St Ninian’s Church Corstorphine Quarterly Winter 2017 Winter 2017 Dear friends, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it. (John 1:5) lurk. But, through his life and his message Jesus wants us to believe that this world's Thank you. On the evening of my induction dark places and deep shadows do not have St Ninian's welcomed me warmly, and also to dominate our lives, and that life should gave me a monetary gift. With that gift I never be defined by its darkest moments or bought this lamp. It is a Wagenfeld 24 table its most frightening times. God knows that lamp, often through Jesus we can throw light on a better known simply as world, and illuminate the best parts of the Bauhaus ourselves. lamp. Designed and first made Jesus' life is illuminated by his message of in the 1920s it love, peace and merciful justice. Love for seems meant other people, and being loved by other for a manse people warms even the greatest tragedy that was also with hope that our lives are not pointless, designed and and that they have not been wasted. Jesus built in the asks us to believe that peaceful living 1920s. In my illuminates our sense of self-worth, whereas study there is violence or aggression always belittles an alcove where others. Jesus asks us to believe that while it fits perfectly. justice is vital in any community, nevertheless when we know we have done I bought this lamp because not only does it wrong then mercy is the light at the end of light up my study with a warm glow; it also the tunnel of shame and retribution. lights up my imagination, and warms my heart. I love modernist furniture and, Over the coming winter months as we reflecting on the Modernist maxim that form celebrate Christmas there will be lights follows function, guides my thinking about everywhere: the lights shining from candles what my services and sermons should be and trees, the lights from shops and cars. As like. always at this time of year there will be times of darkness - in the mornings, in the Light, like that from a lamp, is all around us, evenings, and in our lives. I pray that the especially if we live in a city. Light people you meet at St Ninian's over the illuminates, it warms, and it makes coming months will help you to feel and give beautiful. However, it can also pollute, cast the warm glow of Jesus Christ's love. I pray shadows, and dazzle. So, to see the true the worship you experience at St Ninian's beauty, to appreciate the deep wonder, and will brighten your lives with an under- to see the true nature of illumination standing of Jesus Christ's peace and merciful sometimes you have to leave the lights justice. Believe too, that in God's world behind and go to the very darkest places. It sometimes it is in the darkest places that is there that you see the stars in their you have the opportunity to witness the multitude; many that you never knew most beautiful light. existed. The light shines in the darkness, and the Throughout the New Testament Jesus is darkness shall not overcome it. (John 1:5) described as light, ‘in him was life, and the life was the light of men’1. Anyone who has With peace, light and love, lived for any time in this world knows that darkness is always close by, and shadows James 1 John 1:4 3 Communion Services Communion Services will be held in the Church rd on Sunday 3 December 2017 at 10.30am and 3.00pm. “This do in remembrance of Me” Communion Bread At our September Kirk Session, a concern was raised that some members of the congregation have allergies and food intolerances (eg coeliac disease). The Session agreed that we should practise inclusiveness by providing gluten-free bread for everyone at future Communion services. Important Diary Dates 25th November - Step Inside (last Saturday monthly, excl. Dec) 29th November - Conversazione (last Wednesday monthly, excl. Dec) 10th December - Fresh Start Donations 7th January - Sunday School Reopens 14th January - Congregational Lunch 28th January - Quarterly Copy Date 18th February - Soup & Roll Lunch (See separate notices for Christmas Services and parties. Further details will be provided in the Intimations) Kirk Session Meetings 2018 Wednesdays: 14th February, 9th May, 12th September, 14th November Deacons’ Court Meetings 2017 Wednesday 22nd November 2018 Wednesdays: 28th February, 23rd May, 26th September, 28th November 4 Christmas Services Sunday 3rd 1st Sunday in Advent: 10.30am & 3.00pm - Communion Sunday 10th 2nd Sunday in Advent: 10.30am - Sunday School Gift Service Saturday 16th 10.30am – 3.00pm - Quiet Day The Church will be open for prayer and meditation – why not take a break from the Christmas rush? Sunday 17th 3rd Sunday in Advent: 10.30am - Family Service 6.30pm - Nine Lessons & Carols, with the Choir Sunday 24th 4th Sunday in Advent: 10.30am - Morning Service (No Sunday School) 8.00pm – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Monday 25th 10.30am - Christmas Day Family Service (No Church Transport) Sunday 31st 10.30am - Morning Worship (No Sunday School - re-opens 7th January) Christmas Parties Saturday 9th 2.30-5.00pm Primary & Beginners Sunday School Saturday 9th (TBC) Juniors & Alpha Tuesday 12th 2.15pm Guild Christmas Party with the Choir 5 Congregational Register New Members by Transference Certificate: Mr James Aitken, 17 Templeland Road Mrs Sarah Aitken, 17 Templeland Road Funerals: 27th July * Mrs Jean Smeaton, 15 North Gyle Grove 2nd August * Mr Thomas Miller, 75 Broomhall Road 10th August * Mrs Jennifer MacLennan, 84 Drum Brae Park 20th September * Mr William Ovens, 25 Craigs Avenue 29th September * Mrs Margaret Nisbet, 5 Ladywell Court, Larbert 13th October Mr Roderick Milne, 2 Corstorphine Hill Avenue 23rd October * Mr William Robertson, 8 Dunsmuir Court * Denotes member Bill Robertson Bill Robertson’s funeral service was held on 23rd October. He was a very faithful member of our church, until ill-health confined him to his house. He was ordained in 1957, inducted as an Elder in 1966 and received a 50-year Long Service Certificate in May. Bill worked for many years with Martin & Frost until his retirement. * * * * * * * * * * Thanks Another year has gone by and we would like to record a very warm vote of thanks to our wonderful volunteers -the various committees (particularly this year’s Fair Committee), the choir, the crèche and Sunday School teachers, our flower ladies, the tea & coffee ladies, the church transport drivers, our bell ringers, the audio technicians, the Communion cloth ironers, the gardeners, the bakers and everyone else who quietly does little and big jobs behind the scenes around the church. Many of them are the same people wearing different hats! Especial thanks to the Hospitality team who have put in a power of work this year with additional functions, not least One of the wonderful displays by the Flower being the Induction of our new Minister and the Ladies for our Harvest Thanksgiving Fair. We are truly grateful for your commitment. 6 Sunday School News We recently met with the Sunday School Teachers and Leaders, along with the Link Elders, and were delighted to welcome James to our meeting. This gave us all an opportunity to speak about the plans for the Family Service in December. We discussed holding it on Sunday 24th December but some felt, with this being Christmas Eve, it would be better to have this service the week before. The Christmas Parties were also discussed. Beginners and Primary will hold a joint party on Saturday 9th December. Alpha and Juniors also plan to hold their parties on 9th December. It had been mentioned that the Alpha Group Room needed a bit of a refresh and we undertook to make some enquiries on how to progress this. We anticipate seeing more of the Alpha Group in Church for the whole service in the coming months. Following our post in last month's Quarterly, we were delighted to receive some suggestions on how to encourage more children into Sunday School. We will be discussing this issue again and will bear in mind the suggestions sent in. Diana Fairgrieve & Lesley Gulland (Joint Co-ordinators) * * * * * * * * * * For the second time this year, Corstorphine St Ninian’s responded to a Christian Aid Crisis Appeal – this time for the Rohingya people, raising £1,176.17 from a retiring collection in October. When added to the Forth Bridge Crossing, Christian Aid Week and the earlier East Africa Crisis Appeal, the total raised so far this year is £8,734.05! Present Aid Catalogue Stuck for a Christmas present for the person who has everything? How about giving school books, a hygiene package or fruit trees? Snowed under with socks and bath salts? Why not ask Santa to send a goat, a hand pump or a mobile health clinic? Feeling guilty about the mounds of discarded wrapping paper? When you purchase an ethical gift from Present Aid, you will be helping to fund Christian Aid's vital work to end poverty around the world. Now that's a gift worth giving! The Present Aid catalogue (copies at the doors of the church) and the website (www.presentaid.org) have lots of other gift ideas ranging in price from £5 - £500. Present Aid is a charity gift website that supports the work of Christian Aid. Alec Millar 7 The New Lady in the Manse world. I’d always regretted not taking time out like that after school or University, so it was very special to be able to have that extended time seeing places that don’t fit into the traditional two-week holiday and scratching my ‘travel itch’ a bit before we settled down into James’s first charge at St Michael’s.