A decision was made to establish a Charitable Trust in 1995 and that same week the Edinburgh Diocese of the Episcopal Church asked us to produce 8,000 cards for their Autumn mission. Two teams were set up to produce these cards, one in St John's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh and the other in St George's West Church (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh.
From the outset, we have specialised in customising cards for the local situation, using photographs or designs provided by members of the congregations, and in 1997 two additional teams were created, one in Jedburgh, the other in Kinross. Since then the work has steadily grown.
Teamwork is central to our strategy of expansion. The combination of mission and fellowship is fulfilling. Each team meets for two or three hours per week in a team member’s house, which is equipped with a laminator, paper trimmers, and stock boxes for the cards.
Originally the teams concentrated solely on production but soon the popularity of the cards led to additional orders coming from friends and contacts of local team members. In view of this development (which is in perfect accord with the Trust’s aim of local and personal mission), we decided the teams should be given greater autonomy in the areas of both seeking and delivering orders.
Pat
Payne, who is a member of our Kinross Team has
these
comments to make about working in a team.
"Today, people find themselves in an ever changing, uncertain, insecure environment, and the Amos Scripture Care cards remind us that the Lord’s words have every relevance in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. As a member of a team, this is a practical way of expressing my belief that this is what the churches should be about. Working in a small group from different denominations with a common purpose in an uncluttered organisation is refreshing and I feel I am contributing in a meaningful way."
Elinor Jones and Catriona Murray at our computer in St George's West Church.
