Some Strange Visitors

Christmas cards
Once again this year we sent out over 80 Christmas Cards on behalf of George and the Kirk Session, to members of the congregation and to families’ bereaved over the year. And again we say a grateful thank you to Janette Mackenzie for donating these handmade cards.
Many members responded by thanking us for our
thoughts at this time of the year.
I also add my own and Margaret’s thanks for the many cards we ourselves received from members of the congregation, and all the warm messages and good wishes for the coming year. We are very grateful for all your thoughts and encouragement as we celebrate Christmas, and look towards the New Year.

Some Strange Visitors

A member of our congregation passed on a story which I adapted for use at the early service on Christmas Eve. I think it is well worth repeating.
On a cold snowy morning, a woman living in an isolated cottage in the country opened her front door to go out to collect water from the well and firewood for the stove. She got quite a surprise when she found three old men standing in front of the cottage – all wearing heavy greatcoats, and each one with a long white beard.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said. “You are very far away from anywhere this cold morning.”
“Yes, we are travellers. Please let me introduce myself – I am Mr Love, and this is Mr Wealth, and this is Mr Success.”
“My goodness,” the woman said, “you look frozen – why don’t you come in for a cup of tea and some soup?”
“We couldn’t possibly come in while you are on your own”, said one of the men. “But we can wait.”
“Well, when my husband and daughter return from the village, you really must come in.”
The woman set about her chores, stopping occasionally to watch the three men – still standing quietly outside – and when her family returned, she immediately went out to invite the three men in.
The spokesman smiled, and said, “Unfortunately, we have a rule that we cannot all come into the house at the same time. But you may invite one of us in – Mr Love, Mr Wealth, or Mr Success.”
So, back inside, the family began a discussion about which one they should invite in. The daughter was quite clear, “Why don’t we invite Mr Success in. Just think what life would be like – I could be famous, like Leona Lewis, or Victoria Beckham.” The wife was also quite clear, “If we invite Mr Wealth in, then perhaps I’d not have to struggle over this old range – I could have a new kitchen, you could have a new car – and, we could all go on winter holidays, away from this cold.” But the father wasn’t inclined towards either of these. “If we chose Mr Success, daughter, soon you would have no time for your mother or me. And if we chose Mr Wealth, my wife, I fancy we would have bought lots of interesting things, but I think you and I would not see eye to eye on many things. No, I think I would rather invite Mr Love in, because he will build strong warmth in our hearts, and we would remain close to each other.”
For a short while the family discussed these options, before finally agreeing who to invite in. The mother went out the door and said, “Gentlemen, we have decided, and we’d like to invite Mr Love into our home.”
The moment she said that, all three men stepped forward to come in. “But I thought only one could come in”, said the perplexed woman.
“Yes,” said Mr Love, “if you had chosen any one of the other two, they would indeed have come in alone, because on their own there would be no welcome for such as me. But if you choose to welcome Mr Love into your house, then there is a welcome also for Mr Success and Mr Wealth. With love in your house, you will understand what true success and true wealth actually is.”
At this time of year, following the Christmas season, we know what is really important in life – God’s gift of love for everyone – the gift that comes to us through the birth, and the ministry of Christ. With love welcomed into our homes and into our hearts, everything else is put into the real perspective.
May the story of Christmas have warmed your hearts with God’s love, so that in this coming year you may know what the important and the real things are.
My very best wishes to you all,
George

Source-St Thomas-Junction Road Church

WORSHIP CALENDAR for January 2008-
St Thomas-Junction Road Church

For information, Maundy Thursday will be 20 March, and Easter Sunday 23 March.
Communion on Sunday 27 January. Over this last year we have been experimenting with different ways of celebrating Communion. This has involved a more informal approach and has at times involved the Congregation in movement, even going into the Church Hall. The experimenting will continue up until June of 2008, before we establish a regular pattern for the future.
The experimenting has sought to find a pattern which suits both those who like the traditional formal communion, and those who would also prefer a more informal and intimate celebration. It has not been without its confusions, and it certainly has not been ‘comment-free’. But we have persevered with it to see if there are ways of involving the whole congregation.
On 27 January we will hold our Communion after the end of regular worship, in the new Memorial/prayer area, and members of the congregation will be able to choose whether to take part or not. This will undoubtedly cause a bit of disruption to the regular ‘after-Church’ activities – because the area is open to the whole church – but we hope everyone will bear with this. The Communion itself will last no longer than 10 minutes, and will be a sharing of the Common Cup.

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE-St Thomas-Junction Road Church

It is difficult to give any meaningful update at the moment to members of the congregation who are concerned to know how our ‘Roof Repairs’ applications are going.
First of all, we have to remember that we are not a congregation rich in financial resources, and therefore we are dependent on the support of outside agencies. These agencies have application timescales we have to fit into, and criteria we have to meet.
Our first application to Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund (Spring 2004) had to be withdrawn because it did not have a ‘vision’, our second (2006) had to be withdrawn because the ‘vision’ was not one that Historic Scotland could approve, and now our third is half-way through the process involving these two agencies.
In December last year, Historic Scotland informed us that they could not support our application with any funds – we were not a sufficiently important building, and they have limited funds. However, because they had approved our plans, it means that the Heritage Lottery Fund can now consider our application – and we do meet all their criteria. We are currently in discussion with them, and the General Trustees of the Church, and hope to have a final decision by early March this year.
This is really the final hurdle for us. If they say yes, and award us all that we need, then we can begin work on the roof in summer 2008. If they say no, then we have gone as far as we can with external funders – and we will have some serious thinking to do about the problems we face, and how we meet them out of our own resources.
In the meantime, another funder, had offered us £25,000 – but it had to be committed by February 2008. As this is no longer a possibility, we are in discussion with them about how we can continue to keep their support.
So, having said many times before to ‘watch this space’, we can only say again, ‘watch this space’.

Barnabas Fund Response to the Yale
Center for Faith and Culture Statement

Barnabas Fund Response to the Yale Center for Faith and Culture Statement
(“Loving God and Neighbor Together“…)
January 24, 2008
Foreword
“A Common Word Between Us and You”: A Path to Progress?
Much ink has been spilled in recent years on the subject of interfaith dialogue, and particularly that between Christians, who nearly always are Western Protestant or Roman Catholic, and Muslims. The discussion peaked in recent months with the public letter (“A Common Word Between Us and You”) organized by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan and signed by 138 Muslim clerics. The October 13, 2006 open letter was sent to Christian leaders throughout the world.

http://leithchurchesforum.org.uk/article/3342/barnabas-
fund-response-to-the-yale-center-for-faith-and-culture-
statement

LEITH CHURCHES FORUM

As we enter a new year, the development of Leith Churches Forum continues apace, and each of the three Committees – Ministry, Outreach and Fellowship – is planning activities. The Advent Communion, held in Pilrig St Paul’s church on the afternoon of
9 December was a great opportunity for members of the five churches to gather. It did not attract as many people as a morning service might attract, but it was an intimate and meaningful time of sharing – and this does look like it will become a regular part of our worship together.
The Clergy will now meet regularly once a month, and are exploring ways of working together in many different areas, including pastoral care and chaplaincy. So 2008 could be a year of many changes.
As an example, when George was recently visiting at the Royal Infirmary, he also visited a member of a church in the Forum whom he had met at various events. She had visitors, and introduced George to them with these words, “George isn’t the minister of my church, he is from one of the other Church of Scotland churches – but”, she said proudly, “they all work together as a team.”
Perhaps 2008 is the year for us all to be PROUD of our achievements within Leith Churches Forum, as we work together on some very interesting partnerships.

Some Strange Visitors

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