Important Notice

Please note that there will not be a Family Service this Sunday. The children will be rehearsing for the Nativity Play so if you want a part please be there!

This blog may be about to expire so keep an eye out for notices on the Diary page of our new church website - http://stmarksportobello.org

Diary dates for week beginning 11 November

Sunday 11 Nov Remembrance Sunday services taken by Bishop Alan Smithson

Mon 12 Nov 7.30pm Cursillo meeting at St Margaret''s Easter Road

Tue 13 Nov 7.30pm Vestry meeting

Wed 14 Nov 7pm Film Night - Life is Beautiful

Thu 15 Nov 7-7.30pm Exploring Christianity - The Authority of Scripture

Fri 16 Nov set up for Advent Fayre

Sat 17 Nov 10-12.30 Advent Fayre

Diary dates for week beginning 5 November

Ruth will be at the Clergy Conference from 5-7 November.

Thu 8 Nov 7-7.30pm Exploring Christianity - The Holy Spirit

Sun 11 Nov - Remembrance Sunday

Love's Not for Sale

NATIONAL TOUR Love's Not for Sale (14 Nov 07 19:30 - 20 Nov 07)
Location: Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Edinburgh

A CHASTE Nationwide Tour LOVE'S NOT FOR SALE

Featuring

JONATHAN AITKEN
Former Cabinet Minister and bestselling author of 'John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace'

'Fresh, insightful and inspiring, Aitken brings Newton to life for a new generation of admirers' - Alistair McGrath

HELEN J HICKS singer song-writer - with songs from her new album.

'Hicks - a Joni Mitchell on the cusp between folk and jazz' - Sunday Times 2007

CARRIE PEMBERTON
Founding CEO of CHASTE
CHASTE is a UK based ecumenical charity working in the areas of sex trafficking

'Carrie - a passionate and inspiring advocate for zero tolerance of trafficking for sexual exploitation'


TICKETS - £3.50
Available from your local Wesley Owen shop

or online from www.chaste.org.uk
or www.helenjhicks.com

Please phone for group bookings 10 for £30
0845 456 9335

Birmingham 14th November
Birmingham Cathedral (St Philips)

Cambridge 15th November
Great St Mary's

Leeds 16th November
St George's Leeds

Edinburgh 20th November
St George's West

Commencing at all venues at 7.30pm

Web: CHASTE Contact: Mr Richard Wallis, Not for Sale Co-ordinator (richard@chaste.org.uk, 0845 456 9335)

Online Tickets: may be purchased on the CHASTE website go to “Shop” on the bottom bar and select the event you wish to attend.

Diary dates for week beginning 28 October 2007

Sunday 28 Oct 7.30pm Bookmark

Tuesdau 30 Oct 7pm Craft Group

Thursday 1 Nov 7.30pm Exploring Christianity - Contextual Bible Study with Anne Tomlinson

Saturday 3 Nov 10.30am 3S Cafe

Sunday 4 Nov Feast of All Saints and All Souls
7pm The Alternative Service - Remembering

Items needed for Advent Fayre - books, CDs, DVDs, tombola and raffle prizes, baking, antiques and treasures, gifts, crafts and cards

AGM - there are vacancies for 2 vestry members, and People's Warden. Nominations to be in by Sunday 11 November.

Bookmark's next book

Our next book will be Stardust by Neil Gaiman and we shall meet on Monday 3 December at 7.30pm.

Diary dates for week beginning 14 October 2007

Tue 16 Nov 7.30pm Vestry meeting

Thu 18 Nov 10am Eucharist

Sat 20 Nov 10am - 12noon Kid's Mission

Sun 21 Nov 10.30am Harvest Festival and Family Service
Bring along some Fair Trade goods
6.30pm Healing Service

Action for Burma

Saturday has been made a global day of action for Burma with protests in 67 cities around the world. There will be a Candle-lit vigil in solidarity at the Aung San Suu Kyi tree (beneath the floral clock) THIS SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER. 3pm.
Please WEAR RED.

There will also be a sponsored run on the Meadows in the morning see www.runforburma.org .

Edinburgh Citizens in Solidarity with Burma

PRESS PHOTO CALL

Saturday 6 October, 3pm, West Princes Street Gardens.

Edinburgh citizens are to take part in the Global Day of Action for a Free Burma this Saturday (6 October), alongside protests taking place in 67 cities around the world.

In the morning, a sponsored 5k run will take place on the Meadows, and in the afternoon there will be an eye-catching but solemn candlelit vigil in West Princes Street Gardens. It will take place underneath a tree planted there for democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi when she was awarded the Freedom of the City by Edinburgh Council in 2005.

Those attending the vigil will wear red in solidarity with the thousands of monks and others who remain under arrest and at risk of torture in Burma.

Ko Aung, a Burmese student leader from the 1988 demonstrations said, 'This day of action is to show that this crisis has not gone away. Our friends, families and spiritual leaders are in jail cells today at risk of torture. The UN Security Council must act now to end the crackdown and must keep focused on this crisis until we know the people of Burma are safe. The international community must not desert them now.'

Juliette Daigre, a Burma Campaigner based in Edinburgh, said, 'The public meeting organized on Thursday to plan Edinburgh's response to the situation was packed to the rafters. We want the people of Burma to know that Edinburgh stands with them, and to show the Burmese government that we are watching their every move. We also hope the protests will force the UK Government to do more to demand an end to the military crackdown and get the UN Security Council to act.'

Choral Evensong

Tonight our newly formed choir will be singing Choral Evensong at St Mark's at 7pm. If you hanker after 1929 Prayer Book language then this is the one for you. (And I shall not be cantoring (?) you will be relieved to know!)

Event cancelled

Please note that the International Cafe to be held on Saturday 6 October will not take place. Instead we will have our usual 3S Cafe from 10.30am to 1pm.

Open Week at St Mark's

After Doors Open Day St Mark's will be open for the week from 1-6 October from 10am to 2pm.

On display will be old Records and Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths. In the evenings there will be many events for you to take part in. Please bring along a friend.

Monday 1 Oct 7pm Film Night - Brother Sun Sister Moon (the story of St Francis of Assisi)

Tuesday 2 Oct 7pm Choral Evensong - St Mark's choir (Organist Andrew Morley)

Wednesday 3 Oct 7.30pm Quiz Night - teams of 3 or 4.

Thursday 4 Oct 7.30pm Talent Night

Friday 5 Oct 8pm Candlelit Compline

Saturday 6 Oct 4-7pm International Cafe (tickets £10)

Diary dates for week beginning 24 September 2007

Monday 24 Sept 7.30pm Bookmark is cancelled due to lack of interest. We will hold the discussion on this book until next meeting on Sun 28 Oct. We will also be reading 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox' by Maggie O'Farrell.

Ruth will be at a residential meeting of the Mission and Ministry Board meeting from 25-26 Sept.

Tue 25 Sept 7pm Craft Group. Please bring a note of items you have made for the Advent Fair.

Wed 26 Sept Magazine deadline for articles.
7.30pm Area Council mtg at St Peter's Lutton Place

Thu 27 Sept Ruth will be on a training course all day.

Sat 29 Sept 10am-4pm Doors Open Day. St Mark's will be open for visitors.

Sun 30 Sept 7.30pm Portobello Council of Churches at St Philip's

New Flickr photo album

You can now find photos of St Mark's on my Flickr page. Check it out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13592381@N04/

Music Festival at St Mark's

Reminder that St Mark's Music Festival is on Saturday from 2-5pm.
Come along and tap a foot, clap a hand, win something on the Tombola, buy some Fair Trade goods of second-hand books.
All welcome
Admission Free

Diary dates for week beginning 9 September 2007

Sunday 9 Sept
8.30am Eucharist - Bishop Alan Smithson
10.30am Sung Eucharist - Bishop Alan Smithson

Monday 10 Sept 7.30pm Joint Cursillo meeting at South Queensferry

Ruth will be at a residential Board Meeting from 10-11 September

Wednesday 12 Sept 12,30pm Chernobyl children's lunch
7pm Induction of Rev Dr Caroline Lockerbie at St Christopher's Parish Church

Thursday 13 Sept 10am Eucharist followed by coffee

Saturday 15 Sept 10am Church cleaning

Music Festival at St Mark's

Saturday 22 September 2-5pm

Stalls, refreshments, artwork, tombola

Music from:
Members of Auld Spice
The Wullie Broon Quartet
Ronaldo Caruso (jazz pianist)
Wendy Weatherby
Lawrence Dunn
Sally Simpson
Rebecca Mitchell
Members of Leith Community Concert Band
The Spurtle (Portobello High School's Ceilidh Band)
Cappricio Quartet

Free Entry

Next book for Bookmark

The next book we will be reading is:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
by Mark Haddon

This is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he find's a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.

Meeting on Monday 24 September at 7.30pm

Diary dates for week beginning 26 August 2007

Monday 27 Aug 7.30pm Bookmark - The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Tuesday 28 Aug 7pm Craft Group
7pm Meeting of Social Committee and friends

Wednesday 29 August 7.30pm Institution of Rev'd Susan McDonald at Christ Church Morningside

Thursday 30 August 10am Eucharist followed by coffee and a chat

Saturday 1 September 10.30am 3S Cafe

Diary dates for week beginning 5 August 2007

Mon 6 August 4-10pm Philomusica will be using the church

Thu 9 August 10am Eucharist - +Alan Smithson
7.30pm Cursillo Stations of the Cross at St Michael & All Saints

Fri 10 August 6.30-10pm Philomusica will be using the church

Sun 12 August 8.30am and 10.30am services - +Alan Smithson
2-5pm Philomusica will be using the church

Mon 13 August 7-10pm Philomusica will be using the church

Wed 15 August 7-10pm Philomusica will be using the church

Thu 16 August 10am Eucharist +Alan Smithson

Sat 18 August 10am Church cleaning
7.30pm Cursillo Welcome Home party at Penicuik

Sun 19 August 8.30am and 10.30am services - the Rev'd Bob Gould

Anglican Covenant Proposal

There will be a meeting to discuss the Anglican Covenant proposal on Thursday 30th August at 8pm at St Columba's Rectory, 28 Castle Terrace. All are welcome. Please reply to 0131 228 6470.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace

You are invited to the launch event of the 2007 Festival of Spirituality & Peace on Sunday 5 August at 6pm at St John's, Princes Street, Edinburgh (see attached invitation).

Over the following three weeks we will be welcoming speakers such as Rabbi Lionel Blue, Mairead Corrigan, Charles Handy, Tony Benn, Abbot Christopher Jamison, Gillian Slovo, Julain Baggini, and the Hon Judge Baltasar Garzon (who indicted General Pinochet). In all there will be over 100 events including conversation, prayer and meditation, art, film, drama, dance and music - and 50p of every ticket sold will go to the charity Mary's Meals. The full programme can be viewed at www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk .

We also have a parallel youth peace programme of young people from 6 countries; and invitation only round table events on peace issues, with some speakers, which may interest UNA members.

Event postponed

The Book Group due to be held tonight is cancelled because so many people can't come. We will arrange another date for the Poisonwood Bible and let you know as soon as possible. Sorry folks!

Event cancelled

Please note that the Craft Group meeting on Tuesday 31 July at 7pm is cancelled.

Diary dates for week beginning 29July 2007

Sunday 29 July Summer Hat Competition and Pimms on the lawn after the service. (Also Iva, our organist's leaving day)

Mon 30 July 7.30am Bookmark - The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Tue 31 July 7pm Craft Group

Thu 2 Aug 10am Eucharist followed by refreshments and a blether

Sat 4 Aug 10.30am 3S Cafe

Diary dates for week beginning 15 July 2007

Monday 16 July 10.45am Funeral of Tim Holt in church

Thursday 19 July 10am Eucharist - +Alan Smithson

Saturday 21 July 10am Church cleaning

Christian Aid Cut the Carbon March volunteers needed

Christian Aid Cut the Carbon March

Volunteer Stewards and Shoelace sellers needed!

Christian Aid’s Cut the Carbon March arrives in Edinburgh on 21 July and stewards are urgently needed to help with the smooth running of the rally. If you are able to offer your time on Saturday 21 July, between 2pm and 7pm, and to attend an evening briefing session earlier in the same week, then Christian Aid would be very glad to hear from you.

Contact: Phil Acott 0131 2201254, or email pacott@christian-aid.org

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR POST

GRANTON WATERFRONT CHURCHES CENTRE.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR (16 hours)

SALARY £22,750 (pro rata)

Eight (8) Christian denominations are co-operating in an Ecumenical venture within this exciting new development in the Granton Waterfront.

Through the generosity of the Churches the GWCC has now secured premises and is seeking to appoint a Community Development Co-ordinator initially on a part time basis (16hours per week) at a salary of £22,750 per annum, pro rata.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled and enthusiastic person to work with the local Churches and Community to respond to the needs and aspirations of the residents of this new development.

A qualification in a relevant field is desirable although applicants who are in sympathy with the work of the Christian churches and have such experience will be considered.

This post requires an enhanced disclosure check.

Further information and a Job Description is available from the Secretary, 3 Craigcrook Road, Edinburgh EH4 3NQ to whom Applications with a CV and the names of two referees, one of whom should be your own minister or equivalent, may be sent.

An informal approach may be made by ‘phone 0131 477 0312.

Closing date for applications 14^th September.

DIOCESAN YOUTH & CHILDREN OFFICER POST

£19,420 pro-rata (half-time post)

non contributory final salary pension scheme

We seek an enthusiastic, approachable and charismatic person (lay or ordained) to assist those working with children and young people in the churches of the Diocese of Edinburgh to extend & develop their programmes for children and young people at local levels. Skills with young people of secondary school age will be particularly valuable.

Application forms and information packs can be obtained from the Diocesan Administrator, 21A Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 5EL; tel.0131 538 7033; e-mail: office@edinburgh.anglican.org

Closing date for completed applications is Friday 17^th August 2007

Diary dates for week beginning 1 July 2007

Saturday 7 July 2pm Wedding of David Robertson and Kathryn Hanwell
All welcome

Sunday 8 July Services (8.30am and 10.30am) taken by Bishop Alan Smithson

Ruth will be on retreat from 8-14 July.

Diary dates for week beginning 17 June 2007

Tuesday 26 June 4pm Sexual Ethics discussion at St John's Princes Street
7pm Craft Group

Thursday 28 June 10am Eucharist

Friday 29 June 7.30pm Ruth will be preaching at Holy Trinity Paisley on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul and the 10th Anniversary of the ordination of Fr Darren McFarland and Fr Gordon Fyfe

Calling all Teddy Bears

Don't forget your teddy bears tomorrow for the Teddy Bear's Picnic after church. All teddies welcome - young and old, new or worn.

Guest appearance by Sooty and Sweep.

Cleaning Question

Since our paid cleaner left last year, we have attempted to do the cleaning once a month relying on volunteers turning up on a Saturday morning. Sometimes we have a good number of folk - others we have just 2 or 3 and it is not enough to get everything done.

On Sunday I asked for suggestions on how we could improve things. Two people spoke to me after and said that Saturdays were not good for them. They would prefer an evening - perhaps before a meeting. Any other ideas? Which evening is best?

Diary dates for week beginning 17 June 2007

Sorry its late!

Monday 18 June 7.30pm Bookmark reading Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Wed 20 June 7.30pm Portobello Amenity Society - photographs of old Portie by Archie Foley

Thursday 21 June 6-8pm opening of Wonder art work on the beach
7.30pm Prepare your own funeral - a fun evening!

Sat 23 June 2pm Christian Aid Forth Bridge walk

Sun 24 June Congregational Lunch after 10.30 service along with Teddy Bear's Picnic

Diary dates for week beginning 10 June 2007

Monday 11 June 7.30pm Ruth will be preaching at St Barnabas Moredun

Tuesday 12 June 7pm Film Night - Girl with a Pearl Earring

Thursday 14 June 7.30pm Vestry meeting

Saturday 16 June 10am Church cleaning
1pm Cursillo lunch at St Baldred's North Berwick
7.30pm Organ Recital by Iva Dolezalek

Diary dates for week beginning 3 June

Tuesday 5 June 2pm Garden Party at the Rectory

Thursday 7 June 10am Eucharist - The Rev'd Bob Gould

Ruth will be at General Synod from Thurday 7th to Saturday 9th June

Sunday 10 June Servers training after the 10.30am service

Ruth's Blog

Apologies to those who have been posting comments on my own Blog. I seem to be having problems accessing my Blog for reasons unknown so have been unable to write, update or post comments. Service will be resumed (hopefully) soon.

Diary dates for week beginning 27 May

Tuesday 29 May 7pm Craft Group
7.30pm Social Committee meeting - open to all

Thursday 31 May 10am Eucharist followed by coffee and cakes

Saturday 2 June 10.30am - 1pm 3S Cafe

Does the Church need a theology of healthy sex?

human sexuality? sexual health?
sexual orientation? right relationships?

Do we have a sexual ethic for the church in the 21st Century?

Does the Church need a theology of healthy sex?

Would you like to take part in some conversations which might help the
Church reflect more broadly on questions related to sex and relationships?
Are you interested in helping to move the conversation on from discussions
of sexuality to a consideration of sexual heath, healthy relationships and
towards creating a theology of healthy sex?

If so, please come to an exploratory meeting on:
Tuesday June 26th at 4 p.m. at
St John's Church Princes Street.

We'll be joined by Dona Milne who is responsible for the 'Healthy Respect'
programme generated by Lothian Health.

This is very much an initial exploration and all ideas would be very welcome.

If you'd like any more information please contact one of us - and please pass
this flyer on to anyone who might be interested.
Nancy Adams 01506 853110
Marion Chatterley 0131 667 6847

Volunteers wanted

The Monday Club at Portobello is looking for volunteers to help from between 9.15am and 1.30pm. You don't have to stay all day. I think they offer respite to people with dementia.

Next book for Bookmark

Our next book will be Perfume by Patrick Suskind. We shall meet on Monday 18 June at 7.30pm.

Perfume is in my top ten favourite books because of its wonderfully evocative descriptions.

Diary dates for week beginning 20 May 2007

Sunday 20 May 8.30am Eucharist - +Alan Smithson
10.30am Sung Eucharist - +Alan Smithson
(Ruth will prepare the older children for First Communion)
7.30pm Portobello Council of Churches at Duddingston Kirk

Monday 21 May 7.30pm Bookmark will discuss Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Wednesday 23 May 7.30pm Finance committee meeting at Pat's house

Thursday 24 May 10am Eucharist
7.30pm Area Council meeting at St Margaret's

Saturday 26 May 10am Provincial Cursillo meeting and AGM at Falkirk

Diary dates for week beginning 13 May

Sunday 13 May 6.30pm Christian Aid week service at the Baptist Church

Monday 14 May 7pm Film Night - The History Boys

Wednesday 16 May 7.30pm Ultreya at St Mary's Dalkeith

Thursday 17 May Ascension Day 10am Eucharist and 7.30pm Sung Eucharist

Saturday 19 May 9am Church cleaning and 1pm Wedding of Catherine Smithson and Harry Smith

Quiz Night Results

1st Mike's Martyrs (75 1/2)
2nd Joppa Geriatrics (75)
3rd Spoilt Ballots (70 1/2)
4th The Rainbows (69 1/2)
5th The Puffs (69)
6th FPs (66)
7th Joppa 40 somethings (65 1/2)
8th Desperate Housewives (63)
9th MacDonald's Lament (57)
10th Columba (55 1/2)
11th The Unknowns (55)
12th The 4 Ms (54 1/2)
13th Cantato (47 1/2)

Diary dates for week beginning 6 May

Monday 7 May 7.30pm Quiz Night - any team of 3 or 4 welcome. £2 per head. Refreshments served.

Tuesday 8 May 7.30pm Vestry meeting

Thursday 10 May 10am Eucharist

Saturday 12 May 10am-12noon Overseas Sale : Crafts, homebaking, jams, new goods, tombola.

Sunday 13 May Christian Aid week begins. Check out the best booksale in the world at St Andrew's and St George's church, George St Edinburgh

African Fair

An African Fair will be taking place in Old St Paul's Church Hall Jeffrey St, Edinburgh on 19 May 11am-3pm. It will be opened Sir Tom Farmer (Kwikfit Founder). Further details from Jo on 0131 650 9382 or 07791 2262918 or Ruth on 01968 672146

Sieze the Fire

Saturday 26^th May, 10am - 4pm for children aged 8-13; a Celebration of Pentecost in dance, drama, music and art. St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh.
Please email jamieson_sutherland@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Diary dates for week beginning 29 April

Tuesday 1 May 11am Outing to Scone Palace and Crieff Hydro

Thursday 3 May 10am Eucharist

Saturday 5 May 10.30am 3S Cafe and Fair Trade stall

Coming up...
Monday 7 May 7.30pm Quiz Night - teams of 3 or 4 for a fun evening!

Madpriest does it again

Of course, I could be wrong...: The Midnight Jukebox

Check out this link for the funniest song I've heard in a long time. (You have to scroll up to get the play button)

Bookmark's next book

Our next book will be Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice. Told in the first person, this story chronicles an unusual period in the life of Christianity's leading figure - the childhood of Jesus Christ from his exile in Alexandria and the first year of his return to Palestine. It is a brilliant and poignant story, made all the more moving by being told from the eyes of an extraordinary child.

Spotted in our graveyard

Came across this lovely celtic cross gravestone in our graveyard today.

Candidates announced for Bishop of Moray

From the SEC website...

Four candidates have been short-listed for the post of Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness (one of the seven Dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church) which became vacant last November following the retirement of the Rt Rev John Crook, who served the Diocese as Bishop for 7 years.

The candidates have been selected by a small committee, chaired by the Primus, of clergy and church members representing the diocese and the wider Church. The next stage in the selection process is a meeting of each of the candidates with members of an Electoral Synod (representatives of clergy and lay church members from the diocese only). That meeting will take place on 26 May, with the election of the successful candidate taking place on 2 June.

The candidates are :

· The Ven Richard Gillings, Archdeacon of Macclesfield

· The Very Rev Alexander Gordon, Provost of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness

· The Rev Canon Mark Strange, Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Elgin and Priest in Charge of St Margaret’s, Lossiemouth; St Michael’s, Dufftown and St Margaret’s, Aberlour and Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness and Synod Clerk of the Diocese of Moray, Ross & Caithness

· The Ven Dr Ian Young, Archdeacon of Emirates in Cyprus and The Gulf and Chaplain in Qatar

Commenting on the short-list, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Dr Idris Jones says “The Preparatory Committee commends these candidates to the Electors with confidence that from among them a new Bishop can be chosen who will lead the Diocese forward with a renewed sense of mission in the Highlands”

NATIONAL PRAYER MARCH

Edinburgh 27^th May. Gather at the top of the Mound (outside New College) between 1.30 and 2pm. Finish at Holyrood Park. Details and registration at: www.edinburghprayer.org

Diary dates for week beginning 22 April

Sunday 22 April 6.30pm Healing Service

Monday 23 April 7.30pm Bookmark : discussing The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson

Tuesday 24 April 7.30pm Craft Group in church
7.30pm Sunday School meeting at Nicola's

Wednesday 25 April 7.30pm Patronal Festival and potluck supper

Thursday 26 April 10am Eucharist with Bishop Alan Smithson

Please pray for our sister St Mark's in East Kilbride who will be celebrating the opening of their new church hall and rooms on Saturday 28th.

Diary dates for week beginning 15 April

The Rector will be on holiday until 21st April. In an emergency please contact Canon Ian Paton.

Thursday 19 April 10am Eucharist - Bishop Alan
7.30pm Stations of the Cross for Cursillo

Saturday 21 April 10am Church cleaning

Sunday 22 April 10.30am Family Service - preacher Rev'd Bill Robertson
6.30pm Healing Service

Stations of the Cross

We have recently bought a set of Stations of the Cross in memory of the Rev'd Timm Engh and his daughter Tracy.

Easter Sunday 2007 on the beach

The faithful few who met on the beach at 7am as the sun rose and the fire was lit.

Diary dates for week beginning 8 April

Tuesday 10 April 2pm Tuesday Fellowship Open Meeting - all welcome

Thursday 12 April 10am Eucharist in the Crypt Chapel
7.30pm Finance meeting in the Rectory

Saturday 14 April 10.30am-1pm 3S Cafe - homemade soup and filled rolls

From Good Friday to Easter Sunday

Confirmation Easter 2007

The Confirmation Class of 2007 with Bishop Brian. (He was happy really!)

Thank you

A big Alleluia thank you to all those who have helped me during Holy Week and Easter. I couldn't have done it without you. For those who travelled through all of Holy Week or just a part; for those who moved furniture in preparation for the next service; for those who cleaned the church on Holy Saturday; for those who arranged lilies galore; for those who made the Easter Garden; for those who washed dishes, served food and popped corks; and for those who served and sang... I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Same place, next year...?

Holy Week at St Mark's

Monday 2 April 7pm
Film - The Mysteries

Tuesday 3 April 7.30pm
Compline by candlelight
8pm Confessions

Wednesday 4 April 7.30pm
Compline by candlelight
8pm Confessions

Maundy Thursday
10am Eucharist (John Love)
11.30am Chrism Mass at the Cathedral
7.30pm Agape meal, footwashing, stripping of the altars and Watch at the Altar of Repose

Good Friday
10am Walk of witness begins at St Philip's
12noon - 3pm Stations of the Cross and meditations on the Cross
7.30pm Service of Nails

Holy Saturday
9am Prayers at the Cross
preparation of the Church
8pm Easter Vigil, baptism and confirmation by Bishop Brian

Easter Sunday
7am Fire on the beach
8.30am Eucharist
10.30am Sung Eucharist of the Resurrection

Bookmark's next book

The next book we shall be reading and discussing is:
'The testament of Gideon Mack'
by James Robertson

Our meeting will be on Monday 23 April 2007.

Diary dates for week beginning 25 March

Monday 26 March 7.30pm - Bookmark will be discussing The Island by Victoria Hyslop

Tuesday 27 March 7pm - Craft Group meeting in Church
Choir rehearsal in Church

Thursday 29 March 10am Eucharist in Crypt Chapel

Sat 31 March 12noon Lent Talk by the Revd Andrew Patterson

4 candidates for Bishop of Aberdeen

Four candidates have been short-listed for the post of Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney (one of seven Dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church) which became vacant last July following the retirement of the Rt Rev Bruce Cameron, who served the Diocese as Bishop for 14 years.

This short-list is the second attempt at electing a new Bishop, as the synod responsible for electing a Bishop was unable to reach a majority consensus when presented with a short-list of candidates last December. This synod (known as the Electoral Synod) comprises representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney. Its role is to meet with each of the candidates (this meeting will take place on 21 April) and then to elect a new Bishop on 28 April. The candidates are:

· The Very Rev Canon Dr Robert Gillies, Rector of St Andrew’s Church, St Andrews; Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth and Dean of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane

· The Rev Canon Timothy Morris, Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Edinburgh; Priest in Charge of St Salvador’s Church, Edinburgh and Honorary Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh

· The Rev Canon Dr Emsley Nimmo, Rector of St Margaret’s, Aberdeen and Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen

· The Rev Canon Dr Philip Noble , Rector of St Ninian’s, Prestwick and Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow

Commenting on the short-list, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Dr Idris Jones says “Each of the candidates brings a distinctive style and depth of experience in ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church.”

Abolition of Slave Trade Commemoration Walk

Abolition of the Slave Trade Commemoration Walk - Musselburgh - 25th March

On the day which is exactly 200 years since the Westminster Parliament passed the Act to abolish the Slave Trade, ACTS invites you to take part in a walk from the centre of Musselburgh to the Gardens at Inveresk Lodge.

On the walk we will follow in imagination the steps taken by Robert Wedderburn, the son of James Wedderburn, who owned Inveresk Lodge, and of Rosana , a slave maid on one of his Jamaican plantations. Robert came to Musselburgh in 1795 to visit his father. He did not receive a good welcome - being sent away with "a cracked sixpence" - and became a radical and well known anti-slavery activist in England.

Come along and share in this event during which we will

- mark the success of the efforts of those, slave and free, in Scotland and elsewhere, who struggled to end the Slave Trade

- remember the suffering and inhumane treatment inflicted on those who were enslaved and

- recognise that Scots were complicit in the Trade and profited from it.

Share too in demonstrating that the Churches care about and are prepared to fight against the modern forms of slavery - trafficking; forced and bonded labour; - which still require to be overcome.

The walk will set out at 14.30 from the small band stand in the riverside gardens beside the "Roman" bridge (opposite Inveresk Road) and follow the River Esk Walkway to Inveresk Lodge Gardens.

Please try to be at the starting point by 14.15.

It would be helpful if you would let us know if you plan to come along. Email tommoyes@acts-scotland.org before March 21st.

Notes i) There are several car parks in the centre of Musselburgh but very few parking spaces at Inveresk.

ii) The walk is about a mile and a half in length and is mainly on flat ground.

Faith in Older People

Faith in Older People

The Faith in Older People team is running a course on spiritual care for people with dementia in six evening sessions at the diocesan centre (21a Grosvenor Crescent) on Tuesdays between 1 May and 5 June from 6.45 to 8.45pm. For further information or a booking form please contact fiop@dioceseofedinburgh.org or ring 0131 3467981 (Mondays to Wednesdays).

Diary dates for week beginning 18 March

Sun 18 March 7pm Confirmation Class - The History of the SEC

Tue 20 March 7.30pm Vestry meeting

Sat 24 March 10.30am-4pm Water Festival at St Philip's

Sat 24 March 12noon Lent Talk by Katie Weaver

Breaking the Chains

Marking the 200^th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade

25 March 2007, 6pm
St John’s Church, Princes Street
FREE

On the 25 March this year, it will be two hundred years since the Abolition Bill to end the British slave trade was passed. To mark this day, St John’s church on Princes Street will be hosting a civic commemoration, open to everyone. Reverend Ewan Aitken (City of Edinburgh Council) will be introducing the event with performances from Roy Bailey, David Ferrard and Karine Polwart, school soloists and choral music with a rendition of the ‘Amazing Grace’ hymn that was written by ex-slave ship owner, John Newton. There will also be a minute of silence to remember the ongoing slavery in the world two hundred years on.

For other events in this programme, please see www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk

Christian Aid Appeal

2007 APPEAL FOR THE ANNUAL CHRISTIAN AID BOOK SALE

at St Andrew’s and St George’s Church, George Street

Saturday 12 May (10am-4pm), Monday 14 – Friday 18 May (10am-3.30pm)

to raise funds for Christian Aid

WANTED

Books of every kind (hardback, paperback, fiction, non-fiction, children’s, any language)

Printed Ephemera (Scottish, playing cards, sporting, catalogues, programmes, albums, maps etc)

Sheet Music

Antiques (collectables, household goods)

Paintings (drawings, prints)

Records (CDs, DVDs, Videos)

Stamps and Postcards

Toys (Games, Jigsaws)

Contributions may be brought to the Church on or after Monday 30 April 9am-9pm Monday-Friday

and if possible, by Wednesday 9 May.

Pastoral Visiting

Thanks to BigBulkyAnglican for this...

"I remember reading these words from Henri Nouwen and finding them to be influential on my pastoral practice - and I may have blogged them before.

All too often other pressures mean that I cannot find the time I would like to offer to pastoral visiting but ought not to apologise for this:

It is good to visit people who are sick, dying, shut in,
handicapped, or lonely. But it is also important not to
feel guilty when our visits have to be short or can only
happen occasionally. Often we are so apologetic about our
limitations that our apologies prevent us from really being
with the other when we are there. A short time fully
present to a sick person is much better than a long time
with many explanations of why we are too busy to come more
often.
If we are able to be fully present to our friends when we
are with them, our absence too will bear many fruits. Our
friends will say: "He visited me" or "She visited me," and
discover in our absence the lasting grace of our presence.

Building update

From Ann Raith...

The land adjacent to the church housed the old Hall and behind it, a large house called "The Priory" where Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, and various other meetings were held, and a succession of Curates were housed in a section set up as a self-contained flat. We all assumed the house had been used as an ecclesiastical residence of some sort, and were amused to discover much later from Tom Muirhead that it had been built by a bookie who had won a lot of money on a horse called "The Priory"!

The Hall was built under war-time restrictions and was awful! The floor was concrete about 3 feet thick, covered with some composition, red in colour, that became slimy with condensation when any social activity took place. I well remember a Youth Club party to which I wore a new dress, white with sprigs of flowers (I felt I was the bee's knees!), and falling on this red sludge during an over-enthusiastic birl in some game or other. Kitchen and toilets were basic, to put it kindly.

Both buildings fell into disrepair for lack of funds and the land was sold to the developers of the present block of flats. It was the proceeds of this sale that enabled the re-structuring of the interior of the church to convert it to a multi-purpose building with extra rooms in the crypt. Tom oversaw all of this and was a tower of strength. Hence "The Muirhead Room".

Diocesan Synod Report

Our Diocesan Synod met on 10 March at Palmerston Place Church in Edinburgh (toasty warm unlike our own cathedral which was frosty cold!). What did we discuss?

1. Firstly we had a superb sermon by Bishop Brian on the reading of the day which was the Prodigal Son - or the parable of the 'Troubled Family' as he put it. You can guess who the family was.

2. Then we discussed the new Marriage Liturgy which is in its final stages of revision. One or two wee grumbles about the Ruth and Naomi prayer. Someone seemed to think it was unseemly to have a prayer about the relationship between two women in a wedding. (The theme is Journey) I don't happen to think it is unseemly at all. I like the Liturgy and in fact am using it with two couples at the moment who are about to be married. We like the choices available.

3. We had a report from my own Mission and Ministry Committee. Nancy announced that we now have enough congregations signed up to become a Fair Trade Diocese so that's good news. Michael reported on the current programmes in CMD 1-3 (my lot) and CMD 4+. There are some new events there to look out for. Elspeth reported on the Adventures in Faith programme which must surely be the best in the Province! And Ann proposed a new link with Diocese of Cape Coast Ghana. (It passed)

4. The Mothers Union gave a report. It is still around and not just for mothers either, apparently.

5. Elections for Synod members passed without any votes needed.

6. I asked who had the authority to make changes to Daily Prayer and the newly formatted 1982 Scottish Liturgy. (The Psalter in DP is on mid-blue paper which I can't read.) It would appear that I've to put it in writing to the Liturgy Committee.

7. The Rule 10 Motion from last Synod is to be discussed in Area Councils. We agreed that the Standing Committee should have other folk on it, not just Chairs of Boards who may have a vested interest in their own budgets. We had a good old discussion on Representation at General Synod and on how it could be worked out proportionally. (Poor old Argyll!)

8. Finance was almost exciting for a change with lovely pie-charts to look at and clear explanations. Some naughty folk are not paying their Quota but it seems that nothing can be done about that. (I have some ideas but I want to keep my job so I'll keep them to myself for now!)

9. We revised a few Canons but not in a major way. (We just added 'vulnerable adults' to some)

10. I'm afraid I missed the Synod Clerk's bit on Statistics as I was comparing my own to others at the time. (Interesting to see that we in St M's had just as many communicants making communion as one of the very large congregations). The Synod Clerk is also the Retreats Secretary and he made a plea for more folk to come. (In my case it was to do with the Retreat Leader this year.)

11. Sadly the Dean did not give us a laugh as usual with his report. Very sad and sorely missed.

And that was that. Quite a good Synod, I think. And I was proud to say that St M's was represented by the youngest Alternative Lay Rep (by about 50 years!)

Diary dates for week beginning 11 March

Sunday 11 March 7pm Confirmation Class in church - subject Prayer

Monday 12 March 7.30pm Meeting for readers and intercessors - new people welcome

Saturday 17 March 10am Church cleaning - all welcome!

Saturday 17 March 12noon Lent Talk - Rev Bob Gould

Churchyard

The farmland on which the church and grounds sit was feued from the Marquis of Abercorn in 1825 by the church founders Lieut. Col. Halyburton & his wife Eliza and James & Susannah Rutherford. They rapidly had the “chapel” erected at their own expense and it was opened in May 1828.

The Vestry soon sought the right to open a burying ground around the chapel but became embroiled in a dispute with the owner of a neighbouring villa who insighted the Kirk Session of Duddingstone, who had also opened a burying ground, to engage in litigation with St. Marks. The case was eventually decided in favour of St. Marks and the burying ground was consecrated on 11 November 1828 by Bishop Sandford. The first recorded burial service took place a month later.

Lairs were either purchased or leased for periods of fourteen years after which the Vestry was entitled to make further use of any lair upon which the lease had not been renewed “and to cause all Tombstones, Monuments or Tablets placed thereon to be removed”! Purchasers were bound to “enclose their respective Lots with Boundary & Division Walls...At least six feet in depth below the surface”. The 1859 Lair Plan shows evidence these walls were erected, however nothing can be seen above ground today.

Early management of the burial ground appears to have been chaotic. The first lair plan was lost and a new plan made in 1859, however problems soon arose when lairs in the area immediately behind the church, which were believed to be vacant were found to be occupied.

The problem proved so great that the Vestry prohibited all further internments in December 1862 except in Block C and the border on the east boundary wall. Unfortunately it “proved difficult to dispose of this ground, as no-one like[d] the position".

The consequent shortage of available lairs resulted in plans to remove the trees in the side borders in front of the church so as to use the ground for burials.

Further problems arose at the end of the nineteenth century when the chancel was added to the church. The unusual construction which can be seen today arose from the need to span the structure over occupied lairs beneath.

The burial ground continues to be used to this day.

Records of past lives

The real interest of the burial ground is the record of past lives that it provides. In the early eighteenth century there was a large influx of military and naval officers into Portobello. Many of them were Episcopalians and St Mark’s soon became favoured by them. This is reflected in the high occurrence of early monuments dedicated to officers and their families. Of particular note is the memorial in front of the church entrance to Lieut. Col. Halyburton himself, late of the 7^th Royal Fusiliers. More poignant is the recently renewed memorial to Joseph Huey MD, Assistant Surgeon, 14^th Kings Light Dragoons, erected by his brother officers as a mark of their esteem and regard.

Eight of St Mark’s rectors are buried in the grounds, including the first rector George Maurice Drummond who worked tirelessly for the poor of Portobello through the Portobello Destitute & Sick Society.

There are also records of great loss. That of Rev. Boyle who buried two wives in four years. The second “died to his inexpressible grief and her remains together with those of her only child” are buried at the rear of the church.

Close by are the five children of Mr & Mrs Gow, three of whom died in the same year

In the side border in front of the church is the war grave of Flight Sergeant H. I Sandison, Navigator (Bomber) twenty one, who died in a plane crash together with his fellow crew members in 1846. The church sacristy lamp is dedicated to their memory.

Services and opening times

Services & opening times

Sunday: 08.30am Eucharist (Said 1970 Scottish Liturgy)

10.30am Eucharist (Sung 1982 Scottish Liturgy)

4^th Sunday 10.30am Family Service (Sung 1982 Scottish Liturgy)

Thursday: 10.00am Eucharist (Said 1970 Scottish Liturgy)

The churchyard is always open to visitors

The church is also open to visitors on the first Saturday of each month (except January) between 9.00am and 1.00pm. A café offering light refreshments is available.

We will be happy to open the church at other times by appointment. Please contact the Rev’d Ruth Innes

Facilities for people with disabilities

The main body of the church is accessible via a ramp (1:8) at the Main Entrance. There is an accessible toilet on this level.

There is an induction loop servicing the nave & chancel.

Where to find us

287 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh,

EH15 2AR

By Bus: From the city centre Lothian Buses 15 & 26 & First Bus 129

Stained glass

The two pictorial stained glass windows to the East and West of the nave (1882) are by Ballantine & Sons and have their characteristic Renaissance borders. They depict the Good Samaritan and the unusual “the soul of Jonathan knit with the soul of David“

The stained glass over the altar was gifted in 1919 and depicts Christ crucified, flanked by Mary, the mother of Jesus and St John. It replaces an earlier stained glass window gifted in 1872 that was transferred to the back of the nave to make way for the new donation. It is believed that this earlier window was destroyed in the fire of 1967.

Our Building

St Marks was one of the first Episcopal churches to be built in the Edinburgh Diocese after the repressions of the Penal Laws that followed the Jacobite risings in the 18th century.

The church is set within a tree lined burial ground, enclosed by a boundary wall. The Vestry was granted the right to open a burial ground in 1828 after a long period of litigation instigated by the owner of a neighbouring villa.

The building has a category B listing and is of a villa like Neo Classical design, fronted with an imposing semi-circular Doric arched porch with flat topped dome which conceals a cupola lantern that lights the inner vestibule and stair to the gallery.

The original so called chapel was erected by Colonel & Mrs Robert Haliburton and Mr & Mrs James Rutherford at their own expense and constructed with remarkable speed by builder Robert Gray. The ground having been feued from the Marquis of Abercorn in 1825, it was opened on 19 May 1826 and consecrated on 21 August 1828 by Bishop Sandford.

The church was square in plan and “designed for the performance of Divine Worship in the Episcopalian form”. It comprised the present nave with balconies on three sides.

In 1892 the church was altered by Hay & Henderson. The two side galleries were removed, the ceiling reinforced and the chancel added to the south. The two windows to the north façade were also changed from sash and case windows to the Venetian style ones that can be seen today.

In 1919 a Lady Chapel was erected to the west of the chancel in memory of the 48 members of the congregation who fell in the Great War. It comprised an altar with a white marble slab on two black pillars. Over it was a tabernacle for the Reserved Sacrament, surmounted by a niche in which stood a crucifix. Behind it was a simple reredos of oak. The chapel was surrounded by an oak screen with eleven arches containing semi-circular panels carved by members of the congregation, one of which can be seen on the Crypt Chapel door.

The Lady Chapel was removed following a serious fire in 1967 which started in the boiler room and burned its way through the floor at the rear of the church, the heat reportedly melting the candles on the altar.

Other changes were also made at this time. In the chancel the altar was brought forward from the brown marble reredos (both 1872), the floor levelled and the altar rails relocated. The pulpit was also removed and replaced by two lecterns. In the basement a vestry and small stone-lined chapel were built, all largely the work of Alex & Ian Miller, members of the congregation.

In 1990 a meeting room, kitchen and accessible toilet were constructed under the gallery and a second meeting room formed in the basement. The architects being Campbell & Arnott.

In 2006 extensive repairs were done to the roof with the assistance of Historic Scotland and Heritage Lottery.

Welcome

Welcome to the new Blog, and temporary website, for St Mark's Portobello. Keep checking in for news of local, diocesan, provincial and global events which might interest you. Feel free to make comments especially on things you like and dislike about this Blog.