Cardboard Testimonies: On Sunday morning after the service we will be filming cardboard testimonies ahead of the Church Family Christmas Celebration on Sunday 17th December, with the theme ‘How has God kept His promise?’. We will provide the card and pens. What we would love from the congregation and across all groups is write on one side of the cardboard a statement about your life without Jesus and then on the reverse a statement about what difference Jesus has made in your life. These will only be shown in the service on 17 December and not online
Christmas events are all listed on our website – do check them out and pray for them as they are currently being planned. https://stmungos.org/christmas Carol and Family service invitations are available for you to give people. Livingston have bundles for giving to local area, and these will be available for Balerno on 3 December.
Abide. Evening of worship and intercessory prayer for any in the St Mungo’s church family to attend on Wednesday 29 November; 8pm Church building, Ladycroft, Balerno.
Bruce Collins. On Sunday 3 December we will be joined by Bruce Collins who will speak and minister at our Balerno services in the morning and evening. Bruce was born in South Africa and trained as a Chemical Engineer. He was ordained in London Diocese in 1983 and was Team Rector of the Roxeth Team Ministry from 1990 to 2003. He served on the New Wine England Leadership team from 1997 to 2011, overseeing the development of its English and international networks. In 2007 he moved to South Wales and became part of New Wine Cymru. Bruce is also the founding director of Just Earth, one of the mission projects supported by St Mungo’s. Bruce will be speaking on the topic of faith at the 8.45 and 10.30 Balerno services and will speak at the evening service on healing, with an opportunity to receive prayer for healing. Please feel free to invite friends or family you know who need healing.
COP28 starts on Thursday and is the biggest and most important annual climate-related conference. Decisions made or not made at COP will impact on God’s creation and his heart for justice for the poor. As last year, a web resource has been created to help people focus their prayers during this critical time and invite the church to join them in praying for our world. You can find the resource at Praying for COP28 (google.com)
Middle East Emergency Appeal: We have donated £2,500 towards Tearfund's emergency appeal response to the situation in the Middle East and particularly the thousands of people in Gaza and Israel and the wider region who are experiencing devastating loss, trauma and overwhelming need. Tearfund is working with local churches and partners to help them respond to the needs of people across the region, please pray for an end to the conflict, for peace and reconciliation, and an opportunity to rebuild lives.
West Lothian Foodbank Christmas Quiz. Friday 1 December, 8pm, at The Chain Runner in Livingston. Prizes include a meal voucher for the restaurant, a free round of drinks and other prizes. Tickets are only £2.00 a head (teams of up to 6 people) and proceeds go towards this valuable work which St Mungo’s supports. Donations are at a very low level for this time of the year and every penny helps. Contact johnrussell@capuk.org to book or with any questions.
Origin Christmas Celebration at 7.30pm on Saturday 2 December in Usher Hall Edinburgh. Tickets from: Origin Christmas Edinburgh.
Pioneers meet at 10.30am on Sunday 26 November at Balerno High School.
0-18 activities.
· Envision rehearsal will be on Sunday afternoon 26 Nov at 12.30pm in Church Building, Ladycroft, Balerno.
· Youth Worship on Thursday (30 Nov) will be a worship rehearsal for the Family Christmas services. All involved in the band/singing group to attend. 7.30pm at Church Building, Ladycroft.
· Friday night Youth on 1 December will a testimony night with Feri Ross sharing. 7.30pm in Church Building, Ladycroft.
· Youth Christmas Ceilidh on Friday 8 December - Sign-ups are open. Use this link to reserve your young person’s place. https://form.jotform.com/233193361146049
Connect point [Balerno 10.30]. A place to meet others after the service whether you are brand new to the church or have been coming for years. Look out for the Connect Point banner near refreshments in the concourse.
Healing prayer is offered each week after the 10.30 services in Balerno and Livingston.