The Easter holiday is over, the chocolate eggs have been eaten and the children and students are back in education with many preparing for exams. Looking at the church calendar, we remain in the season of Easter (Eastertide), which lasts for 50 days (how many of us can make an Easter egg last for 50 days!?), spanning the period from Easter Sunday until Pentecost (Whit Sunday), which this year is on June 5.

The first forty days of Easter represent the time Jesus spent on earth following the resurrection, presenting himself to the apostles and others, offering many convincing proofs, and speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts, Chapter 1). Easter coincides with spring and the Jewish Passover.

Spring is nature’s season for new life, of growth and fertility for plants and animals following their winter dormancy or hibernation. In fact, the Christian festival was originally called Pascha (Hebrew, Pesah) due to its association with the Jewish Passover, a major festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (around 1400-1500 BC) which includes a main course of roast lamb. Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Paschal Lamb, or the Lamb of God, linking the crucifixion to the Passover sacrifice. From a Christian perspective this time of year is central to our faith. I tend to view the crucifixion and the resurrection as being like the two faces of a coin, both very different, but for the coin to exist it must have a head and a tail. When viewed from one side we see the cross, representing the pain and suffering of Jesus’ death. When viewed from the other side we see the hope of new life in His resurrection. The connection between these events is a sacred mystery, known as the Paschal Mystery (although the term is probably more familiar within the Catholic or Orthodox traditions rather than Presbyterianism).

Nevertheless, the mystery is possibly best summarised by the words In John’s Gospel (Ch 3, v16): For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Jesus taught that where there is love, there is hope. It is a powerful, enduring message, and it is written on the heart of each one of us. It is a message we can choose to follow or ignore, but if we choose to ignore it, I do not believe that God will ignore us.

Another name for Jesus is Prince of Peace, a term highly relevant at the current time of war and genocide particularly in Ukraine. But consider this, during his time on earth Jesus was known, among other things, for his humility and wisdom. As far as we know, He had no material possessions. He didn’t even write his own story. And yet, what He left behind will endure forever. We have to believe this. In amongst the chaos of human existence God is still speaking.

We need to remember that He brings cosmos out of Chaos even in the face of this time of great change in the church where the presbytery plan is bringing hurt and confusion and upset for many. Even in the face of the post covid anxiety that affects people at the deepest level and even where the images of the war disturb us at the most visceral levels. In the weeks that lie ahead, may we continue to pray for wisdom, discernment, and compassion for those who suffer and for those with power over war and peace.

With every blessing,
Rev Steven

I thank God daily, not just for the beauty we see each day that surrounds  us, but also for each other, those we share our lives with. I say this because  I have just come in from a lovely walk along the back of Blackford Hill with New College friends; it has been a wonderful afternoon, with the sun shining in a fading winter sky. On the way we saw emerging displays of spring flowers, snowdrops, aconites, crocuses and budding daffodils,  standing out against the soil and grass. There was a real lightness in the  steps of those people I passed, all enjoying the sunshine and fresh  air. There was a sense of Spring in the air and subliminally maybe a sense  of new beginnings. Our circumstances are changing and hopefully we can  look forward to warmer and longer hope filled days. 

It got me thinking, March is just around the corner and the season of Lent is  upon us and, for us as Christians, it is significant that the season of Lent  always coincides with the arrival of spring; all around we are seeing signs of  new beginnings as the earth wakes up from its winter sleep. But the  purpose of Lent is traditionally more than just a period of beginning again,  it is also a period of reflection, a time for taking stock of our life and our  relationship with God. It begins with Ash Wednesday, when we start on  our Lenten journey with Christ to the cross, and then on to the joyous  Easter dawn and his resurrection. Many Christians, under normal  circumstances would celebrate Ash Wednesday saying sorry; resolving with the help of God to turn around their life, change in life’s direction, with the  intention to be different from this point forward in a renewed decision to  live as disciples of Jesus serving others and renewing efforts to pray. March therefore is a busy month, what with Lent, Mothering Sunday, the clocks  going forward an hour, and looking forward to Holy Week and Easter. It is  with this in mind that we have much to be grateful for in our parish. 

Like many of you I am very relieved that COVID-19 and its effects are slowly dissipating and that we can gather as a worshipping community each  Sunday. The work of the congregation continues, many groups are now returning to use the building and the issues of the Presbytery Plan are  slowly being resolved.

On a positive note, we hope to appoint Brigitte Harris as our new organist. She has a great deal of experience and was  formerly organist at St Andrews and St George's. She is an excellent  musician and will work with Evan Cruikshank to re-establish a singing congregation. I am especially happy with the news from the Government that we don't have to wear masks after 21 March. This means people can participate fully in worship and sing and read with gusto, and best of all, we  can celebrate the sacraments in person. 

March will also see us kick off several new events and groups that will hopefully deepen the spiritual life of the church and congregation.

• We will  launch our Lent Appeal to raise money for good causes, details of which will  be available in the first week of March.
• On Thursdays we hope to have music and reflection for Lent and a Bible study. This is an opportunity to  explore the Christian faith and ask those burning questions I know we all  have about life, faith, our purpose and how we might live.
• The fortnightly coffee morning for people especially older members or those connected  with the Parish care homes has recommenced.
• Edinburgh Napier University Chamber Choir will hold an Easter concert for us at the beginning of April  
• Christian Aid book sale : in May, the Christian Aid Book Sale will happen in a changed format
• At  some point in the next couple of months we shall share worship with  Christchurch, Marchmont St Giles, St Catherine’s and the German speaking  congregation.
• I also know that we are invited to some of the Romanian  Orthodox concerts and worship for their Lent and Easter which will be later than ours because of their use of different calendars.
• We also will be hosting the Malawian Christian Community prayer and fellowship meetings  on some Sunday afternoons.

New life is happening in the Church, and this  has been cemented by the fact that we have received 8 new members since November. 

These events that I have outlined are all part of a bigger plan that I believe the Lord is leading us into this year. The church doors at MUC are open to  allow people into the building ecumenically serving people of the parish  and University. It is my prayer that we will see more doorways open into the church for those in our community who do not yet know the redemptive love of Jesus. Because that, dear friends, is why we are here: to share that same love with our neighbours, so that they may find themselves caught up in the great story of God. So may you find a way to become a  “door” for someone else this Spring so that MUC becomes a true place of  welcome in Christ’s name. 

With every blessing,
 
Rev Steven

Christmas is almost here and that is good news for everyone except the turkey, goose, or nut roast. We will soon be full of joy, mince pies, and  chocolate... singing carols in schools... We will listen to our Christmas tunes on the radio, on Spotify, in the pubs and supermarkets, and of course in our Churches too.

But Christmas is also being celebrated in a febrile atmosphere of anxiety, new variant COVID viruses, worldwide shutdowns and travel restrictions, climate change and economic uncertainty.

What then can the Church say to people of faith and those of none?

What should  our Christmas message be? 

Over the last year or so you will have noticed that I have chosen to  write in these letters about hope on quite a few occasions. At the moment our hope will feel to many like an uncertain or fragile thing. Hospitalisations are reducing but infection rates are still very high. Our economy is growing, and unemployment is low, but many people feel insecure in their jobs. There are supply issues, and Europe appears to be heading into the grip of a fourth wave of COVID. We all want and need a good Christmas, but what are we to do with this moment of hope when we can’t know and don’t understand how the future might look? 

Let’s consider the very first Christmas... It teaches us a profound truth.  

Mary held in her arms her newborn baby. For those of you who are parents or grandparents, aunts or uncles - You always remember holding a much-loved baby for the first time. A tiny and fragile little boy or girl. You didn't know what the future would be like for him or her, but in that moment with the baby in your arms, I bet you felt wonder and love and hope. That special moment was enough. It was life sustaining. 

I can’t help but imagine that it must have been the same for Mary. In her arms she held the prince of peace, Emmanuel God with us, the almighty creator God, the hope of salvation for the entire world. She didn’t fully understand and nor could imagine what the future would be for him. So what did she do? Mary nursed her little boy, she kept him warm and cared for him. She did what was natural in that moment. She loved him and treasured the moment.

Of course, Mary wasn’t the only one who  struggled to find a response fitting to that moment. Others also did what to them came naturally. The shepherds and kings all came with presents, lambs, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Strange gifts for a baby, but it was  the natural response for each of them. Even the angels didn’t really know  what was to come but, they knew how to respond. They sang with great  joy, announcing the good news... That God’s great plan to show his love to the world had begun. 

This Christmas, we should do what is natural in this unique moment. We should be generous like the shepherds and three kings, giving whatever we can to enable everyone to share in the joy. Like the angels, we should be filled with great joy and sing and celebrate. Perhaps most importantly, we should be like Mary. She cared for her little boy, knowing he was fragile.  She loved him. 

This Christmas with the example of Mary to guide us, we should remember all the times we have been caused to be apart from families and friends... and we should treasure this Christmas as a time shared together. Just love those who matter most to you. Cherish time together, be kind and forgiving then - I suspect - you will find the light that shines in  darkness. 

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a truly joyful New Year. 

Blessings,

Rev Steven

​

     Times have been difficult and continue to be challenging but I believe we have a lot to be thankful for and even more to look forward to.

With Every Blessing,

Rev Steven

- And, really, when we consider the world, this is primarily how we should view it:  As God’s creation, ours to treasure and care for.

But you may respond: What about the terrible things going on at present? What about the awful suffering in Afghanistan, in Haiti or the conflicts between Palestine and Israel? Look at the effects  of the pandemic on the economy, the poor, our children, the NHS and our lives. As the COP 26 summit of governments in Glasgow approaches to consider Global warming, we can sense a depressing  urgency in the melting of the ice caps and abuse of fossil fuels.

You're right. It can be hard to sing “It’s a wonderful world”. There are catastrophes here, there, and everywhere. It can seem overwhelming,  leaving little room for sentimentality. 

So as Christians, how should we respond?

Let us be people of optimism! Yes... Collectively as humans, we really have done much to harm the world and its people. Yet, the good surely outweighs the bad. As people of faith, we can count many blessings and discover hope. In our call to care for the world and love humanity, God gives us the means to view everything through a prism of love. This makes a difference.

Love is at  the heart of our Faith because God is love.

The French philosopher Simone Weil wrote: "To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul." My advice is to be rooted in God’s love. Not only will the world appear more beautiful, but you will have the means to transform its sorrows into joy. 

With Every Blessing 
Rev Steven

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Dear Friends,

It seems to me that spring sunshine makes lockdown a little more bearable, and certainly there is a sense of tentative optimism as we look forward to moving into a different level of restriction. The news of vaccination success helps, but I am still conscious that we have just emerged from the most miserable winter on record. Some of you will remember the winter of 1963, and some of you may even remember the winter of 1948. But for me, 2020-21 was just so hard for many - perhaps the worst winter! It’s been about so much more than just the weather. We all know the sort of things we have been struggling with here in Morningside and across Scotland and the world.

Many clergy have used the past few months to preach about hope, which is surely the strongest of human emotions, and in this post Easter time, we can see that spring is emerging - splashing colour and new life around us. This adds to a sense of guarded optimism, and this is a joy! It has been great to meet people rejoicing in family reunions, albeit outside. It’s wonderful our older people in care can be visited. I have been delighted to hear several ladies and men tell me of their relief at being able to visit the hairdresser or to make plans to return to the gym or swimming. There is a palpable sense of hope.

Here in the church, we too are planning to return to life to bring back the normality we can only remember from more than a year ago. It will happen slowly - the gradual return of simple things such as refreshments after services, social groups and even singing. We will keep you all informed as these things become possible. --But even the thought of it feels good.

I am also conscious that in some way and at some point, we shall need to look back in remembrance for those we have lost, and to give thanks for those who have worked so hard to keep us fed and cared for over this unprecedented time. I am conscious too of those who are financially compromised by the economic fallout of the pandemic, those using foodbanks, those exhausted by providing care services or working in the NHS. Even now, in this time of lengthening days and spring warmth, there are those much worse off than us and in much greater need of hope!

Pray for them, pray for the Church and pray above all for those you love best. Might the light and hope of Easter fall upon all of us as we emerge from this lockdown.

- Rev. Steven