Rector’s Letter – November 2024
St James the Less Penicuik and St Mungo West Linton
Scottish Episcopal Churches
The Rectory
23 Broomhill Road
Penicuik
EH26 9EE
01968 678254
07950 607574
Rector.pandwl@gmail.com
1st November 2024
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Rector’s letter for November 2024
Personal Notes
I hope you spotted that during October the theme of our sermons was about prayer. It has been interesting to have to think about prayer and to consider how to preach about it.
There are many ways to pray, and the different ways of praying may depend on our personality type or just based on how we were taught as children at home, in school or in church. If we take prayer seriously, we may have developed our prayer life as we develop, grow and deepen our faith. Praying should change us.
This coming Saturday, 2nd November, both churches will be open from 10.30am to 2.30 pm for you to come into church to enjoy a time of peace and silence, and to pray. The ministry team have been working on a prayer booklet describing many ways to pray, and this booklet will be available to look through on Saturday, to help you with your prayers that day, and after that too. There should be sufficient copies for you to take a booklet home. I shall shortly send the booklet out to everyone with an email address, as an attachment. I would also urge you to invite others to come along on Saturday and enjoy some time of silence and prayer. They may be people who attend other churches, or maybe people who call themselves ‘spiritual but not religious’ or people who you just don’t know if they pray at all. You may be pleasantly surprised by the positive response you get.
Our prayer life can take some discipline to turn into a holy habit. It normally involves setting aside a regular time and creating a ritual that helps you to settle down for a while. Before I was ordained, when I had a full-time job and was a warden for first-year students in halls of residence whilst also studying for ordination, I initially struggled to make time to pray. I eventually worked out that if I put my porridge in the microwave to cook each morning, and then allowed at least five minutes for it to cool down, that gave me a ten-minute window to sit quietly and pray. Sometimes I prayed about what I was going to be doing that day – or more accurately – what I thought I would be doing that day, whereas sometimes it was to examine the previous day. And of course, quite often the ten-minute prayer time went on for much longer and I had to re-heat my porridge. That ‘ritual’ worked for me. I wonder what might work for you?
In our churches, apart from the prayers we offer to God on a Sunday morning and at our mid-week communion services, we pray the Daily Offices each day. We meet on Zoom at 9 am for Morning Prayer and at 5.30 pm for Evening Prayer. Each service has an allotted Psalm, which is a form of prayer in itself. There is a rationale for how the psalms are allocated. In the morning the psalms have an attitude of praise, whilst in the evenings they have an attitude of reflective trust. Each day of the week also has a different theme: Sunday is New Life and Resurrection. Monday is Wisdom. Tuesday is kingship and the holy city. Wednesday is Lament and Thanksgiving. Thursday is God’s Saving acts. Friday is reflecting on the Cross. Saturdays reflect the Jewish Sabbath.
Each morning, we also pray for all who are unwell or in need. If you wish us to add someone to the list, please let me know. It doesn’t have to be someone at church, but it would be good to ask the person if they would mind if we prayed for them. We do not need to know the detail, although an indication of the need for prayer helps us focus on the prayer.
Alongside the preaching our Monday evening Faith Development discussions have been based around John Pritchard’s book, ‘How To Pray’. This is a very easy book to read, with no big theological words, and with good examples and advice. You can get hold of a second-hand copy for about £3.
Last weekend I was part of a wonderful team that led a Cursillo course, that ran from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. It was based at the Boys Brigade HQ in Larbert, which is a comfortable residential conference centre. Cursillo is a Spanish word (the double ‘L’ is pronounced as a ‘Y’) for a short course. The team delivering the course had two spiritual advisers, of which I was one. The rest of the team were lay, coming from many different Episcopal congregations across Scotland. During a Cursillo weekend the participants listen to 15 short talks, each one of less than five minutes. After each talk the participants discuss it in their small groups of normally three to five people, facilitated by a table leader. Each talk builds on the previous talk, where the speakers talk about their experiences of faith and go on to describe the Cursillo way of discipleship; prayer, study and action. We have Morning and Evening Prayer and two Eucharistic services during the weekend too. I like to think of the Cursillo weekend as being a ‘faith booster’, a time to receive and be enriched by the talks and the prayer that enfolds the weekend. The weekend does not expect participants to pay. The costs are generally covered by donations from past participants. Cursillo doesn’t end when people leave the venue. Cursillo invites people to join a group to continue to use the Prayer, Study and Action way of discipleship, if they wish to do so.
The participants at this last weekend all seemed to have been spiritually fed and have come away with a boost to their love of Christ and God. If you would like to consider attending the next Cursillo weekend (probably in autumn 2025) please let me know. I can let you know who else has been on a Cursillo weekend so you can speak to them, or you could join us at a meeting of people who have been on a Cursillo weekend and experience the Prayer, Study and Action way of discipleship for yourself.
In my last letter I mentioned that I had stumbled upon a podcast series called ‘The Bible for Normal People’. I listen to it via YouTube, but I am sure there are other ways to find it too. Each podcast is about an hour long. With the benefit of long lunchtime walks with Misty I have managed to listen to the first twenty podcasts. They include podcasts with Walter Brueggemann, Rachel Held Evans held in 2017 (a most poignant episode as she died tragically young) and the last one I listened to (episode 20) was with Diana Butler Bass, whose book, ‘Grounded’ I mentioned in my last letter. ‘Grounded’ focuses on the incarnation of God in the world. I also succumbed to temptation and bought ‘John for Normal People’, one of the books in their commentary series on the Bible. The podcasts are interesting and are readily accessible to anyone who wants to know more about the Bible and our Christian faith. I am now onto the 21st episode with a Jewish scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures from Harvard talking about the Jewish concept of Resurrection. Am I starting to sound a bit of a nerd? I hope not, because the conversations are accessible.
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Prayers and Information: Several people have spoken to me ever since 7th October 2023 about the situation pertaining to Israel and Gaza, and more widely about Israel, Judaism, Zionism, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza and the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem). As some of you will know I have had an interest in the suffering of the Palestinian people for many years. The history of the region is complex, and the issues around antisemitism and Zionism and our sensitivity especially to antisemitism make this a difficult subject to navigate. People rightly do not want to be antisemitic whilst wanting to express concern for the peoples who have lived in the lands known as Palestine for many thousands of years and are currently facing an asymmetric war alongside withholding food, water, medical aid, and the destruction of civilian and medical infrastructure.
I thought it might be useful to share more widely some of the online resources that I refer people to. See below:
Websites:
https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/
https://palestinecampaign.org/
Some recent reporting is below:
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/10/16/raz_segal_textbook_case_of_genocide
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/50865
The documentary, Life and Death in Gaza
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002412q
Whatever else you do, please pray for a just peace in the lands we call Holy.
News and new things happening
Peter Woodifield
Peter is scheduled to return on Sunday 3rd November, celebrating Holy Communion at St Mungo’s. It will be good to have hi back and to know he has fully recovered from a longer period of absence than he ever envisaged.
Peeblesshire Youth Trust Christmas Hamper Appeal at St Mungo’s
This year we are being asked to provide 120 beverages; tea, instant coffee, and hot chocolate, etc. Please be generous and help us reach this target. We have until mid-November to achieve the target, so don’t delay in making a contribution, as you are able.
St James the Less Fellowship Lunch – Sunday 3rd November
The collection at the lunch will be for Renew 26. Renew 26 operates in two sites; Auchendinny and at PNK. It is a drop-in place for people who are not necessarily feeling OK. Our financial support will help keep the project running.
Vestry meetings
The St Mungo’s Vestry met is next due to meet on 11th November. The St James the Less Vestry is next due to meet on 19th November.
Tuesday afternoon Bible Study for all – Hosea
We started studying the Book of the prophet Hosea in October. Not perhaps the easiest read of the Hebrew Scriptures, but interesting! We are going to hold on completing Hosea so we can read the book of Luke in November. We shall return to it in the New Year.
Crescendo Choir Concert at St Mungo’s – 24th November – new date
Please note the change of date. ‘Crescendo’, the local community choir in West Linton and District enjoyed singing for us in the service on 25th August, and the congregation were very appreciative of their singing too. They have asked if they can come back in November and do a concert one evening. We have settled on this taking place on Sunday 24th November. Do put this in your diary and invite your friends and neighbours. Tickets will be sold for this concert, and half the proceeds will go to the Mission to Seafarers.
The Crescendo Choir are looking for more people to join, and you will be warmly welcomed no matter whether you are a soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass. As you might expect, baritones and basses would be given an extra special warm welcome. Crescendo meets in St Mungo’s at 7 pm each Thursday.
Advent Group – ‘Who Are We Praying To? – Mondays 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd Dec
To complement October’s preaching theme of prayer, in Advent this year we shall be running a discussion group (or maybe more than one, depending on numbers) using the York Course called, ‘Who Are We Praying To?’. If you are interested in joining the discussion group for this course, please let me know.
The course booklet will cost about £5.30. This group will meet in person. Depending on the numbers interested we may run more than one group.
Year C – The Gospel of Luke:
Advent Sunday is the beginning of the new church year. In our three-yearly cycle of readings, or gospel readings will mainly be from the Gospel of Luke.
We shall use the Tuesday afternoon Zoom Bible Study slots in November to have a read through of Luke’s gospel.
In Other News…
This letter is a few days later than I had planned. I started feeling unwell on Monday, suspecting a cold, but by Wednesday it was clearly more than that. A COVID test revealed that I was positive. Frustrating to feel unwell and lacking in energy and the ability to get the brain to fire on even one piston, but I am feeling a bit better today. It was good to have folk offering to get food in and walk Misty for me. COVID infections are increasing, so do take care of yourselves, and get your booster vaccine.
Next week is the Diocesan Clergy Conference. I am hoping to test negative by Monday so I can attend. It is always a good opportunity to catch up with clergy, discuss what has been good and what has worked well for them in terms of trying out new things. The guest speakers can be interesting and thought-provoking. If I don’t go, I will rely on reports back from Peter.
Nick Bowry
Regular Activities
Ministry in Care and Nursing Homes
Cowan Court, Penicuik: We have been part of a rota with the other Penicuik churches, visiting Cowan Court on a Sunday afternoon for the last year. We visit Cowan Court about once every 5 or 6 weeks. Our next visit is on 10th November.
Aaron House, Penicuik: We are part of a rota with the other Penicuik churches, visiting Aaron House on a Wednesday afternoon at 2pm. As with Cowan Court we will visit once every 5 or 6 weeks. Our next visit is on 6th November. If you able to join the team offering this ministry, please let me know.
Whim Hall, Lamancha: We visit Whim Hall Care Centre on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. Our next visit is on 14th November.
If you are interested in supporting this rewarding ministry by being part of the visiting teams then please let me know. Normally three of us attend each time, so we can support and guide people through the service and have a chat afterwards with whoever attends. We use a simplified form of the Liturgy for Reserved Sacrament and sing a few well-known hymns. Your prayers are welcome for this increased activity in and for members of our local communities.
Bible Study for all
We hold our weekly Bible study at 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon, online, for up to an hour and a half. We have a break for July and August.
We come together with the common aim of exploring the texts, understanding their context, and just as importantly, exploring how it speaks to us and how it informs us today. We enjoy exploring our different understandings and learning from each other. Please do join us, we are always happy to include more people.
From 5th November, we shall be reading the Gospel of Luke.
Monday Study Night
During November we are taking a break. We shall recommence in December with the Advent Study, ‘Who Are We Praying To?’.
Faith Development ‘Faith Books’
When we have a fifth Monday in the month, we hold a discussion at 7.30 pm about a book as a way of introducing people to different authors which may pique an interest to read more of their work (or not!). In looking for new or used books, I have often used www.bookfinder.com I am sure there are other search sites that will help people find the books on our reading list.
The books we shall be discussing in 2025 are:
31st March: ‘The First Paul: reclaiming the radical visionary behind the Church’s conservative icon.’ By Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan (published by SPCK, ISBN 978-0- 281-06158-7).
30th June: ‘Making Sense of God’s Love: Atonement and Redemption’, by Lorraine Cavanagh (published by SPCK, ISBN 978-0-281-06403-8).
29th Sept: ‘A Rabbi’s Bible’ by Jonathan Magonet (published by SCM, ISBN 978-0-334-02506-1)
Morning and Evening Prayer
We meet online Monday to Friday at 9.00 am and at 5.30 pm. It is a good way to start and end our day, coming together for worship, with daily readings including the psalms; a good rhythm for worship in the Anglican tradition of saying the Daily Offices. Please do consider joining us.
If you wish to access the Daily Office liturgy with the daily scripture readings, go to the Provincial Website, www.scotland.anglican.org and place your cursor on the ‘Spirituality’ heading. A submenu appears and you can select the appropriate Daily Office from the right-hand side of the page.
I circulated the Daily Intercessions booklet we use by email on 26th February. If you would like a paper copy, please let me know.
Mid-week evening services on Zoom
On the first Wednesday of each month, at 7.30 pm, we hold a service of Prayers for healing online. If you wish someone or a situation to be prayed for, send an email to me or Marion Mather.
At 9pm every Wednesday evening we hold the service of Compline. Please do join us for this short service of calm and settling prayers before sleep.
Continuing our Mission: Leading Your Church into Growth Prayer
Each weekday morning, we pray for growth in our church. If you are not able to join us online for Morning Prayer at 9 am, can I encourage you to pray this once a day. The prayer is given below.
God of Mission, who alone brings growth to your Church,
send your Holy Spirit to give:
vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, and power to our witness.
Help our church to grow:
in numbers, in spiritual commitment to you, and in service to our local
community, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Touch Magazine for St James the Less and St Mungo’s
In Touch is circulated to all on email and is issued in paper format to those who do not have email. The cost of a paper copy is £2 for an A4 version, and about £1.50 for an A5 version. We print a very limited number of paper copies to keep out costs down, and to reduce our consumption of paper. If you receive an email version but would also like a paper copy, please let Sue Owen know and we invite you to make a suitable donation (preferably by bank transfer rather than in cash) to cover the cost. The deadline for content to be submitted for the next issue is 3rd November 2024. I would like to encourage you to submit something for inclusion in the magazine, a poem, a review of a book or a film, an article on a subject of interest. If you wish to submit an article, please send them to intouch@stjamesthelesspenicuik.org
Financial giving to St James the Less or to St Mungo’s
If you are able, can I ask you to prayerfully consider setting up a recurring monthly payment to the church via on-line banking, to contribute financially on a regular basis. Details of the bank accounts are given below for each of the churches.
St James the Less:
Monthly donation by bank transfer (include your name in the reference line when setting this up – only the Treasurer knows the name of the donor). Bank details are: St James Episcopal Church Penicuik, acct no 17117264, sort code 80-22-60. If you wish to make a donation by cheque, please make out the cheque to ‘St James Episcopal Church Penicuik’.
St Mungo:
Monthly donation by bank transfer (include your name in the reference line when setting this up – only the Treasurer knows the name of the donor). Bank details are: St Mungo’s Vestry, acct no 00817851, sort code 80-09-39.
Ecumenical Relations and Community Involvement Work
The Penicuik Ministers continue to meet every month in the Storehouse for a chat. Once a month the Penicuik Churches Together (PCT) has a joint Sunday evening service. The schedule detailing where the services are each month is on the PCT website. http://penicuikchurchestogether.org.uk/ I continue to meet with Revd Dr Tony Foley to discuss joint services and matters of mutual interest.
Diocesan and Provincial Activities
I attended the Diocesan Personnel Committee meeting in Ocotber. I am the Interim Rector of Peebles and Innerleithen, and I have met both vestries. My role is to help them reach a place where they can create a congregational profile and define the criteria for appointing a priest at some point in the future. I meet the other Episcopalian priests in Midlothian once a month for a time of conversation and prayer, which helps us share ideas and support each other in our ministry.
The Ministry Team
We continue to meet monthly to plan for the coming months; planning services and faith development activities as well as exploring other aspects of what is offered to the congregations and to our local communities.
Zoom Links for Services
We have a regular pattern of services. Details of these are set out below. You can access them using the Zoom links.
Morning Prayer at 9 am, and Evening Prayer at 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday. (Zoom only)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/6289561588?pwd=aGtNeE1ZM3l1Tkluckp3bVJtZkRHQT09
Meeting ID: 628 956 1588 Password: 040775
St Mungo, Holy Communion at 10.30 am on Sunday.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93417190423?pwd=K1ZoS0xKUWpRVENGTzFYL3NvakFHQT09
Meeting ID: 934 1719 0423 Passcode: 062021
St James the Less, Holy Communion at 10.30 am on Sunday.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92002197798?pwd=REp5NHQwVEdSd3A4a09lN1lHOUdnUT09
Meeting ID: 920 0219 7798 Passcode: 040775
1st Wednesday Evening Service at 7.30 pm (not July or August) (Zoom only)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96303841875?pwd=YmZiYkdNNzZJeWI5cmtZL2RLUWc1Zz09
Meeting ID: 963 0384 1875 Password: 040775
Wednesday Evening Compline at 9 pm (all year) (Zoom only)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95345457224?pwd=TDNoT20vR2dYMVQ5STdsS0lzR0dMQT09
Meeting ID: 953 4545 7224 Password: 040775
Zoom Links for Activities
‘Monday Evening Studies’ at 7.30 pm (Zoom only)
https://zoom.us/j/97670406222?pwd=WWUzL0dLNHdWdFJ0YVNnLzdvY2w2Zz09
Meeting ID: 976 7040 6222 Passcode: 202101
Use this link for Monday Evening Studies and the ‘Faith Book’ discussions.
Weekly Bible Study: Tuesdays at 2pm (Zoom only)
https://zoom.us/j/92510962481?pwd=L1hsaCtiWTh0ZFFib3N0WlluaVlaUT09
Meeting ID: 925 1096 2481 Passcode: 040775