MINISTER’S REPORT

If I wanted to pick out the highlights of the last twelve months…… (in no order whatsoever)

·         A helpful Kirk Session conference in the Gillis Centre

·         A great Pray Day at Carberry

·         Our church trip to Avignon and Provence

·         Sending Ellie Bate to work with Scripture Union

·         The youth group bathed in sun on Iona

·         We thanked Etta for being, and Yvonne for becoming, Pastoral Care Convener

·         The children enchanted us with their Nativity Play

·         We sent-off Mark Taylor to the WCC in Geneva

·         Stephen Manders was called to Nairn

·         Paul Nimmo was given a Templeton Award for his book on Barth

·         We had a very full “Bring a Friend to Church” Sunday

·         Morningside United Church Football team WON THE CUP in the East of Scotland League

·         We thanked Mark for being, and Jim for becoming, Church Treasurer

·         A great Fairtrade breakfast

·         We adopted “500 miles” as our charity for this year

·         We said goodbye to Anne as Church Officer

·         We walked at Nunraw, worshipped through Holy Week and saw Easter dawn from Blackford Hill

·         We enjoyed an amazing concert by the Garleton Singers

·         And had an extremely good Christian Aid book sale

·         And the young members went to Lindisfarne

·         And some walked there…..

·         And we welcomed and inducted Fran

·         And 9,600 unique visitors visited our website

·         And……  add your own special time!

I’m exhausted just thinking about it.  Thanks to all those who made such a busy, faithful year happen.   All those who work for the congregation in so many different ways.   My special thanks to the core team – colleague ministers, officers and conveners, organist, youth and church school….all the loyal band.   To Beryl and Dorothea who turn a lot of my outpouring into paper.  In fact to every single MUC person for making the journey with us.  And thanks too, and welcome to Fran as she joins the team.

Goodbyes are tough!   Not lost for words too often, I find it hard to express how Frances has enhanced and shaped my ministry.   Her two years as Associate have been just amazing.   I hope when we part on the 28^th June it will be a case of “au revoir”.   But actually it is more a moment for that other French farewell phrase “Adieu” – “to God”, then,  with a prayer that God will richly bless, guide and protect you, Frances, in all the years to come.

JOHN R SMITH