Hope Scotland
The official website for HOPE in Scotland

Join us for the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday.

Meet at the Sherriffmuir car park at 1:30pm and share our packed lunches. Set off up the hill at 2pm. Worship and prayer when we reach the top about 3pm until 3:45pm.

Time and Place
Date: Sunday, May 11, 2008
Time: 1:30pm - 4:45pm
Location: DUMYAT, Ochil Hills, Stirling

Contact Info
Phone: 01786 470 849
Email: marisa@ywamstirling.org

In Edinburgh this year a ‘7 Hills Prayer event’ is being organized where Christians will climb their ‘local hill’ to pray and make declarations of blessing over the city. For more information on Edinburgh’s GDOP event, visit the Edinburgh Prayer website.

This year’s Global Day of Prayer is being celebrated on May 11th, coinciding with Pentecost Sunday. Literally millions of Christians around the world will gather to pray for the nations on this day. Please consider how you might gather believers in your area to pray on this day. Around Scotland we are exhorting churches to think of something to do in their town or village - perhaps going to their local high place to pray or organising a prayer walk through their streets. This is a great opportunity to fan the flames of “Hope 08″ through our combined prayers.

Find out what is happening in Edinburgh and Stirling on the Global Day of Prayer.

Please let us know what is happening in your area on the Global Day of Prayer.

Day conference for Christians in Nursing and Social Work

Saturday 8 March 2008 - Faith Mission Centre, Edinburgh

This interactive conference will be led by Carolyn and Graeme Simpson

Cost £25.00 (students £10.00) including lunch

Further information and booking forms from 0141 333 0546 or the following websites:

www.ncfscotland.org.uk www.swcf.org.uk www.actionpartners.co.uk

Faith Sharing Day Conferences

Sharing insights from ‘You’re an Angel’ and ‘Blowing Your Cover’ training courses
1st March - Edinburgh (Davidson’s Mains Parish Church)
8th March - Glasgow (Sandyford Henderson Parish Church)
Contact: David Currie at - dcurrie@cofscotland.org.uk

Stewardship Ministries: Personal Budget Coach Training

This highly participative training course was developed to equip people who have an interest in helping those in their church and community: 1) who are struggling with financial chaos and who may be in debt, 2) who wish to avoid the pain of financial chaos and get money under control through good money management, 3) who want the gift of money to work for them and their goals; to be their servant and not their master. If you would like to find out more about how your church can book training, please contact Fiona Mearns on 0208 502 8585 or email education@stewardship.org.uk

Stewardship Money is also running a number of Information Sessions called “How Can the Church Help People in Debt?”, designed to set out the options available to churches and individuals who want to help their neighbours in debt. These are free events and forthcoming dates are:

Edinburgh, Granton Parish Church, 12th Feb, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Aberdeen, Gerrard Street Baptist Church, 12th Apr, 10:30am -12:30pm
Glasgow, Friends’ Meeting House, 17th May, 10:30am - 12:30pm

If you would like to reserve a place please contact us either by phone on 020 8502 8585 or email: education@stewardship.org.uk.

Beauty For Ashes

A day training and learning together for those seeking to transform the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
Dundee - 9th Feb. (at Logie and St. John’s Cross Church)
Glasgow - 16th Feb (at ICC).
£10 waged or £5 student/unwaged
Contact: 0131-445-4125 or edinburgh@suscotland.org.uk

Making the Most of HOPE…in your villages, towns and cities

Headed up by Dave Newton (director of Youth for Christ) and Mark Ritchie (founder of 73rd Trust) who are willing to come to your area to offer workshops that can help equip those interested in taking HOPE out into their communities in a variety of ways. The workshop sessions will be creative and interactive, helping to bring Hope alive in their area, using great ideas, comments, experience, and well-developed strategies to inspire and challenge their community. Session topics include:
- Café Culture - Sports Outreach - ‘Taking Hope to Schools’ - Events - Different ways of communicating the gospel
Contact info: Helen Feital at helen@73rdtrust.com to have them come to your area

Heart to Heart: bringing hope to those affected by divorce and separation

A six session course that focuses on how you can help yourself deal with divorce and separation; support meetings; telephone or 1-1 support
Contact info: 01877 339966 or email: info@hearttoheart.org.uk
Website: www.hearttoheart.org.uk

For information about Christian events throughout Scotland, visit www.eventsguide.org.  Please also keep letting us know about your outreach and other Hope related events.

Sun 23 Mar 08
RESURRECTION DAY 08

Resurrection Day is the City of Dundee’s Easter Celebration and will be the largest gathering to celebrate the Easter message in Scotland! Resurrection Day 2008 is being held in the Caird Hall at 7pm on Easter Sunday 23rd March 2008. Main speaker for the event will be George Verwer. George is the Founder and former International Director of Operation Mobilisation, which is a ministry of evangelism, discipleship training and church planting. George led Operation Mobilisation for over 40 years before stepping down in August 2003. George has a burning concern for vital, propagating and revolutionary Christianity in his own life and in those he meets. Music and worship will be led by VISION.

ALL ARE WELCOME! This event is FREE (a freewill offering will be taken at the end).

To find out more about what is happening in Dundee visit the Dundee for Christ website: www.dundeeforchrist.com or phone 08444 100 100

Nexus is a group of individuals who regularly meet to socialise together through various events. The group was started to help Christians from different churches and traditions in and around Edinburgh meet and socialise together. Initially this was through a monthly coffee night in an Edinburgh coffee shop. In the informal setting of drinks and chat the group has grown as friendships were formed. Other events alongside the coffee nights developed. Larger events, like the annual pub quiz and ceilidh have given Nexus the opportunity to supp0rt various charities, both locally and internationally.

Nexus helps connect churches across the Edinburgh area. The coffee nights are in relaxed surroundings where friends catch up over drinks and cake. They take place in The Lot located in the Grassmarket right under Edinburgh Castle which means it’s accessible for everyone. Our next coffee night is 13/01/2008 - 8:15 pm till 10:00 pm at The Lot
4 Grassmarket, Edinburgh. For more information visit our website: www.freewebs.com/nexusEdinburgh or contact us via email: nexusEdinburgh@yahoo.co.uk

In addition, if you are looking for a church, mission agency or CU to get involved in then go to www.eventsguide.org then click on ‘churches’ or ‘organizations’. This is a great resource provided by Origin Scotland. Origin is a promoter and organiser of Christian events, and provides services to churches in Edinburgh and beyond in worship events, praise events, outreach events and event consultancy. Christian events are what we know best, through our Rock Gospel choir, band and orchestra - Exile, and we are always glad to help churches out with their local events as well. You can find out more about Origin events at: www.originscotland.org

To find out more about what’s going in Edinburgh with HOPE 08, please contact Eric Dobbie at: eric.dobbie@mitie.co.uk and he can give you the latest news or point you in the right direction.

Releasing New Talent for the Kingdom

In 2008, Saltmine Trust and Open Doors will commence searching across the UK for fresh Christian musical talent. If you are a singer or part of a group or band, and believe that you have what it takes to be the next big name in Christian music, then this opportunity is for you!

Regional auditions will be held early in 2008 in London, Norwich, Birmingham, Bath, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast and are open to the following age groups: 11 to 17 and 18 to 35 years old.

Those who are successful will be invited to attend a training weekend in the West Midlands and given professional vocal and performance tuition.

The ‘Grand Finale’ competition will be held in a London West End Theatre in May 2008 and the prizes for the winners will include:
- a chance to perform at the Cave Church in Cairo with Open Doors
- performance opportunities with Saltmine and Open Doors
- recording and production of their best song on a music video

For further information and to receive an application form, please contact Heather Peace at Saltmine: creative@saltmine.org or 01384 454807

Oh What a Night It Was! As we declared together…. ‘Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word and the praising of His name!’

The Hogmanay watchnight and commissioning service was…to quote many… “tremendous!” The cathedral was almost filled to the overflow area which had been set up with a wide screen. There were over 700 in attendance with a choir of nearly 100 to lead us in praise and worship. It was a true sign of hope to see so many church leaders sharing the same platform and echoing the same vision from John 17 -

‘… may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.’

It was a great encouragement to be among the family of God to bring in the New Year. Thanks to all who supported this event. Much appreciation to the Glasgow Cathedral for allowing us the use of such a beautiful venue.

As many have already suggested that we do something like this again…Watch This Space!
However, as the message suggested, let’s now spend 2008 out of our comfortable sanctuaries and off of our comfortable sofas and be out and about in our villages, towns, and cities sharing the love of Christ together in word and action.