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The churches in Leith work alongside the Management
at Ocean Terminal, which is the regional shopping centre. Working at Ocean Terminal provides an exciting opportunity
for the
church
to serve people and share God's goodness outside of its traditional
buildings and structures.
A big ‘THANK YOU’ to the LCT congregations who continue to make important financial contributions to the Ocean Terminal Project!
Without you, the Project would not have been able to continue after our funding from the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund (PDF) came to an end in the middle of last year!
With your help, the much appreciated Chaplaincy work with shop staff has been able to continue, albeit at a lower level due to a reduction in contracted hours being worked by the Project Coordinator, Nikki Macdonald.
BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT!
Nikki is presently continuing as our Project Coordinator up till Easter. Currently involved in training to be a Church of Scotland Minister, she has been able to include working at the Ocean Terminal at the reduced level of 10 hours per week, but can go on no further than Easter.
Currently Nikki is working on setting in place a basis for the Project to take forward an initiative which we are calling a “Film & Faith Group” This we plan to
develop as one possible ‘way-in’ to developing a Christian worshipping group involving people who are searching but have not found their spiritual home within the traditional churches.
In order to start the ‘Film & Faith’ group Nikki is now looking for volunteers from the LCT congregations to form an initial core group of about 8 -12 people. The group would start by meeting either in a house or a church hall to view a DVD of a film and then share together discussing issues raised by the film, within a Christian perspective. Please contact Nikki with names of people in your church who would be interested in being part of this group.
In addition Nikki is keen to secure the services of a team of volunteers from the congregations in LCT to continue the running of monthly stalls at the Main entrance to the Ocean Terminal. This activity raises the profile of LCT and allows the public to engage with current issues and support both local and international charities. Please contact Nikki with names of volunteers who would be interested in finding out more and getting involved on a rota basis.
We are indebted to Nikki for her work with the Project. Her input into helping staff at the shopping mall has been much appreciated and her friendly and approachable style has greatly helped to establish and maintain the high level of respect and goodwill which the Project enjoys with the Ocean Terminal Management.
Under her guidance the Mall Walking initiative was developed to include themed walks with historical and religious emphases as well as annually involving Christian Aid, Alzheimer’s Scotland and other charity groups. Monthly stalls highlighting a varied spectrum of themes and charities, have also become a regular feature.
Looking to the Future:
Over the period since I took up the Chair of the Ocean Terminal Project Management Committee we have been looking to the future aware that PDF funding was coming to an end. In addition thoughts were also moving in the direction of expanding the scope of the Project to include the new housing in the area and also the incipient Leith Dock Housing Developments.
With this in mind I along with Rev Ian Gilmour, Minister of South Leith Parish Church, have taken steps to explore securing funding from the Emerging Ministries Fund – a new initiative from the Church of Scotland Ministries Council. We have submitted an application for funding to support the appointment of a ‘Church Outreach Worker’
We envisage this person exploring and enabling the formation of a Christian worshipping group from among those who are and will be living in and frequenting the developing areas around the Ocean Terminal and within the Leith dock area.
I include an extract from the Job Description which has been put forward for this post.
Summary of Main Responsibilities
1.1 In association with the Ocean Terminal Project Management Committee to identify creative ways to encourage Christian outreach and build community beyond the traditional church structures.
1.2 Seek to establish a new congregation within the Leith Dock area. This ecumenical Christian community will most likely be of a non-traditional style and will emerge from new patterns. For example the establishment of a Film & Faith Group in the Ocean Terminal shopping complex.
1.3 To encourage church personnel and parishioners to be more active, as volunteers, in the outreach activities within the Project.
1.4 To promote the aims of the Project and the Leith Churches Together(LCT) by actively offering to meet regularly with member congregations and groups.
1.5. To liaise with management staff at the Ocean Terminal, promoting the role of LCT within the mall environment to staff and shoppers alike and offering a chaplaincy service to shop staff
We await a response from the EMF Task Group regarding our funding application.
As Chair of the Project Management Committee I send you the good wishes of all involved with the OT Project and pray that you and your congregation will be encouraged and inspired by what you have read and will be willing to continue to support our unique and special project, which we share together and which gives light and hope for the future of Christ’s Church in Leith and beyond.
With warm regards and wishing you God’s rich blessing.
John M.Tait
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