HARVEST CELEBRATION SERVICE

 PLEASE DO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE, 
AND GIVE THANKS FOR, THE HARVEST.

We're delighted to welcome the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, 

the Rt. Rev. Dr Iain Greenshields, to our service as our special guest preacher.
And a special welcome to Linda, Siona, and Susi Greenshields, 

who will also be joining us.

Thank you to our schools, who have been using lots of imagination and creativity in the making of special decorations for the service. I can truly say that it will be... sheep-tastic! 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

And, of course, many thanks to everyone who has also offered to help with decorations, donations, and providing catering - it is truly appreciated. 

n.b. for those who follow our worship online, we are hoping to film the service 

and have it uploaded by early Sunday evening.

Worship Sun 9 Oct - ''Why worry when you can pray?'

WELCOME to this time of worship, where we'll hear Jesus trying to encourage his followers not to lose heart, but to persist in prayer. 

I'm currently experimenting with filming the sermon during worship, to upload with the full service thereafter. In an ideal world, the service should hopefully be available by around 7pm on Sunday, or Monday morning. 
Once the service is uploaded, I'll pop the worship link here... alternatively, you could try directly, across at our Youtube channel...  WORSHIP LINK HERE
Notices follow below.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Wed, 2pm: The Guild meets in the church hall this week. All are welcome to come along.

Thurs 1.30pm: Bereavement support group - our newest project begins this week, and meets at the Abington Community Hub. For all who would find a safe, supportive, listening and sharing space helpful. For those who've been living with grief for a long time, and for those newly bereaved. All welcome. 

HARVEST FESTIVAL NEWS -
Saturday, 2-4pm: the church will be open for decorating and dropping off items for the harvest display. (After the service on Sunday, all produce and food items and other items) will be uplifted and taken to the foodbank for distribution. 

Sunday 16th, 10.30am: ,Harvest festival service 
Our special guest preacher will be the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. And we’ll also be joined by some of the family.

The Ripple Effect - During the service, along with giving thanks for the harvest, we’ll be flagging up the work of the charity formerly known as ‘Send a Cow’, which has recently been rebranded, and now known as ‘The Ripple Effect’: a charity founded by UK farmers to help farmers in several countries in Africa. We’ll be having a special collection to help support the good work done by The Ripple Effect – there’ll be a plate by the door as you leave, should you wish to make a donation.
Or, you can donate online

Harvest lunch after the service... if you can, please do stay after the service and come through to the hall to share in a simple harvest lunch – soup, some home baking, along with a cuppa.
(Also, if you’re able to help with some of the catering, please get in touch with Heather and Cathy...)

Filming: Just to note that we’re hoping to film the service so that we can put it online on our youtube channel so for those of you who can’t make it, and those of you who are regular online visitors, you’ll be able to catch up that way – if the tech works! 

Worship Sun 2 Octo 2022: 'Borderlines'

WELCOME/ 
First, my apologies for the delay - started the week on Wednesday, and it was a full one. Thanks for your patience....
By way of a wee experiment, the welcome, sermon, and blessing were filmed during our time of worship this morning as opposed to filming in the manse on Saturday - let me know your thoughts as I'm wondering if I might do this more often. If so, it would mean worship online would be made available later than it tends to be currently - probably for Mon morning. (was the sound okay? And yes, will need to move the lectern microphone a little! Any feedback on tech matters appreciated)

This week, we continue travelling on the road with Jesus, where he encounters a group of men whose illness prevents them from being a part of their communities...

If you'd prefer to skip the church notices, copied below, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.  (this should be available from around 4.30pm-ish Sunday - it's currently uploading as I type this)

CHURCH NOTICES/
Kirk Session - via zoom, scheduled for 7pm on Thursday evening. 

Looking ahead - ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL DETAILS -
Sat 15 Oct 2-4pm church open for decorating and dropping off produce/ food bank donations. 
Our primary schools are springing into action this coming week and putting their creative talents to good use by making some decorations for the church building. Looking forward to seeing what they do!
Sun 16 Oct. - Harvest Festival Service
Once again, we’ll be supporting the work of the charity ‘Send a Cow’ – who just this year have changed their name to ‘Ripple Effect’ – better to emphasise the diverse work they do in Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia... but nevertheless, a group set up by farmers, to support farmers. You can find out more about Ripple Effect by their website – Ripple Effect 
Also, we’ll be supporting Clydesdale Food Bank by donating all food items given for our harvest festival. Online you can support their work here... Clydesdale Food Bank 

Special guest preacher - This year, we are delighted to be welcoming a special guest preacher – details next week!!  
Harvest lunch after worship - If you're coming along, you're very welcome to join us for a simple harvest soup lunch after the service. There will be a vegetarian option available.

Worship Sun 18 Sept 'Sons of Thunder'

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to our time of worship.  
In this season of national mourning, last week we reflected on ‘lost things’.
This week, our worship theme turns to power and service,
as we contemplate the God who humbled himself by becoming one of us... walking in our shoes awhile.
Church notices are below, but if you'd prefer to go straight to the service, the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
Annual leave - As of Mon 19th I’ll be taking a little time off, and will be back at work from Wed 28th.
In the meantime, worship on site for Sunday the 25th will be provided by our friend, Bill Buchan, making a welcome return. We’ll also be enjoying some live music in worship, provided by Susan Cowell. While I’m off, Dee Yates, our Session Clerk, will act as a general point of contact - 01864 504093, while the Rev. Mike Fucella will provide urgent pastoral cover - 01899 229291.
Online, you might like to make use of the following worship options: 
Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK           
Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        
Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Sun 25 - evening worship: at 5pm, there’ll be informal, café style worship in Leadhills Village Hall, which will be led by our Community Outreach Worker, Angela Wilson. All are welcome to attend. Afterwards, there will be time for a cuppa and a blether.

Food bank - This month is a Food Bank collection/ donation month. On site, you can leave items in the box in the vestibule. Online, you can make a donation via this link  

Caring hearts project - thanks to all our knitters and crocheters. The hearts that were made over the summer are now being distributed throughout our 5 schools. It's great to be sharing the love!

Looking ahead - a date for your diary:
ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON 16 OCTOBER 10.30am in the church building. We're delighted to be welcoming a special guest preacher for the morning. All will be revealed closer to the time 😀

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 11 Sept - 'Of lost things'

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to worship. Our theme for worship was set weeks ago – well before we heard the news of the sudden death of her majesty, the Queen... and yet, in this odd time that we now find ourselves in... it’s strangely apt. The theme ‘of lost things’. 

With her loss, gone is one constant in decades of rapid change – some of us have only ever sung ‘God save the Queen’ and getting used to singing ‘God save the King’ will take a little readjusting to. Her Majesty navigated her way through life with her faith as an anchor... moored to the One true constant for us all – the One who created each one of us: God, our Father. 
If you want to head straight to worship, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE. 
Notices are below for reference...

CHURCH NOTICES/
Food bank: the food bank box is under the table in the vestibule, should you wish to make a donation onsite – it will be there over the Sundays of September, and thereafter, I’ll pass any items along. For those online, you can make a donation with the link that’s provided here. Thank you in advance for your kindness.

Guild: given we are now in a national period of mourning, the Guild meeting that was scheduled for this coming Wednesday has been cancelled, and will reconvene in October instead. The Rev. Elsie Macrae, from Moffat who was to be our speaker, will come along at a later date – yet to be confirmed.

May God bless you as you go through this week,

Nikki

Worship Sun 4 Sept

WELCOME/
A slightly delayed online service - my apologies. It was a week of too many meetings and not enough time. But... now sorted!
Our theme today is one of call: Jesus' call to take up our cross and to follow him.
In our service onsite at Abington this morning, we held our Guild dedication, and quarterly communion. Presbytery plan business carries on a-pace (hence so many meetings), and we'll keep you posted as any updates come in.
May this time of worship be an encouragement, and nourishment - food for the soul - as you travel out into this coming week. 
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE, and the clip should be fully uploaded and ready by about 9.30pm this evening.
Thanks for your patience,

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 28 Aug - 'Seating arrangements'

WELCOME/
Hello – and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish where, this week, Jesus has a chat about dinner parties and seating arrangements.

If you want to skip the notices and go straight to the service, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

For general reference, the notices are also copied below:

Sun 5pm 28 Aug: Worship at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall. This will be a Songs of Praise style of worship, so come along for a good sing! After our time of worship, there’ll be tea and coffee, and a chance for a good blether, so if you’re able to come along, it’d be great to see you.

Sun  4 Sept. 10.30am: Communion This coming Sunday, onsite in the church building, we’ll be having our quarterly Communion service... all are welcome to share at the table of the Lord.
The Guild Dedication will also form part of this service, as it begins a new session for the year...

Clydesdale Foodbank: a reminder that over the Sundays of September, the food bank box will be in the vestibule for donations. For those of you online – if you’re able, you can help by donating using the link below. This is a very practical way of helping our neighbours.
Clydesdale foodbank link

Thurs 1 Sept, 7pm: Kirk session meeting: this will be held by zoom – the main item of business will be the proposed presbytery plan. 

May you be encouraged by this time of worship, and as you move forward into the week, may you feel God, close beside you.
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 21 Aug - 'Unbent'

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to worship.
Last week we were singing Songs of Praise, this week, we hear the songs of praise from a woman who meets Jesus at a synagogue and whose life is changed forever.

Just a couple of things to note:
A reminder this coming Sunday, we'll be hosting our evening worship at Leadhills Village Hall from 5pm. And, having had a good sing in the glens last week, we'll be having another in the hills as we hold a songs of praise service there. Come along! Tea and biscuits and blethers thereafter.

As many of you will be aware, there’s currently proposals for change in our area – with the new presbytery plan – there’s a meeting in Lanark on Monday night, and we’ve a wee team going to represent the congregation. Do please pray for us, and our surrounding parishes at this time of change, and for wisdom and kindness to be at the heart of our conversations.

You'll find our WORSHIP LINK HERE

May you know God's presence by your side this week,

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 14 Aug: Song of Praise service

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to worship on this Songs of Praise Sunday. We’ve got a cracking list of hymns for our time or worship so I hope that you find cheer, encouragement, and joy as you sing along and praise our God, who is so worthy of praise.

If you want to go straight to the service you'll find the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

For reference notices are below:
Thanks/ First, a big thank you to Ralph and Ursula for ensuring we had music (on site) over the last couple of weeks while I was away... and to Heather, Willie, and Dee for being the ‘go – to’ contacts. And also, thanks to Rev. Bill Buchan for providing pulpit supply for us. Online, I hope you made use of the links I’d provided over on our blog and enjoyed being able to visit elsewhere while I was off. 

Presbytery plan/ As many of you will probably know, presbytery is in the middle of big changes – and is currently formulating a new presbytery plan. This will affect all congregations in some way and we’ll shortly learn what the thinking is for our area here – this, at a meeting in Lanark on Monday the 22nd at 7pm. Please do keep this in your prayers.

In the meantime, enjoy the service, and may you feel God walking with you through this coming week.
God bless,
Nikki

Church notices wk beg. Mon 25 July - Tues 9 Aug

CHURCH NOTICES/ 

The minister will be on annual leave from
Monday the 25th of July and back at work on Wednesday the 10th of August.

Worship -
During this time, onsite, worship will be provided by the Rev Bill Buchan, while online, you might like to explore the following:

Biggar Parish Church - LINK

Dunfermline Abbey - LINK           

Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        

Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Pastoral cover -
Urgent pastoral care will be covered by t

General queries... well this gets a little complicated, as a few folk are away :-) 
Heather Watt 
Thereafter, Willie White 
Dee Yates 

Other notices -
Community work -
Angela our community outreach work is also on annual leave until the 1st of August – should you need to catch up with her on any given project, hold off until she’s back.

Sun 14 Aug, online and onsite: Songs of Praise service -
Don’t forget, we’re gathering up hymns for our songs of praise service on the 14th of August, so get your hymn nominations in and I’ll get them prepared when I’m back from leave. Either email, or use the 'contact us' feature on the r-hand side of the blog, or, if in the building - pop a wee note in the offering plate on your way in.

Looking ahead - 
There'll also be an evening Songs of Praise service at Leadhills Village Hall on Sun 28 Aug - and again, let me know your hymn choices for that service.

Worship Sun 24 July: 'Teach us to pray'

WELCOME/ 

Hello – and welcome to worship. 

Last week, we spent some time in the home of Mary and Martha, along with Jesus and some of the disciples, and listened as Martha got somewhat hot and bothered and distracted. Always a difficult thing to balance responsibilities with trying to make time to spend with God.

Today, we pick up on the theme of spending time with God, as we think about the prayer we say each week as a community: the Lord’s Prayer. 

Church notices are below for reference, and the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/

I’ll be on annual leave from Monday the 25th of July and back at work on Wednesday the 10th of August. During that time, onsite, worship will be provided by the Rev Bill Buchan, while any urgent pastoral care will be covered by the Rev Mike Fucella of Biggar Kirk - .

For any general queries... well this gets a little complicated, as a few folk are away...

Heather Watt will be the contact person from the 25th of July to the 3rd of August. 01899 850211

Thereafter, Willie White will be contact from the 4th to the 7th. 01899 229227
Dee Yates will cover for the 8th and 9th. 01864 504093

Angela our community outreach work is also on annual leave until the 1st of August – should you need to catch up with her on any given project, hold off until she’s back.

In the meantime, don’t forget, we’re gathering up hymns for our songs of praise service on the 14th of August, so get your hymn nominations in and I’ll get them prepared when I’m back from leave.

And finally, just to note that evening worship in Leadhills Village Hall has been cancelled – but, we’ll be back to normal again in August when we’ll have a songs of praise from the hills as well as in the glen! 

May you know God's blessing this week,
take care
Nikki

Worship Sun 17 July: 'M and M'

WELCOME/

Hello - welcome to our time of worship. 

Today, our gospel reading finds us peeking into the home of some friends of Jesus, who welcome him in, but where the offering of hospitality doesn’t quite go to plan...

If you want to go straight across to our service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/ 

Evening worship Sunday, 24 July  
Leadhills Village Hall, at 5pm. Come along and join us, if you’re able, and after the service, there’ll be a chance to catch up with folk over tea, coffee, and juice.
Songs of Praise 'choose your favourite hymn' nominations: nominations are currently open to choose your favourite hymn – or hymns – for possible inclusion in our Songs of Praise service which will be held on the 14th of August. Just let me know via email, phone, or drop a note into the collection plate if you're in the building, so we can gather your choices up. 8 hymn slots are available and feel free to nominate more than one hymn.
Caring hearts school project

If you’ve not yet managed to knit or crochet any hearts for our schools project, there’s only a few weeks left, and we need about 50, if possible. So, if you do have any spare time, it would be great if you could rustle up some wee hearts for our schoolkids.

Let's get growing project
I have a couple of sacks of seed potatoes at the manse - they are suitable for growing in colder areas such as ours, and there's still just enough time to plant a crop. If you'd like to take some potatoes away, please help yourself, they're just by the front door of the manse!!

As you you move into another week, know that God goes with you.
Until next time, 
God bless,
Nikki

Church notices for wk beginning Sun 10 July

Hi folks,
Huge apologies for not putting up a post yesterday with links to worship. In my mind, I thought I'd actually done it... sorry about that!!
Meantime, just a couple of notices for this week...

Thanks:
Many thanks to Alan Grant for conducting worship onsite while I was across at Cairngryffe Church for a double baptism. Thanks, as well, to Heather Watt and Ursula Baillie for providing the welcome and notices, plus music.

Let's get growing:
A reminder that on Sat 16th from 10am -2pm, at the manse in Crawford, there'll be the opportunity to collect onion sets, shallots, garlic, and potatoes for a late planting - this is part of the 'Let's get growing' project and we received a grant for them, so they're free to good homes and do take as many as you want, as they're perishable.

Songs of Praise - choose your favourite hymn:
It's coming up to that time of year when you get to choose your favourite hymns for a Songs of Praise style service on Sun 14th August. Let me (Nikki) know by email, phone, or by popping a note in the collection plate on your way in. You can nominate as many of your favourites as you like, which will be whittled down to 8 hymns for that Sunday.

Worship Sun 3 July

WELCOME/ 
Welcome to worship!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve travelled along with Jesus and his disciples as they’ve ventured out of their comfort zones both geographically and culturally. This week, we continue our travels, but with a twist: Jesus sends his followers off on an adventure of their own, putting theory into practice. And so we’ll see what happens when the disciples are let loose upon the world.
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE
While below are our church notices... 

CHURCH NOTICES/
On Sunday, the 10^th, I’ll be across at Cairngryffe church, where we’ll be celebrating a double baptism. While I’m over there, Allan Grant will be covering worship onsite. Meantime, online, I’ll have some worship links available for you to choose from.

Let's get growing project: unfortunately, we've had a delayed start this year. While our order had been submitted, due to unforeseen circumstances, we weren't able to access the gardening items until this week. Most of it can be stored for this coming year for a February / March start, however there are some perishables that are needing homes. There is just enough time to get these growing and harvested.
So, on Sat 16 July 10am-2pm, come along and help yourselves to some potatoes (Charlotte - so okay for late planting), onion sets, shallots, and garlic.
As this is a community growing project, we received a grant for this, so all of these are free.
You’re very welcome to take what you want - and, if you're so minded, perhaps a share of these might be given to the foodbank to supplement the tinned and packaged food.

In the meantime, have a good week, 
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 26 June: 'Nostalgia ain't wot it used to be'

WELCOME to our time of worship!

Last week we followed Jesus and his disciples across boundaries, into the territory of the Gerasenes. This week, their travels continue, and they find themselves in Samaritan territory, where some are curious about Jesus and wonder about following him – but have some things to do before they do so. So, our theme today takes in:
following,
focusing, and moving forward...

Only one church notice, which is that evening worship will be held at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall to which all are welcome. And, there’ll be a cuppa after the service...

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

May you be encouraged and blessed by the service, and know God's presence with you as you move through the week.
God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 19 June 'Legion'

WELCOME/  
Hello – and welcome. In our time of worship this week, we going beyond the boundaries with Jesus – geographically, and culturally, and meet a man whose problems are ‘legion’.

For those of you who want to go straight to the service, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

And, for those who'd like to read our church notices, they follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES/
Community Worker update: some good news - our Community worker, Angela, is back at work after her accident and she’ll be joining us in our time of worship next week and will be doing the readings for us.
Clydesdale food bank: A reminder that over the month of June, we’re once again supporting the work of the Clydesdale food bank – the box is in the vestibule should you wish to leave items there, or, you can visit the link on the right hand side of this webpage, and make a donation there. 
Caring hearts project: For those of you knitting or crocheting hearts for our school project – just a wee timeline: I’d like to gather up any outstanding hearts by the end of July, just to give me time to bag them all up and get them ready for distribution when I’m back from taking some annual leave early August. And of course, they can always be dropped off at the manse should you be passing.

These are all our notices. I hope that this time of worship leaves you encouraged, and energised to move into a new week. May you feel God walking with you and, until next time, take care and God bless, 
Nikki

Worship news & church notices for wk beg. Sun 12 June...

Sunday morning, onsite, the service will be conducted by Mr Denham MacDougall, Interim Moderator for Douglas Valley, and an elder at Cairngryffe church. Nikki will be across at Douglas and Rigside presiding over communion. Given this, there will not be an online service from Upper Clyde this week. Instead, you might like to explore the following services: 
            Biggar Parish Church - LINK
            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK           
            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK       
            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

The foodbank box will remain in the vestibule over the Sundays of June, should you have any items you'd like to donate. For online donations, check out the link on the r-hand side bar that will take you to Clydesdale Food Bank's donations web page.
Caring hearts project - huge thanks to all you knitters and crocheters - we have 125 hearts - let's push on for 200! You're amazing. Many thanks!

Worship Sun 5 June: Pentecost

WELCOME/ Hello! Welcome to worship on this Pentecost Sunday – where we remember and celebrate the birthday of the church: the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit to those who followed, and still follow, Jesus.
Just to note that, on site, in the church building, we'll be holding our summer communion service.

Notices are below.
Meanwhile, if you'd rather jump straight across to our service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

NOTICES/ 
Caring hearts project - A wee update on our ‘caring hearts’ project – where we’re knitting or crocheting hearts for our 5 schools within the parish. The total number of hearts I’ve received so far is 125. Let’s see if we can push this to 200, and when we’ve got that target, I’ll be parcelling them up in readiness to distribute to our schools at the beginning of the new school year in August. A great effort so far everyone, so thank you so very much!   

Pulpit swap - Next week I’ll be across at Douglas and Rigside churches, where I’ll be conducting services of holy communion for both congregations. Onsite at Upper Clyde, we welcome Denham Macdougall – the interim moderator for Douglas Valley Parish, and also an elder at Cairngryffe church.
Online, I’ll be providing links to other online services to go and visit.

Jubilee Community events - Both Crawford and Roberton will be holding community gatherings today as part of the Jubilee weekend. If you're able, why not head along to support these events, and have the opportunity to catch up with folk for a blether and a cuppa.

These are all the notices. As we go into this coming week, may you know the comfort, the encouragement, and the strength of God's Spirit with you, in all you think, and say, and do.

God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 29 May - 'Unity is not uniformity'

WELCOME/  Hello and welcome to worship where our theme today is unity. We continue in the Gospel of John and we are still in the Upper Room. Having finished teaching the disciples, Jesus prays for them, before they head off to the Garden of Gethsemane. And in the prayer, he asks God, the Father, that they may be one as he is one with the Father....

For those of you who wish to go straight across to our youtube site for worship, the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

For those of you wishing to check the church notices first, and, for reference, keep reading...
CHURCH NOTICES/
Evening worship, Leadhills - This evening at 5pm, there’ll be a short, informal time of worship at Leadhills Village Hall to which all are welcome. We'll be thinking about Jesus' ascension. After the service there'll also be the chance for a catch up over a cuppa.

General Assembly - As many of you are aware, this last week, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met and there’ll a brief word about that later in the sermon.

Communion Sunday, June 5th, 10.30am - This coming Sunday is a service of communion. Please do pass that on to folk you know who might want to attend. And to those of you who worship online: if we were livestreaming the service, we could possibly get around this difficulty of not providing an online version of communion, but, as the online service is pre-recorded I’m really just not sure how the logistics of doing this online would work – so my apologies for this.

Worship Sun 22 May - 'My peace I give to you'

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to worship. This week, we continue spending time with Jesus and his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem, as he takes this moment to teach them one last time before he is arrested. And today, we’re focusing in on the peace that Jesus freely gives to his followers.

To go straight to worship just click on THIS LINK
Or read on for church notices...

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has begun and goes through this week until Thursday afternoon. It’s Upper Clyde’s turn to attend this year and while Margaret Harley and I will be attending online, and I’ll be in the manse, and not in Edinburgh, even so, every day will be pretty packed with hearing reports. If you need to get in touch with me, you’re best to call after 6pm when business should be finished for the day. Or just drop me an email and I’ll respond when I can.

Evening worship will be held this coming Sunday at 5pm at Leadhills. And all are very welcome to come along for this more informal gathering, with time for a cuppa and a catch up afterwards.

As you go out and about this week, may you know God's peace, 
God bless

Nikki

Worship Sun 15 May: A manifesto for loving resistance

WELCOME/ 
Hello and welcome to this delayed online service - my apologies!!

The service is now up and available across on our YouTube channel:
WORSHIP LINK HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland starts on Sat 21st of May, thru to Thurs 26th of May. It's Upper Clyde's turn to attend this year - which both Margaret Harley and I will be doing online. During this time, if you need to get in touch with me, it would be best to catch up after 6pm - or leave a message via voicemail or email, and I'll get back to you as I'm able. 

Christian Aid Week begins today. If you'd like to support their work, this LINK will take you to their website, where you can make a donation.

Our Annual Stated Meeting was held onsite this morning and the accounts for 2021 were duly presented. If you're a member of the congregation and would like a copy of the accounts, do get in touch and I'm happy to email them to you.

Evening worship will be held at Leadhills Village Hall Sunday 29th at 5pm. All are welcome to come along. After the service, there'll be time for a cuppa and a catch up. It would also be good to get a date in the diary for a meeting about worship, and for some planning ahead.

In the meantime, have a good week!
God bless,

Nikki

Worship Sun 8 May, 2022: God, the Good Shepherd

Welcome  
Hello – and welcome.  
Traditionally, the 4^th Sunday after Easter known as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’. As we’re a rural parish, with a number of folk still up to their oxters with lambing, shepherds and sheep seem a very good and appropriate theme to focus on for our time of worship!

Notices are copied below, for reference, but as they're on in worship video, you might prefer to just skip straight across to our YouTube channel to watch instead. The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

Church notices: 
Session meeting - For our elders - the kirk session will be meeting this coming Saturday at 2pm at the manse, before we take a break over summer.

Annual Stated Meeting - This coming Sunday, immediately after worship onsite, we’ll be holding our Annual Stated Meeting – the first time we’ve been able to do this for 2 years. This will be to receive the accounts for last year. If you’re able to attend the meeting in the building, that would be grand and it should only take about 10 or so minutes, subject to any questions or comments that might arise.

News from Angela, our Community Worker – Poor Angela’s had an accident and managed to damage her wrist quite badly – so she’ll not be able to travel about the parish for the next wee while for work. As she takes some time off to heal, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and we hope that she makes a full and speedy recovery!

Church notices 18 April - 4 May, 2022

CHURCH NOTICES....

UPDATE 30 APRIL, 5PM - 
DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL
THE KIRK SESSION HAS HAD TO TAKE THE DECISION TO CANCEL
MORNING WORSHIP ONSITE FOR SUN 1 MAY.
PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE NOTICE.

Minister on annual leave:

Easter Sunday - decorated Cross

As of Mon 18 Feb. up to and including Tues 3 May. the minister will be on annual leave. 

Urgent pastoral cover will be provided by  
For any general enquiries please contact Dr Dee Yates, our Session Clerk on 

Worship onsite, in the parish church over the coming two Sundays, will be conducted by the Rev. Bill Buchan.
Music will be provided by the Rev. Susan Cowell, who will be playing our much under-used organ.

For worship online you might like to explore the following services:

            Biggar Parish Church - LINK

            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK           

            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        

            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

The foodbank box will remain in the vestibule over these Sundays, should you have any items you'd like to donate. It will be uplifted on the minister's return.
Caring hearts project - for those of you who have been knitting or crocheting hearts for our schools, could you drop them into the church for collection within the next couple of weeks please? Many thanks!

Worship Sun 17 April: Easter...

WELCOME/

Christ is risen! Alleluia, he is risen indeed. Welcome to worship  on this Easter Sunday where we remember and celebrate the emptiness of the garden tomb, the risen Christ, and the hope of resurrection.

A very joyful and happy Easter to you all.

For those wishing to jump straight across to our youtube channel for worship, the LINK IS HERE. 

NOTICES/
Just two notices today...

the first is a reminder that an informal service of communion will be held this

evening at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall, 

to which all are very welcome to attend. ...

The other notice is to let you know that for the next couple of weeks I’ll be on annual leave. 

Online, I’ll put some links up to other services of worship that that might like to connect with,

while, onsite, we’ll be joined once again by the Rev Bill Buchan for both Sundays...

and, although we can’t do it all the time, we have an organist playing for us over those two Sundays –

the Rev. Susan Cowell.

While I’m away, the Rev. Mike Fucella of Biggar parish church will be covering for any urgent pastoral matters that might come up...

You can get his details from Dee, our Session Clerk, and contact her if you have any general parish queries. Her number is 01864 504093

I’ll be back at work on Wed. the 4th of May.

Having travelled through the weeks of Lent, and arrived at last at Easter, may you know resurrection hope and joy, and that you are loved by God beyond all human measure.
Easter blessings to you,
Nikki

A meditation for Good Friday...

A meditation on the seven last words from the Cross...

The LINK IS HERE 

Worship Sun 10 April - Palm and Passion Sunday

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to worship.

It’s Palm Sunday, and today we gather at the gates of Jerusalem...
Our time of worship will be a little different from usual as we let scripture tell the old, old story. 

through readings and reflections, we’ll follow Jesus into Jerusalem and finish our time together at the foot of the Cross with Mary and some of Jesus’ followers...
Notices are below, but if you wish to go straight to the service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Good Friday Service 
there will be a brief service both onsite and online, on Good Friday at 5pm.
Easter Sunday: 
along with our morning service onsite and online, there will also be an evening service at the Leadhills Village hall at 5pm, which will be a short and informal service of communion. All are welcome to come and share in the bread and wine.

Minister on annual leave from Mon 18 April to Tues 3 May inclusive.

Worship onsite will be conducted by our friend, the Rev. Bill Buchan.
Worship online will be via the provision of links to other congregations with online services.
In the event of a pastoral emergency, cover is being provided by the Rev. Mike Fucella.
For any general parish matters, please contact Dee Yates, our Session Clerk, who will also be able to give you details for Rev. Mike. Her number is 01864 504093.
Caring hearts project: 

If you’re taking part in the caring hearts project, I’m wondering how you’re all getting on and, if you have some that you’d like to pass along, I’m happy to receive them. Do get in touch.

Anna Chaplaincy comes to Scotland

Well, we've done it - we've only gone and commissioned Scotland's first Anna Chaplain - a new form of ministry in Scotland focusing in on those who are in their later years.

You can read all about it by clicking on the tab above marked 'Anna Chaplaincy' or just use this LINK to find out more... 

Worship Sun 3 April 'Table Talk'

WELCOME/ 
Hello and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish – it’s the 5^th Sunday of Lent, and we’re nearing the end of our journey to Jerusalem with Jesus, but first, a stop-over in Bethany, and some dinner among old friends...

Notices are below and meanwhile the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.  

NOTICES/
Please do continue to keep the families of Jenny Hodgen and Beth Damer in your prayers at this hard time, as they navigate their way through bereavement. Jenny's funeral was held on Fri 1st, while Beth's funeral will be on Tues.

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday and we enter into Holy Week. There will be a short service on Good Friday - both onsite and online, at 5pm.
Meantime, if you've an Easter hymn you'd particularly like to hear - your deadline to let me know is by 1pm on Palm Sunday. 

Yesterday afternoon saw the beginning of our new Anna Chaplaincy ministry, as we commissioned Angela Brydson to be Scotland’s first Anna Chaplain – it was a very nice wee turnout, and it’s great to be a part of this shared ministry with Douglas Valley and the Tinto Parishes. We hope that it might get some interest from the Lanark Gazette, and Life and Work, so keep your eyes peeled.

In the meantime, as you move through this week, may you know God walking close with you.

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 27 March - Lent 4: 'Outrageous'

WELCOME/
Hello – and welcome to this 4^th Sunday in Lent, also the day on which Mothering Sunday falls: so we give thanks for all those who have nurtured us – whether through the bonds of family or the bonds of friendship. And, ironically, on this Mothering Sunday, we move further into Luke’s gospel and hear Jesus tell the story of a father and his two sons – in many ways, an ‘outrageous’ story...

As per usual, the church notices appear below for ease of reference, but, if you'd prefer to skip straight on to the service and just listen to them, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
On the matter of Covid restrictions and attending on-site:
as of today, we no longer have to take names at the door. And, with the easing of restrictions, you can sit anywhere – but, it would be very prudent to maintain the 1 metre distancing rule, unless you’re in a bubble with others. Covid is still with us. Sth Lanarkshire is currently at 1 in 11 people catching Covid...so let’s be canny, shall we? At the moment, we are still required to wear face masks – and, when that regulation is eased, one very practical way of showing we love our neighbour is to continue to keep wearing them... but this will very much be a matter of individual choice... so whatever you decide to do on the matter of masks, let’s all try to be respectful of each other’s choices, even as we try to look out for each other. 

Funeral of Jenny Hodgen:
We're still to confirm exactly, and I'll update this as soon as I have confirmation hopefully on Monday. However, it looks like this will take place on Fri 1st April - a church service in the parish church at Abington, followed by graveside committal at Roberton.

Parish newsletter:
Proofs are now at the printers and we hope to have these by the end of the week, for mail out the following week.

Clydesdale food bank: 
Don’t forget that this month we’ve been flagging up the good work of Clydesdale food bank and encouraging you to help out a struggling neighbour by supporting this work. Onsite, the foodbank box is in the vestibule to leave food and other items, while, online, you can go to their website and make an online financial donation there. The link is on our 'links' section on the r-hand panel.

Evening worship: 
This evening, there’ll be an informal service of worship at Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm – and we’ll be looking at an encourager and champion of the faith, Margaret of Scotland. There’ll be refreshments and a chance to have a blether over a cuppa after the service.

Anna Chaplaincy Commissioning: 
This coming Saturday at 2pm in Douglas Parish Church, there’s a commissioning service for our Anna Chaplaincy ministry – a ministry shared between Upper Clyde, Douglas Valley, and Tinto Parishes. It’ll be a wee service to mark the official start of this ministry, after which tea will be across in the Bowling Club – if you can come, it would be lovely to see you there as we celebrate this first of its kind ministry in Scotland.

'Let's get growing': 
I’m delighted to say that we’ve managed to get some grant funding towards our ‘let’s get growing’ project for a second year – so keep an ear out for further plans in the very near future.

Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine continues, many of us wander how we might help. An excellent place that gives practical advice and contact links is the Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees (SFAR). I've added a link in our 'links' section on the right hand panel for ease of access, and you can also just click HERE

Worship Sun 20 March - Lent 3: 'Are we nearly there yet?'

fig tree grove

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to this third Sunday of Lent. Today we’re thinking about patience as we listen to Jesus tell a story about a fig tree, its owner, and the gardener...

Announcements, in full, are copied below for reference, so, if you prefer to skip them and just watch that in the service, no problem. 

To save you scrolling down, the 
WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

NOTICES/
I'm very sorry to announce the death of Jenny Hodgen, who died peacefully on Thursday. She was a friend to many in our community, a woman of faith, passionate about her cats, loved her family, and gifted our church community for many years with her musical skills, as organist. 
Once the details of her funeral are known, I'll post them on this blog. In the meantime, I know you'll be thinking of, and praying for her family, at this sad time. Jenny was a beloved child of God, so, may she rest in peace, and rise in glory.

Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Damers at this time, as they mourn Beth - much-loved daughter, sister, and friend to so many. A truly lovely young woman and very much missed.

Other notices...
Evening worship, Leadhills 5pm, 27 March: A reminder that this coming Sunday, that there’ll be evening worship at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall and the chance of a cuppa and blether after that service. All are welcome to come along and share in this time of worship together.

Anna Chaplaincy commissioning service: this is a shared ministry with our friends at Tinto Parishes and Douglas Valley. The official commissioning will take place on Saturday the 2nd of April, at 2pm – there’ll be a short service in Douglas Parish Church, followed by refreshments in the Bowling Club. It would be lovely to have some representatives from Upper Clyde at this service, so, if you can make it, that would be grand.

Easter newsletter: Don’t forget that today is the deadline for articles for our parish newsletter. Please do get them to Dee Yates as soon as you can.

Clydesdale Food Bank: we continue to highlight the essential work of Clydesdale foodbank: if you’re able, and haven’t quite got around to it yet, there’s still time to make a donation to their work. The link is on the right hand column to make an online donation.

Easter Sunday hymns: as we look ahead to Easter Sunday, I'm hoping we can celebrate with a good sing - we'll be having a full range of hymns, and you get to choose the playlist. Do let me know what your favourite Easter hymns are, and the hymns with the highest number of nominations will be selected for that service – this is for all of you, whether you attend online or on-site, so do let me know!

These are all our notices, so, as you walk through this week, may you feel God walking close beside you.

Blessings to you all, 
Nikki

Worship Sun 13 March - Lent 2: 'Glimpses of God'

Welcome  to worship with Upper Clyde Parish on this second Sunday of Lent. Today we hear what the writer of Ps 27 has to say about God, and catch up with Jesus three years after his time in the wilderness. We find ourselves on the outskirts of Jerusalem listening in to a conversation between  Jesus and some pharisees on the matter of foxes and hens.
Church notices are below.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

Church notices/
Healthy Valleys is looking for some volunteers:
if you enjoy having a chat to someone on the phone or meeting up for a cuppa or a walk Healthy Valleys would be interested in hearing from you as they are always looking for befrienders.
Also, they are on the lookout for bicycles:
if anyone has any old childrens or adults bikes hiding away unused and unloved Healthy Valleys could find them a new home, as they have a project sorting pre-loved bikes and giving them to people who need them.

Anna  Chaplaincy Commissioning Service: This service to commission Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, as an Anna Chaplain will take place on Saturday 2^nd April at 2pm at St Brides, Douglas, followed by refreshments at the Bowling Club next door. 

Clydesdale foodbank: don’t forget that this month, we’re highlighting the good work of Clydesdale foodbank, so, if you’d like to make a donation – you can do so by dropping goods into the box in the church vestibule or by going to the foodbank website and making an online donation. The link is on the right hand side of the blog under 'links'.

Worship Sun 6 March Lent 1: 'Hungry'

WELCOME/ Hello, and welcome to worship on this first Sunday of Lent: 
the season of the church year in which we take time to walk the way to Jerusalem with Jesus,
and make time to reflect on our relationship with God, and each other...
And following the long-held tradition, we begin our journey in the wilderness, and meet Jesus who, having fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights, was faced with temptation...
Notices are below - there are a number to read through, and it's useful to have them up on the site for ease of reference... so if you'd prefer to listen rather than read, you can go straight across to our youtube site for worship. 
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

NOTICES/ 
Foodbank: Today, we’ll be reintroducing one of our pre-lockdown customs. As we begin a month in which we have communion, we highlight the work of Clydesdale food bank over the course of this month. The food bank box will be put in the vestibule once again for donations each of our Sundays in March and meanwhile, for those at home, you can donate directly online by using this FOOD BANK LINK and scrolling down to the 'donate' button.
This is very much a great practical way of being able to love your neighbour – so thank you in advance. 

Ukraine: As the war by Russia on Ukraine continues, many of you are looking for ways in which to help. The latest update on donations is that it’s more efficient now, to donate money, rather than sending goods across borders. The Government has committed to matchfund donations £ for £ up to £25 million pounds, if made to the DEC – Disasters Emergency Committee – on top of that, you can also choose to gift aid. The DEC LINK IS HERE where you’ll be able to make your donation there and help our Ukrainian neighbours.

Church magazine deadline: Sunday the 20th March 1pm. 

Guild: The Guild meets this coming Wednesday at 2pm in the church. The speaker will be Angela Brydson, our community outreach worker.

Easter music: On Easter Sunday we’ll be having five hymns instead of three and, I’d like you to tell me what your favourite Easter hymn is – and, I’ll choose the top 5 most requested as our hymn list for that day. So... get thinking and let me know!

Morning tea after church - update: This morning, we’re reintroducing morning tea in the hall.

Covid restrictions update: If all goes according to plan, restrictions will be further eased towards the end of the month. It would be useful to have a conversation with those of you who are attending, about navigating the best way forward on this. We want to make sure that we continue to provide a safe environment and try not to exclude those who are more vulnerable, while at the same time, work out how to be a little less restrictive – so over the next couple of weeks get in touch and let’s have a chat, as I think this would be good to decide together as a community.

New church member: And, finally, we’re delighted to welcome Ralph Barker into church membership at Upper Clyde in the building. It's lovely to make this official.

Worship Sun 27 Feb - Transfiguration

WELCOME/ 
Hello –  today, we mark Transfiguration Sunday: Jesus upon the mountain top, who, in the mystery and in glory, meets Moses and Elijah, while Peter, James, and John look on, in confusion and astonishment.

Church notices are copied below - but they will also be announced within the service online, so feel free to skip them here and listen over at our youtube channel. 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
 At this time, we cannot be unaware of what is unfolding in Ukraine – and our hearts go out to all who are caught up in this war. We stand with them, and may they be in our prayers... At the end of the service, the final slide gives details of various aid organisations and charities, if you’d like to help the people of Ukraine in some way...
THAT SLIDE IS COPIED HERE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE:

Evening worship - 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall. Prayers for peace.

Sun 6 March - Communion in the parish church. As we don't have the facility to live stream, we can't at this point in time, offer an online form of communion - our apologies.
Food bank - in line with our pre-Covid practice, we are bringing back our food bank box in those months when we have communion. So, for the Sundays of March, if you're in the church building look out for the box in the vestibule. For those of you online who would like to support the work of the food bank, you can do this directly by going to their webpage and make a donation. The food bank link HERE 
Lent begins - Also this week, the season of Lent begins – a time of reflection, of preparation, where we mark a spiritual journey, walking the way with Jesus to Jerusalem..

Worship Sun 20 Feb: 'You've got to be taught how to hate'

WELCOME/ Hello and welcome to worship where we continue on with Jesus' 'Sermon on the Level' and hear his thoughts on how we treat those who are our enemies - so, the theme is 'love', apt given Monday was Valentine's Day!!
Hope that you've all managed to weather the storms this week and have managed to stay relatively intact.

Just a couple of notices this week...
Caring hearts project - our new community project has started, and you can find out more about it HERE on a specially dedicated page. If you're able to help with crocheting or knitting, that would be wonderful.

Sun 27 Feb, 5pm - Evening worship, Leadhills - join us in the village hall at Leadhills for an informal time of worship with a catch up cuppa after the service. All welcome.

Communion 6 March - for those of you able to come to the service in person at the parish church, we'll be entering the first Sunday of Lent with a service of Communion. Please do let anyone you know, who may like to come.
Morning tea - we'll also be reintroducing morning tea in the hall after this service.

WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Blessings to you for this coming week,
Nikki

Worship Sun 13 Feb 'Levelling up'

WELCOME/ 
Hello. Welcome to worship!
Today we consider not so much the sermon on the mount but the sermon on the plain – Luke’s version of the more well-known sermon found in the gospel of Matthew.
There's just the one notice – and it concerns a wee project that we’re wanting to get up and running within the church and the wider parish community. It’s called the ‘Caring hearts’ project. 
This focuses on the younger members living in our wider parish community, who go to our five primary schools – and I’m asking those of you who knit or crochet for some help to enable us to do this.
You can find out more about it on our dedicated blog page -
here's the link CARING HEARTS PROJECT

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

As ever, I hope you find this time of worship an encouragement, 
and also spiritual nourishment.
God bless and may you know God walking with you through the week.

Nikki

'Caring Hearts' community project

Hi everyone!
I just want to flag up our latest community project - 'Caring Hearts'.
It's aimed to help some of the younger people in our community by way of asking the crafters in the community to take up their knitting needles and crochet hooks. 
To find out more about the project, along with patterns, check out the new, dedicated page above on the tabs or just click HERE and the link will take you there directly.
And thanks in advance for getting on board, folks - very much appreciated.

Worship Sun 6 Feb, 2022: 'Gone Fishin'

WELCOME/
Welcome to worship online where today, we're going fishing with Jesus and meeting some fishermen from Galilee...

A few notices and the link to worship below that:
Guild: the Guild is meeting this week, on Wednesday at 2pm, in the church, and the guest speaker will be Dee Yates, who’ll be sharing her experiences and some of the history of the sacred Isle of Iona. 

Caring Hearts project: Something for those of you who who knit and crochet.
We’d like to make some small woollen hearts which will be given to each of our five primary schools to be used as a resource for children who are going through difficult times:
the idea is that the school staff can give a child one of the hearts by way of helping to provide a little bit of care and comfort. When they hold it, it could be a reminder of someone they love and who they miss, or, to help them know that they are cared for and loved. A wee minding and pastoral care tool, if you like. I’ve got both a knitting and a crochet pattern, which I’ll put up on our blogsite in the near future on a separate page labelled 'caring hearts project' as well as print off copies to pass along. If you’d like to take part in this project, and to help the younger members of our community, do let me – or Angela – know, especially if you need a printed copy of the pattern.

Kirk Session: our kirk session will be meeting this week on Thursday evening at 7pm, by zoom.

WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

May God bless you as you go about your week,
Nikki