VISION
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
To be missionally effective we need a clear focus ( Vision ) and our focus is on the needs of seniors and the needs of children, aligning ourselves with the missional call to care for “widows and orphans” in their distress.
Identified Needs among our Seniors
The Need to be connected
- Tap-Into-It Funded by TOR
Lockdown propelled us into the world of digital technology and into the lap of Tap-Into-It, an Award Winning Charity that trains and mentors volunteers to help the elderly frail overcome isolation through virtual media and pastoral support. We envisage having 30 people connecting over a 3 year period.
The Need for a Place to Meet, Greet, and Eat
- Kindness Kafe, Lunch Club Funded by TOR
Staffed by a Team of volunteers, appointed by the Kirk Session and supported by the Guild, and funded by a TOR Christian Foundation Start Up grant, the Lunch Club runs fortnightly on Tuesdays from 12noon to 2pm and is open to those who feel the need for warm food and social connection. The Guild provides an opening devotion and encourages attendance at its meetings.
The Need to Consider How We Depart this Life and the impact on our children and grandchildren
- EDATH – The Elephant in the Room of Every Life.
EDATH (DEATH) is a Preparation for Dying Course that was written along with members of Slateford Longstone and is based on Dr Joanna Collicutt’s Well Prepared Course ( Oxford Diocese ) and adapted to make it accessible and relatable. Using humour, video clips, group work, crafts, professional input, reflections, insights from Near Death Experiences, Shared Death Experiences and Scripture it offers a strong basis for real Hope in a therapeutic environment that functions at various levels.