Shoe Box Appeal delivered Christmas 2017 Shoe Box over 121,000 boxes to project. eight countries in Europe and to Pakistan. Practical He especially thanks those gifts such as a warm hat, a who filled boxes with gifts, new pair of socks and a others who lent a hand at bar of soap bring comfort the Sort over the 6½ days (a record!) and dignity to people who own very little. when a total of 7268 shoe boxes were The Boxes are now on their way ! checked and packed into cartons, and also the Mayfield Salisbury team who collected Marjory Grant and contributed nearly 250 ‘neatly covered’ empty boxes to replace many damaged Anne Sturrock 7 CROSSREACH PERINATAL SERVICES The Kirk Session has agreed that Mayfield difficulties during pregnancy and early Salisbury will support the Church of parenthood. They can affect men as well Scotland’s Crossreach Perinatal Services as as women. Undetected and untreated, the our ‘Home’ charity with four retiring effects can go on for years and impact the collections during the year. whole family. The Perinatal Services work with over 200 The Services are staffed by professionally families a week at three centres in trained counsellors and therapists, many Edinburgh and one in Glasgow, offering of them volunteers, and there is a crèche support and information on pregnancy available, also staffed by volunteers, and parenthood. They offer a range of including one of our own members, Eilie services to individuals, couples and Blackwood. families. These include counselling, art psychotherapy, group therapy, as well as This is critically important preventive work infant massage and relaxation and to enable a happy, healthy future for our bodywork. children and their parents. The first opportunity for the congregation to Pregnancy and childbirth are times of support this work will be at the Christmas change and transition for everyone. services, when the retiring collections will Having a baby (babies) is a challenging be shared with Christian Aid. time in any parent’s life. At least 1 in 6 parents experience significant emotional Wendy Mathison 8 28TH BRAID SCOUT GROUP It has been a busy period over the last few support our activities and replenish our weeks, including our Annual Parents Night camping equipment. Apart from raising when Scouts and their families were able funds, it is always a nice social occasion to see the video of Summer Camp at and so good to see lots of familiar faces Sluggan Bridge, Inverness-shire. The each year. evening also saw the presentations of the Summer Camp and the Session awards The Scouts raised £547.49 for Poppy with this year’s recipients being: Scotland on Remembrance Sunday at Morrisons, Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh. Camp We had 23 Scouts, aged 11 to 14yrs, Best Scout: working from 11am - 4pm and the Scouts Sam Mackintosh received a number of compliments for Best Assistant Patrol Leader: their smart appearance and polite manner.