For further information please click the link below:
For further information please click the link below:
General Synod 2021 to take place over two days
General Synod will again take place online this year, as it did in 2020. However, the schedule will cover two days on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 June, instead of the single day event that was held last December.
Business will start at 9am each day and is expected to run until approximately mid to late afternoon.
There will be breaks during the course of each day including a substantial lunchtime break, and Synod members will participate in a number of breakout groups for discussion and debate.
The General Synod agenda and papers will be issued in mid-May. The agenda is expected to include matters such as future vision and strategy for the church as we emerge from the pandemic, the approval of liturgies which have been subject to experimental use in recent years, ecumenical relations, a report on the triennial valuation of the Pension Fund, consideration of resources to assist the church in working towards carbon neutrality by 2030, debate about the church’s process for electing bishops (Canon 4), a range of clergy personnel matters including stipend, and ethical investment.
Further information about the meeting will be issued to Synod members in the coming weeks, including instructions about how the virtual aspects of the meeting will be handled but they will be broadly similar to last year. Feedback from the first virtual hosting has been considered carefully, to find ways to improve the event.
Those who are not Synod members will be able to watch a live stream of the meeting.
On Sunday 9th May, Bishop Ian presided at the 10.30 am Eucharist and also licenced Stuart Gray as Assistant Priest for St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Kirkcaldy with St Mary & St Leonard’s, Kinghorn. We welcome and send our blessings to Stuart and the congregations of St Peter’s and St Mary and St Leonard’s.
CHURCH OF THE FUTURE
During Lent 2021 the Diocesan Youth Committee ran a competition entitled “Church of the Future” and judged by an independent panel of Judges:
The competition remit was for the entrants to share their ideas for a Carbon Neutral Church and these could be submitted in any medium.
The Judges met in early May and after considerable deliberation, the following places were awarded:
1st Place and a £50 voucher – Hannah Buxel, St Mary’s Dunblane
2nd Place and a £25 voucher – Esther Holsteen, St Andrews, St Andrews.
3rd Place and a £15 – Georgie Reid, St Saviours, Bridge of Allan; Jude Holsteen, St Andrews, St Andrews, and Penelope Lang, St Andrews, St Andrews.
Vouchers and congratulations will soon be winging their way to the recipients.
Whilst the number of entries were low, the judges were impressed by the variety and innovative ideas submitted by the entries which were by telling a story; comic strip, art, video and presentation.
These are some of the comments which the judges gave;
Well done to all our entrants and a huge thank you to the judges for giving of their time. Individual entries will be featured in the Diocesan e-News in the coming months.
Dear friends
This year is Interfaith Scotland’s Year of Climate Action. We have created a document about ways that you can be involved with COP26 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021) including resources, activities and campaign actions which is attached to this email. We also have a comprehensive list of resources and videos on our Interfaith Scotland website at the link below:
www.interfaithscotland.org/climate-action-resources
We are also excited to bring you news about Scottish Interfaith Week 2021. Scottish Interfaith Week will coincide with COP26 this year, launching on Sunday 31 October and running until Sunday 7 November. The theme for 2021 is Together for Our Planet, and individuals, faith communities and organisations across Scotland will be encouraged to host climate-related events for the week. You will be able to submit an event on the Scottish Interfaith Week website from May onwards at:
www.scottishinterfaithweek.org/submit-an-event
Best wishes
Frances Hume
National Development Officer
Interfaith Scotland
Flemington House
110 Flemington Street
Glasgow G21 4BF
During May we are invited to pray for the work of Mary’s Meals. There is more information about their work on their website:https://www.marysmeals.org.uk
Please click the links below for some material which may be helpful;
On 25th March, the Feast of the Annunciation, Bishop Ian licensed Heather Cardwell as a Lay Reader in this diocese. Before moving to Scotland, Heather served for many years as a Lay Reader in the Church in Wales. Her ministry here will be within the congregation of All Saints, St Andrews, where she has been a member for some time.
The licensing took place on Zoom, attended by Heather’s friends and family as well as by members of All Saints church and representatives from the Lay Reader community in this diocese.
“Lay Readers are called to serve the Church of God and to work together with the clergy and other ministers. They are to lead public worship, to preach and teach the word of God, to assist at the eucharist and to share in pastoral and evangelistic work. As authorised lay ministers, they are to encourage the ministries of God’s people, as the Spirit distributes gifts among us all, and to help the whole Church to participate in God’s mission to the world.”
We welcome Heather into this ministry among us.
For further information please click the link below:
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