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Mission and Discipleship Council

Church of Scotland emblem

RESOURCES

On this page you can find our about:
Mission and Discipleship Highland Consultation Report
Mission and Discipleship E-news
Cairngorms Christian Centre, Kincraig
You're an Angel
Holy Communion Essays
Holy Communion Symposium Speeches
Seeing the World as Others see it
Office of Session Clerk booklet
Webcast highlights of the Rural Church Conference
Art 4 God Project
Archived Investigate - Luke through Lent resources
Relations With Other Faiths
Highland newsletter - Lengthen and Strengthen
Hope 08

Mission and Discipleship Highland Consultation Report - April 2007

The Mission and Discipleship Council arranged a Highland Consultation in Stornoway in April 2007. A report on the gathering can be downloaded here:

Highland Consultation Report April 2007


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Mission and Discipleship E-News

You can download the popular Mission and Discipleship E-news publication here which offers a vast array of information and contact details for those involved in mission and discipleship including conferences and events, resources and trusts details.

This download is available in Word [.doc], rich text [.rtf] and text only [.txt] formats.

Download the latest issues of E-news:

August 2008  
July 2008  

If you would like to receive E-news directly from the council as soon as it becomes available, email Sheila Reeves to be added to our distribution list. In order to satisfy data protection legislation, by emailing us you agree to the following:

"I consent to the central agencies of the Church of Scotland holding my name and email address and processing this information for the purposes of contacting me from time to time about the work of the Church. This information will only be used for church-related matters, and will not be passed to any outside individual or agency."

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Cairngorms Christian Centre, Kincraig

The Mission and Discipleship Council owns an outdoor centre in Speyside which is ideal for retreats and for youth group weekends. Opened in 1976, it has been operated since April 2007 by a group of local Christians from local congregations. Full details can be found on the Centre's website which will open in another browser, and enquiries regarding bookings can be done by clicking here or on 01540 651373.

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Evangelism resource: You're an Angel

You're an Angel, book cover You're An Angel: Being Yourself and Sharing Your Faith has been written by the Rev Peter Neilson and regional development officer David Currie.
A best-seller, the book provides a guide to "being yourself and sharing your faith". Peter and David have practical experience of working within a Scottish context and in this book they share their ideas on evangelism, which are helpful and adaptable.

Reviews

"Peter and David have written a marvellously encouraging, reassuring and above all honest account of Christian witnessing today. It's honest, and so it's full of hope. Because these guys understand that when it comes to evangelism, Christians have nothing to fear but fear itself. Be an angel, and read it!"
The Rev Paul Bayes, national mission and evangelism adviser, Archbishops' Council, Church of England

"You're an Angel will be an answer to prayer for any Church looking for resources that will both encourage and equip members to share their faith in everyday situations. It is theologically well grounded and deeply rooted in the authors' own experience of God, and presents an honest picture of the challenges as well as the opportunities offered by a post-modern generation."
John Drane, author of The McDonaldization of the Church and Do Christians know how to be Spiritual?

"As we struggle with the great commission in this Post Modern age, there will be a corporate sigh of relief from all who read this book. David and Peter, through their own rich and diverse experiences and naked honesty, have given us permission to express our own feelings of doubt and inadequacy as evangelists. The theme of God's love for us, and of His desire that we 'be ourselves' as we reach out, is reiterated throughout and this, alongside practical and applicable strategies for bringing our faith to the world outside our churches, should greatly encourage and equip us to 'be an angel' wherever God has placed us."
Fiona Marks, Alpha Scotland director

How to purchase a copy

You can buy your copy of You're an Angel, published by Covenanters Press, on Amazon priced at £11.95.

Please note that this link will take you out of the Church of Scotland website and open a new browser window.

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Holy Communion
Here, some people share from their particular
perspective and experience, some thoughts on aspects of Holy Communion which have contributed to the under-standing of the Task Group on Worship and Doctrine. The ideas here are offered to promote thought and understanding of an important aspect of our worship life together.

Holy Communion and the Renewal of the Church
by Rev Peter Donald


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Intercessions and More
by Rev Peter Donald


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The Tradition of the Lord's Supper
by Rev Peter Donald


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A reflection: on the implications for the celebrant and community when children are present at Communion
By Rev Roddy Hamilton


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Narrative of the Institution
by Rev Roddy Hamilton


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Not Sedatives but Steroids
by Rev Laurence Whitley


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Holy Communion Symposium Speeches
The following speeches were part of the recent Symposium on Holy Communion and the Renewal of the Church, held in Dunblane in September 2007.

"Communion: Beyond Common Order" by Rev Roddy Hamilton


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"In this Sacrament the whole of what our religion means is expressed" by Rev Alan Falconer


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"We will take what you offer: Communion as a Counter-Cultural Act" by Rev Muriel Pearson


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Seeing the World as Others see it

This resource has been produced to accompany the report from the Worship and Doctrine Task Group's working group on same sex relationships that was considered by the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in May 2007. Click here for the "Resourcing Churches" website, which will open in another browser. You will be able to download the document, Sexuality Resource, in colour or black and white.

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The Office of Session Clerk: booklet

The full Office of Session Clerk booklet, written by A. Gordon McGillivray, is available to download on our extranet site, which hosts an array of resources and information for those already familiar with the Church, such as staff, office bearers and those in the ministries.
Extranet site icon and link to download Click here to go to our extranet site and download this booklet.

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Webcast highlights of the Rural Church Conference, November 2006

You can listen to the highlights from this year's Rural Church Conference, held from Friday 3 to Saturday 4 November, now! To find out more, click here.

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Art 4 God Project

Art 4 God is a partnership project between the Mission and Discipleship Council and artist Fiona Campbell. The project looks at the use of images in the worship and mission of the Church. Art 4 God Project logo
Visit our dedicated Art 4 God Project pages on our extranet site to download a range of resources and take part in our questionnaire to help shape worship resources for the future.
Extranet site icon and link to download Click here to go to our extranet site and find out more about the Art 4 God Project.

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent resources

What will you say to those who suggest that the Church is boring, irrelevant with nothing to say in a world dominated by the internet, emails, mobile phones, MP3 players, multiplex cinemas and satellite television? During Lent this year the Mission and Discipleship Council will release a series of seven sermons with accompanying powerpoint presentations which will seek to assist congregations to consider in detail the message of Luke’s Gospel in the context of Sunday worship. These are available to download below.
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Worship material for the 21st century
The series is entitled Investigate – Luke throughout Lent and will be contemporary in its application while remaining faithful to the Gospel’s primary purpose of exposing individuals to the transforming love of Christ.

The idea behind this initiative is to help resource colleagues involved in parish ministry by providing material which will seek to teach Luke’s Gospel with an evangelistic edge to it.

Sunday 25 February begins Lent when we will look at the calling of the first disciples (Luke 5:1-11) and will finish on Easter Sunday, 8 April, by looking at the transformation of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). The presentations provide a visual dynamic to the teaching aspect of this series. Included with this material is a brief explanatory section which will introduce you to what we are seeking to achieve.

Our prayers for this series is that God will graciously open up the hearts of those who are listening to the Gospel while deepening the faith of those who are seeking to follow Him each day.

Investigate - Luke through Lent printed material

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Introduction guide (should be used alongside the sermon material)

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First Sunday in Lent sermon

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Second Sunday in Lent sermon

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Third Sunday in Lent sermon

Fourth Sunday in Lent sermon

Fifth Sunday in Lent sermon

Sixth Sunday in Lent sermon

Last Sunday in Lent sermon


Accompanying powerpoint presentations

Investigate – Luke throughout Lent: first Sunday in Lent

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent: second Sunday in Lent

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent: third Sunday in Lent

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent: fourth Sunday in Lent

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent:
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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent:
sixth Sunday in Lent

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Investigate – Luke throughout Lent:
last Sunday in Lent

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Relations With Other Faiths

The Mission and Discipleship Council's Inter-Faith Support Worker, Iain Stewart, writes a monthly newsletter, giving information on different religions and events worth visiting. Click here to download the newsletters.

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Highland Newsletter - Lengthen and Strengthen

The Mission and Discipleship Council's Regional Development Officer, Steve Aisthorpe, is based at the Council's Inverness office. Steve writes a quarterly newsletter with information predominantly for his remit of the Highland area. The newsletters give various information, as well as event dates and reading recommendations. Click here to download the newsletters.

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Hope 08 Scotland

Hope 08 provides churches of all shapes and sizes throughout the UK with a fresh opportunity to work together across their communities over a twelve month period. It is relevant for urban or rural churches, irrespective of tradition. David Currie, Regional Development Officer of the Mission and Discipleship Council, is the Scottish contact for Hope 08 Scotland in his capacity as National Mission Consultant for the church. Click here for a link to the Hope 08 website.

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In this section

Introduction
Welcome to the Mission and Discipleship Council pages

Education and nurture
Adult Christian education, children and youth ministry, training and special needs

Mission and evangelism
Supporting mission and evangelism work and encouraging new initiatives

Publishing
Responsibility for Saint Andrew Press, Ministers Forum and the financial management of Life & Work magazine

Regional development team
First point of contact for local congregations for all areas of the council's work

Worship and doctrine
Discusses and resources faith, worship and doctrine issues

Church art and architecture
Helping to safeguard the Church's art and architecture

Rural Strategy Team
Affirming, supporting and resourcing rural churches

News and events
The latest updates from the council

Resources
A range of information and resources to download

Contact us
How to get in touch with the council and our staff

 

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