'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