November 2014 No 634 Magazine ‘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 2009 Libertonkirk.net November 2014 Page 1 page page . A Cause worth supporting 20 Organ Music 6 Bible Readings 8 Our page 7 Bi-centenary of Liberton Kirk’s Church 5 Prayer Works 6 Blythwood Shoe Boxes 9 SEECAT quiet morning 9 Bryan’s Story 12 Senior Citizens Club 19 Cameron Toll Chaplaincy AGM 14 Sermon Recordings 8 Carol’s story 13 Take time to Pray 2 Change of Address form 30 Tearcraft Sale back cover Christian Aid 19 Transformers 13 Clarinet Choir 21 Useful ‘phone numbers 29 Congregational News 14 Web Addresses 29 Crèche Rota 15 Welcome Desk Rota 15 Crossword for November 10 Your chance to be in a choir 19 Crossword - October answers 30 Youth Report 4/5 December diary 18 Adverts Elder’s Sunday Duties 18 Alan Johnstone Plumbing 27 Flowers 15 Ascot Decorators 24 Food Bank 12 Bluebird Care 26 Fresh Start 14 Cello Lessons 26 Gateway Cafe 11 HCC Electrical 25 Guild News 9 Home Instead 23 KLM Homework Club 13 John Cameron Blacksmith 24 Liberton Names and Addresses 31 Julie Bell Piano Care 25 Life and Work 11 Kirkgate Cafes 28 Messy Church 11 Little Learners 22 Minister’s letter - a good place to be 3 Local Garden Services 28 Neighbourhood Scheme 13 Scoobz saloon 23 November dairy 16 Toddlers Groups 27 Take Time to Pray Give to us, Lord, the peace of those who have learnt to serve you, the joy of those who are glad to obey you and the delight of those who rejoice in your praise; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) Bind our souls to your own, O Christ, so that we may never be separated from you. Only in you are we fully alive. Only in your light can we truly see and only in your strength can we safely pursue our way. To you we come, O wisdom without end. In you we rest, O mercy without limit. Amen. Mechtild of Magdeburg (1210 - 1280) Page 2 Liberton Kirk Magazine No.634 Page 2 Liberton Kirk Magazine No.634 January 2015 marks the 200th found myself most drawn to. In the year since the foundations of the church there has always been the current building of Liberton Kirk danger that we put our leaders on were laid, and we are planning to pedestals, but, like the characters in have a whole year of celebrations the Bible, we have all been shown to to mark this. A small group has been have our flaws and failings. The meeting to discuss this for over amazing thing is that God is still will- eighteen months, and a wide range ing to use us, and, reading Richard’s of events and activities has been rich prose about the lives of Camp- planned. bell Fernbach and John Cameron, I One of our projects has been to have been surprised and impressed produce a book about the people by all that they achieved. who have contributed to the char- The book, however, is not just acter of the church family and about the ministers of Liberton. It is wider community over the years. also about the everyday life of a Richard Purden, a local author and community which lived through journalist, has been commissioned times of great change and world to undertake this task, and for the conflict. In addition to some memo- last twelve months he has been rable events, we will be able to read enthusiastically immersing himself about the contribution of a number in our community and its history. of well-known characters, about the As I write this, the full text is long tradition of good youth work, being finalised before it goes to and about how our relationships the type-setter. The book will be with other churches have developed entitled “ Liberton Kirk – a good and are developing still. place to be ”, and will be made up of Richard’s writing is reflective as the collected memories and writings much as it is factual, and his book of a number of well-known local will give us much insight into the characters, with specific chapters character of our church family, and focussing on the contributions of our strengths for the future. Our our most recent ministers. hope is to have the first copies As I have been reading ready for sale in December of this Richard’s proofs, year – just in time these are the for Christmas. chapters which, Much love personally, I Web Address www.libertonkirk.net Scottish Charity Number SC011602 November 2014 Page 3 . What a lovely autumn it has been in Edinburgh! For the last few months, it has been delightful, and a bit unpredictable, to involve the children a bit more in the morning service, whether through a children's talk, reciting a memory verse that they've learned, or doing actions to accompany a worship song. At our Harvest service on September 28th, they did all of the above, while collecting food donations for Edinburgh charities. They did a great job. After a year of focusing mostly on children's work within Liberton Kirk, I'll be expanding to spend more time at Gracemount Primary School, both in assem- blies, and in our after-school club Transformers. It's very rewarding to support the school in this way, and to deepen my relationship with the pupils, staff, and parents. If you would like to be part of our Sunday club leaders team, or get involved in Transformers at Gracemount, please let me know! We are always happy to include willing people. The chance to teach children about Jesus is an incredible one. God bless you. One of the greatest blessings over the last couple of weeks has been the growth at Delta, the youth club, which runs each Friday night. It has been incredible to see how the young people, some of whom had just started to come along during the sum- mer, are inviting more and more of their friends, so if you miss two weeks you get a whole bunch of new names to learn! I love it. So please pray with us as we are getting to know and care for these new young people. But also pray for the young people who have been with us for a while, especially the ones who have made a commitment to God, that they would keep their hunger to learn more, and get to know God better and better. Some of our young people have just left high school to go to college, or to start a new job, so please pray for them too, as they are facing a whole new set of challenges - especially how to live out your faith in a new and unknown environment. You have probably noticed this, but boys love to play football! I know that some girls do as well, but up at Gracemount High School it’s mainly the boys who join Page 4 Liberton Kirk Magazine No.634 our lunch time ‘kick-abouts’. Several years ago the PE department approached the chaplains to help get some of the pupils active at lunch. It was odd that the mind-set of the High School kids was so different to those of the Primary School kids, who love to run and chase all day. So we took a ball, or a Frisbee, and invited the kids to join in. A few years on, and around 30 pupils from S1-S3 (age 12-14) are asking every time they see us, “is it football this lunchtime, yes?”! It is such a positive time. Several of these boys are in regular classroom trouble; but we can praise them for their attitude, skill and teamwork. They return for an afternoon in class satisfied after having eaten, and expelled some useful energy. It’s a win-win situation! Can I say a HUGE thanks to the Kirk folks who made the memorial show for Keane Wallis Bennett run so well? 40 young people performed to an audience of 100 of Keane’s friends and family. The event was run by a handful of 13 year old girls, with no family support. They were so brave and respectful and made a positive impact on their community. They are truly inspirational. To start off our bi-centenary celebrations we are having a special service on st at 11 o’clock (there will be no 9.30am service that day). The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Right Rev. John Chalmers, will be the preacher, and after the service there will be a congregational lunch 1815 in the Kirk Centre. We hope that people who have had a connection with 2015 Liberton Kirk in the past will be able to return for this service, and meet up with old friends over lunch. Can you help by inviting anybody you keep in touch with? Invitations will be available on the Welcome Desks in church (or from the church office) from November – please send one (or enclose it with your Christmas card) to people you know might like to come. Ruth Davies 1815 [ Details of all events planned for the year will be listed in next month’s magazine. ED ] 2015 November 2014 Page 5 If Jesus’s hearers were expecting a militaristic king who claims victory and hands out reward and punishment afterwards, they were wrong.