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Adventures in Faith
September 2025

Welcome to Adventures in Faith: where everyone in the Diocese of Edinburgh can explore, learn, and grow in faith and fullness of life.

News

Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian Christian, in Edinburgh

There are three opportunities for you to hear directly from Daoud Nassar from the Tent of Nations, a family-owned farm surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements. The farm as an international meeting place. Their motto is 'we refuse to be enemies' and their hope is for a better future. They try to overcome their obstacles, challenges, the continuous destructions and the attacks on their lives in a peaceful nonviolent way based on their Christian values. Daoud is visiting Edinburgh 24–25 September.

Wednesday 24 September, 2-3:30pm, as part of Christian Aid's Prayers for Peace in the Middle East series. Join in-person at Augustine United Church, or online.

Register here.

Thursday 25 September, 1-2pm, with the University of Edinburgh's Chaplaincy department, 1 Bristo Square.

Register here.

Thursday 25 September, 7:30-9pm in St James-the-Less, Leith.

Register here.

Praying for Peace

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Sunday 21st September, the UN's International Day of Peace, also marks the World Council of Churches' International Day of Prayer for Peace. In the video above, Bishop Ian expresses his hope that Scottish Episcopal churches will "observe this call to prayer in our services on 21st September. To pray for Gaza, for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered access to humanitarian relief, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, and a meaningful peace process. And also for Ukraine, Sudan, and every place where war rages."

Bishop Ian offers a suggestion that the experimental liturgical material for use in times of lament would be appropriate for this call to prayer. The material is available at this link. Further resources can be found via the WCC, Christian Aid, and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Don't miss Doors Open Days!

During weekends in September, buildings across Edinburgh and the Lothians are flinging their doors open to the general public. Some of our churches are participating, so why not pop along and explore? Here are the details:

▶ St Peter's, Linlithgow: 20 and 21 September, 2–4pm

▶ St Mark's, Portobello: 27 September, 10am–4pm and 28 September, 12.30–4pm

▶ St Michael and All Saints, Tollcross: 27 September and 28 September, 11am–5pm

▶ St Vincent's Chapel, Stockbridge: 27 September, 10am–4pm and Sunday 28 September, 12–4pm

▶ St David of Scotland, Pilton: 27 September, 2–4pm

For more information, see the Doors Open Days page on the diocesan website or access the Doors Open Days website directly.

Don’t forget that the churches on the Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail are open to visitors for some of the week, and most are open at the weekend. Check our dedicated trail page for more.

Scotland Demands Better!

Scotland's Poverty Alliance, coordinator of Challenge Poverty Week (6-13 October), are running the Make Scotland Better campaign. This campaign is being supported by the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Primus will be part of the March and Rally, to be help in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 October.

Individuals and congregations are invited to be part of the campaign, following events that are listed on the website and/or attending the Rally.

We've had a refresh!

At the end of August we pressed the button on our refreshed diocesan website. We're hoping it will make navigation easier for visitors to our site. We've also taken the opportunity to create some landing pages for Mission and Ministry so you can find what you need more quickly. Here are the links to the refreshed content:

Front page: https://edinburgh.anglican.org/

Our faith:

https://edinburgh.anglican.org/our-faith/

Mission and Ministry resources: https://edinburgh.anglican.org/dmmc_resources/

Click on the front-page images or navigate via the drop-down menus. Enjoy exploring, and let us know if something doesn't work!

From the Mission & Ministry Team

If you are a member of vestry, you are a charity trustee! This brings with it duties and responsibilities, and we are here to help you do these well. At least twice a year, we offer training from an excellent speaker and experienced lawyer, and we encourage all vestry members to attend. If you have yet to join us, or it feels like a long time since you did, please do register for our next session in Haddington on Saturday 15 November. There are breakfast rolls, tea, and coffee from 9am; the training proper starts at 9:30am; and we finish by 1pm. Register here.

This autumn, we are again hosting a series of Sunday Afternoon Teas for key members of vestry. This year, we are inviting people by area, so please encourage your Vestry Secretaries, Wardens, Lay and Alt Lay Reps, and Treasurers to come along to one of these events. Start: 3:30pm. Finish around 5pm. Register here.

▶ 21 September: St Peter's, Linlithgow

▶ 5 October: Holy Trinity, Haddington

▶ 12 October: St Ninian's, Comely Bank

▶ 19 October: St Peter's, Galashiels

▶ 9 November: St Ninian's, Comely Bank

Season of Creation

Creationtide, the season in which we contemplate and celebrate all aspects of God's creation, started on 1 September. There are a wealth of materials out there to help you read, pray, reflect, and act, and we have curated some on our Creationtide webpage. During September we are also taking a break from our usual Prayer Diary to feature prayers connected with Creationtide. Visit our Facebook page for more.

Abernethy Kilmalieu's retreats chime particularly well with the theme of Creationtide:

▶ Autumn Birdwatching Retreat

Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October.
▶ Faith in Nature (Rainforest Special)
Friday 21 to Monday 24 November.

The Jesuit Institute are running an Eco Retreat in Daily Life from 2 October to 16 December. This retreat, which includes reading and prayer material and regular online sessions with other participants, aims to help people connect with God in creation and consider how to help God care for the planet. Find out more here.

Learning Opportunities and Events

The Adventures in Faith: Courses page on the diocesan website is where you can find a whole range of courses running in the coming weeks and months. There course provider websites so you can explore further. AND check out our Events Calendar for something local that might take your fancy!

Ps & Gs Edinburgh still have places on their next Alpha course, starting on Wednesday 24 September at 6.30pm. Alpha is a great opportunity to explore the Christian faith and ask some of life's big questions.

There will be a chance to watch a short video and have a conversation about life and faith. Each week has a different topic to help guide the conversation but there will be a chance to ask any questions you have throughout the course. The Alpha course lasts for 10 weeks and takes place on a Wednesday evening. Each session starts with dinner at the church at 6.30pm. Find out more and sign up here.

Youth and Children’s Ministry Training Day at Ps & Gs Church is on Saturday 27 September, 9am-1pm. An invitation is extended to everyone working with children and young people across the Diocese to join this event. There will be tea/coffee and pastries to start, followed by training on 'Neurodiversity', 'Play', and 'Mossy Church'. The training will be interactive and run by guest speakers. There will be a chance to pray together as well.

Register here for this excellent, and free, event.

Online Icon Painting Course for Beginners.

This is a 9-week course where you can learn to create a stunning icon of the Mother of God using traditional Russian iconography techniques. This step-by-step course is perfect for beginners and experienced artists looking to refresh their skills, and is led by renowned iconographer Basia Mindewicz.

It takes place on Sundays, 7–9pm, and starts on 21 September. Cost is £370, which can be paid in instalments. More information here.

Autumn lecture series 'Here I Stand' is being run by the Church Times and St Martin in the Fields, London. Anyone can access remotely for £10 a lecture. Highlights include lectures by:

▶ Sam Wells (Mon 22 Sept)

▶ Chris Bryant (Mon 20 Oct)

▶ Michael Rosen (Mon 3 Nov)

▶ Elif Shafak (Mon 10 Nov)

▶ Mary Beard (Mon 17 Nov)

Find out more and book on the St Martin in the Fields website.

BRF are running two courses this autumn that might interest you:

Spiritual Care Online Training:

Eight Mondays, plus an introductory session on Thursday 2 October, weekly, 7–9:30pm, online, £180. Find out more.

Parenting Teens:
Six Fridays, weekly from 3 October (break for English half-term), 7:30–9pm, online/hybrid, £25 for individual/couple ticket; £60 for church/group ticket.

Find out more.

Sarum College has a full and exciting online autumn programme. Here are some of the highlights:

Journalling: Listening to the Soul: Wednesday 1 October, 10am to 1pm, £40

Worship through the Lens of Autism: Thursday 9 October, 1pm to 4pm, £40

Spiritual Exercises for the 21st Century Week by Week: Mondays from 13 October, 7:30 to 9pm, £65

The Uncontrolling Love of God: Tuesday 14 October, 1pm to 4pm, from £35 (early bird)

Queer Spirituality: An Introduction: Wednesday 22 October, 1pm to 4pm, £40

Writing Julian of Norwich in the 21st Century: Tuesday 4 November, 1pm to 4pm, £40

Or, explore the whole range of courses available online here.

On 11 October, 2–4pm, Professor John Swinton will give a talk at St Mary's Cathedral: 'Mental Health, Faith and Community: Rethinking How the Church Cares'. He will reflect on the roles of prayer, preaching, and worship in responding to difficult psychological experiences – not simply by offering answers, but by allowing space for honesty, hope and compassion. You can now sign up for this talk on the St Mary's Cathedral website.

Godly Play Storyteller and Door Person Training

This accredited training in the Godly Play method is next running in Edinburgh on 22–24 October. It takes

an immersive, hands-on approach, helping participants to understand the process and the theory of Godly Play. The days are composed of storytelling, reflection, and practice, with breaks for tea/coffee and lunch (provided). The cost is £315. More info and booking here.

Scottish Episcopal Institute Lecture

Dr Dafydd Mills Daniel, Lecturer in Divinity at St Andrews University, will offer the 10th Annual SEI Lecture on Thursday 30 October at 5pm via Zoom, entitled ‘Scottish Theology and Scot-Land’. Find out more on the SEI website.

New College Festival of Books and Belief is bringing together an array of speakers and writers from the UK and beyond to explore the fascinating relationship between literature and all aspects of belief. It involves a series of events over 7–8 November: each individual event is ticketed, with most priced around the £12. Read the full programme here.

Retreats

20–27 September is National Retreat Week. This is the third annual week of its kind, called by renew:all and supported by the Retreat Association and the Association for Promoting Retreats, among others. Visit the renew:all website to find out more and to sign up for daily email updates during National Retreat Week to help you take time out for rest, reflection and prayer. If you want to explore renew:all's resources by yourself, go to their Resources page for reflections and guided retreats.

As part of National Retreat Week, the Scargill Movement, based in North Yorkshire, are offering an online quiet day on 27 September as an introduction to the world of retreats. The day runs from 9:45am–4:30pm and will be led by Shaun Lambert, Honorary Mindfulness Chaplain and member of the extended Community at Scargill. Tickets are free but donations are welcomed. Find out more and book.

If you can't attend this quiet day, Scargill will be offering other online events during the autumn. Find out more about their autumn schedule here.

This autumn at The Bield at Blackruthven:
Seasonal Quiet Garden Day
30 September, 10am–4pm
Body Prayer Capacitar Wellness Taster
4 October, 2–4.30pm
Holding Space – Vessel Making
8 October, 10am–4pm
Advanced Enneagram
18 October, 10am–4pm
One Day Silent Retreat
29 October, 10am–4pm
HerSong: A weekend retreat
31 October at 3pm to 2 November at 3:30pm

Heart of Pilgrimage: Reflective walk in nature

11 October, 10:30am–3pm, £20/£15 concession
Walking in the natural world offers us opportunities to connect gently with the cycles of life, with God and with ourselves. The colourful splendour of autumn has much to teach us about gathering in, giving thanks and letting go. Whether you enjoy a hike or a gentle stroll, this is an invitation to walk with reflective material in the parkland and mature woodland of Dalkeith Country Park. Find more information here.

You can find more than 25 retreat venues that we have come across, or that have been used by members of the diocese, on our Retreat Venues page. There is also a map, so you can see at a glance where the listed retreat centres are based.

Around the Diocese

Have You Tried?

In this section, we share a resource that might help you explore, learn, or grow in your faith: it could be a book, a podcast, an email subscription, or something else!

Christian Art offers a daily Gospel reading paired with a related work of art and a short reflection. You can receive these by email by signing up via the Christian Art website.

There is also a YouTube channel where Patrick van der Vorst, the writer of the daily reflections and a Roman Catholic priest and a former Director of Sotheby’s London, reflects on the spiritual significance of various works of art.

Homepage – Outlines what Adventures in Faith is, with links to other landing pages.

Newsletter – Links to all previous newsletters and to sign-up for emails.

Calendar – Events happening across the Diocese, in congregations and partner organisations.

Courses – A list of courses & retreats from across the UK: something for everyone!

Awareness – Awareness days that link in with our faith and Marks of Mission.

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Revd Fiona (Fee) Reynolds, Advisor for Christian Life
0131 346 9089, [email protected]

Cathy Tingle, Interim Administrative Assistant (M&M)
0131 346 9085, [email protected]

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