Worship Sun 28 April - upload delay notice

'After all, it's only fair.' Worship for Sun 21 April, 2024

Welcome to this week's time of worship. We're still in the season of Easter and so we'll be exploring what resurrection life looks like, through the lens of God's justice. How might God view what is right and fair compared to how we might?

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

Church notices -
Only the one that I'm aware of, which is that Presbytery will meet all day on Saturday 27th of April to discuss the revised 2nd draft presbytery plan. For those wishing to watch proceedings, I believe this will be live-streamed via the presbytery web-site ... or at least, they'll have a link to take you to the live stream. If I have any further information, I'll edit this post and put it up here.

In the meantime, have a good week!

God bless
Nikki 

News, updates, general information: wk beg 1 April - 17th April

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINISTER IS ON LEAVE FROM 1 APRIL - 17 APRIL

NOTICES/ 

Mon 1 April - Wed 17th - minister on annual leave: just to note that I will be taking some time off immediately after Easter Sunday and will be back at work again on Thursday the 18th. 

During this time:

     for general queries, our contact person is Heather Watt - 01899 850211

     for urgent pastoral cover (Upper Clyde only), please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella - 01899 229291

     worship cover over both Sundays on site will be provided by the Rev. George Shand

     music will be provided by Shenna and Philip Fox, on the organ

     online worship - some links to other congregations who have online services are copied below.

     You may like to visit with the following congregations:

     Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
     Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            

     Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK

Lent 40 for 40 appeal for Clydesdale food bank: just to say a huge thanks to everyone who donated items for the food bank over these last weeks. I'm delighted to say that we well exceeded our target, and also, hopefully provided a little Easter joy with gifts of chocolate eggs as well as basic food items. Well done everyone and thanks for your generosity.

Sun 21 April: Church Newsletter deadline for items to be included in our Pentecost newsletter. There will also be the latest update on where we are at with the 2nd draft, amended, reviewed, revised presbytery plan... If you have any items, please get in touch with Dee or via the 'contact us' link on the right of this page.

Anna Chaplaincy reminiscing café: do you have any photos of the old Abington School? If so, would you mind lending them to us for our reminiscing café in May, please? If you're able to help, please get in touch with Angela Wilson, our community outreach worker at: angela.wilson@churchofscotland.org.uk

Risen - worship for Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024

Christ and Saint Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, 

by Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1638

CHRIST IS RISEN!
ALLELUIA! 
HE IS RISEN INDEED! 
A very happy Easter to you and welcome as we gather as God's people, online and onsite, to worship the One who defeated death, and who promises life in all its fulness.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and church notices follow below.

NOTICES/ 
Lent 40 for 40 appeal for Clydesdale food bank: just to say a huge thanks to everyone who donated items for the food bank over these last weeks. I'm delighted to say that we well exceeded our target, and also, hopefully provided a little Easter joy with gifts of chocolate eggs as well as basic food items. Well done everyone and thanks for your generosity.

Mon 1 April - Wed 17th - minister on annual leave: just to note that I will be taking some time off immediately after Easter Sunday and will be back at work again on Thursday the 18th. 

During this time:

     for general queries, our contact person is Heather Watt - 01899 850211

     for urgent pastoral cover (Upper Clyde only), please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella - 01899 229291

     worship cover over both Sundays on site will be provided by the Rev. George Shand

     music will be provided by Shenna and Philip Fox, on the organ

     online worship - some links to other congregations who have online services are copied below.

     You may like to visit with the following congregations:

     Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
     Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
     Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK

Sun 21 April: Church Newsletter deadline for items to be included in our Pentecost newsletter. There will also be the latest update on where we are at with the 2nd draft, amended, reviewed, revised presbytery plan... If you have any items, please get in touch with Dee or via the 'contact us' link on the right of this page.

Anna Chaplaincy reminiscing café: do you have any photos of the old Abington School? If so, would you mind lending them to us for our reminiscing café in May, please? If you're able to help, please get in touch with Angela Wilson, our community outreach worker at: angela.wilson@churchofscotland.org.uk

In the meantime, a blessed and joyous Easter to you all.

Nikki

From palms to passion: a service for Palm Sunday, 24 March 2024

Welcome to our time of worship on this Palm Sunday, as we move into Holy Week. Our service moves us from the entry into Jerusalem and through to the events of Good Friday. A slightly different format for worship as we allow the story to unfold through scripture and poem...

THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Many thanks for all the generous donations of items for the food bank - I'll be uplifting them and dropping them off this afternoon to a friend who volunteers there. 

Just to note that there will be evening worship in Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm tonight. This evening, we'll be exploring Palm Sunday through the lens of the icon: 'Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem' as part of our 'Iconic' worship series. All are welcome to come and there will be refreshments and the opportunity for a blether after the service.

May you know God walking close by over the course of this week, and until next time, take care, goodbye, and God bless.

'Restoration' - worship for Sun 17 March, 2024

WELCOME to worship, on this 5th Sunday in the season of Lent – a season in the church year traditionally associated with reflection and repentance, and the colour purple, and yet, as we move into the week, this more quiet and reflective time is interrupted on Wednesday with International Day of Happiness. It may seem, somehow jarring and yet, scripture reminds us that happy are those who walk in God’s ways!
To go straight to the service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and the service should be available by c.6.30pm Sun evening.

CHURCH NOTICES/
'40 for 40' Lent Food Bank Appeal - Don’t forget our Lent ’40 for 40’ appeal for the Clydesdale foodbank – and this Sunday coming, which will be Palm Sunday, will be your last opportunity to pop a donation of food or other items into the food bank box in the vestibule – as I’ll be collecting it and taking it along to Ben for delivery to the food bank after worship. Alternatively, you can always make a donation online through the Clydesdale food bank website by CLICKING HERE.

'Remember when?' Café - one item I did forget to flag up was the upcoming 'Remember when?' Cafe which will be held at the Abington Community Hub. Over lunch, our Community Outreach Worker, Angel Wilson, will be facilitating a time for sharing of memories. All are welcome to come along and share memories over some lunch.
This is part of the Anna Chaplaincy project.

Sun 24 March, 5pm: Evening worship at Leadhills Village Hall - although not quite the last Sunday of the month, we'll be holding worship in the village hall this coming weekend. Do come and join us for worship, conversation, and a cuppa, from 5pm.

As we move towards Palm Sunday, may you know times of refreshing and restoration over this coming week.

God bless

Nikki

Pulpit swap for Sun 10 March

Hi everyone.

Just to flag up that on the 10th there will be a pulpit swap happening between Douglas Valley and Upper Clyde. Nikki will be across sharing in communion at both Douglas and Rigside, while in the parish church at Abington, Denham MacDougall will be conduction worship. Given this, there will be no online Upper Clyde service provided this week.
For those of you wishing to worship online, this week is an opportunity to have a wee visit and some suggestions follow:

• Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
• Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
  
• Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        
  
• Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK 

Church notices/
Guild - the Guild meets this week on Wed. at 2pm in the church hall. Our speaker will be Rachel Belk, talking about the Quakers. Thereafter, refreshments will be served. all welcome.

'40 for 40' - don't forget our appeal for donations to support the work of Clydesdale Food Bank. The challenge is to ensure we have at least 40 items in the food bank box by the end of Palm Sunday - which will then be uplifted and delivered to the food bank. If you'd like to make a donation online, CLICK THIS LINK which will take you across to the food bank website

God bless and see  you next week,

Nikki

'We think it 'mazing' - worship for Sun 3 March, Lent 3

Welcome to our service of worship on this third Sunday in the season of Lent.

Today, we hear two stories from Luke’s gospel, in which we encounter two people in particular need of help – two people, whose circumstances couldn’t be more different and  yet, in both situations, we find the same love and compassion extended by Jesus…
You'll find the LINK FOR WORSHIP HERE

As is usual, church notices are copied below for reference.

Church notices/
Parish newsletter - an update: instead of an Easter newsletter, we're having a slight change of plan. As there will be a meeting of presbytery on the 27th of April to discuss the amended 2nd draft plan, Dee and I thought we would hold off on publishing the newsletter until after the meeting has taken place. This way, I can put include an up to date report on where we are - or aren't - at, with regard to the plan. So, for a change, we'll be having a Pentecost newsletter instead (Pentecost falls on 19th of May this year).

In the meantime, I’ll get information out about services around Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter – by way of poster, and on our blog.

Lent appeal - '40 for 40': Don’t forget our ’40 for 40’ Lent appeal on behalf of Clydesdale food bank – on site, we’re hoping to achieve a target of at least 40 donated items for the food bank by the end of Lent – to be taken to the food bank after Palm Sunday. If you have any items that you’d like to donate to the food bank, either drop them into the box in the vestibule at church, or, just let me know and I can arrange to have them collected. And for folk online, you'll find a link to the food bank on the panel to your right should you wish to donate that way.

Session meeting: For members of the Kirk Session, just to note that we have a meeting on Thursday this week at 7pm, and I’ll send out the papers and a link on Sunday evening.

Pulpit swap: Just to flag up that next week, we’ve a pulpit swap, as I’ll be over at Douglas and Rigside celebrating communion with them. In my place will be Denham Macdougall, who’ll be conducting worship for us in the building. Online, I’ll set up links to other online services that some of you in our online community might like to go and visit.

In the meantime, have a good week, 
God bless

Nikki

'Love anyway!' Worship for Sun 25 Feb - Lent 2

Welcome to this week's time of worship where today, we go right back to the heart of the gospel - love. We're reflecting on Jesus' command to love...even our enemies. How do we do that? Well, Jesus gives us some guidance.
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Notices follow below... 

CHURCH NOTICES/
40 for 40 Lent Foodbank challenge: a reminder about our ’40 for 40’ Lent challenge – 40 days of Lent as an opportunity to gather at least 40 items to donate to the food bank… and, as I said last week, if there’s more, I don’t think the food bank will send any back! Alongside basic provisions, given I’ll be getting the donated items to Ben from the food bank for distribution just before Easter, if some of you were minded to make a donation of Easter eggs for folk using the food bank who have children but who would otherwise not be able to afford a wee treat that would be very kind. 

Concert in Moffat - Bruce Davies: I had an email from the Rev. Elsie Macrae next door in Moffat this week – asking if I’d let folk know about a concert that they’re having in their church building on Sunday the 3rd of March at 2pm – It will be a performance by Scottish singer/ songwriter Bruce Davies. Tickets are £5. 

Sun 3 March, 10:30 worship - COMMUNION: we’ll be sharing together in the first of our quarterly communion services for the year. Please do let folk know and, if you know of anyone who would appreciate a home communion visit with an elder and myself, please let me or Dee Yates know. And, all are welcome to come and share in the Lord’s Supper, for he is the host, and we, his guests.

Sun 25 Feb, 5pm - Evening worship: A reminder that our evening services begin again for the year, up in Leadhills Village Hall. Worship is at 5pm this evening, and we’ll be gathering around a table to share in a very simple communion service, accompanied with the music of the Taizé Community. All are welcome to come along, and there’ll be tea and coffee after our time of worship

Easter Newsletter - the deadline for any items is by the evening of Friday, 1 March. If you have any items you would like to include - such as sharing a favourite Easter poem, or memory, or a particular hymn and why it's a favourite... or even a seasonal cartoon, please get in touch with either Dee or myself (Nikki).

And so we continue on through Lent, moving closer to Holy Week and the Cross. As we think of Jesus' command to love - even our enemies - how might we take on that challenge as we go out into a new week?
May you know God beside you this week,

God bless,

Nikki

'I give up!' Worship for Sun 18 Feb - 1st Sun of Lent

Welcome  to worship on this first Sunday in the season of Lent – those weeks that will lead us to Holy Week and Easter…and so we follow in Jesus’ footsteps to Jerusalem and begin with Jesus preparing for that journey by travelling into the wilderness… 

To access our service, click on the LINK HERE to take you to our YouTube channel.
Notices follow below...

Church notices:
'40 for 40' foodbank challenge: for those of you minded to take something on over Lent, let's take on supporting our food bank over these next weeks. On site, I’ve put the food bank box in the vestibule, where it will remain until after worship on Palm Sunday. If, over these next weeks, you had items to donate that would help folk in our local communities, that would be great – I was wondering if we could manage to gather at least 40 items – to symbolise the 40 days of Lent – though, of course, if we end up with more, well, that would be excellent! Also, thinking that these items will be delivered during the week before Easter, if any of you were minded to donate some Easter eggs for little ones, for families who just have no money for treats that would be very kind indeed. For those of you unable to get to the church building, either drop them to me in the manse, or, let me know, and I can collect them from you at some point. Alternatively, you can make a donation online by clicking on THIS LINK. Thanks, as ever for your support.

Funeral for Kit McKendrick: Kit's funeral will be held in the church at 1pm on Thursday this week. Thereafter, we gather at Elvanfoot Cemetery for her committal, c.1.45pm. The funeral tea will be held in the Masonic Hall, Abington.

As we move into this season of Lent, a blessing to you on your journey.

God bless,
Nikki

'Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.' - worship Sun 11 Feb

Welcome to our online service of worship this week where we'll be reflecting upon a very large picnic...

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Huge apologies - the video didn't upload for some reason last night. It should be available from about 2pm this afternoon! (Sunday 11th)

CHURCH NOTICES
Pancake Sunday: on site, this week, we begin at 9.30am for a pancake breakfast. So I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who helped to make this event possible - what a fab way to prepare for the season of Lent.

Lent books: for those of you who’ve put in an order, the books have arrived. I’ll try to drop them in to you by Wednesday.

Lent challenge: Using the number 40 for the 40 days of Lent, I wonder if some of you might be rise to the challenge of individually and together collecting pasta and tins of soup, so that by the time we reach Palm Sunday, we have at least 40 items ready to take to the food bank? For those at home wanting to do this over the weeks of Lent, do as you're able, and let me know - I'm happy to do a pick up when the time comes. Given Easter will be approaching, alternately, you might like to donate some Easter eggs for food bank users who have children - treats which those below the breadline can't really afford. Alternatively you can make a donation online to Clydesdale Food Bank by clicking on the FOOD BANK LINK HERE. 
Thanks everyone.

Funeral of Kit McKendrick: Some sad news to report: if you’ve not heard, Kit McKendrick died this last week. Her funeral will be on Thursday the 22nd at 1pm in the parish church, followed thereafter, by a graveside committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Please do let folk who might want to attend, know. 

Guild meeting: Wed 2pm. The Guild will be meeting this week through in the church hall and our guest speaker will be Anne Mackie from Riding for the Disabled. If you’re able to come along, it would be great to see you. 

As we move into the season of Lent, may your spiritual journey be a blessed one.

Have a good week,
God bless,

Nikki

'When the storms of life are raging': worship 4th Feb. 2024

WELCOME to our weekly online worship - I hope you find it a time of encouragement and spiritual nourishment. To access the service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES/
Sun 11 Feb.: Pancake Sunday service - to help get us ready to enter the season of Lent, we'll be having a pancake breakfast before the morning service, through in the church hall. If you're able, do come along - bring some friends, as all are welcome. The doors to the church hall will open for 9.30, and after breakfast, the service will begin through in the worship space at 10.30am.

2024 Lent Book: Lent is a time for giving up or taking on, and this year, if you'd like to take on a Lent challenge, why not join in reading 'Loving my Neighbour' over the course of the season to help you on the spiritual journey?  The book costs £9.99 and is broken into weekly sections which have daily reflections for you to either start or end your day, or read over lunch, or whenever best suits your routine. If you’d like me to order you a copy, let me know by tomorrow evening (Mon 5th) and I can order a copy in time to give to you next Sunday before Lent begins.

Thurs. 8th Feb. 7pm: Kirk Session - a reminder to members of the Session that we have a meeting at 7pm on Thursday this week. Minutes and an agenda will be with you shortly.

God bless and have a good week.

'A fishy tale': worship for Sun 28 Jan.

WELCOME to worship where today we’re kind of having a light bulb moment in the middle of a storm at sea. 

To go straight to our YouTube channel click on THIS LINK

Notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
11 Feb.: Pancake Sunday - on the weekend before the season of Lent officially begins we’ll be opening the church doors for a pancake breakfast at 9.30am. This will be followed by our service of worship. Please do let people know – everyone’s welcome to come along… and let’s hope that it’s as successful as our Harvest breakfast was last year.
And, I’m hoping to catch up with folk to get this organised – so if you're able to help in some way, please do get in touch!

Lent book group: if you'd like to join a book group over Lent, do get in touch. It's essentially just a simple commitment to read a particular book over the season, as a wee chance for some spiritual nurture and growth. The book chosen for this year is 'Loving my Neighbour', published by BRF and you can ORDER A COPY HERE or, I'm happy to get a copy for you if you let me know by Mon 5th of February. The cost is £9.99. The book itself is divided into weeks, with each week written by a different author, and broken into daily readings. So, a good Lent discipline.

Thurs 8th Feb., 7pm: A reminder that there’ll be a meeting of the Session on Thursday the 8th of February, by zoom, and I’m hoping we can get an agenda and minutes out in due course to members of the Session.

'A man's a man, for a' that': worship for Sun 21 January

WELCOME to worship as we move further into the season of epiphany – the time in the church year
where we essentially do a little unwrapping of the message of Christmas. Last time we were together, we did a little unwrapping of Jesus.
This week, we explore the beginnings of his mission and ministry, picking up on Luke's account of the Beatitudes. 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and should be available from about 4pm Sunday afternoon.

CHURCH NOTICES
Not many this week ...
Evening worship. Leadhills: Just to note that there will be no evening service this coming Sunday at Leadhills.

Lent Book Group: This year, Easter falls quite early – the 31st of March – and so, before that, we have Lent. And I’m wondering if there are any of you who might like to be involved in a Lent book group over the weeks leading up to Easter? Let me know, and I’ll look out some suggestions. The idea being that from the comfort of our own homes, we commit to reading a particular book together to accompany us over Lent. Via conversations over coffee, or phone, or even email, over the weeks, feel free to share your thoughts. Let me know if you'd like to be involved.

Pancake Sunday: One wee event to flag up that's coming up on the horizon, is Pancake Sunday on the 11th of February. Basically, a pancake breakfast before worship in the church building. For those of you worshipping online, if you want to join in the spirit of things, there's a very good excuse to rustle up some pancakes and enjoy them over worship!!

In the meantime, may you know God's presence with you through the week,
God bless

Nikki 

'Unwrapping Jesus' - worship for Sun 7 Jan

Welcome to our time of worship today, as we transition from the season of Christmas to the season of Epiphany - a season of mysteries revealed, of 'ah ha!' lightbulb moments, of connecting dots...
You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE to take you across to our YouTube channel... the video should be available from 4.30pm Sunday...
Meanwhile, notices are below...

Church notices/
The Guild afternoon tea will be held this week, on Wed. 10th, at 2.30pm, in the Abington Community Hub. All are welcome to come along to what is a really lovely way to start off the year. If you'd like to come, please get in touch with Heather, so she can book your place for catering purposes.
Minister on annual leave as of Mon 8th through to late afternoon Wed 17th of January. 

•    For general queries please contact our Session Clerk, Janice Reid on 07812 158275
•    For urgent pastoral matters please contact the Rev. Louise Mackay (Lanark: St Nicholas) for         assistance on 01555 661936 or by email: lmackay@churchofscotland.org.uk
• Worship cover for Sun 14 Jan is being provided  by the Rev. George Shand onsite, while, online,
      you may like to visit with the following congregations:
      Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
      Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
      Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK