DRAFT
As at
1/11/13
LOCAL CHURCH REVIEW
YOUR CHURCH TODAY
Fairmilehead Parish Church
Scottish Charity No. SC015967
Contents
Introduction 3
1. The story of your church 4
1.1 Suggested content: 4
1.2 Your Church’s Story: 4
2. Life of the congregation 5
3. Congregation and Wider Church 7
4. Resources – people, buildings, money 8
5. Presbytery Plan 9
6. Communication 12
Introduction
The Local Church Review (LCR) report that follows is your report; a report on your congregation and parish written by you – office bearers, members and minister. Some things have already been completed; for instance, much of the statistical information has been completed from Presbytery records. But what we want to see most are your opinions, thoughts, concerns, hopes and aspirations.
Every parish church is unique; every story is different; you know your own story better than anyone else. That is why you are asked to write your story, tell us of church life in your parish, tell us of your worship, evangelism, service, discipleship, fellowship and so much more. Your story is vital in understanding the life of your congregation.
Before visiting your congregation the team from Presbytery will have read your report with great care and will use it as a basis for their meetings with you and for the questions they ask. The written word conveys only part of a picture and visits and dialogue add so much more. These visits are a sign that we are in this together – local church and Presbytery and we hope that all that follows reflects togetherness. Whilst some of what is asked is factual, such as numbers and compliance with legal requirements, the overall context is mission.
We hope that the questions asked are clear and that the processes to be followed are understood. A set of Guidance Notes is appended. However, the leader of the visiting team and/or the Convener of Superintendence is happy to be contacted for discussion or clarification.
The leader of the visiting team is Rev Stewart McPherson; Tel - 0131 467 6826; email . My own contact details are; Tel 0131 336 2036; email - . The Presbytery Clerk, Rev George Whyte is also available to you; Tel 0131 225 9137; email - .
The pack has been produced using MS Word and you are asked to complete and respond electronically. Do not feel constrained by the size of the response boxes. As you type the boxes will expand to accommodate your text. Responses do not need to be wordy as the visiting team for the Superintendence Committee will discuss responses with you and will ask for more information if required.
LCR is now new – under ACT 1 of the General Assembly of 2012 LCR replaces the former Quinquennial Superintendence system. What we are doing in Edinburgh builds on the previous Superintendence scheme, the Unless the Lord……. visits and reports, and links in with the Plan for Presbytery.
We look forward to receiving this completed report by ????????. ???????
Russell Barr
Convener of Superintendence
- The story of your church
1.1 Suggested content:
Please tell us something of your church’s history. Think back over the last ten years. Share the recent story of your congregation – the celebrations, the struggles, the dreams. Where have you seen God at work? How did you get where you are in church life? Where do you think you are?
The report that follows asks many questions and the answers given will tell much. Therefore, your story below need not be more than a very few paragraphs.
1.2 Your Church’s Story:
Fairmilehead Parish Church is situated on the south side of the City of Edinburgh and is a typical Edinburgh suburban parish of bungalows, detached and semi-detached houses. The church was opened in 1938, one of many ‘church extensions’ built in areas of new housing. New halls were built in the 1950’s and again in the 1960’s. In the mid 90’s there was a project, ‘Towards 2000’, which enabled the building of the Church Centre, a huge asset for the local community and is much used.
The Unitary Constitution was adopted in 2006. There are many committees – Education, Personnel, Finance, Property, Worship, Publicity & Communication, Community Justice & Peace, Social, Pastoral Care Group and Church Centre. These Committees report to the Business Committee who meet at least seven times a year. The Kirk Session meets at least four times a year with extra meetings arranged as necessary.
Rev John Munro was appointed minister in 1992.
There was another stewardship project in 2007 ‘Aspire To Be’ which was launched to fund the appointment of a Youth Minister/Assistant Minister. Rev Hayley O’Connor was appointed in August 2009. Following an appeal to the Kirk Session, the funding for this post was extended until September 2014. Also, in 2007, the church was refurbished with the addition of architectural lighting, a sound system, carpeting, chairs in place of pews and a retractable screen that allows PowerPoint to be used. The organ was also moved.
The 75th anniversary of the church was celebrated recently with many events held culminating in a service in April 2013 at which the Moderator of the General Assembly was invited to preach.
- Life of the congregation
Tell us about congregational life and its worship, fellowship, service, discipleship and evangelism. Please type responses in relevant box and it will expand to fit your text.
2.1 / Worship – The shared experience of meeting God; we gather to express our need for God and to express our gratitude for all that God has done for us.· Style(s) of worship – describe a typical service format;
· Number of weekly services; patterns of worship;
· Musical range; praise band; organ; soloists; etc.;
· Use of audio visual equipment;
· Congregational member involvement in leading worship;
· Anything else you would like to tell us?
Responses:
There are two services on a Sunday. ‘Worship Now!’ at 9.45am is for families in particular although many of the older members of the congregation attend this. This service begins with the congregation welcoming each other. A keyboard is used for music, occasionally the organ is used and there is a Praise group and band. A talk, for children called ‘Story Time’ (by various members of the congregation or the ministers) follows before the children leave for the Young Church. This is followed by what is called ‘Word for Today’ (sermon/homily). PowerPoint is used during this service to display church events, the words of the songs and points/pictures relating to the ‘Word for Today’.
The 11am service is of a more traditional nature. Further new ideas are introduced from time to time and it is more inclusive with members of the congregation playing a part in leading the worship. Hymns are accompanied by the organ.
Tea and coffee is served in the Buckstone Hall between services to allow both ‘congregations’ to meet.
Some Sundays – during the summer holidays and at Christian festivals – there is one joint service at 10.30am.
Communion is served on the last Sunday of each month and on “high days and Holy days” with Quarterly Communion Services on the last Sundays of February, May, August and November.
There is the occasional evening ‘Songs of Praise’ held jointly with St Fillan’s Episcopal Church and an All Souls’ Service as near to All Saints’ Day.
Two ‘Blessing of the Animals’ services have been held.
‘Pram Praise’ for children under and five and their families/carers has just begun, meeting on the first Wednesday morning of each month.
The Holy Week services are held jointly with St Fillan’s. Watchnight Services are held at 7pm (for families) and at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.
Elders and members of the congregation contribute to services by presenting the ‘Story Time’ to the children, by reading the Bible passage for the day and the community prayers.
A service of Remembrance is held for the Uniformed Organisations on the Friday evening before Remembrance Sunday.
2.2 / Evangelism - The calling of every Christian to be a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is all the ways in which we share our Good News and bring others to the point of beginning their own journey of faith.
· How do you help people to start to become Christians?
· Communication;
· Anything else you would like to tell us?
Responses:
Everything we do of a pastoral or education nature is geared towards helping people become Christians.
Part of the Assistant Minister’s job description is to make contact with the groups who use the church halls. Visits have been made to the Uniformed Organisations, Mother and Toddlers and South Morningside Primary School Nursery who meet in the halls.
Classes for intending members and those interested are held in the spring and autumn each year.
The Parish magazine ‘Crossroads’ always carries an item on Christianity – this is delivered to every home in the Parish.
2.3 / Service - The living out of our faith in practical ways. Jesus called us to be servants of all and this is shown to others as we care for our neighbours.
· What systems of Pastoral Care (elder districts, etc.) do you have?
· How do you respond to the needs of others in the parish and beyond?
· Are you involved with school or other chaplaincies?
· In what ways are you involved with social issues?
· In what ways do you share responsibilities with community groups or agencies and/or mission partnerships at home or abroad?
· Anything else you would like to tell us?
Responses:
Fairmilehead still maintains the traditional Elders’ districts and distributes Communion Cards quarterly. Some Elders choose not to have districts and serve the congregation in other ways. Once the Eldership Consultation is complete, this work of the Elder will be reviewed. Currently, there are 58 Elders (plus one on sabbatical).
The Pastoral Care Group are most attentive to the needs of the elderly and housebound. Visits are made at least four times a year, more if necessary. The Minister and this group liaise over visits to those in hospital or at home.
Some of the community groups in the area use the halls at a reduced rate or pay nothing at all. Edinburgh Social Work Department use a hall on a daily basis for a group of vulnerable adults, the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association meet weekly and a Singing Group for those with dementia and their carers meet fortnightly. Many of our members help out at both these groups, at the nearby Marie Curie Hospital and elsewhere.
Donations of food, clothing and cleaning products are donated by the congregation between September and June to the Mercy Project run by the Sisters of Mercy at St Catharine’s, Lauriston Place. In addition to this, the Young Church sponsor a child in Ethiopia through Action Aid, their gifts at Harvest go to St Catharine’s, the gifts from the Gift Service at Christmas go to Women’s Aid or similar. Their annual Christmas Appeals have included shoeboxes for Mary’s Meals, FreshStart and the troops in Afghanistan – they are well supported by the whole congregation.
The Assistant Minister, along with the Youth Minister at Greenbank Church currently teach a weekly Scripture Union Class for P5-P7 at Pentland Primary School. They also teach RME classes (in the last two years to P1s and P3s) and lead assemblies for the entire school several times a year. She is also involved with Buckstone Primary School in delivering a programme of Religious Observance in line with the Curriculum for Excellence.
A Holiday Club is organised for a week each August. Some 80+ primary school children attend helped by 45 volunteers, followed by a Holiday Club Sunday Service to which the children and their families are invited. It is hoped to run the occasional event over the winter to which these children and their families be invited.
The Church Office prints Moredun Church’s Order of Service each week.
2.4 / Discipleship - The act of following Christ. It is about learning what it means to be a Christian as we experience life and question what we believe. The church should equip its members with “practical guidance for expressing their faith in the world during the week.”
· How do you help people of all ages grow in their faith?
· In what ways do you promote personal devotions, private prayer and opportunities to reflect on life experiences?
· Which resources do you use?
· Anything else you would like to tell us?
Responses:
In addition to the regular Sunday worship services, a House Group meets on a Monday morning.
Lent and Advent courses are held annually, this year the Lent Course followed the one offered by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland entitled ‘Journey of Faith – this is our story’. It is hoped these course courses will continue, both for new and existing members of the congregation.
As part of the 75th anniversary events, a ‘Question of Faith’ debate was held. A discussion on Science and Religion is to be held at the end of October 2013. It is hoped to repeat an event of this kind annually.
2.5 / Fellowship - The opportunity of experiencing God’s grace and love in and through God’s people; this is about people really getting to know each other.
· How do you build relationships within the church?
· How do you encourage people to meet outwith worship?