Inverleith St Serf's Church

03/06/2026

Wednesday Reflection
Let there be light.

Sunday was Trinity Sunday when we think about God, three persons in one; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Artists throughout the ages since this idea developed have painted representations, religious writers have looked for ways of explaining this in words, and hymn writers have used poetry in song to paint word pictures for our understanding of something which is bigger than our minds can visualise.
One of our hymns was 111 in CH4 with these words:-

God, whose almighty word chaos and darkness heard, and took their flight; let there be light.

Saviour, who came to bring healing and sight, health to the sick in mind, sight to the inly blind, now to all humankind let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy dove, speed forth your flight; and in earth’s darkest place let there be light.

The hand of God encircles us:
God of our beginnings holding us firm

The feet of Christ walk before us:
God of our journeying showing us the way

The wings of the Spirit lift us up
God who is our company, our energy, our joy.

( Words written by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, DMM's book, Liturgies for the Journey of Life, published by SPCK in 2000)

29/05/2026

Next Saturday 6th we are having a plant sale and coffee morning.
Tea room tickets by donation.
Entry is at the Church Centre door on Clark Road.

27/05/2026

Wednesday Reflection

The Birth-day of the Church; Acts ch 2 vs 1 - 17

On this special Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after Jesus left them to ascend into heaven.
The disciples whose lives were already turned upside down by all that had happened in the last month or so.
And now their lives were completely changed, as they were filled with the Holy Spirit, went out to the world and the Church on earth really began.
What marks us out as disciples in whom the Holy Spirit works?
What binds us together as one body, each of us with our different gifts?

I Corinthians ch.13 tells us that gifts alone are not enough.
“I may have all sorts of gifts; prophecy, and knowledge, faith to do marvelous things, give all I have away, but if I have no love then I am none the better”

A prayer from the Early Birds Service for Pentecost
as the children lit candles on a birthday cake for the Church’s birthday.
God of all, you sent your Spirit
to be with the disciples,
filling them with joy, peace and courage.
May we also be filled with your Spirit,
be brave and share your love in our world.

As the burning candles on a birthday cake remind us, we are each distinct but, with the Holy Spirit lighting each of us, we become a celebration of God at work in the world.

Our sung blessing.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove.
Teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.

20/05/2026

This is the YouTube link to the evening talk last Sunday from Urzula Glienecke about the role of women in the Church.

https://youtu.be/rhg-PntiBUQ

Subtitles can be found by tapping on the picture then tapping the key at the top with cc on it.

Nyd de videoer og den musik, du holder af, upload originalt indhold, og del det hele med venner, familie og verden på YouTube.

20/05/2026

Wednesday Reflection

What is the church and what is it for?

This week we discussed this question with each other; appropriate on this Sunday when we think again about the beginnings of the church; appropriate on this Sunday when we remember the Ascension of Christ and the disciples who were about to see Jesus leave for the second time in a few weeks; the sorrow at his death, the amazement and growing joy at his resurrection and now he was going back to his father in heaven.
This time though it was different, they would not be alone.
Jesus told them
“ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and all over Judaea and Samaria, and away to the ends of the earth.”

They would have Power to fuel the Plan for the future. A plan to start close at home, then further out into the areas around and then on into the whole world.

As hymn 522 in CH4 puts it, ‘The church is wherever God’s people are praising, knowing they’re wanted and loved by their Lord. The church is wherever Christ’s followers are trying to live and to share out the good news of God.’

13/05/2026

Wednesday Reflection

Creation spreads its springtime bloom; Life bursts like flame from death’s cold tomb.

Words in a verse of an Easter hymn (420 in CH4) we started our service with last Sunday.
A few weeks ago at the start of Lent we spoke of the ‘little springtimes’ of our lives, those moments that light up our path and help us to see God more clearly; the moments that give us courage to continue on the journey set before us.
So easy to look down at our feet, looking for the pot holes and stumbling places and not lift our eyes to see the view in front of us.

Then this hymn reminds us that at Easter we celebrate the biggest springtime of all, Christ’s resurrection. New life bursting out and changing everything.

12/05/2026

A reminder about this concert which we are hosting on Friday

07/05/2026

A reminder about the Coffee House on Friday with all proceeds going to Christian Aid

06/05/2026

Wednesday Reflection
This Christian Aid Week which starts on Friday features mothers in Nairobi, Kenya, facing the devastating reality of urban poverty and the daily struggle to feed their children.

The spotlight story for this year's Christian Aid Week appeal is Fridah, a mother and grandmother living in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.
Most parents wake every single day knowing that they must go and earn money, otherwise their children won’t eat that evening. Fridah knows this reality well. But she's determined to protect her grandchildren from hunger.
With support from Christian Aid's partner, Beacon of Hope, Fridah is growing vegetables in planters and small plots of land between dwellings. This unlikely harvest allows her to increase her family's nutrition, and to sell vegetables at market for extra income. Fridah uses those funds to send her children and grandchildren to school, in hope that an education will help them succeed in life, and break the cycle of poverty that she has experienced.

‘Now I can plan. I can buy this; I can buy that. I can help my family.’
https://caw.christianaid.org.uk/uk/about/what-christian-aid-week/growing-hope-small-city-space

A prayer from Christian Aid
Gracious God,
when we stand on the plains of uncertainty,
with no path before us,
we look to you.
We remember what you have done before
and our anxious hearts are comforted.
Showing mercy, you delivered us then;
in your love and faithfulness,
you will do it again.
Give us the strength to step forward in hope.
Give us faith that changes us,
hope that feeds us,
love that moves us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

29/04/2026

Wednesday Reflection

“The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside the waters of peace; he renews life within me, and for his name’s sake he guides me in the right path,”

We read together the words of Psalm 23 on Sunday. One of the best known psalms and read on many different occasions. Familiar, carrying many memories of occasions we have heard it yet still with new insights and deeper meanings; for each of us individually through our own life journey; as families through the growing of the generations; as a church through the pilgrimage from the past to the future.

It starts with this affirmation of faith in our God, guiding, leading and renewing, this is what we believe, especially at those high moments of faith.
But the psalm changes from speaking of God as ‘he’, telling others about what we believe, to addressing God personally and directly as we live our actual journey through life day by day.

Even though I walk through a valley as dark as death I fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff are my comfort.

You spread a table for me ….
you anoint my head with oil ….

This psalm fits here in the celebration of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection since it is the message of Easter that gives us the confidence to know this to be true.

An older prayer, often used for children, that many of us who are further along the path of life may well remember;

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me;
Bless Your little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness please be near me;
Watch my sleep till morning light.
All this day Your hand has led me,
And I thank You for Your care;
You have clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.