December 2017 January 2018 - Barclay Viewforth Church€¦ · unbridled unlimited favour ... Mary...

In This Issue 2 Favour verses Favouritism 3 Flowers in the Sanctuary 4 Christmas at Barclay Viewforth 6 Welcoming in the New 7 Congregational Roll 8 Connect Plus Afternoon Fellowship 9 Roofbreakers Coffee Morning 10 Kitchen Notes 11 Turning of the Year 12 Reading Corner Tomorrow’s Calling 13 Useful Information 14 Church Diary (Dec-Feb) 16 Photo Wall

LinkDecember 2017 January 2018

Favour verses Favouritism We all have favourites! When I had more teeth my favourite out of the annual Christmas chocolate box was the chocolate covered caramel, but over the years my dental capacity to deal with such a challenge has tempered my ambitions and steered me in the direction of the soft centres! That said, spare a thought for the coffee creams! I don’t know anyone in our house who goes for the coffee creams first! At the end of several pass arounds they are usually languishing at the bottom of the box along with the other less favoured choices. We all have our favourites! The same goes for films, songs, books, stars, celebrities, friends, Christmas carols, Christmas jumpers, and the seasons of the year, we all have our favourites! Maybe even this Christmas we will sit back and listen once more to Julie Andrews singing,

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittensBright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with stringsThese are a few of my favourite things”

(The Sound of Music)

We all have favourites things and favourite people and this is part of being free to choose, but the Scriptures warn us against a danger that looms large around this choosing, it’s the prohibited inclination towards Favouritism. In the letter of James, Favouritism is forbidden:

Making known God’s Love in Jesus Christ

Barclay Viewforth Link Magazine December 2017/January 2018

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“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?…8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers.” (James 2:1, emphasis added)

So the question for this Advent is simply how can we followers of Jesus recognise the sin of favouritism within us and how can we ever avoid it? The answer lies somewhere in a Gospel that turns our favouritism into the awareness of unbridled favour towards all who come our way.

Hear again the message that came to the out of favour Shepherds who feared the worst from a God they believed would judge them harshly, but heard instead good news of great joy.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’” (Luke 2:9, emphasis added)

The answer to Favouritism is the awareness that the favour of God falls upon unusual and unlikely people. Look at the traditional Nativity scene; Magi from the East - the land of oppression, exile, and near annihilation; Shepherds from the fields – the thieving, not to be trusted, homeless wanderers of that day; an unmarried teenager from Nazareth, a cause for scandal and gossip; and a local builder who refused to live by the norms of his day. Here are a few of God’s favoured things! He turns our norms upside down and inside out and breaks through the cult of favouritism with His unbridled unlimited favour

That’s the theme from James for this Advent and Christmas.

‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

May you know the favour of God upon you this Christmas and New Year! Sam Torrens

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2&version=NIVUK%22%20%5Cl%20%22fen-NIVUK-30302a%22%20%5Co%20%22See%20footnote%20a

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2&version=NIVUK%22%20%5Cl%20%22fen-NIVUK-30302a%22%20%5Co%20%22See%20footnote%20a


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Flowers in the Sanctuary Here it is, the last Church Magazine for 2017 and on behalf of the Flower Committee I would like to thank folks for the contributions and flowers provided for display on Sundays throughout the year. A sterling job of purchasing and displaying the flowers has been done by: Susan Hindle who as our Treasurer also keeps track of our finances, June Macleod, Lindsay MacLeod, Evelyn McHollan, Irene Hall, Janette Niven, Anne Gaskell, Lorna Gentleman and Karen Ferguson. Thank you one and all for your assistance and support throughout the year. After having been displayed in the Sanctuary the flowers are given out to people showing the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the Best Wishes of the Minister and Congregation. Thank you to all those who have volunteered to deliver flowers to those who have not been at the service. The Calendar for 2018 is now up in the usual place in the Pillar Hall. Anyone wishing to donate flowers on a specific Sunday should put their name against the appropriate date on the Calendar. For more information about joining the team or making donations please contact 0131 229 3600. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all.

Isobel Anderson

December Donated by Arranged by

3 Helen Miller Isobel Anderson

10 Jean Stirling Karen Ferguson

17 Mairi Gordon TBC

24 Betty Skinner TBC

31 TBC TBC


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Christmas at Barclay Viewforth - Favour or Favouritism?

There’s something for everyone as we celebrate the birth of Christ as a church family this year.

Friday 8 December 19:00 Church Christmas Tree Party

Join us in the church as we help dress the trees and the church in preparation for our Christmas Services. Once the “work” is done, we’ll have some time for a few carols

and Christmas refreshments. All welcome.

Sunday 10 December 15:00 Gillespie Crescent Carol Service

(Lounge of No. 47) An open invitation is extended to members and friends to join us for Carols and party food at the Viewpoint sheltered housing complex in Gillespie Crescent. Last year our numbers were swelled by church folks and we enjoyed singing, fellowship,

music and food. For more information please contact Elaine Hogan.

Sunday 10 December 12:30 The NET Christmas Lunch

All are welcome to a family Christmas lunch, complete with games for the wee ones and the

traditional Secret Santa with a twist for the grown ups! (RSVP to the Net for numbers)

Sunday 10 December 18:30 Carols on the Steps

Wrap up warm to come along and sing carols on the steps of the church for the local community. There

will be a practice at 18:30, before we head outside at 19:00. Mulled wine and mince pies provided to warm

up afterwards!

Sunday 3 December 11:00 Advent Sunday - “Explained”

Sunday 10 December 11:00 “Experienced”


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Sunday 17 December 11:00 Nativity Service - “Enacted”

A service focussed on our young people, with the children’s nativity and Next’s alternative take on the

Christmas story. For all ages and followed by refreshments.

Sunday 17 December 16:00 Carols and Christingles on the Steps

In addition to our usual Christmas services we’re adding in an extra one for children and the young at heart. We hope that you will join us on the steps for

a few carols and the Christingle story. All are welcome.

Sunday 17 December 18:30 Carols by Candlelight

Carols in the atmospheric, candle lit sanctuary. Accompanied by the pipe organ, we’ll be singing a selection of Christmas favourites, and reflecting on

the Christmas message.

Sunday 24 December 23:00 Watchnight Service - “Encountered”

See in the day itself with our traditional Watchnight service. Arrive at 23:00 for refreshments, worship

begins at 23:30 and will last about an hour.

Monday 25 December 10:30 Christmas Day Service - Embraced

Bring your presents and your presence for a wonderful all age celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Visitors are very welcome.

Sunday 24 December 11:00 Family Service - “Echoed”


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Welcoming in the New As we stand on the cusp of the Christmas and New year season, I am aware of the ‘hopes and fears of all the years’, playing out around us, near and far. How do we welcome in the new, for good or ill?

For most people reading this, the nativity story will be very familiar. Mental images of highly favoured Mary & Joseph with angelic encounters in person and dreams can flood through our mind with ease. However, in the midst of the familiar Christmas story we can miss the fact that we too are Favoured. Our advent theme of Favour and Favouritism reveals to us that we too are highly favoured to have God move close to us in the person of Jesus Christ. As the socially excluded shepherds watched the flocks out on the hills of Bethlehem, as did the young King David, they are shown unexpected favour from heaven in the form of an angelic choir. The shepherds are invited to come and see history being made, the creator of the universe lies in a crib. Note, however, the manner of the invitation, because their message is often only half quoted, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth peace ON WHOM HIS FAVOUR rests’.

Favour is when we receive blessing which is undeserved or even unexpected, which ultimately is from the hand of God.

Mary and Joseph, are shown favour by the inn keeper when instead of being turned away, they are accommodated in a byre- warm and dry, if smelly. They are not shown favouritism, that would have meant the innkeeper, on realising the importance of the baby being born, deciding to evict a person/family to give them a comfy room. If someone like Prince William and an expecting Kate turned up in need in today’s world, a room would have been found, showing not favour but favouritism.

Our God shows favour on the undeserving, and see’s all people as equal; we are all unique in His sight.

Favour and not favouritism was demonstrated throughout Jesus’ life and ministry. Paul in Philippians 2 declares that Jesus humbled Himself, He neither sought or pursued the powerful, rich and famous but instead showed God’s favour on the least, the last and the lost. Indeed, when Jesus sent out the disciples to declare and demonstrate the coming Kingdom of God, they


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were not to Lord it over one another or anyone else for that matter, but where they experienced a House of Peace, or a person of peace they were to receive favour graciously and to speak peace over the house and people. They were not to show favouritism but serve all equally.

And so, we, who are favoured by God, are to show favour to those who God brings across the path of our life. As we welcome a New Year, we are called to welcome the opportunities of a fresh start to serve God by serving others; to bless others as we have been blessed.

It’s an interesting turn of phrase, ‘To welcome in the New year’ as though it were a person with a character and personality, whilst putting the pains, hurts and regrets of the past year through some kind of shredder for the sake of a fresh start. If only it were that simple. However, welcoming is part of the ministry of Hospitality, a key component of becoming a house or person of peace. This is what we see modelled in the nativity story, the ministry of Jesus and in the life of the early church life. As much as a New Year is a new start, so is each new day under God’s grace and mercy.

Iain Sutherland

Always a night from old to new! Night and the healing balm of sleep! Each morn is New Year’s morn come

true, Morn of a festival to keep.

All nights are sacred nights to make Confession and resolve and prayer;

All days are sacred days to wake New gladness in the sunny air. Only a night from old to new;

Only a sleep from night to morn. The new is but the old come true;

Each sunrise sees a new year born.

Helen Hunt Jackson

Congregational Roll

Marriage Rebecca Torrens to Michael Millar 9 November


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Connect Plus

This term we have followed a new plan, or rather decided to follow Sam's plan for Sunday Services, as we craft each fortnightly session. This masterstroke allows us to borrow not only from the morning sermons but also the children's talks, and has made our job so much easier. This month, however, our planning took place before Sam's first sermon on the new theme of Training the Ear. We were amused to see that what we had planned coincided almost exactly with Sam's choice of text and the illustration of Mary and Martha.

We were very grateful to Seòras the previous month for his idea of getting the children to build up or remove bricks according to kind or unkind words; in our case we filled a basic bank box or took items out, but the end result fortunately was a big contribution to the basics bank.

At the time of writing only two sessions remain before the Christmas Break. We have our ceilidh on 5 December, and as usual we would love to invite anyone from the congregation to come and take part in the festivities. Please speak to any of the team if you would like more details, and look out for flyers nearer the time.

Elaine Rumney

Afternoon FellowshipAfter the excitement of our voyage on the high seas or at least the Forth Estuary in September, the title of the October Meeting might have sounded dull and gloomy but with Andrew Paterson as our speaker, it was both interesting and informative, and we were very grateful to Andrew for taking time out to speak to us on a topic from which most of us shy away.

November saw us addressed by another familiar face. Seóras came to talk to us about his trip to Rwanda. After the terrible events of 1994, many of us probably have not given any thought to what had happened since. Seóras’ visit was made with a multi-faith group which added a further dimension. We heard and saw how bridges have been built to reconcile people in what was a bitterly divided and suffering country. His talk showed that with faith, goodwill and understanding, people can move on and rebuild after the most terrible of events.

Although December will see us bid farewell to Seóras as he and Debbie move on to the next stage of their lives, we will be celebrating with our our traditional Christmas lunch at the Golf.

Lorna Gentleman


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Roofbreakers Coffee Morning

The Edinburgh Roofbreakers group were invited to celebrate twenty years of the parent organisation Through the Roof. We came up with the idea of a fundraising coffee morning, inspired by the successful events hosted by the Vine Trust team in past years.

We were not disappointed. The Vine Trust bakers came out in force, augmented by a second hand book stall and home-made cards provided by Lee Gates. With typical energy and generosity, the combined efforts of the Roofbreakers and the Barclay Viewforth team provided a dazzling array of baked goodies. Some stalwarts manned the chilly posts at both doors, enticing passing locals inside with balloons and bubbles. A team of servers and washer-uppers kept the food flowing, and a good time was had by all. There was enough home baking to provide a stall the next day, and by the end of the weekend only a few scones were left to go into the freezer.

Claire Wilson, who heads up the Edinburgh Roofbreakers, gave some short talks about the group and about Through the Roof during the morning, and also the song written by one of our members to celebrate (which was premiered at our service on Ability Sunday) was played on a loop, along with video clips from Through the Roof. Particular thanks must go to Noah Nicholson, who set up the technology and kept it running all morning.

Contributions are still trickling in, but the final total seems to be £360, give or take the odd euro coin. Roofbreakers are very grateful for this massive support from the BV congregation.

Elaine Rumney


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Kitchen Notes - Mulled Apple Juice

It is no secret I LOVE Christmas, the anticipation, the excitement, the music, the food... Once December has started you can guarantee I will be humming along to Christmas Carols, attempting to sing the descants, and generally getting into the festive spirit. It’s a great time for wonderful smells, the Christmas tree, a Christmas cake or mince pies baking, a roast dinner, ginger cookies, mulled wine or juice. I have a small slow cooker that has a 1.2 litre bowl that I use to make mulled juice in. This recipe is one I acquired from a Dutch friend. Whilst being relatively simple to make, smells fantastic and tastes great too. The advantage of using the slow cooker is you can set it up well in advance, so if you have been out on a wintery walk you arrive home and there is a hot drink available immediately. Mulled Apple Juice • 1ltr Apple Juice • 1 dessert spoon of honey (or to taste) • 1 large orange sliced • 8-10 whole cloves • 2 cinnamon sticks Put everything into a pan (or slow cooker) and gently heat. Serve as a non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine.

Linda Garside


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The Turning of the Year

As I look back on 2017, this year has been one of profound change in my life! I have become a mother, and I have also taken up a career that I have been working towards for a long time. I’m still adjusting.

Last year, after the Sunday morning service on New Year’s day, I stopped on Blackford Hill to consider everything that the year ahead would bring. My daughter could have arrived in time for Christmas, but she had decided she wanted to be born in 2017. It felt strange to sit there and to know that her birthday would now be January 2017.

As I stood on the hill then, looking out over the city, I told her my story. I told her that God had called me here eleven years earlier. I told her how God had taken me on an incredible journey without having to travel anywhere.

Then I told her what I hoped would be her story. I told her how she was loved and wanted. I told her that there was a world of possibilities open to her. I told her that God loved her even before I even could imagine her.

Then I listened, and I heard God remind me that He says just the same about me. I am loved and wanted. There are still more possibilities open to me than I can imagine. He loved me before I was even imagined by my parents.

New Year is always a time that prompts reflection for me. Some years, that has brought happiness, and other years, challenge.

No matter how I find my life at the end of this year, I know that what really matters is that God is with me and God loves me.

My prayer is that, whatever 2018 brings, you will know that God is with you and He loves you.

Emma Torry


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Reading Corner Have you read the Bible all the way through? It’s a popular New Year’s resolution to plan to read the Bible in a year. If you want to give it a go, but don’t want to give up in the middle of Numbers, here are some options that might help you succeed.

The Daily Email http://www.bibleinayear.org/ Sign up to a simple one year plan with a range of translations and a choice of reading order - traditional, chronological or alternating.

The App Alpha’s Bible in One Year gives three passages each day from the OT, NT and Psalms. The app is available for iOS and Android and includes a commentary on the passages.

The Books If you prefer something in your hand, Bible in One Year books are available in every translation and a wide range of reading orders. The Soul Surviver NIV version has a particularly colourful cover to catch your eye and remind you not to give up.

Tomorrow’s Calling It's one of the most challenging, yet rewarding jobs in Scotland. It requires leadership, resilience, compassion and energy….and that's just for starters. The role of parish minister is at the very heart of Scotland's communities and central to the Kirk's 1,400 congregations.

Tomorrow's Calling is the name of the Church of Scotland’s new recruitment campaign to attract new applicants into ministry.

There is a new careers website which provides detailed information about what to expect during training for ministry and helpful advice for individuals exploring their calling to serve God. The site also features a wide range of first-hand accounts from front-line Church of Scotland ministers who talk about their own calling and experiences as parish ministers and chaplains to communities across Scotland.

In 2014 the Church had begun to dream of training 30 ministers per year, more than twice the average in the previous five years. In 2015, even with the campaign launch part way through the year, we recruited 31 new candidates, 21 for the full-time ministry of Word and Sacrament, an increase of 50% on recent years.

Do you feel called to take your role in the church further?

The next Vocations Information Day will take place on Saturday 10 February 2018 at The Conforti Institute Coatbridge. A chance to explore an interest in Ministry, Readership or to consider more fully the whole area of ministry to the people of God. Book by going to tomorrowscalling.org

http://www.bibleinayear.org/

http://www.bibleinayear.org/


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Contribute to the Magazine Link relies on people like you to fill our pages each month. Please send us articles, pictures, poems, artwork, recommendations, upcoming events and important notices!

You can easily submit content by email to [email protected], or hand in a hard copy to the editor (Sunday mornings) or the church office.

Articles for the February issue must be submitted by 17:00 on Tuesday 23 January.

Emma Torry, Editor

Useful Information

Minister Rev. Sam Torrens [email protected]

Ministry Team Administrator Julie Nicholson [email protected] Pastoral Associate Elaine Hogan [email protected] Mission Facilitator Iain Sutherland [email protected] ✆ 07843089598

Officers Session Clerk John Ritchie [email protected] ✆ 558 1381 Clerk to the Board Katharine Ellis [email protected] ✆ 228 4136 Assistant Clerk Christine Wight ✆ 447 5498 Treasurer Janet Darling [email protected] ✆ 447 1578 Roll Keeper Helen Miller [email protected] ✆ 449 4470 Church Officer Chris Hogan Webmaster Mike Ellis [email protected]

Music Organist/Choirmaster Andrew Robertson [email protected] Organist Michael Bonaventure Worship Band Leader Anna Nicholson

Missional Communities(*), Groups & Teams Afternoon Fellowship Jean Macaulay Blessing* Iain Sutherland Celebrate Recovery* Sam Torrens Connect Plus* Elaine Rumney Football Andrew Stephenson, Sam Torrens Meals for Mums Linda Garside, Katy Gray TCP* Elaine Hogan The Net* Alison Edmondson, Kirsteen Milne, Andrew Paterson Toddlers Katharine Ellis

mailto:[email protected]











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Tues 5 12:30 Afternoon Fellowship Christmas Lunch Golf TavernTues 5 19:00 Connect Plus Ceilidh Pillar Hall

Thu 7 19:30 Choir practice Pillar HallThu 7 19:30 The NET Bible Study - Advent Study Contact The NET

Fri 8 19:00 Christmas Tree Decorating SanctuarySat 9 14:30 Quest Club Party Halls

Sun 10 12:30 The NET Christmas Lunch HallsSun 10 15:00 Gillespie Crescent Carol Service Gillespie Cres

Sun 10 18:30 Carols on the Steps SanctuaryMon 11 10:00 TCP Visits to Shopkeepers Tollcross

Thu 14 19:30 Choir practice Pillar Hall

Sun 17 11:00 Nativity Sunday SanctuarySun 17 16:00 Carols & Christingles on the Steps Church steps

Sun 17 18:30 Carols by Candlight SanctuaryThu 21 19:30 The NET Bible Study - Advent Study Contact The NET

Thu 21 19:30 Choir practice Pillar HallSun 24 No Evening ServiceSun 24 23:30 Christmas Eve Service SanctuaryMon 25 10:30 Christmas Day Service Sanctuary

Sun 31 No Evening Service

DecemberDecember


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Sun 7 18:30 Evening Service resumes Sanctuary

Tues 23 13:00 Afternoon Fellowship - Burns Lunch SanctuaryTues 23 17:00 Magazine Deadline - FebruarySun 28 18:30 Communion service Sanctuary

Red events are BVC events, blue events are CoS and green events are run by other organisations

JanuaryJanuary

FebruaryFebruaryTues 6 14:00 Afternoon Fellowship - Walking the St

Magnus Way (Orcadian Adventures)Pillar Hall

Sat 10 Day Vocations Information Day Book at: tomorrowscalling.org

Coatbridge

Wed 14 Ash WednesdayTues 20 17:00 Magazine Deadline - March/EasterSun 25 18:30 Communion service Sanctuary

http://tomorrowscalling.org

Link Magazine is a publication of Edinburgh Barclay Viewforth Church of Scotland1 Wright’s Houses, Edinburgh EH10 4HR, Registered Scottish Charity No. SC014757

Fisherrow: Christ is my Light, my Help and my Salvation

Reflected peace

Children waiting patiently for cake

Practice run for the wedding cake

Team meeting tastes good!

Guess who?

Chilling after the service

December 2017 January 2018 - Barclay Viewforth Church€¦ · unbridled unlimited favour ... Mary...

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