Click here for the latest news post: Annual General Meeting
St Mungo's Christmas Gift Collection: Thank you for your continued generosity towards SU Scotland's Development Appeal for the Alltnacriche residential centre, raising funds to increase space for small group work at the centre. There is still time to contribute to the wonderful work of SU Scotland: https://justgiving.com/page/stmungos-scriptureunion-christmas2023
The St Mungo's AGM will be held at our 10.30am services in both locations on Sunday 21 January. More details on the newspost.
· Balerno Vision Sunday will follow the AGM on Sunday 21 January
· Livingston Vision Sunday will be on Sunday 28 January
Alpha: New Year, New Start – Try Alpha. Alpha is going to be starting at 8pm on Tuesday 30 January and run on Tuesday evenings in Livingston, and will start at 8pm on Thursday 1 February and run on Thursday evenings in Balerno. People are welcome at either course regardless of which church location they attend. For more details and to sign up you and your guests check the website: stmungos.org/alpha or email alpha@stmungos.org
Communion services at 10.30am this month will be on Sunday 14 January in both locations. In Livingston the wafers are all gluten free, and in Balerno one point serves gluten free bread and grape juice, to bless those who prefer this.
Pray Livi ’24. As 2024 kicks off, we’re asking everyone to use January to prayer walk their way around Livingston. As we do this, we’re excited to have our own Pray Livi ’24 App to assist us in praying across all our communities. You can get the app and more information about Pray Livi ’24 by clicking here. We’ll also all have the chance to pray together at 2pm, Saturday 6 January, meeting outside St Margaret’s Academy, we’d love to see you there!
Gold (St Mungo’s group for 60+) meets on afternoon of Tuesday 9 January in the church building, Balerno.
Livi Board Games Night (For S6+) - Love a little bit of friendly competition? We’d love you to join us at Isaac and Ruth’s house (address on ChurchSuite) 7:30pm-10pm on Friday 12 January for an evening of board games, chat and snacks. A great opportunity to be church family and just spend time hanging out. Feel free to bring along a favourite game.
Big Night In planned for Friday 12 January at 7.30pm at Ministry Centre Balerno.
Gavin and Heather Falconer Feedback Evening: On Thursday 18 January [7.30pm at the Ministry Centre, Balerno], we will be hosting a feedback evening with Gavin and Heather as they share about their recent time in Ecuador with Reach Beyond. Gavin and Heather are due to return to Ecuador at the end of January and it would be a great opportunity to hear more stories and testimony from them, pray with them and support them as they head back to South America to minister. Do join us if you are able.
Wellness Centre Worship and Prayer night. The Wellness Centre will be open on Tuesday 23 January from 7pm-9pm for all members of the congregation to pop in at any time. There will be live worship and prayer stations in each of the counselling rooms. We would love you to join us to pray for this often hidden, but life-transforming ministry of our church.
Spirit Café: Our first Spirit Café of the year will be running in Balerno on Saturday 27 January. Starting a New Year is often a time when people ask questions and reflect on their life and it is an easy time to invite others along to Spirit Café to come and encounter God’s love for them. We will be advertising this across Edinburgh and West Lothian and have found that people are willing to travel for it, so be praying and asking who you could invite to come along.
Heriot-Watt University Chaplaincy Annual Public Lecture at 7pm on Monday, 5 February. John Wyatt, an Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics and Perinatology at UCL, will give this year's lecture. He has a longstanding interest in ethical and philosophical dilemmas raised by advances in biomedical medical and digital technologies and is a well-known speaker, writer and blogger. His theme, Transhumanism, explores the startling possibilities of enhancement technology and asks what these advances mean for human flourishing. The lecture is free and open to the public to attend, please register here on Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/3RbYPwZ
Amy Orr-Ewing will be with us on 2 and 3 March 2024. There will be a day conference on Saturday 2 March at Heriot Watt conference centre, and a joint congregations service on Sunday 3 March also at Heriot Watt. More details to follow but save the date.
Pioneers meet on Sunday 7 January in Balerno High School.
Youth serving. Starting on 14 January, young people from our S4-S6 Deeper group will participate in a monthly Serving Week, where they will serve across the various ministries in the church that fits their individual spiritual gifts and talents. The goal is to integrate them into the church congregation and teach them servant-hearted leadership for the Kingdom's good, whilst also allowing them to learn from people of all ages who are living out their faith amidst various challenges and situations. The Serving Week will take place on the week of the second Sunday of each month and will involve both Balerno and Livingston youth, so if you are serving alongside them or see youth doing a role, please encourage them as they do!
0-18 notices.
· Youth weekend away worship rehearsals – Sunday 7 January 12.30pm at Church Building, Ladycroft and Thursday 11 January at 7.30pm at Church building, Ladycroft. This is by invitation only.
· Friday Night Youth returns on 12 January at 7.30pm with a prayer stations night in church building Ladycroft, Balerno.
· Saturday13 January – P1-7 social events – check flier for details.
· Sun 14 January – Deeper at 4pm in the Ministry Centre.
· Sunday 14 January – Dive In at 4pm in Caitlin’s House
· P5-7 Residential change of date. This event will now run 4-6 October 2024.
Prayers
Please pray for those grieving the recent death of Ann Stephen of the 8.45 congregation. A thanksgiving service for her life will be held on Thursday 25 January at 1.30pm in the Church building. This is open to all and is after a private family cremation service.