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In this edition 2. Augustine Building Challenge. 2. Grassmarket Community Project 2. News of Sannox 3. AUC Growth 3. Olive Harvest 3. Seedlings 4. Calendar

I am sure that we will all have heard the story of the hungry caterpillar who eats and eats until he spins himself a chrysalis and emerges as a beautiful butterfly? Is it an everyday story of nature and yet a story so full of wonder and hope that a hairy hungry caterpillar could transform into something new and beautiful. It seems astounding that such total trans-formation is possible.

Transformation of ourselves and our world is something which we all long and yearn for; The sick long to be well, the fat long to be slim, the oppressed long to be free, we all long to be happy. We want things in ourselves and in our world to change; to transform from sadness to joy, injustice to justice, anxiety to confidence, painful relationships to become healthy relation-ships, violence to become respect and wholesome peace. But as we look at the grudges and anger within ourselves which we cannot let go of... As we look at patterns of self loathing which has emerged through years of abuse. . . As we look at the conflicts and violence rooted in a life time of hatred. . . We often begin to wonder if transforma-tion on the magnitude of the butterfly, is fine for a story, fine for nature, but impos-sible for human attitudes and relation-ships?

Some things in the human heart and mind, go too deep, are too big, for me, for us, for them, to change. Trans-formation – impossible! But Jesus believed transformation was possible and that in the big ways and in the small ways that we as individu-als, as a church and as a society, take new steps to let die the things which binds us fast, we will discover what it is to be reborn in the life of God. Jesus showed us that even our strong-est fears and loathings, our deepest blocks and our most destructive com-pulsions can be transformed from hairy caterpillar to beautiful butterfly . In power of the creativity Spirit, there is always hope of transformation for our-selves and for our world.

Fiona Bennett

Help lines: LGBT Support: 0131 556 4049 Samaritans: 08457 909090 Childline: 0800 1111 Rape Crisis: 8088 010 302 Breathing Space: 0800 838587

Our Tribe, in partnership with the Mid-dle Eastern Festival of Spirituality and Peace, is hosting a public forum on Sat 23rd Feb @AUC exploring the theme: Demonstrably Happy: The Positive Po-tential of Same Sex Marriage. Amongst the panellists will be our own Rev Maxwell Reay with the key note speaker Dr Lesley Orr. Registration 6.30-7pm Discussion/Forum: 7-9pm For more details Visit www.mesp.org.uk Or Contact Maxwell: maxwellj101@gmail.com

2 www.augustine.org.uk

Augustine Building Challenge Ian Rathgen

We have accepted the challenge to raise £150,000 over the next five years. The most pressing need is to replace our ancient fire escape with a new walkway, which will also provide easier disabled access to the building direct from George IV Bridge. This will cost at least £60,000. When it has been in-stalled and paid for, we will turn our attention to the roof replacement which is estimated to cost a further £90,000. Our fundraising for 2013 will be focussed on a series of events and initiatives which will make up an excit-ing and challenging time for everyone connected with Augustine United Church. The Burns Lunch held on 27th Janu-ary was the first of these events. The next one to look forward to is the eve-ning with “Thursday’s Child” on Friday 15th February at 8.00, in the Church. It is billed as ‘an inspiring contemporary acoustic evening of songs’. Come and bring friends and family to enjoy the performance and to raise funds at the same time.

On Sunday 10th March there will be an opportunity to make a contribution to the Appeal before the Morning Ser-vice. From 9.30 on the Treasurer and the Minister will be in the Vestry to re-ceive your donations. Please give ac-cording to your means, and if you can “Gift Aid” your contribution then it at-tracts a further addition from HM Reve-nue and Customs at no extra cost to you. Not everyone will be able to do this; on the day there will be small col-lecting boxes available which we hope everyone will take home for the collection of small change. For those who arrive early on the day there will be refreshments available. How about a hot bacon roll and tea or coffee? Just postpone breakfast and enjoy filling up, while the ABC coffers also fill up!

If you want to see how the appeal is progressing, watch out in the foyer for a chart which will show at a glance how we are approaching the target for the year. The Junior Church has agreed to design and produce this and it will be on view soon. In this way the young people are making their own contribution. Future plans also include a major Edinburgh-wide spon-soring event. This should appeal to many people who want to use their abilities to raise cash for our ABC.

The Grassmarket Community Project Kathleen Ziffo

The new building at the foot of Candle-maker Row is at (very) long last nearing completion! You can see the new build-ing - in place of the crumbling yard and the old run-down “Kirk House” – coming together to be a place of welcome and support, for all who have under-gone transitions in their lives, and for those have been marginalised by deep social exclusion, through lack of oppor-tunity, skills and aspirations. Our next joint local churches Sunday morning service (TLC – for Augustine, Greyfriars Kirk and St Columba’s-by-the-Castle) will be held within these exciting new premises on Sunday 3rd March (it is ex-pected!).

The previously popular “Drop-In” for soup, sandwiches and to share good company is to be restarted (as a trial) on Mondays, and at a different time. The meal (for up to 70) is to be served between 4.30 and 5.30 pm. Our pre-existing AUC team leaders cannot all now manage this new date and time, as some of them have other things to keep them very busy then, so we are looking to recruit new people. If you are interested in finding out about how you might help (in preparing sandwiches, serving and tidying up, and in talking with the folk who turn up) please talk to Kathleen. (secretary@augustine.org.uk) A tour of the premises and an induction to what goes on will be given to any-one who feels that this is something they might like to help with.

Whatever became of Sannox?

Once upon a time, the Scottish Congre-gational Church, and then the URC Synod of Scotland, owned a church centre on the Isle of Arran at Sannox. This became redundant, and after much deliberation and soul-searching the decision was eventually made to sell the property, and try to provide afford-able homes for local folk.

At last this is being realised, with the setting-up this week of Whitebeam Homes – a charitable company estab-lished by Scottish Churches Housing Ac-tion to provide afford-able homes for local inhabitants. Perhaps the money we raised from our tea/coffee and Cake Stall at AUC on Sunday 20th Janu-ary for SCHA will help in this project in some small way. (P.S. “Whitebeam” refers to the tree of that name, found solely in Arran.)

Thursday’s Child

An inspiring evening for Acoustic Music with Rev’s Stephen Brown & Carol Ann Parker. Friday 15th Feb 8pm

@ AUC Fundraising Concert for Augustine Building Challenge. Suggested donation on the door.

3 www.augustine.org.uk

AUC News of Growth Fiona Bennett Kathleen & I were doing AUC’s an-nual URC returns and we realised that in... 2010 AUC welcomed as new mem-bers: Lewis, Maxwell, Stephen H, Emma, Dot, Hilary, Mandy, Helen, Katie, Ian, Elizabeth, Fiona Mac, Jo, Peter, Fiona B 2011 AUC welcomed as new mem-bers: Pat, Katrina, Ben, John, Joan 2012 AUC welcomed as new mem-bers: Ivy, Joseph, Shona, Angela, Tamsin, Brian, Lorna, Jill We are growing! Slowly and steadily, more people are joining AUC than are dying or leav-ing, and our community is being transformed and reborn as some-thing new by every new person who becomes part us, shaping who we are and what we do. Two years ago one of AUC’s goals was “To be growing in depth and numbers” – I believe it is happening. Slowly and steadily we are moving forward on an adventure voyage with God. Who knows what the next event and port will be, but if we con-tinue to follow our Guide the Spirit, I believe it will be very good! If you are interested to become a member of AUC or refreshing your membership, we offer a short 3 ses-sion series called “Exploring Member-ship” twice a year. The next series is on Wednesdays 10, 17 & 24 April 2013, 7.30-9pm. All are welcome to join in. For further details contact Fiona (minister.auc@gmail.com)

Olive Harvest Kathleen Ziffo

Today three other Christian Peace-making Teamers and I were asked to accompany some farmers harvesting their olives. I arrived early, along with a Canadian CPTer. We walked through the grove. Olive trees are beautifully ugly. They are hundreds of years old

and have been weathered and

warped, giving them a haunt-ing, majestic

look, like some-thing from Middle

Earth. We walked through, and as we got higher up the hill I started noticing razor wire. The olive grove was within a stone’s throw of an illegal Israeli settlement (the stone’s throw part is important to re-member), built on what is supposed to be Palestinian land. I call it illegal, not referring to international law (all Israeli settlements are illegal by that stan-dard). This settlement, called Tel Ru-meida, was built over an archaeologi-cal sight. The Israeli government con-tinually ordered its citizens to stop build-ing there, but when the Israelis did not stop, there were no repercussions. So it's officially not sanctioned, even by the Israeli government, although Israel pro-vides soldiers to protect the settlement.

Once everyone got there (some other CPTers, as well as people from other peace organizations), we split up to be with different farmers, in case any settlers decided to come down and cause trouble.

Junior Church aims to welcome families in all their diversity. We have varied activities each week, from storytelling, to crafts, games and video making. We have a crèche fro little ones and baby-changing facilities are available. We use materials to appeal to children’s different learning styles from Corner-stone’s (www.cstones.com) and also use Godly Play (www.godlyplay.org.uk)

We had been informed that settlers had come down almost every day since the harvest started. Actually the harvest was started prematurely, be-cause some settlers came down and stole the olives off a Palestinian's tree. The farmers in the area decided it was better to harvest before the olives were ripe rather than have them all stolen. So the other CPTer and I sat under a tree watching . . . waiting . . . which got boring after about a min-ute, so we offered to help. The farmer spoke little English, and we spoke no Arabic. I knew enough to ask “Where?” and he could point me to the right place. The work was self-explanatory. It was all done by hand. I joined him up the tree and started dropping the olives on to a spread carpet on the ground. The other CPTer then picked them up, and sorted them into a bucket. In a few weeks I'll probably be buying them as olive oil from the market in town.

When the tree was almost com-pletely picked, the farmer invited us to take a break and have some tea. It was nice sitting in the shade of the olive tree and sipping sweet hot tea which his son, who had been helping us, served. The farmer even told us a story. The only words I could under-stand were 'settlers' and 'rock'. Then he made a throwing motion, and rolled up his sleeve showing a large black and purple bruise on his arm, the im-pact of a large rock. No further transla-tion was needed. Surprisingly no set-tlers came today. I was relieved, and happy for the farmers and their fami-lies, that they could do at least one day’s work in peace. Settlers will come again, eventually, and I hope there is someone there to help protect the farmers. Written by CPT member.

AUC Family News On Sunday 27th Jan 2013 AUC cele-brated 2 baptisms! Joseph Hugh Taylor was baptised by his Grandfather at the morning ser-vice, while Simon James Peterson was baptised by Maxwell at Gracemount swimming pool in the evening. A very happy day!

Simon’s Baptismal Cake

www.augustine.org.uk

Please note that the deadline for material for the next issue is Feb 17th 2013. You can send your material to Bill Stevenson by hand or at newsletter@Augustine.org.uk. DISCLAIMER: Although we check all information in the newsletter, as ever with these things we can give no warranties as to accuracy or relevance and encourage active checking before you make any decisions. The views expressed in our newsletter are those of the individual contributor, they are not necessarily those of AUC or the editor.

February Friday 1st 10.30 am First Bible Study for the World Day of Prayer (Leviticus 19:1-2, 33-37) led by Revd. Fran Ruthven at 121 George Street. This year’s Theme: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Sun 3rd 11 am Worship with Communion. LGBT History Month: Preacher Revd. Elder Darlene Garner of MCC.

Mon 4th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC .

Tues 5th 7.30 pm Elders Meeting in the Library.

Thurs 7th 10.30 am College Course at AUC :“Managing Meetings” - are our meetings Spiritual? Finishing 3.30pm

Fri 8th 10.30 am Preparation Day for the World Day of Prayer (Speaker t. b c): @ 121 George St. Theme: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Sun 10th 11 am Morning Worship - A Celebration of Song led by Rev Martin Scott.

12.30 pm Church Meeting – Exploring issues from the URC Scottish Synod

7 pm Refugio at Greyfriar’s Kirk – Reflective Communion.

Mon 11th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC.

Tues 12th 5.30 pm Shrove Tuesday Pancakes at St Columba’s-by-the-Castle.

7.30 pm Contextual Bible Study in the Library (Ex.: 12:1-14 – The Passover).

Wed 13th 7.30 pm (Ash Wednesday) at St Columba’s-by-the-Castle Eucharist Service and Imposition of Ashes.

Fri 15th 8 pm “Thursday’s Child” in Concert – An inspiring evening of music and songs for those who may feel they have “far to go for faith or personal peace” All profits going to the Augustine Building Challenge . 8pm Nite Kirk - at St Columba’s-by-the-Castle (NB- not Greyfriars venue) – 12am

Sun 17th 11 am Morning Worship with Communion, led by Rev. John Miller.

Mon 18th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC.

Tues19th 7.30 pm Book Group, Library AUC(Marcus Borg The Heart of Christianity, Ch. 7.)

Thurs 21st 12.30 am to2.30 pm Open Fellowship “Bring and Share” Lunch.

Fri 22nd 10.30 am 121 George Street: 2nd Bible Study for the World Day of Prayer (Matthew 25:31-46) led by Revd. David Cameron. Theme: I was a stranger and you welcomed me Sat 23rd 2pm Ordination of William Young as URC Minister & Induction to the West Glasgow URC churches, at Essenside URC in Drumchapel (see Kathleen for Transport arrangements). 6.45 pm Our Tribe & Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace Festival Event: Panel Discussion: Demonstrably Happy: The Positive Potential of Same Sex Marriage Sun 24th 11 am Morning Worship with Story Teller Michael Williams : followed at 12.15 pm by Pancake Lunch.

Mon 25th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC.

Thurs 28th 10.30 am to 12.30 pm College Course at AUC * (1st of 4, also on 7th, 14th and 21st March) The 4Gs (Goodness, Grace, Generosity, Gladness) Today: “Goodness” ... is a good life what it’s about? .

Lent Study Group probably on Wednesdays 20th, 27th February, 6th, 13th and 20th March at AUC in the evenings (tbc).

March

Fri 1st World Day of Prayer - Venue and time for “our” service to be arranged.

Sun 3rd 11 am Joint Local Church Service, to be held in the new Grassmarket Community Project premises (to be called ooooooooooooooooooooooooo The Grassmarket Centre) at the foot of Candlemaker Row.

Mon 4th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC.

Tues 5th 7.30 pm Elders & Ministry Teams Leaders meeting in the Library.

Thur 7th 10.30am College Course at AUC * (2nd of 4, on the 4Gs) Today – “Grace” – a Film. Finishing 12.30pm.

Sun 10th From 9.30 am Gift Day for the Augustine Building Challenge – (Bacon Rolls available before 10.30 am).

11 am Morning Worship.

12.30 pm Church Meeting Discussion: The changes and challenges in Disability Living Allowance lead by Ben Forsyth Mon 11th 2 pm Women’s Union at Saughtonhall URC.

1.30pm Leading Prayers Workshop—workshop for anyone interested in leading prayers of intercession in public worship. For more details contact Fiona (minister.auc@gmail.com) Finishes 3pm.