Cluster News 4 April
Dear Parishioner of the South Edinburgh Cluster,
We hope that this finds you and your families well. Here is our latest update.
Celebrating Holy Week
Our faith communities are about to set out on our journey through Holy Week. It will be like no other Holy Week we have experienced, but it can take on a new meaning and be a hopeful celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
We will provide links to Holy Week Masses and Services and produce a range of materials that individuals and families can use to pray, reflect and share as we move through this most sacred of weeks.
Today our focus is on Palm Sunday.
We hope that this finds you and your families well. Here is our latest update.
Celebrating Holy Week
Our faith communities are about to set out on our journey through Holy Week. It will be like no other Holy Week we have experienced, but it can take on a new meaning and be a hopeful celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
We will provide links to Holy Week Masses and Services and produce a range of materials that individuals and families can use to pray, reflect and share as we move through this most sacred of weeks.
Today our focus is on Palm Sunday.
Here is a link to the celebration of Palm Sunday Mass
in various churches across Scotland:
The team has produced additional materials that can be used to help children and adults reflect on the scriptures.
You can access these materials by clicking on the images.
You can also access a Palm Sunday reflection that Fr Alex and Fr Mike have prepared for us.
Finally for Palm Sunday, it is suggested that you get something green, from your garden if you have one, shape it like a cross, and place it on your front door on Palm Sunday to signify the event, if you are able to.
Alternatively, if you have internet access you could print a picture of a palm and put it on your door. Some of you might still have your Palm from last year in the house.
We hope you find these materials helpful and would again welcome your feedback.
If you are aware of people who don't have internet access, could you contact them by phone, and let them know about our Cluster News and Prayer Resources?We will send materials for Holy Thursday and Good Friday later this week. We are looking into the possibility of offering a virtual Good Friday Service.
Keeping our community and faith life alive and active without physically coming together
Over the past week we have become aware of wonderful initiatives that are taking place across our faith communities and we want to share some of them here.
Our Prayer Foundation would like to invite us all to be united (in spirit) in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45 and Wednesdays at 7pm. A small group has been meeting regularly for 30 mins of silent prayer at these times. Some of the Prayer Foundation ‘did’ this last Tuesday and thought it would be good to invite everyone in our cluster and beyond (who wishes to do so) to be united in prayer during this time of separation and isolation.
Over the past week we have become aware of wonderful initiatives that are taking place across our faith communities and we want to share some of them here.
Our Prayer Foundation would like to invite us all to be united (in spirit) in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45 and Wednesdays at 7pm. A small group has been meeting regularly for 30 mins of silent prayer at these times. Some of the Prayer Foundation ‘did’ this last Tuesday and thought it would be good to invite everyone in our cluster and beyond (who wishes to do so) to be united in prayer during this time of separation and isolation.
Those involved in our Music Ministry
have been thinking about hymns that mean something to them and sharing what they mean. In the first of a series, Alisa speaks about “You are mine” by David Hass. You can watch Alisa’s thoughts about this hymn by clicking on the video link.
Then you can listen to the hymn itself here.
If you would like to share your reflections about a hymn that means something to you, please contact Alisa (alisa.winters@hotmail.co.uk)
Our latest Alpha cycle
was underway when the Covid-19 restrictions came into being. The Cluster Alpha Team
has now made arrangements for the Alpha guests to come together in groups of 3 or 4 by video conference to complete the cycle. You will find more detailed information about what the Alpha Team
has been doing here.
If you are aware of things that are happening, please let us know and we will be happy to share this good news.
Reaching out to the housebound and those self-isolating
We are very grateful to all those who area reaching out to fellow parishioners and others in their neighbourhood at this time. If you become aware of anybody who needs any help, or if you yourself need any help, please let us know by emailing this address: southedclust@btinternet.com
We might all want to think about whether there is somebody who might welcome a phone call from us.
Other resources you might find helpful
Our Holy Father continues to celebrate Mass each day in
Casa Santa Marta - click on the image
St Ninian’s in Restalrig have links to Taizé evening prayers, reflections by Fr Jim Martin SJ and some of our Holy Father’s initiatives.
Fr Denis McBride (a Redemptorist priest) is offering a series of Lenten and Holy Week reflections. Here are his thoughts for Palm Sunday.
Latest update from the Archdiocese
The latest update from the archdiocese can be found by clicking on the image
Please feel free to forward this email to any parishioners you are in contact with.
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 & Fr Alex