My name is Kay Haggarty, and I am an OLM with South East Edinburgh Church of Scotland (SEECOS). We serve the communities of Gracemount, Southhouse, Burdiehouse, and an expanding area of new housing at Frogston. We are part of the union of Church of Scotland worshipping communities in South East Edinburgh, working together as a single parish to serve a wide area.
My role and ministry focuses on preaching, pastoral care, and women’s ministry. My passion is also for building connections within the community, and this has taken me on a journey where more and more pioneer opportunities have opened up, and I have been able to develop deeper relationships in the two local primary schools.
These opportunities were birthed in prayer, which is at the very heart of all we seek to do in serving our communities. As a union, we decided to do a prayer walk around the area. Afterwards, being led by God to approach the schools, I asked if there was any way the local church could serve any of their needs.
This has led to a deeper involvement in different areas within the schools, and I share just some of these –
- Partnering with class teachers and PSOs, working with the needs of parents, children and the wider communities through food (The Pantry and Christmas goodie bags!) and clothing distribution, as well as meeting parents at regular coffee catch-ups and craft sessions.
- Helping class teachers and pupils prepare for special celebrations in the school calendar which parents attended (Scottish Country Dancing at a Scottish Showcase afternoon and taking part in the Christmas Nativity service).
- Our regular involvement with Scripture Union includes delivering the Christmas and Easter message of the Gospel to Primary 6 and 7 pupils. This is a significant part of our ministry, as it allows us to share the message of Christ’s birth and resurrection with the younger members of our community.
- As a result of building relationships within the schools, teams made up of all four SEECOS congregations have been asked to help at Summer and Winter Fairs. At these fairs, we have been able to offer crafts, sports, and refreshments, and our involvement has been greatly appreciated by the school community. Encouraging feedback from this has made the church’s contribution feel valued and very much part of the school’s overall effort to serve the community’s needs.
- Free Summer lunches during the holidays are also offered for a week for families in the community. There are also opportunities to come to Sunday morning services, followed by BBQ.
- Our ministry is not limited to the schools. We are also in discussions with and planning future involvement with the local Medical Health Centre, Community Police, and Public Health Scotland. We believe that these partnerships will allow us to better understand and serve the needs of our wider community.
These relationships and opportunities that have developed in the local primary schools and the wider community have all come through seeking God in prayer and being guided by Him. This, coupled with a heart to serve and responding to the needs that have arisen through discussion with staff and other folks from congregations within the union, has greatly enhanced our ministry. We have formed and deepened new connections and relationships, not only within the schools but also within the wider community, and our impact is something we can all be proud of.
I continue to seek God’s guidance in prayer for the journey ahead and wait expectantly as He opens up new ways for his church to serve and show the love of God to those around us.
