Minister’s message 16 August 2026
Emma Whitham has sent the following message of thanks and encouragement at the end of the ten-week summer student placement she undertook in Kinross-shire Parish.
Dear Friends
I want to thank you all for your love, support and openness over these past ten weeks. It has been such a privilege to spend this time with you and to share, in a small way, in the life of this church family.
Kinross-shire Parish Church has been a wonderful place in which to witness God’s kingdom at work. It has been both a privilege and a blessing to walk alongside you, to listen to your stories, and to see something of the faith and love that shapes this community.
A piece of Scripture that has really come alive for me during my time with you is from the Gospel of John:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I feel that I have witnessed the essence of these words come alive here. I have seen something of what it looks like when a church seeks to love one another, and to allow that love to overflow into the wider community.
Family Week particularly broke open my heart. I was left in awe at the love, commitment, generosity and hope that were displayed through every act of service. To see so many people giving their time and energy so joyfully, creating a place where children and families could experience welcome, belonging and something of the love of Jesus, was truly wonderful.
The pilgrimage will also be a highlight of my time with you. I loved seeing fellowship, love, new friendships and new connections grow as we walked and worshipped together. I hope that this little flavour of outdoor worship and communion has planted a seed for what might come next here.
I also leave this placement feeling inspired by the sense of mission within this church family. From Lindsay and the team with All Friends Together, to the partnership with Kythe and all that happens there, including Sunday @ 7 – what a wonderful space you are creating for young people and families.
I have also loved getting to know some of you through visiting you in your homes and hearing your stories – hearing something of your journeys and of how your faith shapes and sustains your lives. Those conversations have been a real privilege, and I will carry many of them with me.
And I have been truly inspired by David and the way his faith is driving him to lead a wonderful creation care project here in Kinross - CATCH Loch Leven. It is a quiet act of mission, rooted in faith and love for God's creation, but one with huge potential for transformational change.
So, as I come to the end of my ten weeks with you, I leave feeling enormously grateful. Grateful for your welcome, for your kindness, for your encouragement, for the things you have taught me, and above all for the privilege of witnessing God at work among you.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your church family for these ten weeks. I will take much of what I have experienced here with me as I continue my journey towards ministry.
May God continue to bless Kinross-shire Parish Church, and may the love that I have witnessed here continue to grow and overflow into this community and beyond.
And perhaps, most importantly, may you continue to live out those words of Jesus: “Love one another.”
Much love and every blessing,
Emma x
Emma Whitham
Ministry Student