Cluster News 2/3 May
We hope that this finds you and your families well. Here is our latest update.
Please let us know how useful these materials are and of any suggestions you may have.
Please let us know if you find these useful and we welcome any feedback
This week’s Hymn reflection is chosen by Kathleen Smith in remembrance of Sr Mary. She has chosen Sr Mary’s favourite hymn ‘Suscipe’ by Catherine McAuley. Alisa has recorded the music for it and would love if we can include the words so here they are:
My God I am yours for time and eternity.
Lord, I am yours forever.
It is you must teach me to trust in your providence,
Loving Lord.
You are a God of love and tenderness,
I place my trust in you.
And I ask that you grant me acceptance of your will,
Loving Lord
My God I am yours for time and eternity.
Lord, I am yours forever.
It is you must teach me to trust in your providence,
Loving Lord.
Take from my heart all pain and anxiety,
Let nothing sadden me but sin.
And then let my delight be hoping that I’ll see your face,
God my all.
Volunteers from the cluster prepared and serve the meal for homeless people being housed in the Waverley Hotel. This was last Monday evening. Here are some comments from volunteers:
"Great night at the Bethany Night Shelter in the Waverley Hotel. Guests,staff and volunteers were all in good spirits.Menu was spot on! It was so lovely to hear a young lady share with us that this was her safe haven and she loved it. It was an absolute pleasure. I feel so lucky that we have the opportunity to help other people who are just the same as ourselves".
Jane Watson
"I was struck by the vulnerability in the faces of the guests, perhaps made more poignant because of the social distancing as they sat at separate tables-but was that any different for most of them? Their humour made me feel humbled and privileged - l remember some big smiles and many thank yous and appreciation for the accommodation , the Bethany staff and the meal we provided.l was very aware that a room of their own was a temporary respite for the homeless people and with our team was very moved when a young women described it as a safe haven. Surely our society can do better? I was so impressed by the Bethany staff, living out their faith every day in such a dedicated way."
Eileen Lewis
"The idea of doing the night shelter made me feel a bit nervous and the support of 'team mates' was crucial. I was wonderful to get fo know Jane, Eileen and Nicola better and despite some anxiety about the meal, it went down very well with the guests. Our efforts were appreciated by the diners who were very kind in their comments and unreserved in their thanks- it made me feel that we can learn from their willingness to show their gratitude".
Tricia Kaminski
"What can l say- a great night hosting albeit quite strange following social distancing ( tables 2 metres apart and to see people eating alone) however this provided an opportunity which was lovely: to be able to serve our guests as they dined in beautiful surroundings of the castle with jazz music in the back-ground and a top class meal."
Nicola Heatlie
What a great team from the Cluster and many thanks to those who contribute to the funds which enable us to buy the food.
Joe Murray on behalf of the Bethany volunteers.
The A Team has weathered a lot of storms too not least those involving technology but we rose to the challenges set before us and successfully managed to use it to complete the last three sessions of the course. Some guests were sadly unable to join us online but questionnaires have been sent out to everyone as their responses will help us in deciding how we proceed with the programme. A reunion is also planned with a slap-up meal and the whole team are looking forward to this enormously and to seeing the gang again. Alpha has been a wonderful experience and the team are grateful for the chance to have been a part of it.
Mary Morrison on behalf of the Alpha Team
A new feature on our Cluster Website to keep you engaged during ‘Lock-Down’.
The recipe has been put as an attachment so you can print itoff and follow it as you bake. Get baking chefs!!
I’ll hopefully provide recipes that use ingredients that are fairly easy to resource or that will be undoubtedly at the very back of your drinks cabinets.
GIN LOVERS' COCKTAILS
STAY UP LATE COCKTAIL
2 Measures of Gin
1/2 Measure Brandy
1/2 Measure Lemon Juice
½ Measure Soda Water
Pinch of Caster Sugar
Mix all ingredients together with ice in either a Cocktail Shaker, a Thermos Flask or anything suitable. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a slice of lemon – Enjoy
Credited to Veronica the hat-check Girl from the Stork Club New York in the mid 1940s
2 Measures of Gin
½ Measure of Sweet Red Vermouth
½ Measure of Grand Marnier
Dash of Lemon Juice
Mix all ingredients together with ice in either a Cocktail Shaker, a Thermos Flask or anything suitable. Pour into a Cocktail Glass & Squeeze Lemon peel over the surface.
Created by Harry Craddock at the Savoy Hotel London during the leap year celebrations of 29 February 1928
(IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COCKTAIL SHAKER A THERMOS FLASK WILL DO - Or anything that can be sealed for shaking the mixture)
Views from the Pews
Food for thought…
Maureen Rooney writes:
I help at the Liberton Kirk cafe, and last Monday I helped prepare meals for some of their parishioners. This is something that Liberton Kirk has been doing for a couple of weeks, only once a week, as there were about 20 meals prepared. A team of members of the church arrived at about 12 o'clock and each were given a number of meals to take to particular parishioners. This may now dis-continue as Liberton is teaming up with a group called 'Empty Kitchens' to distribute, I think, up to 300 meals in the wider community.
However, the original idea, of preparing a meal for someone who is stuck at home, taking it to them, maybe having 5 mins chat on the door step, looks a good one for keeping those parishioners who feel isolated in the mix, as it were.
I am not proposing delivering a meal every day, just once/twice a week. And it would be prepared at home. And if some kind of parish news could be put together, however small, this could be delivered at the same time. Is this something we might consider offering within the Cluster perhaps?
News from the Tron Moredun
which is working with Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre.
Cammy McKenzie writes:
We’d like to welcome Donna Beatson and Ally Milne to our packed lunch and elderly person delivery runs. Our team has now delivered over 10,000 packed lunches since lockdown began thanks to our partnership with Social Bite.
Memories of St Mary Steedman
Vidya Vinod and Verrall D’souza write:
Sr Mary came to our house with Ann and Susan at my son Verrall’s baptism preparation and she asked us about our baptism and faith as Roman Catholics. Sr Mary was very impressed with our answers.
She asked me for anything if you want to help at church and my answer was that I will be happy to do the readings and she added me to the reading list which I am happily reading in the church.
Since then I know Sr Mary. She said hello to me and my little one who is 11 now every Sunday.
Our last meeting was celebrating her anniversary. In the church and I was reading that day.
Going to miss Sr Mary.
Eternal rest grant to Sr Mary O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace.
Mary Thomson writes:
My favourite and lasting memory of Sr Mary is when there was a social of any kind in the parish, be it seniors’ dinners or evening socials. That was at a time when she was extremely fit and well and she would get up to recite the poem “I’m a wee Kirk Moose”. She not only recited the poem but gave us the actions as well ...especially the verse with the wee moose jinkin’ in an’ oot the pews. Brilliant!
Gospel Reflection
Clare Roller writes:
“The Road to Emmaus” is one of my favourite Gospel stories.
It reminds me of the many occasions in my life when it is only on looking back or reflecting on a past situation that I have been able to recognise the ‘hand of God‘ at work. I wonder how when we look back on this time of ‘Lockdown’ we will see the ‘hand of God’ in this current crisis.
Being in Lockdown and unable to physically go to Mass and receive communion, ”the bread of life” reminds me of an excellent homily preached by Fr Mike many years ago which started with something like” If there was a wheat/grape famine would there be no Eucharist, no real presence”. Fr Mike went on to say that of course the spirit of God was not restricted to being “really present” only in bread and wine.
As Catholics we have put the emphasis on the “Real Presence” in the Eucharist and not so much on the “Real Presence” in the Word and in each other, maybe Lockdown will encourage us to look for Jesus in Scripture, in the “kindness of strangers” in each other and as Fr Alex said in his homily this morning, in places where we least expect to see Jesus.
Let’s continue to pray for one another and especially those who are experiencing any difficulties during this challenging time. With our prayers, best wishes and Easter blessings.