God so loved the world · For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3.16

BLACKHALL ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH Registered Scottish Charity No. SC008756

www.blackhallstcolumba.org.uk

God so loved the

world

To glorify God … to proclaim Christ … to serve others

KIRK NEWS

APRIL 2017 No. 798

http://www.blackhallstcolumba.org.uk

Minister Rev Benjamin JA Abeledo

5 Blinkbonny Crescent Edinburgh EH4 3NB

Tel. 315 2019

Session Clerk

Mr Eddie Thorn Tel. 332 5702

Church Secretary Ms Julie Nicol

In Church Office from Mon-Fri, 9.00 am-12.30pm

Tel 332 4431 [email protected]

EASTER AT BLACKHALL ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH

Maundy Thursday Service 13 April at 7 pm with Sacrament of Communion

Good Friday Service 14 April at 7 pm

Easter Sunday Services 16 April:

Easter Day Family Service at 11 am with Easter egg hunt for the children

Followed by short Communion ………..

Proceeds of retiring offerings at each of the Easter services within the church will be given to Christian Aid. Scottish Reg. Charity SC039150

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Early Rise Easter Service at 8 am at the Tower on Corstorphine Hill

Followed by bacon rolls back at the church.

Car access to the Tower is by the wooden gate on Clermiston Road. The gate will be open from 7 30 am.

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MINISTER’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Easter - Reasons to Rejoice and Celebrate

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to be in the sandals of Jesus’ disciples? Just imagine giving up your occupation and leaving home to travel around the country with someone who claimed to be the Son of God - and who backed up that claim with very impressive miracles and unrivalled, authoritative teaching. Without doubt, Jesus was the most impressive and inspiring man who ever lived, and you believed He was the long - awaited Messiah who would make everything right. All your hopes and dreams were invested in Him. Yet, after giving three years of your life to follow Him, one day you watched Him die, a cruel, vicious and bloody death on a cross.

The excitement and thrill of such close association with the Messiah suddenly turned to shock, grief, and utter despair. However, before you could even recover from this dreadful experience, more amazing news came to you from some women who returned from the tomb. They claimed that Jesus had risen from the dead. What a roller coaster of emotions - from anticipation, to grief, to joy - all in a few days.

Let’s face it, all too often our Easter celebrations seem far removed from this event. We don’t hear much about the cross or the empty tomb. Instead, people talk about new clothes, the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, maybe going to church, and certainly, for most people, family gatherings. The traditions have somehow drowned out the most important message on earth - the death of Christ and His victory over the grave.

Without wishing to spoil some positive things and traditions which we enjoy around Easter, nevertheless, from a Christian point of view, I would like us to consider and review the reasons we have for celebration and rejoicing at Easter.

First, Jesus is alive and has conquered death. That’s something that cannot be said about any other religious leader. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand (Heb. 10:12). From there He intercedes on our behalf with the Father and awaits the time when He will return for us. / continued

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MINISTER’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT continued

Our second reason for rejoicing is that Jesus promised to prepare a place for us in heaven. Before His crucifixion, He comforted His disciples, saying, ‘If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also’ (John 14:3). Our minds cannot comprehend what awaits us. Because Jesus has infinite power to do all things perfectly and because He knows each of us intimately, our heavenly homes will be perfectly secure and specially designed for each of us. What joy there will be when Jesus leads us to the door and says, ‘Welcome home.’

The third reason for rejoicing is Christ’s promise of our bodily resurrection. Jesus’ victory over death is our guarantee that we too will be raised from the dead. When Martha was grieving over Lazarus’ death, Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise again’ (John 11:23). Then He added, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies’ (v 25). That means that, for Christians, death is the end of pain and suffering but not the end of life. At that moment, we’re immediately taken into Christ’s presence, and one day we will experience the resurrection of our bodies.

The bodies we have now are burdened with sin and its consequences. We suffer illness, fatigue, ageing, and eventual death. But on that resurrection day, we will be given new bodies that are immortal, glorious, and powerful (1 Cor 15:42-44). Jesus will leave heaven with the souls of all the believers who have died. The trumpet will sound, and their bodies will be resurrected. Then those of us who know Christ and are alive at that time will be changed and caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:14-17).

And that’s why we have another reason to rejoice - we will see our believing loved ones again (v. 17). When we lose a loved one who believed and trusted in Jesus as their Saviour, their death is not the end of our relationship, but a temporary separation. That’s why Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 that we don’t have to grieve as those who have no hope. In other words, one day there will be a glorious family reunion, and we’ll never be separated again.

And so, my dear friends, Easter truly is an occasion for celebration, but Jesus’ resurrection also reminds us that He is our source of hope. If we set our hearts on the things of this world, we’ll be on an emotional roller coaster - up one minute and down the next. But the open tomb reminds us that a better day is coming.

Therefore, / continued

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CHURCH DIARY

April 2 9.30 am Early Family Service 11.00 am Morning Worship 5 12 noon Mid-week Service followed by light lunch 9 11.00 am Palm Sunday 13 7.00 pm Maundy Thursday Service with Sacrament of

Communion 14 7.00 pm Good Friday Service 16 8.00 am Easter Morning Early Rise Service at the Tower on

Corstorphine Hill 11.00 am Easter Day Family Service with Blessing and

Thanksgiving followed by short Communion. 19 12 noon Mid-week Service followed by light lunch 23 11.00 am Morning Worship 25 4.00 pm Service at Strachan House 30 11.00 am Morning Worship followed by short communion

May 3 12 noon Mid-week Service with Communion followed by

light lunch (last one of the session) 7 9.30 am Early Family Service 11.00 am Morning Worship 14 11.00 am Christian Aid Service 21 11.00 am Morning Worship 28 11.00 am Morning Worship followed by short communion 30 4.00 pm Service at Strachan House _______________________________________________________________

MINISTER’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT continued Therefore, the next time we’re tempted to despair, remember that we have reasons to rejoice that will last into eternity. Like the disciples, we may feel as if our world has fallen apart, but there is a glorious day coming when all our sorrows will be turned into joy. Let that hope give us the courage and strength to persevere. A resurrection day is coming again.

With love and prayers,

Benjamin (Minister)

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FAMILY We welcome to our fellowship:

By Resolution of the Kirk Session Mr David Marshall

By Certificate of Transference Mrs Frances Robertson

DEATHS

February 2 Mr Iain Donaldson 25 Mr Raymond Rennie 26 Mr Jonathan Moir Mitchell 26 Mrs Anne Mathewson

March 3 Mr Peter Morrison 8 Mrs Hazel Breakell 15 Mr William (Bill) Morrison

FLOWERS During April the flowers in church will be donated as follows:

2 Mrs Linnette Aitken

9 Mrs Irene Wood

16 Miss Norma Sinclair

23 Miss Sheila McCulloch

30 Mrs May Williamson

Mrs Ishbel Robertson and Mrs Anne Hamilton will be delivering the flowers.

Violet Troup Flower Convener

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Appointment of Pastoral Assistant Rev Gordon Farquharson

Gordon Farquharson may be remembered by many members as a mature student ‘on attachment’ to St Columba’s in 1996, when he was at New College after early retiral from Tobermory High School, where he had been headteacher for 10 years also serving as a Reader on the Isle of Mull. After qualifying in ministry Gordon was Assistant at Greenside before his Induction to Stonehaven’s Dunnottar Kirk in 1998. He and Elizabeth retired to Edinburgh in 2007 and rejoined us at Blackhall in time for Gordon to play Mr Bumble in ‘Oliver’ and he has been a regular leader in the annual Venture Week. A number of Locum posts have been occupied – at Priestfield, St John's Oxgangs, Drylaw and Dean Parish Churches. Now Gordon hopes to enjoy singing in our choir and assisting in the pastoral and spiritual care of fellow-members. We are delighted to have Gordon and Elizabeth back amongst us.

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Challengers invited parents for coffee and croissants before the service in March. It was enjoyed by all ages.

Challengers have been looking at the events leading up to Easter. Moonbeams made Easter gardens. The grass seeds should grow to complete the garden in time for Easter when the stone will be rolled away.

Come along and join us on a Sunday morning. We return for the summer term on Sunday 23rd April.

For more information go to the Challengers website at http://challengers.blackhallstcolumba.org.uk/

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The Kirk Session met on Wednesday 8 February and Wednesday 8 March 2017.

Future Church Fabric Committee Lee Boyd, Architects, have been instructed to carry out a feasibility study into what could be done inside the Sanctuary and Halls in terms of a better use of space and generally upgrading all aspects of the fabric. This will include a review of the heating, sound and lighting. The study should be available late May / early June and Lee Boyd will present to the Congregation.

Fabric Kirk Session has been very aware of the poor performance of the heating system over the winter. To this end remedial work has been commissioned which will hopefully improve performance.

It has been agreed to carry out work to clean the War Memorial of algae and repair part of the stonework. Enquiries are being made to The City of Edinburgh Council for financial support towards this exercise.

Review of Kirk Session Committees The new committee structure has been finalised:

Committee Convener Communication Hamish Mair Nurture Ruth Laidlaw Outreach Michael Cockburn Pastoral & Prayer Fiona Cooke Stewardship Frank Morrice Worship Rev Benjamin Abeledo

Kirk Session has been grateful to everyone who has put their name forward to serve on the committees. The Conveners will be liaising with those members.

Family and Children’s Worker It has been agreed that we look to recruit a Family and Children’s Worker as part of the programme to encourage more families to attend Church. An application will be made to a Church of Scotland central fund for part funding of the associated costs.

Correspondence A letter of thanks has been received from Colin O’Flaherty of HMP Saughton thanking the Congregation for the gifts donated to the Christmas Gift Collection. / Dean Parish Church

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KIRK SESSION REPORT


KIRK SESSION REPORT continued

Dean Parish Church It has been ascertained that that our Parish will gain 461 households as a result of the dissolution of Dean Parish Church. This is subject to approval by The Presbytery of Edinburgh at the April meeting. A number of pieces of furniture are being gifted to us from Dean.

Easter Offerings It has been agreed that the proceeds of the Easter retiring offerings will go to Christian Aid.

June Communion It has been agreed that henceforth June Communion will be on the last Sunday.

Legacies It was reported that £500 had been received on behalf of the late Mrs Mary Gillie and £20,000 from the estate of Mrs Isobel John.

Membership Classes The Minister intimated that classes for new Communicants were being held. These started on 22 February and are being held on Wednesday evenings.

Office Secretary It was noted that Julie Nicol had taken over from Catriona Johnston.

Pastoral Support Rev Gordon Farquharson has been appointed into the new role of Pastoral Support and will be engaged for 8 hours each week supporting the Minister.

Retiral of an Elder It was noted that Mrs Phyllis King had tendered her resignation as an active Elder. Tribute was paid to Phyllis for all her work and dedication given to the various roles she had carried out both within Blackhall St Columba’s and the wider Church. Phyllis retires with the best wishes of the Session.

Roll Session agreed to admit, by Resolution, Mr David Marshall and Mrs Frances Robertson by Certificate of Transference.

Youth Club It has been agreed to accommodate a new youth club project that will be run by members of the Blackhall Sports and Social Committee. It is expected that the club will start in the summer and be held on one Saturday evening each month.

Eddie Thorn, Session Clerk

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Update from Pirie Mission – March 2017

Since the update in last month’s Blackhall Bulletin we have a variety of news items to report on. The 2 principle items are highlighted below.

As Mrs Thobeka Kashe recorded in her email (Blackhall Bulletin No 147) they, the Pirie Partnership, made a request for funds from the local Deacon’s Board. In her latest email Thobeka reports that the request for funds (R20,000) has been approved. This is excellent news and, along with the £1000 (approximately R15,500) we have agreed to send to Pirie, this will assist in starting the soup kitchen and the food garden.

We have issued an invitation to the Reverend Sibusiso Gwala to visit us later this year. We suggested that Mrs Thobeka Kashe comes over as well. As with previous visits it is proposed that the travel costs will be covered by a Faithshare Grant Request and we will apply for the grant once Sibusiso and Thobeka’s acceptance has been endorsed by the Pirie Session. This means that the visit will occur in the second half of this year.

The remaining news is included in an excerpt below taken from Thobeka’s email dated 2nd March 2017.

We have just finished registration period at work, it was hectic though there sometimes impasses more so because of political instability in our country as well; our tertiary institutions are ruled by students & labour unions, its quite frustrating but there is nothing we can do. So far I'm still at work until the end of April as promised by the management, this has also afforded me an opportunity to be near my twins as they also studying here, but I never allowed them to stay with me, I want them to learn to live without me because one day I will be gone for good. Blair Helen is situated in Mr Makubalo's farm i.e Mrs May home about 3 - 4 km from Pirie, its alongside road to Keiskammahoek, in a village called Upper Mngqesha it was built by Rev John Ross together with a school in memory of his wife, it is said that this piece of land was given to him by Mrs May's great grandfather, the building is still there with all the memories but needs maintenance as well, its one of Rev Gwala's plans to tackle & he is determined to restore Pirie to its original status. Its like starting everything anew, he has come up with strategies to attract the youth back by introducing youth friendly programmes, one of them has been appointed by the Session Adhoc Committee to be trained as a Lay Preacher for a specified period and then later to be sent to University to do BA in Theology. Youth numbers have increased from 12 to 30 ,this has never happened in past 15 years. The Session is planning for his welcoming in September, /continued

10


Quiz Night in

Blackhall St Columba’s Church Hall on

Thursday 11 May at 7 30 pm in Aid of Pirie Mission

Invitations are being sent to all church and community organisations, but if individuals would like to come along or form their own team (4 to 6 members) then send your team name and size to Eddie Thorn ( [email protected] ) or to Church Office.

A glass of wine and nibbles are included in the price of the tickets. Do please come along and join us for this fun filled evening.

Tickets Price £5 - pay at the door

Update from Pirie Mission – March 2017 continued

but he believes in fund raising project because this year the Session has approved raising of funds for building a sub branch in CD Jonas where people worship in chicken project house, it is near the road to Stutterheim.

All very encouraging and if you want to help while having some fun then please keep the evening of Thursday 11th May 2017 free so that you can attend the Pirie Quiz.

Andrew Walls, PMPG Convener

11

The Blackhall St Columba's Mission Trust, Registered Charity SC040989

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12

Thank you from Catriona I would very much like to thank the congregation for the extremely generous gift and lovely flowers presented to me on Sunday, 5 March.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work in the Church Office over the last 9 years and I am confident of leaving it now in the capable hands of Julie.

I am thoroughly enjoying the first few days of retirement and look forward to continuing to be part of Blackhall St Columba’s. Thanks again.

Catriona Johnston

Hello from Julie I am more than delighted to be taking up responsibilities as the new Church Secretary here at Blackhall St Columba’s Church. Catriona Johnson has provided me with a sound understanding of the office responsibilities and duties and I am finding that every day I’m learning something new. So far, I have been very impressed by how many members are actively involved in the life of the Church and the hours of their own time that they give.

I am looking forward to working with Rev Benjamin JA Abeledo, the church team and, of course, you all at Blackhall St Columba’s Church.

I can be contacted during office hours: Mon to Fri 9am - 12.30pm, by email, phone or pop in if you are passing.

Julie Nicol


Oh no, not that subject again!

I’ve been getting lots of mail from charities aiding conservation of wildlife, countryside, gardens, the young and disadvantaged, old and frail, the sick, the scientists who seek cures, animals both domestic and wild, deserving former military and other servants of the nation, the weak and needy. As well as regular mail there are adverts in papers making the case for the charity and now I see advertisements on T.V. as well.

One topic is common in them all - a request that supporters also consider a gift in their wills, or legacies to you and me. Now one of my wee tasks is to run a legacy campaign. Don’t worry – no special letters! Just gentle reminders so nobody has a chance to be unaware of the vital need Blackhall St Columba’s has for this support. The last two years accounts showed deficits in them both before legacies, so now you know.

So here’s the wee but sincere request. When you receive legacy appeal letters, see newspaper or T.V. ads from other charities, please also make that your reminder to answer positively for ‘Blackhall St Columba’s’ if you have not already done so. I hope that doesn’t make me sound lazy but just, well, sort of delegating. In any event I do hope you get the message!

If you ever have any questions please get in touch.

Sandy Weir, Gift Aid Convenor Member of Finance Committee

email [email protected]

Sing Aloud Sing Aloud, our Praise Group, meets fortnightly in the small hall. We sing a variety of songs and are looking forward to singing at Easter Time. If you would like to join us in singing or playing an instrument please come along to our nights. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 11 April at 7.30pm*. Everyone welcome.

For more information please contact Marge Whiteside at [email protected].

* N.B. This meeting will be in the Church.

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14

An urgent message from Christian Aid

DEC - East Africa Crisis Appeal

‘As you may have heard in the news, the world is f a c i n g t h e w o r s t humanitarian crisis since 1945. Across East Africa people are dying every day f r o m h u n g e r a n d malnutrition.

Nearly 16 million lives hang in the balance - we

must act now. Famine has already been declared in parts of South Sudan , where 100 ,000 people face starvation and nearly 5 million people need urgent food aid. The s i tua t ion i s a l so extremely grave in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia where 14 million people are going hungry every day, caught up in the region ’s wors t drought in 50 years. In Somalia alone, more than 360,000 children under the age of five are extremely m a l n o u r i s h e d . T h e situation is deteriorating r a p i d l y . A m a j o r catastrophe is unfolding.’

CHRISTIAN AID

COFFEE MORNING

Saturday 20 May

10 am - 12 noon

Blackhall St Columba’s Church Hall

Tickets - £3

Please support this event.

If you are able to help with this event please contact:

Sheila Mackintosh Tel 0131 336 1357

Christian Aid Scotland, Registered Charity SC039150

Supporting Christian Aid In the coming weeks, within our Church, there will be three opportunities of making a difference by supporting the work of Christian Aid - 1. Giving to our Easter retiring offerings 2. Supporting our May coffee morning 3. Using the donation envelopes which will

be provided in the May issue of Kirk News.

You can, of course, donate to Christian Aid online at any time.


2017 Chalmers Lectures: Reforming the Kirk – the future of the Church of Scotland

In a series of lectures, broadcast live from St Giles Cathedral on 1,8 & 15 February, Glasgow-based Practical Theologian and Kirk Minister, Dr Doug Gay presented an analysis of the state of the Church of Scotland and the choices facing it. He explored what it means to be 'presbyterian' in today’s Scotland, in which even Kirk members are ambivalent about their identity. Recognising the significant challenges facing the Church in the coming decade, he offered a manifesto for enacting structural reform, including key economic reforms, within the Kirk and argued that change is essential to address deep seated problems of decline and dysfunction. Lecture 1 - ‘Walls Without Church?’ explored 'what just happened?' tracing the decline of the Kirk as a national institution since the 1960s. Lecture 2 - ‘Call and Response’ explored the relationship between the church’s understanding of its own calling and its response. Lecture 3 — ‘Grand Designs’ made the case for radical structural reform of the Church of Scotland over the next decade. Dr Gay’s proposals included: -

Reducing the number of presbyteries in Scotland from 43 to 12, with the new, larger bodies being given ‘substantial devolved responsibility for deploying and resourcing ministry within their bounds’ including the creation of new ‘congregational support posts’. Ministries, Mission and Discipleship, Church and Society and World Mission Councils to be combined into one Church of Scotland Mission Agency. Separate arrangements for CrossReach, the Church’s social care arm.

He said the current system holds too much power, resource and initiative at the centre and is too bureaucratic. He said that any reform, with the consequent upheaval, should be carried out only if it met three tests: it would better enable the mission of the Church, it commended itself to the mind of the Church, and it could be done in a way which maintained the peace and unity of the Church. He said ‘It is far more important that we love one another, than that we improve our institutional architecture.’

Videos of these lectures can be accessed through the Church of Scotland video link on the News page of the CofS website. Transcripts are also available.

15


ESMC Chamber Choir Trip to Rome

During the February half term, I travelled to Rome with the Erskine Stewart’s Melville School Chamber Choir: a group of 32 S5 and S6 boys and girls. We were there for our much anticipated five day tour. We performed in 3 major churches singing both secular and non-secular music along with some stunning instrumentals from our top musicians. However, the pinnacle of the trip was singing in a mass at the main alter of St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican. The power of the building was truly impressive and surprising, almost as surprising as when our rehearsal/impromptu performance to the crowds outside the Vatican was swiftly shut down by the Italian police. The mass was a huge success and we received great praise from both the public and the priest, who even apologised for not being able to thank us in English. The experience was very interesting and it was fascinating to see a different form of Christianity at its most abundant. I was very glad to be offered this unique opportunity and it made the whole group feel all the hard work was worth it.

Paul Roddam S5 Stewarts Melville School

(Paul is a member of one of our church families)

16


Fellowship Afternoon Group Our last meeting before the Summer break till September will be on Tuesday 11 April at 2.15 pm in the Small Hall when we will be having some musical entertainment from two Cramond ladies. There will be singing and instrumental music to familiar tunes. Our meetings are open to all so please come along if you would like. There are refreshments at the end when you can enjoy a chat.

Our last meeting in March was more educational as Jack Aitken was giving a talk about some of Edinburgh's statues. We also learned that there are many interesting memorial stones and areas in Princes Street Gardens, for example to remember those who fought in the Falklands War in 1982 when two hundred and fifty-five British service-people were killed and many injured.

I am pleased to say that our Group will have new volunteers to plan the programme for our next syllabus, and to join our team of helpers. We have had a suggestion box at recent meetings and have some fresh ideas about talks put forward. If you would like to give one about a subject you enjoy we would love to hear from you.

Meanwhile we will be honing our skills for the Pirie Quiz!

Fiona Drinnan

Tuesday Topics In February, members of Tuesday Topics enjoyed a performance of ‘Titanic’ by the Southern Light at the King's Theatre. Our next meeting was back in the church when Kevin Grant came along and gave a very interesting talk on the island of St Kilda.

We now look forward to welcoming back Fred and Rita Daniels who will be telling us about the second part of their trip to China.

On April 4th our speaker will be Sir Geoff Palmer and the title of his talk is ‘The Carribean - Scotland Connections’.

Our A.G.M takes place on April 18th, followed by some light hearted fun in the form of a beetle drive.

Diana Taylor

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Help! We need you Another opportunity to contribute to church life

Church Magazines For 10 months of the year a small group meets to sort the church magazines so that the Elders and Visitors can deliver them. We meet in the Church at 9 o’clock in the morning.

The sorting of Kirk News (7 times a year) takes place on the Saturday before the first Sunday of the month (except for the mid-month July/summer issue) and takes approximately three quarters of an hour.

The sorting of the Blackhall Bulletin (4 times a year) takes place either on the Saturday before the first Sunday of the month, OR on the Saturday before that depending on how the dates fall, and takes about an hour and a half.

We are a friendly group and we have got at least two vacancies. Please think about joining us and let me, Alison Hewat ([email protected]) or the Church Secretary know. If you have any questions please get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you to our group.

Alison Hewat, Magazine Convener

Recycling It is important that we all make an effort nowadays to recycle what we can. Edinburgh Council encourage us to do just that with their regular collections and it is useful to refer to their website for more information about that.

There are many opportunities outwith the home for recycling e.g. Sainsbury’s and other shops have receptacles for batteries. Also in the carpark at Sainsbury’s there are the usual bins for paper, cardboard, used oil and much more.

Here at St Columba’s we will continue to provide bins for spectacles (which can be used in 3rd World countries) and printer ink cartridges. We are no longer collecting batteries so please dispose of these at a shop near you or in your blue recycling bin (in a separate clear polybag).

Elspeth Williamson

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Knit and Natter

Our Knit and Natters are continuing to be very productive, producing blankets, dolls clothes, toys and cardigans, hats mitts etc for under fives. We have just delivered three blankets and nine pairs of pillows to Fresh Start.

If you would like to join us on a Monday evening at 7.30 pm in the church hall, you would be most welcome. Please don't worry if you think your knitting might not be up to scratch – we do lots of nattering too.

For more information contact - [email protected] or phone 332 4841

Lilian Cockburn

DEADLINESKirk News - 23 April 2017 Please send all items to the Editor: Christine Denham c/o Church Office Home tel: 336 5943 or email [email protected]

Blackhall Bulletin - 30 April 2017 All items should be sent to the Editor: Barbara Wilson c/o Church Office Home tel: 312 6035 or email [email protected]

Enquiries about advertisements should be sent to Kay Rich: 8 Queen’s Ave South Tel: 332 8502

Tea towels needed!!Do you have a spare unused tea towel which you could donate to the church kitchen or might you consider buying one specially or bringing one back from holiday? The supply in the kitchen has diminished to the point where we do not have enough. !

Donations of tea towels would be much appreciated. If your generosity is such that we are swamped we would pass them on to Fresh Start. Thank you.

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God so loved the world · For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that...

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