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Homelessness Action Team
Reflective Worship
Oasis - Ministry to the Business Community
West End Churches Together (WECT)
Friends of St Cuthberts 

The Homelessness Action Team provides a forum for information, exploration and action related to homelessness. Congregational responses to work amongst homeless people are co-ordinated by the team.  

These responses include being part of a city wide venture to offer emergency night shelters over the winter months and the collection of essential household items for the 'Fresh Start' Project.  

The team keeps in touch with the key issues on the agenda of agencies, and tries to raise awareness within the congregation. It is concerned for practical action and political advocacy. 

On the third Wednesday of every month we meet together for a time of quiet worship, with space for personal reflection. This is time to sit still, to reflect, to pray, to listen, simply "be" with God. We meet at lunchtime from 1:00pm - 1:30pm, and in the evening from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. 

We start with a short time of worship when we can let go of our stresses and pressures and "settle". Each month we have a different theme, with some scripture reading and thoughts about our theme. We are then "set free" to find our own space in the church where we can spend time with God. During this time there is music quietly playing, and there will be candles or some other items linked to our theme, to assist or encourage reflection - or just simply to appreciate. At the end of this time we gather together again for closing prayers. 

Our lunch time and evening sessions are very similar, except that the evening session is much longer, while the lunchtime session is geared more for business community, so we keep it short enough to fit into a lunch hour, while the evening session is much longer.  

If you've never seen the church lit only by candles, then you have no idea what stunning beauty you're missing !! If you come for no other reason, come to enjoy the beauty of God's house. Come because you're curious, or because you've never been to anything like this before, or just because it's the only time during the week when you'll sit down and do nothing - your reason doesn't matter (we won't ask you!)  

We also don't expect you to do anything, so don't be worried about getting "volunteered" for anything. We suspect this may be "worship for introverts", because although we are together for a time of worship, this is more about being with God than being with each other ! It's About listening for God, rather feeling you have to make polite conversation with your neighbour!  

...but just in case you do want to chat with others, we finish each session with tea and coffee - so if you want to slip out, that's fine, but if you want to stay and chat there is also the opportunity to do that ! 

In case you've never seen the church by glorious candlelight - HERE are some photographs taken at some of the Reflective Services - Enjoy ! 

In the midst of the pressures of business, people need an oasis of peace to survive. OASIS is the name we give to our ministry among the business community, offering a supportive Christian presence. 

To contact the Oasis staff, please send e-mail :

Visit the Oasis Website at : www.oasisedinburgh.com 

West End Churches Together (WECT) is the new name for the Council of West End Churches (CWEC). This is the ecumenical iniative in the West End of Edinburgh city centre, comprising the churches of St Cuthbert's, St George's West and St John's 

What's new about WECT? Three things. Shared mission. Shared nurture. Shared decision-making. This is a chance to think more coherently about sharing in God's mission in this city . It is now two years since we first affirmed a Pentecost Covenant to walk together on that journey. We see increasing scope for shared mission and we hope to undertake a joint survey of the West End of the City and the City Centre to identify key areas of missionary opportunity. We hope to produce a joint magazine for tourists, and not least at the time of the Festival.  

Sharing Christian nurture is one way of helping the next generation of children to grow up without feeling that the "other church" is strange. Already there is a West End Youth Group meeting on every second Sunday evening, and occasional opportunities for the younger children to be together. Instead of every church producing similar courses for faith development, we hope to coordinate and communicate what is available in the rich resources of our three churches. Shared worship remains a mainstay of our life together with three morning services and two in the evening, during the year. 

We now have a new process of shared decision-making to allow everyone to have a say in our joint enterprises. Pentecost weekend was our first congregational conference when people had their say about what they wanted to see happening. These issues were carried forward, in September, to the new Leadership Forum, consisting of the Kirk Sessions of St Cuthbert's and St George's West along with the vestry of St John's. Major issues were discussed, strategic directions were set and, in future, a formal budget for the year will be approved. Throughout the year the work will be overseen by a small Executive from the three congregations. The Ministers of the three congregations now meet monthly for coffee, and three times a year for a day retreat. 

The basis of our future lies in a growing trust among the congregations. That trust will only grow as we invest time in being together. Those who have worked on various projects know the trust of that. The ministers have learned to be at ease with each other. It is now over to everyone to share in whatever way we can to show in the midst of a conflict-ridden world and a highly competitive city that the Christian Church can model the better way of co-operation and reconciliation.  

The Society now has nearly 60 members over half of whom are former members of the congregation. 

The Trustees have set the minimum annual subscription at £10 though larger contributions are of course most welcome. 

Friends will receive a brochure and forms enabling them to make their contributions by Gift Aid and Banker's Order. They will receive Membership cards entitling them to attend special events and to receive discount on goods in the St Cuthbert's Visitors' Centre.The Friends will receive this monthly magazine and an annual report on developments in the mission of St Cuthbert's.  

For more information please contact Kenneth MacKenzie through :