- Sunday 11 June
Services at 9.30 and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage is 1 Peter 2:4-17 and the theme, How do you change society?
Hunger Lunch takes place at 12 noon. This is a relaxed, informal, simple lunch of soup, rolls and tea/coffee. Donations given go to support the Malawi Orphans project.
2) Gift Day, 25 June
Every year the Congregation has an annual gift day. Members and friends are encouraged to make an extra offering to express their thanks for God’s goodness to them. This year it returns to its pre-Covid slot at the end of June and will support five projects. The leaflet with all the details is attached.
Today I am focusing on the creation of a Green Canopy in Malawi. This is a community-driven initiative that will resource individual groups to respond to their challenges through agroforestry, which include deforestation, food insecurity, youth unemployment and climate change.
– Deforestation. Between 2001 and 2021, Malawi lost 14% of its tree cover. Deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion, which in turn is driven by reducing yields as a result of changing climate and soil degradation. This creates a vicious cycle of deforestation and declining agricultural yields.
– Food insecurity. Fruit trees enhance local nutrition and provide income-generation opportunities. Tree cover provides protection from disasters like flooding and landslides and also help improve soil conditions over time.
– Youth unemployment. Malawi has a rapidly growing population, which is not being matched by a growth in employment opportunities. Jobs will be created in tree nurseries, tree planting and forest management.
– Climate Change. Every tree removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change.
3) Christian Aid Coffee Morning – Saturday 17 June
The annual Coffee Morning will be on 17 June, in the Church hall, 10. -12. noon. If you can help on the day or contribute to the bakery and gift stalls please contact Barbara Clark or Liz Craigie (Church Directory or Church Office).
4) Citation from the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders.
From the Presbytery Clerk:
A Presbytery meeting has been called for Saturday 17th June at 10am at Jedburgh Old Parish Church at which various basis of adjustment of the Lothian segment of the Lothian & Borders Presbytery Mission Plan will be presented and voted on. An opportunity will be given for congregations to speak at this meeting and the congregation of St Andrew Blackadder is cited to appear for its interests.
This relates to the proposed Parish Grouping of Aberlady and Gullane Parish Church with St Andrew Blackadder Church. StAB voted unanimously in favour of it last October. An appeal against the plan (but not the Parish Grouping) caused the process to be paused. That appeal was not upheld and so Presbytery is now proceeding to make the Parish Grouping a reality. No one from StAB or Aberlady and Gullane will object since both congregations are fully supportive of this.
5) The Future of the Kirk Ports Building 15 June
NBEHT (North Berwick Environment and Heritage Trust) is holding an event at Steampunk on Thursday 15 June, 6pm – 7.30pm to gather thoughts and ideas about the future of the ruined church on Kirk Ports. They would welcome your input.
6) Prayer Gathering
Each Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm. Contact the office for log on details.
Neil
Rev Dr Neil Dougall
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