THE BULLETIN - Easter 2021 - Craigsbank Church
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THE THE MAGAZINE OF
CORSTORPHINE CRAIGSBANK
PARISH CHURCH
BULLETIN
Where Life is celebrated, Love is affirmed, and Grief and Joy are shared
New beginnings this Easter
Craigsbank Church Centre
East Craigs Church Centre
Easter 2021
www.craigsbankchurch.org.uk
A NOTE IN THE TIMES
OF A PANDEMIC
Covid-19 – as the rules and guidance from the Scottish Government and the
Church of Scotland continue to change weekly, we find our church-life in a state
of constant change too. We will continue to update you regularly through the
Westoverland newsletters and the website and our hope and desire is that, in the
near future, we will be able to open Craigsbank and East Craigs once again.
In the meantime, enjoy the articles – written in a rapidly changing world.
Please note that the full Trustees’ Annual Report for 2020 will shortly be posted on
the website. This is usually presented at the Stated Annual Meeting which is held at
the end of one of our services. As with so many things this year, we have had to find
a different way to deliver the report and we will make it available online as a result.
It will have more detail than usual in part due to the COVID situation.
The Summary Accounts will also be posted shortly on the website.
Paper copies are available on request – from Alan Kennedy
Tel: 0131-339-1504
2 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021
MINISTER’S LETTER
Priceless
Have you heard of Banksy yet? Maybe you have. Have
you heard of Joshua Bell yet? More likely.
Banksy is at present the UK’s most sought-
after visual artist. Joshua Bell is one of the world’s
foremost violinists. They are both talented,
experienced, accomplished, creative, professional
artists that are at the top of their fields.
To buy an original Banksy, or even a limited-
edition print, from an art auctioneer or gallery will set
you back a great deal of money. Similarly, to attend a Joshua
Bell full length live performance and be allowed to sit near the
performer, in the golden circle as it is known, will seriously dent your wallet.
No-one would think that an original Banksy artwork or a private Joshua Bell
violin performance on a Stradivarius is worthless or uninspiring. Unless you
possibly mistook it for a fake or an impersonation.
Which makes the following two
social experiments so poignant. You
have probably heard by now about the
performance of a classical suite of music
that Joshua Bell gave as a humble subway-
busker one morning during rush hour.
More than a thousand people passed by him,
only seven stopped to listen, and he made only
about £21 in busking donations. A similar experience
was orchestrated elsewhere in the USA where original and
limited prints of Banksy were sold from an inconspicuous
street stall for £40 each. Some of the items were worth up to
£30 000 each, and yet only 7 pieces were sold. Two that were
bought were later sold for £120 000!
The reasons given for people undervaluing the art they saw
and heard, was that the context made them unaware of the
quality and value of what they were actually walking past. You
do not expect something of priceless value in the hum-drum
of everyday life on the sidewalk or whilst commuting to work.
Is that not what we often do with ourselves or with others?
Taking our own life or the lives of others for granted, as it
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 3
seems so hum-drum, so commonplace. In the process we forget that we are each
and everyone unique masterpieces created by the greatest artist ever, who knitted
us together, creatively designed and perfected each one of us. More particularly, we
are in one way or another a self-portrait of the Artist who made us ‘in the image’
of the Creator.
So please know, regardless of how you feel about yourself and regardless how
much or how little others value you, your real value is absolutely unfathomable.
You are priceless!
Rev Alan Childs, March 2021
THOSE WERE THE DAYS,
MY FRIEND
Can you remember when the
congregation booked seven
double decker buses to
transport the masses of our
church children to the annual
Sunday School Picnic? The
games, the fun, the energy
and all the glorious food
and snacks? And the youth
services when the Craigsbank
sanctuary was creaking at the
seams, extra chairs had to be brought
in to accommodate all the worshipers? Or how quickly we used to fill the cradle
rolls on the wall in the hallway behind the pulpit as bairn after bairn was baptised?
Of those glorious days when you would often see three generations next to one
another in a pew, grandparents, parents and the children? How beautiful those
1950s and 1960s were.
If only we could have those days back.
But, they are gone.
Scotland is no longer a country where Christian worship is an integral part
of society. The Scouts as a national organisation have only tenuous links left
with the Church and have seen their numbers plummeting, as have the BBs and
Guides. Sunday school numbers across all churches have all but disappeared,
compared to those glory days of 60 years ago. With the decline in birth rates and
the stature of the Kirk on the one hand, but more seriously the rise of secularism
4 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021
and consumerism, media and online entertainment and Sunday sport on the other
hand, children – and youth ministries – in churches all across the British Isles have
been decimated.
This is not news to any of us worshiping at our Sunday morning services. So
you might be wondering why I am raising it in our Bulletin. It is, after all, hurtful
to know what we are missing in our midst. These are after all our own children and
grand-children we are talking about, whom we wished could share in the blessings
and joys of a church-centred upbringing.
I am fully aware of the pain of loss that we, like almost all other congregations,
are experiencing. And that is exactly why I am raising it, respectfully and sincerely.
My heart’s desire is that every child, young person and parent should have a
living relationship with our wonderful God. That is surely yours too.
If that is indeed the case, that you, like I, desire that the parents and children
in our community know God as their parent/friend/saviour, then we have to ask
ourself whether being part of a/our church is essential to such a living relationship.
I reckon the answer can only be ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
If you think the answer is ‘yes, necessarily’, then what should we do about it? If,
though, you think it is ‘no, not necessarily’ then how does one go about nurturing
such a relationship without being part of a/our church. Personally, I am open to
you answering either way (either yes or no) so please do not feel obliged to say ‘yes’.
Regardless of which way you answer (yes/no) – we then have to pull together as
a congregation to minister as a whole to those children and young families where
they are at – and that is currently very much not in the
worship services. So, this is me asking you earnestly
for your thoughts on how best you reckon we can
assist them to develop a relationship with God.
The Children & Young Families Ministry
Team currently consists of a handful of
committed volunteers, John
Patterson (our part-time
church musician) and myself.
We would love to hear
from you and will definitely
appreciate your prayers for the
children and young families
in our community.
Blessings,
Rev Alan Childs, March 2021,
email: AChilds@churchofscotland.org.uk
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 5
ENDING IN A
BEGINNING
On Good Friday we are confronted with the end of Jesus of Nazareth, and yet,
it is also the beginning of the one we call Jesus Christ. May it be that on Easter
Sunday we acknowledge that the empty grave was not only an ending, but
also the beginning.
I love being a Christian especially on Easter Sunday. It is the day I am made
aware of the breaking through of the Kingdom of God into this world. The
empty tomb, the resurrected Messiah is a promise. It is a promise kept. It is a
promise made towards the future of what the Church could be, of what the
Church should be.
Yes, I acknowledge there have been dark times, there has been much pain that
the church – especially as an organisation and an institution – and Christianity
has caused. Often in these times, the Church has been the root cause of that pain,
instead of the healing.
I do, though, believe that this is not what the Church was called to. I know that
when the Church functions as the Bride of Christ, then she is a source of healing,
hope, caring, nurturing, community, friendship, fellowship, support. As a church
we believe that the Church is called to be a place where grief and joy can be shared.
Where life can be celebrated.
The fabric artwork hanging on the wall in the Craigsbank sanctuary reminds
us of some of the many positive components that the church can add. How the
church can be a place where people can be supported, where people who are
hurting, lonely, in need of help can find a hand of support. This wall hanging was
made in 1987 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our congregation, Craigsbank
6 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021
Parish Church. You can see that there are components that show the Girls Brigade,
the Boys Brigade, the Young Women’s Fellowship, the Sunday School, times of
fellowship and of the sharing of the knowledge of God for us as humanity and for
creation. We also see the affirmation of our work, our play, our being humane by
the grace and the love of God.
So think about Mary arriving at the empty grave, distraught, crying, realising
that the body of her friend, saviour, teacher is gone. Her first thoughts are:
‘Who took the body? Where is the body of my beloved Saviour? Where has he
been taken to?’
When Jesus then meets with her. He calls her by name saying ‘Mary.’ Then
she realises that this is Jesus speaking. Not the gardener. She realises this is a new
beginning. It is not merely the end of hope.
I want to invite you to say your own name through the words of Jesus when
He calls Mary. When He calls Mary it is very personal. When He calls you, it is also
very personal. The Christian faith is not primarily focused on the organisation, on
the institution. To be a Christian, first and foremost, is to have a living relationship
with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
If it sounds too farfetched, I can understand that. But I would like to invite you
to consider the possibility, if you have not yet taken seriously the call of Jesus on
your life, to answer his call when He says your name and offers to be your friend,
your saviour, your Lord. He offers hope and healing. He offers his presence even in
a time like this pandemic that we are living through.
And through you He offers the same to the people around you.
We are called to receive the grace and love of the risen Lord on Easter Sunday.
But just like Mary we are also being sent out to share the good news of God’s love
with all around us. So on Easter Sunday, especially, I love being a Christian because
our Lord has risen, He has risen indeed.
Rev Alan Childs, March 2021
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 7
END OF LIFE CARE
End of life is something we all face sometime in our life. We all hope this follows a
long and fruitful life but in reality we know this will not be the case for everyone.
It is a subject we tend to shy away from along with discussing our thoughts
and wishes for our own death. How many of us have an open conversation on
this matter with our loved ones? Are we ready for our own death, do we have
everything in order and are our loved ones fully informed of our wishes? Perhaps,
when we have acknowledged this inevitable part of our life and given it due
thought and planning which we then share with others, we can approach our death
with grace and dignity.
End of life can result from an emergency, termination of illness or frailty.
Are we ready to face all these challenges knowing we have asked others to make
informed decisions on our behalf? How many of us have our life in order having
appointed a ‘Power of Attorney’, shared our wishes of what for us is a ‘Good death’,
itemised our funeral requests and have our financial matters organized. The time
of approaching death and dying is a deeply emotional time for all concerned and
involved. You often hear said I wish I had asked these questions earlier, I hope
these are their wishes, where did they keep all their paperwork?
My interest in End of Life Care is personal but also with the
wish to open up the subject to others. Death is part of life.
Planning and preparing for such a major life event should
be embraced while we are able.
Rev James Aitken, minister of St Ninian’s Church
Corstorphine, having completed the Future learning
‘End of Life Care’ course at Glasgow University
was enthused and his recommendation was
shared with me.
October 2020: The course began with some tricky
questions about defining ‘what is dying?’ and what we
mean by ‘end of life’. Explored was the idea of the changing
character of the dying ‘process’ as well as discussion around
the special challenges of delivering good end of life care in
the context of large hospitals that are geared up mainly to
acute care. Hospitals remain the most common location of
death which raises the question do they have the expertise
in ‘care of the dying’?
Explored were the community perspectives looking
in detail at the fascinating Kerala model of Neighbourhood
8 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021
Networks in Palliative Care. This approach is linked to a wider interest in the
creation of Compassionate Communities and studied a specific example from
Scotland, ‘Compassionate Inverclyde’. In this approach the focus is on networks of
support that exist and can be fostered among family or friends, in neighbourhoods,
workplaces or educational institutions. Its goal is to shift the balance so that end
of life care becomes everyone’s business – and is not left only to specialists and
professionals. The Compassionate Communities approach tries to rekindle lost
forms of community support, but also to organize new ways of caring by taking a
public health approach that focuses on the promotion of wellbeing as well as the
treatment of disease, that considers whole populations, and not just specific patient
groups and that harnesses the assets that can be found in a community rather than
being overwhelmed by the deficits.
The Compassionate Inverclyde 2016 initiative has become an award-winning
and inspirational project that is going beyond immediate issues of terminal care,
to tackle loneliness, isolation and bereavement in the community – supported by
the local hospice.
The Death Café movement was explored, along with it its goals and modes of
operation. Underlying all this was a question about the capacity of communities to
mobilize resources and assets to make end of life issues ‘everybody’s business’.
Considered were the individual dimensions and self-determined actions that
are being explored around the world when it comes to end of life preferences,
reviewing the development and debates relating to assisted dying. The specific
phenomenon of old age rational suicide was explored. This led to a deeper
question: why is it that modern individuals are seeking to have control over some
fundamental matters of human existence – such as when, where and in what
circumstances we die? Finally discussed were some of the innovative ideas that
are around in relation to personalised funerals and the rituals we construct to
acknowledge that someone has died.
As an outcome of this course I have identified the following potential actions:
1 Explore the concepts of a good and bad dying/death
2 Developing space for people to explore their own thoughts and wishes around
good and bad dying/death. Then support them to positively achieve what they
have personally identified as good dying/death.
3 Develop a project which tries to rekindle lost community support focusing on
the promotion of wellbeing within the whole community which harnesses the
skills and talents found in our community rather than being overwhelmed by
the deficits – Develop a Compassionate Community.
If you have been inspired by any of these issues please do get in touch with me.
carol.turnbull3@btinternet.com or 0131 339 1080
Carol Turnbull, March 2021
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 9
WHAT IS A KIRK SESSION?
Every Church of Scotland is administered by a Kirk Session made up of elders with
the minister as the moderator or chair of its meetings. Elders don’t have to be old –
they just have to be over 18. The Session Clerk is responsible for the minutes of the
meetings and dealing with correspondence.
Technically the Kirk Session is a court — the lowest court of the Church —
the others being Presbytery and the General Assembly which is the highest court.
Craigsbank has a unitary constitution which means that there is no Congregational
Board and the Kirk Session is responsible for everything.
Each congregation is a charity and the charity trustees are the members of the
Kirk Session. Elders who are not on the Session, having resigned perhaps due to
age or other commitments, are not charity trustees. There is a law that governs
the duties on charities and its trustees - Charity and Trustee Investment Act 2005.
The office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is the body responsible
for overseeing Scottish Charities. To comply with the law, the Kirk Session
is required to:
• update the charity’s details to keep the Charity Register up to date;
• supply information via the Annual Return and the Trustees’ Report and Annual
Accounts and about certain changes such as contact details;
• keep specified accounting records and have them independently examined;
• provide copies of accounts, if asked for these;
• and putting the charity’s legal name and number on the congregation’s
websites, notepaper, and other literature. HMRC also require charity trustees to
meet the ‘fit and proper person’ test.
The Kirk Session meets about 8 times a year and its meetings are open to district
visitors and other members of the congregation. The accounts and the minutes
of the meetings are published on the website if you would like to take a
look. If you would like to find out more about what your session
gets up to, please join us at one of our meetings. Just email
me for the link.
Elaine Thompson, Session Clerk,
sessionclerk@craigsbankchurch.org.uk
March 2021
10 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021Musings of a Church Admin
MOMENTS WITH GOD IN
TIMES OF BUSYNESS
It’s funny how the times in the church year which are supposed to be about focussing
on spending more time with God happen to also be the times when people who are
actively involved in church life are at their busiest. In most traditions Lent is a time
of fasting from things that distract from God and to focus on our relationship with
God. It is a time to prepare for the amazing miracle of Easter.
Yet Lent, like Advent is a time when people actively involved in working in and
serving in churches are at their busiest, often finding they have less time to be still. It
is easy to end up rushing from task to task with little time to catch breath. Something
which I find helps me is to observe a daily rhythm of prayer and Bible reading.
It forces me to stop and spend some time with God in the morning and evening
regardless of how busy my day is. I enjoy the discipline of following a lectionary (a
daily set of readings) in these times. I like the excitement of looking at the lectionary
each prayer time wondering what passages I might have to read that morning or
evening. It also forces me to engage with passages which might be difficult
or challenging to read either in today’s world or in my own life –
moments with God are not always easy rest.
I am lucky to live near the Water of Leith and the Pentlands
where, when things are busy, I love to take the time to go for a walk.
Sometimes my head is so full of stuff that I find myself paying
little attention to what is around me, but I always have a moment
at some point in my walk where my attention is drawn to
something – sometimes a bird, sometimes the water in the
river or stream I’m walking beside or sometimes a flower.
These moments where I stop and spend time with God
either reading His Word or appreciating His creation give
me the energy to keep going in all my work.
Gemma King, March 2021
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 11A PRAISE SONG DURING
THE PANDEMIC
Praise God for the nurses and doctors,
every medical staff bent over flesh to
offer care, for lives saved and lives lost,
for showing up either way,
Praise for the farmers, tilling soil,
planting seeds so food can grow, an act
of hope if ever there was,
Praise be the janitors and garbage
collectors, the grocery store clerks, and Blessed are the elderly and those with
the truck drivers barrelling through weakened immune systems, all those
long quiet nights, who worry for their health, praise for
those who stay at home to protect them,
Give thanks for bus drivers, delivery
persons, postal workers, and all Blessed are the domestic violence
those keeping an eye on water, gas, victims, on lock down with abusers, the
and electricity, homeless and refugees,
Blessings on our leaders, making hard Praise for the poets and artists,
choices for the common good, offering the singers and storytellers, all
words of assurance, those who nourish with words and
sound and colour,
Celebrate the scientists, working away
to understand the thing that plagues Blessed are the ministers and
us, to find an antidote, all the medicine therapists of every kind, bringing
makers, praise be the journalists words of comfort,
keeping us informed,
Blessed are the ones whose jobs are lost,
Praise be the teachers, finding new who have no savings, who feel fear of the
ways to educate children from afar, unknown gnawing,
and blessings on parents holding it
together for them, Blessed are those in grief, especially who
mourn alone, blessed are those who
have passed into the Great Night,
12 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021Praise for police and firefighters, Blessed is the water that flows over our
paramedics, and all who work to keep hands and the soap that helps keep them
us safe, praise for all the workers and clean, each time a baptism.
caregivers of every kind,
Praise every moment of stillness and
Praise for the sound of notifications, silence, so new voices can be heard,
messages from friends reaching praise the chance at slowness,
across the distance, give thanks for
laughter and kindness, Praise be the birds who continue to sing
the sky awake each day,
Praise be our four-footed companions,
with no forethought or anxiety, Praise for the primrose poking yellow
responding only in love, petals from dark earth, blessed is the
air clearing overhead so one day we can
Praise for the seas and rivers, forests and breathe deeply again.
stones who teach us to endure, blessing
us with their trust in our care of them, And when this has passed may we say
that love spread more quickly than any
Give thanks for our ancestors, for the virus ever could, may we say this was not
wars and plagues they endured and just an ending but also a place to begin.
survived, their resilience is in our
bones, our blood. Amen
Christine Valters Paintner,
Abbey of the Arts, March 2021
ACTION FOR
HAPPINESS
Let’s take action to look after ourselves
and each other as we face this global
crisis. We may be physically apart, but
we can still be together.
Visit www.actionforhappiness.org
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 13Breithorn
HILL WALKING AND
MOUNTAINEERING
I have climbed mountains in Norway, Slovenia, Austrian
Alps, Swiss Alps, and the Canadian Rockies. A Munro
is a Scottish hill over 3000ft in height. Sir Hugh
Munro listed all these hills in 1870. This list does not
apply to other parts of Britain. Sir Hugh climbed all
of his listed hills except for the Inaccessible Pinnacle
in Skye, a peak in Glencoe and a very remote hill in the
Cairngorms. His successor, the Reverend A.E. Robertson, did
better climbing them all except the Inaccessible Pinnacle. The
Inaccessible Pinnacle is wrongly named. It is in fact a fairly
easy rock climb but with a high degree of exposure. My
party did not even need to use a climbing rope. I wonder if
the Reverend did any of his Munros on a Sunday?
There are 300 hills in Britain over 3000ft in height: 284 in
Scotland, four in the English Lake district, six in North Wales and six
in the Irish Republic. I have climbed all 300 of them.
Are they easy to climb? Yes, except for a few in Glencoe and 10 in the Skye
Cuillin. Many of them, especially in the eastern Grampians and Cairngorms, are
whalebacks in shape and you could have 100 football pitches on their flat plateaus.
The hills in the north-west are more shapely and craggy and are more
challenging in winter and spring. The combinations of blue skies, snow, sun and
shadow can be very beautiful but in winter conditions a straightforward summer
14 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021walk can become a dangerous dance on ice requiring the knowledgeable use of an
ice-axe and crampons.
Four young lads, including my young brother, were climbing in the Cuillin for
first time. They had scaled the Inaccessible Pinnacle and were now confident. But
they made a mistake and tried to descend a vertical cliff on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich.
Lewis, in front, ran out of handholds and fell 500 feet to his death.
There are four great ridges on the face of Ben Nevis. Angus my climbing partner
and I had climbed three of them and wished to complete the fourth – the North
East Buttress. This was a 900 feet high difficult climb with a severe overhanging
pitch near the top named the mantrap which needed combined tactics. Angus
climbed onto my shoulders and then he placed his sharp nailed
boots onto my head in order to reach good
handholds above. Success followed but
this explains my present stupidity.
Nevis again at Easter covered in
snow and ice. We were climbing the
number four gully. Half way up we
heard a very loud bang, looked up and
saw that the whole upper mountain
was moving downwards towards us.
The avalanche quickly swept us off our
feet and carried us 400 feet down the
mountain. The book advice in this situation Path up to Ben Nevis
is to adopt a swimming posture. Foolishly I
used a breast stroke when it should have been a backstroke. I was almost smothered
in snow. Angus wanted to go back up the gully again but I insisted on retreat. The
mountain was in a dangerous mood.
I wanted to climb an alpine peak called Breithorn at a height of over 4000
metres. I sent my wife off to Zermatt’s shops with my credit card. I took a cable
car and chair lift to within 1000 feet of the summit. I saw ahead a party of six
on one long climbing rope each paying 700 euros to their guide. Being a Scot I
was on my own and paid zero. A shout came from behind, ‘what are you doing
here?’ I answered ‘what are you doing here?’ In reply he said that he had lived in
Zermatt 40 years and climbed the Breithorn 24 times. He was not a guide and
told me that he had only climbed the Matterhorn twice. He acknowledged that I
was properly dressed and had ice-axe and crampons. He advised that I should go
slow as the air was very thin at this great height. I said if I go any slower I would be
walking backwards!
I look back with great pleasure at my days in the mountains.
Jim Douglas, March 2021
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 15THE FLEETING NATURE OF
LIFE AND MUSIC
Have you ever stopped and
wondered what the soundtrack
to your life might sound like?
Perhaps that is a strange thing to think
about and it maybe that you don’t
think that you have one, but I bet
you do. However, fleeting our time
on earth might be, whether it is a
short visit or a long visit, our lives
are accompanied by music from
our earliest years. Even if you are
someone who doesn’t listen to a lot of
music at home, it can be heard in nature
in the birdsong or deep in the jungles and
oceans which cover most of the planet. Music is
all around us all the time.
And for most of us, there will be key moments in our lives where a special piece
of music relates to a specific special time, be it the first song you learned at school
or perhaps the music that you were married to.
I would like to share with you a few of the special musical moments that have
appeared in my life so far:
When I was five years old, Santa Claus brought me a record player which I
simply adored, but not as much as my first LP, which was ‘I wish I could fly’ by
Keith Harris and Orville the Duck. I knew all the words by heart, and it was played
a lot. Sadly though, when I was about 10 years old my LP melted in the sunlight as
my twin sister had hidden it from me behind her curtains and forgot it was there. I
eventually got over it.
Then at primary school, and roughly about the same age, I was delighted to be
chosen for the school choir. The choir would perform at assembly and at church
services throughout the year and we had to learn several hymns by heart, each year
to participate. One of my favourites was ‘Jerusalem’, because I really loved the rich
accompaniment. The melody to this day can still move me.
I also grew up actively participating in the Scout movement and would
regularly go on camp where we would always do some singing around the
16 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021campfire. Being the son of a Guider, however, saw me attend several Guide Camps
as well and I am not ashamed to say that the girls were the better singers. One
of my all-time favourite campfire songs is ‘Sing for Joy’. The words are simple
but heart-warming.
‘Sing for Joy, Sing for Love, Sing for Peace, Sing for Happiness, sing as you journey
along and if one man turns to listen to the message that you bring, one day the world
will sing your song!’
These three songs from my younger years are imprinted in my being, never to be
forgotten, each of them can make me smile and each of them represent a moment in
my life’s history.
This past Christmas, while we were all in lockdown, my sister gave me an
unexpected gift which provided us with much laughter. She had managed to source on
ebay a copy of the LP that she had melted on her window ledge some 32 years ago and
for the bargain price of £5.00.
It will come as no surprise when I say that I still knew all the words as if it were
yesterday and only now can I appreciate why she hid it from me in the first place. Once
a day is more than enough!
Her guilt-ridden gift did however show me that music most definitely transcends
the years with us, and it accompanies each of us on our journey through life. In my
own mind, music is undoubtedly one of God’s greatest gifts for which I will always be
truly thankful.
In a quiet moment, why don’t you try and pick out a few of your own special
musical moments in life and see what makes up your own soundtrack.
Interestingly, if I put my three early examples altogether then, I wish I could fly to
Jerusalem to sing for Joy. Who knows, if time permits, may one day I will.
Keep Singing safely!
John Patterson, Craigsbank Musician, March 2021
Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem, Israel
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 17REACHING
OUT WITH
KINDNESS
You plan, you hope... then Covid-19
restrictions deflate all thoughtful
initiatives. During advent our church
wished to bring some cheer to the
community who all had experienced
a very challenging year. We had
inspiration for three projects. The first – a
walk-through Christmas experience at East Craigs Church Centre to
showcase the East Craigs Primary School Christmas projects accompanied by the
Christmas story – was our hope. This was to welcome the children and community
but was rejected by Presbytery – along with the Drive-in Carol service we wished to
hold at East Craigs Church Centre carpark. We were informed by Presbytery that
Social distancing and Covid-19 cleaning requirements could not be met. How, as
a church could we share some hope, joy and caring this Christmas to those in our
community, congregation, those disadvantaged, feeling lonely and alone, those
bereaved during Covid-19 pandemic, those with health issues, those frail and
housebound along with others. The idea of a Christmas Baking Gift (CBG) was
born and the sharing of Christmas cards.
Alan our Minister contacted East Craigs Primary School head teacher and after
discussion it was agreed pupils would create Christmas cards to be distributed
to the residents of the sheltered housing complexes in our parish (Laura
Ferguson Court, Balfour Court, Stuart Court, Craigmount View). Accompanying
these would be a Church Christmas card from Craigsbank. As visitors to the
complexes were not allowed, myself and Anne Currie, made contact with the care
organisations and a plan was made for the delivery of 180 sets of Christmas cards
with staff kindly distributing to individual residents within the complexes.
John our Musician and the Church Singers had been making music and
creating songs and hymns virtually throughout the pandemic for both the adult
online and in-person Sunday worship along with and children’s weekly online
‘Craigies Kids Corner’. During a weekly online Zoom meeting with the virtual
singers, chat turned to Christmas and the wish to share some Christmas cheer
and joy through Carol singing. Before the meeting was finished as a team it was
agreed to create a CD of Christmas Carols to be shared with the CBG. John was
18 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021an inspiration and credit must go to him along with the stress, sleepless nights
and hours of work required to complete this project. John’s caring patient nature,
incredible technology skills and wish to share the joy of music with others is the
ethos he brings to the Craigsbank Singers and the Christmas Carol CD.
As I had suggested the CBG project, yes you have guessed I
was to take the helm. Our congregation
have the most amazing volunteers.
Thanks must go to a team of 36
volunteers, the minister and his family,
our church musician and the Craigsbank
singers, who all helped to ensure this
project, was fulfilled. Volunteer bakers,
who after being contacted, rose to the
challenge to provide sweet treats for 100
households presented in a decorated bakers
cardboard boxes filled with at least six
items. Included were a variety of cakes, tray
bakes, biscuits, shortbread, tablet, truffles,
jelly and marmalade. This was followed by
a willing band of volunteers this time to
deliver the gifts on the afternoon of Sunday
20th Dec. The boxes of baking were
accompanied by an envelope containing
the Craigsbank Christmas Bulletin,
Craigsbank Church Christmas card
(thanks to Jan and Caleb Rutherford) and a
copy of the Craigsbank Virtual Singers CD. Covid-19 regulations were adhered to
throughout. The reactions received on delivery at doorsteps and subsequently by
phone calls, letters, cards and emails have been so touching – delight, lifted spirit,
happy and surprised, grateful, appreciative, touched, absolutely
delicious, lovely to be thought of, unexpected, moved to tears as
emotionally overwhelmed, in closing eyes while listening to the
carols on the CD could imagine being in church with friends,
comforting, cards sitting on my mantelpiece.
Our wish and hope to reach out with care and kindness,
share these treats with others in the wider community, to
people not known to the church, unfortunately could not be
realised due to the pandemic restrictions. We hope for better
times to make a difference.
Carol Turnbull, March 2021
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 19YOUTH ORGANISATIONS
DURING LOCKDOWN
16th Craigalmond (East Craigs) Scout Group
Following on from a term of face-to-face meetings at the
end of last year, all sections at the 16th have continued
to meet, in the new year, online via zoom. The leaders
have been extremely imaginative in creating fun and
interactive meetings. We continue to have a good turnout
at meetings in all sections and as a group our numbers
have remained stable throughout the pandemic.
This term the Beavers have welcomed three new
members and have been thinking about what it means
to be a Beaver. They have made promise hands,
origami Beaver uniforms and have been carrying out
good deeds at home.
The Cubs have been working on the Astronomers
badge learning about constellations and creating
models of the solar system. They also celebrated
Burns night by making cranachan at a cook along.
The Scout section have been working on
their skills challenge and doing lots of problem-
solving tasks. Recently we had a pilot join our
meeting and the scouts were able to practice their
phonetic alphabet by communicating with ‘The
Tower’. We also saw a pilot’s eye view of landing at
Edinburgh Airport!
Jackie Gibson, March 2021
26th Craigalmond (Craigsbank) Scout Group
Just when we thought things were improving and we were starting to think about
our risk assessment to allow some face-to-face Scouting to resume, possibly taking
a blended approach, we went back to red from boxing day. Not the start to 2021 we
were hoping for.
The first task for us was to establish who in the Group wished to remain a
member as we needed to prepare our annual census on the 31 January. As part
of this exercise it was good to catch up with the parents of all in the group and
20 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021it was encouraging to hear that the majority were very appreciative of all the
Scout Association and group were doing in trying to keep members engaged
through what has been a very difficult year for everyone. Who
would have thought that on the 13 March 2020 when we
celebrated our 80th Birthday with what had to be a
scaled down Birthday Celebration we would not be
meeting again normally for over 12 months.
What has been most encouraging is that all
Sections are doing some activities either at home via
challenges or via zoom sessions.
The Beavers and Cubs are operating a joint
programme of at home activities with the opportunity
to attend a short 30 minute session on zoom on a Friday
evening. Beavers and Cubs attended a very successful
space night organised by the Edinburgh Observatory for
Rainbows, Beavers and Cubs and as a follow up Daniel
Simmons, a young leader with the Beavers, organised
and ran activities on the space theme. This allowed
all to gain their space badge. We also ran an evening
on the Chinese New Year with all making Chinese
lanterns during our zoom meeting. Activities done
at home and via zoom enabled three Beavers to gain
their Bronze Chief Scouts Award and three Cubs to
gain their Silver Chief Scouts Award. Well done to
all. Today is Thinking day (22nd February) a day not
normally celebrated by Scouting but this year all have
been challenged to say Thank you via #ThankTwo or
display a poster in their window to thank two people
who have helped them over the last year.
The Scouts have taken part in a zoom meeting
each week and during the last few months have
held the following:
A virtual 10 pin bowling evening; 2020 – That
was the Year That Was – our annual quiz based on
events from the previous year; A Burns/Scottish Night – in which as well as the
standard Address to the Haggis etc we also saw a couple of our Scouts deliver a
Toast to Scouting and a Toast to Irn Bru. Working on our Skills Challenge where,
in addition to doing certain tasks around the house, they have to learn new skills,
learn and discuss the dangers associated with smoking and drinking too much
alcohol and learn the importance of having a good balanced diet. The Scouts have
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 21been tasked with taking photos on their phones, getting them printed and creating
a photo collage on a theme of their own choice.
We are all looking forward to taking part in virtual camps being run by South
East Region Scouts and Craigalmond District over the coming months, Scottish
online zoom sessions, at home activities and our own zoom meetings with the
hope we might get some face-to-face scouting again in the summer term.
A return to active face-to-face Scouting is going to be very hard for us without
more leaders being found. I would urge you all to consider whether you or
someone you know would be willing to assist the Group by becoming a leader
at the 26th. Full training will be provided following the Scout Adult Training
Programme. Please contact me if anyone is able to assist the Group by becoming a
volunteer or you wish further information.
Susan Ross, Group Scout Leader, March 2021
Email 26th@craigalmond.org.uk or Tel 0131 317 8804
CHRISTIAN AID
UPDATE
This year Christian Aid celebrates it’s 75th Birthday.
It exists to create a world where everyone can live a
full life, free from poverty.
Our congregation has a long history of
generous giving to Christian Aid so please do not
hesitate, go to their website now – christianaid.
org.uk and DONATE.
I am asking you to do this now as our normal
fundraising activities for Christian Aid week, 10-16th May this year, will not be
possible. Their work amongst the poorest communities all over the world is more
important than ever given the Covid-19 pandemic.
The values of Christian Aid are rooted in their christian beliefs. Everything
they do is in response to God’s gift to the world, his son Jesus Christ. Jesus called
his followers to ‘love God and love your neighbour’.
They describe their work as ‘a global movement
of people, churches and local organisations.
We are the changemakers and the peacemakers.
Everyone is equal in the sight of God. We believe in
life before death.’
They work with local partners and communities all
22 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021over the world, to fight injustice, respond to humanitarian emergencies, campaign
for change and help people claim the services and the rights they are entitled to.
They are also heavily committed to the Climate Change movement. Christian
Aid in Scotland, in alliance with Stop Climate Chaos, churches and civil society,
continue to speak up for those who have done the least to cause climate change but
who suffer the most.
‘We believe in life before death’. Please visit the Christian Aid website today to
learn more about, and to consider giving to, this very worthwhile charity. Your gift
will help people to improve their lives and escape poverty for good. Together we
really can transform lives.
Thank you for standing together for dignity, equality and justice.
Mike Brough, Christian Aid Convener, March 2021
GRAHAM LITTLE
MEMORIAL
MEDAL
The Rev Graham Little was the first minister of
Craigsbank, arriving in 1937 when the church centre was
no more than a foundation stone. He remained for 14
years including the six very difficult war years and left
to take up a new call in 1951. In his time at Craigsbank
he built a friendly and welcoming congregation and a
support system for those returning from the war. He
was very involved with the youth of the parish and
the Scouts – his Fellowship of the future – and was a
welcome sight throughout the parish as he travelled
house-to-house on his bicycle.
Every year a medal is awarded in his name
to a young person in the parish who has made a
significant contribution to the development of the
faith of the children and youth at Craigsbank. It is
presented annually by Malcolm Hunter, Graham
Little’s son-in-law, and this year – in a time of distance
– it was presented to Scott Morrison for his work on Scott’s Craft Corner in the
weekly online Craigie’s Kids Corner – reaching out to the children of the parish in
a time of isolation and loneliness.
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 23FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 2021 Climate quiz How much do you know about the climate crisis and Fairtrade? This quiz is a good way to get you thinking about the impact of the climate crisis on farmers and workers overseas. Quiz 1. Which continent is most vulnerable to the climate crisis? 2. How many animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction because of the climate crisis? 3. Name two Fairtrade products that are at risk because of the climate crisis. 4. If no action is taken, many cocoa growing regions will become too hot to grow cocoa – that means no more chocolate. What year will this happen by, if no action is taken? 5. How many people from Cote d’Ivoire have the same carbon footprint as one person in the UK? 6. Name one way that Fairtrade supports farmers to combat climate change. 7. How many farmers and workers in the world depend on coffee production? 8. How can you support farmers and workers overseas to cope with the challenges of the climate crisis? Answers on page 27 24 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021
A FAIRTRADE
RECIPE TO ENJOY
Pots au Chocolat (serves 4)
50g/2ozs butter
225g/8oz Fair Trade plain chocolate
2 eggs
2 tbsp rum or whisky
150ml/¼pt double cream
For decoration: whipped cream, grated chocolate
Method: Melt butter & chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Remove the bowl from the heat and beat in the eggs and rum or whisky.
Leave to cool. Whip cream till stiff and fold into chocolate mixture. Pour
mixture into 4 ramekin dishes. Chill for at least 2 hours until set. Decorate
with rosettes of piped cream and grated chocolate before serving. Can be
made in advance.
THE GREAT JOURNEY
The old couple
board the train
and make for a table
with facing seats.
The woman says
you sit here
and see where we’re going
I’ll sit there
and tell you where we’ve been
Hamish Whyte, from
Whatever the Sea:
Scottish Poems
for Growing Older
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 25A CHRISTMAS GIFT
A letter of thanks has been received. Written by Colin O’Flaherty, the letter thanks
the congregation and friends of Craigsbank and East Craigs for their generous
gifts to the children and families of prisoners in the care of Her Majesties Prison
Edinburgh in what was the thirty-fifth Christmas gift collection.
d support.
Dearest Frie
nds, your help an
l pe rsonally for . But
ng yo u al re in words
with thanki le to measu
I will begin n m ak es is impossib so m an y children.
llect io e lives of to
e the gift co rence to th d any gifts
The differenc akes a diffe not have ha
m e w he n I say, it m an d ge ne rosity, may
believe ur kindness
at without yo
Children th m or ning.
is tm as
open on Chr n is. the
gift collectio have been
w im portant the ction, has to
That is ho
hr is tm as gift colle s to be th e most
h Prison C it ha
th Edinburg have to say
The thirty fif organise. I
lle ct io n I have had to
strangest co to have a gi
ft
llection. ould be able
satisfying co no t ev en sure if we w
, I was
ber-October ht families
Last Septem lp eighty-eig
collectio n.
ty , w e w er e able to he u an d your
si to yo
and genero y thanks go ctions
ur kindness children. M ing gift colle
Through yo an d se ve nt y- ei gh t
e do na te d. Ar ra ng
tra work
ndre d that w er the ex
and one hu derful gifts I appreciate
re ga tio ns for the won I kn ow no t easy and
cong emic was a success.
e of a pand g this year
in the middl t into makin to the
by everyone
th at w en is year, due
ap s m or e important th t be tw een prisoner
s
rh ntac
e gi ft co lle ction was pe el ve s liv in g in. The co is on ha ve had to be
Th find ours the pr
ce’s we all es visits at to the prison
circumstan fficult. At tim nnot travel
r fa m ilie s has been di ac e, w he n families ca
and thei are taking pl
Virtual visits ithout
cancelled. ns . e prison. W
e to co vi d re st ric tio
e vi si to rs centre at th th e gi fts
du in th ion. They to
ok
to the staff e gift collect
ry sp ec ia l thanks go ga ni se th er ’s an d children of
My ve able to or them to the
partn
sitors
would not be d distributed quired the vi
their help I ly donated an bu rg h. When re
ry ki nd ison Ed in
that you ve Majesties Pr
care of Her themselves
.
those in the gi fts nethy and
de liv er ed th e David Aber
centre st aff
r of Ed in burgh Prison
e Governo
to thank th r their supp
ort.
ances.
I would like or ag Stirling fo the circumst
Deputy Gov
er no r M
as as w as possible in
hristm rous new ye
ar.
easant a C
all had as pl very prospe
I hope you ni ty to w ish you all a
opportu
to take the
I would like
ards
Kindest Reg
herty
Colin O’Fla
26 THE BULLETIN Easter 2021SUPPORT SERVICES
Cruse Bereavement Care provides Alzheimer Scotland provides
support after the death of someone information, advice and personalised
close including face-to-face, telephone, support services across Scotland.
group support, as well as bereavement Phone: 0808 808 3000 (24 hours)
support for children.
Samaritans is available for anyone
Phone: 0845 600 2227 (Scotland)
struggling to cope and provide a safe
ChildLine is a free, 24-hour place to talk 24 hours a day.
confidential helpline for children and Phone: 116 123
young people who need to talk.
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental
Phone: 0800 1111
Health) can provide general mental
Macmillan Cancer Support provides health information and signpost you to
medical, practical, emotional and your local services.
financial support to cancer patients, Phone: 0141 530 1000 (Mon-Fri 9 – 5)
their carers, friends and family.
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and
Phone: 0808 808 0000
Forced Marriage Helpline offers
Carers UK provides support and telephone information and support to
information to those who look after an anyone affected by domestic abuse or
older, disabled or seriously ill family forced marriage.
member or friend. Phone: Lines open 24/7 0800 027 1234
Phone: 0808 808 7777
(weekdays 10am-4pm)
Citizens Advice Service provides
information on benefits, employment
and housing and help on debt, credit
and legal issues.
Phone: 0131 510 5510
QUIZ ANSWERS
1 Africa
2 One million
3 Chocolate, bananas or coffee
4 2050
5 21
6 • Fairtrade provides higher incomes to help farmers respond to climate emergencies
• Fairtrade supports farmers to protect biodiversity
• Fairtrade trains farmers in environmentally friendly farming practices
7 25 million
8 Choose Fairtrade!
Easter 2021 THE BULLETIN 27CHURCH INFORMATION
Your District Elder or District Visitor
Name:
Telephone:
Email:
Minister
Rev Alan Childs
Tel: 0131 466 5196
Email: achilds@churchofscotland.org.uk
Session Clerk
Elaine Thompson
sessionclerk@craigsbankchurch.org.uk
Church Administrator
Gemma King
Tel: 0131 334 6365
Email: administrator@craigsbankchurch.org.uk
Office Hours: Monday and Friday 9 am-12 noon
Pastoral Care Team Correspondence
Carol Turnbull
Email: carol.turnbull3@btinternet.com
For more information visit our website
www.craigsbankchurch.org.uk
Many thanks to all who have contributed
articles and photographs for this issue.
Craigsbank is a parish of the Church of Scotland
Charities number: SCO14719You can also read
