Festival Events 2021
To Absent Friends - remembering our loved ones
Organised by St Andrew's High and Northesk Churches, Musselburgh
The congregations of St. Andrew’s High and Northesk Churches in Musselburgh are planning a number of “To Absent Friends” events, giving space for people to remember loved ones who have died. As church congregations we have accompanied many families through bereavement and the remembering of loved ones in funeral services during the pandemic. Our events are not exclusively designed for them, but they are at the forefront of our thoughts.
We hope to provide a place of hospitality, welcome, conversation and remembering, bearing in mind that there are many families who have not been able to mark the passing of the people closest to them in the way they would have wanted to.
Musselburgh is a coastal town, and the memory of the fishing industry which flourished here until fairly recently is still strong. We are planning an art intsallation of up to 1,000 origami boats. We are providing opportuntities for members of the community to make boats, which will then be displayed in our two churches.
Participants will be invited to write names or memories on their boats. We will use them to make an art installation in both churches. On Saturday 30th October there will be an unveiling ceremony, at the time of the churches’ coffee mornings.
On Sunday 31st October at 2:30 p.m. we will hold a Remembering Service entitled “Love and Loss” in Northesk Church. This is an event open to the whole community, and specific invitations will be sent to every family that we have conducted funeral services for in 2020 and 2021. This is an opportunity for those who wish to place ther remembering within a context of faith and prayer, and to engage in a symbolic act of remembrance. Hospitality will be provided after the service, to give people time to be together, share their memories and support one another.
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