BIG DAY!! September 26th is a Sunday to write in the diary straight away – so many things happening, none of them to be missed…. It will be Harvest Thanksgiving – and if you want to bring something for our Harvest Table…then please feel free to do that. All goods, preferably non –perishable will be taken to the Bethany Christian Trust for the Homeless Hostel, in Edinburgh. In preparation for the service, on Saturday 25th Sept, from 9.30am,
volunteers will be very warmly welcomed to help with the decoration of There will also be a Soup and Sweet Lunch that day…so hold back on the roast beef and Yorkshire puddings – and Sunday 26th will also be David Gray’s last Sunday with us…with suitable farewells being offered to David and his family. So…plenty happening…and a whole lot of praising going on!! Belhaven Bookies meet around 4 times a year to discuss a book that has some relevance to Christianity. It might be a Christian book, a biography or even an anti-Christian book that is being reported in the media. Whatever the book, the idea is that we use it as a sort of starting point to have a general discussion about life. Our first meeting went really well, so come and join us for the second meeting in Saddler’s Café in the West port (Willie Main’s shop) when we will be discussing, "Chasing the Dragon" by Jackie Pullinger. We will meet from about 19:30 on Friday 24 September to start the coffee and discussion about 19:45.
Please contact Malcolm on 01368-862276 or MalcolmNPayton@aol.com if you want more details or to confirm that you can attend.
THE MEN’S GROUP A new session gets underway on MONDAY 6TH Spetember,2010 In the Stables…at 8-00 p.m. when Jodie Renton tells her amazing story (and she’ll probably have her Guide dog with her too!)
+++ Alpha invitation 2010 PRAYER AND WORSHIP EVENING From 7-30 -9-3 0131 663 2557
Bible Study Groups will meet this week on Tuesday morning (7th) in the Stables at 10.00am and on Wednesday evening (8th) at 8.00pm at the home of Chris & Margaret Cannon, Briarwood, Winterfield Place. Anyone interested warmly welcome. With David’s departure coming closer each week - his last official Sunday with us will be Harvest Thanksgiving on 26th September, we will be following our usual pattern of making a presentation to him. Envelopes are provided for those who wish to share in that – as a way of showing our appreciation for the work he has done in his time with us at Belhaven and Spott. Please return them to church or to the Manse at your convenience. We will make the presentation at Church on Sunday 26th – and there will be a chance to say personal farewells at the Soup and Sweet Lunch following the service..
Thanks to all who worked so hard to make the Fete such a success. Over £1900-- was raised. The 2010 Annual Report is available now in PDF format , by clicking here. A reminder that - Dunbar Grammar School has kindly offered us the opportunity to park each Sunday in the Car park at the school, thereby reducing congestion on the main road. Feel free to take up this kind offer. Copies of Laurence Twaddle’s new book, “Echoes” can be obtained from Grahame Jackson (869635), Barbara Richerby (830411) or Fiona Jones (864130). Proceeds from the sale are to be directed to the Dunbar Area Churches Youth Project. Price £6 per copy.
Bible Study Groups will meet on Tuesday morning at 10.00am in the Stables and on Wednesday evening at 8.00pm at he home of Chris & Margaret Cannon, Briarwood, Winterfield Place. All interested warmly welcome.
DAVID GRAY: OUR NEW PROBATIONER ASSISTANT. Belhaven l/w Spott (July 2009)
Left secondary school aged 18 aiming for university but didn’t get Higher results envisaged – the saving grace was that I had been considering courses in Civil Engineering or Quantity Surveying (rather than Architecture). What was I thinking about?!. Took position as a Trainee Architectural Technician with (the then) East Lothian District Council in 1983. Subsequently gained ONC and HNC qualifications at Telford and Napier College’s respectively. Also took opportunity to study (part-time) at The Mackintosh School of Art (Glasgow University) and gained a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. Stayed within Local Authority for seventeen years (surprisingly), during which I was fortunate to work with some incredibly talented individuals whilst being involved in a number of high profile building projects. This included having two building projects opened by the Queen!. With Local Government reorganisation in 1996 I transferred to a client management role which gave me experience of procurement whilst liaising with external consultants, public bodies, local councillors and internal departmental figures. In the midst of this I met my wife Andrena during 1986 and we were married in August 1990. We have since lived in Haddington from 1994 and became involved with Haddington West Church in 1997 - following many previous years of Christian involvement within independent churches. Our children were born relatively late (but in God’s good time) in 2001 and 2002 with Simon now aged seven and Danielle aged six. During 2000 a “tailor-made” career-move arose, giving me the opportunity to provide architectural assistance to CrossReach (and their estate of properties). This has ultimately become a God-given experience utilising my gifts and talents in the context of a Christian environment providing social care. Additionally, this has integrated me into the life and work of The Church of Scotland both via Charis House and 121 George Street. At the same time “doors of opportunity” have opened successively enabling me to serve and lead at local congregational and Presbytery levels. This, taken together with the amalgam of life experience led me to explore a call to ministry during 2005 which, in turn has taken me on a journey beyond the “security” of full-time employment to gain a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Edinburgh University. At the same time a variety of church placement experiences have also been gained at The Abbey Church (North Berwick), Athelstaneford & Whitekirk Parish Churches, Colinton Parish Church and at Richmond Craigmillar. A recent placement as part of the chaplaincy team at St. Columbas Hospice has also proved to be a moving but invaluable opportunity. To add to this I’ve just finished my “term” as President of The Church of Scotland Candidates Committee at New College. Of course all work and no play can make Jack (or David) a dull boy!. So, having passed the “BIG 40” I’m now exercising more via cycling, walking and badminton - supplemented by visits to the gym. Importantly I’m also interested in politics and social justice issues and support a number of charities in that field. I’m motivated and interested in the lives of those who have overcome great challenge and displayed significant courage to enable a “better society”. So, give me a good book about Churchill, Wilberforce, Martin Luther King or Mandela etc anytime!. Beyond that I’ve become convinced that the Church has tremendous untapped potential to be at the forefront of contemporary society (and community) as we all face new and significant challenges. And, most importantly I believe that the love of God requires to be made known in new and innovative ways in order to connect with new generations of people for whom faith may not currently be significant. |
Born on 29th November 1964. Childhood and teenage years spent in and around the “Honest Toun”. Schooling at Campie Primary and Musselburgh Grammar.