A weekend of fond farewells has taken place as Rev Neil MacMillan leaves his role as minister of Cornerstone Free Church in Edinburgh.
The events on Friday and after church on Sunday were an opportunity to honour and say thank you to Neil and Louise, as a new chapter begins in their lives. Neil is moving on from his role as minister to become Director of City to City Europe. He will be uniting leaders, churches, and resources to support the flourishing of church planting and the re-evangelisation of Europe. Louise will continue in her role as a counsellor and pastoral care lecturer at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.
The couple, along with a team of others, began the church plant in Morningside around 15 years ago, which has gone into a fully established church with congregations in Morningside, Gilmerton and a Spanish Speaking Community.
A reception took place at Dr Bell’s Baths in Leith on Friday, where the MacMillans, congregation and guests from further afield enjoyed a buffet, speeches and music.
During the evening, Ian Nevison, one of the founding church planting members spoke about the history of the church – it’s starting point meeting together as a city group through the process of becoming an established church.
Jose Luis Zarate Arenas, his wife Debora and family spoke about being welcomed into the Spanish Speaking community and Caitlin O’Brien shared about the food, fellowship, laughter and delving into God’s Word at Neil and Louise’s City Group.
Neil shared verses from Ephesians 2:1 – 10, adding: “We don’t have to work for our salvation – our salvation is a gift. But once we have been saved God gives us good works to do. I got given, and Louise got given, a really great work to do which was to be part of Cornerstone and to see God get to work around us, in us and sometimes despite us.”
He spoke about his time in ministry, his role within the Free Church of Scotland in church planting and the events which fell into place which led to the formation of a church plant in Morningside.
Neil said: “God planted us in Morningside and then out of that, eventually a church grew. What’s been amazing has been to create together, along with people like Ian and others, a very loving, warm, thoughtful, caring community where so much kindness and grace has been on display over the years. That’s part of what we really treasure about the church is that every single one of you has been unendingly kind to us. Thank you very much.”
During a combined Sunday service, with all three congregations, at George Watson’s College, Neil gave a sermon on Acts 28 encouraging the congregation to proclaim the Kingdom of God and tell people about Jesus with boldness.
Following the service, everyone was invited to the Old Schoolhouse in Morningside for cake and prosecco to say their goodbyes.
We are delighted that Neil will continue to be involved in the Free Church through his continued membership of the Edinburgh and Perth presbytery. Do pray for the MacMillans and for Cornerstone as they each begin new chapters.
