NEWSLETTER April 2018 For the glory of God and the solace of a whole community
Dear Friends We have all been overwhelmingly saddened by our Minister Jennifer s illness and death at such an all too early time. Our first thoughts and prayers are for Stewart, her husband and in his own right such a contributor to St Mary s life, and to their daughters, Laura and Elaine, along with the adored grandchildren, all as a family at the core of Jennifer s life and held in her love. It was also very moving to see Gordon, Jennifer s father, at the thanksgiving service displaying a fortitude that hinted at where much of Jennifer s strength and courage must have had their roots. It was a huge testament to Jennifer and no surprise at all to see the hundreds of people, both local and from across the length and breadth of the country, that attended the Service of Thanksgiving for her life held in St Mary s. Somehow for a wee while at least the sadness became secondary to genuine appreciation of and gratitude for the gifts Jennifer deployed in making such an indelible contribution as friend, minister, carer and inspirer to so many of us. I have a real feeling that everyone is determined to do justice to her hopes for St Mary s by getting things right and remaining positive as we face the future. Thus we neither forget Jennifer nor leave her behind but in a real way she continues with us on our journey. A minister, a mutual friend of both Jennifer and me, who attended wrote of the service All mattered, all was appreciated, and everything was surrounded by the quiet, gracious and generous warmth of the congregation despite their grief. I am simply so glad I attended. That quiet, gracious, generous warmth to one another and to visitors alike will see us through the 2
coming days, which will have their uncertainties and anxieties, and hopefully bring us even closer to one another and closer to God. I have used the following reading from 2 Corinthians so much over the past days but it bears repeating: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God whose consolation never fails us! He consoles us in all our troubles, so that we in turn may be able to console others in any trouble of theirs, and to share with them the consolation we ourselves receive from God. God s love is with us all John DONATION TO ST COLUMBA S 2,655 was donated to St Columba s Hospice from the retiral offering at the Service of Thanksgiving for Jennifer. This is an amazing tribute to her. THIRD WEDNESDAY A time and space for quiet reflection in the church. The next Third Wednesday will be on Wednesday 18 th April from 7 7.30pm All are welcome to our sanctuary for this different form of worship. 3
Brunch for Maggie s The Social Committee is holding a Brunch in the Trinity Centre on Saturday 28 th April from 10am to 1pm in aid of the Maggie s Centre at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. If you can help on the day or with baking please speak to Mary Macmillan or any of the Social Committee. Anyone handy with a frying pan who is willing to help cook bacon rolls will be especially welcome! Please The DEADLINE for the May newsletter is Sunday 15 th April Church Spring Clean Volunteers are invited to help give the kirk a spring clean on Saturday 7 th April from 9am until approx 12 noon. Speak to Jim Ainslie if you can help. join us on the day and help raise funds for a very good cause. 4 The Rugged Pathway The Annual Pilgrimage from St Mary s, Haddington to St Mary s, Whitekirk is on Saturday 5 th May. The registration form and information sheet is available now to
download from the church website. Music in St Mary s Come & Sing Fauré s Requiem on Saturday 14 th April. Under the inspirational leadership of Cole Bendall, our Director of Choirs at St Mary s Parish Church, spend the day studying an epic choral classic and perform alongside the choir in the delightful atmosphere and acoustic of St Mary s. Fauré s Requiem is one of the leading settings of the Requiem Mass with its focus on eternal rest and consolation providing comfort and support to listeners since its first performance in the 1888. Funds raised from the Come and Sing will go towards the music provisions offered by St Mary s Parish Church including the chorister and scholarship programmes. All ages and ability levels are welcome to participate in the workshops - you ll get the most out of the workshop if you have sung in a choir before or can read music. Registration: 10am Session 1: 10.30am-1pm Session 2: 2pm-3.30pm Performance: 4pm Singers tickets are 15 (students for 10) including tea, coffee and biscuits at the intervals. Please bring your own sheet music. We will be using the Novello edition of the score. A limited number of scores may be hired for 2 per copy. Audience tickets for the performance only at 4pm are 5 with children offered free entry. For further information, contact our Director of Choirs, Cole Bendall. Last year s St Mary s at 4 summer series of concerts organised by Alan Faulkner were a great success. Over 5
1,000 was raised for the church lighting project, our church was opened up to more visitors and we were able to showcase different musical groups and styles. We are delighted that Alan has organised further concerts for 2018. The first concert of the season is on Sunday 15 th April at 4pm when the Peaty Millers return to St Mary s. The group will be joined by our own Phoebe Hayman who sings in the choir and was a former head chorister. The second concert in this year s series is on Sunday 29 th April at 4pm when the group Incognito sing for us. Incognito sing 4-part harmony a cappella. They are 10 women who are all members of the multi award winning Forth Valley Chorus. Their repertoire covers everything from Irving Berlin to Billy Joel and Michael Jackson to Cyndi Lauper. They love to entertain and share the joy of a cappella singing at corporate and private events across Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond. The Christian Aid Forth Road Bridge Sponsored Walk is on Saturday 28 th April at 2pm. Please join us if you can to help raise money and support Christian Aid. Poster on the notice board at the back of the church next to the tea table. For sponsor forms or more information please speak to Janet Penman or Janet Chrystal. If you're not able to make the walk yourself perhaps you might consider sponsoring one of our walkers. Transport available. DARKNESS INTO LIGHT The Lantern Group is holding a quiet morning on Saturday 21 st April from 10.15am to 1.30pm at Coldingham Priory. if you plan to come please speak to Jock Stein. 6
Church Bookings We are making a few changes to the way bookings of the church will be handled in the future. The first point of call for those wishing to book the church will now be our church secretary at the office at Holy Trinity Church Hall. Our church officer, Jim Smith will still be responsible for access to the church and liaising with the hirers. We are planning on updating the terms and conditions of use and putting them and the booking application form on the website available to download. We are also moving towards payment direct to the church bank account by BACS transfer and in time to an online view only bookings diary. Please bear with us as we migrate to the new system. WALKING GROUP Our Church walking group meets on the second Saturday of each month. We normally gather at the church around 9.30am to explore East Lothian and the coast and countryside just beyond. Walks are normally between five and eight miles in length, over a reasonably level ground. Any occasional deviations are pointed out in advance. Enquiries are welcomed. Specific walk details can be obtained each month from Mary Mcmillan. OUR CHURCH ROLL Funerals 23 rd January Margaret Smith 1 st February Norma Galloway 28 th February John Gilbert 10 th March Jennifer Macrae 17 th March Hilda Smith New members Emma & Chris Ash Ronald & Rev Maureen Duncan (all by Certificate of Transfer) 7
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ROTA FOR READERS AT THE 11am SERVICE SUNDAY READER 11 th March Gordon Boyd 18 th March John Weierter 25 th March Isobel Colley 1 st April Sandy Todd 8 th April Janet Chrystal 15 th April Graham McGregor 22 nd April Jude La Trobe 29 th April Bill Patterson 6 th May Rebecca Christine 13 th May Janet Chrystal 20 th May Stewart Carruthers 27 th May Rena Ramsay 3rd June Jane Davis 10 th June Gordon Boyd 17 th June John Weierter 24 th June Isobel Colley 1 st July Sandy Todd 8 th July Shirley Patterson 15 th July Graham McGregor 22 nd July Jude La Trobe 29 th July Bill Patterson 5 th August Rebecca Christine 12 th August Shirley Patterson 19 th August Stewart Carruthers 26 th August Rena Ramsay If you cannot manage on of the Sundays please make your own arrangement to either swap with someone else or ask someone to cover for you. 10
April 2018 at St Mary s Sunday 1 st EARLY EASTER COMMUNION at 8am in the gardens of St Mary s Pleasance. EASTER SERVICE at 11am in the church. Monday 2 nd Tuesday 3 rd Home Group Bible Study 10.30am. Wed 4 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 5 th Crafty Folk 10.30am. Mums Group 10am. Choir 7.30pm Friday 6 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 7 th CHURCH SPRING CLEAN 9am Sunday 8 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am. Monday 9 th KIRK SESSION 7.30pm Tuesday 10 th Home Group Bible Study 10.30am. Wednesday 11 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 12 th Mums Group 10am Crafty Folk 10.30am. Choir 7.30pm. Friday 13 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 14 th Sunday 15 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am. Monday 16 th Tuesday 17 th Home Group Bible Study 10.30am. Wednesday 18 th THIRD WEDNESDAY 7pm. Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 19 th Mums Group 10am Crafty Folk 10.30am. Choristers 6.30pm Choir 7.30pm. Friday 20 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 21 st Sunday 22 nd Worship at 9.30 & 11am Monday 23 rd Tuesday 24 th Home Group Bible Study 10.30am Wednesday 25 th Women s Fellowship Group 8pm Thursday 26 th Mums Group 10am Crafty Folk 10.30am. Choristers 6.30pm Choir 7.30pm. Friday 27 th Bell ringers 7.30pm Saturday 28 th BRUNCH FOR MAGGIE S 10am 1pm in the Trinity Centre Sunday 29 th Worship at 9.30 & 11am Monday 30 th 11
www.stmaryskirk.co.uk Haddington: St Mary s Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Scottish Charity Number SC010614 12