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28 September 2023

Important News regarding this Newsletter

We apologise that there has been no newsletter since the General Assembly due to staffing difficulties. We are sorry that it has taken so long to let you know why this has occurred.

As part of internal restructuring within the national office, the Faith Impact Forum has been merged into the Faith Action programme and there will be a review of newsletters in the coming months. We will let you know the plan for this newsletter. There will certainly be a change of name as Faith Impact no longer exists.

At the same time the international work of the Church continues, albeit with a smaller staff. National work will continue on climate issues, to support and welcome refugees and to challenge poverty. We want to keep you informed about this important work as well as sharing news from partner churches and organisations, from mission partners and from congregations engaging with the world church and world church issues.

For now we intend to produce a monthly newsletter, coming out during the first week of the month. It would be good to hear from you directly about the value to you and your congregation of a newsletter specifically focusing on national and international work.

Please email Carol Finlay on cfinlay@churchofscotland.org.uk

Climate Events

The Church of Scotland Faith Action, the Guild, Christian Aid and Eco Congregation Scotland together with presbyteries are planning to hold events on climate change and climate justice, with an emphasis on the global picture.

So far the following events are planned and we look forward to more in the future. If your presbytery is interested, please let us know.

30 September 2023: North East and Northern Isles Presbytery in Inverurie Parish Church, 10am-1pm. All welcome.
28 October 2023: Fife Presbytery in Kirkcaldy St Bryce Kirk, 10am-1pm. All welcome.
2 November 2023: Lothian and Borders Presbytery in Old Parish and St Pauls, Galashiels, 10am-1pm. All welcome

We look forward to seeing you at your local presbytery event.

Prayers for Peace

The 24th of the month has become synonymous with prayers for peace around the world.

On the 24 October, between 7-8:30pm, the Church of Scotland will join Christian Aid Scotland and other Scottish church partners online to pray for peace in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The vigil will include input from Nadia Giol, a Palestinian Israeli Peacemaker and Social Activist trained in nonviolent conduct and co-manager and principal facilitator of the Visitors’ Centre at Sindyanna, Galilee.

Also contributing will be Rev Muriel Pearson, the Church of Scotland Mission Partner based in Tiberias, Israel, who is minister of St Andrew’s Jerusalem and Tiberias and chaplain to the Scots Hotel and to Tabeetha School in Jaffa. Working with partner organisations in Israel-Palestine to highlight their work in Scotland through blogging and partner letters, she also has an interest in nonviolent communication, person-centred listening and the capacity of individuals to choose peace with justice, and collaborate with others.

You can find out more about the prayer vigil on the Christian Aid website and if you are interested in taking part, please contact atomlinson@christian-aid.org.

Find out more about the prayer vigil

Mission Partner News

Our mission partners continue to keep us updated on important work underway in their regions.

Gary Brough in Malawi has updated us about the work of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in the reconstruction following Cyclone Freddy, with some funding from congregations in Scotland.

Linus Malu also from Malawi shared some of his work relating to preventing child marriage.

Fiona Kendall in Italy updated us on the work of Mediterranean Hope who are present at the dock on Lampedusa at almost every disembarkation there. Their commitment to those whose only hope of seeking asylum lies in attempting a crossing is evidenced by their advocacy efforts to re-establish formalised search and rescue in the region.

Please keep them and all our mission partners in your prayers as they work together with partners in their different locations around the world.