The Link The Magazine of St Leonard’s & St Mary’s March 2015

Lent - Holy Week - Easter

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Our Lent Themes for 2015

This year we are planning that our Sunday worship services will reflect the weekly theme of our Lenten Study Groups. Each week the Study groups and our sermon slots will be looking at one of the “songs” of the New Testament. We may be used to the book of Psalms being a Song Book but throughout our scriptures we come across songs and poems. In the New Testament these “songs” are drawn from some of the earliest Christian writings and have come to shape

our faith and understanding of God and the person of Jesus Christ. We do not cover all the songs of the New Testament so we will not be looking at Zechariah’s song of praise at the Birth of John the Baptist, or even at Mary’s song of the Magnificat. Neither do we sample the songs of praise within the wonderful book of Revelations with its recurring Sanctus of Holy, Holy, Holy.

However, what we are looking at are five main themes and their related passages these are meant to prompt us to think a little more about our faith, who Jesus is and what he has done for us as we journey through Lent, into Holy Week and on to the glorious celebration of Easter. The songs may have been written as Catechismal material for new believers to learn and deepen their understanding of faith so they are still useful for us today. We will be looking at

Lent 1 Gratitude or thanksgiving Ephesians 1:3-14

Lent 2 The Image or person of God Colossians 1:15-20

Lent 3 Humility & Humbleness Philippians 2:5-11

Lent 4 New Birth & Living Hope 1st Peter 1:3-12

Lent 5 Emmanuel the Word made Flesh John 1:1-14

As well as the thirty people who have signed up and can make it to our Lenten Study groups we are encouraging you too to consider taking time each week to consider each of these themes and songs as we grow and deepen our faith and understanding together as a people seeking God.

Lent 1 Gratitude or thanksgiving Ephesians 1:3-14 The first thing to notice about this passage that may not be clear to us in a modern English translation is the way that these words of praise tumble out of the author. In the Greek in which Ephesians was originally written verses 3-14 is one long single sentence—all flowing from the first words of praise. It is almost as though the author is so full of joy and wonder that they overflow with praise without any pause for breath. What makes us overflow with praise? Reflect on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Through him we are forgiven, bought back, and become adopted children of God, rightful heirs to the inheritance of blessings by being princes and princesses of the Kingdom

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Lent 2 The Image or person of God Colossians 1:15-20 This passage from Colossians certainly has a different flow from the rest of the letter. The verses are poetic with a rhythmic beat repeating ideas and phrases such as “in him” and “through him” and “for him”! The verses are sparse in language used but deep and rich in meaning. This for those trained in linguistic usage suggests that the passage has been honed and polished as the author or authors discussed and debated key questions about who is Jesus and what has he done for us. It is strongly suggested that these few verses may be an early statement or affirmation of faith. The question still today for each of us to grapple with is who do we say Jesus is?

Lent 3 Humility & Humbleness Philippians 2:5-11 Our Philippians reading for this third week of Lent is not only a revelation about who Jesus is, what he did and what will be done, it is also a challenge to us. Verse 5 states that we are to consider how we live. We are to consider Jesus humility, not only how he lived while on earth but how he humbled himself. What a great mystery to reflect upon that although Jesus was and is God, he made himself nothing taking on the nature of a servant and being made in human form he became obedient to death, death on a cross. And so we are challenged to let the same mind, the same attitude of Jesus to be in us. Are we willing to humble ourselves, to step out of our current place and step into the role of being a servant, serving one another in love?

Lent 4 New Birth & Living Hope 1st Peter 1:3-12 Our Passage from Peter’s first letter has a familiar ring to it returning us to our earlier passage from Ephesians. Peter like Paul launches into a long sentence of praising “blessing” God for the “new birth” and “living hope”. Like the Ephesian's passage this too is a long unpunctuated sentence in the Greek but thankfully in the modern English we are able to catch our breath. Take time to slow down and consider this passage. Delight and wonder in the “new birth” that is ours, that makes us children of God, offering us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade away. However, life is not all plain sailing, there is no promises of roses without thorns. Life naturally has beauty along side danger and at times some grief's and trials are passed through to refine us. Although none of us seek these difficult times we are encouraged to hold on to Christ who is not a dead God but a living hope for all of us.

Lent 5 Emmanuel the Word made Flesh John 1:1-14 Our final passage once again challenges us to consider the personhood of Jesus, not only his humanity but his divinity. This passage is probably the greatest piece of poetic theology in the New Testament if not the whole Bible. The deep question is do we recognize him? Do we turn to him, can we grasp that this same Jesus who we may be able to relate to as a human being is more than just a good man. He is more, much more, he is God who has pitched his tent with us, the Emmanuel. Do we know him with us today?

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Lent Appeal 2015

Bishop of Edinburgh Dear Friends, Once again I am inviting you to consider supporting

two causes for our annual Lent appeal – one local,

and one international.

The local cause is very close to home. Please would you support all those preparing for ministry in our Training Institute and, in particular, our younger candidates? By investing in the ordinands of today we can equip the Church for

mission and ministry for many years to come.

The second cause is the International Justice Mission which has been brought to my attention by members of the diocese. Its work helps to transform the lives of people far away who do not enjoy the protection of the law as we do. Its aim is to make a lasting difference, bringing structural change to benefit

millions of people today and those still unborn. If you are able, please give generously.

+John

Scottish Episcopal Institute

You can help to build the Church of the future by investing in the ordinands of today through the work of the Scottish Episcopal Institute (SEI). Our training agency, the SEI, is actively engaged in equipping women and men in new ways

for their part in God’s mission. For some, the call to discipleship will lead to licensed lay ministry or ordination.

This Lent, we ask you to pray for, and give financial support to, the Scottish Episcopal Institute as it seeks to equip these disciples to lead the mission and ministry of our Church.

By God’s grace, a wonderful range of disciples of all ages are called to ministry

in the Scottish Episcopal Church. But we sense a particular urgency to recognise and support the call of younger candidates at this time. We want to

encourage and delight in the fresh insights and energy they bring to us. We

need those who can offer a lifetime of ordained service to God and form the future leadership of our Church. We recognise the importance of investing substantially in their training and formation so as to equip them for the tasks

ahead. Your support can help us on the road to achieving some of these goals.

www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/vocation-and-ministry/sei/

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International Justice Mission Far below the news headlines, a plague of hidden, everyday violence is devastating the developing world and

undermining our efforts to end poverty.

Fear of violence is part of everyday life for the poor, as

much a part of poverty as hunger, disease or malnutrition. Justice systems – police, courts and laws – don’t protect them from violent people. According to the United

Nations, over 4 billion people live without the protection of their own justice systems.

Inspired by God’s call to love all people and seek justice for the oppressed, International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organisation that protects the

poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors and strengthen justice systems. In nearly 20 communities throughout Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia, IJM

combats slavery, trafficking, rape, police brutality, property grabbing and

other forms of violence.

Your support can help us to defend thousands of people throughout the world. We develop

comprehensive plans to partner with local authorities to bring about lasting change. Your support can therefore also help to improve

whole justice systems, so that millions are

protected from the abuse in the first place.

Find out more at www.ijm.org

Your Contributions?

Donations should be handed in to your local church or you can collect a Lent

Box and fill it up during Lent and return it to us for Easter Sunday.

If you are eligible, please complete a gift-aid form and help us to maximise your contribution For any further information please contact the Diocesan

Office on 0131 538 7044 or email: bpsec@dioceseofedinburgh.org Charity Number: SC001214

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The work of Store House continues and develops beyond the provision of food items. Each week the Store House continue to be

asked by Social Services to provide food.

As well as food we also try to provide some simple basic cleaning items and have recently been approached by Woman's Aid locally to help provide a basic cleaning starter kit to those in need.

Each kit contains a basin, washing up liquid, detergents, soap, antibacterial sprays, Washing

Powder or liquid, Jay Cloths, cleaning sponges and Tea towels. If you are able to provide any of these items then please bring them to church

and leave them with the Storehouse donations box.

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Fundraising Baking stall at the Pitcairn Centre Bonnyrigg

Our next Baking Stalls will be 5th February and 5th March.

Please continue to support this with donations of baking and

or taking a turn manning the stall on the day. Sign up

sheet at the back of the church. So far we have raised in

excess of £2700 from our efforts.

New legislation means that we now need to know what

allergens are in the items we sell. This means we need to

create a tick list that is available to be referred to by

those manning the stall. As most of us make the same

things we will soon build up a list which can be reused each

month.

Items that have to be checked for are varied and many

wont be relevant. For your information here are a list of

the items Molluscs, Lupin, Sulphites, Sesame, Mustard,

Celery, Nuts, Milk, Soya beans, Peanuts, Fish, Eggs,

Crustaceans, Cereal containing gluten. Please don’t assume

that the person on the stall will know what ingredients are

in your baking recipes vary greatly. We do need to remain

within the law.

Happy Baking Fiona Harris

St .Leonard’s Prayer Tree

So that we can keep the Prayer Tree up-to-date, all the prayer requests will be taken down on the 4th Sunday of the month and presented with the offerings at the altar. Please renew your prayer requests on the tree for the following month.

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St Leonard’s and St Mary's

Prayer Diary

March 2015

We hope you will find this prayer sheet a helpful addition to your own prayer life. You can pull it out from the

Magazine if that would help too.

Please also let us know how you use the Prayer Diary and if there is anything you would like us to add or change or

prayers answered that you would like to share.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions

with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert

and always keep on praying (Ephesians 6:18)

A prayer to start the day O Lord, you are in charge of everything that will happen to me today, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the positive and the negative. Please make me thankful for everything that happens in my life today. Amen.

Specific things to pray for this month Pray for those areas of the world experiencing conflict, unrest and natural disaster, for all who work to relieve suffering in these areas that God will guide and sustain them and keep them safe in the difficult situations they have to face. Remember all who suffer under oppressive and unjust regimes, praying that the rule of evil will be replaced by one of goodness. Pray for all who are being persecuted for their Christian faith wherever they may be. Pray for believers to offer bold and fearless witness to Jesus; for the truth about the forces behind violence to be revealed; for lasting peace to be brokered in Syria and Iraq, and in Ukraine and for wise international responses; for displaced people and strength for churches who are caring and reaching out to them; for new Christians to grow in faith and integrate into churches; for those who do not know Jesus Pray for all who are preparing for the World Day of Prayer, this year on March 6th and for all who will attend the services that they will be given new awareness of God through the words and music that they will hear. Give thanks for the diversity of cultures in our world and ask God to open our eyes to those who are in need of a gentle touch, a healing presence, a word of comfort and a listening ear. Ask him to transform us, our church and our community to become more Christlike. 'Standing Orders' – things to pray for all the time Church, Family and Friends Give thanks for your family and friends and ask God's blessing on them. Give thanks for St Leonard's and St Mary's church family. Pray that we will continue to grow in faith and the ways that we honour God in every aspect of our lives. Pray for all the groups associated with our two churches, for David and Shelley Stokes, our mission partners in Argentina and for the work of Scripture Union locally. Remembering Mike Parker's recent visit to our churches, continue to pray for the work of Middle East Christian Outreach (MECO). Pray for those

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who are to be married or baptised at this time, for their families and for all preparing to take part in church services this week. Give thanks for our clergy teams and all that they do for us. Pray for the Vestries that they will be guided and inspired by God in all the decisions that they make. Pray for all who are preparing to lead or participate in the upcoming Lent Groups that they will be enriched in their relationship with God.

Young people Pray for young folk and all who work with them, in education or other places. Pray that our young folk will be protected from bullying, abuse and exploitation and that their environment will always be safe and inspiring. Our local

community and the Wider Environment Pray for the folk in your neighbourhood that they may know God's love. Ask his blessing on your work colleagues and the people you come into contact with every day. Pray for the work of local churches and organisations, that God will guide them to where they are most needed as they share his love and encouragement with the communities they serve. Ask God to show you how you can work for his kingdom. Give thanks for the world and all its riches and ask God to teach us to be good stewards of all he has blessed us with. The vulnerable, those who suffer and those in need, those who are lonely or sick, the bereaved and anxious Pray for those you know who have short or long term illness or disability, for older people discouraged by their increasing frailty, for the anxious, the lonely and the bereaved, that they will know God's strength and comfort. Pray for those struggling with mental illness, those battling addictions or incurable illnesses, those in great pain and those coming to the end of their earthly lives. Pray for those suffering persecution, exploitation and abuse. Especially remember all who are finding life tough just now. Ask God to bring them comfort, refuge and healing. Prayers Answered Give thanks for prayers answered and for all the good things that have happened for you, your family, friends and neighbours.

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This space is for you to write your own prayers and concerns Please remember that you can add your prayer requests to the Prayer Diary at St Mary's or add them to the Prayer Tree at St Leonard's. Please also update us on answered prayer as we believe God is at work through us.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, Your will be done

On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and forever. Amen

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Lectionary Readings

March

The lectionary list is provided for those who are preparing to read and lead in church for the main Sunday Service. However, this list is also for all of us to be prepared for worship each Sunday and to consider what the passages means to us as we come to seek God and open ourselves to hear from him before we hear the sermon and what the preacher thinks.

MARCH Sun 1st, 2nd Sunday of Lent Colossians 1:15-20 Image of God Mark 9:2-9 Sun 8th. 3rd Sunday of Lent Philippians 2:5-11 Humility John 2:13-22 Sun 15th Mothering Sunday 1 Peter 1:3-12 New Birth John 3:14-21

Sun 22nd, 5th Sunday of Lent Psalm 51:1-13 John 1:1-14 Word made Flesh Sun 29th Palm Sunday Psalm 118: 1-2 & 19-29 Mark 11:1-11 Sunday 5th April Easter Day Acts 10.34-43 Mark 16.1-8

Old Stamps and Postcards

for St Columba’s Hospice

They may be of no use and ready to be placed in the

recycle bin but STOP! Your old stamps and Postcards

even old coins can be passed onto Sylvia Morrison via

Rosemary Garrod and the collection boxes in St Leonard’s.

Sylvia has passed onto us a lovely letter of thanks from the Hospice and through

supporting her collecting we have raised with her £4707 for this work. So well done.

So don’t throw out your old stamps or postcards, find a small box and as your post

arrives cut off the stamp and place it in the box. Or when friends and family send you

a postcard enjoy it for a week or two then place it in the box too. When full bring

them to church or pass on to Rosemary. Thank You

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Provincial Youth Week 2015 2nd-8th August

at Glenalmond College, Perthshire

All the fun of Glenalmond is being packed into one week only this summer.

The annual Youth Week offers teenagers from all over the Scottish Episcopal Church a unique opportunity to get together for full-on fun and fellowship. Together they share Bible study, worship and a wealth of different activities, including sports, crafts, a murder mystery evening and the ever popular ceilidh. Whether you have one teenager in your church or whole youth teams, they all need to know about Glen 15. Find out more at http://edinburgh.anglican.org/media/resources/glen15_application_form.pdf

or Speak to Peter or the young people to find out about their experiences.

Easter Competition for Children This leaning tower of Fair Trade Easter Egg prizes is awaiting lots of lucky winners!

This Easter competition is for two age groups – under 12s and 13-18.

There is a choice of how to enter. Either:

• Write a letter to the Church, saying whatever you would like to say - questions, requests, thoughts, challenges and anything else. Be honest about your experience of being a member of the church! Or: • Design a brilliant church that you would like to go to. Make your design A4, colourful and add labels or an explanation if you would like!

The best letters and designs will be published in the Diocesan Youth & Children Newsletter and winners will receive a 165g Easter Egg (kindly donated by the Meaningful Chocolate Company) which comes with extra chocolates and a simple guide to the Easter story.

Email entries to youthandchildren@dioceseofedinburgh.org or post them to 21a Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EL. Please include a contact email address (parent or church leader). Closing date: 31 March 2015

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The Link Book Group The Book Group has read and dissected two books since our last entry in the magazine. The first was a novel The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway which we read in November. The nominal figure of the title appears only periodically but seems to be a link to the three main characters. The scene is set in a war torn Sarajevo with snipers in the hills above the city picking off ordinary men and women who are striving to go about their daily lives as best they can. Kenan faces the agonising dilemma of crossing the city to get fresh water for his family. Dragan an older man in the grip of fear does not know who to trust any more. And Arrow, a young woman enlisted into the Forces defending the city, as a counter-sniper finds herself pushed to the limits of human endurance. Although we found it quite harrowing we all thought it was well written and gave us much to think about as well as being a good read.

The second book which we read in January was an autobiography This Boy by Alan Johnson. (The author held several ministerial posts in the Labour government of Tony Blair.) It gives an account of the author’s early days living from hand-to-mouth in the London slums of the 50s & 60s with gritty detail. He and his elder sister endured much with pluck and grim determination and with a historical background – eg the Notting Hill riots and the swinging sixties. More of a social history through his experiences rather than a drum and trumpet traditional history. We thought it merited top marks all round.

Our next meeting is on Friday 27th March in The County Coffee Lounge at 7.30pm when we will have read Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain.

John A Fleming

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St Mary’s Rota

Sunday Sidespersons Coffee Flowers Cleaning

1st March

O: J du Rocher C: S Blamire

R: N Hallworth I: A Mackay

M: N & D Grieve

Andrew Watt Cheryl Prior

Noreen &

David Grieve

8th March

O: L McEwan C: J Fleming R: D Grieve I: S Blamire M: E Stewart

Sue & Phil

Blamire

Barbara &

Nigel

Hallworth

15th March

O: A Mackay C: J Fleming

R: J du Rocher I: A Watt M: D Law

Robin &

Kathleen

Donald

Cheryl Prior

Pat Elliot

22nd March O: R Donald C: S Blamire R: B Tinley I: K Donald

M: E Thomson

David &

Noreen Grieve

Betty Tinley Julia Davis

29th March

O: A Watt C: J Fleming R: J Fleming I: R Donald

M:

Mitch & Elizabeth Thomson

Sue & Phil

Blamire

O = Officiant, C = Chalice, R = Reader, I = Intercessions & M = Music

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St Leonard’s Rota

Sunday Sidespersons Coffee Flowers Cleaning

1st March O: V Scott

C: T Mooney R: T Mooney I: M Jones

M: E Thomson

J Forsyth N Fyffe

J Mellon D Reid

J Connor

C Todd A Thomson

8th March O: T Mooney C: N Stewart

R: Mary J I: N Stewart M: E Stewart

V Scott R Garrod

A Bolan J Strong N Duthie

R Simpson

15th March O: N Stewart C: A Bruce R: S Kemp I: R Garrod M: V Scott

J Shannon J Strong

N Whannell A

Cunningham

Mothers Day

P & I Nicolson

22nd March O: A Bruce C: V Clark

R: Sunday Club I: C Todd

M: Peter & David

A Cunningham N Whannell

C Todd A Bruce

A Thomson A Bruce

29th March O: V Scott

C: T Mooney R: Mary J

I: N Stewart M:

A & I Bolan R Simpson A McKenzie B Polouse

Spring Clean Frid 27th & Sat

28th

O = Officiant, C = Chalice, R = Reader, I = Intercessions & M = Music

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Rector Reverend Peter Harris 663 7000

Assistant Priest Reverend Elizabeth Jones 440 2602

Reverend Jennie Godfrey 660 6145

Reverend Bill Elliot 663 1369

St Leonard’s St Mary’s

Rector’s Martin Johnson Robin Donald

Warden 01875 320458 663 1821

People’s Ian Nicolson Anne Mackay

Warden 654 2247 663 5008

Secretary John Mellon 6638796 Andrew Watt 663 3197

Treasurer Tom Mooney 663 0889 Nigel Hallworth 663 4580

Lay Rep Vicki Clark 660 6681 John Fleming 660 2336

Sacristan Vicki Clark 660 6681 John Fleming 660 2336

Sunday Club John Mellon 663 8796 Kathleen Donald

663 1821

Flowers Ruth Simpson 663 2242 Kathleen Donald

663 1821

Coffee Jean Mellon 6638796 Sue Blamire 663 0678

Cleaning Joy Mooney 663 0889 Betty Tinley 654 9042

Fair Trade Joy Mooney 663 0889 Phil Blamire 663 0678

Tuesday Club Daphne Farquharson 663 9338

For Housebound Mary Foreman 660 1307

House Groups Reflections 663 1209

Mondays 663 3197

Tuesdays 660 6681

Church Magazine

Editors Fiona Harris

Distribution Dorothy Walter 654 2951

Hall/Keys Christine Wight 660 9859

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Where to find us

Items for inclusion in the March edition of

should be passed to Fiona by Sunday 15th March at the latest

St Leonard’s Church

Dobbies Rd Lasswade & Bonnyrigg

Sunday at 11.15am

with Children’s Sunday Club

www.stleonardslasswade.org.uk

St Mary ‘s Church

The church in the park

Dalkeith Country Park High St, Dalkeith

Sunday 9.30am

www.stmarysdalkeith.org.uk

More Information and Enquiries:

For more information about each of the churches we invite you to visit the websites of each church, you can also find us on

facebook under “St Leonard’s & St Mary’s”

or to contact the Church Office on

0131 663 7000 or email revpharris@googlemail.com

Both Churches are registered with the Scottish Charity Register as St Leonard’s Episcopal Church: Lasswade SC014151

St Mary’s Episcopal Church: Dalkeith SC001677

Editor’s Note

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the Churches. Please could anyone submitting an article for inclusion en-sure that the content is suitable for a church magazine?

Holy Week Services

30th March - 5th April

Dalkeith Churches

Monday Holy Week - Dalkeith Baptist Church 7.30pm Tuesday Holy Week - St John’s Kings Park 7.30pm Wednesday Holy Week - Full Gospel Church 7.30pm Maundy Thursday St Mary’s 7.30pm Good Friday Walk of Witness - gather at St Mary’s 10am Good Friday Evening - - St Nicholas Buccleuch 7.30pm Easter Sunday Early Morning Service at St Mary’s 7am

Rosewell, Cockpen & Carrington, Lasswade

Monday Holy Week - Our Lady RC Church 7pm Tuesday Holy Week - Rosewell Parish Church 7pm Wednesday Holy Week - St Leonard’s Episcopal 7pm Maundy Thursday - Lasswade Parish Church 7pm Good Friday Evening - Cockpen & Carrington 7pm