Cluster News 25/26 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 to reopen our church buildings

Thank you to all those who completed our questionnaire either online or by phone call, and to all who have offered their help. You can find both a summary report and a detailed report of the responses here.

Update information on plans for reopening and about funerals can be found here.

Hymn of the Week:

This week’s hymn choice comes from Hilary who has chosen ‘Lord, I have come to the seashore’ which was being played as a reflective piece in St John Vianney’s before lockdown.

Happy 90th Birthday!

A little bird has told us that Ellen Salvona celebrates her 90th birthday on Sunday. Warmest birthday wishes and congratulations from the whole Cluster, Ellen!

One for the Kitchen; one for the bar

Another Diamond Wedding Anniversary!

At a time of pandemic and restriction, it is a particular joy and privilege to witness the life-long love and commitment of a couple. Congratulations and best wishes from the whole Cluster to Patricia and Peter Simmons from St Catherine's, who celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this week.

New feature: "Justice matters"

Each week we hope to bring you notes on some aspect of justice and peace. One reason for this title, with a focus on justice, is that we help peace to come when we first work for justice.

When we pray "thy Kingdom come" in the Our Father, we are praying for justice and peace. Whenever we act with integrity, caring for others and for the planet, as we do in the course of each day then we are both building the Kingdom and showing it is already among us.

SEECAT's Justice and peace planning group seeks to raise awareness of issues, to help us all to continue to build the Kingdom. (https://seecat.org/justice-and-peace/jp-events/). These notes in the newsletter are a way to do this.

This week's "Justice matters"

We follow the see-judge-act pattern of Catholic Social Teaching.

See: we see the harm being done by racist and populist governments, one example being the high rates of death from COVID-19, and another being racially motivated killings by police and armed forces. Some of these leaders have been seeking to undermine established international agreements and organisations - the very things that seek to lift the world out of the law of the jungle.

Judge: Read Matthew 25:35-45 and then the UN Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

Act: Pray for all who work for the United Nations and the International Criminal Court; pray for growth in their effectiveness.

You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:

Victor Rodriguez,

Natalie Brooks,

Kathleen Boyle,

Maureen Christie & family,

Josie & Baby Ronin,

Nancy Murray,

Ranier Carpo,

Roney Fernandes,

Christopher Browne,

Xaverina Rodrigues,

Annette Sibbald,

Derek Morgan,

June Jamieson & son Alex,

Anne and Helen,

Iain Cusick,

Cecilia Glancy,

Elaine Hepburn,

Fiona Scott,

Scott Fraser,

Ferne,

Irene,

Javier Molina Vasquez.

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love:

Charlotte Farrell,

Robert Donaldson,

May Thomson,

Mary McDaid,

George Smith,

Maureen Henderson,

Allan Cuthill,

Winifred Murray,

Vincent Brady,

Ena McCann.

Anniversaries

Colin Philips,

Jimmy Tolmie,

Bridget Stanton,

Peter Clark (Jnr),

Annie Loy,

Theresa McDevitt,

Harry Salvona.

May they rest in peace.

Prayer Foundation: Prayer in Lockdown
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

The Prayer Foundation are inviting everyone to a prayer service on Zoom on Sunday 26th 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.

In order to join us you would need to let us know by Sunday 12 noon. Simply send an email to southedclust@btinternet.com with the word "Prayer" in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link on Sunday morning.

Going back to school

Pre-loved school uniforms needed.
Donations of school uniform items in good condition would be greatly appreciated. Help other families and help fight climate change by reusing resources. Contact us for details of where to bring them: southedclust@btinternet.com

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
You can donate by online bank:

Name: Blythswood Care
Sort Code: 80-91-26
Account no: 10413664
Reference: S.E. Edinburgh Foodbank

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

Rosie and the team

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