magnificat - st mary's cathedral, edinburgh · magnificat my soul proclaims the greatness of...

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Magnificat My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my saviour,

for you, Lord, have looked with favour on your lowly

servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

You, the almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you,

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

casting down the mighty from their thrones

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the aid of your servant Israel,

to remember the promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our forebears,

to Abraham and to his children for ever.

(from Luke 1)

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Making the sign of the cross in May

It's probably a serious personality defect, but I love elections, especially

general elections. There's nothing quite like a decent dose of electionitis as

the image makers groom their candidates. The spin doctors and the PR

persons go into overdrive, the various parties fine tune their policies to

ensure maximum appeal, a final blue rinse here or a red tinge there, a

tartan check here or a plug for PR there, to tempt the dithering

electorate. Opinion polls pronounce daily, swingometers vacillate,

political pundits pontificate, whereas we mere mortals walk up and down

Princes St in the forlorn hope that one day MORI might actually ask us

what we think. Photo opportunities and sound bytes rule the day, babies

careless enough to be born at that time get kissed by passing politicians,

letter boxes get jammed up, TV screens get filled up, and we might even

get fed up. And on the day we tootle along to the polling stations, avoid

all the good people lurking outside with rosettes on their lapels and who

would look more at home at the Chelsea Flower Show or Crufts, and

cast our vote. We were asked to make a cross. The cross we make was

to indicate how we wish our nation to be governed, a sign of how we

wish the future to be. A cross stands at the heart of our electoral

system, our democracy.

Today's image makers may have difficulty with his sign. It's too abrasive,

too strident, it suggests sacrifice and cost, demanding as it does

everything: loving God, loving neighbour, journeying towards a

cross. Spin doctors might prefer to massage the message just a fraction,

render it more user-friendly, tone down the demands, gently blunt its

sharp edges to gain greater popular appeal. Compromise is what's

needed, certainly not talk of the high flying leader ending up flying high on

a cross and telling his followers to take up their cross as well. His party

slogan is the picture of a man dying the death of a common criminal,

deserted by his followers except for a couple of women, not holding

forth to the party faithful, but abandoned, deserted, forsaken, a failure.

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During the election campaign mud will be slung, and as always the mud

slingers preface their verbal assaults by saying they are talking about

policies, not personalities. In Jesus of Nazareth you simply cannot

draw some kind of imaginary distinction between the policy and the

personality: he, the personality, uniquely lived out the policy of love, he

himself is the policy; the two are indistinguishable. The bottom line is

that Christianity is not a series of things you have to believe, nor a list

of things you have to do or don't do, but taking up your cross and

following him. What the taking and the following means for you is

something only you can work out, because Jesus of Nazareth left us no

manifesto of ecclesiastical or political or social action, no blueprint for

success. What we are given is the icon of love, a love so strong that

not even torture and death on that green hill far away could destroy,

an icon of loving God above all, of identifying with the weak and the

sick, the poor and the oppressed, even the moral failures, of breaking down barriers, of serving without a quid pro quo. We don't lack a

Christian manifesto - we have one. It is Christ himself. And his sign,

the cross, is the icon of the Christ.

In the solitude of the polling booth you make the sign of a cross, the

sign at the heart of our electoral system. In baptism you were signed

with the sign of the cross. At the Holy Communion we receive the

holy bread, signed with the sign of the cross. This isn't something we

do every now and again at election time, but every time we come to

kneel at the altar. Mud and insults were slung at him as he hung there,

don't worry if the same happens to you, so long as love, his love, is

your guiding force. There's no need for rosettes or other ecclesiastical

bric-a-brac broadcasting our slogan - simply love, as he loved. The

world may well count that as a personality defect, putting the other

before self, it's far too threatening. But deep down I know that's true, I

know that that's what life is meant to be about.

For us every day is the day to take up our

cross and to follow Jesus; otherwise our

discipleship, like so much electioneering, will

be phoney.

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DO JOIN US! If you would like to find out more about

what is happening in the Cathedral and/or

wish to become a member, please fill in

your details below and hand this form to

one of the Clergy or drop it into the

Cathedral Office.

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

A RESURRECTED GARDEN

Perhaps the title is rather over-stating the case but after months and

months of being hidden under scaffolding, behind wire fencing and beneath

plastic barriers, it is a great delight to see the Memorial Garden emerging at

last. It now boasts a fine stone wall edging and a new paved entrance. We

have enriched the garden with soil and mulch, hoed, raked, pruned and

replanted. I am very grateful for the help and guidance from my new garden

consultant, Neil Woodcock whose knowledge and practical gardening skills

have been invaluable.

There will be two new plants in the garden soon, both commemorating

wedding anniversaries of Ann and Alan Treloar. They have very generously

donated a red Japanese maple to celebrate their ruby wedding of ten years

ago and a “Molten Gold” variegated slow-growing rhododendron for their

recent golden wedding anniversary. We are awaiting the plant to

commemorate their diamond anniversary with great excitement! At this

stage I could ask for more plants from those of you with anniversaries but

such blatant commercialism would be inappropriate in a church magazine.

I hope it will not be long before the final work on the pathway is carried out

and the remaining barriers at the car park removed so that everybody will

again have a chance to enjoy the garden.

Elizabeth Mathison

Confirmations and

Admissions to

Communion at

Pentecost

(24th May)

It’s not too late to

register your interest

in preparation classes

for Confirmation or

Admission to

Communion. Please

speak to one of the

Clergy.

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Crossword set by Elaine McCulloch Smith Solution in the June Magazine

Clues (Scripture clues are always to be found in King James’s Authorised Version)

Across 3 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my … (5)

Heb 1 8 A young male person (Chiefly Scottish) (6)

9 A kind of typeface (6) 10 the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may … (6)

Rom 15 11 Break up or till soil (8)

12 The Isle of … at the mouth of the Forth, medieval place of retreat (3) 13 Female name (6)

14 Used to kill grouse, pheasants, pigeons etc (8) 17 Rowers (7)

19 Mild or merciful (7) 23 Marine invertebrate that lives in cylinders made of sand (4,4) 27 Moves one place contrary to normal sequence, then back again in following round in

change ringing of bells; or avoids (6) 29 Castle of … on Caithness coast (3)

30 Strong desire or liking for something (8) 31 Shifts from one opinion to another (6)

32 Three-in-one (6) 33 Representations (6)

34 I am the good shepherd, and know my … (5) John 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10 11

12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21

22

23 24 25 26 27 28

29

30 31

32 33

34

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Down 1 Frolic or run about playfully (6) 2 Asks for information from someone (8)

3 Another term for the bulrush from which Moses’ basket was made (4,4) 4 … … to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost (5,2)

5 Giggle (6) 6 Bovine youngsters (6)

7 Restaurant (6) 13 being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy … (5) John 14

15 Female deer (3) 16 Ballet costumes (5) 18 Sound made by a kitten (3)

20 Your … , form of address for a female judge or noblewoman (8) 21 Part song for several voices, esp. of Renaissance period, usually unaccompanied (8)

22 Baptise by submerging in water (7) 24 Person in charge of a cricket match (6)

25 Long steady look at something (6) 26 Mediterranean fruits (6)

28 Young bird of prey (6)

Solution to the April Crossword

S S M O U N T C U

M A R T H A N H E L E N A

L A R U E A T

C O R N E R S Y C O M O R E

M D Y O U U O U

L E G I O N A S P E R G E S

A N O L A I

T U G G E R S H A R P I S T

I A G P A A

N I G H T O W L P O R T E R

C O R A L L A L

S O N O F G O D I N D E E D

N F A D Q I V

P I N I O N E U N S E E N

C T S I N C E E N

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Loko’s choice in life is simple: ‘If I can’t

collect firewood, my children will die.’

Four times a week, in a remote corner of

Ethiopia, Loko makes a back-breaking eight-

hour trip to gather wood. It’s a task she

dreads, but she steels herself to do it

because if she doesn’t her children will

starve. She prays to God as she walks. ‘I ask

him to change my life and lead us out of

this,’ she says. Just £5 could give Loko a

loan to start her own business buying and

selling tea and coffee, freeing her from her

desperate task and allowing her to spend

more time caring for her family.

In England and Wales, the average

woman is having her first baby at

nearly 30. In Ethiopia, at 30, Adi

Duba is already a widow and

a mother of five. Living

independently as a widow is

incredibly tough within the Borena

community in southern Ethiopia.

Adi was destitute. But with our

partner, HUNDEE’s support, life

has started to get a bit brighter.

Adi’s community recognised how

vulnerable she was as a single mother. She received one cow and two goats

through the UK Aid Programme Partnership Arrangement scheme. Life has

changed for Adi. Not only is she able to provide milk for her children, she is

also producing a cup of butter a week, worth about £2, which is enough to send

her eldest daughter to school. Most importantly, now that she owns livestock,

she is viewed as ‘Guma Gutu’ (an owner of cattle and goats), meaning she now

has a voice. Adi is able to participate with men in community meetings,

challenging social norms which discriminate against women.

Adi Duba with her livestock

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

10th to 16th May 2015

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This Christian Aid Week, you can help transform the lives of women

like Loko and Adi. From 10-16 May, churches the length and breadth of

Britain and Ireland will come together to pray, campaign and raise money to

improve the lives of people like Loko and Adi. Every year, 100,000

volunteers demonstrate God’s love for the poor by taking part in house-to-

house collections for Christian Aid. This fantastic witness is a chance to

take the mission of the church into your community.

Christian Aid envelopes will be available on the tables near the main

door of the Cathedral. Donations can also be made on-line.

SOCK SUNDAY – OUTCOME

1380 HAPPY FEET!!

A massive thank you to everyone who supported our Sock Sunday

appeal. This resulted in a collection of 690 pairs of new socks – 385 pairs for men and 305 pairs for women. These have been passed to 6

crisis centres working with homeless people in Edinburgh.

A couple of comments from letters we have received –

‘Every day we are on the streets of Edinburgh reaching people living in

the most destitute circumstances, people who have nowhere else to go

and nobody to turn to. The socks you donated are being gratefully

received by the people we approach on the street, especially if they do

not have shoes’ (Streetwork). ‘A young woman said it is going to be

‘really cool’ this summer to wear patterned socks; the socks are being

really appreciated just now but also will be fashionable for the young

people in the better weather. It is so nice for the young people to have

nice things’ (Stopover hostel).

On the day cash donations of £112.30 have been shared between the

agencies for emergency purchases.

Your generous response to this appeal will mean that there are 1380

warmer and happier feet in the city.

Thank you so much.

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From the Registers

Funeral

Dennis Eadie

Faith & Growth - Two Dates for your Diary

Quiet Day Touching God

Saturday 20 June 2015, 10am-3.30pm

Holy Trinity Church, Haddington, is the venue for this year’s quiet

day, which will be led by the Rector, Anne Dyer. Anne’s courses on

art and theology are very popular, and we are delighted that she has

agreed to run this day of reflection on the human quest for God

through art. Please make your own way to Haddington.

Tea & coffee will be provided; bring your own lunch. Cost £5.

Alnmouth Friary Weekend

Friday 30 October – Sunday 1 November 2015

Each year, the Franciscan Friary at Alnmouth, on the Northumberland coast, provides the perfect setting for a small group

from St Mary’s to enjoy a weekend of daily worship, relaxation, quiet

times, interesting conversations with the Brothers and visitors, local

walks and sightseeing.

Leaflets with further details of both these events

will be available soon.

Stewardship Campaign 2015

Thank you to all who have responded to our stewardship campaign.

If you have not yet replied, the Treasurer looks forward to hearing

from you soon. Additional copies of the stewardship material are available from the Cathedral Office (0131 225 6293).

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Margery Fletcher Sampson – Scotland’s First Lady Ringer

A short article in the bellringers’ weekly

magazine, The Ringing World, caught the eye of

Jaime Hamper, one of the St Mary’s Cathedral

bellringers. The article was from 100 years

ago, recording the untimely death of Miss

Margery Sampson. She and her father used to

walk the four mile round trip twice each

Sunday from her home in Morningside to St

Mary’s, and eventually she was persuaded to

learn to ring by her father, who taught her at

the age of 16. At the time it was highly

unusual for women to ring, and she was the

first to ring in Scotland. After being a very

successful pupil she became the first woman to ring a peal in Scotland, at

St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh.

Jaime proceeded to do further research on this accomplished ringer,

discovering that after qualifying as a student of the Edinburgh School of

Cookery and Domestic Economy she took up a post with Staffordshire

County Council. On a trip to Inverness before she travelled south, the

St Mary’s bellringers presented her with an engraved gold bangle as a mark

of their appreciation of what she had done for ringing at St Mary’s. She did

a great deal of bellringing during her time in Staffordshire ringing seven

peals for the St Martin’s Guild (Birmingham) and twelve in total, a significant

achievement.

After two years in Tamworth she returned to Edinburgh, to a job on the

staff of her former college. Unfortunately she became ill and by 1914 was

given leave of absence from the School of Cookery. She went to Brighton

to recuperate, ringing for the last time with her father at St Peter’s

Brighton. She came back to Edinburgh, but sadly died at home at the age of

24.

The Ringing World received many tributes to her memory and a framed

portrait of her still hangs in the tower of St Martin’s Birmingham. Peals

were rung in her memory, including the very first peal for the Ladies Guild

at Portishead by eight Portishead lady ringers, a fitting tribute to a talented

young woman.

Barbara Bell.

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CATHEDRAL DIARY FOR MAY 2015

Friday

1 May

Philip & James, Apostles 7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist

1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Evensong

Saturday

2 May

7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist followed by informal Bible

discussion at the Marché Français, West Maitland Street

Sunday

3 May

Easter IV Readings: Acts 8.26-40; John 15.1-8

8am Holy Communion 9am Men’s Prayer Group (see p. 16)

10.30am Cathedral Eucharist Sunday Club, JYG, coffee

afterwards etc

3.30pm Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Ivor Guild

Monday

4 May

7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist 1.05pm Eucharist

5.30pm Choral Evensong

Tuesday

5 May

7.30am Morning Prayer & Eucharist 12.20pm Meditation (see p. 16)

1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Evensong

Wed.

6 May


3.30pm Shalom Choir - Informal concert

5.30pm Choral Evensong 7pm Meditation (see p. 16)

Thursday

7 May

7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist 11.30am Eucharist

1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Eucharist

8pm Men’s Group (see p. 16) Cathedral Walkers (see p. 20)

Friday

8 May



Saturday

9 May



Japan Consulate Children’s Day in the Cathedral (see p. 14)

Sunday

10 May

Christian Aid Sunday Readings: Acts 10.44-48; John 15.9-17

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Cathedral Eucharist & Baptism

Sunday Club, coffee afterwards etc


Monday

11 May


5.30pm Choral Evensong followed by Prayer Group (see p. 16)

Tuesday

12 May


1.05pm Eucharist 2.30pm River Fellowship (see p. 16)


Wed.

13 May



Thursday

14 May

Ascension Day 7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist

11.30am Eucharist 1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Eucharist

Friday

15 May

Mathias, Apostle 7.30am Morning Prayer and Eucharist

1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer

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13

Saturday

16 May



Sunday

17 May

Sunday after Ascension Day

Readings: Acts 1.15-17,21-26; John 17.6-19

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Cathedral Eucharist Sunday Club, coffee afterwards etc


Monday

18 May


5.30pm Choral Evensong 8pm Men’s Group (see p. 16)

Tuesday

19 May


1.05pm Eucharist 5.30pm Choral Evensong 8pm Book Group (p. 17)

Wed.

20 May



Thursday

21 May



Friday

22 May



Saturday

23 May



Sunday

24 May

The Day of Pentecost Readings: Acts 2.1-21; Jn 15.26-27,16.4b-15

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Cathedral Eucharist, Confirmations and Admissions

to Communion Preacher: The Bishop Coffee afterwards etc


Services sung by the Chapter House Singers Magazine deadline

Monday

25 May


5.30pm Evening Prayer (The Choir is on holiday until 28 May)

Tuesday

26 May


1.05pm Eucharist 8pm River Fellowship (see p. 16)

5.30pm Evening Prayer

Wed.

27 May


5.30pm Evening Prayer

Thursday

28 May



Friday

29 May



Saturday

30 May



Sunday

31 May

Trinity Sunday Readings: Isaiah 6.1-8; John 3.1-17

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Cathedral Eucharist Sunday Club, coffee afterwards etc

3.30pm Choral Evensong 8pm Symphonic Praise (see p. 15)

15

Symphonic Praise, Edinburgh

Sunday 31 May, 8pm in the Cathedral

Organised by Origin Scotland

Origin's choir and orchestra will lead the congregation in some of the greatest

hymns ever written with brand new specially-written arrangements.

This event is free, but you need to book a ticket either at the Origin Scotland

website: www.originscotland.org or by phoning: 0131 208 0095.

Songs for all Seasons A tribute to the fickle Scottish weather

The Chapter House Singers Director: Les Shankland

7.30pm Saturday 13th June 2015 St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh

Tickets - £10 from www.chapterhousesingers.com,

from choir members or on the door.

Accompanied school children free.

Scottish Charity No. SC025545

http://www.originscotland.org/3/events.php

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Men's Group and Men's Prayer Group

The Men’s Group meets at 8pm on the first Thursday of each month

and the third Monday of each month in the Chapter House.

The Men’s Prayer Group meets on the first Sunday of each month

at 9am, also in the Chapter House. More information from Lester

Knibb via the Cathedral Office.

Meditation

There are meditation

sessions in the Cathedral

Chapter House every week from 12.20 to 12.50pm on

Tuesdays, and every month

on the first Wednesday

from 7 to 8pm.

The evening sessions give a

little more time to explore

the meaning of meditation

and our experiences of it.

We hope that this pattern

will make the sessions accessible to as wide a

group as possible.

River Fellowship

Members of the River Fellowship enjoy lively meetings which provide an

opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences of Christian life

and to get to know one another better. Alison Howard kindly hosts the meetings in her flat close to the Cathedral. Meetings in May are

12th May at 2.30pm and 26th May at 8pm. For venue details and other

information, please contact Judith Lewis in the Cathedral Office.

New Prayer Group

The next meeting of the new Prayer

Group will be after Choral Evensong on

Monday, 11th May, and will last for

approximately an hour. It will meet at the

Chaplain’s flat. The prayer will be a

mixture of silence and words, so if you’re

not used to praying out loud or if this is

how you’ve always prayed, you will be

very welcome. The focus of the prayer is

on bringing the needs of ourselves, the

Cathedral, and the world before God and

it is preceded by a short reflection. There

will be tea and biscuits too!

For more details see the Chaplain or

contact him via the Cathedral Office.

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The Book Group

We are meeting to discuss Desmond Tutu's In God's Hands on

Tuesday 19 May and on Tuesday 21 July we will be reading The

Mighty Dead: Why Homer Matters by Adam Nicolson. Both meetings

will be held at Peter Allen's flat, starting at 8pm, unless otherwise

notified. All welcome. Further information and venue details from

Mike Sinclair or the Cathedral Office.

The next Fresh Start collection will be on Sunday

3rd May 2015 in the Resurrection Chapel after the

10.30 Cathedral Eucharist Service. This month we are

particularly looking for: glass tumblers (not alcohol

glasses); dishcloths and dusters; plates - side and

dinner; hand/small towels.

Should you wish to donate before this or at any other time, goods can be

taken to:

Fresh Start, 22-24 Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh EH4 4BR.

Telephone 0131 476 7741.

From FRESH START Issue 28

Lothian Buses Choose Fresh Start as their Charity of the Year 2015:

“Throughout 2015, they will work with us on a number of projects that

will raise awareness of what we do, and hopefully raise some funds

through staff events. The Company has over 2000 staff and is one of

Edinburgh’s largest employers. It’s a fabulous opportunity to have their

support for a whole year.

Even more good news! We will have our very own ‘Fresh Start Bus’

which will travel on various routes throughout the city. So as from April,

please look out for the Bus and give it a wave when you see it.”

More information can be read in this issue.

The Fresh Start Sponsored Walk is on Friday 29 May – if you want

further information, call 0131 476 7741 or email

[email protected]

Fresh

Start

mailto:[email protected]

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St Mary’s Cathedral Retreat

Bishop’s House, Iona

Friday 20th May to Tuesday 24th May, 2016 To be led by the Revd Canon John McLuckie, Vice-Provost

On the island that was home to Scotland's earliest monastic

communities, John McLuckie will look at some monastic insights for

modern living. Drawing on the writings of Thomas Merton, we will look

at themes such as solitude, wisdom, silence and humanity.

Iona is situated off the west coast of Mull.

Our group will stay in the

recently refurbished

Bishop’s House, a short

walk from the ferry landing

on Iona, and overlooking

the sea. There is a chapel in

Bishop’s House which

serves the Episcopal

community on Iona. There

is also a dining room, a quiet

room, and a conservatory

area with tea and coffee

facilities.

Travel is via ferries from Oban to Mull and Mull to Iona, and can be

by private car or public transport. If would like a lift, or if you are

able to offer lifts in your car, please note this on the booking form.

The total cost of accommodation, including all meals but excluding

travel, will be about £280 per person, depending on the number of

people. If you would like to come to Bishop’s House, please

complete the adjacent booking form and return it to the Cathedral

Office with a £60 deposit as soon as possible to secure your place.

For further information please contact Andrew or Sadie McCowan

via the Cathedral Office.

Iona Bay

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BOOKING FORM

I/we wish to come to Bishop’s House

From Friday 20th May to Tuesday 24th May, 2016

Name(s):

………………….………..…………….……………

………………………..…………………..………...

Tel: ………………..

Address or email:

………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………….…

I would like transport to Iona / I can offer … places in my car.

(please delete as applicable)

Special dietary requirements:

………………………………………………

I am / am not willing to share a twin room

Please return this form to the Cathedral Office

with a deposit of £60 per person.

20

The Cathedral Walkers

DO YOU LIKE TO WALK? DO YOU LIKE TO TALK?

Why not join the Cathedral Walkers where we do both!

The “Walk and Talk” group meets once a month usually on the first

Thursday of the month.

On Thursday 9th April (a week later on

account of Maundy Thursday) ten of us

walked from Haddington town centre out to

the old railway line and along this to

Longniddry – a distance of 5.5 miles. We

enjoyed beautiful weather – dry, warm and

sunny with just a light wind and we had clear

views out over the Firth of Forth. The good

wide path facilitated plenty of talking with

our walking, which is an important aspect of

the group. Six of us enjoyed lunch at the

Longniddry Inn before heading back by bus

to Edinburgh.

The next walk is on Thursday 7th May – don’t worry - there will

be plenty of time to vote!!

Subject to a satisfactory recce the walk will be from Cramond Brig

through the Cammo estate and along the river Almond walkway to

Cramond waterfront and on to Silverknowes. The walk will involve

negotiation of steps at some points along the riverside. There are possible

escape routes at Cramond (after the steps!) for those who feel unable to

complete the entire walk (about 5.5 miles).

We will be using public transport in each direction and there is a regular

bus service to Cramond Brig and from Silverknowes.

Above: Walkers starting to gather in Haddington

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As usual I will be sending details to everyone on my email list but

newcomers always are welcome so please let me know if you would like

to join us.

John Spencer

Above: Following the nature trail along the old railway line

Below: Happy walkers on the way to Longniddry

22

LIGHT A CANDLE

A Prayer for Christian Aid

This red envelope, Lord, has been put through my letterbox.

It seems such a small thing,

in the face of such global hunger, poverty and injustice.

And yet, small and slight as it is,

this red envelope is a sign, a symbol,

of an unwillingness to do nothing,

to let the powers and principalities of entrenched inequality

remain unchallenged and unchanged.

So I thank you, Creator God, for these red envelopes,

for all those who deliver and collect them,

for all those many more, of all faiths and none,

who give through them.

And I pray that as a result

someone somewhere will be able

to buy a mosquito net, or rebuild a house,

or send their daughter to school, or dig a well,

or sow seeds and in due course

reap a harvest – a harvest of hope.

In the name of the One who came that

people might have life – life in all its fullness.

From A Prayer for Christian Aid Week which is in

Like Leaves to the Sun, Prayers from the Iona

Community, Wild Goose Publications 2013.

http://www.ionabooks

http://www.ionabooks

23

Published by St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place,

Edinburgh, EH12 5AW Tel: 0131-225 6293

Website: www.cathedral.net Email: [email protected]

A Scottish Charity: SC014741

If you or one of your family are sick or have gone into

hospital, please let the Clergy know as soon as possible; and if

you want them for any reason, please never hesitate to

telephone.

Please consult the Provost before any arrangements are made

for Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals.

We are always delighted to hear of boys and girls, men and

women who:

Would like to be trained as Servers

Would like to help with the Sunday Groups for children

Would like to help with coffee

Would like to help as Stewards or at the Welcome

Desk

Would like to train as bell-ringers

Are interested in helping with flowers

Are thinking about doing some visiting

Have some gifts they would like to offer to the

Cathedral.

Copy date for the June edition is 24th May 2015.

magnificat - st mary's cathedral, edinburgh · magnificat my soul proclaims the greatness of...

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