June 2014 No 63 1 Magazine ue r Iss Summe ‘Our aim is to draw closer to God and to each other, so that, through us, He can make known to all people the joys and challenges of following Jesus’ Vision Statement Summer 2014 Page 1 Libertonkirk.net page page 93B Rainbows 28 Our page 23 August Diary 19 Pros and Cons of helping others 24 Bible readings for the Summer 8+9 September Diary 20 Blythwood Shoe Box Appeal 13 Sermon Recordings 5 Castle Credit Union 9 Sunday Music Group 14 Change of Address form 34 Take time to Pray 2 Christine Scott 25 Useful ‘phone numbers 35 Congregational News 11 Web Addresses 35 Welcome Desk Rota 15 Crèche Rota 15 World Mission News 26 Crossword for the Summer 10 Youth Report 4/5 Crossword - May answers 34 Elder’s Sunday Duties 21 Music Concerts Flowers 22 Barclay Viewforth Organ Recital 27 Flower Group request 22 Chopin Circle Summer Concert 14 Origin Scotland Symphonic Praise 32 Fresh Start 14 Gateway Cafe 6 Adverts Guild News 9 Alan Johnstone Plumbing 31 July Diary 18 Ascot Decorators 33 June Diary 16 Bluebird Care 30 Libby Cafe development 12 Cello Lessons 34 Liberton Names and Addresses back cover D Whyte Garden Care 28 Life and Work 11 HCC Electrical 29 John Cameron Blacksmith 33 Messy Church 25 Julie Bell Piano Care 29 Messy Church volunteers 21 Lemon Squeezy Driving School 30 Minister’s letter 3 Local Garden Services 32 Neighbourhood Scheme 21 Origin Scotland 32 Organ Music in Church 6+7 Toddlers Groups 31 Be to us, O Holy Spirit, breath for our being, purity for our souls, healing for our wounds, fire for our hearts and light for our path, that with all creation we may rejoice in your presence; now and for ever. Amen. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Jesus, abject and despised, let us not be ashamed to follow you. Jesus, hated and persecuted, let us not be afraid to walk in your footsteps. Jesus, blasphemed and condemned, let us be counted your friends. Jesus, mocked and scourged, let us bear all things patiently. Jesus, crowned and derided, let us not be overwhelmed by our injuries and grief. Amen. John Wesley (1703-1791) Page 2 Liberton Kirk Magazine No.631 Heart and Soul is the name given non-church goers who happened to to the annual gathering of the wander off the streets. Church of Scotland in Princess Street This year, at the request of Gardens on the Sunday afternoon of various people, we decided give it our General Assembly week. It’s an another go. I remember having a chat event where you can find out what is with David McNeish, our assistant, going on in the Church in general, and about the sort of thing we could do in individual churches (who are en- with our tent. We wanted it to be couraged to hire their own tents and something that would be accessible to tell their own stories). It’s also a good anyone who happened to be wander- place for bumping into people from ing past – even a worse-for-wear football supporter. all over the country and beyond, and We thought about a music tent, a marked improvement on the old but we didn’t want to compete with Garden the other musical events and per- Party; formances that were going on. In the replacing end we decided that something that the had really helped following the trag- formality edy at Liberton High School might be and the of wider value. Our tent was to be a queues for tea and cakes with the safe place. Somewhere passers-by atmosphere and ethos of a carnival. could stop and spend time with God. I have to admit that my We also wanted to keep it simple - experience of Heart and Soul was a table with a basket full of candles, somewhat tarnished a few years ago some background music, paper where when Lindsay and I found ourselves people could write prayers, a tray of wandering its length behind a bunch sand for their regrets, and some of Hearts supporters. Their team had verses from the Bible around the walls just paraded the Scottish cup down (all of which David now keeps in the Princess Street in an open-topped boot of his car). Add to this, a small bus, and they were a bit the worse team of volunteers, to explain what it was about and encourage people to for wear. As we listened to their make the most of it, and we were set bemused comments, we to go. began to wonder who The result, for me, was a very it all was for, and humbling experience. In the course of whether it really the afternoon I watched dozens of was of any people of different ages, back- relevance to grounds, and beliefs going through Web Address www.libertonkirk.net Scottish Charity Number SC011602 Summer 2014 Page 3 the doors of the tent. The most And what have I learned? That moving encounter was when a young God can make his presence known in woman with no living church connec- the unlikeliest of places – even in a tion came out in tears, having recently tent in Princess Street Gardens. If you lost two members of her family. have any stories to share of the A team member was on hand to places where you have encountered listen to her story and to offer to God over the summer, pray with her in a quiet place – an please let me know. offer that was welcomed. Much love, Gracemount Primary School’s new Head Teacher, Mr Dimeck, and I were speak- ing to pupils at assembly about how to turn a negative event into something positive. The example I used from the bible was when Jesus cleared out the money-changers from the Temple in order to let people worship God more closely. A great example in that school is the fund raising and awareness work that Primary 5 Classes have been doing, following a project on damage to the Brazilian rain forest. Their keyrings are such a simple way to raise funds and awareness of this complicated problem. As our community still comes to terms with the loss of Jamie Skinner, local pupil Chloe Yeung wanted to organise a benefit concert with local acts, in Jamie’s name, for the British Heart Foundation. To her huge credit, Chloe booked the acts, made the running order, publicised the event and sold all the tickets her- self. We at Liberton Kirk hosted the event and ran the hospitality for her. Muir Twigg, Rachel Willis and Brad Laing deserve thanks for their pivotal role in an event which highlighted a great cause, and raised over £500. It brought com- fort to Jamie’s family, and empowered dozens of local teens as they sang and danced in Jamie’s memory. It is worth noting that Chloe is 14 years old. As some of our young people are now searching for more than just our bible study on Sunday evenings, Alex Foster has recently started a new discipleship group for them. This group allows 3 or 4 of them to go deeper into what it really means to follow Christ and to be his disciple. This group meets every Monday at a young person’s house straight after school. It is exciting to see new opportunities continuing to grow for the young people of Liberton Kirk and the local area. It was a lovely month in our Sunday clubs as we focused on what the story of Easter means to us as Christians. This was my first Easter at Liberton Kirk, and I Page 4 Liberton Kirk Magazine No.631 loved every part of it, from the Good Friday services to a daffodil-covered cross on Sunday morning. After that, we moved right into preparing for our Sunday Clubs Open Day, which happened on May 11. The children helped run the first part of the service as an energetic "Sunday Buzz" for the entire church, and then afterwards, everyone came across to enjoy some homemade soup, bacon rolls, crepes, home baking, and more for lunch. There were also various stalls such as a photo booth, face painting, a lucky dip, and hand-decorated flower pots to help raise money to sponsor a child through Watoto Children's Fund, a ministry in Uganda. At the end of the day, we raised over £480 towards this! Thanks to all who were in- volved, whether planning or attending. Soon several children will be promoted to new clubs in June, as the school year wraps up. And before we know it, we'll be hosting Summer Buzz, our summer holiday club, for many children in our church and the community! God bless, and enjoy the sunshine ! I can't believe it's June already and the preparation for the Summer Camps and activities are starting. I'm so excited to get more involved this year in some of the planning. I can't believe that last year at this time these events helped me to jump right into all the work that's going on here, being able to meet, and get to know so many of the young people who are coming along. So please join in the prayer event on the 13th June from 8pm-8am to lift up Stage’n’Slam, Middle Park, Summer Buzz, the prep and hangouts and in general the young people of our Edinburgh area in prayer.