Dunfermline Presbytery News & Notices

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Things are going on fairly quietly although the early part of the week was a bit uncertain because of the situation with the “flotilla” heading towards Gaza.  Of course the media are responsible for a lot of the hype, also there is a certain amount of criticism among Israelis who suggest that the IDF were not properly prepared.
 
From my point of view as someone who is working at Tabeetha with its unique emphasis in this part of the world there are various aspects of the impact of the event.
 
First is my experience in taking a taxi on Monday evening - the driver was terribly worried because his 24 year old daughter and her new husband were on honeymoon in Turkey.
 
Second - as I was coming home on Monday we passed a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv.
 
It has not really been evident that the atmosphere in school has been affected.  However one person outside school suggested to me that the number of Jewish people coming from Tel Aviv to Jaffa would decline for the next week or two.  The distance is so close that I can cycle it in five minutes (the two are a joint municipality) but there is a much greater Arab community in Jaffa (Christian and Muslim).  Generally there is little tension in Jaffa between religions.
 
It so happened that the reason I was taking taxis (not my usual transport) was to attend a regular meeting of expat. ‘wardens’.  We volunteer to help out with organising UK nationals in concert with the Consulate in case of any significant risk.  The attitude of the diplomats there was very professional and considered - I was most impressed and somewhat enlightened.
 
Of course life goes on with our senior students taknig GCSEs and A-Levels and our younger pupils having their June exams at the moment.  Regardless of the wider situation the pupils are more concerned with what they should be revising.  A salutary lesson on what is important.
 
I would be very happy for you to share the text in large print as my direct experience of the events.  I venture no opinion since my work here depends on our impartiality.
 
Blessings on everyone
 
Jimmy

Are there signs of change?

Are more people coming to Sunday worship?

Census 2010 may offer a glimmer of hope.  It also reminds us of the challenges we face in Dunfermline Presbytery with only a small proportion of the population coming along to worship.  To see the results visit the census 2010 on www.dunfermlinepresbytery.org.uk

This Sunday we begin our Holy Week journey with Jesus being acclaimed as
King on his entry to Jerusalem, going through all the events of this busy
week, leading to the Last Supper and his betrayal, trials, floggings, and
execution on the cross. I hope that you will be able to make this journey
with us during our services on:
SUNDAY - Palm Sunday (10.15am St Leonard’s / 11am Pitcorthie)
THURSDAY - Maundy Thursday Communion (2pm Gillie Court and 7pm St Leonard’s)
FRIDAY - Good Friday lunchtime service (12 noon St Leonard’s)
SATURDAY - Low Saturday Vigil (4pm - 7pm St Leonard’s)
SUNDAY - Easter Open Air at the Public Park Bandstand (8.30am), Easter
Breakfast (9.30am St Leonard’s), Easter Family Communion (11am St Leonard’s)

You might also like to pray for the various School assemblies which will be
taking place this week, that in the midst of all that these will hold I will
be able to share something of the Gospel message with the children, teachers
and family members.

NEW MEMBERS MEETING:

We also have an opportunity on Monday evening at 7.30pm in the Committee
Room for people interested in joining our church to come along and find out
more -  if you are interested in this, or know of someone who you could
invite, please let me know - either in church on Sunday or by phone (721054)
or email (minister@slpc.org.uk).

Andrew

Rev. Andrew J. Philip
St. Leonard’s Parish Church, Dunfermline

Email - minister@slpc.org.uk
Web - www.stleonardsparishchurch.org.uk

Come and Celebrate Easter at Cowdenbeath Trinity Church!!

Palm Sunday 11.15am in Sinclair Drive celebrate Easter and a Baptism
[Joint service - no service at Crossgates]

Wednesday - 7.30pm led by Cowdenbeath Baptist Church
Maundy Thursday Communion - 7.30pm Rev David Adams
Good Friday - 7.30pm Rev David Redmayne
[all services in Sinclair Drive Cowdenbeath]

Easter Sunday 11.15am Crossgates Church
[Joint Service  - No service in Cowdenbeath]

Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm in The Garden of Peace Crossgates
An Easter Celebration

Analysis of national data by relationship charity the Jubilee Centre has identified that cohabitation is a less stable form of relationship today than it was 15 years ago. This is particularly the case for couples with children. It emerges that cohabitations are rarely a long-term lifestyle choice, and the vast majority last only a short time before either being converted into marriage or dissolving.

The proportion of couples still cohabiting by the time their first child is 16 has dropped to around one-fifth of where it stood in the early 1990s. In comparison, marriage has become a more stable family background for children, since married couples are now more than ten times as likely to stay together until their child is 16; whereas just 7% of cohabiting couples stay together, 75% of married couples do so. Fewer than a quarter of first cohabitations last five years and just one in nineteen of all cohabiting couples (5.3%) has been together for ten years or more.

On average, an unmarried couple now lives together for three years and almost a half stop cohabiting before two years. Around three in five couples who stop cohabiting decide to get married, while fewer than two in five separate, making marriage still the preferred relationship choice for couples.

Jubilee Centre researcher, Dr Guy Brandon, said of the findings: ‘The cost of family breakdown to society, whether parents have cohabited or married, is enormous. Besides the emotional cost, which inevitably has an impact on mental health and economic productivity, the direct costs are presently estimated at £41.7 billion each year – the equivalent of £1,350 per taxpayer per year.

‘Given the projected rise in cohabiting couples in England and Wales from 2.25 million to 3.7 million in the next twenty years, and the clear link between cohabitation and family breakdown, it is fair to expect these costs to rise significantly in coming years.’

To find out more, use this link

http://www.jubilee-centre.org/resources/cohabitation_in_the_21st_century

Holy Week Services at St. Ninian’s Parish Church, Sunday 28th March 2010 until Easter Day Sunday 4th April 2010.

SUNDAY 28th (9.30am/11am) PALM SUNDAY SERVICE ‘Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem’

MONDAY 29th (7pm) ‘Jesus is Annointed at Bethany’

TUESDAY 30th (7pm) ‘Righteousness and Judgement’

WEDNESDAY 31st (7pm) ‘Jesus Predicts his Betrayal’

MAUNDY THURSDAY 1st (7pm) Holy Communion ‘The Upper Room’

GOOD FRIDAY 2nd (7pm) ‘The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus’

HOLY SATURDAY 3rd (10.30am) ‘The Day of the Grave’

SUNDAY 4th (9.30am/11am) EASTER DAY SERVICE ‘Christ has Risen, Christ has Risen Indeed’

A Silent Auction evening will be held at  St Ninians, Abbeyview, Dunfermline onFriday 19th March 2010 between 7 pm and 9 pm. A light supper will be available for £1 on the night and an evening of fun is guaranteed. A wide range and selection of items will be on view for bidding on following days:

Monday 15th March 9am - 12  midday.

Tuesday 16th March 2pm - 4pm

Wednesday 17th March 9am - 12  midday and 6.30pm - 8pm

 Thursday 18th March 1pm - 4pm.

ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO WORLD MISSION

Beath and Cowdenbeath North Church of Scotland are looking for a person with enthusiasm to work with young people in our community, and to help young people in the church grow in their Christian faith. Applicants should have a Christian commitment and be able to uphold our Christian ethos - a Genuine Occupational Requirement in terms of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. Closing date: 30 March 2010.

 For further information including contact info please visit the ‘Vacancies’ on the main Presbytery website www.dunfermlinepresbytery.org.uk

On Saturday 13 March 10 the circle of friendship at St Ninnians, Abbeyview, will be holding a coffee morning and bring and buy stall. All welcome