Newsletter 10 September 2021

NOTE:  Next week’s postal newsletter is likely to be delayed by a day or two. 

The following items this week:-     

     

Sunday Worship – face coverings (seated and singing) still required and advanced booking desirable.  

For those who have not booked, but still wish to attend, details can be collected at the door prior to the service.  

Future Ministry at Belhaven – ways to contribute to the debate 

Worship Group – an opportunity to help shape future worship 

Belhaven Toddlers Group – new group starting in September – helpers required 

Return of Launchpad – first meeting after summer break – 12 September 

Messy Church - Report 

Harvest Thanksgiving – Sunday 3 October 

Gift Day – advanced notice – Saturday 16 October 

Arts and Ecology Pilgrimage – events on Sunday 17 October 

Safe Families – call for volunteers to support families facing difficult times    

Please Remember Items – please note – a lot of our regular activities are now returning.     

  

SUNDAY WORSHIP:  The same message as before - wearing of face masks required both while seated and singing in Church, and Test and Protect contact details also required. The preferred approach is to book in advance e-mailing on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm on the Thursday prior to the Sunday in question.  Please give your name and a contact telephone number. If not able to e-mail please telephone 07484 897871 and leave a message – again with the same information and on the same timescale.However, there is usually space available in Church, so if you have not been able to book but would still like to attend the service, you can give these details to the stewards on the door. Please don’t be put off coming simply because you have not booked in advance – but remember a face mask!    

  

James Wildgoose 

 

FUTURE MINISTRY AT BELHAVEN:  A letter is being issued to all on the Church Roll explaining the Presbytery proposals for future ministry in the Dunbar area; some may have received this already.  The proposals are set in broad terms and there is flexibility to move forward in different ways.  That letter, as well as setting out the proposals, invites comments on the future ministry.  These can be registered in different ways as follows:- 

 

  • In-Person Meeting:  This is at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 September and will be in the Church Sanctuary (note this is a change – not the Church Hall as previously advertised).  If you would like to attend this meeting, please e-mail Maryclare on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone on 07484 897871 and leave a message. 
  • Zoom Meeting:  This is at 7.30pm on Monday 27 September.  The Zoom joining details are as follows:- 

    Join Zoom Meeting 

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83780699265?pwd=NmxuZDd0T1F5TWp3ay9BLzEzRWFUUT09 

    Meeting ID: 837 8069 9265 Passcode 172374 
  • In Writing:  Either e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send a letter addressed to Belhaven Session Clerk, 7 Westpoint, Dunbar EH42 1TL 
     

(If you do not receive a copy of the letter within the next two weeks and would like one, please e-mailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone on 07484 897871 to ask for one.) 

 

WORSHIP GROUP:  As we start a new ‘term’, the worship group is planning to relaunch: if you would like tohelp us review and reflect on how all things worship are going; to plan how we might do things in the future, this could be for you!  Worship is not simply singing hymns on a Sunday, although that is very much a part of it: our discussions can range from thinking about the whole shape of our services - the opportunities for involvement and creativity - to the nuts and bolts of how we make worship ‘happen’ (the sound desk; recording our services and so on). It’s a broad remit! Interested?  Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

BELHAVEN TODDLERS GROUP:  Kathryn Robertson is organising a new Toddlers Group at Belhaven – on a Tuesday morning (9.30-11.30am).  This is an excellent development offering the potential to continue the valuable work of the previous Toddler Group which finished some months before the pandemic.  However, to proceed, Kathryn needs help to run it, so she is looking for volunteers – either to come regularly on a Tuesday or to be on a rota. The help involves welcoming people at the door, taking names and money and preparing tea/coffee and snacks (including possibly contributions of home baking).  The Church is very keen to see this work going ahead – because it is undoubtedly a major contribution to the community and to the life of the Church.  The likelihood is that, if suitable help can be found, the Group will start sometime in September.  If you are interested to volunteer, please e-mail Kathryn on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

RETURN OF LAUNCHPAD:  Launchpad (the Sunday activity for primary age children meeting at the same time as the morning service) meets for the first time after the summer break this coming Sunday – 12 September.  It will be running fortnightly thereafter on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. On the other Sundays, busy bags will be available for children in Church  

 

The Launchpad leaders are looking for more volunteers to help.  This is an important area of Church life.  If you are interested to volunteer, or even find out more, please contact Kathryn Robertson onThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 

MESSY CHURCH – REPORT:  We held our Messy Church on Sunday and for the first time we were able to offer hospitality! This is a really important part of Messy Church and something we've all been missing. Dorothy and Olive did a wonderful job serving tea and coffee and plates of cake to very grateful families! Thanks too to Margaret Cannon and Dorothy Hilsley who provided cakes. 

 

image.png         image.png       image.png

 

Our theme was aptly - the feeding of the five thousand. Hazel and I helped the children make clay fish and decorated them. Chris did a great toast Frisbee quiz game. We enjoyed Alison telling us the story while we sat on blankets, munching on pitta bread. The weather was super and we are hoping to keep it outside for as long as we can! 

 

Twenty-five people came and they went round in groups (our max at the moment is 30) including three new families. It was great to chat to them all, and Rev Brian Hilsley, came along too and chatted to everyone. 

 

The next one will be on Sunday 3rd October. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (or phone Kathryn 07883 574254) for info or offers of help or baking! 

 

Kathryn Robertson 

  

HARVEST THANKSGIVING:  This is planned for Sunday 3 October.  Details on the nature of contributions to bring, and when to bring them, will be included in future newsletters. 

 

GIFT DAY:  As an advanced notice, the Church is planning a Gift Day on Saturday 16 October.  The aim is to have a gathering on that morning with tea/coffee/scones/cakes, subject to weather and restrictions, as an opportunity to meet and have a chat – as well as bringing your gift.  Further details will be included in future newsletters.   

  

ARTS AND ECOLOGY PILGRIMAGE:  The pilgrimage is setting off from Dunbar on Monday 18 October, via the John Muir Way, to the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow.  The Young Christians Climate Network is due to arrive in Dunbar overnight on Sunday 17 October, also on their way to COP26. On that evening soup will be provided for the “Pilgrims” and others at Belhaven Parish Church Hall at 6pm, before a talk by Alastair McIntosh there at 7pm.  Diana Greene is coordinating the supper (for a maximum of 60 due to the pandemic) and looking for volunteers to help with this.  She requires a small team to be at the Hall from 5pm to set up, serve soup, cake and coffee, and then clear up ready for the talk. Diana would also welcome any offers ofhome-baked cake – and/or any excess garden fruit that could be offered.  Please e-mail Diana Greene onThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help on the night or offer to supply cake/fruit. 

Also - Please let Diana know, at the same e-mail address, if you have a spare room you’d be willing to let a Pilgrim stay in that night.  

Ed: There are lots of other activities being planned on Sunday 17th October afternoon in Dunbar High St, St Anne’s, Lauderdale Park, Harbour and Battery to mark the launch of the Arts and Ecology Pilgrimage.  More information on these will be included in future newsletters. 

 

SAFE FAMILIES: “Do you have a heart for supporting families facing difficult times?  If so, we would love to hear from you.”  SF is an organisation which provides support to families through volunteers, partnering with local churches to do this; some from Belhaven are currently involved.  Different types and levels of support are envisaged, dependent on need.  SF are looking for new volunteers and to encourage this are planning two events – one an information night on Monday 13 September at 8pm over Zoom and the other an in-person training event on Saturday 25 September, 9.30am – 4pm.  If you are interested in either the contact details are as follows:- 

  

E-mail: scotland@safefamiles  or Telephone 0131 603 8430 to receive the links and details 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER    

  • House Group: This continues to meet fortnightly in the Stables. The next meeting is on Monday 20 September at 7.30pm.  The Group will be continuing with The Bible Course from the Bible Society.  For further information please contact Hazel Gray on  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 07870 849737 
  •  
  • Lazers (the Sunday activity for secondary age youngsters) continues to meet in the Stables every Sunday at the same time as the Sunday service. 
  •  
  • Messy Church meets monthly on the 1st Sunday of the month in the afternoon.   
  •  
  • Dunbar Basics Bank: Contributions of sugar, diluting juice, small jars of coffee and stock cubes would be appreciated.  Donation tubs are in Asda, McColls, and both Coop stores.  Please note that from 8 September the Parish Church Hall will only be open on a Wednesday between 9.30 and 2pm to receive donations. 

         

  James Wildgoose  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

© 2021 Belhaven Church. The Church of Scotland - Scottish Charity number SC011353

Mobile Menu