Notices
Message from the Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee are looking for someone to serve on the Kincardineshire Educational Trust, preferably a presbyter who lives or serves in the Kincardineshire area. The Trust disburses an annual educational fund of around £4,000 and transacts most of its business electronically meaning very little time commitment is required. More information can be found here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/funding/kincardine-and-mearns
If you are interested in serving on the Trust please contact Ian Aitken on iaitken@churchofscotland.org.uk
Notice to Presbyters: Facebook Links and Online Safety
We’re aware that one of our presbyters recently received a suspicious link claiming to lead to the Presbytery’s Facebook page. Please be vigilant when clicking on any links, especially those received via email or direct message.
If you receive a notification or message containing a link to our Facebook page, take a moment to check that it’s genuine before clicking.
If you’re ever unsure, you can always access the official Presbytery Facebook page by navigating directly via the Facebook app or by clicking on a Facebook icon on our website.
Scam Calls Warning
A message from Bill Mitchell:
In the last week I've received five calls on the church's number at odd times of day from early morning to 00:43. All are the same flavour - I'm just out of hospital, I'm just home after illness, and I've no gas or electricity. On being told I can provide contact information for emergency assistance, it becomes an immediate need for a cash transfer to allow them to top up their prepay meter. Offering to go and get them and take them to top up their gas or electricity keys brings more excuses about not being able to leave their home, and an offer to bring a prepay voucher to their address ends the conversation.
The calls appear to originate from UK mobiles, but when I've called the number back it's been dead four out of five times, and a joinery firm's out of hours contact number in Shrewsbury. This would indicate that the numbers are being 'spoofed' - a simple (but illegal) software app that allows callers to set the 'Calling Line Identification' CLI to anything they want - numbers, or text - so calls might look like they're coming from, say, 0712345678 only they're not. CLI can no longer be trusted.
Do you have a spare bell?
The bell of St Paul's Kirk in Shetland is now beyond repair. People in Shetland are asking whether there is a spare bell their church can use.
Joint Statement from the Boys' Bridage and the Safeguarding Service
Here is a a joint statement titled "The Way Ahead - Safer Recruitment." It includes a joint safeguarding agreement.
Safeguarding Training Sessions (from Presbytery)
📢 Upcoming Safeguarding Training Sessions – Register Now!
We are pleased to offer two online safeguarding training sessions, which will be delivered by Rev Julia Meason via Zoom.
🗓️ Session 1
Date: Tuesday 22 April 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
🔗 Please register in advance using the following link:
Register here for Session 1
🗓️ Session 2
Date: Monday 26 May 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
🔗 Please register in advance using the following link:
Register here for Session 2
➡️ Important: You must use the registration link to sign up for the session(s) you wish to attend. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the training.
If you have any questions or need support with registering, please don’t hesitate to get in touch - Natasha Hepburn (NHepburn@churchofscotland.org.uk)
Leadership Safeguarding Training (from 121 Safeguarding Service)
Here are the links for further dates for Leadership Safeguarding Training:
Ministers for the purposes of the Safeguarding Training Learning Pathway means parish ministers, Interim Ministers, Transition Ministers, auxiliary ministers, probationers, OLM, readers, locums and Armed Forces chaplains.
Retired Ministers who do not have a current role need not attend.
Individuals must have attended Introductory and Advanced training prior to this module which is the last in the training pathway. We would ask that these training courses have been completed within the past 3 - 5 years. Refresher training thereafter is mandatory every 5 years (only the highest level previously attended, which would be Leadership training).
If your presbytery requires face to face training for Leadership Safeguarding Training, please don’t hesitate to fill in the form here and we will do our best to accommodate.
Supporting Women in Afghanistan
After careful deliberation, Church, Society and International Committee have decided to support In Their Lifetime project "Silk and saffron: lifelines for women in Afghanistan".
This project will extend earning opportunities to thousands of vulnerable rural women, boosting their income and status. CSI are encouraging worshipping communities to explore this project. See the brochure for more information.
Follow the link to donate! Anne-Marie Simpson and her grandson are helping us raise money for women in Afghanistan!
Resources
Resources from Sanctuary First
Excellent Bible Study materials are available on Sanctuary First. The studies connect into the lectionary readings and are used by many ministers as prompts to enable sermon preparation. If you are able to open the links on this email I’m sure you will find your time has been rewarded.
Our daily worship readings and reflections, are also based on the lectionary and can be listened to as an audio file https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/daily-worship this is especially helpful to those who are partially sighted or have difficulty reading.
These resources can be used by congregations and we have designed "a plug" in that can be used on your own website to promote daily bible reading and also enabling your website to have daily content. Check this out https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/plugin
The new theme for May Connect Groups is “New and Improved”https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/connect/chapter/new-and-improved-introduction
It is a great theme that opens up the way for the Pentecost theme in June which is "Totally Authenticity” https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/totally-authentic-june
The advantage of this system, of integrated digital teaching, designed by Sanctuary First is that it has been one that I’ve tried and tested over the years and has emerged out of my experience as a parish minister.
It promotes personal devotional scripture reading. It allows the material that is being preached upon on a Sunday to be reflected upon in small study groups that can meet in person or online. Each weekly study has its own little video introducing an aspect of the theme. While all the material is all online, you can also order from us at Sanctuary First study booklet for each month. The material is designed in such a way to be inclusive of those who have stopped attending church services or on the other hand, are new to church and seeking to grow in faith.
We have a limited supply of printed copies in booklet form those who want them should be in touch asap. The cost will be £2.50 plus P&P.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope that you might join me for a Live introduction to Sanctuary First Connect material on Tuesday 6 May at 9.30am on Zoom, when I will be available to chat with you about the opportunities that this integrated digital teaching packaged, based on the internet brings to the life and ministry of a congregation. Here is the link- https://sanctusmedia.zoom.us/j/89172717373?pwd=lv1FHHbEEcKbzuibWgUzbGpP61oS3i.1
If you intend to come along the the above online gathering could you drop me an email at albertbogle@mac.com
I look forward to hearing from you and working together to create a digital ministry that is local but also glocal.
Group Tours - St Machar's Cathedral
Youthscape Essentials Training Course
Youthscape Essentials is an innovative youth ministry training course for volunteers and paid youth leaders that increases your skills and understanding about working alongside young people today. Whether you're running a community project, a church youth group, or occasionally helping out on a Sunday morning, the course is designed with you in mind! It’s not about the numbers of young people attending, it’s about putting God at the centre of your youth ministry.
Youthscape Essentials is a ten session course covering 30 topics. The topics are divided into Insights into Young People, Skills for Youth Work and Developing Character. You'll listen to young people, learn from professionals, participate in practical exercises and take time to deepen your own faith. It makes no assumptions about your experience, age or background. It’s accessible to those starting out as volunteers, but deep enough to stretch those who have been working alongside young people for longer.
Matt Sinar, our Presbytery Youth Development Officer is offering this training to interested churches. The only cost involved will be £12 per person to cover the cost of the Participants' Handbook which every person will receive. There is flexibility for the course to be configured in multiple different ways to suit different groups/churches and different delivery formats (eg. To run over 3 Saturdays, rather than 10 evenings), so if your church would be interested in this training, please get in touch with Matt to explore how that might work for you: msinar@churchofscotland.org.uk
Children's Bible Books
There are three Children's Bible books (size A4) available.
Please contact John McCafferty wjmccafferty@yahoo.co.uk
Umbellifer Retreats offered by the Caim at Luthermuir
The Caim at Luthermuir is offering retreats for those in full-time ministry.
The Caim is offering retreat space on a regular basis. We trust that it will provide a short window that will allow you as a leader to have ’time apart'.
Caim means ‘enclosure/sanctuary’ and retreats will, weather permitting, have an outdoor activity, giving time for conversation.
Furthermore, that it will be at a gentle pace, unhurried, without pressure. There will be time for silence to sit or walk with God around a particular text for the day and for prayer. The hope is that it will give you room to breathe.
See the dates below.
If you have questions feel free to contact Rev Dr Fyfe Blair - thecaimfield@gmail.com
Download the poster for your church.
Vacancies
Church Organist
Aberdeen Hillside Parish Church are looking for a part-time church organist.
See more details here.
Ministry Assistant for the West Mainland
Ministry Assistant for the West Mainland (Charge 1)
Orkney Islands Church of Scotland
Part Time 9 hours 22 minutes per week (0.25FTE)
Salary £7,383 to £8,347 per annum
Ref: M01/25
Could you be part of something different? We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their gifts, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of the people in our parishes and communities.
We are looking for a Ministry Assistant who will concentrate on the first Mark of Mission to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, with the postholder largely focusing on Sunday work.
The successful candidate will have significant recent experience in leading worship and preaching with a good knowledge and understanding of congregational life of the Church of Scotland or be willing to learn. The candidate must be a committed Christian with an active Church connection (Genuine Occupational Requirement in terms of the Equality Act 2010) and have a relevant qualification in theology/pastoral care/counselling or similar, or significant, relevant and recent work experience in the area.
It is essential you have the right to work in the UK before applying to work with us. You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility to work and remain in the UK if you are invited to attend for an interview.
For a full job description and details on how to apply, please click here.
Closing date: At present there is no closing date set and the post will remain open until further notice.
Events
General Assembly Fringe Events
Here is a list of a few upcoming GA Fringe events being organised by Christian Aid Scotland and some of our Church of Scotland partners:
St Giles’ Cathedral Special service to mark our 80th anniversary Saturday 17 May, 7pm
Our keynote will be delivered by The Right Honourable John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, and worship will be led by the Wild Goose Resource Group and Siskin Green.
Doors will open from 6.15pm. Guests are warmly welcomed, and no RSVP is required. However, any guests planning to attend in a wheelchair or accompanied by a guide dog, please let us know by emailing edinburgh@christian-aid.org or phoning 0131 220 1254, so that we can reserve adequate space. Please note that as a historic building, the Cathedral does not have wheelchair-accessible toilets.
Lunchtime events (12.30-2pm) at St Columba’s-by-the-Castle (EH1 2PW), all including a free lunch:
A Christian presence in the Holy Land: in search of Justice and Peace in the midst of war, Monday 19 May
Hear from William Bell, Christian Aid’s Middle East Policy and Advocacy Lead and Rev Muriel Pearson, Church of Scotland Mission Partner.
The Power of Hope: marking 80 years of Christian Aid, Tuesday 20 May
Hear from Very Rev Dr Russell Barr, locum at Largo Parish Church and Ms Temwa Kasakula, Faith Share partner and Christian Aid Global Advisor for gender and reproductive health.
Repairing the world: The Church, justice and global reparations, Wednesday 21 May
Hear from Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton, Christian Aid Scotland's UK and Global Church Ambassador, and Tatianna Ennin, Christian Aid Reparations Programme Advisor.
Information from Christian Aid
This year we also mark the 80th anniversary of Christian Aid’s founding by the churches in Britain and Ireland. There are special events and celebrations taking shape throughout the year, including services in Largo 11 May and Inverurie 13 May. These two towns share links with the Rev Douglas Lister, the Church of Scotland minister who first approached the churches about supporting European refugees after World War Two.
As we approach Christian Aid Week 2025, we’ll be sharing stories from our work in Guatemala, where our partners are working with Indigenous communities to push back against the climate crisis with agricultural training and land rights education.
We’ve been in contact directly with many Christian Aid Church Representatives and supporting congregations within the Presbytery itself, but to just to share the offer too, that if there is any support we can give at a Presbytery or committee level, we’d be delighted to help.
Whether that might be hosting an 80th anniversary service or exhibition in the Presbytery, planting Trees of Hope, or whether we can help provide speakers or services for congregations do let us know.
As churches across the Presbytery shape and arrange Christian Aid Week and 80th events we’ll also be sharing as many of them as possible on our Scotland events page.
A Musical Event at Mannofield Church - May 25
Exhibitions of Textile Art in Shetland
Magnitude 2025, 19-24 July, Church of Scotland Village
Magnitude is a five-day Christian youth festival for young people aged 11-18. Based at Lendrick Muir near Kinross, it is a week like no other: a space to encounter God, enjoy community and experience nature together. Our heart is to raise up a generation of young people who are secure in their identity and purpose in God’s bigger story, united in living fearlessly as followers of Jesus and passionate about changing the world for His Kingdom.
There'll be morning and evening gatherings for worship and teaching, and the rest of the programme is packed with activities, seminars, workshops and opportunities to hang out with each other (including sports competitions and cafes on site).
The cost of Magnitude is £169pp if booked before 28th February; £189pp if booked before 1st May; or £205pp thereafter.
To help support congregations looking to send young people to Magnitude, the Church of Scotland are hosting their own "village", which will provide a large marquee to gather and hang out in, the full week’s catering, AND a hoodie! There’s an additional fee of £40pp for this, which will be invoiced to each sending congregation after the event.
We also ask that churches send one leader with every 6 young people - although if this is a problem, get in touch with Matt (msinar@churchofscotland.org.uk) and we can find a solution.
Booking instructions are found on the image below. Follow the steps.
Refuel 2025, 20-24 July - FREE and ONE OF A KIND
Rev Fiona Lister is leading a group of those from the Presbytery who plan to go! Contact her to join: FLister@churchofscotland.org.uk
To find out more, or to book tickets, visit: https://refuelscotland.org.uk/
Don't forget to send your news to doskolkova@churchofscotland.org.uk