Cluster News 11/12 July

Our buildings are closed.
Our church is open.

You are welcome.

Dear Parishioner,

We hope that this finds you and your families well. Welcome to this week's Cluster News. If you would like to share any news or comments, let us know. southedclust@btinternet.com

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 blessings,

Fr Mike and Fr Alex.

Prayer resources for adults

Children's resources

Preparing for communal worship

In light of the First Minister's acceleration of Phase 3, click here to read about what we already know and how our communities will need to prepare in order to stay safe.

Hymn of the Week:

This week Anne Moore has selected a hymn with lots of personal memories: Immaculate Mary here.

A Message from Fr Mike

Prayer Foundation:

Prayer in Lockdown

The Prayer Foundation are inviting everyone to a prayer service on Zoom on Sunday 26 July from 2.00 - 3.15pm.

Six people have agreed to speak ( for a max of 5 minutes) about their experience of Lockdown, followed by 5 minutes silent reflection. Details for joining this service will be provided at a later date.

Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to be united in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. Please join us in prayer

clare.roller@icloud.com

Bethany Trust volunteers

Our Cluster volunteers for Bethany will be on duty on the evening of the 12th of July. Two days later on the 15th of July the hotel where the homeless have been staying and being provided with meals for several months will be closing.
This means that there is uncertainty about the way forward for Bethany in terms of possible venues for the Night Shelter.
We will obviously keep in close contact with the management of Bethany Christian Trust over the summer months.

We will also do as much as we can to support the project for the homeless continuing.

For parishioners who wish to help with the cost of food for the homeless please contribute through the Cluster Bank account.

The name of the account is
J.WATSON (BETHANY)
Sort code:- 80-46-47.
Account No. 12633665

If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer or want to know more about Bethany please contact Joe Murray on 07725 582599.

One for the kitchen; one for the bar

Damage to the Earth:

a Christian Response

Humanity is doing terrible harm to the Earth in many ways including to the climate. This is already having major impacts, which will become much worse in the lifetimes of our children and subsequent generations. Yet there is still time to avoid the worst, and even to build a better world.

David Coleman, chaplain to Ecocongregation, will speak about this crisis and open discussion on how we can respond. It's on 16th July at 7.30pm.

We will also hear from: the SEECAT churches about how they are already responding to these issues; and some other related initiatives.

To register please go to: https://tinyurl.com/SEECAT-Earth After registering you will be sent the zoom link to be able join us.

Cluster Walking Group

The CWG started in 2011 and to date we have arranged over 90 walks. I try and vary the scene between hill, coastal and river walks. Since I cannot organise group walks at present I have recently arranged informal local walks with one or two members from the Cluster - always keeping social distancing. It is important that we all keep healthy as we wait for the day when things get back to normal. For more information contact:

George McDermid 0131 666 2236.

Views from the Pews

Cluster Asylum Seeker and Refugee Group

They pray daily from the Qur’an for us

Maureen Quinn writes:

In the light of the recent tragic events in Glasgow in relation to the Asylum Seekers situation, I would like to assure people that in our cluster we as a support group have continued to help support and sustain two Asylum seeker families who have been struggling financially and emotionally throughout these difficult and challenging times.

This has been possible with the help and support of parishioners, families and friends.

They pray daily from the Koran for all of us that assist them and other people in need.

This demonstrates that we are a community respecting the rights and dignity of all people

and shows our Missionary approach to Care.

This is a Missionary Church in Action.

Revd. Christopher Skillen writes:
I’m getting in touch with you from our own ‘cluster’ of Methodist Churches in and around the port of Larne in Northern Ireland. I was looking for a video of ‘The Pollen of Peace’ for our online service today and the first and best one I found was yours, sung by Pat from St. Catherine’s Church. I feel as if our paths should have crossed as her introduction said all that I wanted to say and I hope you and she will forgive me for posting the link to Pat’s recording on your cluster channel as part of our service this morning. Perhaps you would be good enough to convey my thanks and appreciation to Pat for her very moving contribution to peace and reconciliation.
Every blessing,
Carnlough, Craigyhill & Larne Societies
The Methodist Church in Ireland

Some wonderful news from Susanne Lackie:

You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:
Kathleen Boyle
Maureen Christie and family
Josie and Baby Ronin
Nancy Murray
Ranier Carpo
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
June Jamieson and her son Alex
Anne and Helen
Annette Sibbald

Iain Cusick

Cecilia Glancy

Hello everyone.

I'm off the heated mattress now,

I just need to learn to bottle feed

and my Mummy can take me home.

Baby Ronin xxx

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love:

Mary McDaid

Allan Cuthill

George Smith
Maureen Henderson
Alexander Ferrie
Winnie Murray
Vincent Brady

Anniversaries
Jane Fallon
Harry Salvona
Bridie Docherty
Pat Gordon

May they rest in peace.

Faith in Action

Help for those struggling financially
We know that there must be people who are struggling on reduced wages or benefits at this time. Help is available if you are in this situation (or know someone who is). Please contact us confidentially and we can forward that information to those who can help.

The relevant food bank for the cluster is: 47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS

Phone number 664 9353
Email edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org
Opening times:

Mon & Thu 11am-2.30pm

You can donate online by visiting their website: https://edinburghse.foodbank.org.uk/

The cluster contact name is Rosie.

Items needed this week

Tinned fruit, mince
Corned beef, beans
Tinned carrots
Shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel
Tinned custard
Rice
Fruit
Jars of baby food
Chocolate, Sweets, Mars/Twix bars
Crisps, Snacks, Biscuits
SMA baby milk number 1 and 2

Rosie and the team

Covid-19 Bereavement Support

PETAL (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss) is offering time-limited bereavement support to anyone bereaved by Covid-19, as well as their usual services for those bereaved through murder and suicide.

Click here for details

Finance

How you can donate to the cluster

Some of you have been asking about donations to the cluster since lockdown.

For more information contact Fred, one of our cluster accountants, who will be happy help you with this. fredmcconnell@btinternet.com

Poem: Pandemic by Lynn Ungatr

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love—
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
http://www.lynnungar.com