'The invisible man' - worship Sun 1 Dec: Advent 1

Welcome: Voices of prophets from long ago, a story of One foretold, and of the invisible made visible... A message of hope is in the air. Join us for worship on this first Sunday of Advent...
The worship link is HERE.

Church notices:
Christmas newsletter update - our Christmas newsletter is done – and here on our website in digital form. Click on the tab above marked 'Christmas newsletter'. Meanwhile, hard copies are with the printer and should hopefully be collected early in the week and then, posted out. 

Farewell: After our service this morning we’ll be saying a wee farewell to Angela, who’s with us for the last time, today, before she steps down as our Community Outreach Worker, and works a little more close to home. Over her four years with us, we've appreciated her presence with us in worship, and in the wider community; her work in helping us realise some of the projects we dreamed up several years back in our Local Church Review - such as 'Let's get growing', the farming and Anna chaplaincies; her willingness to pitch in where needed, her diligence, and sense of humour. We will miss her but she goes with our prayers, our love, and our blessing at this time of endings and new beginnings.

Sun. 8 Dec. 10.30am: Worship cover: this coming Sunday, the Rev. George Shand will be making a return visit, while I'm is recovering from my wee operation on Friday. George will also be providing urgent pastoral cover over the short time that I'll be away. Online worship: I’m hoping to put up some links to other services, for you to join.

Sat. 14 Dec., 2pm: 'Tidings of comfort and joy' a service of remembering in the parish church. A quiet space to remember those no longer with us... during this service, and throughout the rest of the season to Epiphany [Sun 5th Jan], our memory tree will be available in the church - should you wish to add a bauble as a visual prayer, or reminder, of someone on your mind and in your heart who may not be with you over Christmas, for whatever reason....

Memory tree: this year, we'll also be putting up a tree outside by the lytch gate at the foot of the path leading up to the church. At the base of the tree will be a box containing assorted ribbons. In the midst of all the Christmas songs and activities, the loss of a loved one can be just that bit sharper. If you would find it helpful, please feel free to come along, and take a moment to tie a ribbon on the tree as a way of remembering a loved one. The tree will remain until just after Hogmanay.

Sun. 15 Dec. 10.30am: Worship. Our theme will be 'joy'.
and then, at 5pm: worship at Leadhills Village Hall: join us in the hall to sing some Christmas favourites, and celebrate the coming King. Refreshments thereafter, followed by the annual village carols with the Leadhills Silver Band.

'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

Worship Sun 30 April: Good Shepherd Sunday

WELCOME to worship on this Good Shepherd Sunday – a special time of year, where, in the busyness of the lambing that’s going on all around us in our parish, we pause to reflect on Jesus, our Good Shepherd. 

The church notices are copied below, for ease of reference. 
And to move straight across to our service on YouTube the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
Several rounds of thanks:

And the first is to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped in some way with Mary Hamilton’s funeral – what a great team you all are, and I’m sure the family felt very supported. I hope you all know just how much I appreciate you all and, given I was away, I’m so very thankful to you all for pitching in.

Last week, we big a fond farewell to our friend, Bill Buchan, who has been with us over these last couple of years providing pulpit cover when I’ve been away. Thanks to Ursula for saying a few words of thanks on behalf of us all, and presenting him with some tokens of our appreciation. And as he winds down, we do wish him well as he takes a very well earned rest from all his labours.

And one more wee note of thanks – and that’s to our small posse of gardeners yesterday, who gave of their time and skills to do some planting around the church building. I’m looking forward to seeing how the trees and plants progress over the rest of the year – and also hoping the deer don’t go ‘yum, dinner!’ 

Looking ahead, I’d like to flag up Christian Aid Sunday – which is on the 14th of May this year. There’ll be the opportunity during the service (onsite) to donate to the great work Christian Aid does – and for those of you who watch online, I’ll include the web address that you can link to, should you wish to make a donation.

Worship Sun 26 Feb: 1st Lent: 'Moving Out'

WELCOME to this first Sunday in the season of Lent:
As Lent is a time when we think of walking with Jesus, and the journey of faith, over these next weeks of Lent we’ll be a people ‘On the move’ – our Lenten theme for 2023.
To help us as we travel, we’ll be exploring some passages from the Old Testament and we start in a garden where some choices are being made...

Today, we’re thinking about ‘moving out’.

If you'd prefer to go straight across to worship, the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

For reference, notices are copied below.

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
Let’s get growing: this afternoon, at the manse, between 1 and 3pm, you’re welcome to come along, pick up a bag of compost and collect a variety of vegetable seeds … so, grow your own veg, or grow them for the food bank… but whatever you choose to do: let’s get our community gardening project up and running again for the year – let’s get growing!

Evening worship & informal communion: It’s the last Sunday of the month, and at 5pm, at Leadhills Village Hall, we’ll be having a quiet evening communion with taize chants. So, come along, if you’re able, and get your Lent off to a gentle and contemplative start. There’ll be time for a cuppa and a blether after and all are welcome to come.

Funeral of Nan Steele: On Friday morning, this week, we’ll be saying our goodbyes to Nan Steele in the church, as we commit her to God. The funeral will be at 10am, followed by her interment at Crawfordjohn cemetery. 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Friday afternoon, at 2.30, Upper Clyde will be meeting up with our friends at Rigside, in their community hall, to share together a service in this week of prayer for Christian Unity. If you’d like to go – and need a lift, get in touch with Heather Watt. 

Communion: This coming Sunday will be our quarterly communion – it is the table of the Lord and all are welcome to the feast. Please do let friends and neighbours know. 

Congregational meeting: after the service next week, we’ll be having a congregational meeting – this to discuss the potential presbytery plan and our conversations with our neighbours in Douglas Valley and Cairngryffe parishes – again, please tell anyone you know who might be interested to come along. This is the time for everyone to have their say as we look ahead to the future.

As you journey into Lent, may you know God's blessing.
Take care and have a good week!

Nikki

Worship Sun 19 Feb: Transfiguration Sunday

WELCOME/ Along with many congregations around the world, today we’re marking the ‘transfiguration’ of Jesus: remembering that strange and mysterious story from the gospels in which Jesus walks up a mountain, taking Peter, James, and John and where a dazzling brightness falls upon him and there, in the midst, he meets with Moses and Elijah. One of those passages that remind us that while Jesus is human, he’s also divine – Son of God.

There are a lot of notices, all copied below for ease of reference.
If you'd like to go straight across to our time of worship
THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/

Lent begins: This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season we call ‘Lent’ –
a traditional time of preparation as we mark the weeks leading up to holy week and Easter. Last week I flagged up the possibility of having a Lent discussion group. If you’d like to take part, do let me know and we’ll begin this the week beginning Sunday the 26^th at some point that’s suitable for all.

Parish newsletter: The Easter edition of our newsletter is now being prepared. If you have any Easter-related items that you’d like to include, please do get in touch with Dee our editor, or myself - you can make use of the 'contact us' feature to the right hand side of the blog page.
The deadline for submission is 1pm Sunday the 12^th of March.

Let's get growing - again: Our ‘let’s get growing’ community gardening project is starting up once again. If you'd like a free bag of compost and a package containing several packs of different vegetable seeds, you can collect these from the manse on Sunday afternoon the 26^th of February, between 1 and 3pm.

Upcoming funeral: I’m sad to announce the death of Nan Steele who died on Thursday evening. For those of you who would like to attend: Nan’s funeral will be in the church at 10am on Friday the 3^rd of March, followed by her committal at Crawfordjohn cemetery. Notices will go up closer to the time.

Presbytery plan update: On Thursday, we had the first of our online cluster conversations discussing the presbytery plan, exploring a way forward with our neighbouring parishes of Douglas Valley and Cairngryffe to work together more closely - with a view to forming a possible union. Essentially, we're wondering about creating a rural 'maxi' parish, as each congregation has shared rural interests, and, since 2018, have been working as an informal parish grouping, each sharing our community outreach worker.

In our first meeting, with rep's from each congregation, we used what’s known as the 5 marks of mission to help frame our conversation.
The first half of the meeting was given over to each of the congregations represented to outline the different activities in their church life that fit under each of these 5 marks. The second half was spent looking at these and highlighting what we shared in common, as well as possible things that we might be able to do together, that we can’t quite do now, as individual congregations.
So basically, first, a bit of a stock take, and then a where to from here working together.

The next step is over to each congregation for the next few weeks, for our own conversations together –I’ll be putting up a dedicated page on our blog that you can access – to keep you in the loop, and also, in order for you to make your own comments, or give feedback, and such.
Essentially, what we did on Thursday night was to help get us started but the conversation involves all of us – so please do feel free to have your say – whether it’s thru the blog, or in person after worship over a cuppa, or even by just giving me a phone call.
More formally, we can do this onsite by having a congregational meeting after worship:
on Sunday the 5^th of March – which is communion Sunday. So, a date for your diaries.
After worship, we can go through to the hall and have the meeting over a cuppa.

What happens then? There'll be another joint meeting of the three congregations online at 7pm Thurs 16th of March, where each of us will be bringing back any feedback, questions, and concerns. We'll then explore how working together as a union - with our various interests - might work. So, looking at possible systems and structures.
Out of this meeting, we hope to have enough information to draw up a draft plan to submit to presbytery for their consideration. This proposal is to be submitted on the 31st of March.

At each stage, we'll be keeping you informed, and, should you wish to join the next joint meeting, do get in touch... it's open to all members who are interested.

Phew!! And with that, may you find our time of worship an encouragement as you begin a new week.
Take care and God bless,

Nikki

Worship Sun 5 Feb - 'Shine'

WELCOME/ 
 Hello – and welcome to worship. Today, we’re focusing in on the subject of light – and letting our light shine.

To go straight across to our worship video the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

And for church notices, please see below....

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
The Guild is meeting on Wednesday this week, at 2pm in the church building – if you’re able to come along it would be lovely to see you. 

Kirk Session - A reminder to all members of the Kirk Session that we’ve a meeting on Thurs evening at 7pm – we meet online by zoom, and I’ll send out the link by email later in the week. 

Presbytery plan - Just to flag up to everyone, not just session members: during our session meeting we’ll be having a wee discussion about the proposed timetable and process for us and our neighbours when it comes to having another go at getting a presbytery plan in place. As part of the ongoing process, we'll be joining with our neighbours for conversations concerning potential plans and where we all might fit within these. If you'd like to be a part of these conversations, let me know, and once we've settled on some dates to get together (for the most part, probably via 'zoom' online), I'll let you know.

Concerning ongoing presbytery conversations and the potential plan (mark II), I hope to have some information around about or just after Easter… and what information I have before then, I’ll put into our Easter newsletter so everyone knows what may or may not be proposed. As I said, I’ll keep you posted and if you’d like to join in the conversations that will be upcoming, let me know.

Let's get growing project update - we’ll be starting once again at the end of the month with a giveaway of a bag of compost, plus a bag containing 10 different packs of veg seeds to grow (so a pack of tomato seeds, cauliflower, salad leaves, lettuce, carrots, and suchlike). If you’d like to grow your own veg for satisfaction and to help keep the grocery bills down a wee bit, let me, or Angela know, and we’ll put your name down on the list - either call, email, or just use the 'contact us' form on the right hand panel of this page. Collection will be at the manse on the last Sunday this month between 1 and 3pm. I will flag this up closer to the time. 

These are all the notices, so, as you move into a new week, shine your light, and God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 17 July: 'M and M'

WELCOME/

Hello - welcome to our time of worship. 

Today, our gospel reading finds us peeking into the home of some friends of Jesus, who welcome him in, but where the offering of hospitality doesn’t quite go to plan...

If you want to go straight across to our service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/ 

Evening worship Sunday, 24 July  
Leadhills Village Hall, at 5pm. Come along and join us, if you’re able, and after the service, there’ll be a chance to catch up with folk over tea, coffee, and juice.
Songs of Praise 'choose your favourite hymn' nominations: nominations are currently open to choose your favourite hymn – or hymns – for possible inclusion in our Songs of Praise service which will be held on the 14th of August. Just let me know via email, phone, or drop a note into the collection plate if you're in the building, so we can gather your choices up. 8 hymn slots are available and feel free to nominate more than one hymn.
Caring hearts school project

If you’ve not yet managed to knit or crochet any hearts for our schools project, there’s only a few weeks left, and we need about 50, if possible. So, if you do have any spare time, it would be great if you could rustle up some wee hearts for our schoolkids.

Let's get growing project
I have a couple of sacks of seed potatoes at the manse - they are suitable for growing in colder areas such as ours, and there's still just enough time to plant a crop. If you'd like to take some potatoes away, please help yourself, they're just by the front door of the manse!!

As you you move into another week, know that God goes with you.
Until next time, 
God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 3 July

WELCOME/ 
Welcome to worship!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve travelled along with Jesus and his disciples as they’ve ventured out of their comfort zones both geographically and culturally. This week, we continue our travels, but with a twist: Jesus sends his followers off on an adventure of their own, putting theory into practice. And so we’ll see what happens when the disciples are let loose upon the world.
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE
While below are our church notices... 

CHURCH NOTICES/
On Sunday, the 10^th, I’ll be across at Cairngryffe church, where we’ll be celebrating a double baptism. While I’m over there, Allan Grant will be covering worship onsite. Meantime, online, I’ll have some worship links available for you to choose from.

Let's get growing project: unfortunately, we've had a delayed start this year. While our order had been submitted, due to unforeseen circumstances, we weren't able to access the gardening items until this week. Most of it can be stored for this coming year for a February / March start, however there are some perishables that are needing homes. There is just enough time to get these growing and harvested.
So, on Sat 16 July 10am-2pm, come along and help yourselves to some potatoes (Charlotte - so okay for late planting), onion sets, shallots, and garlic.
As this is a community growing project, we received a grant for this, so all of these are free.
You’re very welcome to take what you want - and, if you're so minded, perhaps a share of these might be given to the foodbank to supplement the tinned and packaged food.

In the meantime, have a good week, 
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 27 March - Lent 4: 'Outrageous'

WELCOME/
Hello – and welcome to this 4^th Sunday in Lent, also the day on which Mothering Sunday falls: so we give thanks for all those who have nurtured us – whether through the bonds of family or the bonds of friendship. And, ironically, on this Mothering Sunday, we move further into Luke’s gospel and hear Jesus tell the story of a father and his two sons – in many ways, an ‘outrageous’ story...

As per usual, the church notices appear below for ease of reference, but, if you'd prefer to skip straight on to the service and just listen to them, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
On the matter of Covid restrictions and attending on-site:
as of today, we no longer have to take names at the door. And, with the easing of restrictions, you can sit anywhere – but, it would be very prudent to maintain the 1 metre distancing rule, unless you’re in a bubble with others. Covid is still with us. Sth Lanarkshire is currently at 1 in 11 people catching Covid...so let’s be canny, shall we? At the moment, we are still required to wear face masks – and, when that regulation is eased, one very practical way of showing we love our neighbour is to continue to keep wearing them... but this will very much be a matter of individual choice... so whatever you decide to do on the matter of masks, let’s all try to be respectful of each other’s choices, even as we try to look out for each other. 

Funeral of Jenny Hodgen:
We're still to confirm exactly, and I'll update this as soon as I have confirmation hopefully on Monday. However, it looks like this will take place on Fri 1st April - a church service in the parish church at Abington, followed by graveside committal at Roberton.

Parish newsletter:
Proofs are now at the printers and we hope to have these by the end of the week, for mail out the following week.

Clydesdale food bank: 
Don’t forget that this month we’ve been flagging up the good work of Clydesdale food bank and encouraging you to help out a struggling neighbour by supporting this work. Onsite, the foodbank box is in the vestibule to leave food and other items, while, online, you can go to their website and make an online financial donation there. The link is on our 'links' section on the r-hand panel.

Evening worship: 
This evening, there’ll be an informal service of worship at Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm – and we’ll be looking at an encourager and champion of the faith, Margaret of Scotland. There’ll be refreshments and a chance to have a blether over a cuppa after the service.

Anna Chaplaincy Commissioning: 
This coming Saturday at 2pm in Douglas Parish Church, there’s a commissioning service for our Anna Chaplaincy ministry – a ministry shared between Upper Clyde, Douglas Valley, and Tinto Parishes. It’ll be a wee service to mark the official start of this ministry, after which tea will be across in the Bowling Club – if you can come, it would be lovely to see you there as we celebrate this first of its kind ministry in Scotland.

'Let's get growing': 
I’m delighted to say that we’ve managed to get some grant funding towards our ‘let’s get growing’ project for a second year – so keep an ear out for further plans in the very near future.

Worship Sun 19 Dec - Advent 4: 'love'

WELCOME/ Hello and welcome to  the gateway for our online service of worship. It's the fourth Sunday of Advent and the traditional theme is 'love'. We'll be focusing in on a meeting with cousins Elizabeth and Mary, as they meet together and catch up with each other's news and, we'll hear Mary great song of liberation and love the Magnificat. 
As ever, just for reference, I'll post the church notices below, but if you'd prefer to just go across to our youtube channel and listen to these in our 'welcome', that's fine. You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
There are quite a few...

Evening worship: there’s worship this evening at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall – come along for some Christmas carols and some Christmas reflections... music will be provided by some of the members of Leadhills Silver Band.
And, in light of the First Minister's comments this week, just to emphasise that, as we do normally, we’ll be observing social distancing, we’ll have sanitiser at the door, and be operating a one way flow system, as well as wearing face masks – we want to continue to be as Covid-compliant as possible.

Morning tea after worship in the parish church: Given the First Minister’s statement about the need to be a little more vigilant because of the Omicron variant of Covid, we’ve decided to take a wee pause on morning tea through in the hall, just for the time being. We’ll revisit this decision at the end of January, just to see how things are then. However, if you’re willing, we could still have a self-catered version here in the worship part of the building: it’s a bigger space, so were not sitting quite as closely  together, and there’s more ventilation... 

If folk are happy to bring a flask of tea or coffee with them, we can stay for a blether in the [socially distanced] pews for a while after our time of worship has ended - I'll have individually wrapped biscuits separated out on the vestibule table, just pick a couple up as you come in for the service.

Let's get growing project - an update: As I mentioned last week, our ‘let’s get growing’ project has moved from seed potatoes to planting trees: Angela was able to secure 420 wild food tree saplings donated by the Woodland Trust and was wanting to rehome them all before Christmas. Well, just to say, all the trees have now been claimed, so thanks everyone for getting behind the project, and also, helping us to work a little towards reducing our carbon footprint within the parish. Well done.

Pastoral matters: Some sad news to share: which is that our friend and fellow church member, Jeri Crutcher died earlier in the week. Her funeral will be held at Elvanfoot Cemetery at 11am on Wed this week. Please do spare a prayer for Jeri’s family at this hard time.

Christmas worship: a reminder that, given the way Christmas falls this year, we’re not going to have our usual watchnight service in the church building – but I will make a simple online service available. This is because the Kirk Session and I felt it a little unfair to expect anyone to stay back and do deep cleaning after midnight on Christmas, or come in on Christmas day. Had there been a 72 hour gap, we would have been fine.
As it's not our custom to have a service on Christmas Day unless if falls on a Sunday, we'll be celebrating on Sunday the 26th with a bit of a carol-fest, some poems, and a wee story. And, because the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas day, we’ll have the opportunity to sing a good few more carols the following week, and think about wise men journeying to Bethlehem from the east.

These are all our notices. I hope this time of worship encourages you on your journey of faith.
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 12 Dec, Advent 3: 'Joy'

WELCOME/ It's the 3rd Sunday of Advent as we continue on our journey to Bethlehem's stable. The traditional theme for this Sunday is 'joy' and we'll be looking for joy as we see the man that John the Baptist has become - last week, just newly born, this week, full grown.
If you want to skip the notices, 
the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Several notices this week, but first, just to note that I try to make a habit of putting them up in print on the blog, as well as on the online service, just for ease of reference, so do feel free to skip ahead and watch the announcements within the online service over on the youtube channel if you prefer!!

Volunteers needed for morning tea duty after our time of worship in the church building. If you do a mix of attending online as well as in person, perhaps you might consider occasionally helping out with this wee job of enabling us to have much-needed cuppa and blether after the service. If you're able to assist, please get in touch with me [Nikki], and I'll pass your name on to Janice Reed.

'Let's get growing project - an update: a wee bit of news. Remember our ‘let’s get growing’ project – and how a number of folk from around the parish had planted potatoes – with a good amount of the yield to be given to the FoodBank? I have a total yield weight for you: it’s a bit of an estimate, but we think it’s close enough – between us, we grew 158kilos, or, in the old money, 348lbs of potatoes – that’s a brilliant effort given it was our first year doing this. So, we’ll see if we can beat that this coming year. Well done everyone.
and...
Wild fruit tree planting: on the ‘let’s get growing’ theme: Angela was able to secure 400ish wild food tree saplings donated by the Woodland Trust and is able to offer them to anyone who would be willing to take one or two (or several!). The trees are Hazel, Blackthorn, Elder, Dog Rose, Rowan and Crab Apple. Please let Angela – 07543 796820 - know how many you would like as soon as possible. Ideally, it would be great if she could get these to new homes before Christmas. I’m hoping we might be able to plant some along the grassy verge by the fence in the car park at church.

Sun 19 Dec. 5pm: Evening worship in Leadhills village hall. Oddly enough, there’ll be a bit of a Christmas feel to the service and a few carols to sing. Music will be provided by some friends from Leadhills Silver Band, and then later, at 7.30 in the Hopetoun Arms, there’s an opportunity to join with the rest of the band for even more carol singing.

Worship Sun 19 Sept' - 'Keeping up appearances'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to worship where we gather both online and in our church building to worship the God who calls us ‘beloved’. We continue to journey through the Letter of James, this week reflecting on how to be God’s people within a culture that tells us that who we are and what we have is not enough.
Just a couple of notices today – the first is just to flag up that this week I’m on call to provide any urgent pastoral cover for Douglas Valley Church; and the second is to pass on a message from Angela, our community worker – which is to let those of those of you involved in the ‘let’s get growing’ project that she will be down at the old council yard in Crawford this coming Sunday, the 26th after morning tea – so, roughly, from 12 to 1pm – if you have any potatoes, you can drop them off to her there.
OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Whatever your plans for this coming week, may you know God's presence with you, and know yourself beloved.
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 5 Sept '21: 'Jesus loves you but I'm his favourite'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our time of worship.
Last week, Allan Grant was holding the fort in the church while I was away helping in our neighbouring Tinto Parish - so many thanks to Allan, as well as to Ursula and Dee for providing a welcome, stewarding, sorting music, and reading. We heard from the first chapter of the Letter of James, and this week, we continue in James, reflecting on chapter two and thinking about the dangers of playing favourites. But a few notices first....

CHURCH NOTICES/
The Guild: 
A reminder that the Guild recommences after it's loooooong break, at 2pm on Wednesday. This will be the held-over AGM and thereafter, a chance for a cuppa and a catch up, and conversation about this year's Guild programme.
And, doing things slightly the wrong way around, our Guild Dedication service will be held next Sunday in the church at 10.30am.
Let's get growing:
Don't forget to weigh your tatties upon harvesting them, and do let Angela or myself know how many kilos or pounds you've grown. If you're aiming to get some or all of your harvest along to the food bank, you can do so by dropping them into the big box that's just outside the Gillespie Centre in Biggar, or, get in touch with Angela or me, and we'll organise a pick up and drop off.
Morning tea:
As we move to a slightly more 'normalised, but Covid compliant' service in the church - we're now singing, we also have cushions back on the pews - we're bringing back after service morning tea. This will be done in line with Covid regulations, and, while it may feel a little clunky at first, we will get used to it. But, it's great that we're now able to offer this once more.
Kirk Session:
Session meets, via zoom, on Thursday evening at 7pm. Elders, keep an eye out for the zoom link in your email.

WORSHIP LINK/
Just a wee note that I'm currently experimenting with our formatting for online worship. Rather that a playlist of many clips [and interruptions by ads for such delights as funeral directors and such!!] I'm trying out putting together the clips into one larger clip so that the whole service will play uninterrupted. It is taking longer to upload, as it's a much larger file, but, we'll see how it goes... 
So, rather than playlist, you'll find the service in the 'videos' section of our youtube channel...
but of course, I'll provide the link here for you too!
I hope you find this time of worship encouraging, and that it helps you in your journey of faith...
the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Until next time, God bless, 
Nikki

Worship Sun29 Aug - pulpit swap

Hello all, just to note that there won't be online worship for UCPC on Sunday 29th... see below.
In the meantime, some wee announcements -

Pulpit swap with Tinto Parishes:
This week, Nikki has been asked to do a pulpit swap across at Symington and Libberton churches, as there has been a request to conduct the sacrament of baptism at Libberton. So, at Upper Clyde, worship will be conducted by Mr Alan Grant, who is a Reader in the Church of Scotland. Given this, there will also not be an online UCPC service provided this week, so please do make use of one or more following choices provided...
      online suggested links: 
         Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
         Dunfermline Abbey - LINK 
         Kirkton Parish Church - LINK  
         Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Rev. Margaret Muir:
Some sad news came in this last week concerning the death of our previous minister, the Rev. Margaret Muir. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Let's get growing project:
Just the usual reminder for those of you growing spuds as part of this project - remember to weigh them when you harvest them, so we can pass this along to Healthy Valleys.

Minister's day off this week: Monday.

Worship Sun 22: 'The God who speaks'

 

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our online service of worship.
Our theme today is 'the God who speaks' as we reflect on the words of Psalm 19.
You can find the service by clicking on this WORSHIP LINK ... meanwhile, church notices are below:

Car boot sale - an update:
Wow! Despite the grey skies and intermittent rain, a good number of folk could be found milling outside the church. Lots of cheery faces, so pleased to be together - safely - and to catch up as well as find some treasure among the stalls. Huge thanks to Heather Craig for a great idea, and for her energy and organisational skills; thanks as well to so many people who gave of their time, talent and skills in so many different ways, and for making the event such a happy and successful one. Thanks also to those who came along to support the event on the day. Truly, a great community effort overall, and both a fun raiser and a fund raiser - with so more money yet to come in, after expenses, we will have raised at least £600. Brilliantly done, everyone.

Pulpit swap:
This coming week, I'll be across at both Symington and then Libberton Kirk, having been asked to conduct a baptism at Libberton. Alan Grant will be conducting worship in the church at Abington in my place. Meanwhile, online, I'll be posting some links to other online worship services for you to connect with.

Potatoes:
Don't forget to weigh your spuds when you get to harvesting, and do let Angela or myself know how much your crop weighs. As we're working in partnership with Healthy Valleys, we'll give them the figures, which they can then use for inclusion in future grant applications... thanks!

And with that, have a good week, may you know God's presence beside you as you go.
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 15 Aug 'Songs of praise' service

WELCOME TO WORSHIP!
Hello, and welcome to our special songs of praise service. It's the first Sunday that we've sung hymns in the church building since before lockdown, and to celebrate, we're having a big, old hymn-fest of favourites that have been chose by both online and in-person members of the congregation.
Our theme for worship today, as we reflect on Psalm 100 us 'the God who is worthy of praise.'

A FEW NOTICES -
Car boot sale: there's still time to organise a pitch, if you're wanting to recycle items from your cupboards to ...well, someone else's cupboards! £10 a pitch and you can arrange this with Heather Craig on  07765 498624. And, if you're able to help in anyway - by baking, helping out at the refreshment stall, stewarding, clearing away, please do get in touch with Janet Telfer on 01864 504 265. 
Dont' forget, all monies raised will be divided between Clydesdale food bank and Upper Clyde Church.
Come along, and bring your friends.

'Let's get growing' community gardening project: a note from Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, who says:
I hope those of you who have been growing potatoes have had some good fortune in at least seeing leaves.  My ones have definitely produced foliage and I am looking forward to seeing what is under the soil.  I hope I am not too disappointed! As it is nearly time for harvesting your potatoes, I just want to remind you what to do with your harvest.  You may choose to cook them for yourself, give or share with someone else or donate to Clydesdale foodbank at one of their donation points.  All I want from you is the weight of your harvest, imperial or metric, and more importantly your recipes. 
These can be sent to me on abrydson@churchofscotland.org.uk or deaconangela454@gmail.com Alternatively you can write them down and leave them at your church and I can collect them when I am with you.  Take care, Angela

I hope this time of worship, and all of the singing within it, cheers and encourages and energises you in your walk of faith. Have a great week, and keep on singing new songs to the Lord.
WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

God bless
Nikki 

Worship Sun 4 July: 'Welcome home'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to online worship at Upper Clyde.
A new month, and with it, a move from the Old Testament and into the New, as we spend some time in the Gospel of Mark. This week, we reflect on welcome and hospitality, acceptance and rejection, as we hear a story of Jesus' homecoming...
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
A date for the diary: Sat 21 Aug. 10.30-1.30...
If the Scottish Gov't Covid restrictions timetable goes to plan, we'll be holding a car boot sale in the church car park on the above date. More details to follow, as well as a call for volunteers (hello to all our lovely bakers!!). But, it's great to be organising an outdoor social event - a fun and fund raiser. Proceeds will be shared between Clydesdale Food Bank and Upper Clyde Church.

Songs of Praise service: Sun 15 Aug, 10.30am
With restrictions likely to be lifted on the 9th of August, rather than humming behind our masks...
we'll be allowed to sing [still behind our masks]. Given this, let's go for it and have a really good sing, making use of some of the hymns that you've all been sending in to me!

'Let's get Growing' project:
Don't forget to send in your favourite potato-based recipes, as part of our potato growing project for this year. Let's get growing and, let's get cooking!

Worship Sun 27 June: 'I'm holding out for a hero'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to worship!
We come to an end today of our brief series on David - we've been there for his beginnings, his highs, his lows, and today, we come full circle to his ending, as he passes on the torch to his son, Solomon.
What is a vital tool for kingship... we'll see what Solomon thinks as we delve into our text for today.

Meantime, as with the last couple of weeks, I'm very happily gathering up favourite hymn choices to be used in worship for when we move to level one and can sing... do keep them coming!
And, don't forget, as part of our 'Let's get growing' project, do please share any favourite recipes you have that feature the humble spud as the main ingredient - and hopefully, if we receive enough, we'll put them together in a wee booklet, or set of recipe cards.
In the next few weeks, you'll also be hearing a little more about another project that is currently in planning stages, so, keep your eyes and ears peeled for that.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Hopefully, we might get some summer over the next couple of weeks [I confess, I'm still in cardigans and jumpers here!], but in the meantime, may you know the love and presence of God with you through this coming week.
God bless
Nikki 

Worship Sun 20 June - '#HerToo'

WELCOME/
Welcome to worship online, as we continue our short series on David. Last week, David hit a high point, defeating the great warrior, Goliath. This week, however, we meet David at what is his lowest point - the messy, sorry story of his encounter with Bathsheba. Years have passed, and David has realised the promise of his anointing by Samuel when a boy. Our story takes place about 10 years into his reign as king and we see David go from hero to zero through one fatal decision.

In the meantime, a couple of notices -
these from last week...
The theme is 'gathering'!
If you've not submitted any favourite hymn choices yet, there's plenty of time - these will be used when we get to level one of the COVID restrictions. So, do please get in touch and tell us what you'd like to be singing over the next wee while!
We're also gathering... recipes!
To go alongside our 'Let's get growing' potato project, we'd love you to share any recipes you have that feature as star the humble potato. We're hoping to put together some recipe cards or even create a wee potato recipe book, for later in the year when it's time for harvesting out potatoes. 
These are all the notices.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

May you know God's presence with you this week,
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 13 June: 'An underdog's tale'

 WELCOME/
Welcome to this week's time of worship, where we continue with our short series on David.
Last week, we met David, fresh from tending the family flocks, being anointed king by Samuel. To all gathered, David seemed a most unlikely choice for a king...
This week, as we continue journeying with David, we hear of his encounter with Goliath - that very well known Bible story, and a favourite of Sunday School teachers around the globe! 
If David was an unlikely choice for king, we find that when it comes to battle, he is very much the underdog... or is he?

NOTICES/
Just a couple of notices -
So many around the parish have jumped in to join the 'Let's get growing' community gardening project - tatties are being grown in most of our 9 villages, which is brilliant. Given this, Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, is wondering about putting together a wee recipe book, or set of recipe cards, with the humble potato as the star performer. So, what are your favourite potato recipes - simple or splendid - and, would you like to share them for inclusion in our recipe book?
If so, you can use the 'contact us' form, or make use of the comments feature, or email Angela at: abrydson@churchofscotland.org.uk 

And, our other notice: just a reminder to get your hymn selections in for inclusion in worship over the Sundays of July. We're very much hoping that by then, we'll be in level 1 and, for in-person worship, actually able to sing our hymns... but it doesn't stop those of you watching online worship to join in and share some of your favourite hymns for online worship. Please do get in touch and I'll see what we can do!

These are all the notices, so may this time of worship encourage you in your faith journey.
May you know God's presence with you this week...
You'll find our WORSHIP LINK HERE.

Until next time, God bless,
Nikki