NEWSLETTER March 2018

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER March 2018 For the glory of God and the solace of a whole community

2 The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated at both the 9.30am and 11 am services on Sunday 11 th March 2018 You are warmly invited to share in this important part of the life of St Mary's Church. Common Cup & individual glasses are used at both services 2

3 Children are welcomed at the Lord s Table Dear Friends I am writing this in the second week of lent, that forty day period leading to Good Friday and Easter in which traditionally Christians have made room to take stock of the things that really matter to them and to reflect on their faith life. In St Mary s we are being challenged in many ways as we all feel the pain that Jennifer, our Minister, and her family must be feeling as she faces such a devastating illness. Being the person she is, Jennifer holds us in her thoughts and prayers as much as she appreciates all those offered for her. The Easter story is one filled with sadnesses, disappointments, pain and failure of faith and humanity but ultimately with the triumph of life over death, love over hatred and hope over despair. 3 At times these things are not easy to believe and hurting circumstances challenge our faith in a God of love, to such an extent that we feel not just questioning but angry. There are lines in a hymn which speak a prayer for such moments: Forgive me Lord if in tears of sadness my anger makes me take your name in vain, and life seems for a time to have no gladness, while I refuse to let you share my pain. So take my life that s left with its misgivings; from grief and pain create in me anew a faith that finds in you a way of living, a love that offers all it has to you. Jennifer would want us to be asking the questions and listening for the Word of hope, of life, of love.

4 Please join us for our Holy Week and Easter services. There is something in coming together as God s family that leads us in faith to find his way. THIRD WEDNESDAY John St Mary s will be open to visitors over the Easter weekend A time and space for quiet reflection in the church. The next Third Wednesday will be on Wednesday 21 st March from pm All are welcome to our sanctuary for this different form of worship. JOINT SUNDAY TEA Our next joint Sunday tea between the two church services will be on Sunday 11 th March We hope that those attending the 9.30am service will stay on and that the 11am attendees will come early so we can all share some fellowship, conversation and enjoy home-baking along with our morning cuppa! We are planning to make these joint teas a regular event in our church calendar. They are going to 4

5 be held on the second Sunday of each month. The Social Committee is also planning a Brunch on Saturday 28 th April from 10am to 1pm. This will be a fundraiser for the Maggie s Centre at the Western General. Please put the date in your diary! Hanover Street (every 20 minutes on a Sunday) will take you straight to Greenbank. There s one at which gets to Greenbank at or one at which arrives at Martin s last day with us will be Sunday 4 th March. Martin s Ordination Everyone that would like to come and support Martin in his ordination would be warmly welcomed to the service on Sunday 11 th March at 6.30pm in Greenbank Parish Church, Braidburn Terrace, Edinburgh. If you are thinking of coming please add your name to the list at the back of the church to help with planning for catering. If you need a lift or can offer a lift can you please add a note to this effect next to your name. If you are travelling by public transport the 107 leaves Haddington High Street at and gets to the west end of Edinburgh at A Number 23 Lothian Bus from 5 St Mary s Walking Group The next walk will be on Saturday 10 th March, leaving the church at 9.20am (Please note the time change!). We will park at Goose Green in Gullane, then take a short bus ride to the Aberlady Nature Reserve. We'll walk through the Reserve to the shore line and proceed along to Gullane, then loop round to Muirfield and back to Gullane. Six miles and a bit. Tom Walker will be leading. The Rugged Pathway

6 The Annual Pilgrimage from St Mary s Parish Church, Haddington to St Mary s, Whitekirk is on Saturday 5 th May. The registration form and information sheet is available to download from the church website. Haddington Town House Quizmaster: Bob Mitchell Teams of 4-3 per person or 10 for a team of 4. Tickets from Joe Forte Sports, Hilary s Deli or Erica s florist The Big Spring Clean of the Church takes place on Saturday 7 th April from 9am until approximately 12noon. Volunteers will be very warmly welcomed. Please contact Jim Ainslie Haddington Twinning Quiz Night Friday 9 March 2018 Doors open at 7 pm for a 7.30pm start. 6 MUSIC@ST MARY S Sound the Trumpet! The Garleton Singers along with Brass Tacks and George Wilson on organ give a concert of spectacular music for choir, brass, organ & percussion in St Mary s on Sunday 18 th March at 7.30pm. The programme includes Rutter s Gloria, Canticle of the Sun by Kloppers and Gloria by Locklair. The conductor is Stephen Doughty. Tickets are available from choir members, Hilary s Deli, Kesley s Bookshop or at the door. 12 Adults, 8 students, 3 children. On Saturday 24 th March at 7.30pm in St Mary s the Hadley Court Singers perform Stainer s

7 Crucifixion. Tickets are 10 and under 16s are free. Peace of heart and thought prevail Words in the mind spell out a tale Calming, comforting as they are Peace of heart is my star Feelings depict a soothing mood Emotions found in quietude Some time to feel god s love in there Peace of my heart is my prayer HOLY WEEK IN HADDINGTON There are two groups following studies for Lent. The Home Group that meets at the home of Robert & Margaret Lightbody are following a Lenten study on a Tuesday morning at 10.30am. Another group, led by Isobel Colley, meets on a Tuesday evening in the church at 7.30pm. Everyone is most welcome to either group. Peace of Heart (A poem by Stewart Carruthers) A quiet relaxed moment of the soul Ponderation is the goal Moment of prayer in the silence around Meditation much needed is found Details of the Holy Week services here is St Mary s are given aside. Elsewhere in Haddington the West Church is holding Meditations on the Passion of Christ, services of words & music each evening at 6.30pm on Monday 26 th, Tuesday 27 th & Wednesday 28 th March. All welcome. There will be an afternoon communion at Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday 27 th at 2.30pm and the Walk of Witness on Good Friday, 30 th March leaves the West Church at 11.45am and makes it way to St Mary s. 7

8 The DEADLINE for the April newsletter is Sunday 11 th March. HOLY WEEK SERVICES IN ST MARY S PALM SUNDAY 25 th March 2018 Services at 9.30am & 11am MAUNDY THURSDAY 29 th March 2018 Communion at 7.30pm GOOD FRIDAY 30 th March 2018 The Way of the Cross Service at 7.30pm EASTER SUNDAY 1 st April 2018 Early Communion Service at 8am In the gardens of St Mary s Pleasance Easter Service at 11am 8

9 (followed by tea, coffee & hot cross buns) Sunday Teas & Coffees Donations at the tea table during 2018/19 will be shared - 50% going to the chosen charity and 50% to St Mary s. Our chosen projects & charities are: Crossreach Counselling Dunbar, which offers confidential counselling to adults, children, young people and families. There are clinics in Haddington, Musselburgh, Tranent & North Berwick as well as sessions in local secondary schools; Scottish Huntington s Association, established in 1989 by families living with the condition with the aim of significantly improving the quality of life of everyone living with it; the Bridge Centre, Muirfield Riding Therapy which offers children, and adults with disabilities the opportunity to ride free of 9

10 charge in a safe and stimulating environment; the East Lothian Foodbank and the Maggie s Centre at the Western General Hospital which offers practical, emotional and social support for people with cancer and their families.. Thank you for your support. CHRISTIAN AID NEWS I am pleased to report that between our three churches in Haddington just over 14,000 was sent to Christian Aid Headquarters in This is a great total and I would like to thank very sincerely the large number of people who helped to raise this magnificent sum. This year we have signed up to a new initiative from Christian Aid called the Zambia Community Partnership which we thought fitting to support as we live in an agricultural county. This economic development project aims to help women and young people to increase their productivity so that they grow not only enough food to eat but have a surplus to sell, making money to support their families. They will also be taught some business skills. We have promised to give 4,000 over 4 years. Our 2018 fundraising got off to a flying start at the beginning of February when we held our annual Brunch in the Trinity Centre. The extra space was most useful and 730 was raised. Copies of the CA Quiz which was on sale that day can be purchased from Janet Penman price 1. Entries should be returned to Janet Chrystal by 31 st May We shall be walking over the Forth Road Bridge on Saturday 28 th April check your church noticeboard or 10

11 speak to your CA rep for more details. Transport is available. Then Christian Aid Week takes place from 13 th -19 th May. Because of age and illness some of our long serving collectors have had to stand down. If you could help please 11 contact me. Even if you can only manage a small area do please offer, as every little bit helps towards our aim of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Janet Chrystal March 2018 at St Mary s Thursday 1 st Choristers 6.30pm Choir 7.30pm Friday 2 nd Bell ringers 7.30pm WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE 7.30pm at the West Church Saturday 3 rd Sunday 4 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am NSYC 7pm Monday 5 th Tuesday 6 th Home Group Lent Study 10.30am. Evening Lent Study 7.30 Wed 7 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 8 th Crafty Folk 10.30am. Mums Group 10am. Choristers 6.30pm Choir 7.30pm Friday 9 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 10 th WALKING GROUP 9.20am Sunday 11 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am. COMMUNION at both services JOINT TEAS between the services. MARTIN S INDUCTION at Greenbank Parish Church, Edinburgh at 6.30pm Monday 12 th Tuesday 13 th Home Group Lent Study 10.30am. Evening Lent Study 7.30 Wednesday 14 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 15 th Mums Group 10am Crafty Folk 10.30am. Choir 7.30pm. Friday 16 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 17 th Sunday 18 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am. CONCERT 7.30pm Monday 19 th Tuesday 20 th Home Group Lent Study 10.30am. Evening Lent Study 7.30 Wednesday 21 st Third Wednesday 7pm Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 22 nd Mums Group 10am Crafty Folk 10.30am. Choristers 6.30pm Choir 7.30pm.

12 Friday 23 rd Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 24 th CONCERT 7.30pm Sunday 25 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am Palm Sunday Monday 26 th Tuesday 27 th Lent Study Group 10.30am Evening Lent Study 7.30pm Wednesday 28 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 29 th COMMUNION 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Friday 30 th The Way of the Cross Service at 7.30pm Good Friday Saturday 31 st Haddington: St Mary s Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Scottish Charity Number SC