St John the Evangelist

Prayer at Night – Starting on the First Sunday of Advent

We have started online Prayer at night to coincide with the beginning of Advent next Sunday 28 November. This will be on Zoom each night through the winter months until Easter, 17 April 2022. The prayer will start at 9.15pm each evening and last for less than 15 minutes.

This is an initiative of our two parishes, St John’s and St Mary Magdalene’s, however because it is online it is also accessible for people wherever they are - and all are very welcome. For ease, the Zoom link will be the same each evening:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9129622900?pwd=b1F1THhtY3NVeGptOWY0VGw2K2xBQT09

Meeting ID: 912 962 2900 Passcode: Prayer

We will include the link in the parish Newsletter each week and it will also be on the Facebook page. If you need help in using Zoom to join the prayer, Deacon Eddie or Enrico Fertini will be very happy to help.

UPDATE ON ST JOHN’S TOWER…

AND EXCITING NEWS ABOUT GRANTS

Gary Zoltie, Chair of St John’s Finance Council, writes: ‘There have been a couple of timing issues to the project due to both delays in fully erecting the scaffolding and a shortage of availability of qualified stonemasons. However we appear to be back on track now and work is able to continue to a higher level on the tower.

In terms of contract expenditure, we have paid out £130,596 to LTM the contractor and Adams Napier the surveyors, who are project managing the project for us, and we have reclaimed VAT of £9,412 so there has been a net expenditure of £121,184 and we are therefore around 35% of the way through the project budget of £352,000.

We are very happy and excited to announce that we have secured three different grants to support us with the project costs. We will receive just under

£160,000 from Historic Environment Scotland,

£30,000 from a Cornerstone grant from the National Churches Trust and a further

£10,000 from The Wolfson Trust.

This totals £200,000 of grant income which we did not budget for. This means that we will not have to borrow any funds from the Archdiocese apart from possible bridging finance to cover short term cashflow deficits.

Having said that, whilst we will end the project with no debt, our bank account reserves will have been drained so the focus of our fundraising moves from repaying the loan to building our bank account level back to a reasonable level of buffer in the event of other unexpected maintenance costs.

It is possible to donate to the Tower Fund via Apple Pay, Google Pay as well as with credit / debit cards.

Donations of any value can be single or recurring. There is also a Gift Aid option on the donations page for taxpayers, increasing any donation by 25%.

The URL links and its associated QR code are included here for your information. Please share them with family and friends! The URL links are available on the parish website and Facebook page. Look out for the QR code around the perimeter of the church building!

https://tinyurl.com/STJTOWER

You can still donate by placing cash in an envelope and dropping off at the Parish house or by bank transfer to sort code 80-46-53, account number 10765768, account name St Johns Church. In both cases, please mark as “Tower Fund”.

Alternatively, why not give the Tower Tombola a go. For a monthly payment of £10 you have a chance to win over £250.

……and there is a New Donation Option for the Tower Fund.

We now have an online donation function for those who prefer this as a method to contribute to our Tower fund-raising efforts.

It is now possible to donate to the Tower Fund via Apple Pay, Google Pay as well as with credit / debit cards. Donations of any value can be single or recurring. There is also a Gift Aid option on the donations page for taxpayers, increasing any donation by 25%. Our new online donation function is within the Archdiocesan ‘MyGivingHub’ arrangements, with payments directed to St John’s Tower Project.

The URL links and its associated QR code are included here for your information. Please share them with family and friends! The URL links will be available on the parish website and Facebook page. Look out for the QR code around the perimeter of the church building!

Thank you, in anticipation, for your continued generosity

https://tinyurl.com/STJTOWER

Update 30 July 2021:

View from the dizzy heights of the St John’s Tower, as work progresses ...

The Work Commenced on St John’s Church Tower (update - 8 July 2021)

Chris Vinestock, St John’s Fabric Co-ordinator, writes: ‘As we can see, the scaffolding continues to be erected, despite the inclement weather, and will probably require another 2 weeks to be completed. In the meantime, the stone mason has been working on the stonework on the lower areas of the church, in preparation for the re-application of the pointing. Your patience is greatly appreciated as at times there may be unavoidable noise – which is why Mass will normally be held at St Mary Magdalene’s during these weeks. Heartfelt thanks for your help and support during this necessary structural work – and please pray for the safety of all involved.’

A MAJOR NEW FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE – TOWER TOMBOLA!

Tickets for this draw cost £10 each and can be purchased on an individual basis or in groups of two or more people. The prize will be 25% of the prize pot with the other 75% of the prize pot going towards the Tower Fund – so for example, if we sell 100 tickets, the prize will be £250 while £750 will go to the fund.

Tickets can be purchased monthly or, if preferred, 6 months or 12 months in advance, and payment can be in cash, standing order or a bank transfer. We have sent out an information leaflet with all the relevant details to each household in St John’s – and to any St Mary Magdalene’s parishioner who would like to receive it. The plan is to have the monthly draw on the second Saturday of each month, with the first one being on

Saturday 14 August 2021

Please contact Catherine Mc Anenny (07968970159) if you would like to take part.

AN INVITATION TO CONSIDER COMING BACK TO MASS IN CHURCH

(12 June 2021)

Fr Jock writes: ‘This week we return to ‘Ordinary Time’ in the Church’s Year: and perhaps it’s an opportunity to encourage those who haven’t been to Mass since lockdown began to consider coming back to one (or both!) of our churches. We’re aware COVID 19 is still active in Edinburgh and many people are understandably still a bit nervous. We certainly don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable, but we’re continuing to do our very best to keep everybody safe (through regular sanitising and social distancing etc).

However, if I’m honest, I’ll admit to a growing concern that without such encouragement and invitation, more than a few parishioners (and families) will end up drifting away from our community and the nourishment that keeps faith alive – and, I believe, if that were to happen, both we and they lose out…one of the real bonuses of being an active Catholic Christian is belonging to a warm and diverse community where we can support each other in the joys and sorrows of everyday life, and help one another in our rather secular world to continue to try to embrace and live the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you’re thinking of coming back to Mass, please be assured the warmest of welcomes awaits you… Likewise if you want to have a chat about anything that might be worrying you or holding you back from doing so, please do make contact.

PS If you’re worried about joining us on a Sunday, do consider coming on a weekday when there are fewer people and there’s no need to book in advance).

PPS Do show this to anyone who might appreciate this….

St John’s Church Tower (4 June 2021)

Chris Vinestock, St John’s Fabric Co-ordinator, writes: ‘We are very pleased to announce that repair works on St John’s Church Tower and the surrounding areas will start on be Monday week, 14 June.

The works will continue throughout the summer until mid-October.

During this work, the church will be open for Mass and other Services as per normal. However, your patience will be greatly appreciated as at times there may be unavoidable noise.

Please note that the bells will be silenced for the duration of the work.

Heartful thanks for your help and support during this necessary structural work.’

OUR MONTHLY TOWER UPDATE (30 May 2021)

Gary Zoltie, Chair of St John’s Finance Council writes: "After 18 months of planning, work commences on the church building on Monday 7th of June.

Thank you very much for the continuing donations you have made for the Tower Fund, we have received a further £2,413 since last month, predominantly from the two fundraising events, the sponsorship of school dresses and the treasure hunt. A reminder that the total project cost is £352,000 and we have started with £202,000 in the bank so we have a target to raise of £150,000. In the first six months since we launched the project we have made a wonderful start as the fundraising efforts have raised around £6,000 and we have now received donations totalling £32,500.

Whilst we have secured a loan from the Archdiocese for the full £150,000, all funds raised will reduce the amount that we will need to borrow. We have applied for grants from both Historic Environment Scotland and The National Churches Trust but we still do not know yet whether these applications will be successful.

It is worth noting that the fundraising effort is being done to mitigate the large loan but the project will use up all of our existing funds and there is still a long list of other maintenance works required not only in the church building but also the hall and Parish house. It is therefore imperative that the fundraising is well supported, and your kind donations continue.

I can be contacted via the Parish House if you have any questions in relation to the project itself or how best to donate. This weekend brings news of our main initiative for the coming months – Tower Tumbola (see newsletter) and another second collection for the tower fund - you can still donate by placing cash in an envelope and dropping off at the Parish house or by bank transfer to

sort code 80-46-53

account number 10765768

account name St Johns Church

In both cases please mark as “Tower Fund”. Thank you"

CHANGES TO REGULATIONS FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP

(from 17 May 2021)

For the latest comprehensive guidance, please follow this link: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for the safe use of places of worship - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

There are a number of changes affecting places of worship which are too many to record in one document and so the link above should be accessed for full information. The more significant points are listed below.

Capacity

• Children, regardless of their age, who need their own seat are to be counted towards the maximum capacity of the Church.

• The maximum capacity of the Church and any halls used to increase the numbers attending Mass should be posted on signage outside the buildings.

Test & Protect

• The Government is now describing the collection of contact information as voluntary for places of worship but is asking for co-operation in the practice to assist contact-tracing.

• The information collected should now be for each attendee, not just a lead contact.

Music

• Congregational singing and playing of wind instruments are still not permitted.

Other Uses

• Church Halls may now be used for a number of different activities. There is not one set of guidelines for the use of halls but the guidelines for each and every different activity must be followed.

• The general advice is that groups should continue to meet online where possible, but in limited circumstances, they can go ahead.

• Ensure you receive a comprehensive risk assessment from any group wanting to use the hall and ensure there is clarity about who is responsible for the cleaning after a group leaves the venue.

Hospitality

• This is now permitted within places of worship but with several restrictions and the hospitality sector guidelines must be followed: Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

• Places of worship are not eligible to reduce physical distancing to 1m.

• Capacity is restricted to 6 people from 3 households (from 17 May).

• Collection of contact details is mandatory.

• Only table service is permitted.

• Face coverings must be worn by all whilst entering, exiting or moving within the premises. They may be removed whilst seated and eating/drinking.

• Socialising between tables is not permitted.