Greenside Parish Church: September 2010

THE MINISTER'S LETTER
My Dear Friends

October is the month for our Gift Day (Saturday 30th) when we are invited to bring our gifts of money to the church (10am-12 noon). I shall be at the church then to receive your gift, and there will be tea and coffee available then if you can stay on.

We have had a Gift Day for many years now, and it has proved very useful in increasing the financial resources for our congregation’s ministry, in addition to the weekly offerings. I urge all of us to think prayerfully about what our response to Gift Day should be.

We should have no shame in asking for people to be generous. Sometimes money is spoken of with some awkwardness in the church. It should not be so. It is a good and holy thing when money is used well in Christ’s name and in his service. We need money and should not be embarrassed in asking for it.

I am always impressed when I remember how much of Jesus’ teaching was about money, and how we should use it.

For example, in the parable of the talents Jesus tells the story of a man who lends various sums of money to his servants with the expectation that, while he is away, his servants will use (invest) the money well and give him a good return. To those servants who put the money (‘talents’) to good use the man says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant... Come and share you master’s happiness.’ (Matthew 25.21,23.)

Or consider the familiar and often-quoted parable of the Good Samaritan.

A man going on a journey is attacked on the road by robbers and left for dead. Three people come upon him. The first is a priest who, as a holy man, you might expect would help. But he passes by on the other side of the road. The second is a Levite, a worker in the Temple, another man close to the things of God, but he too passes by on the other side.

It is left to a Samaritan, traditionally an outcast and even an enemy in the eyes of the Jews, to stop and offer practical help. He goes to the man, uses his own resources of oil and wine to dress his wounds, and brings him to an inn where he takes care of him. The next morning the Samaritan gives the innkeeper money to look after him, and promises more if it’s needed. (Luke 10.25-37.)

This is a story about human need, and the unexpected response to it. Those you would have thought would help the man in his need don’t. They fail to put their faith into action, from whatever motives, and don’t care enough to take the risk of helping. (The phrase ‘passing by on the other side’ has passed into our language to denote our selfishness and lack of compassion.)

And it is the unlikely outsider, the Samaritan, the one person whom those listening to Jesus tell this story would expect to pass by without helping, who, at some cost to himself of materials and money, comes immediately to the rescue.

John in his first Letter (1 John 3.17,18) offers a comment on this. ‘If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.’

As Christians, drawing on the ‘unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Ephesians 3.8), and trusting in all that Jesus Christ has given us freely and graciously for this life and the life to come, we should be quick both to meet the needs of others, and to support the ministry of our church in its work for the gospel in our parish and beyond. Generosity and even sacrifice should be the measure of our giving.

We are all aware through the news media of the many and great needs of the great many suffering in our world at this time. Let us respond in a worthy way, and in the spirit of the Good Samaritan.

And let us support our Gift Day by putting our faith into action. Some of you come regularly to Gift Day: please come again! To those of you who come less regularly, please make a point of coming this year, as a measure of your commitment, and as an encouragement to others!

With my love to you all,
Yours sincerely
Andrew Anderson

TEAR FUND
The number of people needing urgent help seems to get larger and larger as the weeks go by. Tearfund visited their partner, Task, in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and were shocked by what they saw there. Life is painfully hard in Mean Chey, a slum area of Phnom Penh where Task is based. Families crowded into one room, dwellings built on stilts above polluted Bassac River, which cuts the slum in two. Over 250,000 people live side by side in appalling conditions, with no access to clean water, sanitation or healthcare. One of the few rays of hope for the young women had been the availability of jobs in the textile industry, which offered them the prospect of supporting their families and escaping from poverty. But the recession has led to a dramatic fall in demand for the clothes they made, and 70 factories have been forced to close. This has had a devastating effect on their lives and they need help. Tearfund is doing what it can as resources are stretched more and more.
So KEEP THE PENNIES ROLLING IN
John Laing

PRESBYTERY REPORT
Presbytery met at St Andrew's Clermiston Parish Church for worship led by the Moderator, Reverend Alistair H Kiel, and for the following business.
Findlay MacDonald presented a potted history of the 'Journey' of the Church of Scotland over the past 450 years. He looked at present day themes of reformation and enlightenment, advocating that we learn from history, look forward to the challenges of the future and avoid repeating past mistakes.
David Stuart discussed the Deployment of Resources Strategy and the 10 year Presbytery Plan. This required by March 2012, focussing on Mission with less paid personnel. The “Unless the Lord....” consultation period should now be concluded and it is proposed to use the information gathered to impact future plans. It has been decided to suspend the Review process for Reviewable Tenure until 2012. This affects 7 people at present but the number may increase if vacancies occur before then.
An outline plan is to be brought to the Meeting on December 7th concentrating on Mission-in-Context, sharing God's work, using all personnel resources, considering locations, buildings, finance and diversity of Church Life across the city. Consultation documents should be with Kirk Sessions now for response by October 30th.
The Strategy Team have produced a 13 month calendar showing all Presbytery and Committee Meetings marked throughout to facilitate forward planning and, hopefully, improve attendance.

Katherine L Anderson
Presbytery Elder
Greenside Parish Church

WEEKLY TEA ROTA
Each week tea and coffee is served in the halls after the morning service, and this is welcomed by members and visitors alike as a chance to exchange news and make friendships. There is a monthly rota of volunteers who set out the cups, make the tea and coffee, serve it out and clear away afterwards. Washing up is taken care of by our highly efficient dishwasher. We are seeking new volunteers (women and men) for the rota, so if you would like to help please contact Dorothy Begbie or Hazel Anderson. We look forward to hearing from you.

FILM NIGHT
The film "GUYS AND DOLLS" will be shown in the hall on Thursday 28th October at 7pm.
Tickets are £7 and include a choc ice and post show refreshments. All profits to Christian Aid. Come and bring your friends to banish the winter gloom with a sparkling musical. Forties/ fifties dress optional.

CHURCH SERVICE RECORDINGS
Our Sunday morning services are recorded weekly and they are available on request. Anyone unable to attend the morning service, or members who are housebound and wish a copy should contact Graham Anderson 0131 466 0831

Greenside Parish Church

Sunday, 26 September 2010

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Tuesday, 7 September 2010

CHURCH DIARY FOR OCTOBER

EVENING SERVICES

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