Church news - update as at 14 October

Also, many thanks for the cards and kind wishes!

After a prolonged absence due to illness, Nikki (the Minister) will be making a phased return to work from Wednesday 23 October. As part of the return, she’s hoping to gradually reintroduce online services once again – however, until she undergoes a procedure in hospital on the 6th Dec. her working period per week will be substantially reduced compared to normal duties. Should all go well, it’s hoped that a return to full-time duties will commence from January 2025.
Thanks for your patience during this time.

In the meantime, huge thanks to everyone within the parish bounds and without, who have helped to keep everything else running smoothly. On the worship side of things, special thanks to Rev. George Shand for providing occasional supply, and also the worship team at Cairngryffe for being so willing to step in and help us with on-site worship, along with members of the Upper Clyde congregation. 

update also uploaded on to our YouTube channel... 

Church news: arrangements during illness

Arrangements while minister on sick leave:

Hi all. For those of you who may not yet have caught up with the news, I made a wee detour on the way down to the village on the evening of Friday the 9th. Ongoing complications with covid saw a trip by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh - not how I'd envisaged spending the evening, let alone this last wee while! First: huge cheers for the NHS and thanks to the various wonderful folk who've been taking excellent care of me while I'm in. I'm hoping that I'll be discharged early this coming week but it will be a wee while until I'm fully able to be back. 

Second, thanks to all who are stepping into the breach in my absence. So, some arrangements as we go forward...

General queries: for any general queries while I’m away, please get in touch with Heather Watt on 01899 850211 and, in Heather's absence, Dee Yates on 01864 504093. 
Urgent pastoral/ funeral cover - will be provided by the Rev. Louise Mackay of Lanark, St. Nicholas who can be reached on 01555 661936 or via email: lmackay@churchofscotland.org.uk

Worship arrangements - we have a worship rota now in place for worship onsite up to the end of September coordinated with thanks by our friend, the Rev. George Shand. Services will be covered between George and volunteers from the worship team at Cairngryffe Parish Church - partners in our cluster. It'll be a great opportunity to work together in this way and I'm grateful for their willingness to jump in and support us at this time.
Links are provided below while Upper Clyde is unable to provide online worship for those of you who worship remotely. Again, it's an opportunity to have a wee visit elsewhere to some other Church of Scotland congregations who have services available on the interwebz: 
Biggar Parish Church - LINK  
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK 
Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK 

Members of the Kirk Session, and the Acting Presbytery Clerk, George Whyte, have been informed and hopefully should any particular matters arise, Session/ Pres Clerk can help to advise as we navigate our way through this next wee while.

In the meantime, sending my love and prayers to you all. And hopefully things will return to normal in the not too distant future! All well be well. 

Take care and God bless

Nikki

'Rest and be thankful' - Worship Sun 21 July

Welcome to this week's time of worship where we're taking time to 'rest and be thankful'. As people called to love and serve the Lord, and to love our neighbours, it’s very easy to get so caught up in the busyness of doing, that we can forget that in order to do … we need to recharge our own batteries at times. But also, to take time out is quite a subversive thing to do. What can Jesus teach us about work and rest and perhaps breaking from old ways of thinking, when it comes to service to God and others?

WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and service is uploaded for viewing.

Church notices:
Mon July 22 - Wed Aug 7 - minister on annual leave: Very much taking up the theme for today, I'll be on annual leave for the next fortnight.
General queries: for any general queries while I’m away, please get in touch with Heather Watt on 01899 850211 
Urgent pastoral/ funeral cover - will be provided by the Rev. Louise Mackay of Lanark, St. Nicholas who can be reached on 01555 661936 or via email: lmackay@churchofscotland.org.uk
Worship arrangements - over the next two Sundays, worship on site will be conducted by a familiar friend, the Rev. George Shand.
Online, it's once again an opportunity to have a wee visit elsewhere to some other Church of Scotland congregations who have services available on the interwebz: 
Biggar Parish Church - LINK  
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK 
Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK 

Wed. 24 July - Guild summer outing: A reminder that the Guild summer outing is on Wed 24th July. The Guild will be paying a follow up visit to Moffatt Parish Church to see what it looks like since its renovation. The plan is to arrive in Moffatt for 10.30am. There'll also be time for some shopping and lunch. If you'd like to go and haven't yet booked, please get in touch with Heather W. 

Thurs 25 July - funeral of Isobel Taylor: For those of you who might not have heard, our friend, Isobel Taylor has died. Her funeral service will be held in Biggar Kirk, at 2pm on Thursday the 25th, and everyone is very much welcome to attend. I know many here and around the parish will have some very fond memories of her, as do I - she was one of the kindest people I've ever met. Please do keep her family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Sun 25 August - Annual Songs of Praise service, 10.30am: and just to flag up something for a wee bit further down the track: our annual Songs of Praise service is on the near horizon so get your thinking caps on to work out which hymns you’d like to nominate for inclusion - nominations are welcome from both our on site and online communities. The deadline is 1pm Sun 18 August - to give me time to format the hymns as needed. 

May you know God's presence with you over the next wee while, and catch up when I'm back from annual leave!

God bless

Nikki

'Stuff' - worship Sun 14 July

Welcome to worship where today, we’re aiming to do a little decluttering and explore how we might just simplify our busy lives… 

I'm hoping that the service will be available at some point from 8pm onwards but the internet speed has been slower than normal, so bear with me if it's a little later than this.

For the service the:
WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Church notices/
Guild summer outing: Wed 24th July. The Guild will be paying a follow up visit to Moffatt Parish Church to see what it looks like since its renovation. The plan is to arrive in Moffatt for 10.30am. There'll also be time for some shopping and lunch. If you'd like to go and haven't yet booked, please get in touch with Heather W. 

Pastoral visiting: my apologies on this side of things - I am very behind in catching up with folk due to having had a brush with Covid. Some of the side effects seem to be taking their time to disappear, but hopefully, this will move along at some point and things can get back to normal. Thanks for your understanding.

Have a good week!

God bless
Nikki

'Of crumbs and Canaanites' - worship for Sun 7 July

Welcome to our time of worship today.
Last week we spent time reflecting on a conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman as they talked of ‘living water’. This week, in worship, we’ll be picking up on another conversation Jesus has – this time, with a Canaanite woman, who asks for his help. In the course of the meeting, an insight from the woman just possibly expands Jesus’ own thinking on a particular matter.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and the service will hopefully be available from 7pm onwards.

Church notices/
Just the one, which is to note that the food bank box has now been uplifted. Thanks for all the kind donations. We'll be collecting once again over the month of September and first Sunday of October (which will be the Harvest service).

Have a good week and God bless,

Nikki

'The woman' - worship for Sun 30 June

Welcome to this week's time of worship. Today we spend time drinking from Jacob's Well, and listening in to a conversation between Jesus and an unnamed woman: they end up having quite the theological conversation!

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and the service should be ready from 7pm and hopefully, earlier depending on the tech!

Church notices/ 

Sun 30 June, 5pm - evening worship: As it’s the last Sunday of the month, we have evening worship up in Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm. Afterwards, there’ll be the opportunity for a catch up over a cuppa. So if you’re able to come along, it would be great to see you. 

Clydesdale Foodbank: This is the last Sunday of our foodbank month, but I’m wondering, as I was late putting the box out, if I might just leave it for another week, and collect it after worship next week – just in case you’ve not yet had the opportunity to drop in something. And for those of you online, you’ll see the website address of the foodbank to your right in the links. 

Stewarding / reading rota: The new stewarding and readers rota is out and covers July to the year’s end – a copy will go up in the church vestibule as well as online… and if you want a printed copy, let me know and I’ll get that sorted for you.

That's all of our notices for this week, may you find this time of worship refreshing!

God bless,

Nikki

'Old, old stories' - worship for Sun 23 June

WELCOME to our time of worship. Last week, we were thinking about sons and leaving home. This week, along with marking International Refugee Day, we step back in time to Egypt and revisit one of the sons from last week, Moses. When God had called him at Mount Horeb, Moses was tasked with the liberation of God’s people… but why were they needing to be freed? And, what might that story have to do with us here and now in Scotland, in the 21st century? 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and should be active from about 7pm Sunday.
(I'm currently trialling putting worship up after Sunday mornings rather than filming and uploading on Sat evening - so I can film parts of the service in-situ and hopefully it will help give you a sense of being in worship with those in the building. It does also help cut back on time for me... but, please do send my your feedback, and I'll try to accommodate re. timing)

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
Sun 23 June, 11.30am: Stated annual meeting. Just to flag up that after worship today, we’ll have our Stated Annual Meeting – through in the hall, over a cuppa. It’s a quick review of last year – looking at what we did, where we’re going, and also receiving the accounts from last year. 

Sun 30 June, 5pm: Evening worship. We meet in Leadhills Village Hall for worship in the style of the Taizé Community. Refreshments and a blether after the service. All welcome

Food Bank month: this month we’re collecting donations of goods for Clydesdale food bank. The box is in the vestibule at church, or you can pop goods in at the manse if you're passing. After worship next week, I’ll be gathering up donations and dropping them off. For those of you online, if you’re able and willing to donate, you can do so by visiting the food bank website and donating online. The FOODBANK LINK IS HERE 
Thanks in advance, everyone.

Sat 10 Aug. - 7 for 7.30pm: Village Cinema - a Southern Villages cluster announcement: here’s a date for your diaries. Our friends in Cairngryffe Church will be hosting the Carmichael Community Cinema again – doors will open from 7pm for a 7.30 start on Saturday the 10th of August. And the film showing will be the classic ‘Whisky Galore’ – it’s a free event, and there’ll be a refreshment stand available. Please do spread the word and come along! 

Have a good week, and until next time, God bless!

Nikki

'Where the wild things are' - worship for Sun 16 June

Welcome to worship with Upper Clyde. This week, several stories about sons leaving home and finding themselves where the wild things are... And a wee exploration into sacred art, as we reflect on Rembrandt's 'Return of the Prodigal Son.'

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE
and should be active from about Monday 6pm onwards [due to a tech difficulty in uploading, I tried several times .. Not sure what the problem is, my apologies!]

CHURCH NOTICES
Sun 23 June: Annual Stated Meeting to be held in the church hall after the morning service. A wee meeting to receive the annual accounts and to hear a review of 2023 - done over a cuppa and baking.

Foodbank Sundays in June: just a reminder that, as it's a month in which we have communion, that means our foodbank box is available in the vestibule to receive donations of goods. These will be uplifted at the end of the month. Online, you can support the work of Clydesdale Foodbank by CLICKING ON THE FOODBANK LINK HERE

Flower list for July-December: If you would like to put your name down for the flower rota - either to bring flowers in for Sunday worship, or make a contribution for flowers, on any particular Sunday over this coming period, please get in touch with Heather Watt via the 'contact us' button on the panel to the right. Many thanks.

Here's hoping for a little sunshine in what has been a wet Spring and turning into a wetter Summer! Have a great week, and until next time,

God bless

Nikki

Pulpit swap 9 June - service details

Hi folks. Just a reminder that this week is a pulpit swap. I'll be across at Douglas and Rigside sharing communion with both congregations. Meanwhile, Denham MacDougall will be covering worship onsite for Upper Clyde. Given this, we'll not be having an online service ourselves this week. So, as is my usual practice, copied below are a couple of suggestions for online church communities you might like to visit with this week.

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

One announcement for this week, which is that our Annual Stated Meeting will be held after worship on Sunday 23rd of June.

However your week goes, may you know God's blessing as you go,

Nikki

'Feet of clay' - Worship for Sun 2nd June

Welcome to worship with Upper Clyde. Having wandered a little with Moses last week, and heard the story of his call, this week, we go further back in the Old Testament, to the time of Abraham. As we hear part of his story from scripture, it doesn't really put him in a particularly good light. So, what to do when your heroes have feet of clay?

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE (apologies for delay - presbytery meeting yesterday pushed my in-house filming schedule back). 

Meanwhile, notices below: 
Communion - on-site, we'll be sharing together in the sacrament of communion - if you stay within the parish and would like to receive a home visit for communion, do let me know and we can arrange this.

Sun 9th June - pulpit swap: This coming Sunday, the 9th, there’ll be a Pulpit swap as I’ll be across at Douglas and Rigside to share communion with both congregations. While I’m across there, Denham Macdougall will be conducting worship for us on-site. This does mean that we won’t have an online service for those of you who worship that way. I’ll put up some links to other online services for you to explore, as is my usual practice.

These are all the notices that I'm aware of this week, so, as you move into a new week - and month - enjoy the slightly warmer weather, and may you know God walking alongside you.

God bless,

Nikki

'What's in a name?' Worship for Sunday 26 May

Welcome to worship, where this week, our worship theme is all about names. Having fled Egypt, Moses is taken in by Jethro, settling in and even marrying Jethro's daughter. As part of the family, Moses works as a shepherd, tending Jethro's sheep. One day, in the course of his work, he comes across something quite unusual which will change his life forever... 
You can access the service by clicking on the WORSHIP LINK HERE 

Church notices:
Sun 26 May, 5pm: evening worship will be held in Leadhills Village Hall. It will be a Taizé service. After, there’ll be time to catch up with one another over a cuppa. If you’re able to join us, that’d be grand.

Tues 28 May, 2pm: funeral for Iain Wilson. On Tuesday, in the church building at Abington, we’ll be remembering and saying our farewells to Iain Wilson. Please do keep Iain’s family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Kirk Session meeting after the service on Sun.2nd June, we'll be holding a one item meeting in order to approve our annual accounts. 

Sun 2 June, 10.30am: communion service in the church at Abington, to which all are welcome.  Please do let folk know, who you think might like to come along – it is the table of the Lord and he welcomes all.

Foodbank Sundays in June: as this is a communion month, the food bank box will be in the vestibule at church over the Sundays in June. You can leave donations for the ongoing work of Clydesdale Food Bank there - food and other goods. The box will be uplifted after worship on the last Sunday of June. Online, you can support the food bank by clicking on the FOODBANK LINK HERE.
Thanks in advance for your kindness.

That's it for this week.

May you know God walking close beside you as you go.

God bless

Nikki               

'Gathered and scattered' - worship for Pentecost Sunday 2024

Welcome to worship. Today we celebrate Pentecost, the 'birth' day of the Church. To go directly to the service click on THE LINK HERE

Church notices -
Church of Scotland General Assembly is being held this week. Do remember all involved in the Assembly this year as reports are brought before those gathered both onsite and online. Lots of debate, lots of decision-making, as we both take stock of what's gone before and look ahead to the future and where we're going...

Sun 26 May: evening worship, 5pm at Leadhills Village Hall. All welcome.

Funeral of Ian Wilson: just a reminder that Ian's funeral will be held in the church on Tues. 28th May at 2pm. Please remember Bertha and the family in your prayers at this time.

There are no other immediate notices for this week - let's hope this warmer weather continues and there's a few more sunny days!! God bless as you move into a new week,

Nikki

Christian Aid Sunday - worship for Sun 12 May

Welcome to worship and huge apologies for the delay. Busy time at the moment. 

Today marks the beginning of Christian Aid Week and we'll be hearing the story of Aline Nibogora from Burundi, and how Christian Aid have helped transform her life and the lives of people in her village.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Church notices/
Christian Aid Week 12-18 May: If you would like to make a donation to the work of Christian Aid, click on THIS LINK to take you to their website.

Sun 17 May is Pentecost Sunday. If you're planning on attending on site, it would be great if you could wear something red - it's the colour for Pentecost. Given Pentecost is traditionally thought of as the birthday of the church, there may be something in addition to the usual biscuits after the service!

Funeral notices/
Some sad news once again this week, as we learnt of the death of Ian Wilson. Please do remember Bertha and the family in your prayers, along with Netta Wight and her family, and Andrew Craig and his family at this time. Details of the funerals are as follows:

Mary Craig: 2pm Thursday 16th of May, at the parish church in Abington, followed by the committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Thereafter, back to the church for the funeral tea.

John Wight: 1pm Friday 17th May, to be held in Biggar Kirk, followed by funeral tea at the Biggar Municipal Hall. Prior to the funeral service there will be a private family committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Many thanks to the Rev. Mike Fucella for enabling us to use the church building.

Ian Wilson: 2pm Tues 28th of May, at the parish church in Abington, followed by the committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery. Details for the funeral tea to be confirmed.

'What gives you joy?' Worship for Sun 5 May

Welcome to worship for this week. Apologies once again for a delay in uploading the service and thanks for your patience.  Our service this week picks up the theme of joy asking the question 'what gives you joy?' and exploring the answer by way of looking at Ps 16. To go straight to the service click on the WORSHIP LINK HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
12 May Christian Aid Sunday: just to note that this coming Sunday begins Christian Aid Week 2024. On site, there'll be a special collection for their ongoing work. Online, you can make a donation by going to their website HERE

Funeral notices:
Mary Craig - Mary's funeral will be held at 2pm on Thursday the 16th of May at Upper Clyde Church followed by her committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery at 2.45. Thereafter, all are welcome back to the church hall for the funeral tea.

John Wight - John's funeral will be held at 1pm on Friday the 17th of May at Biggar Kirk. Many thanks to the minister, Mike Fucella for enabling us to have the service there. Details for funeral tea tbc

Our thoughts and our prayers are with both families at this difficult time.

As you go through this week, may you know God's love surrounding you,
God bless,

Nikki

'An ever-fixed mark' - worship for Sun 28 April

Welcome to our service of worship for this week - again, sorry for the delay and thanks so much for your patience.

To go straight to the service, please click on the WORSHIP LINK HERE...
Just to note that I'm posting this at just after 10pm Monday evening - the service is currently uploading and might take an hour and a half to complete. So, it should hopefully be available around or just after midnight!! 

CHURCH NOTICES/
Parish deaths: it's with sadness that I pass on the news of the deaths of John Wight and Mary Craig over the weekend. Once I have details for the time of both funeral services, I'll let you know. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with both families at this time.

Presbytery plan: at an all day meeting of presbytery on Saturday, the presbytery plan was finally approved after a number of amendments, motions, and counter-motions from parishes across the presbytery. Our cluster of Upper Clyde, Douglas Valley, and Cairngryffe parishes were successful in our bid to keep all 3 places of worship open, in order to cover this large, rural area. There will be a review at some point in 2027. What next? The plan will go to the national planning team for approval, and if passed, the presbytery will begin the process of implementing the plan. This will take time. For us, it means we begin the preparations necessary to begin the process of uniting our cluster into one parish, subject to all three congregations voting to agree. More details to follow in due course and these will be placed on the page 'presbytery plan' which you can find above along the tabs. The outcome for our area was much better than I'd dare hope for. So, potentially, a new chapter will begin for our parish.

Evening worship: I know this is after the fact, but just to say we had a really lovely time of worship in the Leadhills Village Hall last night. Thanks to Andy Foley for leading us in a reflection on joy via William Blake's painting 'Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing'. We were delighted to be joined by an old friend, Ann Lyall, who had worked with the parish during the previous vacancy and through the union of Lowther and Glencaple into Upper Clyde Parish. She is now retired and doing a 'farewell' tour of the different parishes in which she'd served. 

Parish magazine: preparations for the latest edition of the parish magazine are underway now that we have news of the presbytery plan. It will hopefully be ready within the next few weeks.

God bless
Nikki

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
  

'Starwards' at the gate of the year: worship for New Year's Eve

Welcome to this last worship service of 2023, as we stand on the cusp of a fresh new year. We are still in the season of Christmas, however, so, there's an opportunity for one last blast of some carols before they're put away for another year.

Today we spend time with the Wise Men, or Magi and as we do, we blend in some thoughts around this threshold time, as we stand at the gate of the year.

No online church notices this week, so let's proceed straight on to worship.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE  

Best wishes and blessings to you as you step into 2024 with all that it may bring.

Nikki

Christmas Eve Carol Praise Service - Sun 24 Dec.

Welcome to our Christmas Eve Carol Praise/ carol-oke service.

Today, we're thinking about joy - particularly, the joy of the good news that is the imminent arrival of God with us - as found in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. Our service is an opportunity to just put aside all the busyness and preparations, put aside those thoughts of cooking Christmas dinner or worries about whether you’ve got everything organised, put aside thoughts of visitors, or visiting, and perhaps, even put aside, for a little time, the worries in our lives and in the life of the world - for a moment. We hold on, instead, to light, and the coming of the One called the Light of the World. 
So, today, we tell again, and enjoy, the story – the old, old story of God’s great gift of love to us all,
found not under a xmas tree, but in a manger…
wrapped not in paper, but in swaddling clothes.

In story and poem, and a heck of a lot of xmas carols let's think about hope, and peace, and joy, and love as we celebrate, in anticipation, the birth of the baby Jesus.  
May this time of worship be a blessing.

A very merry, and blessed Christmas to you.  The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

'A comfortable silence?' - worship for Advent 3, Sun 17 Dec.

Welcome to this third Sunday in Advent. We've followed the traditional themes for Advent Sundays over these last weeks, however, we're doing a slight swap this week - instead of 'joy', this week, our theme is 'love'. This, basically due to next week's 'Carol-oke' style service.

Notices are below for ongoing reference.
Due to a busy week, I'm afraid that once again, I've not been able to record and upload in time for Sunday morning - bear with me. The service is currently uploading even as I type and should be available by 6pm Sunday afternoon. The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Notices/
Evening worship tonight: 5pm Leadhills Village hall - our monthly service up in the hills, with a few carols to help get us in fine voice for the carol concert in the hall at 7pm with Leadhills Silver Band. Hopefully see you there.

Sun 24 Dec. 10.30am: 'Carol-oke' service: Thinking about our carol praise service, don’t forget to get your favourite carols in to me by the end of today – to enable me to format them for worship as needed. The service itself is aiming to be all-age friendly, with lots of hymns to really get into the Christmas spirit, along with Christmas poems, and perhaps ... even a wee game to help explore the story of Christmas afresh.
Also, I’d be delighted if, next week, you were to come to the service in some kind of seasonal clothing –  so, time to bring out the xmas jumpers if you’ve got them, or, wear a bit of tinsel… or something to that gives a nod to the fact that it’ll be Christmas Eve.  

Clydesdale food bank donations: After worship today, I’ll be gathering up the items you’ve been leaving for the food bank – and the box is looking very full, so thank you for your kindness. If you've not had the opportunity to get put something into the box, you can donate online using the link to the right of this page.

'Feeding Peace' - 2nd Sun of Advent

Welcome to worship on this second Sunday of Advent. Last week, we were reflecting on the theme
for the first Sunday of this Advent season: hope. Today, our theme is peace. 
Apologies this didn't get up online earlier, but I lost yesterday afternoon prep time due to a service in the church. It's currently uploading and should be available after 7pm this evening. Thanks for understanding.

Our worship link IS HERE

Notices follow below for reference...

Notices
Food bank: A reminder that we’re continuing to collect items for the foodbank. For those of you who’d like to drop items into the box in the vestibule next Sunday will be the last opportunity to do so before I gather what’s there and get them to the foodbank in time for folk to receive them before Christmas. Again, thanks in advance for your donations. If you miss the deadline, don’t worry, you can always donate online by going to the Clydesdale food bank WEBSITE VIA THIS LINK

Guild: This coming Wednesday, the Guild will be meeting in the church hall, where our guest will be Poppy Brown, who’ll be showing us – and encouraging us to do – some Christmas craft. That’s at 2pm on Wed. 

Evening worship: 5pm Sun 17 Dec.: our last evening service of the year will be held in Leadhills Village Hall this coming Sunday. There may be carols... and potentially a mince pie (or two)

Carol Praise service: 10.30am Sun 24 Dec.:  Our service on this Sunday is a bit of a carol-fest. It's not too late to choose your favourite carol for inclusion in the service - get in touch by the evening of Sun 17 Dec. - either by phone, or via the 'contact us' link to the right of your screen. If you're planning to attend the service on site that day... if you’re willing, you might like to wear a Christmas jumper to get into the spirit of things. The service is very much aimed at being all-age friendly.

Memory Tree: our annual 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy' service was held yesterday afternoon, in which, as is our usual practice, we remembered loved ones through candle-lighting and by placing a bauble for them up on our memory tree - these, as visible reminders and as a form of visual prayer. The tree will now remain in the church through to the end of worship on Sun 31 Dec. If you wish to remember someone please do get in touch, and I'll place a bauble on our memory tree for you...