ChurchSuite
We are introducing ChurchSuite, an online platform, as a great way of communicating across the congregation, and also across sites when we get to the union.
What is it?
It’s a website (which can be used on computers, phones or tablets) and an app which you can download onto your smartphone or tablet, if you have one.
What is it for?
It allows you to check the information we hold about you on our member roll - so it’s up-to-date. It also allows you to sign up for rotas, and let the organiser know when you’re available, so they are well organised.
Why is the church using ChurchSuite?
We believe ChurchSuite offers us a better and more efficient way of communicating across the congregation (and also across sites once we enter the union with Craiglockhart, Polwarth and St Michael’s churches). Craiglockhart are already using it but not to the same extent and in a different way. It will be reasonably simple to merge the two when we get to that point.
We already have people signing up for things via the app (or website) and it is much easier to maintain a rota. Essentially the person in charge of the rota organises it and has permissions for that. People can give times when they are or are not available, or make swaps themselves, which makes it easier to keep things up-to-date.
The biggest benefit is that we no longer have to send out paper copies of the roll. Many were out of date before they were collected by elders and we know there are copies going back into the mists of time. We need to ensure that our information is current, and the previous method is no longer useful.
Do I have to use it?
No, if you prefer to continue using the paper roll form, that is absolutely fine. We just need you to contact the office by emailing Julie at: admin@barclayviewforth.org.uk
or speak to one of the Ministry team after a Sunday service so that you can check the information we have about you on our Church roll is correct.
I’ll use ChurchSuite, what would you like me to do?
Great, you can download a guide on how to sign up to and use ChurchSuite below (red button). Alternatively you can speak to the Minister, David, or any member of staff after a Sunday service to get help with it or email Julie at admin@barclayviewforth.org.uk
If you have any questions or concerns, they will be happy to help.
First, we need people to ensure that the information we hold is accurate. For that you either need to sign up and simply confirm that, or have a staff member or friend do that with you. There are some people for whom that would be enough because they are not on rotas or using technology for church purposes. That keeps the roll correct and we need to get as many as possible signed up.
Second, anyone who is on a rota will receive an email notice of their duty and can make changes to their availability etc. It has been a burden for our Administrator Julie to keep things up to date and this will ease that. The plan is that eventually most things will be on the ChurchSuite but we will still need paper sign-up sheets for a while yet.
Still not sure? Don’t worry, please contact Julie at the email address above or speak to one of the Ministry team after a Sunday service to ask any questions.
View the latest edition or subscribe to our weekly newsletter below.
Presbytery Mission Plan
Barclay Viewforth, Craiglockhart, Polwarth and St. Michael’s will be served by 2 FTMWS ministry posts and 1 OLM. These four congregations are working well together and will move towards a Union, structured as a Team Ministry as set out in the PMPA, as soon as practicable. They have committed to fulfil Christ’s commandment ‘to love God and your neighbour as yourself.’ They will thus offer worship in a variety of forms (Messy Church, dementia friendly), nurture discipleship in order to grow into fuller maturity in Christ’s likeness (Alpha Course, holiday club, Bible study) and reach out appropriately to the local community (student population, fighting isolation and supporting wellbeing). Each of these threads interlink in order to support and strengthen the Five Marks. Given their proximity and the size of the buildings, discussions and decisions will be required regarding those that should be retained and those that should be released.
Buildings: In light of a mission narrative that emphasises worship, discipleship and reaching out, maintaining four buildings may not be the best use of resources. Thus, it is proposed that all be designated ‘B’ at the moment and a decision regarding rationalisation be reached by 31 December 2024, leading to the release of buildings by 31 December 2025. The others can then, after an annual review, be designated ‘A’ as appropriate.
Use the button below to read the full plan.
Growing Young
COP26 Railing Display.
COP26 display of embroidered fabric leaves hanging on the railing outside the church building.
Our Creative Group have been beavering away creating the first layer of our COP26 railing display, now ready for you to see outside our church building! The first layer is made up of hand embroidered fabric leaves which represent some of the trees which are in danger of becoming extinct, such as Horse Chestnut and members of the Rowan family, among others. Each of the large leaves features a message written by members of the congregation about climate change and the beautiful world God made. Garlands of smaller leaves are woven through these beautiful and powerful messages, some of the most poignant of them written by the children.
If you would like to get involved, please email creative@barclayviewforth.org.uk
A big thank you to everyone who ‘lent a hand’ on our banner - those drawing round their hands, donating fabric or sewing it together. Recently the Creative Group asked the congregation to draw around their hands, these were transferred onto fabric and made into the BVC contribution to the ‘Art for the Planet’ banner being organised by the School of Divinity. Our section and other contributions were sewn together to create two huge banners which were displayed on the towers of New College on the Mound.
‘Each patch will ‘raise awareness of the Climate Emergency and the COP meeting in Glasgow; and be a faith-based statement of support for the COP26.’ - COP at New College.
For more information click the button below. (This will open a new tab showing the ‘Art for the Planet’ page on the COP at New College website).
Give The World A Shot.
Help UNICEF deliver 2 billion vaccines around the world.
We are thankful that the Covid-19 vaccine is provided to us in the UK and we want to help those in poorer countries get vaccinated too. The Creative Group have created a railings display to help spread the word.
Pentecost Display.
The BV Creative Group invited the congregation to help with the Pentecost display and the result was fantastic!
The Ministry team asked the Creative Group to create a display for the railings, using imagery of Holy Spirit as wind and fire, to celebrate Pentecost. To find out more about what Pentecost is, please see our blog (button at the end of the article). This is possibly the most collaborative project the group have done yet as some members knitted the smaller flames, some sewed flames together, some sewed the small flames to the giant felt flames while others created the ‘Wind Twirls’ or helped put up the display. There was a real sense of community as the collaboration didn’t end there! The group invited the congregation to create the ‘Wind Twirls’ too and, thanks to all the contributions, they were featured in the sanctuary too meaning those at home could see them in the live stream of the service.
So, what is a ‘Wind Twirl’? Great question! A Wind twirl is a circle of card cut into a spiral and pulled out to dangle in a long coil, so they move in the breeze. They were made in blue and grey card, then beautifully decorated with words and images relating to God and Holy Spirit. Thank you to everyone who got involved and all those who gave encouragement. The Creative Group is a drop-in group so even if you don’t have much time, we’d love you to join us. We have some on-going projects if you’d like something to pick up once in a while and we have a new project which we will be starting next week (but can be joined at any time). To find out more sign up to the church newsletter or contact creative@barclayviewforth.org.uk.
Sign-up to our mailing list to keep up with the latest news and updates.
Click the button below to open the form in a new browser window.