Minister's Letter
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No 457 June 2017 Minister: Rev John Urquhart News & views from Craigmillar Park Church, Edinburgh A worshipping and caring community, following Jesus Christ www.craigmillarpark.org Minister’s Letter Dear friends, I stood there watching him. This is my last letter for Prism, When he reached the pavement although my last Sunday will on the other side, he turned probably be Sunday 2 July, so I will round as though he knew still be around for another month. somehow that I would still be standing there in front of the Goodbyes are hard. CS Lewis is Eastgate. Then he raised his quoted by Sheldon Vanauken as voice in a great roar that easily saying that ‘Christians never say overcame the noise of the cars goodbye’: and buses. Heads turned and at When we emerged on to the least one car swerved. “Besides,” busy High with the traffic he bellowed with a great grin, “Christians NEVER say streaming past, we shook hands, 1 and [CS Lewis] said: “I shan’t goodbye.” say goodbye. We’ll meet again.” What I think Lewis means, aside Then he plunged into the traffic. from acknowledging the discomfort 1 of saying goodbye, is that for the words: Christian there is always the Of those around in whom I meet prospect of a resurrection to come, my Lord, where people will be enabled to meet again, giving an added I ask their pardon and I grant dimension to our experience of the them mine, communion of saints. that every contradiction of All the same, there is a place for Christ's peace goodbyes, even for Christians: John might be laid down. Cuddeback2 sees three things which we can do while saying goodbye: Encouragement. St Paul nearly ‘express gratitude, ask forgiveness, always ends his letters with a word and offer encouragement’. of encouragement: grace, love and peace tend to feature. (If you read Gratitude. Saying goodbye is an over the endings of a few of them opportunity to remember some of you will see what I mean.) Let me the good things from the past. I end with Paul’s words from 2 want to say a real thank-you for the Thessalonians 3:16: kindnesses you have shown me, particularly when I was recovering May the Lord himself, who is our from my stroke. source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. Forgiveness. For the real The Lord be with you all. imperfections of a first ministry, I ask your pardon. I am reminded of John Bell’s and Graham Maule’s John 1 S. Vanauken. A Severe Mercy, p. 155 2 J. Cuddeback. ‘Christians Do Say Goodbye’ http://catholicexchange.com/time-say- goodbye-3-reasons-disagree-c-s-lewis Parents and Toddlers Parents & Toddlers in CPC for those accompanying hall is on every Saturday them. from 2-4pm during school Please note: Occasionally, term-time. (Last play day due to unforeseen for this session will be circumstances, we have to Saturday 1 July.) cancel Saturday playtime. We are a small but We will send out a text flourishing playgroup with message if this is the case. a lot of very positive feedback. Contact Susan Wong: Please feel free to join us where you will find a good selection of toys for [email protected] the little ones, and a coffee and chat 07711 265 758 2 A BIG thank you from Bliss! On behalf of Bliss Scotland, I'd like How your money could help: £5 to say thank you to everyone who helps parents feel more confident in contributed to the success holding their tiny baby; of the Bake Sale on 15 £10 gives the parents of April in the church hall. a poorly baby essential Thanks to your generosity care information; £25 we raised £240 to help provides emotional the charity continue their support through funding work with sick and a Family Group meeting; premature babies. Not £50 helps with a family's only that, several kind transition from hospital ladies in the congregation to home; £65 supports are now knitting life-changing neonatal everything from preemie research; £100 provides sized hats and cardigans to octopus face-to-face support on toys for the babies on the unit at the the unit; £150 keeps the Bliss Infirmary. helpline running for one week. I would like to particularly thank So, our £240 will be doing a lot to Pauline, Susan and Mark for helping help support babies and their me to set out the hall and serve the families. If you would like to know refreshments. more about Bliss, please have a look at the website www.bliss.org.uk or It was delightful to see mums with talk to me! their preemies (four of them, though not all still babies!) at the Bake Sale, Linsay Given Black, chatting and sharing experiences. Bliss Community Ambassador Margaret Cargill Not everyone reading this will know them for coming. Conversation, as Margaret, but many of you will do such, is perhaps a thing of the past, so, and this message is for you. but Margaret is still Margaret. There was a time, a year ago, when Why not think of dropping in one of Margaret tended to reject the these days, for five or ten minutes? presence of visitors – part of her Just bring yourself; Margaret’s condition – but that mode of needs are well catered for, but do let behaviour seems to have changed, me know if you’re meaning to come so now, when people do drop in, by phoning 667 5686, preferably the Margaret gives them a smile, seems day before. pleased to see them, may thank David 3 Book News Grove Booklets are fast moving but I have found that when I ask explorations of Christian life and God to show me my failings He ministry. There are seven series does! covering Biblical studies, ethics, evangelism, spirituality, pastoral ministry, renewal and worship. They are described as accessible with brief, clear, quality thinking that addresses the issues of the moment and there’s a new title every quarter in each series written by practitioners, not theorists. They are sent post-free at only £3.95 each Henri Nouwen: Wounded Healer, by (reduced if you order five or more). William Ruddle, “explores why Henri Sadly they do not cover Church of Nouwen is, perhaps the modern Scotland issues! writer who has done most to You can see what’s available at: confront the question of www.grovebooks.co.uk woundedness. In doing so his work I have been looking at two of these brings us face to face with Jesus the booklets this week. Search Me O wounded healer and can release new God: The Practice of Self- depths of grace in the reader’s life.” Examination, by Andrew Atherstone. This is primarily a review of one of This spiritual discipline is important Nouwen’s best known books. He though not popular. wrote many more and they have a With the help of God’s Spirit and depth and humility which is God’s Word, we search out enriching and moving. Ruddle wrote areas of sin, leading to that “you will find in his writings that repentance, amendment of life familiar, attentive, prayerful and a renewed desire for holiness. presence that literally hundreds of The pursuit of holiness is, of his pen-friends speak of.” course, a Christian priority. God is We have one or two of his books to holy and calls His people to be sample. Highly recommended! holy (Lev 11:44). Tom Wright is a Bible scholar and The author draws on the resources author of the popular For Everyone of Scripture and past Christian guides to the books of the New leaders to give us a guide and Testament. A group of us studied his “explores what this discipline book Advent for Everyone last involves and how to go about it in a autumn but this is good for way that opens us afresh to God’s individual study too and is actually a grace.” journey through Matthew’s gospel This is a discipline we tend to avoid and not particularly related to 4 Advent. We have several books by Pauline usually puts the books out Tom Wright—worth looking for. and I put them away with help. We I’m pleased to report that the library hope to keep this going monthly is being used. If you cannot see any during the summer and of course if book displayed that interests you, you are interested in helping, please do look at the shelved books, let us know! Jean Walker Brownies At Brownies we've had another busy Brownies the chance to be away term with our weekly meetings jam- from home overnight (some for the packed with fun activities, crafts first time). The leaders hope that and friendship! there will actually be some This term we have learnt sleep involved in our time how to look after ourselves together! At this event we by completing the Healthy are sad to say farewell to Heart badge. (Our healthy our Snowy Owl (Louise) who is poster is on our noticeboard.) graduating shortly from This involved finding out about Edinburgh University. We hope she eating a healthy diet, being active will come back and visit us in the and looking after your body - not as future. easy at it sounds but we all learnt We are lucky enough to be involved something new. in testing some of the new Brownie We hosted a Great Brownie Bake-Off programme activities before the end as we said farewell to some of term and sending in our feedback Brownies moving on to Guides and to HQ.