Worship Sun 28 Nov' 21- Advent 1

WEATHER UPDATE AS AT 9AM SUN -
Dear all, for those of you who were thinking of coming to the parish church for worship this morning - due to the snow, and in consultation with some of the elders, we've had to cancel meeting in the building: we want you to stay at home and safe, not attempt the uncleared road to church. Take care, keep warm, and stay safe! And enjoy the online service instead...
Nikki

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WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our online worship time. I don't know about you, but it only feels as if it was five minutes ago when Advent rolled around the last time, yet here we are once more. We stand at the beginning of a new church year as we mark the first Sunday of the season of Advent. As we do, we enter into the waiting time, a time of preparation and of getting ready as we prepare our hearts and homes to welcome God's promise fulfilled, in the birth of the child in the manger. Traditionally, the first Sunday of Advent follows the theme of 'hope', which is what our time of worship will be focusing on.
Before we move into worship, there are some notices...
CHURCH NOTICES/
Evening worship: will be held at Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm this evening. We'll be reflecting on the life of St Margaret of Scotland and what her life might teach us about walking in Jesus' way.
Volunteers wanted: a notice from Janice Reed, who's taken on looking after the morning tea rota.
A couple of people have had to step back from being on the rota, and it leaves us a little thin on the ground. If you are able to help every now and then, please do get in touch with either Janice or myself -
you can make use of the 'contact us' facility on the right hand side of the blogsite or leave a comment on this post.
Communion Service 5 Dec: Our quarterly service of communion will be held this coming Sunday for those able to attend. All are welcome. And, an apology: for those of you who can't attend in person, I haven't yet thought of an adequate way of doing this online... I'm sorry that we can't offer this as yet.
Christmas newsletter: the Christmas newsletter is just out. An online version will go up some time this week. If you're on the mailing list, one should be winging its way to you via the post later in the week.
Looking further ahead -
Sat 11 Dec. 2pm 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy': our annual service for all who wish to take time to remember loved ones. A quiet space in the busyness of the season. This will be held in the parish church in Abington. All welcome. 

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

As you enter into Advent,
may God's hope be a light to guide you,
may God's peace calm your fears,
may God's love fill your heart,
and God's joy wrap around you, and those you love.

Blessings on you
Nikki

Crawford Community Cycling event: 20th Nov

Hi folks,Just a wee heads up on a free cycling event happening in Crawford, Sat 20th Nov.,
which Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, has asked me to flag up.
Details on the poster below...

Worship Sun 14 Nov: A service of Remembrance

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to Upper Clyde online worship where, this week, as with many around the country, we hold a service of Remembrance...
Outwith this online service, around the parish acts of Remembrance will occur at:
10.30am within our time of worship at the parish church in Abington;
11am at Wanlockhead Memorial;
12pm at Leadhills Memorial;
1pm at Crawford Memorial.

The online WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES....
Minister on annual leave:
As of Mon 15 Nov. up to and including Tues 23 Nov. the minister will be using up some annual leave. 

Urgent pastoral cover will be provided by the Rev. Paul Grant of Law Parish, who is currently the Interim Moderator for our neighbors in Douglas Valley. His phone number is: 01698 373 180.
For any general enquiries please contact Dr Dee Yates, our Session Clerk on 01864 504093.

Worship in the parish church at 10.30am will be conducted by the Rev. Bill Buchan
For online worship you might like to explore the following services:
            Biggar Parish Church - LINK
            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK          
            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

I hope that you find this Remembrance Sunday service helpful, and, as you go through
this week, may you know God's love, God's peace, and God's blessing.
Nikki

Worship, Sun 7 Nov: 'Pennies from heaven'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our worship portal, where along with the leaves falling and the nights deepening, we've also had a rare sighting of the 'merry dancers' - aka the Northern Lights.
This week, our worship weaves around themes of gifts and giving, and broken systems and structures, and features a thankful psalmist, some unhappy scribes, and a widow making her offering at the temple. But before we jump across to worship, a couple of notices...
NOTICES/
Remembrance Sunday services - 
10.30am in the parish church at Abington in our time of worship
12pm Act of Remembrance by the Leadhills Village Memorial 
1pm Act of Remembrance by the Crawford Village Memorial...
along with these, a service online for those unable to venture out.
Parish newsletter -
A reminder that the deadline for items to be submitted for our Christmas edition is 12pm, Sun 14th.
Thanks for items already sent in.

OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Have a blessed week
Nikki

A prayer for times such as these...

In a week where climate change and political corruption seem to dominate, and, in my own preparations for Sunday worship and reflecting on a widow's mites, a prayer...

I would praise you

but in times like these, 

praise is hard.

I would praise you

but all around, politicians lie, cronyism is rife,

and those in power care little for the least of these.

I would praise you

but worldwide, oil spills kill,

ice caps melt, temperatures rise,

and apathy and greed are killing our planet.

I would praise you

but everywhere, COVID creates fear,

the poor are still poor,

and refugees flee their homes,

looking for safe harbours to take them in.

I would praise you

for in times so hard,

 praise is all I have.

I would praise you for all around, leaders fail and fall

and only you are faithful, and reign forever.

I would praise you

for worldwide, even marred,

 creation bears your imprint

and your sheer will holds and heals it still.

I would praise you

for everywhere you watch over widows,

 strangers, orphans

and feed the hungry,

and lift the ones bowed down. 

I would praise you

because in times so hard,

times like these,

praise is both call to faith and call to action.

I would praise you

because all around mortal plans crumble into dust

and your promise lasts for all generations.

I would praise you

because worldwide, you sustain all that is

and lives, and moves, and has its being.

I would praise you

because everywhere, you champion the oppressed

and bring the light of hope into the darkest places.

I would praise you

even when, at times, the offering of praise is made

through gritted teeth.

I would praise you. 

       Nik Macdonald 2021