Worship Sun 25 April - 'An adventure in trust'

WELCOME
Hello and welcome to worship!  

It’s the 4th Sunday of the season of Easter – 

traditionally thought of as Good Shepherd Sunday.
Given our rural context, we'll be picking up this theme, and thinking about the One who is the great shepherd of the sheep, Jesus.

Below, you'll find a slew of church notices, which will also be given within our worship online, so, if you want to skip these for the moment, and go straight across to our time of worship, the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES

Ordination of Janice Reid to the eldership - 

At our in-person service in the church building, we’ll be ordaining Janice into the eldership,
welcoming her to serve on our Kirk Session.

For those who aren't able to attend this morning's service, some of you have asked if this might
be recorded. Janice has agreed to this, and I'll put it up at some point today - I'll edit this post to include a link.  [this is now up in the playlist, so just use the worship link to access it]

Anyway, some very happy and welcome news for our small community.

And I’d ask your prayers for Janice, as she steps into this new way of following in faith,
and in service to Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Minister on annual leave -

As of tomorrow, I’ll be taking some annual leave from 26th April up to and including 5th May.

For any general parish queries while I’m off, please get in touch with Heather Watt 01899 850211

and, urgent pastoral cover will be provided by the Rev. George Shand via 01899 309400.

Worship this coming Sunday -
Our in-person service will be done ‘in-house’, so thanks in advance to Heather and to Ursula for conducting worship next week.

And here, online, I’ll put up suggested links for those of you who are worshipping in this way.
Christian Aid Week -
Christian Aid week is just around the corner – beginning on Sunday the 9th of May, and we’ll be observing that in both online and in-person worship services. 

These are all our notices.
May you know God's blessing throughout this week, 
Nikki

Worship Sun 18 April: 'What's your resurrection story?'

 WELCOME/
Welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish – 
and, don't forget, we meet both online, and in-person, so, which ever way you're worshipping God, it is always good to praise him, the God of new beginnings.
We continue to take time in this Easter season, to reflect upon that great event, so central to our faith, the resurrection of Jesus. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve explored the resurrection through the eyes of John’s gospel. This week, we move across to Luke, to see what the view looks like from there.

Before we do, there’s just the one church notice, which is to alert you to the following edict from presbytery – concerning the upcoming ordination to the eldership of Janice Reid...
EDICT FOR ORDINATION AND ADMISSION OF ELDERS:
‘Janice Reed, member of this congregation, has been elected to be a ruling elder; Janice has accepted office as an elder: if anyone has any objections why she should not be ordained to office, they may state their objection at a meeting of the Kirk Session in Upper Clyde Church immediately following worship today, the 18^th of April, 2021 – which will be outside and fully covid-compliant; if no relevant objection regarding life or doctrine is made and substantiated, the Kirk Session will proceed to the ordination, which, subject to the said objections, will be scheduled for Sunday 25 April, 2021.’

That's all the church notices for the moment, so, to worship.
You'll find the LINK HERE

May your time in worship encourage, bless, and recharge you.
Have a good week, 
God bless
Nikki

Remembering Bunty: Joan Jean Conning Walker

Sweet peas were Bunty's favourite flower...

Earlier today the funeral of Bunty, Hazel Sharpe's mother, was held across in Dunscore.
As Bunty was so well known to folk here at Upper Clyde Parish, and, because so many
would like to have been able to attend, the service was filmed.
We've been able to put this up on our YouTube channel for those of you who would like
to say your own farewells and pay your respects.
To watch, please click on THIS LINK.

Worship Sun 11 April: 'Those who have the faith, have the fun'

WELCOME/
It's the first Sunday after Easter Sunday, but the season of Easter continues...
This week, we move from the morning of that first Easter day, into early evening and an upper room filled with puzzled disciples... apart from Thomas who seems to be off getting the messages!
Our time of worship will focus in on our friend, Thomas, and we'll spend a little time reflecting on why his story directly impacts upon us - indeed helps us a great deal, as followers of Jesus from a time many centuries on.
Church notices are below, and our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE to go across to our YouTube channel for our time of online worship. May it be a blessing and an encouragement as you journey in faith.

NOTICES/
Church building - don't forget, we are now able to worship in a COVID-compliant way in our church building. Check the tab above ['COVID reopening of church'] to see what you need to do... and the first thing is to book a seat. Meanwhile, online worship will also run parallel for those who can't make it along in person.

Ordination to the eldership of Janice Reid - We're delighted to finally be able to ordain Janice to the eldership and welcome her to membership of the Kirk Session.

In accordance with Church of Scotland regulations, I’m required to read out the following edict

both this week and next week:

EDICT FOR ORDINATION AND ADMISSION OF ELDERS:

‘Janice Reed, member of this congregation, has been elected to be a ruling elder; 

Janice has accepted office as an elder: 

if anyone has any objections why she should not be ordained to office,

they may state their objection at a meeting of the Kirk Session in 

Upper Clyde Church on 18 April, 2021 immediately following worship; 

if no relevant objection regarding life or doctrine is made and substantiated, 

the Kirk Session will proceed to the ordination, which, 

subject to the said objections, will be scheduled for Sunday 25 April, 2021.’

Community Growing project -
And finally, just a reminder about our new project.

Over the course of the pandemic many folk within communities across Scotland found themselves struggling to put food on their table – more and more folk were needing help from food banks.

Although the food parcels themselves are a great help, they tend to be tinned and packaged food,
... no fresh veg.

So, as part of a response to this, the idea of a community growing project was mooted.

We’re kicking it off this year, and keeping it simple to start.

If anyone would like to grow potatoes - some or all of which could then be given away to the Clydesdale food bank, do let us know.

We were successful in getting some funding to provide seed potatoes and a growing sack, plus there’s a limited supply of compost available. 

For those with the space, you can choose to use the grow bag, or just plant in the garden,

and for those with less space, a grow bag doesn’t take up much room.

Our five primary schools have signed up, which is fab, and if you’d like to sign up for a tatties and a grow bag, do get in touch with either me, or Angela our Community Worker – by 18th April.
Angela's details: 07543 796820 or abrydson@churchofscotland.org.uk

Worship Sun 4 April, Easter Sunday

WELCOME/
A very joyous Easter to you all -
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!

And on this Easter Sunday, after a year and two weeks of having our church building closed because of lockdown, what better day in the church year than to be able to open the doors once more for in-person worship. Online worship will also continue because we still live in 'interesting' times, and there are those among you who may not be able to attend for a number of reasons.
Worship in the building will see quite a few changes, as we are very much focused upon being COVID-compliant. But whether we gather in person or online, we still worship the God who knows us by name, the great life-giver and light-bringer.

You can find our WORSHIP LINK HERE.

And below, a couple of notices....

CHURCH NOTICES/
Church building reopening - please see the COIVD-19 REOPENING OF CHURCH BUILDING tab directly above the blog post for information about what to do in order to attend, and what to do while attending. You will have to book, because we can only fit 15 people in at a socially distanced space.

Community growing project - 
We are starting a new project, so for all of you who enjoy a bit of gardening, check this out....
Here’s a note from Angela, our Community Outreach worker:
She says -
The pandemic has highlighted that many in communities across the country are struggling to put food on their table.  As part of a response to this we would like to develop a Community Growing Project, which could eventually link into other growing projects regionally. 

For this year we plan to keep it simple and grow potatoes which can be given to Clydesdale Foodbank.  We have successfully applied for funding to provide seed potatoes and a growing sack.  There is a limited supply of compost available.  Alternatively, you can use your own resources.   

To add a bit of competition to the project we want to see which community has grown the most potatoes, so when you harvest your potatoes, weigh them, and let Angela know your address.
If you wish to be involved in this project, please let Angela know by Sunday 18^th April.
abrydson@churchofscotland.org.uk or 07543 796820. 
This is to ensure the potatoes can be distributed by the end of April. 

These are all our notices for the moment...
May you have a very blessed Easter, however you're spending,
God bless,
Nikki

Good Friday: 'Seven last words from the Cross'

 Across on our YouTube channel, you'll find a short service of reflection.

Let us walk this last part of the Lenten and Holy Week journey as we stand by the foot of the Cross and contemplate the last words of Jesus...

WORSHIP LINK

Reflection: Maundy Thursday, in a time of pandemic

Maundy Thursday, in a time of pandemic...  

This Maundy Thursday,
there’ll be no shared meal around a table
for there’d be more
than two households who’d gather;
no washing of feet,
nor a beloved disciple coorying in;
no touching, no hugging—
and where a kiss is a betrayal
on a variety of levels.

In a time of pandemic,
when simple touch
can lead to death,
how then to show God’s love,
to do as Jesus has done for us?

Loving one another is:
a facemask worn;
the skoosh of sanitiser,
falling cool upon hands
when making entries and exits;
making space—
at least two metres.

There are other ways to practice love—
to touch hearts without touching:
be deliverers of medicines,
of food,
of news,
or, stay home—
for that, too, is an act of loving service.

Support the local food bank.
Phone a friend,
ask them how they really are—
and give the gift of listening
when, timidly, they tiptoe past ‘fine’
and move into harder honesty.

This Maundy Thursday,
we follow the command to love
by touching other’s lives...
without touching.