ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER
13 AUGUST 2010
COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR
There is the sense of busy preparation in the background as we begin to sidle towards the start of a new session. Plans are being made, ideas are being tossed about and your editor….reaches for another cup of coffee.
Inspiration in a cafetiere.
THOUGHT
The Edinburgh Book Festival is nigh and your editor often peruses the programme with unconcealed delight at all the possibilities. Lots of great ideas, stories, conversations, books and treasures. Amongst the guests this year is the Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney, whose work is so often a vivid, physical recreation of memory or a pointer beyond the horizon. Here’s a favourite:
The annals say: when the monks of Clonmacnoise
Were all at prayers inside the oratory
A ship appeared above them in the air.
The anchor dragged along behind so deep
It hooked itself into the altar rails
And then, as the big hull rocked to a standstill,
A crewman shinned and grappled down the rope
And struggled to release it. But in vain.
‘This man can’t bear our life here and will drown,’
The abbot said, ‘unless we help him’. So
They did, the freed ship sailed, and the man climbed back
Out of the marvellous as he had known it.
from ‘Lightenings’ in Seeing Things.
It so often does take time and preparation in the silence of worship to see the messengers from another ocean. But in our letting go we are reminded of the grace in the marvellous in which we live.
WORSHIP
We are that ultimate paradox, the finite made for the infinite. Anything less than God cannot satisfy our hunger for the divine. Not even success. That is why everything else, if we give it our ultimate loyalty – money, fame, drugs, sex, whatever – turns into ashes in our mouths. Desmond Tutu.
_________
Welcome, announcements and silence
Opening Collect (said together)
Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son.
Give us grace
to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that all people may know
the glorious liberty
of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen
Hymn 185 Come, children, join and sing
Talking Together
Hymn 493 It’s me, O Lord
Readings
The Song of the Vineyard Isaiah 5:1-7
Not Peace but Division Luke 12:49-56
Offering
Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 201 Worship the Lord
Reflection
Prayers
Hymn 153 Great is thy faithfulness
Blessing
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Talents Coffee Morning: Don’t forget to come along to the Talents Coffee Morning on Saturday 14 August from 10am to 12 noon. Lots of fun and lots of coffee and lots of talent on show!!!
- Tea and Coffee will be served in the main hall after the 10.30am service.
- Three Peak Challenge: On the last weekend of August, David Brackenridge will attempt to climb Ben Nevis, Skafell Pike and Snowdon, the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, within 24 hours! He is hoping to raise the £2,000 required to send Roseanne Fraser, one of our young adults and significant part of the Breakfast Club for the last six years, to Ghana to work for 6 months. If you would like to sponsor David (and Roseanne) there are sheets at the front and back of the Church. Every little helps – so even £1 per hill will add up to a massive difference for the people of Ghana.
- Magazine: Pam Donaldson would like articles for the September edition of the church magazine by Monday, 23rd August at the latest. These should be left in the magazine pigeonhole, emailed to her or handed to her or Ross at church. The Donaldsons will be away for the first fortnight of August, so don’t worry if you don’t get an acknowledgement of an emailed article during that time.
- Café Ba is looking for two people to make soup once a month for the mums and babies who come along – usually about 15-20 mums. If you are able to help out please speak to Stewart.
- 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.
- Excellent Volunteer Opportunities are still available in the Junior Sunday School and Toddler Room. If you are interested in helping out in either of these ministries and have not yet contacted Michelle Brown, then please come along to the volunteer’s training night on Tuesday, 24th August 2010 from 8-9.30pm in the church hall to learn more about volunteering in Children’s Ministry or email Michelle at childrenandyouth@stphilips.co.uk to learn more and get Disclosure Scotland forms organised.
- 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! Lots more pennies which means our total is now just over £750 – fantastic!
Monday, 16th August 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.
Saturday, 21st August 2010
- The Walking Group meets at 10am in Brunstane Road North to travel by bus to the Flotterston Visitors Centre and walk past Glencourse Reservoir, Threapmuir Reservoir and on to Balerno. For more information please contact Robbie or Liz Harcus. All are welcome to join us.
Sunday, 22nd August 2010
- Curry Lunch: Everyone is invited to a curry lunch which will be served after the 10.30am service on Sunday, 22nd August. All donations will go to the Pakistan Disaster Appeal.
Friday, 3rd September 2010
- Spread the Love! Christian Aid is hosting a special wedding-themed celebration at the Quay, Musselburgh, from 7pm on Friday, 3rd September. Red-carpet reception, champagne toast, dinner, dancing, prizes for best wedding-garb and more!. E-mail patriciarose317@yahoo.com for tickets. (£20 or £18 concessions)
Friday, 3rd – Sunday, 5th September 2010
- Walking Groups’ Annual Weekend Away 3rd – 5th September 2010: There are still 4 places available for the weekend away to Laggenlia. If you would like to join us, please contact Louise Simpson for more information.
Saturday, 4th September 2010
- A Garden Fete will be held on Saturday, 4th September from 2pm – 4pm at The Gate Lodge Garden, 27 Milton Road East (across from the Kings Manor Hotel) in aid of Postnatal Depression Services with Teas, Beat the Goalie and stalls for Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, Toys, Baking and Preserves, Plants and Garden Produce. Everyone is invited, and any donations for the stalls would be welcomed by Anna Innes.
JOKE TIME
A slightly adapted joke…..
A preachin’, healin’, teachin’ evangelical pastor comes to Glasgow and calls out: “Anyone with ‘special needs’ who wants to be prayed over, please come forward to the front.”
With that, wee Brendon gets in line, and when it’s his turn, the preacher asks, “My son, what do you want me to pray about for you?”
Wee Brendon replied, ” I need you to pray for help with my hearing.”
The preacher puts one finger of one hand in Brendon’s ear, places his other hand on top of his head, and prays and prays and prays and prays. He prays a great prayer for Brendon, and the whole congregation joins in with great enthusiasm.
After a few minutes, the preacher and healer removes his hands, stands back and asks, “Brendon, how is your hearing now?”
Wee Brendon answers, “Ah don’t know. It’s no’ ’til next week…..”
Thanks Chris C!
Have a good weekend!
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