Introduction

1st July, 2022 Weekly Update

1st July, 2022 Weekly Update

  1. Growing Young Next Steps

During June the Kirk Session and the Growing Young team worked with the responses you gave to the discernment exercise.  Some of what you suggested (for example, Hunger Lunch) involves developing or restarting activities we are already doing. The Kirk Session is planning to do these things.

Out of the other suggestions, there are five things we want to develop over the next few months.

  1. A pattern of worship outside the church building
  2. Mission trips
  3. Support for parents
  4. Social Media
  5. SU group in the school.

The first three on the list require a fair bit of definition and explanation. I will do that for each of them over the next three weeks (that’s 1 per week, so this email doesn’t became a long read.)  The other two are fairly well defined, though that doesn’t mean they are easy to achieve, and I will cover them in today’s message.

2.  Social Media

We know we can be better at communication. One of the very first thing we identified when we began Growing Young was that our website needed refreshed. Our new website is a very tangible fruit of our taking part in Growing Young. This has been a good first step.

The weekly email has also helped us improve internal communication. The intention is to continue it.  As a result of the new website (which is much simpler to update) and this email the role of Kaleidoscope has changed. It is no longer the go to place for details of activities and rotas. So this coming year we are going to try a new pattern of four issues per year.  The next issue will be in September.

The area we are very weak in is Social Media.  So one of our action steps is to develop a sustainable Social Media presence. If you have any experience in this area and/or would like to get involved, please let me know or get in touch directly with BG.

3.  A Group in the High School.

It goes without saying that this requires the agreement of the High School. If the school is willing, it would be great to establish some kind of voluntary Christian group, probably meeting one lunchtime, where young people can find out more about Jesus and what is involved in following him.  Andrew, our apprentice youth worker will head this up. He will need assistance from a few people in running it. Prayer for it will be essential. There may also be a need to provide filled rolls on a weekly basis.  If you would like to be involved, please let Andrew know.

4. Summer Meals for Families

We know that times are hard. So a few people in Abbey and St Andrew Blackadder have worked out a way of providing a free evening meal for families on a Thursday night (5-7pm) during the school holidays.  Meals will be in Abbey Church on 21 July, 28  July, 11 Aug and 18 Aug, and in St Andrew Blackadder on 4 Aug. If you would like to get involved by preparing food, serving or washing up, please contact Alison Singleton (details in Directory or via church office).

5.  New Elders

I am delighted that Chris Finlayson, BG Hill-Jowett, Donna Kellock, Elaine Martin and Lynda Tulloch have an accepted an invitation to join the Kirk Session. This will take place on Sunday 10 July. The congregation is required to be given a week’s notice – which has now happened. It also serves as an invitation to you to pray for them as they take on this responsibility.

6.  Weekly Prayer

Each Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.

Contact Julie in the office for access.

Neil

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