DMMC News

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Welcome to August's Newsletter!

Information on courses, awareness dates, etc, are available via our Adventures in Faith pages:

Welcome!

A very warm welcome to the Revd Juliet Stephenson, the Rector for St Columba's by the Castle. We look forward to getting to know Juliet better in the coming months and years, and wish her every blessing on her ministry.

Bishop Search

Living God,

you walk with us in all seasons of life
calling us to follow you with joy, hope and love
as we share in your work of renewing the world;
give us humility and discernment to hear your voice,
that those discerning their calling
and all involved in our bishop search
may be encouraged in your ways
and open to your creative Spirit. Amen.

Key Dates

▶ Saturday 27 September 2025 – Preliminary Meeting of Electoral Synod (including an in-person meeting in Edinburgh of the Preparatory Committee).

▶ Saturday 7 February 2026 – Electoral Synod meeting with candidates.

▶ Saturday 14 February 2026 – Electoral Synod meeting to undertake election.

Bishop John's departure
▶ Sunday 24 August 2025 – Cathedral Evensong will be Bishop John's final service (Choir dress).

For ALL Vestry members!

Safeguarding Changes enforceable NOW

The changes to the PVG Scheme is now legally enforceable. This means that non-compliance is a criminal offence. The document detailing the impact on the SEC is available on our website.

Anyone who does not have PVG Scheme membership but needs it under the new law MUST cease all work in the church until clearance is received from the SEC Safeguarding Team.

Trustee Information on OSCR Online

Charities have begun to add information about their trustees to the OSCR database. As such, there is now detailed information on the OSCR website about how to do this, and what checks to make in the process, along with 'how to' videos. Find the page here.

Ordained and lay vestry members alike are encouraged to attend the next Trustee Training session on Saturday 15 November at the Trinity Centre, Haddington.

Hot breakfast rolls are provided from 9am until the training proper starts at 9:30am! We conclude by 1pm.

Register for the training 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

Learning & Development Opportunities

The start of the academic year is rolling round, which means lots of places are advertising what they are offering. We regularly keep the Courses page updated, so please do go and browse to see what piques your interest!

CMD Day: Thursday 18 September

We will be joined at St Columba's by the Castle by the Revd Dr Andrew Adam, aka AKMA. He is currently Associate Priest at the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames, Theology Faculty in Oxford University (currently at Oriel College, having previously been at St Stephen’s House). In the 2010s, he taught at Glasgow University and ministered within the SEC. One of his areas of interest, namely Scriptural Christologies, will be the subject of our CMD day. Do make time to join us and, for catering purposes, please register your attendance here 😇

Lay Reader Conference: 6 October

This is, once again, taking place at Prestonfield Golf Club and is a chance for all the Lay Readers from the Diocese to come together, learning and reflecting from one another and others.

Clergy Conference: 3–6 November

Invitations for Clergy Conference have now been issued. Once received, please complete your registration as soon as practicable – thank you! tinyurl.com/EdCC25

Thursday Learning Lunches These take place online (using Zoom), starting at 12:30pm and finishing between 1:30pm and 2pm...depending on how much you talk!! Join the Zoom Meeting with this link.

28 Aug – Espoo Confirmation Camp – Fee will share her recent experience of being part of the leadership team for Espoo's English-language confirmation camp.

25 Sep – Children and Church with Claire Benton-Evans.

30 Oct – Advent and Christmas – a collective brainstorm, particularly for those in panic mode!

27 Nov – topic tbc.

The Scottish Episcopal Institute offers courses that SEC clergy and readers can audit for free, or study for credit at minimal cost.

▶ Health, Healing and Mission, with the Revd Dr Gillian Straine. Tuesdays, 7–9pm, 9 Sep–25 Nov.

▶ Advanced Topic: History of Liturgy, with Dr John R. Davies. Wednesdays, 7–9pm, 10 Sep–26 Nov.

▶ Elementary Biblical Hebrew, with Dr Amber Shadle. Thursdays, 7–8pm, 11 Sep–20 Nov.

▶ Ecclesiology and Conflict, with the Rev Dr W. John Carswell. Tuesdays, 2–4pm, 6 Jan–10 Mar 2026.

▶ Advanced Topic: Theology of the Eucharist, with the Revd Prof Bryan Spinks. Wednesdays, 7–9pm, 7 Jan–18 Mar.

▶ Reflective Practice: Leadership and Collaboration, with the Revd Keith Thomasson. Tuesdays 2–4pm, 24 Mar–9 Jun.

They also offer one of the cheapest MA degrees in the UK, accredited by Durham University. Interested in any of these? Email: [email protected].

Trinity College, Glasgow, are advertising their Autumn/Winter short courses, many of which are online. Applications close 5 September and each course costs £207.

▶ Preaching in Church Contexts: Wednesdays, 24 Sep–3 Dec, 4–6pm, onsite.
▶ History and Theology of Worship: Mondays, 29 Sep–24 Nov, 6:30–8:30pm, online.
▶ Designing and Leading Christian Worship:
Mondays, 29 Sep–24 Nov, 7–9pm, plus Sat 11 Oct, hybrid delivery.
▶ Contemporary Visual Art and Christian Worship:
Thursdays, 2 Oct–27 Nov, 7–9pm, online.
▶ Listening in Mission: Thursdays, 8 Oct–3 Dec, 7–9pm, online.

The College of Preachers offer a series of seminars and talks via Zoom. The regular Zoom seminars take place from 10:30am–1pm, and cost £12:

▶ Sat 20 Sep: Preaching the Psalms; The Revd Dr Philip Jenson.

▶ Mon 3 Nov: Preaching Matthew's Gospel; The Revd Dr A. K. M. Adam.

▶ Sat 15 Nov: Preaching the Christmas Story; The Revd Dr Jennifer Brown.

▶ Mon 17 Nov: Preaching the Women of the Gospels; The Revd Dr Philip Jenson.

**Plus one additional offering:

▶ Tue 9 Sep: Putting Words to Work – how we use language in preaching; Dr Margaret Cooling; 7–8:30pm; £5.

Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is coming around once more, and materials are starting to become available. Here are some:

▶ SEC Authorised for Experimental Use – there is eucharistic material and extra intercessory material.

▶ Season of Creation – resources for this year from the worldwide, ecumenical steering group.

▶ Eco-Congregation Scotland – resources from Rev David Coleman.

▶ The Episcopal Church – a series of resources and links from the USA.

▶ New Creation Liturgies – a booklet of resources entitled Season of Creation: A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes (Perennial Edition 2025).

▶ Honoring God in Creation – a booklet of resources from The Episcopal Church (USA).

▶ Doxecology – songs and study guides from Resound Worship and Engage Worship.

▶ Faithful Climate Conversations – guides produced by For the Love of Creation in Canada.

▶ Rich Living – a series of small group resources by A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand.

▶ CoE Daily Discussion – five weeks'-worth of daily readings and questions for reflection by individuals or groups.

▶ The Food Conversation – a guide to hosting 90-minute conversations on the food system, created by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.

Note that Fairtrade Fortnight now takes place during the Season of Creation (22 September–5 October), and there are plenty of resources available online to mark this as well. This year's theme is Do It Fair, with a product focus of tea. There are resources, ideas, prayers, and more on the Fairtrade Fortnight website: have a look for more information.

Harvest Thanksgiving. The focus of a harvest thanksgiving service can vary from continuing the creationtide theme to food production to the harvest of our own lives. One invitation this year, encouraged by our Diocesan Secretary Professor Wilson Poon, is to help people see the harvest of their daily lives, particularly those who do not work in food production.

As a Christian scientist, Wilson has spent time reflecting on his call to serve God in the science lab. In the book Real Scientists Real Faith, he shares some of these reflections in a chapter entitled 'The Laboratory of the Cross'. In it is an addition to our offering prayer, which is reproduced below. How might this 'fruit' and 'work' prayer inform your harvest worship this year?

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation;

through your goodness we have this bread to offer,

which earth has given and human hands have made:

it will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation;

through your goodness we have this wine to offer,

fruit of the vine and work of human hands;

it will become the cup of our salvation.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all invention;
through your goodness we have this cure to offer,
fruit of the lab and work of evolution;
it will improve for us the quality of life.
Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all intuition;
through your goodness we have this proof to offer,
fruit of the brain and work of abstraction;
it is the self-understanding of your universe.
Blessed be God for ever.

Children and Young People

All Things Toddler. There will be a gathering of those involved with (or interested in running) toddler groups on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 August at Ps & Gs Church, 2–4pm. This is a time to gather, share ideas, ask questions, and wonder about how we grow this important ministry in the Diocese.

We are being hosted by Rachel Cooney, the Director of Children's Ministry at Ps & Gs, who is as keen to hear what you are doing as she is to share anything that might be helpful.

There is no need to register: so, please, come along at 2pm and be ready to be inspired!

This is our third year of PizzaBowl, which officially makes it an annual tradition! All young people aged 12–18 are invited to join us 4–8pm on Saturday 30 August 2025, at Fountain Park for bowling and pizza. Yeek25 Graduates are also very welcome.

The obligatory registration and consent form is at tinyurl.com/PizzaBowl2025.

Note: we are asking for a £10 contribution to the event (up to a max of £20 per family) payable by BACS or cash/card on the day.

More Adventures in Faith

Christian Socialism Online Talk: 9 September

The Revd Ryan Bennett, Associate Rector of Christ Church Morningside and PhD Candidate at Edinburgh University, will be offering the first Online Talk in partnership with Mission to Seafarers Scotland. The topic reflects Ryan's doctoral research into 20th-century Christian socialism, particularly the lives and work of William Temple and Dorothy Day.

This will take place via Zoom on Tuesday 9 September from 7:30pm until 9pm. To book a place, and receive Zoom details nearer the time, please email [email protected]. There will be an opportunity to donate to MtSS: details will be sent with the link.

Exciting News!! As part of DMMC's work over the past year, a leaflet entitled Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail has been produced. Each of these buildings now has copies of the leaflet for people to take. There is also an online guide at the link below. Please share, and perhaps make it part of a congregational outing one day!

edinburgh.anglican.org/churches-walking-trail

A Place Like Home: a summer retreat from Heart in Pilgrimage reflecting on belonging, identity and flourishing. Access to the materials is £30 (£35 including printed booklet) and is available now until 30 September. This gives you a complete retreat package with reflections to read and listen to and other materials with which to linger.

Festival at St Mary's Cathedral is a full month's worth of programming, covering music, drama, art, and worship. Everything is detailed on the Cathedral's website: www.cathedral.net/whats-on/festival

This year's Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts runs Sunday 10 until Saturday 16 August, inclusive. A full programme of worship, music, art, textiles, poetry, film, and more can be browsed online.

This is the final year for the Just Festival in its current format, and there is plenty on offer. As well as events at St John's, Princes Street, the team are partnering with Museums and Galleries Edinburgh to host a weekend-long Festival of Faiths as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations.

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. More details to follow!

Growth in Prayer and Reflective Living will be running again from 28 October through to May 2026. Tuesday evenings (online) plus three Saturday sessions in person at Christ Church Morningside, £465. Further information on Epiphany's website.