dmmc-news

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Welcome to July's Newsletter!

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

News and Highlights

Congratulations, Lana and Emma!

On 14 June, Bishop Dagmar ordained Lana Woolford (left) and Emma Herd (right) to the Diaconate. Lana will serve her curacy at St Mary’s Cathedral and Emma will serve as curate at St Peter’s, Galashiels and St John’s, Selkirk.

Recent Appointments

Revd Andy Croft has been announced as Rector Designate of Ps & Gs, Edinburgh. Andy, who has been Associate Rector at Ps & Gs since 2024, will be installed and licensed as Rector by Bishop Dagmar in the autumn. On Ps & Gs' website, Revd Dave Richards, Rector, said: "Please pray for Andy, Beth and their family – for Cathy and me – and for the staff and Vestry as we navigate the next few months to ensure as smooth a transition as possible ... We are so grateful to God for leading us to Andy, and for him feeling a deep sense of vocation to this role."

Revd Mae Christie has been announced as the new Vice-Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, and will take up the role after Revd Marion Chatterley retires in mid-September. Mae comes from Louisiana, moving to England as part of her theological training. She was sent forward for ordination in the American Episcopal Church and trained at Westcott House, Cambridge, before serving as Curate of St Christopher’s Church and Pembroke House in Walworth and then as Vicar of All Saints Church, Tooting. Mae served as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England, Diocesan Synod, and as an Area Director of Ordinands. She has also been a Court Member (trustee) of Sion College, a large clergy charity, serving as Treasurer and most recently, President.

Summer in the Diocese

Summer has got off to a flying start and many of our charges are posting pictures of activities, or just the weather, on social media and in newsletters.

St Salvador's, Stenhouse in the sunshine

Priory Church, Queensferry: 3rd place in Port Edgar Marina Forth Bridges Raft Race, 28 June

Braw Lad's Breakfast at St Peter's, Galashiels, 27 June

Blessing the Peace Pole and BBQ with refugee families at St Cuthbert's, Colinton, 27 June

The return of the first ride out of the Jethart Callant’s Festival, 21 June

Lightning over St John's, Princes Street, early hours of 26 June

Sun Shines on the Rainbows at Pride Edinburgh

Pride Edinburgh took place on 20 June, which was a beautifully sunny day. Clergy and congregation members from a range of charges met at St Augustine United Church on George IV Bridge and then marched together.

St Leonard's Lasswade to Hold Net Zero Open Church Event

Join the Net Zero team at St Leonard’s, Lasswade on 1 August from 10:30 to 13:30 to learn about the church's Benefact Trust- and Scottish Episcopal Church-funded solar project.

Learn more about the project at St Leonard’s here. Register for the event here. Get more information about the day here.

Diocesan Office News

We've moved!

Our new office is light, bright, modern and, other than the Bishop’s Office, open-plan. We have level access, better storage and much-improved staff facilities. It remains a slight work in progress as we have no direct broadband line yet, no pictures up and the yard outside still has stonemasons’ debris, so forgive our external appearance! We are right next to the Cathedral Chapter House, behind the Medical Centre.

Our new address is 34 Manor Place, EH3 7EB. If you’d like to pinpoint us exactly, the What3Words reference is super.land.bless. Yes, really!

Catch-Up Opportunities

2026 General Synod

The 2026 General Synod, held in Stirling from 11 to 13 June, was covered day by day on the SEC website. Read the daily reports:

Day 1: Provincial strategy vision shared

Day 2: Legacy of slavery explored

Day 3: Proposal to elect designated youth members wins backing

You can also read about the address given by the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, on Day 3, in a separate article.

Talking Faith

Revd Lesley Penny and Revd Pip Blackledge's new podcast includes reaction videos as well as conversations exploring key subjects in faith, and interviews with Bishop Dagmar and the Primus. Catch the podcast at either of the links below.

Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/talking-faith/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TalkingFaithPod

Diocesan Support

Grants: Next Deadline 25 August. The DMMC Grants Committee meets in the first weeks of March, June, September, and December each year. If you wish to apply for a grant, your application should be with the DMMC Team by 25th of the previous month. Click on the links below to find out more:

▶ Youth & Children's Grant

▶ St Hilda's Grant

▶ CMD Grant

Learning & Development Opportunities

For detailed listings across a range of providers, check out the Courses page. This is updated very regularly and is a one-stop shop for you to browse any time.

The Scottish Episcopal Institute offers courses that SEC clergy and readers can audit for free, or study for credit at minimal cost. The courses for the upcoming 2026/27 academic year are detailed below.

▶ Research and Reflection with Dr Victoria Turner, Tuesdays, 15 September–24 November, 7–9pm.
▶ Theological Perspectives: Empire, Bible and Mission with Dr Marian Kelsey, Wednesdays, 9 September–25 November, 7–9pm.
▶ Elementary Biblical Hebrew with Dr Amber Shadle, Thursdays, 10 September–26 November, 7–8pm.
▶ Elementary New Testament Greek with Dr Patrick McMurray, Thursdays, 3 December–25 February, 7–8pm.

▶ Christian Worship and Human Community, Tuesdays, 5 January–20 March, 7–9pm.
▶ Secularisation and Christianity with Dr Liam Fraser, Wednesdays, 6 January–21 March, 7–9pm.
▶ Intermediate Biblical Hebrew with Dr Amber Shadle, Thursdays, 7 January–22 March, 7–8pm.
▶ Intermediate New Testament Greek with Dr Patrick McMurray, Thursdays, 7 January–22 March, 7–8pm.

▶ Feminist Pneumatology with Dr Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh, Tuesdays, 30 March–15 June, 2–4pm.
▶ Themes in Moral Theology with Dr Joel Pierce, Wednesdays, 31 March–16 June, 7–9pm.

For more information, visit the SEI website: Continuing Ministerial Development.

On 2 July at 8pm, Care for the Family is running Just for You: Resilience, an inspiring online event for parents and carers of children with additional needs, with time for interaction and connection. Tickets are £5. Find out more here.

This July, Church Action on Poverty will be joining with the College of Preachers to offer a free webinar, Preaching On Poverty, which will take place on Thursday 16 July, from 2pm to 3.30pm.

The webinar will explore how preachers can reflect justice and compassion, celebrate the work of the church to tackle poverty locally, and challenge people to do more.

Tickets are free, but booking is essential. Churches that are taking part in Church Action on Poverty Sunday in October may be particularly interested in this webinar.

Book a place here.

Here are the rest of the College of Preachers' webinars for July.

▶ Preaching for Harvest in Church & Chapel
Monday 6 July, 10–12:30pm, £15.
▶ July Preacher’s Forum
Tuesday 21 July, 7:30–9pm, free.
▶ Interpreting the Miracles of Jesus
Wednesday 22 July, 2–4:30pm, £15.
▶ Preaching in Creationtide
Wednesday 29 July, 7–8:30pm, £15.

Information on the College of Preachers website.

The Epiphany Group has three courses planned for 2026 to 2027:
▶ Spiritual Conversation Formation Programme: Tuesdays 22 September 2026 to early May 2027, 7–9.30pm online plus Friday and Saturday sessions in Edinburgh in person, £840.

▶ God’s Invitation to Relationship: An Introduction to Ways of Praying: Thursdays from 5 November to 10 December 2026, 7–8.30pm online, free.

▶ Growth in Prayer & Reflective Living: Tuesdays 3 November 2026 to 16 March 2027, 7–9pm online plus three in-person Saturdays in Edinburgh, £450.

Information about courses on Epiphany’s website

SCVO offers a range of useful courses for charity and third-sector organisations. Here's what's coming up.

▶ Service Design for Charities
Thursdays 23 and 30 July and Tuesday 4 August, 9:30am–12:30pm, online, free.
▶ Introduction to Fundraising
Thursday 20 August, 10–11:30am, online, free.
▶ Introduction to Trauma-Informed Practice
Tuesday 8 September (morning, online), Thursday 24 September (whole day, in person) and Thursday 8 October (afternoon, online), £395.
▶ Social Media Foundations: A Strategy for Small Charities and Busy Teams
Tuesday 8 September, 10am–2pm, online, £150.
▶ Introduction to People Management: Essentials for Team Leaders, Supervisors and Managers
Monday 14 September, 9:30am–3:30pm, online, £215.
Further information, booking, and future events on the SCVO website.

This autumn, Go Health is offering an online course that may be of interest to church groups as well as individuals. The aim of Everyday Healing: An Introduction to the Christian Tradition is to raise confidence in healing ministry by looking at the foundations of the ministry, examining good practice, looking at the modern world into which this ministry is offered and giving space to reflect on personal experience and context. It will run on Thursdays 22 and 29 October, 5 and 12 November from 10am–12pm. £70 for individuals, £170 for church groups.
More information on the GoHealth website.

Children and Young People

Pilgrimages to Iona, October 2026

The Provincial Youth Committee will be hosting two pilgrimages to Iona for young people in October 2026: ▶ 10–14 October for 12–18 year olds
▶ 14–17 October for those aged 18–25+

Pilgrims will gather in Oban before travelling by ferry and across Mull to Iona, staying at Bishop’s House and exploring the island, including opportunities to visit Iona Abbey and join the community there for worship.

The cost, which includes travel from Oban, accommodation and food on Iona will be £235 for 12–18s for four nights and £210 for 18–25+ for three nights, with a supported rate of £160 available. There will also be the option to pay by instalments.

Places are limited, and applications should be completed by 10 August. Book here: 12–18 application or 18–25+ application.

Could you be the next host of Play Church?

Play Church will be available from November! Would you like to host it in your charge? It comes with outfits, props, books, an instruction booklet, and lots of opportunities to interest and engage children in the various services and traditions of the Scottish Episcopal Church. If you're interested, email [email protected].

Wondering how to cater for younger members?

Thinking about all-age worship?

Is your current Roots subscription due for renewal?

The Diocese is a subscription ‘hub’ for ROOTS on the Web, enabling congregations to sign-up for access to Lectionary-based digital resources (including the 20-year back catalogue) for the subsidised cost of £20 for the year. Interested congregations should register via this form. One-month free trial here.

beHeld: Youth & Children’s Ministry Training Days

In 2026, all involved in youth and children's ministry are invited to a fresh series of training days at Ps & Gs Church called 'beHeld'. The next is on 26 September (the final date this year is 28 November). Each is on a Saturday morning, 9am–1pm, with light refreshments, worship, and the chance to hear from experts on key subjects.

beHeld costs £15 per session, but the diocese will cover the cost of one ticket per charge. Just email us at [email protected] with your name and charge, and we'll book you in for 26 September.

Adventures in Faith

Remember: you can cut and paste anything from this newsletter into your own communication channels!

The monthly Adventures in Faith Newsletter from Edinburgh Diocese shares lots of ideas for your ongoing Christian life. Each month, there are news items, courses, events, and ideas for you to explore. You can read past mailings, and sign up to receive future ones, via the diocesan website (tinyurl.com/EdinburghAIF).

We list Awareness Days that may be relevant for congregations to consider on our website here. Most entries have links to external websites that provide information and resources for the particular cause or event.

From 14–17 July Sanctuary First will be running a Labyrinth at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, just next to St John’s, Princes Street, Edinburgh.

This free audio-visual art installation will lead you through a ten-stage spiritual labyrinth focusing on a theme of waiting. At each stage there will be props and items to engage with as you follow the labyrinth inwards to the centre point.

Find out more.

Godly Play at the Fringe, 10–13 August, Salvation Army at the Pleasance: The Salvation Army’s City Corps is right in the heart of the Edinburgh Fringe venues. Among all the buzz, the comedy, drama and music, they are offering eight Godly Play sessions.

Come along and hear stories, wonder, respond and feast. The sessions start at 11am and 2pm.

Find out more about Godly Play events here.

Heart in Pilgrimage Summer Retreat: This new retreat package is called A River Runs Through It: Insights from the river for the journey of faith. Rivers flow through Scripture, turning the desert into fertile ground, welling up in springs of living water. Rivers map our lives, sometimes gently meandering, at other times tossed over perilous rapids. This retreat draws on Scripture and other writing, images, poetry and the natural world to deepen our understanding of ourselves and our journeys, and our relationship to the Source of all life. Order for £30 (£35 with printed booklet).

This year's Global Week of 24-7 Prayer, run by 24-7 Prayer, will take place from 6 to 13 September. Its theme is 'At the Name of Jesus', and its aim is to set up a prayer room in every nation, with non-stop prayer taking place throughout the week. Here are some ways you can get involved:

▶ Set up your own prayer space. See guidance on how to do this here, and ideas for themed activities and prayer stations here.

▶ Commit to regular individual or corporate prayer slots throughout the week, for example at 8am every morning or 6pm every evening.

▶ Listen to the Lectio365 app during this week.

Future Dates

26 Jul–1 Aug - Yeek (Glenalmond College).

29 Aug - Annual Pizza-Bowl (12-18yo).

26 Sep - Youth and Children's Training event at Ps & Gs.

10–17 Oct - PYC Iona Pilgrimage (for 12–18 and 18–25ish).

24 Oct - Trustee Training (St Peter's, Galashiels).

2–5 Nov - Clergy Conference.

28 Nov - Youth and Children's Training event at Ps & Gs

Keep up-to-date with Diocesan News & Events

Adventures in Faith

The Communicant

Youth & Children

Cathy Ballantine, Communications & Support Officer

0131 346 9085

[email protected]

If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.