preview

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Welcome to April's Newsletter!

Information on courses, awareness dates, events, etc, are available via our Adventures in Faith pages:

Diocesan Highlights

CMD Day: Tuesday 19 May 2026: Change of venue!

Due to building works in our original venue, we have moved to St Ninian's, Comely Bank. Do register to join us on Tuesday 19 May when the Revd Dr Gillian Straine, the CEO of Go Health and an SEI Associate Tutor, will be leading our reflections on Regenerative Leadership. Gillian comes highly recommended by many across the Diocese and SEC, so do make time and prioritise joining us. Register here.

Pre-Retirement Day: Thursday 25 June 2026

Our next 'Pre-Retirement Day' will be held in the Walpole Hall on Thursday 25 June. There will be two parts to the day. The morning will be most relevant to those approaching retirement in the next few years, led by the Revd Canon Cedric Blakey. This will cover the 'less quantifiable' aspects of retirement, e.g. vocation, identity, purpose, etc. The afternoon will be for anyone interested in learning more about pensions and retirement housing, led by GSO's Neil Wright.

Further details and the registration form are here.

Prayers for Peace

For the Day of Prayer for the People of the Middle East called by the Primus for 31 March, a selection of resources were gathered, by the Province and also the Diocese. Do review them and use them if that helps in the coming weeks.

▶ Resources on the SEC website

▶ Resources on the diocesan website

Wondering how to cater for younger members?

Thinking about all-age worship?

Is your current Roots subscription due for renewal?

The Diocese is a subscription ‘hub’ for ROOTS on the Web, enabling congregations to sign-up for access to Lectionary-based digital resources (including the 20-year back catalogue) for the subsidised cost of £20 for the year. Interested congregations should register via this form. One-month free trial here.

Lord's Prayer in Finnish. We have now updated our Porvoo Communion webpage to include the Lord's Prayer in Finnish, along with a recording of how it sounds (this is a YouTube video, which means you can slow it down to learn the sounds a little easier).

Find it here, and share with your congregation/s!

Other News

New Address for General Synod Office

Ground Floor West
40 Torphichen Street
Edinburgh EH3 8JB

Scottish Parliament Election Hustings Guidance has been produced by the Province, which can be accessed on the SEC website.

Awe, Connection and Community in Sacred and Historic Spaces: everyone is invited to take part in research by members of Queen Margaret University by completing this survey.

The research into the influence of awe on community and sociality began with St John's, Princes Street, Edinburgh, and has now grown to encompass the whole diocese. This is an exciting opportunity to understand how architectural structures like churches contribute to a sense of community.

The survey is in 2 parts, with the second part being optional, and takes 10-20mins in total to complete. Please encourage your congregation to take part and, if you have your church building open to visitors, perhaps invite them to join in, using the QR code as extra encouragement 😊

Community Resources and Spaces in Edinburgh.

There is a comprehensive survey currently underway in the City of Edinburgh Council area to map every community space and service. If you have not already submitted information to the team (Community Renewal Consultancy & Training Ltd) then they would welcome your input via an online survey.

▶ Community Spaces

▶ Community Services

Emerging Funeral Practice and Implications for Ministry Webinar, 21 April, 7:30–9pm, £10

This webinar will examine contemporary developments in funeral practice and their significance for Christian ministry. Matthew Crawley, Chief Executive of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, and Professor Douglas Davies, Director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies at Durham University, will speak, and the session will cover:

▶ Historical patterns in Western Christian funerals

▶ Emerging practices in contemporary funerary contexts

▶ Ministerial, pastoral and theological implications.

Find out more and register here.

Thy Kingdom Come resources for 2026, with the theme God with us, are now available via the TKC website. They include this year's Novena, written by Archbishop Sarah Mullally; five great ideas for how your church can take part in Thy Kingdom Come; and ten daily prayer ideas. There are also ideas for church services. There's a Thy Kingdom Come shop where you can order resources for this year such as journals, stickers and bookmarks in bulk. 'Pray for 5 cards' could be paired with leather cords as a reminder to pray – or you could buy the cards and create your own prayer cords/bracelets.

The Quiet Revival: Correction

You may have heard the news that the Bible Society’s 2025 report The Quiet Revival has been found to be based on flawed data provided by YouGov, and so the report has been withdrawn. However, the Bible Society says that ‘During the last year we've heard amazing stories of growth from churches across England and Wales. We've found new data and surveys that back up our conviction that a real change is happening.’ The Quiet Revival One Year On: What’s the Story?, a new report, will be released in due course. In the meantime you’ll be able to find FAQs and a statement on the Bible Society website.

Lent to Pentecost

Lent Appeal 2026 – Aberlour

Aberlour Children’s Charity works to provide tailored support to families facing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. It provides support at the earliest opportunity by offering a range of services across Scotland, utilising the voices of those impacted to create and implement tools for change. The charity has been in operation for just over 150 years, with a long and varied history, although giving every child the best possible start in life has always been at the heart of what they do.

Find out more on our website.

Easter–Pentecost Resources. We have now updated our webpage of ideas and resources to include Easter to Pentecost: Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost | Diocese of Edinburgh

Email us with any other Easter–Pentecost resources you've found, and we'll look to include them!

(More) Learning & Development Opportunities

For detailed listings across a range of providers, check out the Courses page. This is updated very regularly and is a one-stop-shop for you to browse any time.

GoHealth have launched a free online self-paced course, 'For such a time as this', inspired by the words and thoughts of the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally. Whether you serve in a local church, healthcare setting, chaplaincy context, or are seeking to deepen your spiritual life, this course offers spacious, thoughtful accompaniment as you grow in courage, clarity and compassionate presence. Find out more.

Beyond the Walls webinars continue. ...

▶ Tue 14 Apr: Fringe Dweller with Jonny Baker

▶ Tue 12 May: What posture and practices do we need to embody and follow in order to participate in God's Mission today? with Revd Sally Taylor

The College of Preachers offers a series of seminars and talks via Zoom. The regular Zoom seminars take place from 10:30am–1pm, and cost £15.

▶ Wed 15 Apr: Preaching to the Non-Religious

▶ Mon 27 Apr: Lessons for the Preacher to Learn from Jack Reacher

When Women Lead the Way, Tuesday 21 April to Thursday 23 April, The Bield at Blackruthven

What does it look like when we amplify the stories of women in scripture and take lessons in leadership from women like Miriam, Deborah, Jael, Vashti and countless unnamed women when they are released from the confines of patriarchy? This retreat, led by the Revd Liz Crumlish, focuses on cultivating leadership practices rooted in the ancient wisdom of women, drawing on examples of inspirational leadership found in the, often hidden, stories of Biblical women.

More information on The Bield's website.

Youthscape Essentials Online

Youthscape Essentials is all-round training for every volunteer youth leader. It next runs online from 27 April for ten consecutive weeks and costs £50 per delegate, plus the optional cost of the Participant's Handbook (pictured, £13.50). Find out more on the Youthscape website.

The Scottish Episcopal Institute offers courses that SEC clergy and readers can audit for free, or study for credit at minimal cost.

▶ Intermediate Biblical Greek, with Dr Patrick Murray. Thursdays, 7–8pm, 14 May–16 Jul.

Interested? Email [email protected]

beHeld: Youth & Children’s Ministry Training Days

In 2026, all involved in youth and children's ministry are invited to a fresh series of training days at Ps & Gs Church called 'beHeld'. The next is on 23 May (future dates are 26 September, 28 November). Each event will be on a Saturday morning, 9am–1pm, with light refreshments, worship, and the chance to hear from experts on key subjects.

beHeld costs £15 per session, but the diocese will cover the cost of one ticket per charge. Just email us at [email protected] with your name and charge, and we'll book you in for 23 May.

Events for Young People

Save the Date!

Saturday 9 May,

late afternoon–evening.

Some time to chill in the midst of the exam season, with friends from across the Province and a Taizé-style Eucharist.

More details to follow!

Yeek 2026, "On the Way", Glenalmond College

26 July–1 August 2026

Are you ready to set off On the Way? If you are in S1–S6 then there can be no better starting point than at YEEK 26, the provincial youth week of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Over the week, join other young people from across Scotland at Glenalmond College in rural Perthshire for a slight detour on your journey of faith: full of fun, great people, and plenty that can happen on the way. Sign-up before Easter Monday for an early-bird discount! All details at yeek.scot

Morland Choristers' Camp, 26 July–2 August 2026

This annual residential summer course for young singers aged 9–17 offers a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of singing in a 100-strong 4-part choir and to enjoy a week of outdoor activities in the Eden Valley. Anyone can apply: all that is needed is a love of singing and lots of energy.

The cost is £475 (discounts and bursaries available).

More Information and Registration Here!

Adventures in Faith

Remember: you can cut and paste anything from this newsletter into your own communication channels!

The monthly Adventures in Faith Newsletter from Edinburgh Diocese shares lots of ideas for your ongoing Christian life. Each month, there are news items, courses, events, and ideas for you to explore. You can read past mailings, and sign up to receive future ones, via the diocesan website (tinyurl.com/EdinburghAIF).

Awareness Days

We list Awareness Days that may be relevant for congregations to consider on our website here. Most entries have links to external websites that provide information and resources for the particular cause or event.

Edinburgh Gifford Lectures 2026. How did Christianity become global? This series of 6 lectures traces Christianity’s dramatic transformation—from a small Jewish messianic movement to a force at the heart of the late Roman state—by situating it within the vibrant religious, cultural, and political world of the ancient Mediterranean. Prof Paula Fredriksen is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Aurelio Professor of Scripture emerita at Boston University and will be hosted by the University of Edinburgh 4–14 May. For more information and to register for FREE tickets, go to Eventbrite page.

Study and Sing: Creation

Led by staff from St Andrew’s University’s MLitt programme in Sacred Music, this ‘Study and Sing' day will focus on music making and listening that helps us to value and give praise for God's created world.

Open to anyone who likes singing in church, as well as people interested in finding out more about ecotheology. The end-of-day service will be hosted by St Andrew's Episcopal Church. Find out more and book.

Left to Their Own Devices? is an evening training session that explores how to raise tech-savvy kids, taking place on Wednesday 20 May at Ps & Gs, 7:30–10pm. It will cover:

▶ What our children might be exposed to online, who they might be speaking to and how they behave

▶ The teenage brain and why managing the online world is harder for them than for us

▶ Practical ways to keep your family safe online

▶ Ways to keep up with a fast-changing industry

▶ The impact social media is having on mental health

▶ How parents can be role models.

Tickets are £6. Find out more and book here.