www.corstorphineoldparish.org.uk Diary Dates 8th Feb (Wed) Fabric Committee meets at 7.30pm in the Session Room 11th Feb (Sat) Men’s Breakfast Fellowship Meeting at 8. 30am in the Kirk Loan Hall 12th Feb (Sun) Sunday Service at 10.30am 10th—15th Feb (inc) Church Office closed 19th Feb (Sun) Sunday Service at 10.30am 20th Feb (Mon) Finance Committee meets at 7.30pm in the Committee Room 20th Feb (Mon) Last date for March magazine material 22nd Feb (Wed) Congregational Board meets at 7.30pm in the Session Room 26th Feb (Sun) Sunday Service at 10.30am 27th Feb (Mon) Seedling Coffee Morning in the Kirk Loan Hall at 1 0am 1st March (Wed) Joint meeting of Kirk Session and Congregational Board at 7.30pm in the Session Room 2nd March (Thur) Office Hour 7-8pm — no appointment necessary 5th March (Sun) Sacrament of Holy Communion with services at 8.30am and 10.30am 11th March (Sat) Men’s Breakfast Fellowship Meeting at 8. 30am in the Kirk Loan Hall 12th March (Sun) Service at 10.30am 19th March (Sun) Service at 10.30am followed by the Stated Annual Meeting of the Old Parish (all members of the congregation warmly invited to attend) Corstorphine Old Parish Church, Kirk Loan, Edinburgh EH12 8HD Scottish Charity number: SC016009 Sunday Worship at 10.30am - On the first Sunday of every month there is a short service of Communion at 11.30am except March, June, October and December when there are services of Holy Communion at 8.30am and 10.30am Church Office - 2A Corstorphine High Street EH12 7ST. Open during school term time: Monday – Thursday 8.45am – 1.15pm and Friday: 8.45am – 12.45pm 334 7864 [email protected] The Thursday Office Hour - In the Church Office, High Street Hall, on the first Thursday of every month 7.00-8.00pm (except July and August). No appointment necessary. Church Halls - High Street Hall, 2A Corstorphine High Street EH12 7ST and Kirk Loan Hall, 18 Kirk Loan, EH12 7HD 1 Letter from our Minister Dear Friends, A recent edition of ‘Antiques Roadshow’ on BBC 1 was concerned with some of the objects and letters kept by relatives of, or survivors of, the Holocaust. The programme was broadcast to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day. Many of the stories were harrowing, with stories we have heard time and time again of persecution, starvation, bravery, sorrow, recovery, and which we need to keep hearing so as not to become immune to or blasé about, man’s inhumanity to man. Despite the awfulness of the stories, there was hope too, because people overcame the atroci- ty, and moved forward, and the fact that Holocaust Memorial Day exists at all suggests a com- mitment to never becoming complacent in the future. One of the objects brought was a letter by the nieces of a Scottish missionary to Hungary, Jane Haining, who during the lead up to the war and in the early years of the war, was matron at a girls’ school in Budapest. Jane took in both Jewish and Christian girls, and treated both equal- ly and with respect, oblivious it seemed, or perhaps very aware of, the danger she was placing herself in as anti-Jewish feeling and laws grew alarmingly each day. Despite being recalled by the Church of Scotland, Jane chose to stay with her pupils in Budapest saying: if these girls need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness. Having told off a kitchen boy for stealing, he reported her to the authorities and Jane was arrested and taken to Auschwitz where she died. Jane Haining’s name is now recorded in the Holocaust Me- morial in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, as one of the Righteous Among the Nations, non Jews who gave their lives to protect Jews during the war. This month sees a celebration of love when St Valentine’s day comes around on February 14th, and words of love will be expressed as flowers, chocolates and cards are passed between cou- ples, and words of anger will be expressed between those who forgot or chose not to put much effort in! And while it is heart warming to be told that you are loved, or to tell another that you love them, many shudder at the commercialism, and the lack of individuality of our 21st cen- tury Valentine’s day. But none of us can be anything but emotional, thankful, sorrowful, admiring of the sort of love shown by Jane Haining, and the many others, often unnamed, whose love of friend and stranger alike led them to challenge hatred and division, putting their own lives in danger to save others. Faith, hope and love abide, these three, wrote St Paul, but the greatest of these is love, and when we hear of stories like those of Jane Haining then we give thanks for the love that re- mains through both darkness and sunshine. Enjoy (and remember!) February 14th, but give thanks for the love in which we dwell, both hu- man and divine, and for the faith that takes us to places where love is most needed. Best wishes, 2 Guild News The Magazine Team Tuesday 7th February at 7.30pm As we begin another year of church life, it is Vintage Dresses customary and appropriate to record the ap- Bertha Walker preciation of the congregation for the efforts of all who are involved in any way in the pro- Tuesday 14th February at 2.00pm Edinburgh Presbyterial Council duction, compilation and distribution of the AGM Church Magazine and of Life & Work. and Afternoon Tea Inverleith St Serf’s Church This important and valuable service regularly brings news and information about the life and witness of the Kirk both locally and worldwide. In addition it is a service which is appreciated by those members of the congregation who Tuesday 21st February at 7.30pm are unable to be at the church or participate Christian Aid Caring for Mother Earth in Bolivia in any of the church’s organisations. Guild Project Many people now also access the church maga- Friday 3rd March at 2.30pm zine on our website (address below) or have it World Day of Prayer sent to them every month as an attachment. Service at St John the Baptist Church That way, we save money on postage but you also have the advantage of receiving and read- Tuesday 7th March at 7.30pm Open Evening - Concert by Glits ing the magazine before the date that it is put 'To Herald the Spring' into the church for uplift by distributors. Music and Verse performed by Glits Tickets will be on sale from early February, If you would like to receive a copy of the mag- price £8.00 azine every month via email, then please con- including refreshments. tact Christine in the Church Office on 334 7864 ([email protected]) All are welcome to come along to any of our Guild meetings, a warm welcome is assured. I would like to take this opportunity of ex- Brenda Russell, Leadership team tending a heartfelt thanks to all of you who Tel : 0131 629 1456 gather, type and print the articles, who con- tribute articles, are part of the stapling team or distribute the finished product every month. David Drummond Magazine Editor www.corstorphineoldparish.org 3 Life as a Woman Elder In approximately eight months I shall have been an Elder of the Church of Scotland for 40 years. Following David Cameron’s articles on the History of Women Elders in the Church of Scotland, I was asked to write a few words about my thoughts as a woman ruling elder in Corstorphine Old Parish Church. I clearly remember Mr Brady, then Minister of the Church, asking me to consider the possibility of being ordained. There followed two weeks of thought and prayer: should I? should I not? What is God’s will in this matter? Finally, I had the answer, which I believe was God given, “Step forward in faith”. There followed three meetings with the Minister on the duties of an elder, which gave opportunities for questions and discussion. Then, there would be the Service of Ordination. Because I was going to be on holiday at the preferred time for the ordination service, I was treated to a service on my own! This was probably more nerve-racking than being together with the others. However, the service was meaningful, special, and important. Thus followed the duties. I was given a District of members of the church to whom I was introduced by the Minister. This helped enormously because the introduction seemed to formalise the fact that I was to be the elder. I was expected to visit each home at least four times a year prior to the Quarterly Communions. During the Service of Ordination the congregation was charged to be welcoming to the elder and to invite the person into the home. Mr Brady said that you would not expect to discuss ‘Double Glazing’ on the doorstep, so why discuss the Church’s Business there? I have to say that I did not have difficulties in visiting, but I had to be sensitive to the fact that it may not be convenient at that moment and arrange to go at another time. Attendance at meetings of Kirk Session is important. I hope that I have contributed to these in some small way. There followed other duties, for example, being the Presbytery Elder for two years, membership of the Presbytery Education Committee, and on one occasion being a delegate at the General Assembly of the Church.