No 456 May 2017 Minister: Rev John Urquhart

News & views from , A worshipping and caring community, following Jesus Christ www.craigmillarpark.org

Minister’s Letter

Dear friends, First of all, I need to let you know that I have accepted a call to Penicuik: St Mungo’s. Thank you to those who have said they have been praying for me or have expressed their good wishes. I hope to be at CPC for some weeks to come, because the Presbytery of Lothian are scheduled to meet on Thursday 29 June and I have to wait for them to sustain the call and set a date for my induction. If you have questions during this transitional time leading up to the linkage with , Pauline, our session clerk, has contributed an article to this issue which seeks to answer them. In May, meanwhile, we will be engaged in door-to-door collecting In this month’s Life & Work, Jackie for Christian Aid Week. (Last year Macadam looks at the history and we collected over £3,000. This year, work of Christian Aid in her article, we are looking for new volunteers, ‘Behind every number is a name’. so if you would like to help, please The story behind the article’s name call Elizabeth McLeod on 667 1475.) is given by Sally Foster-Fulton of

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Christian Aid in : summarises some of the reports to Behind every number is a name. the Assembly. Among them, is an Behind every statistic is a story. interim report of the Eldership The refugee catastrophe that has Working Group. It aims to develop: made 65 million people homeless an overall vision of the office of (one in every 113 people on the eldership shaped by local planet!) threatens to overwhelm contextual mission and... our sensibilities – throw us into concerned with the discipleship of ‘overload apathy’ – that God’s people.2 paralysing feeling that we cannot The Ministries Council reports on the do anything to change or continuing work on ‘hub-style’ challenge a crisis of such ministry: that is, a team which monumental scale, so we retreat works over several parishes. It into the safety of what we know stresses the ’radical change’ that the and have. The complexities are needs to grow too great, the numbers numbing. again. Christian Aid began over 70 years ago, as a response from churches The world that the Church of in the UK to the monumental Scotland was designed for, and humanitarian crisis that spilled flourished in, has disappeared… out after World War II, with Even the best designed and refugees in desperate need. The implemented Hub-style approach complexities and challenges were will buy us but a few more years daunting, but because so many of existence if it does not address 3 dared to believe things didn’t these more fundamental issues. have to be that way, and then As we celebrate the service given worked and walked together as by people over many years to the body of Christ, thousands of Christ and his church (Sunday 7 lives were saved and changed.1 May), we also need to note that The General Assembly meets for a patterns of eldership and ministry week from Saturday 20 May. This within the church must be open to month and next, Life & Work change and review.

1 J. Macadam ‘Behind every number is a name’ Life & Work, May 2017. 2 Mission & Discipleship Report cited in: T. Baldwin. ‘General Assembly 2017’ Life & Work, May 2017 3 Ministries Council Report cited in: T. Baldwin. ‘General Assembly 2017’ Life & Work, May 2017

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Lastly, don’t forget Heart and Soul Princes Street Gardens. This year’s 2017. This enjoyable event takes theme is the Word of Life. You can place on Assembly Sunday (21 May find out more in Life & Work and at: from 1pm). It brings people from www.heartandsoul2017.org.uk churches and Christian agencies from across Scotland and beyond to John

Help with visiting the parish needed! 12-25 June

that we hope to visit them in person within the fortnight. We will then call on them in pairs, to collect the questionnaires, answer any questions they might have, and generally discuss anything they would like to about the church and the local area. This process is intended not only to make direct contact with those living around the church, but also to allow us get to know more about them, to help us see how we can be part of their community. This should be a useful and interesting process; even if every As soon as parishioners think they single householder is out or shows are free of unsolicited post on local no interest in talking to us or filling elections, Christian Aid, and the in our questionnaire, that in itself general election, we are planning to will tell us something. And the more disturb them one more time with a of us who take part, the more useful parish visitation exercise. it will be. So please be like Lucy This will happen in two stages, in above, and come and help! the fortnight of 12-25 June. Firstly, If you would like to join in the we will deliver a newsletter exercise, even for just a few doors, describing the current activities and or have any queries, please let me future plans for Craigmillar Park and know as soon as you can. other local churches, together with a questionnaire asking them about Many thanks, what they think about their local Ann Thanisch community. This will include notice (0781 494 9468)

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Long Service

on the Session. Alex was Session Clerk for many years and still keeps the current Session Clerk right on many procedural points! Andrew Wilson. Andrew joined the Session in 1975 and had accumulated 42 years’ service before retiring on ill-health grounds very recently. Andrew brought his considerable experience in the Civil Service to bear on the deliberations We are incredibly fortunate to have of the Session. in this congregation a number of office-bearers who have given many Sandra Lamb. Sandra also years of devoted service. Serving became an elder in 1975 (on the elders and other office-bearers who same day as Andrew) and she too have served over 30 years are had completed 42 years of service entitled to receive long-service before retiring in late 2016. In certificates from the Moderator of addition to her elder’s duties, the General Assembly and we are Sandra managed the Sunday coffee thrilled to have received 11 of these rota for many years. for presentation by the minister on Sheena Stenhouse. Sheena Sunday 7 May. We will be has been active in the congregation recognising and thanking God for an since she first joined, starting off as amazing 439 years of service in a Sunday School teacher. She total; we are truly blessed to have became an office-bearer first in such people in our midst and it will 1976, joining the Congregational be good to be able to express our Board, where she still serves. She thanks publicly. They are: was Treasurer for many years and John Kelly. John was remains convener of the Finance ordained as an elder in 1968 and is Committee of the Board. She has only months away from completing 41 years of service as an office- 50 years of service, making him our bearer. longest-serving office-bearer. He Gordon Braidwood. Gordon currently serves as chairman of the joined the Session in 1977 and Congregational Board and brings his therefore has almost 40 years of expertise in the building trade to service. He was finance convener bear on fabric matters in the for many years and remains a congregation. regular duty convener on Sunday Alex Shepherd. Alex mornings. Like others on the became an elder in 1969 and has Session, he is a faithful district therefore racked up some 48 years elder. 4

Margaret Cargill. Margaret was ordained as an elder in 1979 and would have completed 38 years of service had ill-health not forced her to retire prematurely from the Session. She was an exemplary editor of Prism for a number of years. David Cargill. David joined Margaret on the Session in 1981 and has completed 36 years of service. He represented the congregation on Seonaid Wilson. Seonaid Newington Churches Together for joined the Session in 1983 on the many years and has always been same day as Roger and completed active in our ecumenical and prayer 34 years of service before retiring life. earlier this year. Her articulate and ready wit, coupled with her years of Colin Aitken. Colin joined experience in managing children, our Session in 1997 when he moved made her an effective contributor to to Craigmillar Park but has a total of the work of the Session! 36 years’ service since he was originally ordained as an elder in the We give thanks to God for the former Viewforth Church in 1981. service of these 11 colleagues and for the hard work of all who help to Roger Paton. Roger became run the congregation and serve God an elder in 1983 and has 34 years’ in Craigmillar Park. service on the Session. He has served as Rollkeeper for many years and is also now one of our volunteer Pauline Weibye beadles.

Lunch Club

Lunch Club remains very popular. We have had some new comers attending which has been great. We are always keen to welcome newcomers. The visit to Cockenzie House for afternoon tea is progressing well. We still have seats available if anyone would like to join us. Flora Paton

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General Assembly

This year’s General Assembly runs experience from Saturday 20 May to Friday 26 to join in the May. The Church has just published worship and the Blue Book of reports and listen to the deliverances (proposals) online - debates so you can download it and read all do feel free sorts of information about the to drop in if Assembly on the Church’s website at you have www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ time. I about_us/general_assembly/ would general_assembly_2017. The Lord particularly High Commissioner this year will be recommend Her Royal Highness The Princess the service Royal so security will be tight but of Holy members of the public are still Communion on the Monday entitled to attend in the public morning. You can, of course, also gallery (entered from the back door follow proceedings through the live in the Lawnmarket); it’s an amazing webcast each day. Interesting debates this year will include the report of the Theological Forum on same-sex marriage; a report on the Church’s view of illegal settlements in the Palestinian Occupied Territories; and a report on the future of the National Youth Assembly. There is also, of course, Heart and Soul in Princes St Gardens West on Sunday 21 May – always a great afternoon out. It is our turn this year to send a Commissioner to the Assembly and we’re very grateful to Colin Aitken for agreeing to accept the nomination. It’s a busy but inspiring week and I know that Colin would appreciate the prayers of the congregation as he prepares to digest the Blue Book and get to grips with amendments and counter- motions. Pauline Weibye

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Lent Studies 2017 The Joy of the Gospel

During the period of Lent 2017, 33 concern for peace and the poor, members of eight different with a final focus on prayer and Newington churches met every week the role of the Holy Spirit. in five ecumenical groups to work Thoughts about the future: through Paula Gooder’s study booklet based on 1) We need to investigate Pope Francis’ Joy of the how to develop more Gospel. Following this, on flexible access to the Monday of Holy churches, ministers, and Week, 15 of them met to other church members. discuss what they Although it may have thought about the course. been discussed in the past, can we revisit the Feedback was extremely idea of keeping local positive; we are all very churches open as public grateful to Isobel Smith, spaces on a daily basis? who originally Perhaps a rota could be recommended the advertised on an updated booklet, and NCT for NCT website? How can agreeing to use it. Favourable mobile phones and social media comments centred on: be used to open up  the Pope’s compelling prose and communications? forthright attitude – “the Pope 2) Providing for a particular need is sounds like a good Methodist”; an opportunity to discover others; the lack of food that causes  the interesting choice of Bible people to come to foodbanks is passages with absolute focus on only a symptom of their more Jesus - reading them three times fundamental problems. So as far each and looking for particular as we can, we must together words and phrases was very provide broad-ranging, flexible effective; services to reach as many people  the challenging, wide-ranging as possible. nature of the questions 3) Ideas for further ecumenical presented; study groups included:  the structure of the whole study -  A short study – perhaps just starting with the joy of the two weeks – immediately Gospel, then exploring how it can before Advent, designed be expressed in mission, particularly for those who do commitment, proclamation, and

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not usually participate in these  The usual six-week Lent study groups. group.  A four-week Advent group,  The Wednesday morning which might include some of group which was held at the those on the pre-Advent Methodist Church in Nicolson group, as well as others. Square and includes members Craigmillar Park Church ran of other churches would such a group in 2016 with welcome other studies at any eight people attending. time of the year. Ann Thanisch

Thanks are due to Ann for organising the study groups this year and for coordinating the feedback on the studies to inform future plans. I personally got a lot from the Bible study group I attended and would recommend taking part in any future groups that are arranged. —Editor

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Heading for the hills

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the gunpowder atmosphere isn’t helped hills, from whence cometh my help, by the terrible wars in the Middle my help cometh East, with their from the Lord.” As millions of refugees, Psalm 121 says, and the nuclear sometimes we just stand-off with North need to rise above Korea. I wish our our everyday toils politicians would get and troubles and back to escape to the parliamentary wilderness. I did democracy in which that one day last the moods of “the month and it just people” are happened to be the day the Prime tempered by good judgement and Minister called a general election. expert advice. Direct democracy, in So while my companion and I were the form of referendums, have climbing the three Munros to the landed us with our present south of Loch Laggan, the world problems. below us was frantically buzzing with I know this sounds elitist but I think the political news. I only found out we must make room for both about it the next morning when I “mood” and “judgement” in our bought a newspaper in Newtonmore. political dealings. At the moment (“How could I be so old-fashioned?” good judgement has been thrown I hear my daughters say.) out of the window and politicians are Theresa May was also old-fashioned frightened to tell the whole truth and enough to have thought of the idea give a lead. of an election while she was on her Standing on top of the mountain, it’s Easter holiday in the mountains of easy to say “a plague on all your North Wales. houses” and leave it all for God to Mountain tops are often places of sort out. But I think that’s a cop- reflection and inspiration. Moses out. We need to take responsibility collected his Ten Commandments ourselves. I still have enough faith from Mt Sinai. Jesus preached his in ordinary people to believe that, in Sermon on the Mount. Perhaps we the quiet of the polling booths on 8 all need to escape to the hills for a June, they will return a surprisingly while this month as we try to make wise verdict. Even Churchill had to sense of the political goings-on admit that our parliamentary around us. democracy was a flawed system of I find the rise of populist movements government but he also said it was across Britain, Europe and America the best one we’ve got. quite frightening. And the John Knox

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Crossword

with a historical theme

by Roger Paton

Answers on page 16

Across Down 7 Burt ok here in Lybia? (6) 1 A bison running wild in eastern 8 America president at end of Europe (6) WW2 (6) 2 I ran away from this middle east 9 Author who doesn't want to be country (4) known? (4) 3 Ok in a way to Japanese island! (7) 10 & 20 Famous politician/emperor 4 An old-fashioned music maker! (1,4) of France (8,8) 5 Was old uncle at this battlefield? (8) 11 Where baddies ended up in olden 6 Old English people who played sax days (7) on Sundays? (6) 13 A measure for illness? (1,4) 12 Many historical battles took place 15 This was imposed on Salmand here in Scotland (8) Rushdie (5) 14 You would have found 23 Across in 17 Bomber or bubble-car! (7) this desert (7) 20 See 10 Across 16 Type of bomb tested in 21 Rudolph, but not the red-nosed 18 Down (6) one! (4) 18 Island where Britain tested 22 21 Across may have sung 16 Down (6) these (6) 19 Confused Arabs seen in Iraq (5) 23 He could have been found in 21 Often sung before going into 14 Down (6) battle (4) 11

Linkage

As you will all know, we are working pastoral support during the vacancy towards a linkage with Reid and we are already considering who Memorial (see earlier Prisms for this might be. more information on the decisions I’ve become aware of a bit of that led to this). Presbytery has uncertainty about the details of the now appointed an Interim Moderator linkage so have prepared a list of for the congregation; it will be the questions and answers. Just let me Rev Neil Gardner, minister at know if you have a question I have . Neil is also Interim not answered and I can try to do so Moderator at Reid Memorial so there in a future edition. will be a good deal of joined-up thinking. The Interim Moderator’s What is a ‘linkage’? job is to work with the Kirk Session to lead the congregation in this Church law defines it as ‘two or period of transition, particularly to more charges linked to form one ensure our ongoing life and witness. charge, so that the congregations We sometimes speak of being are served by one ministry, the ‘vacant’ but this is not accurate – constitutions of the said there will be a ministry vacancy congregations being in no other way once John leaves but the life of affected’. This means that the God’s people here in this place Craigmillar Park congregation continues. Neil will also be guiding continues to exist as does the Kirk the two Kirk Sessions, and the Session and Congregational Board. Nominating Committee once it is We will share a minister with Reid elected, through the process of Memorial but remain free to make calling a new minister for the linked our own decisions about the life and charge. Presbytery has appointed a witness of the congregation. Vacancy Advisory Committee to help with that process. That will be led Will we have to move out of our by the Rev Liz Henderson, minister building? at Richmond Craigmillar; the other No, we will remain in our own two members are Eric Brown and buildings as will Reid in theirs. Gary Winney, both Presbytery Elders. The Session hopes to meet Where will the minister live if we soon with the Interim Moderator and have two manses? the VAC to start discussing what has We will need to agree this with Reid to be done; we are in regular Memorial and with the new minister, contact with Reid Memorial and with the help of Presbytery. It is Priestfield as well. One of the first likely that the manse that is not things to be done once John leaves used will be rented to provide an is to appoint a Locum Minister who income. Once decided, the two will lead worship and provide

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congregations will come to an supporting our own manse and will agreement about the finances of the also be sharing the cost of manse so that one does not benefit ministerial travel expenses. But it’s or suffer more than the other. unlikely to amount to a great deal. We will still meet the full cost of the Will we still have a Sunday Ministries and Mission Contribution service every week? to the central church and we will Yes, this is a requirement in church have all the expense of maintaining law. We might decide to have our own buildings. occasional or regular joint services though and this would be allowed. How will we work with Reid Memorial? Will we have to change the time Co-operatively and constructively! of our church service? This is a great opportunity to work Almost certainly, yes. Reid also together and help each other out. meets at 10.30 so there will have to We may be able to share skills, for be changes. This is something that example, and ensure that limited will be agreed with the new minister resources are used sensibly. We and both Kirk Sessions. There are could set up a joint mission all sorts of options: a permanent committee or a joint eco- change so that one meets at 9.30 congregation project; we could and the other at, say, 11.15; or a perhaps have a single data pattern of month about; or some protection officer between the two other arrangement. We’ll consult congregations; we could offer joint the congregation about this, of youth projects and joint prayer course. groups. And don’t forget that one of the main benefits of the new arrangement is that we will share a Will we be merging our finances and Communion Rolls? new post, a Ministries Development Worker, across the three No. We remain separate congregations of Craigmillar Park, congregations with our own Reid Memorial and Priestfield. We’ll finances, our own membership lists be talking to the Reid and Priestfield and our own decision-making about the recruitment to that post in bodies. We retain our separate due course. That post will be paid charity registrations with OSCR. We for by the central church: a huge keep our own Presbytery Elders and vote of confidence in us and in the we keep the right to send our own mission work we can achieve in this Commissioners to the General area, working together. Assembly when it’s our turn.

Will we close down as a Will we get any financial benefit from this arrangement? congregation at the end of the five-year period? Perhaps marginally, in that we will be sharing manse costs instead of That will be subject to the same kind

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of Presbytery review as we’ve just Incidentally, if you feel called to had and we’ll be contributing fully to further service in the Church, that. I really don’t know the answer perhaps even to ministry, then do but suspect it will depend as much speak to the minister or look at the on what happens nationally in the Tomorrow’s Calling pages on the Church of Scotland over the next Church of Scotland website few years as on how well we’ve done (www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ in meeting the goals and targets serve/ministries_council/ we’ve set for ourselves. There is education_and_support/ still a huge shortage of ministers in tomorrows_calling). training so it is almost inevitable that there will be more structural Pauline Weibye, change within the Church. Session Clerk

Duties

7th & 14th May – Convener: Isobel Smith (667 6336) Kathleen Cockerell, John Kelly, John Knox, Betty Laing, Harry Laing, Sandra Lamb

21st & 28th May – Convener: Sheena Stenhouse (667 4520) Julie Read, Katy Ruggeri, Ann Thanisch, Christine Thomson, Miriam Weibye, Norman Weibye

4th June is Communion

Reader Sound Church Officer

May 2017

7th Christopher McLeod Norman Weibye Ian Breadon

14th Gordon Braidwood Christopher McLeod Norman Weibye

21st Ruth Longmuir John Kelly Julia Yarker

28th Colin Aitken David Topping Roger Paton

Jun 2017

4th Julie Read Norman Weibye Norman Weibye

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Dates for your diary

May Sun 7 May, 10.30am – Morning Worship with the presentation of long-service certificates (Holy Communion afterwards in the chapel) Tue 9 May, 7pm – Joint Meeting for Prayer Reid Memorial Church Thu 11 May, 3.15pm – Holy Communion at St Margaret’s Care Home Sun 14 to Sat 20 May – Christian Aid Week Sun 14 May, 10.30am – Morning Worship & Christian Aid Soup Lunch Thu 18 May, 7.30pm – NCT Committee Salvation Army, East Adam St Sat 20 May – Fri 26 May – General Assembly Mound Place Sun 21 May, 10.30am – Morning Worship Sun 21 May – Heart and Soul Princes Street Gardens West Thu 25 May – The Ascension of the Lord Thu 25 May-4 Jun – Thy Kingdom Come global wave of prayer www.thykingdomcome.global Sun 28 May, 10.30am – Morning Worship Baptism of Raefe Gilson Tue 30 May, 7.30pm – Thy Kingdom Come prayer Liberton Kirk June Sun 4 Jun, 10.30am – Holy Communion for the Day of Pentecost Wed 7 Jun, 7pm – The Kirk Session meets in the Session Room Thu 8 Jun – General Election Thu 8 Jun, 3.15pm – Holy Communion at St Margaret’s Care Home Sun 11 Jun, 10.30am – Morning Worship for Trinity Sunday The Congregational Board meets afterwards in the Session Room Mon 12 Jun, 5pm – Cameron Toll Chaplaincy Prayer Costa in the Centre Tue 13 Jun, 7pm – Presbytery of Edinburgh St Catherine’s Argyle

Congregational Register

New Member by Transference: Mr Robert Goodfellow, 8/7 Richmond Place, Edinburgh New Member by Resolution of Kirk Session: Mrs Susan Scotland, 7 Alnwickhill View, Edinburgh Transference: Mr Ed and Mrs Jane Cuthbert to Musselburgh: St Michael’s Inveresk

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Who’s Who at Craigmillar Park Church

14 Hallhead Road, 0131 667 1623 Minister Rev John Urquhart [email protected] 0131 668 3545 Session Clerk Pauline Weibye [email protected] Treasurer & Depute 0131 667 1475 Christopher McLeod Session Clerk [email protected] 0131 664 2877 Roll Keeper Roger Paton [email protected] Chairman 0131 663 2428 John Kelly Congregational Board [email protected] 0131 664 7114 Organist John Cranston [email protected] 07754 952 297 Prism Editor Ruth Longmuir [email protected] 0131 668 3545 Hall Letting Norman Weibye [email protected]

Church Website www.craigmillarpark.org [email protected]

The deadline for items for the next edition of Prism is Sunday 21 May. Please send items to Ruth — [email protected] or 07754 952 297.

Crossword Answers

Hymn [21] Basra, [19]

Easter, [18] Atomic, [16] Western, [14] Lowlands, [12] Saxons, [6]

[1] Bosnia, [2] Iran, [3] Okinawa, [4] A tape, [5] Culloden, Culloden, [5] tape, A [4] Okinawa, [3] Iran, [2] Bosnia, [1] Down: Clues

10, [21] Hess, [22] Leider, [23] Rommel [23] Leider, [22] Hess, [21] 10,

Bonapart, [11] Gallows, [13] A dose, [15] Fatwa, [17] Heinkel, [20] See See [20] Heinkel, [17] Fatwa, [15] dose, A [13] Gallows, [11] Bonapart,

[7] Tobruk, [8] Truman, [9] Anon, [10] & [20] Napoleon Napoleon [20] & [10] Anon, [9] Truman, [8] Tobruk, [7] Across: Clues

CPC is a registered Scottish charity, Scottish Charity No: SC 017061 16