GRAPEV NE

www.mayfieldsalisbury.org

Mayf ie ld Sa l i sbur y Par ish (Edinburgh) Church of Scot land

MAYFIELD SALISBURY EMAIL LISTS

Oct/Nov 2019 Issue 243 Scottish Charity SC000785

SERMON: HEAVEN?PURPLE4POLIO

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Dear Friends,

This is my final pastoralletter at Mayfield SalisburyParish Church. Iremember the thrill andexcitement of being calledand inducted as yourminister nineteen yearsago in October 2000.While a student at theUniversity of Edinburgh,Shelagh attended MayfieldChurch in the 1980sunder the exceptionalministry of BillMcDonald and was very pleased to return!Our son, Murdo, was born one monthlater on the night of my first meeting ofKirk Session. I missed the first meeting:a good start!

There have been many formative, creativeand stimulating events at MayfieldSalisbury over the years; too many tomention here. Each and every event hasbeen possible only because of the manycommitted, gifted and generous people inthis church. The people, the congregation,are the church. Ministers come and go. Iam particularly indebted to those whohelped shape and deliver the manyfestivals we organised: meditation andprayer, ageing and faith, science andreligion, pilgrimage, sacred music, andreligion as poetry. And the congregationis truly blessed with such a dignified,inspiring and beautiful worship space.

Sensitively refurbished with the additionof gold stars set in the night sky and

situated high above theCommunion Table, theSacrament at the centreof the cosmos, manytimes visitors have toldme that the sanctuary is aplace of welcome, beautyand peace.

For myself, my ministryhas been most marked bydiscussions about biblicalinterpretation, science,personal spirituality, and

interfaith dialogue. Above all, it has beenthe outstanding privilege of myprofessional life to preach each week tosuch an engaging congregation. Theencouragement and thoughtful responsehave helped deepen my own thinking andnourished my inner journey. MayfieldSalisbury’s support through my continuingacademic study enriched my ministryimmensely: MTh and MPhil at theUniversity of Edinburgh and PhD at theUniversity of St Andrews. It is atreasured prerogative of parish ministry toshare special and tender moments withindividuals and families at life-changingmoments: baptism, marriage, personaljoys and sorrows, dying and bereavement.At this point of departure, many peoplecome to mind, not least many of thetremendous people who have died: theseare memories of love and friendship.

I am grateful for the support, grace and

THE MANSE Revd Dr Scott S. McKenna

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dedication of the Elders and office-bearersover these years. Mayfield Salisbury isfortunate with an incredibly gifted ministrystaff team, both paid and volunteer: Kayand Hillary, Walter and Kate. Publicworship is enriched at the early service withvolunteer musicians and at the later servicewith the magnificent Chamber Group andchoir. Special mention needs to be madeof our Church Manager, William. Ourlongest serving employee, William does somuch to ensure the smooth running ofMayfield Salisbury. Mayfield Salisbury isblessed to have him and I have beenblessed to work alongside him.

Edinburgh and the manse at Seton Placewill always be remembered as our homewhen Murdo was growing up; it has been agift to him to live here. Week by weekand day by day I have been supportedthrough thick and thin by Shelagh. My

life and ministry would not have beenanything like as enjoyable or successfulwithout her: her advice, confidence andunsolicited grammatical corrections!

After nineteen years, it is the right time forme to move on. Mayfield Salisbury hasmoulded my life and means so much tome but I do not want to stay too long. AsI reflected recently on my departure to afriend and colleague, he kindly said, ‘Scott,I’m sorry to be the one to break this toyou, but Mayfield Salisbury will be finewithout you!’ And so you will. Beassured of my continuing love, prayers andaffection. It has been great!

And, if you are ever in Ayr…….

Every blessing,

Scott

NEWS

AFTERNOONSERVICE OFREMEMBRANCE

12 November at 2.30 pm

Bill McDonald Hallvia West Mayfield level access

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Our mid-week services are especially appreciated by the lessmobile in our parish community although everyone is alwaysmade most welcome. Assistance is given on arriving andleaving and we all remain seated at our tea tables throughoutthe afternoon. The service will be followed by tea andfellowship until around 3.45pm

If you haven’t joined us in the past and would appreciatefurther information - or if you require extra assistance to beable to attend - please contact Pastoral Assistant KayMcIntosh, your own Pastoral Visitor (PV) or Anne Sturrock.

This is the last mid-week Afternoon Service in 2019 and wethank all who make them possible – those who haveofficiated and welcomed, the pianists, the tea team, thedrivers, the helpers and, of course, William and Stewart forall they do behind the scenes.

We meet again on Tuesday 10 March 2020.

During the forthcoming ministerial vacancy, please contactthe Pastoral Assistant, Kay McIntosh, for pastoral enquires.kay@backedge.co.uk 0790 326 6307

For all other general enquires, please contact the ChurchManager, William Mearns in the first instance. churchmanager@googlemail.com 0780 801 1234

Further information when available will be noted in theintimations and on the church websitewww.mayfieldsalisbury.org/vacancy

VACANCY

William Mearns

CRAFT MOMENTShilary.watkinson@btinternet.comHilary Watkinson

Whether it’s bonnets for babies or beanies for homeless folk,Craft Moments is the place to come for knitting with apurpose. We meet every other Thursday, in the FountainhallRoom, 10.00 to 12.00. Bring along your craft of preferenceor pick up wool and needles there for our latest project. Thisgroup is also good for chatting over tea or coffee.

Photo by Mhairi Beasley

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GRAPEVINEBY EMAIL

100 mark passed! Canwe reach 200?

William Mearns

COUNTRYDANCING

aaithie@hotmail .comAnne Aithie

FIRST FRIDAYSFRIENDS

sandra.carter@barts.myzen.co.uk

Sandra Carter

Having now passed the 100 mark, we are now aiming to save200 paper copies; that’s 4,800 pages per edition! Please helpus by offering to receive your copy of Grapevine electronically.All you have to do is send your email address to the ChurchManager, William Mearns at churchmanager@googlemail.com

As soon as a new issue of Grapevine is ready (and before hardcopies are even printed!), you will receive a blind copy emailwith Grapevine attached in PDF format.

Calling all country dancers! Country Dancing will next takeplace on 1 October. We meet fortnightly in the Bill McdonaldHall from 7.45pm to 9.30pm. Dances are walked throughfirst -new and old favourites. All standards welcome. A full listof dates will be issued

Do you find you are affected by memory loss? First FridaysFriends is a support group which meets each month on thefirst Friday at 2.30pm in the Bill McDonald Hall. Why notcome along to see what happens and join us for a cup of tea?For more information contact Sandra.

We’ve been meeting twice a month since the beginning ofJune. These informal gatherings have been very well attendedand enjoyed by all. They’ve made the summer months fly by,getting to know folk more and making some new friends.

A big THANK YOU to all who came and the manyvolunteers who helped the Coffee and Blethers meetings gowith a swing. We are now having a winter break.

COFFEE ANDBLETHERS

Christine Somerville

FLOWERS -HELP

WANTED!

Jane Main 0131 667 1711

Chrystine Patterson 0131 662 4506

Flowers during September were donated by the family ofRhoda Drummond and arranged by Hilary Watkinson, AnneGraham and Jane Main.

Sincere thanks are due to the ever shrinking band of flowerarrangers and distributors who deliver the bouquets onSunday mornings, a service which is very much appreciated.Needless to say, we would love to welcome new recruits andlook forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your support.

During the vacancy, our pastoral careshould continue as normal. We would verymuch appreciate everyone beingparticularly vigilant in noticing if someonehasn’t been to church for a few weeks andletting us know so that we may follow thatup.

We are happy to visit members of ourcongregation and people living within ourparish boundaries in the comfort of theirown home, nursing home or hospital.

If you now feel that you would like tohave your own pastoral visitor then pleaselet me know and I will start that processfor you.

If you would like to be remembered inprayer then please let me know or by

placing a prayer card in the prayer box inthe south transept. The Ministry teamcheck the prayer box every Tuesdaymorning at prayers.

Our flower team like to be aware ofspecial anniversaries or birthdays orperhaps if there has been a familybereavement so that they may respondaccordingly.

Please notify me if you are going intohospital and would like to have a pastoralvisit.

I can be contacted on 07903 266 307

Contact details for PV groupco-ordinators:

Dorothy Cloughley0131 667 3565dorothycloughley@googlemail.comWendy Mathison 0131 447 5562wsmdance3@gmail.com

Anne Mulligan 0131 664 3426mulliganne@aol.com

Maggie Ross 0131 668 3859maggiejeanross@btinternet.com

Hilary Watkinsonhilary.watkinson@btinternet.com

Changes of address etc. should continueto be passed to the roll keeper, HughSomerville.

Kay

PASTORAL ASSISTANT

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MAYFIELD SALISBURY EMAIL LISTS

Stay up-to-date on news, programs,and events at Mayfield SalisburyParish Church with our email lists

Mayfield Salisbury maintains several emaillists to help distribute informationthroughout the congregation. The lists areas follows:

0930 Service listInformation pertaining to the Sunday0930am All-Age Worship and related events.

Youth NewsletterHillary Leslie, our Youth Worker, sendsout a Youth Newsletter to parents of P6 -S6 youth. This keeps the parents and theirkids in the loop about important youth-related events and activities

Congregational listGeneral information relevant to the entirecongregation. This includes general news,notices of lectures & special events and,

importantly, details on the forthcomingministerial vacancy.

Grapevine listThe parish magazine, Grapevine, which issent out seven times per year in PDFformat. See separate notice about this inthe news section.

Should you be interested in receiving theseinformative emails, please complete andreturn the form at the bottom of this pageor email me direct at the address supplied.If, after reflection, you change your mind Ican remove your address from the listquickly - just let me know.

Your information is secure and will not beshared with any third party. All emails aresent out privately to you only in a bcc’d(address not visible to others) email.

If you would like any additionalinformation then please do get in touch. Iam very happy to discuss any aspect ofthe office administration (or anything elseMayfield Salisbury related!).

William MearnsChurch Manager0780 801 1234churchmanager@googlemail.com

Please add my email address to the following distribution lists:

0930 list Youth Newsletter Congregational list Grapevine list

Name______________ Phone____________ Email_________________

Please return this form to; William Mearns, Church Manager 18 West Mayfield,Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ; place in the Church Manager’s pigeonhole in the entrance hallway or email direct to churchmanager@googlemail.com

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SCOUTS Alan Dickson Troop meeting resumed in Septemberwith the Troop remaining at full capacity.

Our Summer Camp was held nearCarrbridge and attended by 21 Scouts witha strong team of experienced Leaders.Activities included: Bushcraft, aConservation Project, Campanology (theappliance of Science at Camp),Watersports, Swimming and Fishing.

The programme for the first month of thenew term included Krypton, the start ofthe Global Challenge Award which will bealigned with the Global Goals forSustainable Development. The first partasked the Scouts to identify where their

clothing was made. They were asked todiscuss why companies might choose tohave the items made in other countriesand what are the advantages anddisadvantages of overseas production.

In preparation for the first hike of theterm, the Scouts were taught navigation,involving map and compass work. Thiswas particularly important given that thefirst hike was a Night Hike. Starting atBonaly, the Scouts hiked up through thedarkness to the top of Allermuir Hillwhich gives magnificent views of theLothians and Fife. After trekking backdown, the Scouts camped overnight atBonaly.

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Worldwide, it is estimated that 100 millionchildren are living on the streets, a silentarmy deprived of education and basiccare. Every year, 6 million will die frommalnutrition before they reach the age offive.

Sri Lanka is a land of great scenic beauty,but its tragic recent history of a prolongedand brutal civil war has left it with anadded burden to those faced by otherdeveloping countries.

On 15 September, Mrs DebbieEdirisinghe told us about the work ofChild Action Lanka, the organisationwhich she founded in 2006, and how fromsmall beginnings it has grown to a networkof centres which provides care forhundreds of disadvantaged children.

CAL child development centres focus onhealthcare, education and child protection,and, by providing a loving, caring and safeenvironment, transforms life for thechildren who attend them. Many havebeen exposed to severely traumatic lifeexperiences but, with support, show greatresilience and a determination to equipthemselves with the skills that will givethem the prospect of a better future.

Volunteers are welcome, both for thepractical skills they bring and for theopportunity they provide for children toimprove fluency in English, a valuableeconomic benefit.

Further information and details aboutvolunteering and financial support areavailable on the websitewww.childactionlanka.org.

Child Action Lanka is in the UK partnered with Epiphany Trust,(www.epiphany.org.uk) which is a UKcharity Reg No 1006653. This enables GiftAid to be claimed by UK tax payers.

Colin Mackenzie

CHILD ACTION LANKA

MORNING PRAYERS ON TUESDAYS

Morning prayers take place in the Sanctuary each Tuesday morningfrom 9.30am. This provides an opportunity to pray in silence forthose known to us who are ill or who are passing through difficulttimes. If you, or someone known to you, would like to be

remembered this way in prayer, please inform Kay.

At the centre of life’s journey, there ismystery; a distant horizon that invites ourexploration; and an Emptiness that fillsour soul’s emptiness. Bless our reflectionsand meditations. Amen.

Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are manymansions: if it were not so, I would havetold you’. Read very frequently at funeralservices, these haunting words of Jesusabout heaven, His Father’s house, areoffered as a metaphor of comfort; a vividimage of expansiveness, warmth andwelcome. Do you take to heart thissensitive, pastoral care of Jesus? FacingHis disciples who were anxious about Hisimpending death, Jesus spoke soothing,peaceful words of reassurance: ‘I go toprepare a place for you….I will comeagain, and receive you unto myself; thatwhere I am, there you may be also’.

This is tender and potentially dangerousground for the preacher. What can we sayof life beyond this life, the resurrection,the world to come and heaven? It ispotentially dangerous because it concernsnot only ourselves but our loved onesdeparted. Many Christians believe inheaven and hell and, measured bydenominational allegiance, most Christiansin the world believe in purgatory; thatplace of cleansing. What do you believeand is life beyond this life a central tenetof your faith? If so, what do you imagineresurrected life to be like? Looking into

their searching eyes, Jesus said, ‘Peace Ileave with you, my peace I give unto you:not as the world giveth, give I unto you.Let not your heart be troubled, neither letit be afraid’.

Jesus, son of Mary, the rabbi fromNazareth, stood squarely within the Jewishtradition. Born in the land of Judah, Jesuslived in a dynamic and changing faithtradition, a tradition which had evolvedacross the centuries and which continuedto mutate after His death. Let me take amoment to sketch briefly that history.

There is no simple, straightforward answerto what the Jewish people believed aboutwhat happens after death. In the JewishBible, the Tanakh, it was said that Jews andGentiles went to the netherworld calledShe’ol, a dark and deep place filled withshadowy figures; She’ol was humanity’sfinal destination. This bleak anduninspiring belief was shared with theBabylonians and Greeks.

It was during the exile and in the years thatfollowed that the Jewish tradition began tohear new insights in Scripture. With freshears and open minds, they heard newmeanings in the Book of Samuel: ‘TheLord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringethdown to the grave, and bringeth up’. InEzekiel’s most famous vision of the drybones, they imagined a new meaning andpossibility. In part, the search for

SERMON Revd Dr Scott S. McKenna

HEAVEN?Sunday 22 September 2019

Exodus 3: 1 – 6, 13 - 15 Psalm 113 St John 14: 1 -3, 27

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something more than She’ol was driven bythe slaughter of Jewish heroes during theMaccabean Revolt of 167 – 160BCE. TheRevolt was a Jewish rebellion against theHellenistic empire. Many came to believethat the Jewish martyrs did not die in vain;rather, after a temporary death, theyentered a future of just rewards. In theBook of Daniel, we read, ‘And many ofthem that sleep in the dust of the earthshall awake, some to everlasting life, andsome to shame and everlasting contempt’.

In the time of Jesus, the Sadducees (thepriestly cast), did not believe in an afterlifebut the Pharisees did. Like Jesus, thePharisees believed in some form ofresurrection. When the Temple was

destroyed in 70CE, the Sadduceesdisappeared along with it, leaving onlythose in the Jewish family who believed insome form of afterlife. It is during thisperiod that concepts of hell also emerge.As the centuries passed, Jewish thoughtcame under the influence of Plato andAristotle. Following Plato, the soul of ahuman being was an emanation of Godreleased from the body at death. By thetwelfth century, the Jewish philosopherMaimonides understood the soul to bepart of the intelligence of God. Afterdeath, the righteous would partake in thedivine intelligence. Only a philosopherwould come up with that sort ofpossibility! In the Middle Ages, Judaismentertained the possibility of reincarnation.

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Purgatory, 1419 drawing by unknown artist from Strasbourg

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Clement of RomeIt has been said that today, in the twenty-first century, Jews of faith continue tobelieve a whole range of possibilities aboutlife beyond death except, perhaps, in theexistence of She’ol, the only beliefmentioned in the Jewish Bible. What dowe believe? In our scientific age, when thepattern of things, from the smallestmother cell to the largest star, is one ofdeath and life, death and rebirth, what dowe believe?

In the Christian tradition, would you besurprised to learn that different thinkers

have stressed different thoughts over thecourse of two millennia? The firstcentury Church Father, Clement of Rome,did not mention entry into Heaven butbelief in a general resurrection of the deadat the Second Coming of Christ. Thesecond century Church Father Irenaeus didnot believe that every ‘saved’ Christianwould be received into heaven. In theEastern Church, the poetic phrase ofJesus, ‘many mansions’, is said to suggestheaven having different levels. It was notuntil the sixth century that, against asignificant minority of Christians, Pope

Gregory the Great declared belief inreincarnation to be a heresy. According torecent polling in the US, AmericanChristians, Catholics and Protestants, todifferent degrees believe in heaven, hell,purgatory and reincarnation!

In the Roman Catholic tradition, heaven isdescribed as ‘the ultimate end andfulfilment of the deepest human longings,the state of supreme, definitive happiness’.In the Protestant tradition, some suggestthat entering heaven is immediate at deathwhile others suggest that it is later, after

judgement! Can you believe Protestantsstressing judgement? In St Paul’s SecondLetter to the Corinthians, Paradise islocated in the Third Heaven. What doyou believe?

It should perhaps be no surprise that wecannot imagine the reality of ‘heaven’; thatheaven is beyond our capacity toconceptualise. Religion is steeped,saturated, in metaphor! In my view, it isincredibly easy to slip, almostunconsciously, into literalism. TheDominican priest Thomas Brodie said that

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Icon of Second Coming - Greece. c. 1700

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the New Testament is a work offiction: you have to kill thehistorical to free the poetry.Fiction does not mean it is nottrue; it simply means that it is nothistorical. Truth or truths arereleased through imaginativeengagement with the text. InThe Lord’s Prayer, ‘Our Father inheaven’, ‘heaven’ is no less ametaphor than ‘Father’. ‘Heaven’means no more than that God ismore than and ultimately beyondthis earth, this physical universe; adifferent reality; an eternal essenceor Life Force. In the Gospel ofMatthew, the evangelist wroterepeatedly of ‘the kingdom ofheaven’. Properly translated, it isthe kingdom of the heavens.The phrase is a metaphor forGod, for the Divine Absolute, theMost Real. The psalmist sang ofGod as ‘above the heavens’.

In the Book of Exodus, we hearthat the name of God is Yahweh.It is often translated as ‘I am’ or ‘Iwill be’. In the rabbinic tradition, it is saidthat ‘I am’ is an abbreviation for ‘I am withyou’. God said to Moses, ‘This is myname for ever’. That phrase ‘for ever’ canalso be translated as ‘concealed’. In therabbinic tradition, we may say that the Godis who with us, with us always, ‘I am withyou’, is the God who is hidden, concealed.Do you remember the saying: for everydoctrinal headache, take paradox! God isthe paradox, the mystery, of absence andPresence.

Let us take ourselves back to Jesusspeaking to His anxious and fearfuldisciples. Gently, He told them. ‘In myFather’s house are many mansions…..I will

come again….where I am, there you maybe also.’ If we listen with the heart, that ‘Iam’ takes us back to Moses, the burningbush, and God’s silent voice, ‘I am withyou’, with you always. The God who ishidden is the God who is with us always.For me, all the images of heaven and everysuggestion or hint that it is a physicalreality fail and fall. What does not fail orfall is listening to the voice of God fromthe bush not consumed, and from the lipsof Jesus. At its best, religion is aboutrelationship with the Divine, trust in thevoice we hear in Scripture, trust in thesoul’s deepest intuition, in the tone andlove of the Eternal: where I am, there youmay be also.

Moses and the Burning Bush, c. 1450–1475, attributed to Dieric Bouts

CHRISTIAN AID Prayer Thoughts

Long term support after a disaster

Read Luke 18: 1-8

Give thanks for our partner YakkumEmergency Unit that delivered essentialsupplies to people affected by thetsunamis and earthquakes that struck

Indonesia last year. Pray for the ongoingrestoration work with the thousands whowere bereaved, injured and displaced. Prayfor the rebuilding work in Kerala, India,after the devastating flooding that alsooccurred last year, and for the work toreduce the risk of water-borne diseases,including cleaning-out wells, rain-waterharvesting tanks and de-sludging of septictanks. Pray these communities get ongoing

support and help and know they arenot forgotten.

Holy God, help us topray always andnot to lose heart, tonever give up on

the cause of fullness oflife for all. Amen.

CHRISTIAN AID The Christian Aid Committee

The master of mystics, Meister Eckhart,said that ‘Eternity is now’. The Divine isto be encountered in this life. TheScottish theologian, John Caird, said that inlife beyond this life we will be no closer orfurther from God than we are in this life:we already live our life in God if we butstop and listen for the silence, the thinnestsilence, of God. For Caird, the Creatorof all things will always be beyond us,beyond our understanding. Writing in1956, the Trappist monk, Thomas Mertonsaid:

As soon as [we are] fully disposed to bealone with God, [we are] alone with Godno matter where [we] may be – in thecountry, the monastery, the woods or the

city. The lightning flashes from east towest, illuminating the whole horizon andstriking where it pleases and at the sameinstant the infinite liberty of God flashesin the depths of [our] soul and [we are]illumined. At that moment [we see] thatthough [we seem] to be in the middle of[our] journey, [we have] already arrived atthe end. For the life of grace on earth isthe beginning of the life of glory.Although [we are travellers] in time, [wehave] opened [our] eyes, for a moment, ineternity.

The God who is concealed, hidden, is withus always. God holds us eternally. God isour truest friend; we are to trust in thattruth. Amen.

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Polio cases have beenreduced significantly sinceRotary took on thechallenge, in 1985, oferadicating the polio virusin the world. The figurethen was 350,000 casesworld wide. Today thereare only 69 cases of thewild polio virus in onlytwo countries -Afghanistan and Pakistan.August saw Nigeria, andthus the Africancontinent, celebrating being wild poliovirus-free. It is Rotary's primary aim toeradicate the polio virus and rid the worldof this terrible disease.

Purple4Polio is one of the symbols whichRotary International uses for its end poliocampaign. In mass immunisations, when achild gets immunised the little finger isdipped in purple dye to show who hasbeen immunised; hence the adoption ofpurple, purple crocuses, purple ice creamand Purple4Polio.

Rotary highlighted polio in the world byholding an evening in the ScottishParliament. On a business day, MSPs woreour purple fabric crocus badges. A showof fabric crocuses was 'planted' in front ofthe Walter Scott Monument - Walter Scotthad polio. Crocus corms have beenplanted at various prominent places.Purple icecream has been sold throughsupermarkets.

Last year, a number ofbuildings in Edinburghthe UK andinternationally, werefloodlit in purple tocelebrate World PolioWeek. This year it ishoped that manyprominent buildings inEdinburgh and the UKwill turn purple. WorldPolio Day is on the 24October. Why that date?It is the date of birth of

the virologist and medical researcher,Jonas Edward Salk who discovered anddeveloped the first successful poliovaccines.

Look out for Mayfield Salisbury Churchand many other buildings turning purpleduring 21 - 27 October this year.

For more information go towww.myrotary.org

As long as Polio threatens even one child,anywhere in the world, all children whereever they live remain at risk.

Bill GatesRegards

KenKenneth Logan

Polio CoordinatorRotary District 1020Telephone Number 0780 051 0067

PURPLE4POLIO Ken Logan

Photo by M e n e e r k e b l o e m CC BY-SA 3.0

October3 Singalong Second Row Singers10 Sex, drugs and windy nights Lady Joyce Caplan17 The Show in the Meadows Graeme Cruikshank24 Our trip to China Kozo Hoshino and John Ferguson31 Don’t Panic! Christine ShortNovember7 Band Music Dixieland Band14 Bring and Buy / AGM ***************************21 Some Travels in Germany Kathleen Hendry28 SACRO Tom HalpinDecember5 Christmas Singalong and party The Dunns 12 Members’ Desert Island Discs Deirdre and co.January 20209 Scottish Songs Caroline Hood16 Talk –title TBC Margaret Collingwood and Alison MacDonald23 Birding and Beetling Ladies Catherine Booth30 A trip to South America Senga AndrewsFebruary6 Budapest Boyd McAdam 13 The Changing Botanics Heather McHaffie20 My Famous Aunt! Sheana Stephens27 Singalong George Ross and Susan WoodingMarch5 Remarkable Ruins John Graham12 Scottish Musical Afternoon Ceilidh Band19 Some Incompetent Spies Alan Tulleth26 Lip reading Erna McEvoyApril2 Up the Creek talk Simon Fairnie9 Easter Break16 One World Shop Rachel Farey23 Sing-along Isabel Lunn +others from choir30 Posies with weeds and wildflowers! Anne Sturrock

May 7 TRIP TBC 17

THURSDAY CLUB We are looking forward to the restart ofthe Thursday Club on 3 October at2.00pm in the Bill McDonald Hall whenonce again we will be delighted to host TheSecond Row Singers. This is a group oftalented ladies who sing in the second row of their choir - not a group

of rugby players!

If you have a friend or neighbour youthink might be interested, please bringthem along. All will be welcome. We meetevery Thursday, except for Christmas andEaster breaks.

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The Kirk Session met on 10 September2019 when the following was discussed:

Matters Arising: Anne Aithie raised anissue relating to the West Door stepswhich had been mentioned to her. This isthat those with limited vision can findthem hard to use, as the edge of each stepis not very clear. This could beconsiderably improved if there weremarkings added along the front edge ofeach step, making it more obvious where anew step began.

The Moderator gave an update on theListening Service in that he has recentlydiscovered that Priestfield Parish Churchhas had a similar conversation withEdinburgh University about assistingstudents through a listening service. Afterfurther discussion, it was agreed that wewould have a conversation with theUniversity Chaplain and the Head ofCounselling Services at the University.The Moderator would liaise with one ortwo elders on this, including DouglasBlackwood.

At this point one item of BusinessCommittee business was taken concerningKay McIntosh’s contract. Following tworeview meetings, it was clear that a 30hour week was easily justified by the workto be done and that this arrangement wassatisfactory for Kay. It was agreed that the30 hours per week should be continuedfor the two calendar years beginning fromthe start of 2020. The Moderator thankedthe review team for their valuable work.

Correspondence: The Session Clerkmentioned that he had receivedcorrespondence in July from Susie Martin,Eileen Malloch’s daughter, noting that hermother had left a legacy of £1,000 toMayfield Salisbury. The Treasurer hasreceived the money. The Session Clerkhad written to thank Ms Martin over thesummer but wished to report the donationto Session, who expressed their gratitudefor it.

Finalising Business: Two people hadcontacted the Moderator seekingmembership of Mayfield Salisbury ParishChurch: Elvyne Struthers (transferringfrom Uphall South) and Revd. NeilCampbell. Session approved bothrequests and extended a warm welcome.

On Tuesday 8 October George Whyte,Principal Clerk to the General Assembly,will be installed at MSPC as a Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen. All are invited toattend.

Mike Sharp of the Christian AidCommittee had been in touch to ask ifMSPC would once again support ChristianAid as part of our Christmas servicecollections. Session agreed to continuewith the arrangement whereby theChristmas collections are divided equallybetween Christian Aid and CrossReach.

Additional Kirk Session Meeting: TheModerator intimated that, in the light ofhis imminent departure from MayfieldSalisbury, it would be advisable to hold an

SESSION MATTERS

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Kirk Session meeting soon thereafter, at adate to be agreed. Session noted this.

Finance Paper From BusinessCommittee: Steve Holehouse introducedthe finance paper which had beencirculated in advance. He mentioned thatit had been drafted by the Treasurer andthen examined by a small sub-committeeover the summer before being discussedby Business Committee. The papercontains a summary of the currentposition and raises a number of issues fordiscussion and for Session’s views. BC’sadvice in respect of each question was setout in the paper for guidance.

After discussion, it was decided that theShierlaw Fund will be kept as it is ratherthan being de-designated at this stage.The target minimum level for the Longer-Term Reserves will be reduced from£230,000 to £210,000; the policy of stock-piling legacies for future choralcommitments will cease but the currentChamber Choir Fund of some £160,000will be reserved for Choir purposes; theSpiritual Growth Fund will be reduced to£10,000 (releasing approximately £7,500);the ‘released’ funds (namely c.£7,500 fromthe Spiritual Growth Fund and £20,000from the LTR) will be split equallybetween the Salisbury Fund and MissionFund; the investment policy will remainunchanged (i.e. CoSIT at BC’s discretion);and an appeal for increased giving, totackle the projected deficit approximately£30,000 per year was approved, with aplanned launch date of February 2020.Session expressed its thanks to all thoseinvolved in this work.

Autumn Lectures: The Moderator drewattention to two lectures in the comingweeks: Professor Robert Hillenbrand,Professorial Fellow at the University of StAndrews and Honorary Fellow at theUniversity of Edinburgh, will speak on 29September and David Gorman, Directorof Social Responsibility and Sustainabilityat the University of Edinburgh, on 6October, both at 7pm. In addition therewas a talk on behalf of Child ActionLanka.

The previously arranged talk by theMinister on Revd George Matheson (thesubject of his recent doctoral thesis) willnot take place as planned as the date fallsafter his induction in his new charge. Ithas not proved possible to reschedule itfor an earlier date. However, there is thepossibility that, if a suitable date can befound, Revd McKenna will accept aninvitation from Session to deliver the talkat a later time.

Minister’s Announcement: TheModerator outlined some of the changeswhich are likely to arise. MSPC is in goodheart and his reason for accepting StColumba’s invitation is to seek a newchallenge and also a concern not to stayover-long in one place. Among thestrengths of MSPC the Moderator pointedto experienced and dedicated staff and healso acknowledged the support andencouragement of Session.

The Moderator’s last Sunday of preachingat MSPC will be 6 October and he willarrange cover for the two followingSundays. His induction in his new parish

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will be on 24 October, probably at7.00pm. At that point an InterimModerator will assume responsibility.Although he or she will be decided uponby Presbytery, the Revd Neil Gardner,Minister at Canongate was suggested asa possibility which Session approved.

In addition to an Interim Moderator therewill be a need for a regular preacher.This may be supplied by a locum, as hasbeen the case at MSPC in past vacancies,or alternatively by pulpit supply. The maindifference is that a locum would beexpected to undertake some pastoralwork, maybe around two days a week, inaddition to preaching. Although this is adecision for Session, the fact that we havea Pastoral Assistant (and her team ofpastoral visitors) may mean that pulpitsupply would meet our needs adequately.The Revd Helen Alexander, who hasrecently retired as Assistant Minister at StGiles has been suggested. There was ashort discussion of procedure, includingthe formation and duties of aNominations Committee.

The Moderator ended by offering threereflections which might guide thoseinvolved in the task of identifying apotential new Minister: the experience ofteam ministry, especially working with anumber of specialist staff members, is notsomething which can be taken for granted;the regular diet of three Sunday servicesmay be more than in many other churches;and the emphasis on the quality ofpreaching is an important factor at MSPC.

Business Committee: The Convenor,Steve Holehouse, spoke to his report,

which had been circulated in advance. Itwas agreed that an application should bemade to exend the visa of Hillary Leslie.Steve thanked Anne Robertson for hermany years’ service as Health and SafetyOfficer. She will be replaced by AlisonBogle. The Moderator echoed the thanks,as did Session.

Christian Aid: The Convenor, AileenNimmo, spoke to her report:The MayfieldSalisbury Christian Aid team is verygrateful to the Kirk Session andcongregation for their generous supportand to the Trustees of the Salisbury Fundfor matching sums raised in specialcollections. So far to date this year wehave raised over £11,000.

The committee has decided not toproceed with the Harvest Festival thisyear. This was due to a variety of reasonsincluding the onerous risk assessment andinsurance regime imposed as standardconditions by Edinburgh Council.

The team provided tea, coffee and cake onthe afternoon of Saturday 28 September2019 at Doors Open Day.

In addition the committee hopes to holdan Advent coffee, cake and craft morningin late November / early December andwill also organise the congregationalChristmas card.

The Christian Aid team has considered thechanging demands of a fluid environmentand team dynamic. Following a review ofthe team's strengths, weaknesses andresources the team are considering a

vision for the future and will report to theKirk Session. The deliberations will bearin mind the Christian Aid aims of:Climate, Economic and Gender Justice.

In addition the team is to consider how towork towards including and engaging thewhole congregation. These themes aretackled by other committees in thiscongregation and the team wish to plansharing resources and energy with thoseteams to tackle the issues efficiently.

Jane Main has retired from Fairtrade stalland was thanked for her years of sterlingservice and hard work. The next Fairtradestall is intended to be at the Advent event.

CrossReach: The next collection for thePerinatal Service will be on 3 November.

Research Committee: AlastairMacGilchrist, the Convenor, spoke to anumber of current items. Student contact- this has already been discussed (underMatters Arising). The screen has nowbeen installed and is in operation. To postan item on the screen full details includingdraft text should be provided to William.Social media is an ongoing project; FiveMinutes’ Peace is underway again and wascomplemented by Doors Open Day (on28 September); Caring for theenvironment - the lecture by DavidGorman (mentioned above) will be

chaired by Professor Elizabeth Bomberg.

First Friday Friends: The Convenor,Sandra Carter, spoke to her report.Activities had continued over the summerwith activities in the Bill MacDonald Hall.Singing and music activities, simple craftsor games, sometimes both at once, act asvehicles that trigger memories whichstimulate conversations. This is onlypossible with a good group of volunteers.Sandra thanked the volunteers as well assupporters of the Grange Fair who sent adonation of £200 for the second yearrunning, and others in the congregationwho have given financial support. Thegroup also enjoyed their annual cruise onthe canal from Ratho.

New Friends generally arrive from wordof mouth contacts and, if you know ofsomeone in your local community whomight benefit, then please contact Sandra. The Moderator thanked all of theconvenors for their reports and they andtheir teams for their hard work.

AOCB: Sandra Carter raised a matterabout possible re-use of the poppiescreated for last year’s Remembrancecentenary. Session approved the re-use ofthe poppies for a smaller indoorarrangement for the comingRemembrance observance. Sandra wasthanked for raising this.

CONGREGATIONAL REGISTERDeathAngus MacConnachie

New memberElvyne StruthersRevd Neil Campbell

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22

DATES FOR YOUR DIARYOCTOBER

Sun 6 9.30am All-Age Worship (SSM)10.45am Traditional Worship: Creation Covenant Service (SSM)7.00pm LECTURE: Climate Change (David Gorman)

Tues 8 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary7.00pm Service of Installation of Revd Dr George Whyte

as Chaplain to the Queen

Sun 13 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Hugh Davidson)10.45am Traditional Worship: 17th Sunday after Trinity (HD)7.00pm Evening Service (KM)

Tues 15 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 20 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Hugh Davidson)10.45am Traditional Worship: 18th Sunday after Trinity (HD)7.00pm Evening Service (Anne Mulligan DCS)

Tues 22 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 27 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Helen Alexander)10.45am Traditional Worship: 19th Sunday after Trinity (HA)7.00pm Evening Service: Godly Play (EB)

Tues 29 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

NOVEMBER

Sun 3 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Neil Gardner)10.45am Traditional Worship: 20th Sunday after Trinity (NG)7.00pm Evening Service (Eilie Blackwood)

Tues 5 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 10 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Helen Alexander)10.45am Traditional Worship: Remembrance Sunday (HA)7.00pm Service of Remembering (Kay McIntosh)

Tues 12 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 17 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Helen Alexander)10.45am Traditional Worship 22nd Sunday after Trinity(HA) 7.00pm Evening Service (TBC)

Tues 19 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

Sun 24 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Helen Alexander)10.45am Traditional Worship: Christ the King (HA)7.00pm Youth Worship Night (Hillary Leslie)

Oct. 5 Jeremiah 3,4 / John 2Oct. 6 Jeremiah 5,6 / John 3Oct. 7 Jeremiah 7,8 / Psalms 114,115Oct. 8 Jeremiah 9,10 / John 4Oct. 9 Jeremiah 11,12 / John 5Oct. 10 Jeremiah 13,14 / John 6Oct. 11 Jeremiah 15,16 / Psalm 116Oct. 12 Jeremiah 17,18 / John 7Oct. 13 Jeremiah 19,20 / John 8Oct. 14 Jeremiah 21,22 / Psalms 117,118Oct. 15 Jeremiah 23,24 / John 9Oct. 16 Jeremiah 25,26 / John 10Oct. 17 Jeremiah 27,28 / John 11Oct. 18 Jeremiah 29-31 / Psalm 119: 1-24Oct. 19 Jeremiah 32,33 / John 12Oct. 20 Jeremiah 34,35 / John 13Oct. 21 Jeremiah 36,37 / Psalm 119: 25-48Oct. 22 Jeremiah 38,39 / John 14Oct. 23 Jeremiah 40,41 / John 15Oct. 24 Jeremiah 42,43 / John 16Oct. 25 Jeremiah 44-46 / Psalm 119: 49-72Oct. 26 Jeremiah 47,48 / John 17

Oct. 27 Jeremiah 49,50 / John 18Oct. 28 Jeremiah 51,52 / Psalm 119: 73-96Oct. 29 Lamentations 1,2 / John 19Oct. 30 Lamentations 3-5 / John 20Oct. 31 Ezekiel 1 / John 21Nov. 1 Ezekiel 2,3 / Psalm 119: 97-120Nov. 2 Ezekiel 4,5 / James 1Nov. 3 Ezekiel 6,7 / James 2Nov. 4 Ezekiel 8,9 / Psalm 119: 121-144Nov. 5 Ezekiel 10,11 / James 3Nov. 6 Ezekiel 12,13 / James 4Nov. 7 Ezekiel 14,15 / James 5Nov. 8 Ezekiel 16,17 / Psalms 119: 145-176Nov. 9 Ezekiel 18,19 / I Peter 1Nov. 10 Ezekiel 20,21 / I Peter 2Nov. 11 Ezekiel 22,23 / Psalms 120-122Nov. 12 Ezekiel 24,25 / I Peter 3Nov. 13 Ezekiel 26,27 / I Peter 4Nov. 14 Ezekiel 28,29 / I Peter 5Nov. 15 Ezekiel 30,31 / Psalms 123-125Nov. 16 Ezekiel 32,33 / II Peter 1Nov. 17 Ezekiel 34,35 / II Peter 2

Nov. 18 Ezekiel 36,37 / Psalms 126-128Nov. 19 Ezekiel 38,39 / II Peter 3Nov. 20 Ezekiel 40,41 / I John 1Nov. 21 Ezekiel 42,43 / I John 2Nov. 22 Ezekiel 44,45 / Psalms 129-131Nov. 23 Ezekiel 46,47 / I John 3Nov. 24 Ezekiel 48 / I John 4Nov. 25 Daniel 1-3 / Psalms 132-134Nov. 26 Daniel 4,5 / I John 5Nov. 27 Daniel 6,7 / II JohnNov. 28 Daniel 8,9 / III JohnNov. 29 Daniel 10-12 / Psalms 135,136Nov. 30 Hosea 1,2 / Jude 1Dec. 1 Hosea 3-6 / Revelation 1Dec. 2 Hosea 7,8 / Psalms 137,138Dec. 3 Hosea 9,10 / Revelation 2Dec. 4 Hosea 11,12 / Revelation 3Dec. 5 Hosea 13,14 / Revelation 4Dec. 6 Joel 1,2 / Psalm 139Dec. 7 Joel 3 / Revelation 5Dec. 8 Amos 1,2 / Revelation 6Dec. 9 Amos 3,4 / Psalms 140,141

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THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

If you require any further information about these walks please contact JennyMcCallum on 0131 667 2888 or at jennymccallum15@gmail.com

OctoberTue 15 Pressmennan Wood 3 - 4 mls

Car Travel. Meet at Church at 10.00amTue 22 Gowklie Moss to Bilston via Kilburn 3mls

Meet at Church at 10.00amNovemberSat 9 Caerketton Hill 3mls strenuous with steep ascent

Car Travel meet at Church at 10.00amWed 13 Linlithgow - (Basin to Palace) 3mls

Meet at bus stop on West Approach Rd (near Lothian Rd) at 10.15 for Expressbus to Linlithgow at 10.25.

Wed 20 Easter Road to (i) Constitution Street - 2.5mls (ii) Inverleith Row - 4mlsMeet at Church 10.00am - Coffee shops near both destinations

MAYFIELD MILERS UPCOMING WALKS

Tues 26 9.30am Prayers in the sanctuary

DECEMBER

Sun 1 9.30am All-Age Worship (Revd Helen Alexander)10.45am Traditional Worship: Advent Sunday (HA)7.00pm Evening Service (TBC)

Grapevine DistributionKirstine Baxter 0754 991 3813churchmanager@googlemail.com

Staff Days OffMinister: Monday (generally)Pastoral Assistant: Friday and SaturdayYouth Worker: Friday and SaturdayManager: Monday PM & Friday

Social Mediawww.facebook.com/MayfieldSalisbury

www.youtube.com/user/MayfieldSalisbChurch

www.flickr.com/photos/98063709@N06/

www.mayfieldsalisbury.org

Copy date for next issue: 7.00pm on Friday 22 November

WHO’S WHO IN MAYFIELD SALISBURYMayfield Salisbury Parish (Edinburgh) Church of

Scotland Scottish Charity Number SC000785

Interim Moderator Revd Neil N. Gardner ngardner@churchofscotland.org.uk 0131 556 3515

Locum Preacher Revd Helen Alexander HAlexander@churchofscotland.org.uk 0131 346 0685

Pastoral Assistant Kay McIntosh DCS kay@backedge.co.uk 0790 326 6307

Youth WorkerHillary Leslie Hillary.MayfieldYouth@gmail.com 0745 372 2224

Church ManagerWilliam Mearns churchmanager@googlemail.com 0780 801 1234

OrganistKate Pearson kate.q.kate@gmail.com 0744 238 2296

Session ClerkCharles Garland charles.edin@gmail.com 0131 668 4296

TreasurerJohn Graham culkein@btinternet.com 0131 667 6331

Gift Aid Donations & Roll KeeperHugh Somerville hs.somerville2@gmail.com 0131 466 2446

Church Office18 West Mayfield, Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ0131 667 1522 orchurchmanager@googlemail.com

Pastoral CareFor Home or Hospital visits, contact the Pastoral Assistant.

Mayfield Radiomayfieldradiounit@gmail.com0131 667 7742

Grapevine Submissions William Mearns 0131 667 1522 churchmanager@googlemail.com

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