Encountering Jesus & following him to love, serve & give life to the city
Back in 2016, God gave Ben and Kate a blueprint for a Vineyard church in Edinburgh and they understood what it meant almost immediately.
The outer boxes are where people encounter us, as Edinburgh Vineyard, simply doing the stuff Jesus did - praying for the sick and serving the city in many ways.
People will ask why we are doing such things and we will point to the larger, inner box, where we worship, open the Bible, minister in the power of the Holy Spirit and are family gathered together.
It felt that the Lord wants to build a church that is outwardly focused but inwardly strong.
Making disciples
Ben and Kate write ‘In 2021, as people were gathering around us, we asked God two questions. Firstly, ‘How do we know we are making disciples? Secondly, ‘What sort of disciples do you want us to make at Edinburgh Vineyard?’
These four things are the result of asking that question and what underpins a lot of our decision making.
People who…
Speak His words
Share His wounds
Follow His ways
Do the stuff
Eventually change their world
The Edinburgh Vineyard journey… So far
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God gave Ben and Kate a blueprint for a Vineyard church in Edinburgh and, because of His kindness, they understood what it meant almost immediately.
The outer boxes are where people encounter us, as Edinburgh Vineyard, simply doing the stuff Jesus did serving the city in some way. People will ask why we are doing such things and we will point to the larger, inner box, where we worship, open the Bible and are family gathered together. It felt that the Lord wants to build a church that is outwardly focused but inwardly strong.
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Ben and Kate moved to Edinburgh, gathered with a few others for a walk in the Pentlands and then started meeting together every week to worship, pray and open the Bible together whilst always learning to ‘do the stuff’ and chat with people about Jesus.
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On Easter Sunday we had our first gathering outside Ben and Kates’ home, at the Ballroom in Morningside.
In September we started Sundays at the Merlin pub, forming what the inner box of the blueprint looked like. Serving at Soul Food on Saturdays by washing up, cooking and chatting with those that needed hot food was our first collective expression of the ‘outer boxes’.
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We moved to Myreside Rugby club in Morningside and began serving with the Bethany Care Van. A fire at Myreside meant two further venues in quick succession and then Covid happened.
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March 2020
Whilst Covid took our inner box gatherings on line, the Lord started stirring our hearts for the area around Inch and Cameron Toll.
We believe we were led to Inch Park Community Sports Centre. Never have we received such favour in a venue and we began to enjoy a really good partnership with the trustees and leaders there. We were given keys from the start and were deeply encouraged by their desire to see the people in the local area thrive.
July 2020
After the Lord spoke to us about being Creative, Inventive and Inviting, we started serving families with children using Toots Café based at Inch Park Community Sports Centre.
We felt the Lord give us the name ‘King’s Table’ for our Sunday mornings at Toots Café. Everyone was welcome with no barriers for entry like the parable Jesus told.
Parents frequently told us how King’s Table helped with their feelings of isolation and loneliness. It was as if the blueprint was coming alive.
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March 2021
We continued to enjoy partnering with Toots Café and the trustees at Inch Park Community Sports Centre, whilst also engaging with the local councillors and MP’s. Then Amanda, the owner of Toots Café, astounded us by announcing she wanted to change career and gift us the café with all the toys and the wonderful Toots reputation. She told us afterwards that even though she had to make all the cafe staff redundant, they ended up getting their ‘dream jobs’.
August 2021
We started Sunday morning gatherings again as Covid restrictions lifted. The Holy Spirit reminded us of the prophetic word to ‘make the table’ together, directing us all to pray for each other - those that had been around since before Covid and those that were new to Edinburgh Vineyard.
Bethany Care Van, King’s Table Party, Small groups, Alpha, Worship Circle and baptising people in the sea were all possible and we were able to be together in person every week.
How to belong
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We have plenty of friendly and welcoming Small Groups - you can check out a few and find one that works for you.
If you are exploring what it means to follow Jesus, you might like to join the next Alpha Course.
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We believe 'everyone gets to play' and we would love you to come and serve alongside us.
Whether you enjoy welcoming people, serving with tech or giving out hot meals, there are many places for you to serve on a team.
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Praying for Ben, Kate and the leaders is a key part of belonging. Praying for them and their families, that God would give them wisdom to lead well.
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We are honoured by every person who chooses to make Edinburgh Vineyard their home. If you have come from another church or other Sunday morning activity we ask that you leave well.
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God doesn’t need our money but as part of our walk with him, we want to give financially. We don't often have offerings or collections so we leave it up to you to give.
You can find information on giving here.
What is the Vineyard?
The Vineyard Movement is a worldwide network of over 2,500 churches, led in its earliest years by the late John Wimber.
The Vineyard Movement is committed to seeing each generation reached by the power of the Gospel. With a view to embrace integrity in Christian character, along with the activity of the Holy Spirit, each Vineyard church seeks to be an outpost of God’s compassionate love in a broken world.
The genetic make up (the DNA) of the Vineyard significantly influences who we are and what we prioritise. To hear more you can go to the Vineyard UK and Ireland website.
