Friday May 18t

Books

DVDS

Clothes (in good condition)

The money raised will go to support the work of the Toybox Charity: a Christian organisation working with Street Children in Latin America. We will also be giving 10% of the money raised to our very own Simon Milligan who is currently on mission in Hong Kong working with recovering drug addicts. Any items that don’t get swapped will be donated to Bethany Christian Trust to support their work with the homeless in Edinburgh.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/284419074983072/

Email: sarah.young@cce.uk.net

April 20th to 22nd

Houseparty is something we have done as a church for several years (although we haven’t done one for a while).  It is formed round a relaxed environment in a great location (picture above) and is a great place to get to know one another better, to meet new people and to try out new things.

Information about where we are going this year can be found in the HouseParty leaflet.

For further enquiries email rupert@cce.uk.net or john@cce.uk.net

www.theafricafund.net

• Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve, 6.00pm to 7.00pm
• Christmas morning “Feast of the Incarnation” service at 10am
   (there being no 10.30 gathering that day)

and then we will be closed until our Sunday Gathering, Sunday 8^th January, 10.30am.

Open to the Southside Community!

In our Southside Community Christmas Nativity Party this year we will have some party games, with Christmas-flavoured entertainments from the children, young people and students.

Do come dressed as your favourite nativity character, whether shepherd, wise man, angel or donkey. And please invite your family and friends to join us!

A café will run too, serving teas, coffees and some festive cakes and pies.

(This will be in replacement of our normal Sunday morning service and runs from 4 to 6pm!)

If you would like to come and be part of an open discussion, to explore what the Christian faith is about, perhaps simply to discuss some of your understanding about God, in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoyng a meal with others with similar questions, then email Colin Symes, colin@cce.uk.net, or Chris Hall, chrisnannhall@gmail.com.

The course will run each Wednesday evening from October 5th to December 7th.

September 2011

Would you like to learn more about yourself, other people and God?   Then this course is for you! 
The course is a blend of psychology and theology, leaving participants with a greater understand of who God made them to be and an invitation to not only greater self and other awareness but God awareness too.  This is an accredited course and can lead on to further training for those who are interested in pursuing counselling. 

For more info click here.

What I do is me:
for that I came.
Gerard Manley Hopkins,  As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Dragon flies draw flame

Read Luke 19:29-36 

Picture the scene

The destination is in sight, Bethphage and Bethany, Jerusalem too.  A task is given, an odd one perhaps, to locate and return to Jesus some colt.  Something’s afoot, something planned?  Yet another surprise and a challenge to trust?  The heartbeat quickens.  The swell around the disciples increases as they find themselves de-robing, throwing the cloaks onto the colt for Jesus.  A rush of recognition of a moment having arrived, of the man who they are seeing as God.  As they walk on the people too willingly and spontaneously spread their own coats on the dusty ground before Jesus. 

The disciples and the crowd melt. There is a sense of total, utter surrender.  Beneath the actions of taking off the clothes of their very backs and bending down is awe before this ordinary majesty, this composed and confident figure .  It’s feel is similar to Mary anointing Jesus for his burial – a recognition of a key moment for Jesus and for those who would recognise him truly.  Jesus takes the devotion, receives it simply and fittingly.

Exercise

Picture the scene playing out again. This time imagine yourself as a disciple or a member of the crowd.  What do you see?  What emotions flicker before this confident Dignity? What desire is aroused?

Sunday 10th April 2010, led by Kirsty Hook.

Audio below: