ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER
21 MAY 2010
COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR
Your editor caught a few bits of the opening ceremony of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Lots of pomp and circumstance.
Now that that’s over, there’s some work to do.
And lots of decisions to be made about ministers and buildings.
Perhaps we should combine the two: sell the ministers?
But who would buy them?
THOUGHT
Whilst visiting the General Assembly your editor succumbed to the clarion call of the book shop.
However, your editor managed to limit purchases (retail therapy?) to one book. It’s a new one by Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopalian priest in the US known for excellent sermons, and it caught the eye…and wallet.
Here’s a snippet with an interesting quote:
‘Many years ago now, a wise old priest invited me to come speak at his church in Alabama. “What do you want me to talk about?” I asked him.
“Come tell us what is saving your life now,” he answered.
It was as if he had swept his arm across a dusty table and brushed all the formal china to the ground. I did not have to try to say correct things that were true for everyone. I did not have to use theological language that conformed to the historical teachings of the church. All I had to do was figure out what my life depended on.’
(Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World, p. xv)
What is saving your life now?
Upon what does your life truly depend?
WORSHIP
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, when the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. It’s often said to be the birthday of the church (hence the Pentecost Party in the afternoon).
But, your minister (should you sell him?) has to do something different.
In an effort to get through more of the questions posed by the congregation by the end of June, the question this week will be (drum roll please…)
Can we balance Genesis and Darwin?
That’s it in a nutshell.
The actual question was this:
‘Could you marry the first Genesis with Darwin’s theory and the second Genesis when God entered hearts and souls and lives of his people?’
Ouch.
Another corker.
We’ll see what the minister has to say.
In the interim, check out the newly revamped
www.stewartweaver.org
ORDER OF SERVICE
A person will make progress in things of the spirit to the degree which they divest themselves of self-love, self-will and self-interest. Ignatius of Loyola
Welcome, announcements and silence
Opening Collect (said together)
Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending your Holy Spirit and opening the way of life eternal
to every race and nation.
Keep us in the unity of your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn 594 Come, Holy Spirit come (omit verses 3 & 4)
Talking Together
Hymn 204 I am the church (omit verses 2 & 3)
Readings The Garden of Eden Genesis 2:4b-9
Wise Sayings Proverbs 18:1-12
Offering
Prayers and Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 593 She sits like a bird
Readings The First Pentecost Acts 2:1-21
The Spirit and the Church John V Taylor
Anthem The Choir
Come down, O love divine Hilary Tadman-Robins
Reflection Can we balance Genesis and Darwin?
Prayers
Hymn 149 Let all creation dance
Blessing
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
Talents: Offered and Wanted: If you are able to offer a service that someone else may need, or are looking for someone to do a job for you – a sheet is available in the vestibule. For those who have goods they wish to sell for the fundraiser, there will be a Talents Bring and Buy Stall on the first Sunday of each month at coffee. Any queries, speak to Angela Stewart or Helen McIntyre.
Magazine: Pam Donaldson would like articles for the June edition of the church magazine by Monday, 24th May at the latest. These should be left in the magazine pigeonhole or handed to her or Ross at church.
Shopping for the Homeless: The Grassmarket Community, who help the homeless in Edinburgh, have asked if people would be willing to add a bit extra to their shopping basket. Stock cubes, sugar, lentils, salt and pepper are always needed.
Fundraising Penny Tubes are available today for your small change. Please take one. Full tubes can be returned to the basket in the vestibule and a new one taken to start filling again! The total has now crept up to £433 – really great!
Sunday 23 May 2010
Pentecost Party: Bring the kids along to the church today from 3pm-6pm for crafts, stories, games, BBQ and worship! It’s a city-wide ecumenical event focussing on Pentecost and the birthday of the church worldwide. Do come along!!
Monday, 24th May 2010
The Prayer Group The Prayer Groups meets at 9.45 in the Baird Hall. Prayer Request Boxes have been placed on both sides of the vestibule. All are welcome to join us.
The Coffee Club meets at 10am in the Session Room. All are welcome to join us. For more information please contact Pat Knox.
Session Meeting at 7.30pm in the Session Room.
Tuesday, 25th May 2010
The Film Club is showing ‘The Mission’ on Tuesday, 25th May at 7.30pm in the Session Room. Everyone is welcome to come along for the movie, discussion, fellowship and snacks.
Friday, 28th & Saturday. 29th May 2010
Junior Choir presents ‘The Big Bad Musical’ on Friday, 28th and Saturday, 29th May at 7.30pm in the Church. Tickets, priced £6 for adults and £3.50 for children will be on sale after church during May or from Jenny Hambleton.
Friday, 28th May 2010
Summer Brass Concert at the Old Parish Church, Bellfield Street on Friday 28th May at 7pm. Tickets priced £4. If interested, speak to Stewart.
Saturday, 29th May 2010
Lindisfarne: The Old Parish Church are organising a trip to Lindisfarne on 29th May 2010. The trip will depart from the Old Parish Church at 8am. We will gather on the causeway side at 9.30am and have a Communion Service in the Parish Church on Lindisfarne at approximately 3.30pm. If you are interested please speak to Stewart.
Messy Church will meet from 1pm – 3.30pm in the Main Hall. The theme this month will be ‘gardening’. Messy Church is for families with primary or pre-school age kids. We aim to be creative (messy!) and have some rest/reflection (Church). It’s run by people from various denominations and is open to people of any faith or none. We’d love to see you and your family.
Sunday, 30th May 2010
The Book Club: Our next read is ‘Deaf Sentence’ by David Lodge, a witty story on the problems deafness brings. We will meet on Sunday, 30th May at 7.30pm in the Dalriada to discuss this. After that we will read ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel, the 2009 Man Booker Prize winner about the Tudors. A longer read for the end of July. We would encourage everyone to read and comment on our choices.
Saturday, 5th June 2010
The Hill Walking Group will meet at 7.30am in Brunstane Road North to climb Ben Vane in the Arrochar Alps by Loch Lomond. We will have tea out for those who can stay. Please note that this is a change to the walk detailed in the Hill Walking Programme. For more information please contact David or Louise Simpson.
JOKE
This must have something to do with Pentecost, the church or anything vaguely religious. If you can find the connection, please tell the joke editor (jokes@themostwonderfulchurchnewsletterintheworldthatmakemepeeinmypants.co.utopia)
Scientists at Rolls Royce, built a gun specifically to launch dead chickens at the windshields of airliners and military jets all travelling at maximum velocity.
The idea is to simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of the windshields.
American engineers heard about the gun and were eager to test it on the windshields of their new high speed trains.
Arrangements were made, and a gun was sent to the American engineers.
When the gun was fired, the engineers stood shocked as the chicken hurled out of the barrel, crashed into the shatterproof shield, smashed it to smithereens, blasted through the control console, snapped the engineer’s back-rest in two and embedded itself in the back wall of the cabin like an arrow shot from a bow.
The horrified Yanks sent Rolls Royce the disastrous results of the experiment, along with the designs of the windshield and begged the British scientists for suggestions.
Rolls Royce responded with a one-line memo:
“Defrost the chicken!”
Ach, those Brits are soooooo clever!
Thanks Stuart!
Have a good weekend!
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