Welcome to St Mungo's
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Mission Statement
Seeking to be
open and
welcoming
to all actively
growing in faith
Our Minister
Ever since our minister, Rev Sang Yoon Cha, came to us in 2011 we have been on a wonderful adventure together. During this time we have faced many challenges and changes. We have had major building work done, adaptations to the inside of our building and the introduction of some different types of services. We have lost old friends and gained new. We are currently facing what is possibly our biggest challenge since he arrived – Covid 19 – but with Sang’s help support and guidance we will see this through and be stronger together.
Sang’s message for week beginning 31 May 2020 is now available on the About Us page. Just click on the Message from our Minister box.
Get Involved
In normal times, there are lots of ways you can get involved in the church, it’s not all about the Sunday service. You could join the Guild – it is open to all. You could volunteer to help with the after church coffees, Wednesday coffees or the Café. Volunteers to help with the café will be welcomed when the Church reopens and the Cafe is finally able to open, You could attend the events organised by the Church throughout the year.
However, at this time, all of these things are on hold but you can keep in touch with members who are isolated – a phone call or text shows them that they are not forgotten.
Every Sunday, there is an order of service on the Church’s Facebook page with a reading and prayer by two members of the congregation, and a sermon from Sang, our minister. There are links to hymns on YouTube so that you can join in singing or just listen and Islay, our organist, plays various pieces to allow for quiet reflection.
Despite the fact that the Church building is closed, the work of the church is still continuing and there are still expenses to be covered so please help if you can. You can either fill your envelope each week ready for when we can have services in Church again or if you would like to set up a Standing Order or give a donation please get in touch using the email addressconnect@alloastmungos.org and we will be happy to give you more information.
A joint call from Scottish Churches, of all denominations, has been made for people to join together at 7 pm on a Sunday. Further information and this week’s prayer can be found on the What’s On page. Please join in.
What We Offer
As well as the services which include baptisms, weddings and funerals, we offer fun, friendship and fellowship.
As we are unable to hold our normal Sunday services at the moment, St Mungo’s has posted an alternative on our Facebook page. Please click on the Facebook tab above and join us in our alternative service.
The Order of Service for 31 May, along with links to the sermon, prayer, Bible reading and music for reflection for those who don’t access Facebook, can be found on the What’s On page. Just click on the tab above and scroll down to below the calendar.
Ways to Support the Church Financially
Apart from the routine way of donating money, if you were to
use “Easyfundraising” then the church benefits without it
costing you any more.
News from 121
This week, the world has been shocked by the violence and unrest which is happening in the USA. We are sure that everyone in the Church is praying for peace and healing in these difficult times. Our Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Fair, has spoken out on the violence currently being experienced in the USA. Read what he says by following this link.
The Guild continues to produce its weekly newsletter. The current edition has information about the June Guild challenge as well as a Life and Work coronavirus diary from one of our overseas partners and some beautiful photographs.
https://mailchi.mp/churchofscotland/guild-news-12523319?e=b6ff4e6724
The Church nationally has a group who meet regularly to develop guidelines for Churches which will help them to prepare to reopen safely when conditions permit. Let us hope and pray that we will be able to meet in person in St Mungo’s in the not too far distant future when the time is right.
Free Access to Life and Work
Life and Work is the monthly magazine of the Church of Scotland and is available in normal circumstances to those who have subscribed.
However, during this challenging period, Life and Work, which has interesting articles about the life and work of the Church and Guild in general and local churches and guilds in particular, has taken the decision to make the May 2020 issue available on its website. This can be accessed by visiting https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/free-download-may-2020.
Usually the May edition would contain details of the timetable of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which meets each May but, since the General Assembly has been cancelled for 2020, it will be a slightly different edition. What has been created will become an important historical record for the magazine of the Church of Scotland.
Highlights from this issue includes:
FEEDING THE HUNGRY: Reflection on foodbanks and impact of Covid-19
‘GOD HAS NOT FINISHED WITH SCOTLAND’: The Moderator-Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair, who will follow on from the Right Reverend Colin Sinclair who preached at our bicentenary service last June.
ASSEMBLY CANCELLATION: Church’s business meeting cancelled for first time in over 300 years
WAR’S END: The role of churches in peacebuilding across Europe on the 75th anniversary of VE Day
This is yet one more way in which we are adapting to these difficult and unusual circumstances.
Helping One Another
The first week in June is Volunteers Week and highlights the contribution made by thousands of volunteers across the country. Volunteers contribute to society in a wide variety of ways. In more normal times, they may be involved in assisting athletes at major sporting events, helping at theatre performances, providing first aid support at concerts or visiting in hospitals and care homes or just providing a listening ear. In our current situation, volunteers are providing practical support by doing shopping, collecting prescriptions or just phoning someone who lives alone to chat to them. These actions are done without fuss and fanfare because the volunteer is happy to make a difference to someone else.
Within Clackmannanshire the Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) co-ordinates a lot of these volunteers and is always happy to try and match volunteers with opportunities. At the moment they have put together information about some of the help which is available both locally and nationally. Help available locally includes the Hawkhill Community Centre Food Larder which not only gives those who need it, the opportunity to buy a variety of basic foods but also some of Kev’s meals and have them delivered. Further information can be found here.
https://www.facebook.com/220821947933449/posts/3612665222082421/?d=n
To find out more about the community support available from CTSI, just click on the link below.
https://ctsi.org.uk/covid-19-community-care-guide/
If you have a problem and you would like us to help, please contact Sang on 01259 213872 and if we can help, we will.
The Sailors' Society
One of the Guilds’ projects in session 2019-20 was the Sailors’ Society and some of you will remember that Pauline, one of the Port Chaplains joined us for the service at the start of Guild week at which time she collected over 100 hats for seafarers knitted by the congregation and friends.
This is obviously a difficult time for the seafarers who bring in much of the food and other goods which we are using at this time. Many of them are away from homes and families who may be in areas affected by Covid-19. They may themselves be on a ship in the middle of the ocean, or isolated in port, either having the virus or living with someone who has.
At this time, the Port Chaplains cannot go on board ships to provide support but they are available at the end of the phone and this service is appreciated by those on board ships. As well as this support, they have online resources like relaxation podcasts.
Please continue to support these seafarers either in practical ways – like knitting hats – or by remembering the seafarers in your prayers.
A pattern for hats can be found here
https://www.sailors-society.org/assets/site/SS1088_Commit_to_Knit_8pp_A5_FINAL_LR.pdf
For more information about the Society visit: www.sailors-society.org
The Story of the Pelican
The pulpit in the Church has a number of carvings on it. One interesting carving which is not often noticed as it is on the side of the pulpit is the one of the mother pelican.
As the theme for Mental health week this year is kindness, it seems appropriate to consider this carving because in some cultures the pelican is seen as a symbol of kindness and generosity. One version of the legend of the mother pelican is that in a time of famine, the mother pelican pierced her breast with her beak to feed her young so that they might live. In doing so she lost her own life.
Another version of the legend is that the little pelicans strike their parents, and the parents, striking back, kill them. But on the third day the mother pelican strikes and opens her side and pours blood over her dead young. In this way they are revivified and made well.
The symbol of the pelican was adopted centuries ago by Christianity as it was felt to represent the sacrifice Jesus made to save us.
When the Church reopens, please take time to look at this for yourself.
There is more information about our building by clicking on the tab above.
Current Events
Website Updates
We have updated some of the items on the Groups page (the Craft Group and The Guild) and the What’s On page. Please check them out.
You can now see the Weekly Parishioner online. Just click on the Newsletter tab above and follow the link. We hope you enjoy it. Week 9 is now online!
Information about the Thy Kingdom Come prayer movement and a copy of this week’s national Call to Prayer can be found on the What’s On page.