‘This is how the story begins: In a dark, dark town there was a dark, dark street. In the dark, dark street there was a dark, dark house. In the dark, dark house there were dark, dark stairs. Down the dark, dark stairs there was a dark, dark cellar. And in the dark, dark cellar some skeletons lived.’

We’ve all got skeletons in our closets. You know, the things we are too ashamed to talk about? The sense of shame that we often carry around with us. The wounds that we bear. The hurts that we harbour. The scars that we hide. Where can we run with them?

The woman who meet in John 4 had her skeletons too. If the scene took place in modern Britain we’d politely skirt around her issues. Not so Jesus. Like a good surgeon he goes straight for the scars with his scalpel of grace. He thoroughly knows this woman. Indeed, as we get a glimpse of his divine omniscience, he brings up her chequered past with her former husbands. She’s had five. Indeed, the man she lives with now is not even her husband. Her scars are open and raw. Why Jesus?

July 2020 Newsletter

PASTOR’S PEN by Graeme Shanks

“Skeletons in the closet?”

(May 2019)

“Holy yet Hollow”

We can often read her story through modern day eyes and jump quickly to view her as a character from a modern day sitcom who’s living the high life in the city. However, in this day, it would seem that all the power for initiating divorce lay with the husband. Therefore, could it be that this woman has actually been the victim over the years? Sure she’s not innocent, she is a sinful human being like the rest of us after all. However, perhaps she’s been on the wrong end of emotional abuse with each passing husband in her life. Could it be that the fact that she is now simply living with a man is a sign that she’s simply given up on finding the perfect husband? The fact that she’s out at the well in the middle of the day would suggest that her life has come to be defined by the shame of it all.

Step forward Jesus. It’s interesting that whilst Nicodemus comes to see Jesus (chapter 3), here, Jesus takes the initiative to go and meet this woman. It’s the reverse of what we might expect! This is no chance meet. Jesus steps forward as the seventh man in this woman’s life. He steps forward as the one who is inviting her to take his hand, as it were, and be her perfect husband. Not in a romantic sense, but in a spiritual sense. The one who has come to be her Messiah. The husband who will purify her. The husband who promises to be with her till the end of the age. The husband who will never cease in his love and care of her. The husband who will one day come to make her his bride along with the rest of his redeemed people on that final day.

The scars in this woman’s life are deep. However, the scars that Jesus bears on his body, the ones that he received on the cross in her place, as it were, are deeper still. If she would trust in Jesus, like it would appear that she did as this episode plays out, then those are the scars that now forever define her life. She, yes even she, can be a transformed into a Spirit and truth worshipper of the living God!

Friends, Jesus knows our every skeleton! Perhaps this time of lockdown has given us more time to reflect on our failings and frailties. Maybe for some us more time to reflect has brought up shame from the past. For others perhaps our fuse has run short and we feel like we’re making mistake after mistake. Well let’s keep reminding ourselves of the gospel. Let’s run to Jesus for fresh knowledge of forgiveness and life. Let’s allow his scars to speak for us and to us.

‘Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!’

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

The Scottish Government has indicated that churches may be able to open for service from 23 July (Sunday 26 July in practice), though this is likely to be with limited numbers and probably other restrictions. Other activities may also be possible, but we don’t know full details yet.

The elders and trustees have established a steering group to help manage our return, though with key decisions on services still made by the elders and on the building by the trustees. The group is chaired by Ian Naismith and also includes Graeme Shanks, Alistair & Sabine Chalmers, Peter Ervine, Luca & Simona Sueri, David Wright, Gill Mackintosh and Dechlan Wlison. There are also working groups considering services, young people’s work and building use. Regular updates will be provided, with the next likely to be from the elders on restarting services at church.

Survey results

Thank you to all those who responded to the survey on returning to church. We had a really good spread of ages and circumstances among respondents, and it’s clear that people have very different levels of comfort with returning to church. While older people are generally more cautious than younger ones, the differences are not as great as might be expected. Priorities also vary – for example, some are very keen to be back in the building together, while others are happier joining online until we can have fully ‘live’ services at church and mingle together. We’ll provide more details in due course, but the charts below provide a brief summary.

.

OUR SERVICES IN JULY

3%

24%

42%

31%

Level of comfort

Very uncomfortable Quite uncomfortable

Quite comfortable Very comfortable

3.19

3.14

3

2.78

1 2 3 4

Under 40

40-70

Families

Over 70

Relative comfort

These are average scores based on

a scale from 1=very uncomfortable

to 4=very comfortable

JULY SERVICES

All Age Service Online

Our All Age Service will continue live at 11am each Sunday. You can link to

it through our website www.bruntsfield.org.uk and we’ll also provide an link

by email. We’re continuing our series ‘Encounters with Jesus’.

Leader Speaker Subject

5 July Graeme Shanks David Nixon A guilty cheat (John 7:53-8:11)

12 July Fraser McLaren Alistair Chalmers A lowly beggar John 9:1-41

19 July Alistair Chalmers Euan Dodds A grieving family (John 11:1-44)

26 July TBC Ian Naismith A puzzled disciple (John 13:1-20)

Evening Message

The preaching group will continue our series in Esther. The messages are

available to watch when it suits you on Sunday. Links will be provided by

email and through the website.

5 July – Esther 6 – Thomas Loewen

12 July – Esther 7 – Thane Campbell

18 July – Esther 8 – Derek McArthur

25 July – Esther 9-10 – Luca Sueri

Daily Prayer

We’re continuing our daily prayer time at 8pm on Zoom, or by phoning

0131 460 1196. The meeting code is 547-778-568. You can join from

7:50pm for a chat. These prayer times have been a real encouragement to

those who join them, and a great opportunity to pray and share fellowship

together. Please consider joining by Zoom or phone if you haven’t yet.

BEC ACTIVITIES IN JULY

Small Groups

Small groups will meet through Zoom in the weeks of 13 and 27 July. Each

group have chosen one of three possible themes over the summer.

Kids Church

Kids Church meets via Zoom at 10am each Sunday. The code is 950-221-425

The Embassy

The Embassy meets via Zoom at around 12:15pm after the All Age Service.

The code is 872-020-9564. Look out for communications on social events.

Basics Bank and Care Van

Basics Bank is from 10am to 1pm each Friday, and our turn on Care Van is at

9pm on Wednesday 15 July.

Book Club

The Book Club meeting by Zoom is on 6 and 22 July from 7 to 8pm. Contact

Alistair Chalmers (alistair@bruntsfield.org.uk) if you’re interested in joining.

Grove 92

Grove 92, the women’s Bible study, continues via Zoom at 1:30pm each

Monday, studying John’s Gospel and praying together. For more

information contact Kat – kat.andrews@bruntsfield.org.uk.

‘SAVE THE DATE’

Bruntsfield

Staycation

with Jonathan Lamb

Weekend of

22-23 May 2021

REFLECTIONS FROM OUR MINISTRY TRAINEES

Drew, Kat and Thane come to the end of their time as Ministry Trainees in

July. Here hey share some reflections.

Kat Andrews

The last two years as a Ministry Trainee at

Bruntsfield have flown by. It hardly seems

any time at all since I was meeting everyone

and getting to know the church. And I think

the fact that it feels like it went so fast is

partly because I’ve enjoyed it so much.

Everyone in the church was so welcoming

and friendly that I felt like part of the family

straight away, and as I’ve got to know

people better that feeling has only grown.

Some of the biggest encouragements have been being able to meet up with

and study the Bible with some of the students, leading Grove 92 and

helping with the Embassy. It has been so encouraging to see God’s word at

work in people’s lives and to see them grow. It has been a great reminder

that God really does work powerfully through his word. There have been

some challenges; serving the church and studying at Cornhill makes for a

busy schedule, and sometimes it’s been hard to get the right balance

between work and rest. But God has really blessed me with supportive

friends and family, and it has driven me to rely on him more. Cornhill has

been a great blessing too, both in terms of the teaching and in the

friendships I have made there.

Spending time studying and teaching God’s word at Bruntsfield alongside

studying at Cornhill has helped me to grow in my own relationship with God

as well. I have a better understanding of how the Bible fits together as a

whole and of how to apply it to people’s lives (including my own). And as a

result my love for God has grown. In some ways leaving my old career to do

this Ministry Trainee programme was quite a scary step (one that

sometimes I couldn’t quite believe I had taken) but God has been faithful in

providing for me.

Finishing the trainee programme whilst in lockdown was not quite what I

expected, and the challenges of doing ministry online have reminded me

how important our fellowship and meeting together are. I’m excited about

the adventures ahead as I move to Hope City Church and to see what God

has planned for me there. But I will miss my Bruntsfield family very much!

Please stay in touch, and hopefully I will still be able to come and visit

sometimes.

Drew Kennedy

It is scary to think that two years have

come and gone. It has been challenging, as

it was a steep learning curve at times but

also it was a real pleasure to be a Ministry

Trainee at Bruntsfield, serving the

congregation and being served by the

congregation. I have felt so welcomed and

supported by the congregation at

Bruntsfield over the last two years which

has made the whole learning and training

process much easier and much more

enjoyable.

One of the aims of the programme is to expose Trainees to the realities of

church ministry, which the congregation and leaders of Bruntsfield have

done very trustingly and candidly over the last two years which has been a

real privilege to be a part of, as right from the beginning I’ve been included

in many different ministries some I have experience of and some I had no

experience of. This has meant that by the end of the programme I now

know how I can best serve the church and the Lord best in the future and I

can work on the areas I have weaknesses in to develop and strengthen

them so as to become a more rounded Gospel worker wherever the Lord

leads me in future. Most immediately after the end of the programme, that

will be to Wester Hailes Baptist Church a their Youth Worker which is a

really exciting and promising opportunity to apply what I’ve learned at

Bruntsfield over the last two years.

It has been fantastic to spend time with you all over the last two years,

getting to know you all and seeing your devotion to the Lord and His service

here in Edinburgh, everyone I have been in ministry with in Bruntsfield has

been incredibly helpful, encouraging and supportive throughout the whole

process.

I really cannot thank all of you enough for all your support and

encouragement over the last two years.

Thank you to the staff team, for everything they have done for me over the

last two years, their patience and graciousness.

The Elders for their trust in taking me on.

All the congregation members I have served alongside.

You will never know how much the last two years has meant to me.

I hope that you will all continue to pray for me as the programme ends and

as I go to serve in Wester Hailes.

Thane Campbell

It’s been my privilege and a great source of blessing working within the BEC

staff team as a ministry trainee. We are all in full-time ministry as

Christians. This time has equipped me with satisfyingly formidable,

theological resources (seminary), revealed the beauty of The Bible in

previously unimaginable depths (preaching), and has been a baptism by

new-initiative-logistics (Ring-making workshops and The Fellowship Form). I

have the utmost respect for the tireless dedication and excellent work of

the BEC staff. I’m biased but Youtube is less so, whatever your metric of

success, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit is at work in our team.

I am so encouraged that Welcome Round sparked new and faithful church

friendships and that this kind of members-lead meet up continues to scale

up through The Fellowship Form, long may we continue to intentionally

deepen “the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love”. Amen? Remaining

grateful for your support as my church family, I look forward to supporting

our incoming ministry trainees, Danielle and Archie, with you. I will

continue to worship Jesus through my work with Edinburgh Innovations and

I’m coming back to the (online) pews with a passion! God Bless you, Thank

you and please be in contact for more traineeship tales.

THIS MONTH’S RECOMMENDATION by Alistair Chalmers

Willing but Weak by Paul Williams

Self-control - it’s not one of those topics that we talk about a lot unless it’s about our daily reach into the cookie jar. However, in his book Willing but Weak Paul Williams convincingly shows the reader that self-control is at the heart of Christian discipleship. Drawing on years of experience in pastoral ministry, Williams shares the importance of being disciples who exercise good and biblical self-control. He doesn’t offer quick-fix solutions or a discipline cheat sheet, but provides the tools every Christian needs to be a faithful disciple of Christ who is characterised by biblical self-control.

Williams helpfully starts by laying out the biblical principles which ensure that any pursuit of self-control doesn’t become a moral chastisement or an un-useful self-help guide. Self-control, for the Christian, is fuelled out of a desire to be a better worshipper and disciple of

Jesus and is achievable through hard work and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Williams then skilfully unpacks a few of the areas that one needs self-control in, for example; use of time, reading, drinking, sex, anger, speaking, money and the use of screens. He underscores the dangers of not exercising self-control in the Christian life, but at the same time highlights the grace of the Lord Jesus given to His people and hope for those who have struggled exercising self-control.

Willing but Weak is a helpful tool for you to read one-to-one with someone, and to read on your own as you seek to grow in Christ-likeness. It is a timely message to every Christian, a call to walk faithfully, to rely on the Lord’s help and to live in such a way that glorifies Him.

Please pray for the expectant mums in the church, with Corrie, Hazel and Joanna expecting their new arrivals in July.

THE FELLOWSHIP FORM by Thane Campbell

Every obstacle makes opportunities. Recently we’ve been under

unprecedented restrictions but we’ve also enjoyed freedoms we didn’t

know we could have. We are praying together more than ever and we are

spreading the gospel online and worshipping with tens of thousands

internationally. With the ability to gather at the click of a button, there’s

another opportunity facing us as a church: fun.

Religious or not, families need fun and with so many in our church family we

can enjoy more than most. The Problem: massive organisational effort

required.

Our Fun Solution

Using The Fellowship Form (below) tell us: a) what you want to do, b) when

you’re free c) how to contact you. If schedules and interests match, you’ll

receive an invite to a good time with church friends old and new.

Our Resource for Joy

Question number 2. In The Fellowship Form shows **The Activities List**

Here you can see Fun/ Imaginative/ Restful ideas updated by your

suggestions. We’re hoping these refreshing activities will be a real source of

joy for our church family. The Fellowship Form is live for the next 2 weeks!

We’ve already met for:

- Games and we had a great time!

Next we’re scheduling a:

- Faith-based discussion (Thane Campbell)

- Movie (Christy Ringrose)

- Socially-distanced walk (Megan Stoner)

So when you’re done, why not invite your friends (yes, even non-Christians)

as we all join forces to answer that eternal question: What do you want to

do for fun?

The Fellowship Form

www.tinyurl.com/after-church

MISSION UPDATE

Thanks to everyone who gave to support Heber and Fiona Gallitto in their

provision of meals and food to those in need. £290 was sent from the

church for this, on top of the normal monthly gift to Heber and Fiona.

Please continue to pray for Heber & Fiona’s daughter Melissa and her

husband Josias and new baby Nhella Elizabeth.

Please pray for Michael as he considers returning to the Far East after his

year studying in the UK. It is not yet clear whether this may be prevented

because of Coronavirus restrictions.

Pray also for Andrea Smith who would normally be home in the summer,

but remains in Lebanon because of the restrictions.

Ferrywell Youth Project is taking advantage of the relaxations, and plans

some local trips with small groups of young people over the summer.

Please pray for John Gillan and the team.

GIVING TO THE CHURCH

During the Coronavirus lockdown the church’s income is lower because it is

not receiving rental income or Sunday offerings. This is only partly offset by

reduced costs for heating etc. If you would like to give to the church direct

from your bank account or by cheque, please contact Ian Naismith by

emailing manager@bruntsfield.org.uk or phoning 07581 700096.

HEART OF THE MATTER SCHEDULE

5 July: David Strang, Former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

12 July: Cameron Rose Councillor The City of Edinburgh

19 July: Dr Beth Dickson, University of Glasgow

26 July: Averil Blaney, Redwoods Caring Foundation, Midlothian

Black Diamond 107.8 FM: Sunday 9 am. repeat 7 am. following week. Crystal 107.4 FM: Sunday 11 am. /Midnight

and Tuesday 11 am. Alive FM 107.3 FM: Sunday 10 am. G4G Online: Wednesday& Saturday 9am. Heartsong Live

online: Various times. Most stations are available through radio or online.

Bruntsfield Evangelical Church, 70 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 4JU

Tel: 0131 564 1399 email: mail@bruntsfield.org.uk Charity No. SC049393