My summer schedule always has a very different shape to it than the rest of the year. More so this year as Amy was participating in the Gala Day as Britannia and our house had to be decorated. One of those moments when you wish that the garden was just a bit smaller! However everything went well and it was great to see everyone in the community taking part in an event that draws people together. The sun shining was an added bonus!
Alongside that I’ve been able to spend a bit of time with our young folk around the church:
3 days at Pitlochry with our young leaders in June. We managed to fit in a session on Quads and an afternoon River Rafting but, more importantly, we took time to reflect on how the bible presents us with a picture of the way God works with and through his people – with an invitation to us to be part of that story.
in July we held a week of evenings for our teenagers looking at the way Simon Peter gave his life to Christ. We followed him from his call by the lake side to his first sermon preached in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. As we followed the changes in his life we explored how Jesus was calling each one of us on.
and then later in July it was off to Stafford for 5 days at Soul Survivor with a group of six young people, exploring the gospels - discovering how the gospels reveal Jesus as King (Matthew), servant (Mark), perfect human (Luke) and Son of God (John) and then being encouraged to take hold of how God can use each one of our lives as we follow Jesus.
In all this it has been encouraging to see the real commitment our young people have to their faith and how their faith is growing. Over the rest of the year my contact with our young people is likely to be more limited as I hand over to others - with Laura Duffin and Sarah Brown now taking on leadership of the Sunday evening group.
Within this though there is a challenge for each one of us – about where we are in our faith and how keen we are to deepen our faith. About how committed we are to living for Jesus day by day, and how much we genuinely believe he can use our lives.
I remember once a conversation with someone who had recently retired. As we spoke about faith he pointed back to his days in Youth Fellowship when he said they “asked questions and discussed faith – sometimes late into the evening.” He highlighted that as the time when his faith grew most. I was struck by the thought that it didn’t have to stop there! Instead we need to continue to explore faith throughout our lives, looking for God to take us on in our faith, understanding and commitment.
In light of this here are some opportunities for you to think about your faith and how it might grow:
a new series of Wednesday evenings in Sep looking at how we deepen our walk with God.
an exploring faith course (first part of church membership) in October
Alternatively, ask me about the Midweek Retreat being planned for early 2011 taking a few days away at a Christian retreat near Perth.
Whatever you do, don’t let your faith grow cold but look for ways to grow in your walk with Christ in the coming months. Allow him to stir something new in your heart.
We are sad to report that over the summer Christian Adventurers died...sob...but we are happy to announce a birth. A birth of something new, fresh and exciting. I would like to take this time to introduce you to our new youth work project Y~Space...a place for our youth to hang out, meet with and learn about God, and to ask their questions.
Our teenagers will now be under the name of D:21, Disciples of the 21st Century, living God's word in today's world. Meeting on Sunday mornings at Fusion and on Sunday evenings at UTX every week, and at a youth event called Powerpoint.
Fusion
Fusion has replaced Christian Adventurers. It is a place where D:21 will fuse together with God and become one, and learn how to live for him in today's society. A very hard challenge. As well as having breakfast, we will be using a series called YouthBytes, youth material from the states which includes a video teaching from a guy called Chad Daniels and cell group discussions to take the teaching deeper....it will challenge our young people to think deeply about their faith and help them grow, as well as give them the encouragement they need to live for God. Along side this we will be looking at prayer and participating in active group praying.
UTX
UTX stands for Under the Cross and is our Sunday evening programme, it welcomes young people from S1 upwards to think about God in a fun, relaxed environment. With some games, worship and talks it is a great place for them to ask their questions and get some answers, as well as reflect on their own lives and how living under the cross with God can impact their lives.
Powerpoint
Powerpoint is a youth event in Edinburgh which runs every 6 weeks on a Friday night. About 400 young people attend it, and it is just amazing to see so many young people together on fire for God. The challenge from Powerpoint this year is to get involved in God's work in our communities...so watch this space to see what D:21 will be getting up to.
Prayerchain
Last but not least, I feel that prayer is a very important thing, and is the most powerful tool we have, with this in mind we would like to invite you to join our prayer chain. I believe that prayer is open 24 hours...so no matter what the time a prayer request can be sent. The plan is that we use text, and that any request is sent to myself and then I forward the request onto everyone on the prayer chain, this makes the prayer request anonymous. The idea behind this is that many voices saying the same prayer has a greater impact than just the one, and also to know that others are praying for something which is important to you is just amazing. If you are interested in joining our prayer chain please speak to myself and we can arrange it.
Fusion, UTX and Powerpoint is open to anyone at high school or above. Before the summer we had about 10 teenagers in the morning and about 12 in the evenings. We are hoping that with our new face these numbers will grow. We now have a noticeboard in the hall which we will be keeping up to date with what we are doing, so keep an eye out for our news.
We are very excited about all the new things that are going to be happening, and would like to leave you with these words...”I see a generation, rising up to take their place, with selfless faith”, lets encourage that generation as we watch them grow.
God Bless
Laura
Summer Youth Activities
Holiday Club for teenagers
This year’s evening group focussed on the life of Simon Peter – helping the young people explore their own faith journey as we looked at Peter’s. The group engaged positively with this during the week before enjoying an evening out at the beach in Musselburgh.
Soul Survivor
For the third year in a row a small group of young people attended Soul Survivor - a Christian youth event in Stafford with almost 4,000 young people. Although the group was smaller in number than last year, we were joined by Jonnie Fraser and his group from Inverness which helped to bolster numbers. The groups got on very well together – perhaps a bit too well, as they stayed awake as their late night singing went on a bit longer than expected!
The main focus for the event was a morning meeting with worship and bible teaching alongside an evening event with more worship and a speaker. However, this year many of the youngsters also attended the seminars held in the afternoons and early morning. As usual the young people who attended have come back with a fresh enthusiasm in their faith – and are already talking of Soul Survivor 2011!
Staff appointments
Children’s/Youth/Family Work - Kate Mechie left her post as Youth & Children’s Worker at the end of May. We had planned to appoint a new Children’s & Family Worker and advertised the post in July. Unfortunately we have not been in a position to make an appointment.
Alison Notman will be starting studies in preparation for Ministry in September. She will continue to be employed for 8 hours a week, with a mixture of pastoral and children’s work.
At the beginning of September the Kirk Session will be reviewing our staffing needs as we move forward. We are keen to invest in the right areas of work and ministry – and will receive a report at that meting from a small group who have been researching the needs within our community.
Church Website
The website includes information on Baptisms/Blessings, weddings, children’s activities and services, along with a “gallery” of pictures from different church events and activities
www.loanheadparishchurch.co.uk
JUNIOR CHURCH
Just a short note from Junior Church this time.
We had our Prizegiving on 13 June this year to save clashing with any of the Gala events and then finished officially at the end of the month. We had a good turn out on the day, almost all the children were there.
Numbers last session fluctuated greatly from week to week but hopefully we will have everyone back after the holidays.
Isobel Johnston has given up helping at Junior Church after several years of service. She will be missed having taken the oldest age group on Sundays and also having been our Christmas party games organiser in chief! Hopefully her tablet will still be available for our Coffee Mornings! Can I once again thank her for all her hard work over the years.
Perhaps we can persuade someone to join our ranks as a helper. We will be one down now with Isobel gone.
It is great to hear that Margaret Elrick is hoping to get back to playing piano again for us on Sundays. We all missed her during the time she was unwell.
We will start back at Junior Church on Sunday 5 September, Communion Sunday.
Hope to see you all then.
Margaret Hurst
Parish Register
1st June Jemima Rae
4th June James Pratt
8th June Frances Cumming
9th June Georgina Struth
10th June Mary Herd
17th June Angela McKenzie
9th July Dennis Deakin
13th July George Dickson
14th July Helen Macintosh
15th July Alan Jones
28th July Eugene Buerle
12th August Hamish Hay
16th August Catherine Somerville
Pastoral Assistant/Children’s work Update
As we approach the end of the summer and I reflect back on the last couple of months I’m not surprised they have passed so quickly. I have been kept really busy! As well as leading Sunday worship here in Loanhead on two occasions, I was also back at Bonnyrigg for a couple weeks leading Sunday services while their minister was on holiday.
We had a lovely week at “Rocky’s Plaice” our children’s holiday club in July. We shared lots of fun and games and learnt about Peter, the early church and some of the people he met along the way. The weather was a bit dodgy all week but our prayers were answered on the Friday morning and the sun shone for our trip down to Musselburgh beach. We had around 20-22 children along everyday with a lot of new faces among them so it was good to get to know them and share with them. Thanks to all the helpers and those who made donations of goodies for our snacks.
I have also spent the last few months trying to finish my studies in order to gain my place at Edinburgh University. Hopefully as you read this I will have had all my results in and be gearing up to start my full time studies at New College in mid-September. This being the case I will be off to another church in the autumn for my first placement. I will still be around doing some Pastoral work for a few hours a week so I won’t be disappearing completely just yet!
As I move on though I am aware that we could do with a few more people to sign up and help out with the lunch club. If you could spare some time on a Thursday morning to help out please speak to me for more details.
I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the last year or so since I began the process of seeking selection as a candidate for ministry.
Alison Notman
Pastoral Assistant
GIFT AID
A big thank you to all who have signed a Gift Aid Declaration form for our church.
I have reclaimed the tax on your donations made during 2009 and the H M Revenue and Customs have recently sent us £9741.83 out of which I have sent £49.98 to the Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project. This was the tax I reclaimed on your kind donations for the lunch held in January 2009, and I have received a thank you letter from the Administrative Officer of the Project.
Angela Stewart
PASTORAL CARE
The group continue to visit over the summer months and if you would like a visit, or if you know of anyone who has been recently bereaved and would appreciate a visit please let us know. Also, if you know of anyone who is ill or in hospital, or has a special anniversary or birthday please tell us so that we may send a card or flowers.
The Memorial Service for those who have been bereaved, not just this year, but sometime in the past, is on Sunday 28th November, more on this later.
Our afternoon tea is on Monday 20th September, we are delighted that George Banks is able to come along to entertain us. If you would care to come along please let us know.
If you would like any information about the Pastoral Care Group, or would like to become a member of the Group, please phone me on 440 1414.
God keep you all in his loving care.
Ann Saunderson
CHATTERBOX
After a well earned rest Chatterbox started back on 20th August.
We are looking for some new faces, so please come along every other Friday morning for some lovely home baking, the latest books and a nice new outfit. But best of all a great blether over a cup of coffee or tea.
Sheila Watson
CHURCH FLOWERS
The Flower Festival is to be held on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 September. Times to be announced later.
The last date for Sponsors is Sunday 29 August. It would be appreciated if all donations could be in by that date also so that the planning of colours and numbers of flowers together with the allocation of space may be finalised.
We will be looking for stewards in the Church for the duration of the festival. Please see Shelagh Jenkins.
Shelagh Jenkins
0131 440 0641
LOANHEAD GUIDING AUTUMN NEWS
Once again the holidays are over, Rianbows, Brownies and Guides will be back at the end of August with lots to do over the next few months. The closing of our Centenary Year will be held at Dalkeith Bowling Club on 20th October 2010 at ten past eight (20:10) i.e. at 20:10 on 20/10/2010.. On that night all of Midlothian will gather together to renew our Promise.
The whole of the Guiding movement all over the world will renew their Promise at that time in their country We will receive a new Centenary Promise Badge to celebrate Guiding’s 100 years.
All units will be finishing badge work to get badges for taking part through the year, so good luck to you all. I’m looking forward to seeing you all back and the units working well.
If you would like any information about any Unit, contact me on 0131 454 9787 or any guider.
Yours in Guiding,
Barbara Shearer
SESSION CLERK’S REPORT
Since the last magazine Jetta and I have visited Montreal in Canada to attend a Rotary Convention. During our time there we visited the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, a masterpiece of Gothic revival architecture, built between 1824 and 1829. The magnificent interior is in wood and the boldly modern design of Notre-Dame du Sacre Coeur Chapel was beautiful and has hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Indeed in Montreal there are a number of splendid churches and I believe over the years there has been some rivalry as to which is the most beautiful. I wonder if like me you sometimes worry with so many poor in the world that as Christians we spend so much on material things.
SUMMER SERVICES
The summer services are now over and while I know from comments made to me that it is not everyone’s “cup of tea”. I can remember not so many years ago when there was hardly a child in the Church from the end of June until the beginning of September, which is certainly not the case under the present system of services.
Harry Fisher
THE GUILD
The theme for 2010/11 is “ Called to Love Mercy”. Last year it was “Called to Act Justly” and Rev Graham Duffin will speak on our new theme at our opening meeting on Tuesday 5th October at 7:15 pm to which all ladies and gentlemen are welcome.
The Guild Dedication Service will be held on Sunday 17th October.
An interesting programme has been arranged following Graham, Sandra Marshall will talk about Fair Trading and on 2nd November the ever popular Ian Rintoul will show films, this is an open night, tickets £3. We have Mrs W. Stevenson talking about Roslin Gunpowder Mills on 16th November. Our session finishes with our Christmas party on 7th December, cost £3 with £2 going to charity.
Everyone male or female is invited to join in the fellowship of the Guild and will be made most welcome.
Jetta Fisher, Convenor
1st LOANHEAD BOYS’ BRIGADE COMPANY
It seems the case for ‘where did the summer go?’ One session finishes and another one is about to start.Towards the end of last session the Junior and Anchor Boy Sections visited the Boness Railway Museum in June where a good day was had by all.All sections participated in the Loanhead Carnival and Gala Day Parades with the theme of the World Cup for the Carnival.
Boys from the Company Section attended our annual camp along with the 51st Bonnyrigg and 5th Livingston Companies.We had a great week at The Ganaway Centre,Millisle,Northern Ireland.Activities included raft building,archery,swimming,inter tent sports,the usual water fights!! and we also included visits to the W5 interactive centre and the Pumphouse and Dock of the Titanic in Belfast.
The session will soon be upon us and listed below is the start dates for all the sections :-
The Anchor Boys (P2-P3) will begin on Wednesday 8th September 2010
6.00pm – 7.00pm
For further information please contact David Ralston on 440 2571
The Junior Section (P4-P6) will begin on Wednesday 8th September 2010
7.15pm – 8.45pm
For further information please contact Alan Duffin on 448 2459
The Company Section (P7-S6) will begin on Thursday 9th September 2010 7.00pm – 9.00pm
For further information please contact Jim Ralston on 440 0906
PROJECT STEDFAST
I would first of all like to thank all the members of the congregation who kindly donated clothes,stationery,etc. after my appeal to fill a suitcase for when I went out to Kenya.Needless to say the suitcase was filled in no time and I now have two boxes full ready to go out in February 2011.
Your support was very much appreciated.
The trip of six days was hectic as plans were being made for the main trip in February for the official opening of the Disabled Centre.We found our friends,including Daniel and Zippy who visited our Church last year,in good health and once again generous hosts.As always it was great to see the children at St Andrews School hard at work in their classrooms although they had enough time to give us a few songs they had learned.
Much of our time there was spent discussing what our group will be doing while they are in Kenya.It will be similar to what the group did on our last visit,landscape work,painting,teaching and running activites for the Girls and Boys Brigade companies of Oloolua Church as well as an after school club for the high school,next to St Andrews School.
We will be holding a fundraising ceilidh in October so please look for the posters in the Church nearer the time.
If you require further information on Project Stedfast or on the 1st Loanhead Boys’ Brigade please contact myself by phone on 440 0906 or by email on jp.ralston@btopenworld.com
Jim Ralston
Captain
SERVICES & EVENTS
September Communion
Sunday 5th September, Service at 11 a.m.
Midweek Communion Service
Wednesday 8th September 2 p.m.
Trust Housing
A shorter communion service for those who find it difficult to attend on a Sunday for. Tea and coffee are available after the service. Contact Alison Notman 440 4442 for transport.
Special Services
Sun 5th September Communion 11 a.m. – Rev Graham Duffin
Sun 26th September Harvest Thanksgiving Service 11 a.m.
Sun 17th October Guild Dedication Service 11 a.m.
Sun 31st October Youth Dedication Service 11 a.m.
Sun 14th November Remembrance Sunday Service 11.15 a.m.
Morning Services
5 Sep 11 a.m. Communion 7 p.m. Youth Event
12 Sep 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
19 Sep 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
26 Sep 11 a.m. Harvest Family Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
3 Oct 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Praise Night
10 Oct 11 a.m. Guild Dedication service 7 p.m. Youth Event
17 Oct 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
24 Oct 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
31 Oct 11 a.m. Youth Dedication Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
7 Nov 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Praise Night
14 Nov 11.15 a.m. Remembrance Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
21 Nov 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
28 Nov 11 a.m. Morning Service 7 p.m. Youth Event
5 Dec 11 a.m. Communion
Praise Nights
1st Sunday of the month
With a focus on contemporary praise, these Sunday evenings will provide an opportunity to enjoy the best of modern praise alongside time to reflect on our walk with God. Led by the Music Group along with the minister, these services are designed for people of all ages – and we would love to see a few more folk along.
Gala Day Thanks
Amy Duffin would like to thank everyone from the church who helped make her Gala Day so much fun.
Prayer Breakfast
1st Saturday of the month
8.30 a.m. – 9.30 a.m.
Over the last few months we have been holding a regular monthly Prayer Breakfast - an opportunity to have breakfast together followed by a time of prayer for the work of the church and the world. These will be restarting on Saturday 4th September and will continue on 2nd October, 6th November and 4th December. There have been a growing number attending but it would be good to see more members attending. You do not have to pray “out loud” – and written prayers are provided for those who would like to participate.
Forthcoming Meetings
Wed 1 Sep Kirk Session 7.30 p.m.
Wed 6 Oct Congregational Board 7.30 p.m.
Wed 3 Nov Kirk Session 7.30 p.m.
Wed 1 Dec Congregational Board 7.30 p.m.
Course for New Members
A new course for anyone interested in considering church membership will be starting in October. Further details from the minister.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group meet regularly on Thursday evenings - see Paul Anderson or Louie Fourie if you are interested in joining the group.
Fellowship Groups
Groups will restart in October, and we are particularly keen to encourage new members to join. Details of groups will be published nearer the time – but to find out more about what goes on at the groups speak to the minister.
Deepening our walk with God
Wednesdays in September
A series of four meetings exploring how we can deepen our relationship with God, starting on Wednesday 8th September.
Loanhead Parish Church , The Manse, 120 The Loan, Loanhead , Midlothian, EH20 9AJ Loanhead Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Registered Charity No SC014420
0131 448 2459 
