FOLLOW ME! and I Will Make You Fish for People

JESUS SAID: FOLLOW ME! and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

General Assembly 2019

Fringe Events 6

5 4

1 Hosted by Church departments and other organisations, these varied events are designed to complement the main business of the Assembly, informing, entertaining and educating. Please note that the lunchtime events will take place when the Assembly breaks for lunch which it is scheduled to do between 12.30 and 2pm. Visit the Martin Hall for the Church of Scotland exhibition of resources and information, Cornerstone Bookshop and Wippell’s clerical outfitters. The bookstall will open from 8.30 am until 30 minutes after the close of business on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; until 7pm on Tuesday and on Friday from 8.30am until 3pm. Additional events will be publicised through the Commissioners’ boxes.

Main Locations and directions 1 Augustine United Church Use the Lawnmarket door from the Assembly Hall – head down Royal Mile to traffic lights, turn right onto George IV Bridge, Augustine is on your left.

2 Senate Room Cross the Quadrangle, the Senate Room is under the archway at Mound Place.

3 St Columba’s by the Castle Use the Lawnmarket door from the Assembly Hall – head down Johnston Terrace; St Columba’s is the Scottish Episcopal Church on the left – blue door.

4 Quaker Meeting House Use the Lawnmarket door from the Assembly Hall – cross at mini- roundabout, down hill to the left of the Free Church Assembly Hall. Meeting House is on the left.

5 Riddle’s Court Use the Lawnmarket door from the Assembly Hall – head down Royal Mile, the entrance to Riddle’s Court is on the right, opposite Gladstone’s Land.

6 Scottish Storytelling Centre Use the Lawnmarket door from the Assembly Hall – head down Royal Mile. Storytelling Centre is on the left. SATURDAY 18 MAY SUNDAY 19 MAY

Augustine United Church Princes Street Gardens Sanctuary, 41 George IV Bridge, 1.00pm – 6.00pm EH1 1EL Heart and Soul 2019 – Follow Me! 12.30pm – 2.00pm Heart and Soul will once again be Church of Scotland Finance taking place in Princes Street All are welcome to join the Gardens. The event will play host Council of Assembly’s Fringe event to music, arts, exhibitions, stories hosted by the Stewardship & and more. With acts and Finance Department. Learn more performers to suit all ages it is an about how the Church’s Ministry event to which the whole family and Mission is funded and some of can come along. Congregations, the financial issues facing both Presbyteries and Christian the national and local Church. organisations from across the There will be a question and country will be present to share answer session and a sandwich their story of how they take lunch will be provided. seriously Jesus’ call, “Follow me”. At the end of the day worship will Please email your questions to be held at the Ross Bandstand amacintosh@churchofscotland. featuring a massed choir. Join us org.uk in advance. as we celebrate the life of the Church.

St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road, EH1 2EP 3.00pm – 3.30pm approx. The Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows The Ecumenical Relations Committee is delighted to invite one and all to participate in a short service for the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. This service is to be held in St Cuthbert’s Parish Church as part of the Heart and Soul 2019 event. The Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows is equally appropriate to the local MONDAY 20 MAY ecumenical setting where congregations desire to come Senate Room, New College, together in a shared expression of Mound Place, EH1 2LX faith. 12.45pm – 2.00pm Celebrants: Rt Rev Susan Brown, Church of Scotland Housing and Bishop Bill Nolan and Bishop John Loan Fund for Retired Ministers Armes and Widows and Widowers of Ministers Ministers and their spouses are St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian very welcome to come along to a Road, EH1 2EP brief presentation detailing the 1.00pm onwards (and all week) assistance offered by the Housing CrossReach – the Church of and Loan Fund. Thereafter there Scotland’s Social Care Council will be an opportunity for Exhibition questions, and also to make Celebrate with CrossReach – the individual appointments to Church of Scotland’s Social Care discuss personal situations with Council. Having provided social regard to retirement housing. care support for the people of Light refreshments will be Scotland since 1869, CrossReach is provided. launching an exhibition that tells its story, in St Cuthbert’s Church (next to Princes Street Gardens). It St Columba’s by the Castle, will be open throughout the week 14 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW of the General Assembly and will 12.30pm – 2.00pm remain at St Cuthbert’s Church until around 12 June 2019. Investing for positive change: The Church of Scotland, divestment and a zero carbon future Following the lively debate on fossil fuel divestment at the 2018 General Assembly, join Eco- congregation Scotland, Operation Noah and Friends of the Earth Scotland to discuss how the Church of Scotland can use its investments to accelerate the just transition to a sustainable future. More than 1,000 institutions Quaker Meeting House 2nd Floor around the world, including the Meeting Room, 7 Victoria Street, Church of Ireland, the University EH1 2JL of Edinburgh and New York City, 12.30pm – 2.00pm have already taken the step of divesting from fossil fuels. As Place for Hope climate change threatens the lives Our churches and faith groups of millions of people around the face change, encounter difference world, especially those living in and experience conflict. In times of poverty, how should the Church change or challenge, we know that respond? Come along to learn practical support can help. more and join the debate. We offer learning programmes, facilitated conversations and Speakers: Sally Foster-Fulton, coaching to enable more open Head of Christian Aid Scotland; dialogue around important or Rev Dr David Pickering, Moderator challenging subjects. Come and of the United Reformed Church meet some of our team who will Synod of Scotland; Rev Jenny share their experiences of Adams, Minister of Duffus, Spynie peacebuilding and reconciliation, & Hopeman Church exploring what Place for Hope continues to offer the church and Sponsors: Eco-congregation community. Scotland, Operation Noah and Friends of the Earth Scotland We gratefully acknowledge funding from Ministries Council Sandwiches, tea and coffee will be which means that our core service provided. Vegetarian, vegan and can be offered without charge (at gluten free options will be the point of delivery) to Church of available. Scotland ministers, congregations and Presbyteries. Quaker Meeting House 1st Floor Sandwich lunch provided. Library, 7 Victoria Street, EH1 2JL 12.30pm – 2.00pm St Andrews University Alumni Sandwich Lunch for all St Mary’s College (St Andrews University) Alumni attending the General Assembly. Augustine United Church Studio, allowing people to see at a glance 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL what their local area looks like. You’ll have a chance to look at 12.30pm – 2.00pm your own area and get into Pioneer Ministry: Put on the New discussion with the Priority Areas Self team and other churches. The Pilot Pioneer Ministers work in five challenging and rewarding There’s places for 40 people on a posts, all very different, as we are first come, first served basis. also different. In these unique Sandwich lunch provided. callings the gospel remains the same. How do we genuinely spread the gospel beyond church, Scottish Storytelling Centre entirely with the unchurched? This Court, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR event shares the highs and lows of 6.00pm – 8.30pm our experience so far. Pioneering, fresh expressions and mission in Scotland Come and join our host, Sarah Scottish Storytelling Centre Ross, and our panel of researchers, Court, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR Sandy Forsyth, Liam Fraser and 12.30pm – 2.00pm David McCarthy, for a bite to eat Be Radical With Us and some lively discussion as they What could be more radical than explore new insights into mission directing your work and mission and pioneering in contemporary into your poorest communities? Scotland. Come along and find out how to use our latest resource to understand more about deprivation in your own area. Begin thinking how you could work with the strengths of local people and how you might access funding to grow this work. Developed by the Priority Areas Team and the Church’s statistician, we have produced “Deprivation Stats” for every parish, showing figures for different indicators of poverty, TUESDAY 21 MAY And together, united in Christ, we stand up for what we believe. Senate Room, New College, Come and hear stories of Mound Place, EH1 2LX connectedness around the world. 12.30pm – 2.00pm Snack lunch provided. Union Theological Alumni reunion Quaker Meeting House 1st Floor Former Scots Fellows and all Hall, 7 Victoria Street, EH1 2JL alumni/ae of Union Theological 12.30pm – 2.00pm Seminary in the City of New York, General Trustees – News and are warmly invited to join for Updates Lunch and Presidential Message from the Seminary. Come and meet the Presbytery Strategy and Innovation Committee (PSI) recently created St Columba’s by the Castle, by the General Trustees to 14 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW enhance liaison and communication with Presbyteries. 12.30pm – 1.45pm Representatives of Aberdeen and Stand up for what we believe in! St Andrews Presbyteries will be in For the World Mission Council, the attendance to outline the Gospel story of the Walk to methods they have adopted in Emmaus [Luke 24] provides a considering buildings as part of paradigm for our work of building their Presbytery Planning process. and sustaining connections with They will also report on the the world church, and of helping ongoing assistance and guidance congregations, Presbyteries and offered by the PSI to the process. groups build relationships beyond Scotland in a shared journey, a Buffet – 12.30pm, Presentation – pilgrimage, in which, together, we 1.00pm can recover and share the spirit of confident discipleship. We have things to share and we have things Wash Bar, 11-13 North Bank to learn. As we grapple with how Street, EH1 2LP we go forward as a church in 12.30pm to 2pm contemporary Scotland, our Trinity College Alumni interconnectedness with the Trinity College Alumni and world Church is a key opportunity Candidates are warmly invited to for us to build links between local lunch. communities in Scotland and friends from around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity The event will explore how the during the General Assembly to Church could use participatory spend time with old and new budgeting approaches in our own Trinity College friends in an decision-making, as well as in the informal and relaxed space where wider community. Come and meet a buffet lunch and refreshments those who run PB events and join will be served. in the discussion on what PB can do for churches. Please email: robin.davis@ glasgow.ac.uk to confirm your Chaired by Richard Frazer, attendance. Convener of Church and Society Council.

Quaker Meeting House 2nd Floor Speakers include: Val Rose of Meeting Room, 7 Victoria Street, Ludgate Church in Alloa, Stephen EH1 2JL Emery of Old Kirk Muirhouse, and 12.30pm – 2.00pm Gordon Sharp of Dundee West Participatory Budgeting – What For a fuller explanation of can it do for your Church? PB please see: https://www. Buffet lunch, followed by event. churchofscotland.org.uk/speak_ out/doing_politics_differently/ Participatory Budgeting is a way political_projects_and_resources for communities to make financial decisions locally. 1% of local Augustine United Church Studio, authority budgets in Scotland will 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL be spent through Participatory Budgeting by 2021, and the Church 12.30pm – 2.00pm of Scotland is at the forefront of Tabeetha School this innovation. 20 churches have Come and hear about the work of now participated in the Church’s the only school that is run by the Participatory Budgeting (PB) Church of Scotland anywhere in Programme, distributing over the world. You’ll hear from the £100,000 to projects addressing Head Teacher, along with inequalities in communities. PB contributions from some of the can empower communities and senior pupils. It’s a chance to meet strengthen democracy by putting with the pupils and hear first- decisions on how budgets are hand about the great work of the spent into the hands of local school in Israel. people, and churches are playing a key role in facilitating this in local communities. Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, For further details please contact EH1 2QQ Rev William McLaren by Tuesday 14 May: wmclaren@churchofscotland. 5.30pm org.uk /Tel. 01382 459 119. Church Service Society Annual General Meeting and Lecture General Assembly Hall Rev Dr Doug Gay will speak on Renewing the Church’s Worship: 7.00pm adopting and adapting classic Guild Big Sing at the Assembly Reformed and ecumenical Join the Guild’s “Big Sing”, a great patterns and practices as we face evening of worship, praise, the challenge of reshaping fellowship and celebration! contemporary worship in a diverse Tickets are available from Guild Kirk. office – contact: guild@ churchofscotland.org.uk All Welcome. Stay for supper, 7.15pm: book at [email protected]. uk WEDNESDAY 22 MAY

St Columba’s by the Castle, Costa Coffee, 1 Hanover Street, 14 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW EH2 2DL 12.35pm – 1.50pm 5.30pm – 7.00pm Struck by Lightning! Flashes of Evangelical Network Inspiration from Go For It COSEN@theGA – an informal chance to meet, to chat over Come and hear a series of coffee, to network through the “Lightning Talks”, five minute Church Of Scotland Evangelical presentations telling inspiring Network: https://cosen.org.uk/ stories of the work that Go For It funds. There will be an opportunity for networking and The Charteris Centre, 138/140 to discover how your congregation The Pleasance, EH8 9RR might be supported to make a difference, too. 5.30pm for 6.00pm The Irish Gathering Lunch and refreshments provided. Speaker: Rev Dr John L McPake, Ecumenical Officer, Church of Scotland Augustine United Church Riddle’s Court Library, Sanctuary, 41 George IV Bridge, 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG EH1 1EL 12.30pm – 2.00pm 12.30pm – 2.00pm SPILL THE BEANS: Worship and Aberdeen Christ’s College, Age Group Resources with a Divinity Alumni Scottish flavour The annual General Assembly Now in its ninth year, the Spill The reunion buffet lunch for Aberdeen Beans Resource Team continues to Christ’s College Divinity Alumni create imaginative and thought- and friends is always a happy provoking materials to assist occasion and we look forward to worship leaders and age group seeing many of you there. Copies leaders. Join us to meet members of College Voices will be available. of the team and find out how Spill The Beans resources can enliven worship and lead you to explore Augustine United Church Studio, the depth and breadth of the 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL Scriptures. Lunch is provided. 12.30pm – 2.00pm New resources from Mission and New College Garden Discipleship Come along for a chance to 12:30pm – 2.00pm explore a number of new Annual Alumni Lunch resources from Mission and All New College Alumni are Discipleship, for worship, warmly invited to lunch. Should it congregational development, be raining, alternative arrangements mission and children’s ministry. will be made. There is no cost in attending, however a retiring collection will be taken. We very THURSDAY 23 MAY much look forward to seeing you.

General Assembly Hall 12.30pm – 2.00pm Pension Information for Ministers regarding their Defined Contribution Scheme A general awareness raising session to keep ministers informed about their current pension and the options available. 2019

We are pleased to announce that Heart & Soul will be returning on Sunday 19th May 2019, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.