Something fishy this way comes...

Wiston school had fish hanging
from the rafters

Our Harvest and Season of Creation celebrations have come to an end. Huge thanks to everyone who helped in some way - from flower arranging, window decorating, donations of fresh produce to be donated to Clannalba, and tinned and dry foods to be given to Clydesdale Food Bank.
For home baking and harvest morning tea 'prizes', and for good humour, and lots of kindness. Huge shout out to our five wee primary schools for their fabulous 'fishy' decorations, celebrating the harvest of the river [a nod the Clyde running through our parish], the seas, and oceans. 
Having had our Sunday harvest service, we continued the harvest theme, as our schools all joined together in the church on the Friday, for our own wee service. 

Some fantastic singing, excellent reading, and some beautiful listening when I was story telling. 

Good effort, everyone.
Some pictures below to enjoy...

Crawford provided fish and wise words to share

Abington School gave us a
variety of sea life

Leadhills fish were having a swimming time
along our pews and walls

Lamington school was off
on a fish trawling expededition

Praise God for the harvest!

Harvest Festival Week at Upper Clyde

A sample of some of the delicious baking on offer

It's Harvest Festival time! 
And to begin our Harvest week in style, we held a coffee morning....

A good time was had by all and we raised £220 - a fun raiser and a fund-raiser. Proceeds will be split between the Clydesdale Food Bank and ourselves [helps pay for the heating oil!].

Thanks to everyone who came along and supported our event, and special thanks to Sara and Tabitha for their fabulous baking. We're all looking forward to the opening of their cake shop in Biggar 'A Piece of Cake' and wish them well in their new adventure.

Meanwhile, around the five schools within the parish, decorations are being made to display in the church for this coming Sunday's Harvest Festival Service ... please do join us if you can at 10.30.
[And just a reminder to members of the Kirk Session - our rescheduled meeting is this week, on Wed 30th, at 7pm]

Harvest Coffee Morning and Harvest festival service news

This week, on Saturday. All welcome!

Our Harvest Service will be held on Sun 4th October, in the parish church at Abington, 10:30am.
 
The building will be open on Saturday the 3rd at 2pm,
for all who wish to come along to help with the harvest decorations.

As the end of our 'Season of Creation' series, given the River Clyde runs through our parish, and the theme for 'SoC' this year is 'living water', we'll be celebrating the harvest of the rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans.

Special thanks to our five Primary Schools, as ever, for their help with the decorating: we're looking forward to seeing what you've all created!!

September... a season of creation

Over the Sundays of September, and culminating with our Harvest Thanksgiving service on the 4th of October, Upper Clyde is marking the Season of Creation. As the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time for everything under heaven, and the Season of Creation provides a time to dedicate ourselves to prayer and action for the protection of creation. It is a time to renew our relationships with God our Creator, and with all creation, as we join together in prayer.
Begun as an initiative of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1989, the Season of Creation has grown into a worldwide ecumenical movement, celebrating God our Creator, and God's creation.

What will the Season of Creation look like for us, here at Upper Clyde?
Sun 6th calls us to reflect on the beginning of all things as we explore the first of the creation stories. Within this service, we will also share in the sacrament of Communion - where all are welcome.
Sun 13th focuses on the other creation story - of the garden, and of the expulsion of the first humans from it. Our reflections take in the words 'domination' and stewardship' - in the context of God's charge to be responsible for the earth.
Sun 20th moves us further into the Book of Genesis, and to the story of Noah and an arkful of creatures of every kind, while...
Sun 27th takes us to the book of last things - Revelation, and a focus upon the river of the water of life.
And then, on the 4th Oct, we bring all of this together, as we celebrate and give thanks for the harvest, during which we'll take a moment to reflect on the 'eco Church' movement with Jayne Gray.

Harvest morning tea: On Sat 26th Sept, from 10-12, we'll also be having a morning tea, as part of our Season of Creation/ Harvest related activities. Hosted by our friends Sara and Tabitha, we anticipate their usual fabulous baking, along with opportunities to buy tickets for our prize draw. All monies raised will be split between the Clydesdale Food Bank and Upper Clyde.

Clydesdale Food Bank: as September is a communion month, and the first Sunday of September is Food Bank Sunday, the box to collect food and hygiene products will be available in the vestibule for any donations. These will be uplifted, along with harvest items, on Sun 4 October after worship. And thanks in advance....

Update 6 August

 

NEWS, INFORMATION, UPDATES 6th AUGUST

Annual leave:
The minister has now returned from annual leave.

Many thanks to the Rev. Morag Garrett, minister of Coalburn and Lesmahagow Old Parish for providing funeral cover over the holiday, to Mr Roy Garrett for conducting worship on Sun 26 July, and to Ralph Barker and Ursula Baillie for leading our Songs of Praise service on Sun 2 August.
Thanks, also to Dr Dee Yates and Ms Heather Watt for acting as parish contacts during this time.

Annual Stated Meeting: our ASM will be held on Sunday 9th August on the return of the minister. During the meeting, we will receive the accounts and hear an overview of 2025. This is much later than usual this year, but huge thanks to Ralph, and to the presbytery finance team for helping untangle some 'heritage' accounts that had held up the accounts being approved. 

Parish magazine - summer edition: we are hoping that this will be ready around mid-August and available for distribution.

Martin Raine: we were very sad to hear of Martin's death. Please remember Janet and the family at this time. The funeral will be held at the parish church on Thurs 13th August at 2pm. Thereafter, refreshments at the family home in Crawford.

Update for Mon 20 July - Wed 5 August

NEWS, INFORMATION, UPDATES for MON 20 JULY - WED 5 AUGUST

Annual leave:
The minister will be on annual leave during this time.
Funeral cover will be provided by the Rev. Morag Garrett, minister of Coalburn and Lesmahagow Old Parish. Her contact details are: email -  MGarrett@churchofscotland.org.uk or phone deleted
General parish queries - should any arise, please contact Dr Dee Yates on deleted from Mon 20th - Tues 28th July. Thereafter, Ms Heather Watt on deleted
Worship cover will be provided by Mr Roy Garratt on Sun 26th July, and by Mr Ralph Barker and Mrs Ursula Baillie on Sun 2nd August - this latter will be our annual Songs of Praise worship service with themes centring around Ps 100.

Annual Stated Meeting: our ASM will be held on Sunday 9th August on the return of the minister. During the meeting, we will receive the accounts and hear an overview of 2025. This is much later than usual this year, but huge thanks to Ralph, and to the presbytery finance team for helping untangle some 'heritage' accounts that had held up the accounts being approved. 

Parish magazine - summer edition: we are hoping that this will be ready around mid-August and available for distribution.

Martin Raine: we were very sad to hear of Martin's death. Please remember Janet and the family at this time. The funeral will be held at the parish church on Thurs 13th August at 2pm. Thereafter, refreshments at the family home in Crawford.

Sun 7 June 'Is the hokey pokey really what it's all about?'

Hello and welcome to our online reflection based on our Sunday morning service of worship.

Welcome is very much the theme today, as we hear of a feast to which Jesus was invited and see just who was ‘in’ and just who was ‘out’....

Notices

Just a couple of notices to flag up:

Tues 9 June, 10:30am funeral of Morag Forrest.  This will be in the church and then followed by her committal across at Roberton Cemetery. 

Please do keep the family in your prayers at this time.

Clydesdale food bank: As this is a communion month, the food bank box is once again in the church vestibule and ready to accept any donations of food and hygiene products – if you’re able to help, that would be very much appreciated.

The box will be uplifted on the last Sunday of the month

and, as ever, thanks in advance.
To help online, please go to this LINK to make a donation.

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Our Gospel reading for the day:

Luke 5:27-39 

After this he went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ ²⁸ And he got up, left everything, and followed him. ²⁹ Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others sitting at the table with them. ³⁰ The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his  disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’ ³¹ Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; ³² I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’ ³³ Then they said to him, ‘John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.’ ³⁴ Jesus said to them, ‘You cannot make wedding-guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? ³⁵ The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.’ ³⁶ He also told them a parable: ‘No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. ³⁷ And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. ³⁹ And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, “The old is good.”’

Reflection

For our time of reflection, one of life's big questions:
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
'In, out, in, out, shake it all about, you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about.'...
But is it?
This, as we think about the ‘in’, ‘out’ in relation to our gospel reading for today, in which we see some who think of themselves as the ‘in’ group, and those who they consider are ‘out’. 

So what have we got here in our text?

There’s Levi, who we know more familiarly as ‘Matthew’.

Levi’s a tax collector.

Levi is based in Capernaum – which is loosely being used by Jesus and his disciples as a handy go-to base from which to travel around the surrounding countryside of the Galilee region.

Capernaum is a port town, a trading centre, a busy place.

A useful place for a tax collector to set up his business – 

and, no doubt, Levi’s set up his tax booth so it’s right in the midst of things:

a place where he can easily access those who are obliged to pay tax.

His is a face that would be well known and because of his career, Levi is generally the last person anyone really wants to have dealings with.

In the time, and place, and cultures of the day, there are all sorts of pecking orders, hierarchies.

Levi lives in a land where a foreign power rules – the occupying Romans.

They have their own particular customs, rituals, culture, their own social niceties and levels of status.

Given they’ve taken over the country, the Romans consider themselves at the at the top of the pile:

the ones who are most definitely ‘in’.

And because they view themselves as conquerors, they very much look down on those they’ve conquered and, who they were essentially, oppressing.

Outwith the Romans, there were the Jews, whose land it was, and who had their own particular customs, rituals, culture, and ways of classifying people who to them were either ‘in’ or ’out:

which people were important and which ones weren’t;

who was contributing, and who wasn’t;

who to include and who to avoid at all costs.

Now, if the Romans looked down on the Jews, 

the Jews looked down on those who were not Jewish, those they called ‘gentiles.’

But, whether Jew or Gentile, all of them have to pay their taxes to the Romans.

And, while Levi’s not a Roman, he works for them,

and has built up substantial wealth in doing so.

In the eyes of his own people, the Jews, just because of the nature of his work, Levi’s considered to be of dubious moral character, a collaborator and a traitor.

But there’s more:

because he also spends time with people of all kinds, there are those in the Jewish religious hierarchy who view him as ‘unclean’.

While it’s a cause of upset and offence to the pharisees and the scribes that Jesus both calls Levi to follow, and then accepts a dinner invite, I’d hazard a guess that no one is more surprised than Levi at being asked to hang out with Jesus and his followers. And unlike the followers who were fishermen, Levi just can't simply return to his job should things not work out: there's no Plan B, no going back.  When Jesus invites Levi to come and follow him, well, a little like the hokey pokey, Levi turns himself around – for to repent means just that, to turn from what you’re doing.

In doing so, he discovers that, for the first time in however long it’s been, he’s less a case of being ‘out’:

he’s in.

He belongs.

It’s a cause for celebration.

The sign of his belonging is further seen by Jesus willingly accepting a place at Levi’s table for a feast. To sit at table and share a meal was a sign not only of sharing hospitality, it was a symbol of relationship - you were considered an extension of the family.

Jesus sits with Levi and his friends - those considered completely 'out' by the Scribes and Pharisees - and it completely messes with their whole social, religious, and hierarchical understanding of how the world worked.

Jesus was a rabbi, one who was supposed to know the Law,

Jesus was one of 'them'.

What on earth was he playing at?

Grace.

Simply, grace.

Grace is about God’s gift of life and goodness, of God’s enduring love for humanity.

It reflects his nature to love without limits, to love freely, unconditionally, whether we ‘deserve’ that love, or not.

And so, Jesus reminds the scribes and the pharisees that they are already ‘in’ –

they already know God’s grace.

Jesus doesn’t need to sit and eat with them …

he needs to be with those who feel cast out:

the ones who in so many ways within their lives have never really felt they’ve been included,

who’ve never felt they’ve belonged, 

who’ve never felt that they deserved God’s grace:

the ones who’ve felt that God’s love is not for the likes of them.

Sitting at table, Jesus is showing those gathered at the feast that they are not ‘them’…

not ‘the others’,

but that they are utterly loved and held within God’s grace, just as much as the scribes and the pharisees are – in God’s eyes, there is no ‘them’, only ‘us’.

Last week, we were thinking about God as Trinity:

the three and oneness of God –

and we thought about the concept of Trinity within the framework of relationship:

One God, in perfect community –

bound by love, which unites, not excludes.

God, as a Trinity of love, calling us into a relationship of love –

with God, and with one another.

In a week in which we are invited to come to the table where Jesus is host, this story reminds us that as with Levi, his grace is extended to us, 

for, as with Levi and all those gathered around the table for that particular feast so long ago,

we gather to share in the meal of grace created for all who follow,

and, in doing so, to turn their lives around -

and discover, that in him, as with Levi,

so too, we are welcome,

we are included,

bound together in a relationship of love with him.

Who are the ones we might think of as ‘them’, 

the ones we think of as ‘out’ not ‘in’?

How might we turn ourselves around from that way of thinking, and so extend God’s grace, God’s love?

The story of Levi’s calling, of Jesus breaking bread with him and the company of those considered by some as ‘outcasts’ is a story of profound grace:

about a life turned around.

It’s a story that calls us to rejoice that no one is beyond hope,

no one is beyond God’s love and grace.

And it’s a story that challenges us to share that grace.

May you know the blessing of God's grace, this day and everyday. Amen.

Let's pray:

Gracious God,
In a moment of quiet prayer, we pray for all who are on our minds and in our hearts this day, and bring to you our own particular needs…

Lord, we commit the week ahead to you. 

Shine your light into every situation so that we can see where you are at work and follow your lead. 

Send us out as people of hope to bring your love into every place you lead us.

We offer you these prayers, 

in Jesus’ name, amen.

Sun 31 May - Trinity Sunday

Welcome.
First, some notices, and thereafter a reflection and prayer...

Church notices

Sun 7 June, 10:30am: Service of Holy Communion - we join together this coming Sunday to share in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It is an open table, for Jesus is the host and he welcomes all.

Tues 9 June, 10:30am: the funeral of Mrs Morag Forrest will be held in the church at Abington, and thereafter, the committal will be at Roberton Cemetery. Please do keep the family in your prayers at this time. 

Clydesdale foodbank month: over the month of June, we will be collecting items to deliver to the food bank. If you would like to donate but can't get to church, you can send an online donation HERE

Reflection for Trinity Sunday

In the church calendar, the Sunday following Pentecost is known as 'Trinity' Sunday. It's a time in the year where preachers and theologians can come a little unstuck, trying to explain what is essentially, really rather inexplicable:
God as One yet Three, but Three yet One.
We try, in our limited way to describe the limitless God, who is so much more than the sum or our words and stretches of imagination can fathom. 

Back in the day, the early Christians, trying to distil the essentials of the faith into a handy 'catch all' to help teach people the basics about God, put together Creeds. One of these was the Athenasian Creed and you can almost hear the writers of this sighing just a little as they struggled to describe the God who is more than we can fully comprehend:
God the Father: incomprehensible;
God the Son: incomprehensible;
God the Holy Spirit: incomprehensible.
Bless them, I love them for trying to do the impossible.
However, mystery is not always a bad thing and I suspect that we'll cope if we haven't got the answer to every single question about God this side of heaven.
This, I say, because what we do know of God is what we see in Jesus. And while it is always  absolutely right to ponder and ask questions, and wrestle with this matter of what it is to be God’s people, and while theology is important, the most important starting place for theology is to remember that, for all our attempts to try to explain God, God can’t be put into a box –
and, when humans tried to do that to Jesus, he simply rose from death itself and out of the box we’d tried to put him in.

One way that I find helpful to try and get my head around this One in Three and Three in Oneness of God, is by thinking of God within the terms of relationship. Augustine, a 5th century African theologian who I have a lot of time for, used this idea of relationship to help understand the nature of God, and also, how that sat within the nature of what it is to be human.
He used love as his building blocks: God as One and then as Three seen in:
God as the one who loves,
God as the one who is beloved,
and God as love itself.
The very core of God being love and energised by love: a love that looks to the other, looks out, that is generous, giving, sharing, and spreading that love beyond just the circle of relationship within that perfect community of love which is God. 

And what of us?
Jesus is love made into flesh and blood and bone showing us what love looks like: not a private solitary thing – but something that is lived within community, joyfully, creatively. If we want to know what God looks like – what God thinks, and feels, and wishes, we look to Jesus who points us to love – for love is at the heart of who God and the reason why God does anything.
So, mirroring that relationship of God we, who are created in God’s image, might use a day like Trinity Sunday to ask:
How do we love?
Who do we love?
What is the impact of that love on others?
For, if love is the very heart and motivation of God, then as his creatures, so love should be at the heart of our lives, as we navigate this life of faith.

The priest and poet, Malcolm Guite, wrote the following sonnet for Trinity Sunday, which I leave you with (you can find this, and other sonnets in his collection 'Sounding the Seasons', published by Canterbury Press - do check his work out, he's excellent).

In the Beginning, not in time or space, 

But in the quick before both space and time, 

In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace, 

In three in one and one in three, in rhyme, 

In music, in the whole creation story, 

In His own image, His imagination, 

The Triune Poet makes us for His glory, 

And makes us each the other’s inspiration. 

He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance, 

To improvise a music of our own, 

To sing the chord that calls us to the dance, 

Three notes resounding from a single tone, 

To sing the End in whom we all begin; 

Our God beyond, beside us and within.
                                  Malcolm Guite

Prayer
God, Creator, for your glory shining forth in sky and sea, 

in the changing light on the hills, 

in the flight of birds, 

in the plants of the field 

for the gift of life in all its fullness, 

we thank you. 

Jesus, Redeemer, 

for blessing children, 

healing the sick, 

raising up the lowly, 

suffering the brokenness of the world 

in your own body that we might have fullness of life, 

we thank you. 

Holy Spirit, Comforter, 

for breathing new hope and strength into our lives,

breaking down barriers,  

drawing human beings together in love, 

resisting all that diminishes fullness of life, 

we thank you. 

Holy Trinity, 

in all that we do and say and are, 

may we always choose life, 

for ourselves, and for our neighbours. 

Amen.

As you move into a new week, may you know God walking with you through the moments and the days.
God bless

Nikki

Sun 24 May - Pentecost

HAPPY PENTECOST!

Today we mark the promised coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus - and, in a sense, we celebrate the beginning, the ‘birth’ day of the church.

It’s one of the Sundays in the church calendar when we’re reminded of the power and mystery of God, of God who is both Creator of the universe and all things, as well as the God who knows each of our names.

We’re also reminded that we are all a part of something that is so much bigger than us: while we’re the church visible in this small 

corner of the earth, we’re also a part of the church that reaches all around the world; we are both a gathered, and a scattered people. As well as this, we belong to the church ‘invisible’ – 

all those who have walked in the footsteps of Jesus, down through the centuries who learnt about Jesus and passed the stories about him along to others. 

In all of that, so there’s the sense that to celebrate the day of Pentecost comes with more than a little bit of awesomeness – in the true meaning of the word: God mysterious and yet known, God unseen and yet seen in each one of us who are created in God’s image.

A prayer for Pentecost
Holy Spirit,

we pause in your presence,

aware that you do not arrive quietly or on our terms.

You move like wind:

unseen, uncontained, disturbing what has settled too easily.

You burn like fire:

not to destroy, but to refine,

to bring light where we have grown used to shadows.

Meet us here, in all our difference and expectation;

in our longing for clarity, and in our fear of what change might demand.

Slow us down enough to notice where you are already at work,

often ahead of our plans and beyond our control.

Loosen what has grown rigid.

Open what we have closed for safety’s sake.

Give us ears to hear your voice in unfamiliar accents and unsettling truths.

As we listen in this moment,

kindle in us a fire that does not rush to certainty but stays awake to compassion.

Let it shape our words, and our lives.

    ...   ...   ...

Renew us, remake and reshape us;

may we be braver in love,

wider in welcome,

and ready to follow wherever your Spirit leads.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Stay with us.

Move among us.

Make us alive.

Amen.       

On the 'birthday' theme for Pentecost, the fabulous Tabitha made us a Pentecost cake to share at morning tea. It went down well!! 

Thanks, Tabitha!   

'The Shepherd' worship reflections and church notices

Hi folks, today in various places around the world, the Church celebrates what has come to be known as 'Good Shepherd' Sunday. It's an opportunity to reflect on Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to pause and consider the words from John 10:1-10, and Psalm 23. And, given our very rural context and that we're in the midst of lambing season, it's very apposite.

On site, we are also learning a new - to us - song from the group New Scottish Hymns Band called 'You're the Shepherd'.
So, in our time here, let's begin with that.

CALL TO WORSHIP 
Come as you are – known and loved.
Come with joy, come with hope.
Come with your burdens, come with your doubts.
Come with your dreams, come with your fears.
For God calls you by name and rejoices....

PRAYER 
God of new life,
planting grassy meadows for picnics,
pooling clear waters for floating,
making starry skies for gazing:
you shaped us in your image so we might not ever want;
you sent women and men of faith to us,
sharing their experience of you,
encouraging us to look up to listen, to follow you.
Loving us, You sent Jesus to us,
that we might hear his voice and believe his plain spoken words:
and so we give you our praise and worship.

Loving God, when we are quiet in your presence,
when we try to pray and when we reflect on your word...
when we are surrounded by noise and bustle,
when people compete for our attention and we have too much to do:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are happy and secure in the love of friends and family
and at peace with ourselves...
when we are overwhelmed by regrets for the past,
disappointment in the present, 
and fears for the future...
when we are confident in our decisions and sure of our plans:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are bewildered by many choices
and confused about the right way to go,
in the day and at night, at home and at work,
in company and alone, teach us to listen...
help us to hear your voice. 

Lord, where the waters of our life have been troubled,
you still our hearts and minds.
Where we have walked in strange and difficult ways,
you guide us in the right paths.
Where we have walked even through the valley of death,
you have been beside us.

…In your mercy, restore our souls.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

REFLECTION: 
It was one of those stunningly gorgeous days – hardly a breeze; the sun, beaming down on the hills and along the glen, and I’d taken myself off down to the end of the garden with a cuppa, to sit on my wee stool and just watch the world go by for a bit. The river was all diamond-sparkly and everything felt right with the world. Looking across the river, I saw a shepherd, with his dogs, guiding some sheep down the slope towards it. I admired the relationship between man and dog, as they worked together to lead the sheep down and  then under the bridge to get to the field just along.
A good shepherd, thought I.
But it was time to head back inside and crack on with some work.
So, a little reluctantly, I did.

A couple of days later, I met up with someone who knew that particular shepherd very well, and I mentioned how much I admired his skill.

This was met with a huge grin.

Apparently, if I’d stayed watching, I’d have seen five minutes later, that same shepherd, in the river, wading across to the other side in pursuit of a small group of rogue sheep who’d decided that they weren’t going to pay any notice to his instructions. 

I guess they thought that the grass really was greener on the other side..

So… a good shepherd, yes…

but not THE Good Shepherd that our bible passages refer to –

the one who says to his assorted group of listeners:

‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’

In a busy, busy, rush, rush world where too often the voice that is listened to is telling us all that our value is found only in what we can produce, and which calls us to be continually, relentlessly doing in order just to survive…

in an unquiet, fractured, and fearful world, where too often fear is weaponised and it seems that the only voices we hear are those that divide and create discontent and where difference is seen as suspect…

in a world that too often feels as if everyone and everything is broken or breaking, as we listen to the voices of doom in an endless cycle of news…

perhaps it’s time to press the pause button and spend a little time thinking about Jesus our shepherd, to listen to his voice,  and to think about life beyond mere survival –

about life that is…abundant.

So, what is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?
Some of the answer to both questions are seen within the words of the Psalmist.

Who's voice are we listening to?
In the early part of the psalm, the Psalmist talks of God as the shepherd in whom we have all we need.

God is our abundance, our provider – the One who is more than enough.
If we listen to his voice, and follow where he leads, our needs will be met.
I wonder: what are the voices we might listen to that can prevent us from following the Shepherd?
And, what might we do - what small changes could we make - to help us better hear our Shepherd's voice?

And another question for reflection: 

take some time now to think about where God is leading you;

where he has led you in the past;

where he’s led you to now.

Pray about where he may be leading you in the future…

 

Work / life balance is not a new concept: it's in the Bible.
The Psalmist also reminds us that the Shepherd leads his flock to places of refreshing, places of stillness, quiet, where we can find rest. It's the very antidote to our hyper-consumerist society where, too often people are valued only by 'what they can contribute' - 

what they can produce... where they are seen as just expendable cogs in the machine of industry.
The 'shepherds' of industry are often too ready to fleece their sheep, rather than to tend them.
The Good Shepherd knows the wisdom to be found in giving his flock space to be, and to breathe, and to enjoy life. Which is also a better strategy for both a contented flock, and a way of ensuring that they are at their best... 

In the end, rather than rest, creative space, times of stillness, reducing productivity, it enhances it.
God, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, instituted the concept of rest right at the beginning of Creation:

after the sixth day, God rested. 

And later, God codified it: Sabbath rest. 

If resting is good enough for God, then... let's take the hint and rest.

Dark valleys.

It’s often been said that you don’t find many atheists in foxholes –

basically, when dark times come, in moments of crisis, that’s often when we turn to God for help and comfort. But even when we might not be quite with God, God our shepherd is always faithful and always with us:

there for us in our deepest point of need,

there when all other hope is gone.

He is the one who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, and out the other side of it.

If we pause, if we’re still, if we call…

we find that God is near.

Again, an opportunity for some reflection: 

stop and think about those times in your own life when things seemed darkest, and when you felt God’s presence close to you.

And, if in the present, there are difficult times that you’re navigating, why not use this time to offer your particular situation up to the One who listens and who knows your name…

We come full circle and ask again:

What is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?

Well, we do the work of listening to the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus –

who will show us the right way to go –

who will lead us to the paths of peace, of refreshing,

of quiet space apart from the noise and busyness that so often fills our lives –

a space in which we remember again whose we are and who we are:

called to be his.

As we follow, so his goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

And, knowing ourselves loved, knowing God’s goodness and mercy, we go ahead:

widening the path so that goodness and mercy will not just bless us, but others -

knowing that as we do:

we need not fear, 

we shall not want -

for there is more than enough:

overflowing cups of goodness and mercy and God’s abundance all the days of our lives.

And also knowing that the one who calls us

guards us and guides us, leads us and loves us

and never, ever lets us go.  Amen.

A blessing for this week:

BLESSING

We belong here with God’s family, 

but we also belong in his world. 

Called by God, he sends you to turn belief into action –

to be his hands, his feet, his loving heart, in the world.

As God’s own, 

as you go about your lives this week,,

God, our shepherd, goes with you, guarding and guiding you.

May the blessing of God, 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

be with you all, evermore... Amen.

NOTICES

Sun 3 May: Kirk Session meeting - 

after worship and morning tea this coming Sunday, Session will be meeting over a 'bring and share' lunch. This is an open meeting, and those who are not on the Session are most welcome to stay. The main business will be exploring our future within the cluster, now that we are officially in a deferred union with the newly united cluster parishes of Cairngryffe and Douglas Valley - now Clydesdale Trinity. It's an opportunity for looking, and planning, ahead. 

Added to this, Presbytery have asked that all parishes prepare a mission plan to be ready for attestation 2027. Having asked Presbytery on Saturday, we are able to do this particular exercise jointly with the Clydesdale Trinity Session - given it ultimately affects all of us, and saves us all doing this twice!

Sun 10 May, 10:30am : Christian Aid service -

It's coming up to that time of year again, an opportunity to remember the excellent work of Christian Aid, and, as we can, to support them. Along with our regular offering, there will be a bowl as you leave the church should you wish to make any donations to Christian Aid.

Looking further ahead:

Sun 24 May, 10:30am: Pentecost -

The day we celebrate the 'birthday' of the Church. The traditional colour of Pentecost is red, so, if you're coming to our on-site service, why not wear something red! 

Update for 6-22 April

 The minister is currently on annual leave from Mon 6 - Wed 22 April inclusive.

During this time...
for general parish matters, please contact -
Dr Dee Yates,  or/
Ms Heather Watt, 

And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: Rev. George Shand, who can be reached on ...

26 April. 3pm - Service of Union: just to note that the service of union, joining Cairngryffe Parish and Douglas Valley parish will take place. As part of the cluster group, and, if you're able, you are warmly welcome to attend this service. This will be held in the church building at Douglas (Upper Clyde is in deferred union with these parishes).

Update for period Mon 2nd - Wed 18th Feb.

The minister is currently on annual leave from Mon 2nd - Wed 18th Feb inclusive.

During this time...
for general parish matters, please contact -
Dr Dee Yates, 
Ms Heather Watt, 

And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: 

'What's in a name?' - worship Sun 14 Dec: Advent 3

WELCOME to this third Sunday in the season of Advent. Last week, we heard Mary's great song of praise, known as the 'Magnificat.' This week, we continue our journey in the Gospel of Luke, hearing another song; this time from Zechariah upon confirming the name of his son: 'John'. 
We'll be thinking about names, and, with John, preparing the way for the coming King.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES:
'Memory Tree': Yesterday, we held our annual ‘Tidings of comfort and joy’ service – a service in which we took time to remember loss of various kinds, including remembering those who, for whatever reason, won’t be with us for Christmas this year. As part of that, we put up our wee memory tree, and this will stay in the church now until after the service on the 3rd of January. And thanks to Dee, Rowan, and Ursula, who in their various ways, helped to organise the larger memory tree by the lytch gate – where there are ribbons that can be used to tie to the tree - again, as a way of remembering someone.

Clydesdale Food Bank: a reminder that the food bank box is in the vestibule and available for donations of food and other helpful items for the food bank. Our contact, Ben, noted some of the items they’re low on at the moment are:
sugar, tea bags, tinned veg and fruit, soups.
And if it was possible, it would be lovely if folk could spare some mince pies, or maybe even mini Christmas puddings, if possible, perhaps chocolate for wee ones.
For those of you unable to come to the church, you can donate online via THIS LINK.
Thanks everyone.

Worship Sun 21 Dec.: Given our tradition here in the parish is not to have a service on Christmas Day unless it’s a Sunday, next Sunday will be pretty Christmas oriented, so, If you’re willing, and able to come along, why not take the opportunity to give your favourite Christmas jumper an outing, or wear a little something with a nod to Christmas? There’ll be some carols as well…

Crawford and Wiston 'Christmas elves': on the theme of Christmas, we had a team of wee Christmas elves in the church on Thursday morning, who were delighted to decorate the tree for us, with a little help from Dee. So big thanks to the students of Wiston and Crawford Primary schools for doing that – and we also had some good chat and exploration around the building. Outwith the tree, I think the favourite activity was having a go of ringing our bell – although we did have to hang on to a couple of the wee-er ones to prevent them from taking off!!

Christmas newsletter: our Christmas newsletter is [finally!] at the printers, so hopefully hard copy should be available just before Christmas or around about then. In the meantime, you can access a copy online at the tab above this page... or, simply click on the wee diagonal arrow in the top right hand corner of the picture below and it will pop out for you to view. 

As you journey further into this Advent season, may you know God's joy.

God bless,
Nikki

'Mixing it up' - worship for Sun 7 Dec: Advent 2

WELCOME to worship on this 2nd Sunday of Advent.
Last week we were thinking about angelic conversations: the angel, Gabriel visiting Zechariah, and later, Mary, with unexpected news. This week, another conversation, between two soon to be mothers: Elizabeth and Mary. And we hear Mary’s song of praise to God, as she ponders the nature of the child she will bear. 
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES:
Sat 13 Dec. 2pm: 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy' - a short, reflective service in which we make space in the busyness of the season to  remember those not with us this Christmas season.

Sat 13 Dec - Sun 4 Jan: 'Memory Tree': in conjunction with the above service, over the following weeks, we’ll have both our wee memory tree in the church, and the larger tree down at the foot of the pathway – and you’re invited to use these as visual prayers and ways of remembering…

Christmas coffee morning - an update: what an excellent wee event. All went well and huge creditand thanks to Sara and Tabitha for their wonderful baking - a real treat! We had a great turnout of folk and I'm delighted to say that we were able to raise a total of £260 to give to Clydesdale Food Bank. Thanks to everyone who spread the word, who came along, who donated so generously.

Food Bank box: just a reminder that over these next Sundays, the food bank box will be in the vestibule for food and other items, if you’re able to drop something in. Ben our food bank contact was in touch yesterday saying that they’re particularly short of:
tea bags, sugar, tinned fruit and veg, tinned soups, and as we’re coming up to Christmas, if it was possible, perhaps some Christmas related items, or wee treats, like: mini xmas puds, mince pies, chocolate. Any items would be hugely appreciated.   

'Inconceivable' - worship Sun 30 Nov. - 1 Advent

WELCOME!
We hear from the first chapter of Luke's Gospel - of an angel, one very gobsmacked man, and two women who find themselves expecting the unexpected. We reflect on hope, and ponder the angel, Gabriel's, words: 'nothing is impossible for God.'
Welcome once again to worship online.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Copied below are the parish notices, for reference, but these can also be found in the online service, as usual - this time, in written, rather than spoken, form to hopefully make it easier to jot down any information as needed.

Today, a time for new beginnings and fresh starts as we enter into the season of Advent.

CHURCH NOTICES: 
Thanks -
just to say thanks, as ever, to those of you for keeping things going while I was away…again! And particular thanks to Dee and Heather, for being our contact people.

Sat. 6 Dec., 10.30am - 12pm - Christmas coffee morning: 
This coming Saturday, we have our Christmas coffee morning from 10.30-12pm – please come along, bring friends, spread the word. Along with refreshments, there’ll be prize draws to add to the atmosphere. Entry free, but it’d be great if a wee donation could be made in aid of Clydesdale Food Bank. 

Sun. 7 Dec., 10.30am - Communion:
Next Sunday morning, we’ll be holding our quarterly communion – as ever, please do let folk know – all are welcome to the table!

Sat. 13 Dec., 2pm - 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy' 
Our annual service ‘Tidings of comfort and joy’ will be held in the church. A shorter, more reflective space particularly for those who find this time of year difficult, as well as an opportunity to remember those who won't be with us over Christmas.  up to and including Sun. 4 Jan. 

from Sat 13 Dec - Sun 4 Jan - Christmas 'memory' trees:
There will be a small 'memory' tree inside the church on which to place a wee blue bauble as a way of remembering loved ones at this time of year - especially those who, for whatever reason, may not be with us over the Christmas period. And, as we did last year, we’ll be putting up a Christmas ‘memory' tree by the lytch gate at the pathway to the church, along with a box of ribbons – with an invite for people to tie a ribbon to it - again, as a way of remembering.

Update on 'cluster' conversations and presbytery plan: 
please click HERE for the latest update as at Monday 17 November.

Update: news, info, events up to 26th Nov.

 CHURCH NOTICES FOR 10-26 NOVEMBER:

Minister on annual leave:
Nikki is currently feeling a little like a part-timer at the  moment due to needing to take a backlog of unused annual leave!! So, she'll be unavailable as of Mon 10th through to, and including, Wed 26th November. Apologies for this, folks, but due to circumstances beyond her control re. hospital/ illness mid-year, her leave has all been budged up in this latter quarter of the year. Hopefully all will be back on track properly for 2026!
During this time:
For general parish matters, please contact - Dr Dee Yates, 
Ms Heather Watt, 
And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: R
Worship for Sun 12 and 19 October will be covered by the Rev. George Shand. 

Update on online worship:
Just a note that we're hoping to recommence online worship at the beginning of Advent, Sun 30th Nov., all things being well. 

Leadhills Memorial, 2025

Remembrance Sunday services: 
Our three services this year went well. A slight change of 'routine' with two, however, with a swapping of times for Crawford at 12.30 and Leadhills at 1.30. This was to allow time for the Depute Lord Lieutenant, Bill Tennant, to come to the service at Leadhills - his third of the day, at that point. Mr Tennant read 'In Flander's Fields' and led off the laying of wreaths. There is another tucked around the corner of the memorial from the Council, with Councillor Ralph Barker representing. The third wreath was placed by Mr Steve Johnson, representing the Village Council. The other items that were placed at the Memorial were from the pupils of Leadhills Primary School, and these were placed at a separate service on Friday, at 11am.

A date for your diary:
Sat 6 Dec., 10.30-12pm: Christmas coffee morning

Church notices for 5-22 October

CHURCH NOTICES FOR 5-22 OCTOBER:

Minister on annual leave:
Nikki will be using up annual leave as of Mon 6th through to, and including, Wed 22nd October. During this time:
For general parish matters, please contact - Dr Dee Yates, 
Ms Heather Watt, 
And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: 
Worship for Sun 12 and 19 October will be covered by the Rev. George Shand. 

Update on online worship:
We're aiming to recommence online worship at the beginning of Advent, Sun 30th Nov., all things being well. 

Harvest Thanksgiving service:
This morning, we held our annual Harvest service and copied below are a few pictures... more to follow in the Christmas newsletter... We managed to gather together a good amount of food, both fresh and packaged, which was later dropped off to our Clydesdale Food Bank contact, Ben. Thanks to all who gave...
Also, huge thanks to everyone who helped decorate the church, and then dismantle all the decorations after our service. Special note of thanks, to Sara Weardon who kindly baked us a cake and scones for morning tea!

Harvest banners from:
Wiston, Leadhills, and Lamington Primary Schools

 

News re. Minister's sick leave

 

Minister on sickness leave up to and including 29 August

Due to circumstances beyond my control, apologies for not posting this sooner...

Unfortunately, on Fri 18th of July, I had a wee trip up to Wishaw General, where I stayed for two weeks - not quite what I had on my bingo card! I'm now signed off up to and including the 29th of August, when I hope to make a return to my duties. Once I'm back, I'll try my best to return to preparing worship online, but it might not be immediately - just need to see how I go in the first few weeks, so do please bear with me and thanks for your patience!!

During this time:
for general parish matters, please contact - Dr Dee Yates, 
Ms Heather Watt, 

And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: 

And for those of you who had heard the news, thanks for the very kind messages - much appreciated!! Am now back at the manse and happy to put the kettle on should you be passing.

God bless

Nikki

'Faithful' - worship Sun 29 June

WELCOME to worship this week as we continue our travels through the Psalms. This week, we explore Ps 145 and reflect on God's faithfulness.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
Clydesdale Food Bank: just to say a very appreciative thank you for the donations given to the Food Bank this month.

Clydesdale Trinity Cluster: Douglas Valley 'Souper Sundays' - our friends from Douglas Valley asked if we would flag up their upcoming Souper Sundays after their time of worship to which representatives from the wider cluster are very welcome to attend.
The dates are:
6th July 2025; 17th August 2025; 28th September 2025; 26th October 2025; 16th November.
They’re also planning a Big Summer Breakfast Event for 27th July.

Meanwhile, may you know the blessing of the One who is faithful, over the course of this week.

Take care
Nikki 

'Forever' - worship Sun 22 June

WELCOME to worship this week. We continue our wee daunder through Psalms, this week, reflecting on Ps 118 - and our key word is 'forever'.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES
Cluster and potential union update: just to note that I'll be updating our dedicated page soon to keep you all in the loop on where we're currently at in the process.
Otherwise:
Clydesdale Food Bank: just a reminder that this is a food bank month, so all donations gratefully received. To go directly to the Clydesdale Food Bank donations page CLICK HERE.

As you go into this week, may you know God's steadfast love, which endures forever.

God bless
Nikki