A Parish Grouping has been proposed in the Presbytery Mission Plan (agreed in Spring 2023). Murrayfield is to work with St. Stephen's Comely Bank and Palmerston Place/Gorgie Dalry Stenhouse in a grouping. More information will follow when available.
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The partnership, and the letters below, unfortunately ceased, along with so many other things, with the pandemic, and our link to St Andrews ceased.
But, St Andrews Jerusalem is still there, still serving the Christian community, and still trying to offer support. where it us needed
To see what they do, read about it on https://www.standrewsjerusalem.org/
We were prayer partners with Rev John McCulloch who was minister of St. Andrews Church in Jerusalem. John was ordained and inducted to the Church of Scotland congregation in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday 2018 - he was there with his wife Annette and children. We have strong links with Jerusalem because one of our previous ministers, Rev Clarence Musgrave, served there after he demitted from Murrayfield in 2000. We also have historic links because it was an elder from Murrayfield, Ninian Hill, who proposed to Edinburgh Presbytery, in the 1920s that a congregation should be created in Jerusalem. Ninian went on to be its first minister. We did receive regular updates from Rev John McCulloch but, as in so many other areas, the pandemic brough this to a close. The letters received can still be read below
Letter from John McCulloch_Dec_18.
Report from Kate_Mcdonald.Dec 2018
Letter from John McCulloch April 2019
Letter from John McCulloch December 2019
Letter from John McCulloch January 2020
Letter from John McCulloch March 2020
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What is Ecudare?
Ecumenical Day Care
Ecudare is a Murrayfield Churches Together project which began in 2003. It’s aim is to provide quality of life and holistic care for women and their families who are living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS. Women and families affected by HIV have been supported to set up their own businesses and a school has been established. It has a Christian ethos and is based in Ngong, one of the poorest areas of Kenya to the south west of the capital Nairobi. It is run by Esther Wanjohi with whom we are in regular contact and who sends updates to us by letter.
The Covid pandemic had disastrous consequences for the families in Ngong: lockdown and curfew led to an inability to carry our their small businesses which led to a lack of income and food. Vaccinations are scarce and expensive. Lack of food became a real issue and many of the gains made by the project were lost. We continued to support families during this difficult time.
MCT Ecudare Group has committed to the continuation of their commitment to ECUDARE for a further 5 year period from 2023-2028. This involves running fundraising events throughout the year which are organised by a small group of members form each of the three MCT Churches.
A survey was conducted in the summer of 2023 to seek approval for the continuation of the project from the congregations. The results showed that ECUDARE is very much supported by members.
“It is a great support for the needy in Kenya and continuous support required to keep making a difference in the lives of those in great need.”
“Ester and everyone involved are working so hard they need and appreciate our support to continue”
“It appears to be a long standing partnership which has benefitted both sides, makes a difference to people's lives in Kenya, and thereby helps to spread the word of God”
“The project has a two way energy with good feedback from Esther to keep everyone up to date with how the fundraising is used to help the women suffering from HIV aids and their families . “
“Good for MCT to look beyond its locality to offer prayerful and financial support to others. Works 2 ways as we learn from Ecudare too.”
How to support ECUDARE
New group members are always welcome to help with fundraising. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact The Minister.
We have 2 main fundraising campaigns each year which are well supported:
Christmas campaign - funds are required to purchase chapatti flour for families and a range of other items much needed at this time eg goats, chickens, mattresses.
Funds are raised by selling potted hyacinth bulbs and we also offer a range of virtual Christmas gifts which are items identified each year by Esther. .
Summer campaign - each year a project is identified by Esther, for example in 2023 we raised funds for a women and girls’ hygiene and sanitary project
We hold a summer themed event to raise funds. In July 2023 a’ Songs, Strawberries and Sparkles’ event was held in the gardens and halls of the Church of the Good Shepherd. This presented a lovely opportunity for members from all three MCT congregations to join together for a joyful afternoon and raise funds for ECUDARE.
Donations can be made at any time by Bank transfer or cash and gift aid is gratefully received.
Latest Letter from Esther
In November 2023 Esther wrote:
“I trust you are well. I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the MCT brothers and sisters for your unwavering support to the women, the school and the community at large. Your generosity and commitment have played a significant role in our success and we couldn’t be more grateful.
We are excited to share that we recently celebrated a very successful graduation for four classes, with our students moving on to the next level of their education and personal growth. It’s a testament to the positive impact your support has had on the community.
As we officially close our school for the year ,we are busy preparing the classrooms for the new year ahead.
We’d like to extend an invitation to you to join us in our annual Christmas celebrations, where we can come together to bring joy to the elderly and vulnerable members of our community by donating to the woman’s kitty, helping us make this Christmas extra special
Once again , thank you for your ongoing support and for being an integral part of our community. We look forward to seeing you someday.
Every Blessings to you all.
I should also let you know Kenya had a lovely time with King Charles and Queen Camilla over the past one week.
With warmest regards,
Ester – Wanjohi”
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For the latest news from Kwamebikrom, sent to us by our partners there, please read the article in the October '21Magazine
We have reached the end of the last partnership agreement (July 21) so have been wondering how we can celebrate out 24 year old partnership link. A video is to be shown at Presbytery shortly, and news of Kwamebikrom and what next will be included in the next Church magazine.
Murrayfield Parish Church has been richly blessed by a partnership with Kwamebikrom community in Ghana. The partnership was one of the ways we marked our centenary in 2000. The link came about through the Church of Scotland's Board of World Mission to whom an urgent need in the west part of the country had been identified by the Presbyterian Church in Ghana in 1997. Through this partnership we have expressed a clear desire to engage with the wider church in the world.
Over the past years we have completed some projects which have made a real difference to life in the village. The first of these projects was the improvement of medical support facilities. Other major projects have included the building of a guest house and library, assisting with the provision of electricity to the village and a range of income generating schemes.
One feature of the Ghana partnership has been a series of visits to Kwamebikrom by teams from the congregation and also a number of visits made from the village to Edinburgh. These visits have been a wonderful way of growing friendships and expanding our horizons in terms of life and faith. After many wonderful years the partnership is currently entering its final phase. Part of this includes completing work on a latrine block in the village.
Click here for latest partnership agreement
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We welcome schools educational visits
More recently we have developed a friendship with St. George’s School for Girls. The minister has offered some chaplaincy to the Junior and Lower schools of St. George’s. We have also been able to extend the use of our church building to the school for various events.
Visits to the Church Summer 2021
We welcomed pupils and staff from St George’s School for an educational visit to the church to enhance their school topic ‘ Church and Christianity’. They particularly wanted to find out about the pulpit, stained glass windows, the font and pews. Here are some of the comments sent to us after the visit
“I liked going up on the balcony because I could see the shape of the church was a cross”.
“I enjoyed looking at the stained - glass window because it was really pretty and they explained a story from the bible back in time”.
"I liked going in the pulpit because it was fun and you could see all the way to the back of the church”.
“It was fun because you felt as if you were floating”.
“I enjoyed the darkness because it was cool and mysterious”.
“I liked seeing the font because I liked how there was a secret lid on it”.
“I liked going into the choir room because it had the atmosphere of being religious and good”.
“I liked being up in the pulpit because I didn’t expect to see a TV there”.
“I liked the stained-glass windows because I liked how they told a story”.
ECO Matters
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I am interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families." Isaiah 58 v 6-7
This Bible verse reminds us that all those suffering the effects of the climate crisis are our brothers and sisters. In God's family we are one not separate. We are called to care for our whole family on this Earth, which is our common home.
We believe that care for the planet is part of our calling as Christian people. We have occasional church services which provides the opportunity as part of the service to explore an eco theme. As part of the Harvest Thanksgiving service we celebrated our beautiful world and highlighted the need share even when it is difficult.
The ECO group meets throughout the year and seeks to raise general awareness of how we can care better for the planet and to explain how our Christian faith motivates us in this area of life. Please find out more at www.ecoconregationscotland.org
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For the latest on tge current situation and what is needed fir tge essential work tgat Fresh Start do, please read Jennifer Paterson's article in our magazine - September_Edition_
Good news from Fresh Start is that they are busy, as ever, helping folk who have been homeless and who are moving into flats that they have been allocated.
Fresh Start are appealing for items for their “Starter Packs” which help to provide the basic needs to equip their new homes.
If you would like to help, donations of goods can be taken directly to Fresh Start at 22-24 Ferry Road Drive, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 3.30 pm by prior arrangement. Please phone Fresh Start at 0131 476 7741 to arrange a drop off time. These arrangements are necessary to comply with current safety rules. A track and trace system is in operation and names and telephone numbers are kept for 14 days for this purpose.
Items needed for starter packs include:- crockery, cutlery, mugs, tumblers, bed linen, towels.
Small electrical items (such as lamps, toasters, irons, blenders, alarm clocks).
No duvets, pillows or cushions.
Further information about Fresh Start, including how to contribute to the “Cookers for Christmas “ appeal can be found below
https://www.freshstartweb.org.uk/
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For our Fairtrade Representative, Fiona Dinsmore's latest update on the current situation at Murrayfield and acroiss tge wirld, pkease read our September Magazine September_Edition_2023_
jWe care about poverty and justice issues across the world. One area of concern is that products we often take for granted are fairly traded. To this end we promote the work of Fairtrade. To find out more please visit www.fairtrade.org.uk
We aredelighted to have our Faitrade stall back in the Church, usually the first Sunday of the month,where all the usual items, and many new ones, are on sale. We also have had the opportunity to enjoy tasting sone well known confectionary which is now fair traded!
Duting the Coronavirus pandemic, there were no coffe mornings, and we were not able to purchase our usual treats after the Sunday service,but fairtrade has a vibrant online shop, where all your purchases, and more are available.
The One World Shop at St Johns is very well stocked with gifts and tasty treats, and well worth a visit. They do deliveries by ecobike. https://www.oneworldshop.co.uk/
For more info on Traidcraft products and ethos see www.traidcraft.co.uk.
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For the current situation within Murrayfield, please read David Parkin's report in our magazine - September_Edition_2023_pdf
We support Christian Aid and have done so for many years. Christian Aid as a charity works towards ending poverty in the world. One of our ways of supporting Christian Aid is with MCT, through the annual Quiz, which was held in March 2023.
There is also a joint annual Christian Aid service of prayer, with our friends of MCT. This year's service was held in May at Saughtonhall URC.
We arealso one of the churches used by Christian Aid fir their crisis apoeals
Please find out more at www.christianaid.org.uk
We are also one of the churches used by Christian Aid for their crisis appeals.
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We are part of Murrayfield Churches Together. MCT brings together Saughtonhall United Reformed Church (SURC), Scottish Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (COGS) and ourselves Murrayfield Parish Church.
MCT is a long standing covenanted ecumenical partnership. The last covenant was signed in November 2015 for a further 7 years. A steering group populated by members of all 3 congregations offers oversight. The 2015 covenant expired during the Pandemic, and we arecurrently undertaking a new covenant agreement
We share joint worship several times of year - such as during The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January and Christian Aid week in May. We come together for special services at Easter and Advent and Christmas and we also run Messy Church together. MCT supports Fresh Start and also a project in Kenya called ECUDARE. We also support in MCT the Murrayfield Club, with all three minsters taking regular worship with the Club
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We are part of Murrayfield Churches Together [should say this in a few places and have the MCT logo well displayed]. MCT brings together Suaghtonhall United Reformed Church (SURC), Scottish Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (COGS) and ourselves Murrayfield Church. MCT is a covenanted ecumenical partnership which formally came into being in ????. The last covenant was signed in 201? for a further x years. A steering group populated by members of all 3 congregations offers oversight. We share joint worship several times of year eg during The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Christian Aid week. We come together for special services at Easter and Advent and Christmas and we also run Messy Church together. MCT supports Fresh Start and also a project in Kenya called ECUDARE.
Kwamebikrom in Ghana - Since 20?? we have had a link with…
ECUDARE project in Kenya - Since 20?? MCT has supported an initiative in Kenya whose full name is…
Local schools - We have a friendship with St. George’s School for Girls and the minister offers some chaplaincy to the Junior + Lower schools of St. George’s. We have, for several years, had a close relationship with Wester Coates Nursery
Christian Aid:
Fairtrade:
Fresh Start:
Parish Grouping - A Parish Grouping has been proposed in the Presbytery Mission Plan (agreed in Spring 2023). Murrayfield is to work with St. Stephen's Comely Bank and Palmerston Place/GDS in a grouping. More information will follow when available
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