LinkLinkLinkLink JULY /AUGUST 2016
Making known God’s Love in Jesus Christ
Donations of craft supplies neededDonations of craft supplies neededDonations of craft supplies neededDonations of craft supplies needed
Inside this month
Like a tree page 3
Vine trust trip page 5
Jesus Light of the World
page 7
Basics bank update
page 11
Photo Gallery
page 12
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Sunday Services 11.00 am and 6.30 pm Barclay Viewforth Church—Church Office: 0131 229 6810
Minister Rev Sam Torrens 229 6810 [email protected] Pastoral Associate Elaine Hogan 229 6810 Mission Facilitator Rev Iain Sutherland 07843089598 [email protected]
Church Administrator Julie Nicholson 229 6810 [email protected] Session Clerk Robert Miller 447 1339 [email protected] Clerk to Board Katharine Ellis 228 4136 [email protected] Assistant Clerk Christine Wight 447 5498 Treasurers Janet Darling 447 1578 [email protected] John Ritchie 558 1381 Roll Keeper Helen Miller 449 4470 [email protected] Organist and Choir Andrew Robertson [email protected] Master Organist Michael Bonaventure Magazine Editor Marie Renfrew 261 8060 [email protected] Web Master Mike Ellis 228 4136 [email protected] Church Officer Chris Hogan 229 6810
Imitation
I have stood at the shoulder
of wise men watching them work.
I can see them still.
A turn of phrase. A look. A nod.
And there they are. In the mirror of me.
The Bard Builder
“Dad, tell me a story out of your head.”
He leans forward in his chair
drawing in the whole room,
eyes twinkle light-hearted brightness.
I see him when I saw.
He marks wood with a pencil V
from a stumpy HB.
I tuck the pencil behind my ear.
Golden Lion
Hand through hair
soft locks tumble back
perfectly parted.
He comes in the intonation
of my prayers and in my waiting.
I think about the fondness of our Abba
and being a gift to life.
I’m smiling uncontrollably.
The Jedi
Kind, deep pools
sturdy body, eyes and demeanour.
A silent interview with muscular armoury
surveying behind my ego castle walls.
He trims his speech accordingly
my archers stand down
to sail instead on the waves of a preferred
future.
He is in my merciful questions
in service of the heart.
The Monk
Friend of Aidan and Cuthbert
and a friend to me.
He opened the white house door,
and I stooped in. He is unhurried.
Profoundly present. Childlike convocation,
together with all the saints,
warming them and me with retinas,
bright coals of burning light.
He doesn’t feel the need to say much.
I hear him when I listen.
I have learnt lessons from them all
standing tall
I in them, they in me. My mentors.
Rev Howard Espie
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Let Hope Grow! “Like a tree, planted by streams of water!”
Psalm 1:3
How are those sunflowers growing? By all accounts some of you
have seen them grow to impressive heights from within their little
papers cups and some of you have transplanted them into bigger
pots and have watched them grow even bigger! Unfortunately mine
has keeled over! Drooped with the want of water. In my defence I
took it into the jail to use for a Sunday service and left it in the
Chaplaincy Centre office thinking that the message “Let Hope Grow” would be an inspiring
one for all of us on the team. But it’s not so inspiring now! Analysing this downturn, two
things are obvious. One, the prison environment isn’t a great place for sunflowers to
flourish, nor is it a great place for hope!
There are many who have lost hope of turning their lives around and have resigned
themselves to living in despair. Secondly, it’s hard to grow a sunflower if it’s only watered
occasionally, and those occasions being one or both of the two mornings I’m normally in over
the week! And that’s when I remember! Looking at the drooping, lifeless pale shadow of a
sunflower with its dried up, brittle leaves and petals, I was ready to blame others! “Couldn’t
you have watered it in my absence?” “Shouldn’t you have seen what was happening and
used a wee bit of human initiative and done something in my absence?”
Two things. Firstly, occasional watering isn’t great for a sunflower’s health and growth, but
the responsibility really rested with me! I can’t expect others to water my plant. I’ve got to
take that responsibility myself. Likewise, if I want hope to grow in my life I have to take the
responsibility for its growth and not blame others, even God, for the lack of it. Secondly,
occasional watering won’t do!
The tree in Psalm 1 flourished and became strong and remained strong because it was
planted next to streams of water. It kept close proximity to, and drew daily from, the life
enhancing supply of refreshing and renewing water close to it. Likewise our faith teaches us
that God is never far from any one of us. Hope grows when we establish and maintain close
conscious contact with Him, the God of all Hope. Jesus in John 7:37,
stood up on the last day of the Feast and declared, “If anyone
thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living
water will flow from within him” (By this he meant the Spirit, whom
those who believed in him were later to receive.) Our spirits need
not droop for the want of water! But we do need to come daily to
Him and drink! Let Hope rise afresh as we draw from Him!
Hopefully, Sam
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Ends of The Earth
5th
June 2016
We had a small but wonderful gathering on the morning of Saturday 5th
June to share and pray about broad and varied
international interests, including
Sandy Sneddon gave us a really helpful update on the work of World Mission in Korea, Nepal with ‘Build a house’ and
sharing news gleaned from the General Assembly as well.
Pastor Eric had provided notes about the Chinese church which meets here in BVC which we prayed over.
Mhari gave us an update on our missionary partners in Nepal and Pakistan.
TWO key things were agreed and I share now for your prayerful support
Mission Aviation Fellowship postcard appeal - Heather Tweedie highlighted again the value of this to raise funds for MAF.
Postcards can be handed in; but there is also a fun competition, with categories to be set, for cards from exotic, unusual
and other places, all for a good cause!
Sundae Sunday is our summer alternative to Souper Sunday and will retain the thoughtful emphasis upon HIV &AIDS
whilst raising funds along with awareness, by having Ice-cream sundaes instead of soup. This will be held on the Sunday
morning of 21st
August with Jane Fucella returning to share in worship.
THE GROVE
At our recent well attended Kirk Session conference, we wandered through a pilot version
of ‘The Grove’. Taking its name from the Grove Street Mission hall from which the congregation
of Barclay church was formed, ‘The Grove’ serves both as an introduction to
our fellowship and a refresher of the history, life and vision of Barclay Viewforth Church.
It is planned that during our vision weekend in October we will organise a few timings of ‘The Grove’ which will be open to all and
anyone, so that as many people as possible from the current membership and wider afield can attend and be refreshed by our
story and vision.
Be sure to look out for the dates and sign up early to step aside into ‘The Grove’.
BVC Evening Gathering Summer “Break-Out”
During July the Evening Gathering will “Break-Out” to visit other churches.
Details of Churches and times are below.
You can either choose to meet earlier at BVC and head off as a group or meet at the venue. If you would like to do that please
contact the named staff member below and we can confirm times etc.
If there are any last minute changes (due to circumstances beyond our control) they will be posted on the Church website and/or
Facebook page, and TV screens.
Normal Gatherings will resume on Sunday 7th
August.
Iain SutherlandIain SutherlandIain SutherlandIain Sutherland
July Church Service Contact
3rd P’s & G’s 6.30pm for 7pm Iain
10th Buccleuch Free Church 5.30pm Sam
17th St Cuthberts 6pm Sam
24th Carrubers 6.30pm Iain
31st Wester Hailes 6.30pm Elaine
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Vine Trust trip - June 2016.
As the time fast approaches when the team will be
leaving to go to Tanzania with the Vine Trust this summer,
we want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt, genuine thank you to all of those who
have supported us in our fund raising efforts, in gathering items to take to the families we
will meet and in faithful prayer.
We really could not do it without you and we are all enormously grateful for your generosity
and your willingness to help and encourage us in our efforts to bring much needed practical
assistance and love to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the world.
We would ask for your continued prayer and offer these suggestions to be used in the days
leading up to and during the trip.
Prayer Points
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27
• Please pray for the 27 members in the team heading to Tanzania from 7-24 July (and
Elaine, who will be leading the team). Give thanks for their time, talents and money which
have been given freely to help others.
• Particularly pray for the local shopkeepers (Kerrie, Mikey and Kris) and for all members
for whom this could be a first encounter with God’s love in action.
• Pray for the 4 families who will be the recipients of new homes as a result of this trip,
that they would be aware of the love that the team and our supporters in this fellowship
have for them.
• Pray for the health and safety of all in travel and particularly on the work sites.
• Pray that the men and women of faith will be like shining beacons of God’s love during
the trip.
• Give thanks for the work of Vine Trust in Peru and Tanzania and for the many lives that
God will touch as a result of team visits over the coming months.
Asante sanaAsante sanaAsante sanaAsante sana....
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If you’ve never heard of
Celebrate Recovery, or
have no idea what it’s
about, then you’re either
new to Barclay Viewforth
Church, or you’ve been
on a long trip away to
some remote region!
Over the first few month
of 2016, the core group
from Celebrate Recovery
popped up many times during the weekly services
to tell some of their stories and let people know
what it is all about.
These stories were sometimes funny, but they all
came from the heart of the person. They were
speaking about how God had moved in their lives
through reading the book Life’s Healing Choices
and through meeting together with a group of
people on the same journey.
This journey is about looking at how God can meet
with you through dealing with your ‘hurts, hang-
ups and habits’.
Celebrate Recovery was then rolled out to the
congregation, first with an introduction about the
course, along with a shared meal. Then, each week
the people who decided to continue with the
journey (me included) got a free copy of the book
and were asked to read a chapter of the book for
the following session.
This is easier said than done, as the chapters
require you to do some work, which essentially
means some ‘soul-searching’. Then, at the
sessions, there is a helpful summary (useful for
those who have not had time to complete the
‘homework’), someone from the core group
usually shares about the topic, we have a time of
worship, and we then gather for a chat in small
groups (not forgetting the drinks and snacks).
As I write this, we are about to share choice seven
in the book: ‘Maintaining Momentum’. As I read
through the chapter, I am trying not to feel guilty
that I have got behind with my reading and still
have some of choices four and five to deal with.
Then I remember that it is not a race, and the core
group are still going back and forth with the
material. The important thing to remember is that
you have started, and that you are letting God
know that there are things that are not right in
your life, things that you need to give over to God
and allow to him to deal with.
We cannot do these things in our own strength.
Choice one in the book is admitting need –
admitting that you are powerless to change
yourself, however good your intentions. It is only
when you allow God to take over the control of
your life that you can begin to take baby steps
forward towards healing.
Julie Nicholson
After a year full of fun, laughter and a
deepening sense of God's presence, Connect
Plus came to an end for the summer with our
now customary ceilidh on Tuesday 21 June.
We were delighted to welcome several of the
congregation who had not visited us before,
and it was good to have Sarah Hogan and the
boys joining in the fun as well.
With singing, dancing, games and much good
food, a grand time was had by all. The team
has worked hard over the year in all sorts of
ways, and we are looking forward to a rest
over the summer and a chance to recharge
the batteries.
- 7-
NET Bible Studies
The NET missional community tries to have activities that are based on the IN, UP and OUT
aspects of Christian life.
On Thursday evenings, we have been running a series of studies where we meet together,
pray for each other and focus on a Bible study. These run alongside book group discussions
through the week.
This term in our Bible studies we have been following a mini-series that explores the seven
“gifts” that Paul refers to in Romans 12. While some spiritual gifts appear more supernatural
in nature, such as the gift of tongues or healing (see 1 Corinthians 12 for example), the
Christian writer Selwyn Hughes described these Romans gifts as being more like “functions”
of Christians in the Church. These gifts are all a crucially important part of our witness as
followers of Christ in the world.
Paul uses the image of a body to help a deeply divided Church in Rome come together in
unity (there were serious tensions between the Jewish and Gentile Christians). Paul's use of
the metaphor of a body, reminds us that we need each other and while we can each reflect a
part of Christ to others, it is when we work together in love that we more fully reflect who
Christ is. This is why we have used the logo of a prism: the light of Christ shines in different
ways within the Church.
This series explores each of these seven gifts that Paul mentions and looks at both a New
Testament Church example and also how Jesus showed these gifts during his ministry. The
aim is to help each of us learn our own gifts, appreciate how God might want us to use them
and to encourage and support each other. The gifts are Prophecy, Teaching, Serving,
Encouragement, Leadership, Giving and Mercy.
If you are interested in using our studies, either for your own personal interest or to share in
your small group/missional community, please email me at [email protected]
for a free copy.
Dave CraigieDave CraigieDave CraigieDave Craigie
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Pass It On The Welcome Team have been looking at how best to welcome people
into the congregation, from visitors coming once, to students arriving to
study in Edinburgh, to people who have decided to settle into our
congregation.
We have a great team who are at the doors Sunday by Sunday (although
more volunteers always appreciated, speak to Katharine if you would like to help), but wanted to think of
ways to help people who were staying to get to know more people and get involved.
There are Missional Communities and Ministries, and we encourage everyone to get involved in one, but we
thought that over the summer it would be good to see people getting involved with some social activities.
Rather than having events requiring a lot of organisation we are going to set up a challenge - Pass It On. We
will start by having two outings
on Sunday 17th July a walk and picnic by the canal, weather permitting.
on Sunday 24th July a coffee at a local coffee shop then either a walk or visit to the museum.
Anyone is welcome to join us on either or both for a short time or most of the afternoon.
We then ask that all those who have been on one of them invite some others to an activity of their choice
(might be asking someone you don't know so well to join you and friends for lunch, or if you are going to the
cinema seeing if others want to join you) They don't have to be a Sunday afternoon; it’s whatever suits you.
If you have facebook you can use the church page to advertise or you can just ask people.
We hope by the end of the summer everyone will have spent a little time getting to know at least one
person a little better.
Any questions speak to John Ritchie, Janet Darling or Katharine Ellis
MAF UPDATE
My name is Heather and I am 14 years
old. I have been a volunteer with MAF
for a year now; I am the representative
for my church, which is in Edinburgh.
I have been interested in flying for a while and when I
found out about MAF I thought it would be a great
opportunity to put my passion into good use to help other
people. I am a member of the air cadets and have had a
few flying lessons in the past year, and so I think that that
has influenced my desire to volunteer. When I’m older my
ambition is to be a pilot for MAF.
In the past year I have had so many amazing
opportunities to share this fabulous example of God’s
love in action. For example, I attended the annual MAF
volunteers’ conference, where it was great to meet up
with other like-minded people and see the work that is
going on right now overseas.
I also helped at Heart and Soul in Edinburgh’s Princes
Street Gardens, which is the yearly festival of the Church
of Scotland. Seeing the dismantled plane roll up and then
needing to assemble it was certainly an interesting
experience.
I loved being able to impart my knowledge of aircraft
instruments to a lot of people, both young and old. Many
of them then signed up to receive emails and updates
about MAF, just like I did last year. Trying to get the plane
parts to fit back into the trailer was definitely a logistical
challenge!
I volunteer with MAF because it can make such a huge
difference to the lives of isolated people in the world,
even though it seems so small a thing to do here in
Scotland! Seeing the work that MAF does and the way
that it transforms people’s lives is incredible.
Heather Tweedie
Kitchen Notes
Summer seems to
have decided to visit
and the weather
was lovely for the
Church BBQ. As a result of this I have found
myself flicking through the more summery
based cookery books and stumbled across this
recipe for Naan bread.
I started making bread about 14 years ago
when I was bought a bread machine. Since
then I have expanded my repertoire and when
I have the time enjoy making bread entirely
by hand. I tend to use the easy bake yeast as
you don’t need to pre-soak it, just add it with
the flour.
I’ve never had much success in making these
look like the shop bought ones, but if you
make them more circular they make a nice
change for burger buns! The official cooking
instructions say to cook one side on the
griddle and then place under a hot grill to do
the second side, I tend to just cook them on
the griddle.
Naan Bread
1 tsp easy bake yeast
1tsp sugar
50ml warm milk
250g plain flour
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg (beaten)
4 tbsp ( ¼ cup) natural yogurt
Sift the flour and salt and sugar together, stir
in the dried yeast.
Gradually add the wet ingredients to form the
dough into a soft ball.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead for
approx. 10 mins until smooth.
Place into an oiled bowl, cover and leave
somewhere warm to rise.
Knead briefly to remove the air and split into
4 – 8 pieces and roll out to about 1cm thick
tear shaped for naan, round for burgers).
Place on an oiled baking sheet and leave to
rise for 25 mins.
Cook on a griddle pan (or frying pan) for 3 – 4
minutes on each side.
Linda GarsideLinda GarsideLinda GarsideLinda Garside
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ISOBEL GLASS
It is with great sadness that we record the death of Isobel Glass , one of our senior elders, at the
age of 93 on 22 May 2016. Isobel was one of the first lady elders ordained in Barclay- Bruntsfield
Church in 1975 but her membership of Barclay Bruntsfield Church and its predecessor Bruntsfield
Church went back a further twenty years.
Isobel and her late husband Jimmy were actively involved in the affairs of Barclay Church and its predecessors and
the wider Church of Scotland throughout their lives. Isobel was a committed elder, a staunch supporter of the
Women’s Guild and a familiar face at the General Assembly.
Isobel had a deep and vibrant Christian faith. Over the years she welcomed generations of folk to the church and
extended kindness and hospitality to many of them. In recent years when ill-health prevented her attending church
she retained a lively interest in all the church activities. Our condolences at this time are extended to her daughters
Anne, Rhona and Helen, and her son Alan and their families.
Robert Miller, Session Clerk
- 10 -
BBBB ASIC BANK UPDATE
First of all, thank you so much for the donation from tea and coffee money in 2015. We were absolutely de-
lighted to be able to buy new fridges and a freezer for the Basics Bank as our old ones were on their very last
legs. The freezer was a chest freezer and we did sometimes lose things in the bottom of it!
Here are the new ones – we so appreciate having the extra space for chilled and frozen produce, and it’s so
much easier to see what we have available, and to access it.
The Basics Bank had gone through a quiet period in early 2015, but we are now seeing many more referrals
and we may see up to 14 clients, represented up to 25 individuals in households. Our stocks, which used to
be overflowing, are now depleted and we would encourage people to bring an item or two for the Basics
Bank. You can leave things in the boxes in the Pillar Hall.
In particular, we need the following:
Jam; rice pudding/custard; coffee; sugar; long-life milk; packets of pasta and sauce; juice (squash)
On behalf of our clients, thank you!
Fiona Tweedie
FORTH BRIDGE CROSSFORTH BRIDGE CROSSFORTH BRIDGE CROSSFORTH BRIDGE CROSS
Well done Joyce Bruce, Mike Ellis, Fiona Kennedy, Laura McLeod and Anne and Hugh Paterson who
raised £757.35 for Christian Aid on this year walk across the Bridge.
A big thank you to everyone who sponsored them .
Ray Torrance
May I say a HUGE THANK YOU to all my friends at Barclay Viewforth for all their kind wishes, cards
and gifts I have received over the past few weeks? I have received over 60 cards with only one
duplicate – it feels like Christmas has come early!
I only expected to be in hospital for one week but the nursing care and food was so good I stayed for four weeks!
Hopefully I am now on the mend and, although I tire easily I am getting there.
I do appreciate having such good friends and a very loving and caring family.
Hopefully it will not be too long before I am back amongst you all.
Love from Moira Bain
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Book Review
A Long Obedience in the Same
Direction
Discipleship in an Instant Society
By Eugene Peterson
A good friend put this book into my hand recently,
and at first I was a little dismayed by the rather
clunky title. However, on delving further, I
discovered I was drawn in completely.
In this work, first published twenty years ago and
now revised and expanded, Peterson looks at the
fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120 to 134), in his
own translation "The Message". Identifying each by a
separate theme, he explores the many facets of the
path of discipleship.
I discovered a completely fresh and up to date
relevance in these psalms as he brings them to life.
Beginning with repentance, the psalms follow the
journey of faith, unpacking worship, hope and joy,
help and security, happiness and perseverance, to
name a few of the chapter titles.
Peterson draws on his own experiences and the
writings of others in his studies of these Psalms,
which are accessible and readily absorbed. To quote
Michael Card, "Into a world that does its best to
deceive us into believing that everything changes,
God speaks his unchanging Word. Ours is a time and
a world that needs to hear in fresh ways all that that
Word might mean if we would only listen. Eugene
has listened.” ER
Meadows Festival
A small team blessed the local community on Saturday 4 June with a
stall at the annual Meadows Festival.
We offered biscuit decorating ,beat the goalie ,balloon animal making
and free hugs. We had very positive connections with in excess of 500
people: 200 biscuits were iced and decorated with sweets.
Elaine Hogan had positive discussions about our congregation with a number of visitors and handed out in-
formation leaflets. We even managed to give away some of the small wooden chairs from the halls (still
some left if you are interested).
Many of those participating could not believe that we were doing it for free !
If we as a congregation believe in ministry this should be a priority in our annual calendar. It would be great
next year to have a larger team of volunteers . Ideally we need a team to set up , volunteers to cover spe-
cific time slots and a tidy up team. If the event is not resourced it is not viable and it would be a real pity to
forego the opportunity to spread the love of Jesus at this event.
Thanks to everyone who helped on the day.
ED BAIN
Barbecue
We were fortunate to have enjoyed
excellent weather for the BV Barbecue at
Vogrie Country Park at the end of May.
Nearly 80 people enjoyed a fine lunch,
including hamburgers and sausages, together with lots of
salad and fried onions.
Comment should be made about the laughter and tears
involved in getting the onions to the table: tears for
Isobel when preparing them, and laughter for Mike in his
passion for cooking them on the barbecue!
The assembled multitude then spent the afternoon
exploring the surroundings, enjoying games and catching
up with friends old and new. We all joined together again
for afternoon tea before heading home.
Our thanks go to all those who made the day a success,
including friends who were new to the team this year.
Whether in purchasing, preparing, cooking and serving
the food, clearing up, providing first aid, sharing their
cars, or in one of many other ways, it all came together
on the day. Thanks again to our local butcher, John
Saunderson, for their excellent products and support.
Finally, our thanks to all of you who came to enjoy the
day.
The Ministries TeamThe Ministries TeamThe Ministries TeamThe Ministries Team
Items for inclusion in the September Link Magazine should be submitted
to the Editor by Tuesday 13 August
Edinburgh Barclay Viewforth Church of Scotland Registered Scottish Charity No. SC014757 1 Wright’s Houses, Edinburgh EH10 4HR Tel: 0131 229 6810
CELEBRATE RECOVERY SESSION
MEADOWS FESTIVAL
Queensferry crossing
Afternoon Fellowship
Queen’s birthday tea
Barclay Viewforth BBQ
Julie Nicholson, our new administrator
from 1 August
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