Intimations Week Commencing Sunday 3rd January 2021

 Intimations:

Rev. James Aitken is on holiday from 28^th December to 5^th January inclusive. Pastoral cover will be provided by Rev. Alistair Keil 339 4149.

The Church Office will be closed over the Christmas period and will reopen on Tuesday 5^th January.

We are now open for worship on Sundays.

Please phone 07399 950 204 on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 9:00am and 12:00.

The number of worshippers on a Sunday morning is limited to 20 by the Scottish Government, so there is a telephone booking system to ensure there is a place for you when you come to church on a Sunday morning.  Please use this number only, and not the church office number.  When you call, you will be asked for your name, the number of people in your party who share the same household as you do, and for your contact details.  If there is no answer, leave a message giving those details, and someone will call to confirm that you have a place.  If you wish, you can turn up on a Sunday morning without booking a place, but if you do so you may be advised that all places have been taken.  Our strong advice is to book.

If you would like to read during the service, and can video yourself doing so at home, let the minister know.

The congregation will learn with sadness of the death of Mrs Elma Cairns, Drum Brae South. Funeral arrangements are not yet in place. We remember her family and loved ones in our prayers.

The Rock Trust is appealing for continuing community support as it struggles to provide food for homeless young people in Edinburgh at this extremely challenging time. If you would like to help, you can make a donation at www.rocktrust.org/donate or you can send a cheque to Rock Trust, 55 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QY. 

Corstorphine Community Centre Food Bank

Corstorphine Community Centre is running an Emergency Food Bank to support people who find themselves without enough money to purchase food. They are now finding it difficult to obtain sufficient stock to meet the demand.

They are seeking packets of cereal, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, soup mix and stock cubes, packets of rice, tinned and packet deserts, and tinned fruit.

Donations should be taken to the Corstorphine Community Centre Hub (in St. Johns’ Road in the block once occupied by Woolworths) on Wednesday mornings 10am to 12 noon when the Hub is open with volunteers on duty to receive donations.  

It is important that donations are not left out with this time as they will not be used in case they have been contaminated.   

The Church Office has a list of places where people in need can obtain a meal without any form of referral. If you meet or know of someone who may need this help – please contact the office and I will send you the details. Gaynor 0131 316 4777.

RETURNING TO WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY AT ST. NINIAN’S

The Kirk Session has agreed to maintain the current 10:30am online Sunday morning worship service available on YouTube and Facebook as the principal act of worship at St. Ninian’s for the foreseeable future.

Permission has been obtained from the Presbytery of Edinburgh to reopen St. Ninian’s for an additional act of worship at 10:30am on Sunday mornings in line with guidance from the Scottish Government and the Church of Scotland. The current advice regarding the reopening of the sanctuary for worship is available on the Church of Scotland’s website here:

https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/resources/covid-19-coronavirus-advice

Under these guidelines:

• There will be a maximum of 20 people permitted in the building during worship. Worshippers will have to book a place at a service online or by telephone.
• Face coverings must be worn (unless you have an exemption), hands must be sanitised on entering and leaving the building, two metres social distancing must be maintained.
• All those in attendance will be required to leave their names and contact details.
• The service will be approximately thirty minutes long, there will be music, but no singing.
• There will be no Sunday School. Initially, children and young people should remain with their family group throughout the service, but further provision for children is expected to be made available at a future date.
• Toilet facilities will be available at the front door and in the east corridor.
• Entry will be through the front door.  A one-way system will lead worshippers into the sanctuary for worship, and then out through the east door.  Disabled access will be through the west door.
• Following the service there will be no tea and coffee fellowship.  Please disperse quickly maintaining appropriate social distancing while leaving the church grounds.  All other parts of the building will be out of bounds.

If you are shielding, in a ‘vulnerable’ group, or have health concerns, please consider your circumstances and whether or not you should attend.  To assist you in making your decision you may wish to refer to the Assessment Tool provided by the Church of Scotland here:

https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/68719/Appendix-4-060820.pdf

​YOU MUST NOT ATTEND IF:

• YOU HAVE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OR YOU ARE LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF COVID 19 OR,

• YOU ARE SELF ISOLATING OR,

• YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL.

Scottish Charity Number SC016557