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...

'Roadworks Ahead': Advent 1 worship - Sun 3 De

WELCOME to this first Sunday in the season of Advent, where we begin a brand new church year and, where we prepare for a new beginning, as we travel over these next weeks to a stable in Bethlehem…    

Notices, for reference, are copied below. And for the service click on the: WORSHIP LINK HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
Thanks to our Leadhills Primary School Christmas elves who did a beautiful job decorating our Christmas tree. It was lovely having you trek through the snow to visit with us on Friday morning!

Parish newsletter: the Christmas newsletter is available both in hard copy and here by clicking on the 'Christmas newsletter '23' tab above this post. 

Food Bank: As is our usual practice in a communion month, over these next couple of Sundays, we're flagging up the work of Clydesdale Food Bank. In the church building, you can leave items of food and toiletries our food bank box in the vestibule or, you can access the website using the link HERE 
If you’re able to make a donation to help folk in our community who are struggling this Christmas, it would be so appreciated. For items donated at the church, please note that I’ll uplift these after worship on Sunday the 17th to ensure they're with the food bank before Christmas. 

Kirk Session meets on Thursday evening at 7pm via zoom – a link will be sent out to members of session, along with the agenda and minutes.

'Tidings of comfort and joy' service: A reminder that, on Saturday at 2pm, we have our annual Tidings of Comfort and Joy service – a gentle, reflective service for those who struggle a little at this time of year. If you know of someone who might find this service helpful, do let them know – and maybe… bring them along.

Carol Praise service: Sun 24 Dec. 10.30am. As Christmas is looming into view, our service on Christmas Eve morning is going to be a Carol service – a bit like our songs of praise service, but… carols: and you get to choose what we’ll sing. If you can let me know what carols you’d all like to sing by Sunday the 17th, that will give me time to get organised.
As to the service itself... there may be a mince pie afterwards to go with our morning tea…
For those of you who watch the pre-recorded service online – do get in touch if you’d like to nominate a favourite carol for the online service – I’ll see what we can do to make it happen! Either you can click on the 'contact us' button on the right hand side of the page to let me know your carol of choice!

As we move into Advent, may the hope of the promised Christ-child lead us ever on...

God bless
Nikki

news, updates, general information wk beg. 13 Nov - 29 Nov

 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR MON 13-WED 29 NOVEMBER

Annual leave: Just to note that Nikki (the minister) will be on annual leave from Monday 13th until the afternoon of Wed. 29th.
While I’m away, the Rev Mike Fucella will be providing urgent pastoral cover and he can be contacted by phone on 01899 229291 or email at mfucella@churchofscotland.org.uk
For any general parish matters, please contact Janice Reid, our Session Clerk by phone on 07812 158275 or email at reidjanice@hotmail.co.uk          

As to worship, over the next two Sunday mornings onsite, we’ll be welcoming our friend, the Rev. George Shand, who’ll be providing pulpit cover…
And we’ll also be joined by the Shenna Fox who’ll be playing the organ for us.
Online, below are some suggested links to other congregations who provide worship, so, an opportunity to have a wee visit elsewhere during this time:

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

Sun 3rd Dec: Communion Service - It's our Winter communion, and everyone is very welcome to come and join us, as we share in the Lord's Supper together.

Clydesdale Food Bank donations: as this is a communion month, we'll be collecting donations for the Food Bank (tinned and dry food items, toiletries, and... if possible, maybe some Christmas-oriented items to bring some cheer e.g mince pies, Christmas pud, etc.) Last items please, for Sun 17th Dec. in order to ensure delivery to families before Christmas. Thanks in advance.

Christmas newsletter: The year is cracking on a-pace, and when I'm back, we'll be moving into the season of Advent that guides us through to Christmas. The Christmas newsletter will be out in hard copy and hopefully available the last week of November - a digital copy has now been uploaded - at the top of the blog, you'll find the 'Christmas newsletter 2023' tab - click on there... or just CLICK ON THIS LINK to take you there directly.

Remembrance: worship for Sun 12 November

WELCOME to our time of worship today, in which we will remember again those who died in what was supposed be the ‘war to end all wars’ but was not...and so, we also remember those who have died in subsequent wars, and those who even now, are acting in the service of their country...

To go straight to the online service click on the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES
Acts of Remembrance around the parish:
10.30 at the Parish Church, Abington - the minister
10.50am at the Memorial, Wanlockhead - c/o the Community Council
12pm at the Memorial, Leadhills - the minister
1pm at the Memorial, Crawford - the minister

Annual leave: I'll be on annual leave from Monday 13th until the afternoon of Wed. 29th.
While I’m away, the Rev Mike Fucella will be providing urgent pastoral cover and he can be contacted by phone on 01899 229291 or email at mfucella@churchofscotland.org.uk
For any general parish matters, please contact Janice Reid, our Session Clerk by phone on 07812 158275 or email at reidjanice@hotmail.co.uk          

As to worship, over the next two Sunday mornings onsite, we’ll be welcoming our friend, the Rev. George Shand, who’ll be providing pulpit cover…
And we’ll also be joined by the Shenna Fox who’ll be playing the organ for us.
Online, below are some suggested links to other congregations who provide worship, so, an opportunity to have a wee visit elsewhere while I’m away.

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

Christmas newsletter: The year is cracking on a-pace, and when I'm back, we'll be moving into the season of Advent that guides us through to Christmas. The Christmas newsletter will be out and hopefully available in early December - a digital copy will be put online when it's ready.

In the meantime, as we take time to remember, may you know the peace of the Prince of Peace, and feel God walking with you this week.
God bless,

Nikki

Everyday Saints: worship for Sun 5 Nov.

WELCOME Small, spooky visitors knocking on doors on Tuesday, were a useful way of alerting me to the fact that All Saints Day was upon us once again. In the Church of Scotland, we can sometimes be a little shy about recognising this particular day in the church year – but it’s there, and it’s a time where we remember all those who have gone before us in the faith: some, whose stories are well known, others, who may have lived their lives quietly and faithfully… but all, who, in following Jesus, inspired and encouraged others.

Today, in our time of worship, we’ll spend a little time thinking about a woman of faith – a saint of God, if you like – who was born not too far from here - in Dunscore, Jane Haining – and learn a little about where her faith led her, and what she did. 
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE  to take you to our service on YouTube. The service should be available from 4pm Sunday.

CHURCH NOTICES
Newsletter: the deadline for items to be submitted is tonight, by 7pm,. If you have anything you'd like included please get items in to either Dee or myself by then. And thank you in advance!

Guild: the Guild will be meeting on Wednesday, in the church at 2pm. Our guest speaker is our very own Fiona Foley, who’ll be sharing with us her experiences as a stained glass artist. All are welcome to come along. 

Remembrance Sunday commemorations and services:
10.30am: in the parish church - worship and service of Remembrance…
11am: Wanlockhead Memorial
12pm - Leadhills Memorial
1pm - Crawford Memorial
Please do let people know about these various services and times…

In Philippi, wk 4: Peace

WELCOME once again to our online service of worship. This week is the last in our 4 week series on Paul's letter to the Philippians. Our key theme for worship and reflection is on peace - both peace between neighbours, and inner peace. To access the service, our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES
Sun 29 Oct., 5pm: Evening worship will be held in Leadhills Village Hall. We'll also be focusing upon peace in what will be a more contemplative Taize-style service with prayers for peace - particularly thinking about the conflict in Israel and Gaza. All are welcome to come along.

Christmas newsletter: if you have any items that you'd like to contribute to our newsletter, the deadline is this coming Sunday by 7pm. Please get in touch with either Dee or Nikki

Thurs 2 Nov. 7pm: Kirk Session will be meeting this week via zoom. A link, plus agenda and minutes will go out shortly to members of Session.

In Philippi, wk 3: Stumbling into grace

WELCOME to worship this week, where we continue delving into Paul's Letter to the Philippians. We're on chapter three and exploring the theme of grace, with Paul, sometimes referred to as the 'Apostle of grace'. Let's see where our reflections take us.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES 
Christmas newsletter: a reminder of our upcoming Christmas newsletter and Dee, our Editor's request that any items you wish to be included reach her by Sunday evening the 5th of November. Ideally, we'd like to get it distributed in the week before our December communion service. Thanks in advance!

Sun 29 Oct, 5pm, Evening worship: Oops, one other notice: evening worship will be held in Leadhills Village Hall this coming Sunday, 29th October at 5pm. It will be a Taize-style service and there will be prayers for peace.

Have a good week - stay safe out there in the stormy weather. 

God bless,

Nikki

In Philippi wk 2: 'Humility' - Worship for Sun 15 Oct

WELCOME - welcome to our time of worship. We’re in week two of our explorations into Paul’s letter to the Philippians and there’s more mention of joy as we move into chapter two, along with a wider theme of humility, which is our worship theme for today. To go straight across to the service on YouTube click on the link: WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHUCH NOTICES - Unusually rare to have so few notices! Just the one today, which is a reminder about the upcoming Christmas church newsletter. The deadline for submitting material is by the evening of Sunday the 5th of November - this, so we can prepare it and then allow time for the printing and then sending out just before our December communion. If you have any Advent or Christmas oriented items you’d like to include, please do get in touch with either Dee or myself via the 'contact us' link on the right hand side panel of this page. Many thanks.

In Philippi: wk 1 'Joy' - Worship Sun 8 October

WELCOME/ 
Today we begin a four week series on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians – looking at a chapter a week. What do Paul’s words to the Christian community at Philippi nearly 2 000 years ago have to say to us today? Let’s explore over these next few weeks. 

Due to unexpected visitors, I am late this week... the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and is uploading even as I type this. It should be available from about 4.30 this afternoon...
Apologies once again.

Meanwhile...
CHURCH NOTICES/ 
Thank you: again, to say thank you to everyone for all your efforts last week to help make our harvest thanksgiving and breakfast such a lovely event in our worship and social calendar. I was able to drop the food bank items off to friend Ben on Sunday afternoon, who works as a volunteer at the food bank, and who kindly delivered them up the road for us. So thank you for your generosity.

Christmas Newsletter: Christmas is coming… and along with it, our Christmas newsletter!
Dee, our editor, would be delighted to hear from you, if you have items that you’d like to include.
You might like to share a favourite Christmas memory, or why a particular carol is your favourite, or, even … perhaps a family or cultural tradition that you grew up with that was very much part of your Christmas? Christmas jokes or a favourite Christmas poem are also welcome. The deadline for any items is for Sunday the 5th Nov.

Guild, 11 Oct.: a reminder that the Guild meets this week on Wednesday – and it’s an outing to Langloch. So hopefully the weather will be a little drier than we’ve been having. If you’d like to go along and need a lift, please do get in touch with Heather Watt.

Have a great week,
God bless

Nikki

Harvest Celebration Service, 1 Oct, 2023

WELCOME to our harvest worship service where we give thanks to God for his faithfulness and we celebrate the harvest. As it is Harvest, I thought it might be nice to film some of the service to get a sense of the atmosphere on site...
Given that, I'm intentionally going to be slightly later with putting the online service up, as I'll add the filming and pics of the decorations in the building into the mix to upload. I'm hoping to have this ready and uploaded by 6pm-ish Sunday evening - possibly before. So, bear with me and thanks for your patience. I'll edit this page to include the worship link when that's available.

****update - THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE****
and the service should be available by 5pm Sunday

A separate harvest reel is in process and will be added to the Harvest playlist
so do check back on our YouTube channel for that!

By the by, the church was looking fab by the time I left there this afternoon - all the 'harvest elves' had been busy!

NOTICES...
Thank you - harvest time is very much about saying thank you... so a big thank you to everyone who helped in some way to organise the harvest service and breakfast:
to the breakfast team, the flower and decorating team, to those who've already brought items for the display (which will then be given to the food bank) - and to those who will be bringing or donating items...
a special thank you to our 5 primary schools for their lovely banners which, given time off due to the school strike, has been an amazing achievement.

Harvest Charity for 2023: Macmillan Cancer Support - Harvest is both about giving thanks and, sharing what we have, so to honour that, this year we're supporting the work of Macmillan Cancer Support - this, in recognition that our harvest service so often falls around the same time as the Macmillan coffee mornings. If you'd like to make a wee donation, you can do so by clicking HERE

Presbytery plan update - a quick mention about the meeting on Tuesday this last week of presbytery to discuss the presbytery plan.
Basically, presbytery made the decision to delay agreeing to the plan until there was more detail given of the various proposed changes. And, personally, I think it was a wise decision. Anyway, we shall see what happens, and hopefully, down the track, will perhaps end up with a way forward that is a little more rural community-friendly.

As you go through this coming week, may it be a time of thankfulness and celebration, as you remember the Lord of the Harvest.
God bless

Nikki

Pulpit swap - Sun 24 Sept.

WELCOME to worship this week. Please note that there will be no online service from Upper Clyde this week. The minister is across at the Douglas Valley congregations to ordain a couple of elders to the Douglas Session. So, some options for visiting elsewhere online this week include:
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY 

BIGGAR KIRK

and, if you'd like to venture much further north, why not pop in and see our friends in SHETLAND KIRK...?

CHURCH NOTICES:
Presbytery - and presbytery plan:
'The congregation of Upper Clyde is cited to appear for its interest at a meeting of Presbytery called for the specific purpose of receiving and approving the draft Presbytery Mission Plan for the Presbytery of Forth Valley and Clydesdale.
As Upper Clyde is in the South Area we are cited to attend the meeting to be held on Monday 2 October 2023 at 7pm in Dalziel St Andrews Church, Motherwell and online. 

Please note that at its meeting on 18 June 2022 the Presbytery agreed that ‘For practical reasons of space, determine that no more than three representatives of each of the cited congregations may appear at these Presbytery meetings seeking to achieve concurrence in the Mission Plan. For the avoidance of doubt this number is in addition to Presbyters’ and that ‘remote internet access be provided for any members of cited congregations to the Presbytery meetings on Mission Planning, in order to maximise accountability and participation in the process. For the avoidance of doubt, beyond the three nominated representatives of each cited congregation, this remote access to the meeting will not open up permission to speak.’
The representatives from Upper Clyde attending the meeting in person, at Motherwell, on behalf of our parish are: Dee Yates, Willie White, Heather Watt, and the Minister. If you have any comments or questions you wish raised, please get in touch with one of them before the meeting on 2 October. 

To this end, if you wish to join in discussion with folk from Upper Clyde, Douglas Valley, and Cairngryffe parishes to reflect on the proposed plan, there will be a meeting online this week. Please get in touch with Nikki, Dee, or Janice, and we can send you the link. 

Sun. 1 Oct. Harvest Festival breakfast and worship service: doors open from 9.30am...
this coming week is our Harvest Festival service - don't forget, the doors will open from 9.30am as we'll begin with a simple harvest breakfast through in the hall.
All are welcome.
The service itself begins at 10.30am. Please do let people know - bring them along!!
Harvest service decoration and foodbank donation drop in: in preparation for our service, the church will be open on Saturday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm for decorating, and dropping in items for the harvest display and foodbank.

Sun 24 Sept. 5pm - evening worship: As it's the last Sunday of the month, there will be a service in Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm this evening, which will include a simple communion. All are welcome to come along, and stay for a cuppa and blether thereafter.

'The fresh air of forgiveness' - Worship Sun 17 Sept

WELCOME to worship. This week's theme is on forgiveness. 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE. It should be available from 6pm today subject to any tech glitches!

Church notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES/
Clydesdale Food Bank: a reminder that over September and leading up to and including our Harvest service on the first of October, we’re gathering items together once again for the Clydesdale foodbank. If you’re able to help in some way, that would be brilliant, and thanks in advance.

Sun 24 Sept - services:
10.30am service - pulpit swap: We welcome back Denham Macdougall, who will be covering for Nikki while she's across at Douglas Valley to ordain 2 new elder to the Kirk Session at Douglas. Online worship will follow the same format as when Nikki is on leave: both church notices and several links to other online services will be provided.
5pm service at Leadhills Village Hall - simple service of communion: evening worship will be in the form of communion, picking up on harvest themes.

Sun 1 Oct, 10.30am - Harvest Service: the doors will be flung wide open from 9.30am for a Harvest 'contintental-style' breakfast before we move into the worship space for our service at 10.30am... Details on poster...
Thanks to all who are involved in organising this event. 

Presbytery Draft Plan - 
this arrived on Monday evening. If you would like to see a copy, along with some initial notes, please use the 'contact us' feature, or email, and we can send this to you. In the meantime, I will be updating the presbytery plan page on this blogsite in the near future.

Mon 2 October, 7pm, Motherwell: our congregation is cited to attend a meeting of presbytery in Motherwell on October the 2nd as are all other congregations in the 'south' area of presbytery, this is a meeting regarding the plan. 

Apologies for the delay in getting the service online - it's been a ridiculously busy week!! Whatever this coming week has in store for you, keep on looking out and up to God, who holds us all in the palm of his hands.

God bless,
Nikki

Songs of Praise Sunday - Worship 10 Sept

WELCOME to our Songs of Praise service and Guild dedication.
A slightly different style this week, as we enjoy hymns chosen by the congregation, interspersed with readings and short reflections. I hope you find it an encouragement and gives you a lift as you go into this coming week. It is good to praise our God.
THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE
notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES 
Wed. 13 Sept. 2pm: the Guild meets in the church as we begin a new session. Our guest speaker is Sylvia Russell, who'll be speaking on 'The history of the Clydesdale Horse'. All welcome.

Food Bank month: don’t forget that it’s a food bank month. In church, the box is in the vestibule and you can leave any donations there… and online, you can visit the Clydesdale food bank website, and make a donation that way, should you wish to do so. The link is on the right hand panel of our blog.

Sun. 1 Oct. 10.30am: Harvest Service and breakfast. We’re doing things a little differently in our church service this year… Rather than finishing with a simple harvest lunch, we’re starting with a simple harvest breakfast. The doors will be open from 9.30, serving a continental style breakfast, along with fruit, yoghurt, juice, tea and coffee. Do come along and bring others to share breakfast and blethers, and thereafter, our harvest service from 10.30.

Tues 12 Sept. 11am: funeral of Pam Dunn. It is with sadness that we say our final farewell to our friend, and member, Pam this week. After the service in the church there will be a committal at Holytown Crematorium, and thereafter, a funeral tea at Lanark Golf Club – to which everyone is very welcome to attend. Do please continue to keep Pam’s family in your prayers at this time.

These are all the notices. As you move into a new week, know that you take God's blessing with you.
Nikki