Worship Sun 30 April: Good Shepherd Sunday

WELCOME to worship on this Good Shepherd Sunday – a special time of year, where, in the busyness of the lambing that’s going on all around us in our parish, we pause to reflect on Jesus, our Good Shepherd. 

The church notices are copied below, for ease of reference. 
And to move straight across to our service on YouTube the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
Several rounds of thanks:

And the first is to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped in some way with Mary Hamilton’s funeral – what a great team you all are, and I’m sure the family felt very supported. I hope you all know just how much I appreciate you all and, given I was away, I’m so very thankful to you all for pitching in.

Last week, we big a fond farewell to our friend, Bill Buchan, who has been with us over these last couple of years providing pulpit cover when I’ve been away. Thanks to Ursula for saying a few words of thanks on behalf of us all, and presenting him with some tokens of our appreciation. And as he winds down, we do wish him well as he takes a very well earned rest from all his labours.

And one more wee note of thanks – and that’s to our small posse of gardeners yesterday, who gave of their time and skills to do some planting around the church building. I’m looking forward to seeing how the trees and plants progress over the rest of the year – and also hoping the deer don’t go ‘yum, dinner!’ 

Looking ahead, I’d like to flag up Christian Aid Sunday – which is on the 14th of May this year. There’ll be the opportunity during the service (onsite) to donate to the great work Christian Aid does – and for those of you who watch online, I’ll include the web address that you can link to, should you wish to make a donation.

News, announcements, and information 10 - 25 April

 Hello everyone, just some info and updates for the period between Mon 10th - Tues 25th April....

The minister will be unavailable from the above time: 

• For any general parish queries, please get in touch with our Session Clerk, Dr Dee Yates on 01864 504 093.
• For any urgent pastoral matters, please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella, of Biggar Kirk on 01899 229291 or by email at - mfucella@churchofscotland.org.uk
• Worship cover will be provided onsite by the Rev. Bill Buchan. Online why not use these two weeks as an opportunity to visit some of the following:
  Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
  Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
  Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        
  Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK 

Mary Hamilton - Thanks to all who attended the funeral of our church member and friend, Mary Hamilton, on Wed. 12th April - your presence and support was most appreciated by the family. Please do continue to remember Mary's family at this sad time. Thanks, as well, to those who helped with stewarding and parking of cars.

Sat. 29 April, 10am - 'let's get growing' at church - a gardening morning at the church, potting up plants, some wild fruiting trees, and getting some 'incredible edibles' planted to be available for common use. All are welcome to come along - bring a snack, and we'll get the kettle boiled as needed!

The Guild has rescheduled its meeting this month and will now meet for its AGM on Wed. 10th May at 2pm in the church.

Worship - Easter Sunday 'Earth, tell it out abroad'

WELCOME and a happy Easter to you! Christ is risen, hallelujah! He is risen indeed. 
We've made it through Lent, and Holy Week, and arrived at Easter Day...
Let's celebrate our risen Lord.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Church notices follow below..

CHURCH NOTICES

Minister's annual leave: 10th - 25th April. 

I’ll be back at work once again from Wed the 26th…

While I’m away, we’ll be welcoming back our old friend, the Rev. Bill Buchan, who’s agreed to cover both our Sunday mornings. Over these two Sundays, we’ll also be welcoming back our friend, Shenna Fox, who’ll be playing the organ for us. So, a chance to dust off our hymn books!!

During this time, for any general parish queries, please get in touch with our Session Clerk, Dr Dee Yates on 01864 504 093.

For any urgent pastoral matters, please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella, of Biggar Kirk on 01899 229291 or by email at - mfucella@churchofscotland.org.uk

Funeral of Mary Hamilton - Most of you should now know the details for Mary Hamilton’s funeral – but just to confirm that the service will be held in the church at 11.30am on Wednesday the 12th. It’s going to be conducted by the Rev. George Shand, who is known to a number of you – and, who Mary knew through the Guild. After the service, there’ll be a funeral tea up at the Elphinstone Hotel in Biggar….

Guild AGM rescheduled - One more notice, which is that the Guild AGM has been rescheduled from this Wednesday, and will now be held on Wed. 10th May at 2pm.

A post will go up on Monday with these, and other notices...
In the meantime, a joyful and blessed Easter to you all,
God bless

Nikki

Worship: Palm Sunday - 'An old, old story'

WELCOME to worship on this Palm Sunday …

We’ve walked with Jesus through the wilderness over these weeks of Lent, following in the footsteps of our ancestors in the faith and hearing ancient stories.
As we did so, we recalled that God’s people are a people on the move.
And so, we accompany Jesus, the word of life, on this last part of the journey:
today, we stand at the gates of Jerusalem… 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
Some hard news this week. For those who may not have heard yet, our friend, and church member, Mary Hamilton passed away, quietly at home, on Monday morning. It was unexpected and has been a shock to both Mary's family and friends. Once I have details of the funeral, I'll make sure to post it here on the blog, and, to ensure it's passed on in other ways as well. The only thing that I can say is that it will be at some point after Easter. 
In the meantime, I'm sure our thoughts and prayers are already with Mary’s family in their time of loss.

Online, on Good Friday, I'll put up a meditation that we used last year, to help us with our personal prayer and reflection. 
On Sunday, on site, our Easter Service will be at the usual worship time of 10.30am, and there'll also be an online service to accompany it.

As you move through Holy Week 2023, may it be a time of connection, and reflection, and may you find yourself drawing nearer to the heart of God.

Every blessing

Nikki