Our Minister Is Retiring
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CRAMOND KIRK MAGAZINE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Issue 114 www.cramondkirk.org.uk Dr Barr sent a major tremor through the VIRTUAL CHURCH Elders and congregation last week when www.facebook.com/cramondkirk2 the news broke of his retirement come the end of October. Good wishes are flooding Every Sunday in but the void his departure produces Morning Worship 10am will be huge. He is immensely respected And available thereafter to not just here in Cramond but in the wider watch anytime church both nationally and internationally. He has worked with government and Daily Devotions non-governmental offices on the priorities Monday – Saturday on Facebook homelessness, and there are few in our community that have not heard or spoken And on “video” page of with him or been in receipt of his pastoral www.cramondkirk.org.uk care. Dr Barr’s self-less generosity to Pause for thought others has miraculously not aged him as it would have others, and we can bear Thursdays no grudge that he moves into retirement Live on Facebook 7.15pm Thursdays able to improve that golf handicap that Our Minister is was put on hold many decades ago. I hope everyone will join us in congratulating retiring Dr Barr on his extremely well earned CRAMOND KIRK Doors opening and closing. Opportunities retirement and, when restrictions allow, IS NOW OPEN quashed and new ones arising. Recent will help in celebrating his ministry. months have brought this aplenty. Now Our thanks, blessing and prayers are with FOR WORSHIP Russell and Margaret in this time of great our Minister, against many odds, has There are 2 short services, prized the doors of the kirk wide open change. he has decide to close the door of the Edith Butler 10am, doors open 9.45am, Manse. Session Clerk and 11.15am Each service is limited to Doors Opening Angela says of the first service : “it was 50 people, due to social indeed a lovely service - but things just As lockdown eased, the Kirk doors were seem surreal - I miss singing the beautiful distancing rules, so pre- opened again on 26th July, after months hymns, but it was so lovely to see people booking is necessary. of closure, the first in 700 years. It was the I’ve not seen in months and to see the first Church to re-open in Edinburgh if not To book a place please call Kirk through new eyes. It was also lovely Scotland, and one of very few to be open to meet Ian Gilmour, the new Associate the Kirk Office on 336 2036 at present. Minister and offer him a virtual hand of 9am – 12 noon (Mon – Fri), A great deal of teamwork, planning and friendship.” paperwork was led by Very Rev Russell or email: Barr. Permissions were granted from the While doors were closed, the Kirk Halls [email protected] Church of Scotland ensuring the environ- improvements have progressed steadily ment would be safe for all in the current with replacement windows and Leave your name, contact circumstances. A huge thank you goes insulation being installed and new toilets. number and the date and to Louise Madeley - Kirk Secretary, David A defibrillator cabinet will be installed at time of the service you wish Haggarty - Beadle of the Kirk, Edith Butler the door to the halls. Session Clerk, and many, many others. Parishioners have been grateful. to attend. Cramond Kirk plans to take part in this year’s “Virtual” Doors Open Day Edinburgh’s annual event which is your chance to explore some architecturally and culturally significant buildings for free. 26th and 27th September 2020 will be a digital festival. A short video of the Kirk building and its history is currently in production for this. http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/edinburgh-doors-open-day/ Social icon Rounded square Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our www.cramondkirk.org.uk T: 0131 336 2036 Brand Guidelines. Published by Cramond Kirk, Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh EH4 6NS Parish FRESH START, the charity which supports Register the homeless and their journey into their first tenancies, are now able to accept limited donations. These are the things they need and New Members Joining By Certificate can accept at present: 12 June Maureen Thorburn 29 June Sheila Blackie • cutlery • pots & pans Wedding • mugs HOME22 Aug HELP Christy O’DonnellME toCARE Victoria Bull • small electrical items • CompanionshipDeaths Services • tumblers 9 June Kirsteen Millar • Personal14 June CareJohn Services Muir • side plates • Hospital22 June to HomeAndrew Simpson Care Package • dinner plates 26 June Andrew Renton • soup/cereal bowls 14 July Reverend Professor Bill Shaw • Domestic29 July SupportPeter Adams 24 July Eunice (Joy) Howe • shampoo • Overnight12 Aug ServicesMartha Black • deodorant • Many16 more Aug servicesNeville Belton available • soap • shower gel 0131 467 4212 • toilet cleaner 07887 846 404 • washing up liquid [email protected] • bleach www.homehelpmecare.com Providing Care andDirect Companionship payments, individual Services service fund and Registered Company No. SC553248 • anti-bacterial sprays in and around Cramondprivately and funded the surrounding clients accepted. areas SERVICES INCLUDE: 0131 285 8320 If you would like to support Fresh Start in this • Support with personal care • Care respite and dementia support 07581 554 712 way, you can leave donations in the box outside • Companionship visits - doing the shopping, [email protected] getting to appointments, going for coffee www.homehelpmecare.com the Manse front door at 16 Cramond Glebe and enjoying the things you love TESTIMONIALS AVAILABLE • Hospital to home care packages Road. Any deliveries to the Fresh Start offices UPON REQUEST We accept self funding clients and those funded by Registered with the Care Inspectorate can only be made by appointment. Edinburgh City Council (direct payments and ISFs) Caring, Complete & Conscientious ......... Peter Malone Helping you do the best for your pet, with equal emphasis on both prevention and Carpentry treatment. We are a cat friendly practice. All kinds of carpentry, joinery & bespoke contracts We have a spacious, modern and fully equipped centre, Extensions / Attic conversions / Kitchen fitting / Flat pack construction with private parking and most importantly, we make time to listen. Fencing & decking / Flooring / Customised cabinets The local Vet looking after your pet Furniture repair & restoration / Picture-hanging FIRST in Edinburgh, with a veterinary hydrotherapy service for rehabilitation, arthritis, fun and fitness. To discuss your requirements, contact 07506 092008 Comprehensive website. Tours offered to all clients. [email protected] www.oaktreevet.co.uk 539 Queensferry Road. www.petermalonecarpentry.co.uk www.petphysio.co.uk 0131 539 7539 Edinburgh. EH4 7QE Lauriston Farm Road, EH4 5EY Oak Tree Vets Ad.indd 1 17/10/2018 09:19 FROM THE MANSE With Cramond Kirk standing on a site the Manse and it will always hold special memories for which has been a place of Christian us and our family worship since the 6th Century AD, With my 67th birthday in mid-October, a fresh and with the oldest part of the present face and a fresh outlook is required to make the building dating from the 15th century, and with a history of ministers extending back to the most of the opportunities and new patterns of Reformation, it was painful beyond words to have it church life which will emerge from these lockdown closed during the lockdown. weeks and months. So when the opportunity presented itself to re-open Of this much I am quite sure however, whatever the sanctuary for private prayer we created a small the opportunities and challenges which the coming team of people with the necessary skills to attend to months brings, God’s presence, promise and purpose the paper work, check the buildings, complete the will continue to flourish at Cramond Kirk. risk analysis, mark out one-way systems, close of pews, remove Bibles and hymn books, arrange for hand sanitizer and face masks to be available, create a PRAYER booking system for track and trace purposes and write up appropriate protocols for re-opening the church. God of hidden treasures The BBC heard about the plans we were making and for the gift of life came to interview me on two occasions for Good and for all that makes life worth living Morning Scotland and Reporting Scotland. for the faith You have awakened within us With the protocols approved by the Kirk Session and for our belonging to the world wide and Presbytery, the church opened for prayer for family of the church two hours on a Wednesday evening and also on a we thank You Sunday morning. Thankfully everything went well, people attending Teach us to find Your kingdom felt safe, and so when permission was given to in unexpected places open for worship services with limited numbers, we and among unexpected people realised we would need to hold two services on a and through the values to which we aspire Sunday to accommodate the number of people who wanted to attend. and the quality of our relationships with one another We have now been open for worship services since help us pass on to others the hope and the end of July with 50 people attending either promise of the gospel service, and although with social distancing, face masks and no hymns or choir it does not feel as though we are back to normal, it has been wonderful God of healing to be able to meet again for public worship. as the coronavirus pandemic I was also privileged to conduct the wedding service continues to leave a trail of misery of Christy O’Donnell and Victoria Ball on a sunny and death in its wake August Saturday, and I am looking forward to we thank You for health workers and celebrating Lily Reid’s baptism in September.