Congregations in Edinburgh and Jerusalem are coming together to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day in a special way this year. The St. Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church in Jerusalem will be hosting its annual service on Saturday, November 30th, in honor of Scotland’s national saint. At the same time, a companion service will be taking place at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh, organized by The Friends of St. Andrew’s Jerusalem & Tiberias.
Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions, friends and contacts from the West Bank will not be able to attend the service in Jerusalem. However, those who are able to join will gather together to pray for peace, a ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the release of hostages. The service will be led by ministers from St. Andrew’s Jerusalem & Tiberias and Augusta Victoria Lutheran Church, and will feature music from Taizé and Scottish folk tunes.
In Edinburgh, last year’s Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton, will lead the service at St. Cuthbert’s Church. The collection during the service will go towards DSPR, the Department of Support for Palestinian Refugees, which has been providing crucial aid in Gaza despite the challenging circumstances.
Whether you are in Edinburgh or elsewhere, everyone is welcome to join the St. Andrew’s Day service either in person or online. The service promises to be a time of reflection, prayer, and unity as people from different parts of the world come together to celebrate this special day and pray for peace in the region. Let us all join hands and hearts in solidarity, spreading hope and compassion on St. Andrew’s Day.