Cluster News 30/31 May

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

If you are aware of people who don't have internet access, could you contact them by phone and share our Cluster News and Prayer Resources? Keeping in touch with as many as possible in our cluster is so important at this time. Let us know if you did.

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
Our weekend Prayer Resource for adults continues.
Please let us know if you find these useful and we welcome any feedback

Children’s resources
Here are this week's materials for children and their parents whilst they can't attend their normal children's liturgy sessions during Mass. Let us know how useful these materials are and of any suggestions you may have.

Prayer Foundation
United in prayer: Tue 2.45pm & Wed 7pm
Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to be united in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. A small group has committed to 30 minutes of silent prayer at these times. Everyone in our cluster and beyond is invited to join in prayer during this time of separation and isolation. For more information or prayers requests please contact Clare Roller clare.roller@icloud.com

Hymn of the Week

As I knee before you..."

“I would like it if you could play As I kneel before you, Ave Maria please. As it’s the month of May, the month of our Lady, I would like it played in her honour. She is our Mother, Mother Church and my Mum had a great devotion to her.

We were unable to attend my Mum’s 1st Anniversary last week so I remember her especially and all mothers.

May she wrap her arms around all mothers and give them her love , tenderness and protection during these challenging times.“

Anyone can choose their favourite hymn and it would be good to hear from you the parishioners. If you would like to share your reflections about a hymn that means something to you, please contact Alisa alisa.winters@hotmail.co.uk

From our Leadership Team and Pastoral Council Chairs
Connect Groups
A number of people have been joining up remotely within the cluster to meet socially and to reflect on the upcoming gospel reading. We are contacting some people directly because they completed an Alpha Course or attended a Lenten group and are familiar with the idea. However, we would like to open this up to anyone who is interested in forming/joining a group.

If you are interested in being involved please reply to southedclust@btinternet.com and we will get back to you. The small groups (no more than seven) will meet at a time suitable to the members. If you need help with the technology involved in joining a group, again let us know in the email. Each week, we will provide the relevant gospel reading and some suggested questions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

One for the Youngsters

RASPBERRY & WHITE CHOCOLATE FINANCIER (Traybake)

INGREDIENTS
200gms Butter
200gms Golden or Normal caster Sugar
100gms Plain Flour
100gms Ground Almonds
Small Pinch of Ground Cinnamon
6 Large Egg Whites (Freeze the egg yolks for another recipe)
150gms Raspberries
100gms White Chocolate Chips or Chunks from
Icing Sugar for dusting
Clotted Cream to Serve

METHOD

Melt the butter in a small pan until it sizzles. Watch it carefully – the butter will foam, and, when the foam subsides, it will turn from yellow to a nutty brown. Remove it from the heat and place in a bowl to cool.

Heat the oven to 180C / 160C / fan Gas 4 Butter a 20cm x 25cm baking tin at least 4cm deep and line with parchment paper.

Mix the Sugar, Flour, Cinnamon and Almonds together.Beat the Egg Whites in a separate bowl (Remember it has to be clean and free from grease/fat or the eggs won’t whisk) whisk these with an electric blender till soft peaks.

Fold the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture using a large metal spoon.
Slowly pour in the brown butter, folding it until everything is combined and the batter is light.
Scrape into the prepared tin. Scatter over the Raspberries and Chocolate.

Bake for 20 - 25mins until firm. Leave to cool in the tin then dust with some Icing Sugar and cut into squares and serve with the cream.

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.

On the other hand, if you want to contribute in some way to helping people, food banks are even busier than usual.
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
The cluster contact name is Rosie.

One for the Grown ups

(South Edinburgh Cluster ‘TOM COLLINS’)

Ingredients
50ml Gin
25ml Lemon Juice
25ml Sugar Syrup (make your own – see recipe further on)
125ml Chilled Soda Water

Method

Combine all the ingredients above in a Tall glass (‘Collins’ Glass if you have one) with plenty of ice.

Stir and garnish with a lemon slice.

Sugar Syrup
Dissolve 300g of Caster Sugar in 150ml of water over a low heat.
Leave to cool and bottle for future use in other ‘Lockdown’ Cocktails

*If you plan to keep this for any length of time, then use a sterilised bottle*

Rosie writes:

Since 11th May we have helped 540 people thanks to your generosity. We are in need of the following items:

Tinned fruit, mince
Corned beef, beans
Shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel.

We also accept any cash donations; this is a huge help to us. Thank you once again for your generosity.

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

Bethany Trust Volunteers
Next shelter night Wed 10 June

Our Cluster volunteers managed the night shelter last Monday and have committed to cover another emergency night which is Wednesday 10th June. Anyone wishing to help buy the food for the night shelter in June should contact

Jane Watson on 07787 184524.

If any of our volunteers are able to join our team in June please contact Joe Murray on 07725 582599. Many thanks.

Views from the Pews

Jacqui & Brian Phillips write:

Thank you for your continued spiritual support during this time of uncertainty we continue to pray for you and with you for each and every member of our cluster we pray especially for the sick and bereaved at this time.

Ann Callaghan writes:
Thanks for the weekly updates - Dad and I enjoy keeping abreast of what is happening within the Cluster during "Lockdown". Thanks to all who make that happen.

Ellen Salvona writes:
It feels really good to receive a simple phone call to listen to the Readings, the Psalm, the Gospel and Father Alex and Father Mike's Reflection. Also to listen to the beautiful hymn. God is with us all the time and he loves us all. Well done to the team and to those who gave their time for this to be provided to me and I would like to say thank you.

Further resources

Journey of Discernment

A series of talks which is asking "What is the future of the Church after a time of pandemic?" The second of these is on Thursday 4th June by Massimo Faggioli. The meetings will be by Zoom and there will be a question and answer session included. For further details please contact: slaitynetwork@gmail.com

St Ninian's