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

'The imitation game' - worship 1 June, 2025

WELCOME to worship, where we find ourselves in the third and last week reflecting on the words of the prophet Micah, on what the Lord requires of us: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.

Just a quick recap – in week one, we examined the Micah passage through the lens of 1st Corinthians, which reminded us that we do what the Lord requires as a community – each bringing our different skills and talents to the mix.
Last week, we thought about the appropriate industrial work kit for the task, as we looked at Micah through the lens of Colossians where we were encouraged – to ‘clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,’ and a little further on: ‘above all, clothe yourselves with love – which binds everything together in perfect harmony.’

This week, the lens we’ll explore Micah’s words with come from Ephesians which urges us to ‘be imitators of God’…

So, if you like, in a nutshell -
Week 1 – community
Week 2 – clothes
Week 3 – copying

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and the service will be available sometime after 8pm Sunday evening.

CHURCH NOTICES:
Only the one, which is that as this is a month in which communion falls, we're once again flagging up the work of Clydesdale Food Bank. There'll be a box in the vestibule for items of food and other goods over the Sundays of June. To help online just CLINK THIS LINK which will take you to their website, where you'll be able to make a donation.

May you know God walking with you through this week, and until next time, 

God bless,
Nikki

'New clothes' - worship for 25 May

WELCOME to worship, where we continue on in our wee series reflecting on what the Lord requires of us, and how we try and go about trying to do that… 

Today we’re going to have a wee wander into the world of fashion and explore some very particular items of clothing that might be helpful…

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 
and is now 'live'...
Church notices follow below.

CHURCH NOTICES:
Stated annual meeting: after our service, through in the hall over a cuppa, we’ll be having our Stated Annual Meeting – where we have a brief look back over last year – some of the things we did, and an update on our finances. 

Sun 1 June - Communion: just a reminder that next Sunday morning will be our quarterly communion – so do please let folk know - and remember, that all are welcome to the table, for Jesus is our host, and invites us to come and to share.

As you move out into the week, may you know God's presence alongside you.

God bless,
Nikki 

'With what?' Worship for Sunday 18 May

WELCOME to worship this week where, over these next three weeks, we’re going to be hearing a particular passage from Micah each week, along with an accompanying scriptural text.

So, spanning these three weeks, we’ll be hearing from Micah 6, verses 6-8 – reminding us just what the Lord requires of us… and these three actions:
to do justice
to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with our God…
Our question for the day: ‘With what shall I come before the Lord?’

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE (and finally available - apologies for the delay due to tech issues!)

CHURCH NOTICES -
Apology: my  apologies for being away slightly longer than anticipated, and not delivering worship online. Just prior to returning from annual leave I received news of the deaths of my mother and stepfather, so took an extra week off. Huge thanks for folks filling in while I’ve been away. Also, thanks for the kind words during this unexpected double bereavement; I’ve felt very much supported, and it’s much appreciated. 

Parish newsletter: due to the above, our newsletter is now a wee bit behind schedule, as I'd hoped to get the last of it done and dusted before I came back from leave... There's just a couple of items that I'll need to rejig, but soon, friends, soon.

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: it's that time of year again, and this year, I'm a commissioner. This means that, even though I'm back from both holiday and compassionate leave, my time this week will be fully given over to Assembly matters.
I'll be more fully present in the parish from Friday!
If you do need to get in contact with me, either email, or use my mobile number - I might not be able to answer immediately, but do leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can: 07985919509

Sun 25 May - Stated Annual Meeting: it's also this time of year... according to my diary, our SAM is this coming Sunday and will be held on site immediately after worship. All are welcome to attend and share a cuppa as we look back over the last year.

Evening worship: a reminder that our evening services are on hold for the moment, so there'll be no worship this evening in Leadhills.

Sun 1 June - quarterly Communion: looking further ahead, don’t forget that our quarterly service of communion is on the horizon, and will be held on Sunday the first of June… 

God bless as enter into a new week,
Nikki

worship for Sun 23rd March

Hi folks, just a reminder that Upper Clyde won't be having online worship today as I'm away at Douglas and Rigside for a baptism and communion.

A couple of options are below:
Biggar Parish Church - LINK  
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK 

The only church notice for this week is a reminder that evening worship will be held at Leadhills Village Hall this coming Sunday at 5pm, during which we'll share in the sacrament of communion.

Have a good week,

Nikki

'Jesus is my superhero' - worship for Sun 23 Feb

Welcome to worship this week. Over these last weeks we've been exploring various aspects of Jesus. We began with Jesus the boy, moved to Jesus the storyteller, and this week, it’s wonder-working Jesus – as we hear two different accounts from Mark’s gospel, of Jesus demonstrating his power.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES -
Jean Carrick: Some sad news to share. If you’ve not yet heard, Jean Carrick died on Monday. Please keep Jimmy and the family in your prayers at this difficult time. Jean’s funeral will be on Friday the 7th of March, at 11am, here in the parish church, followed by a committal at Lamington Cemetery.

Evening worship: a reminder that evening worship will begin again on the last Sunday of March, and not this evening. So, if you turn up to Leadhills hall at 5 this evening you’ll be having a rather quiet time of it!

Quarterly Communion: this coming Sunday, the 3rd of March, will be a service of Communion, on site. Please do let anyone know, who you think would like to come along, and remember, that all are welcome, for it is the table of the Lord, and he invites us to come and share and remember.

As you go out into a new week, may you know God's presence with you each step of the way.

God bless

Nikki

'What kind of king?' worship Sun 24 Nov

Welcome on what is the last Sunday of the church year - known as 'Christ the King'. Next week, we begin again, as we enter into the season of Advent and prepare for the birth of the One born to be a king - a king like no other. Today, we reflect on what kind of king...

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE - sorry it's a little late, as I was in Leadhills for the evening service and only able to process the video once I returned home. It should be available by midnight Sunday.

Church notices 
Sat 30 Nov. 1-3pm: an all age Christmas: this, from our friends in Cairngryffe parish. Rosmairi, their Session Clerk asked me to flag up an event they’re having in their church this coming Saturday, the 30th, from 1-3pm. It’s for all ages and it will be an exploration of the Christmas Story, making use of story, crafts, and songs – there’ll also be refreshments to keep you going. So, if you know anyone with small people who might enjoy it, please do pass it on. 

Sun 1 Dec, 10.30am Communion: a reminder that this coming Sunday is a Communion service in the parish church – please do pass that on to those you think might like to come along to share in the Lord’s Supper – where all are welcome.

'Feet of clay' - Worship for Sun 2nd June

Welcome to worship with Upper Clyde. Having wandered a little with Moses last week, and heard the story of his call, this week, we go further back in the Old Testament, to the time of Abraham. As we hear part of his story from scripture, it doesn't really put him in a particularly good light. So, what to do when your heroes have feet of clay?

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE (apologies for delay - presbytery meeting yesterday pushed my in-house filming schedule back). 

Meanwhile, notices below: 
Communion - on-site, we'll be sharing together in the sacrament of communion - if you stay within the parish and would like to receive a home visit for communion, do let me know and we can arrange this.

Sun 9th June - pulpit swap: This coming Sunday, the 9th, there’ll be a Pulpit swap as I’ll be across at Douglas and Rigside to share communion with both congregations. While I’m across there, Denham Macdougall will be conducting worship for us on-site. This does mean that we won’t have an online service for those of you who worship that way. I’ll put up some links to other online services for you to explore, as is my usual practice.

These are all the notices that I'm aware of this week, so, as you move into a new week - and month - enjoy the slightly warmer weather, and may you know God walking alongside you.

God bless,

Nikki

'What's in a name?' Worship for Sunday 26 May

Welcome to worship, where this week, our worship theme is all about names. Having fled Egypt, Moses is taken in by Jethro, settling in and even marrying Jethro's daughter. As part of the family, Moses works as a shepherd, tending Jethro's sheep. One day, in the course of his work, he comes across something quite unusual which will change his life forever... 
You can access the service by clicking on the WORSHIP LINK HERE 

Church notices:
Sun 26 May, 5pm: evening worship will be held in Leadhills Village Hall. It will be a Taizé service. After, there’ll be time to catch up with one another over a cuppa. If you’re able to join us, that’d be grand.

Tues 28 May, 2pm: funeral for Iain Wilson. On Tuesday, in the church building at Abington, we’ll be remembering and saying our farewells to Iain Wilson. Please do keep Iain’s family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Kirk Session meeting after the service on Sun.2nd June, we'll be holding a one item meeting in order to approve our annual accounts. 

Sun 2 June, 10.30am: communion service in the church at Abington, to which all are welcome.  Please do let folk know, who you think might like to come along – it is the table of the Lord and he welcomes all.

Foodbank Sundays in June: as this is a communion month, the food bank box will be in the vestibule at church over the Sundays in June. You can leave donations for the ongoing work of Clydesdale Food Bank there - food and other goods. The box will be uplifted after worship on the last Sunday of June. Online, you can support the food bank by clicking on the FOODBANK LINK HERE.
Thanks in advance for your kindness.

That's it for this week.

May you know God walking close beside you as you go.

God bless

Nikki               

'Roadworks Ahead': Advent 1 worship - Sun 3 De

WELCOME to this first Sunday in the season of Advent, where we begin a brand new church year and, where we prepare for a new beginning, as we travel over these next weeks to a stable in Bethlehem…    

Notices, for reference, are copied below. And for the service click on the: WORSHIP LINK HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
Thanks to our Leadhills Primary School Christmas elves who did a beautiful job decorating our Christmas tree. It was lovely having you trek through the snow to visit with us on Friday morning!

Parish newsletter: the Christmas newsletter is available both in hard copy and here by clicking on the 'Christmas newsletter '23' tab above this post. 

Food Bank: As is our usual practice in a communion month, over these next couple of Sundays, we're flagging up the work of Clydesdale Food Bank. In the church building, you can leave items of food and toiletries our food bank box in the vestibule or, you can access the website using the link HERE 
If you’re able to make a donation to help folk in our community who are struggling this Christmas, it would be so appreciated. For items donated at the church, please note that I’ll uplift these after worship on Sunday the 17th to ensure they're with the food bank before Christmas. 

Kirk Session meets on Thursday evening at 7pm via zoom – a link will be sent out to members of session, along with the agenda and minutes.

'Tidings of comfort and joy' service: A reminder that, on Saturday at 2pm, we have our annual Tidings of Comfort and Joy service – a gentle, reflective service for those who struggle a little at this time of year. If you know of someone who might find this service helpful, do let them know – and maybe… bring them along.

Carol Praise service: Sun 24 Dec. 10.30am. As Christmas is looming into view, our service on Christmas Eve morning is going to be a Carol service – a bit like our songs of praise service, but… carols: and you get to choose what we’ll sing. If you can let me know what carols you’d all like to sing by Sunday the 17th, that will give me time to get organised.
As to the service itself... there may be a mince pie afterwards to go with our morning tea…
For those of you who watch the pre-recorded service online – do get in touch if you’d like to nominate a favourite carol for the online service – I’ll see what we can do to make it happen! Either you can click on the 'contact us' button on the right hand side of the page to let me know your carol of choice!

As we move into Advent, may the hope of the promised Christ-child lead us ever on...

God bless
Nikki

'Meals with the Messiah' wk 4: A meal to remember

WELCOME to worship where we end our 4 weeks of 'meals with the Messiah', thinking about the meal Jesus created for his followers. You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE and below, a copy of the church notices...

CHURCH NOTICES
Funeral of Pam Dunn: It's with sadness that I pass on the news of Pam Dunn's death. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday the 12th of September, 11am at the parish church. Please remember her family in your prayers...

September is food bank month where we're collecting items to donate to Clydesdale Food Bank and which will be uplifted with our Harvest donations. In church, the box is back in the vestibule to drop items in. Or, you can make a donation online by CLICKING ON THIS LINK Many thanks, in advance for your kindness. 

Sun 10 Sept. 10.30am: Songs of Praise service and Guild Dedication - If you've not yet sent your nominations for hymns for our Songs of Praise service, get them in quick: cut off is 7pm Wed evening.
We'll also be rededicating our Guild as they begin a new session.

Sun 1 Oct. 9.30am: Harvest Service - if you're able to join us in person this week, the doors will be open from 9.30 for a cheerful Harvest breakfast before we move from the hall into the worship space at 10.30 for our Harvest Service. Thanks in advance to our schools, who are preparing to make banners for us, as part of this year's decorations.
The church will be open on Saturday from 2pm-4pm for decorating, and for dropping in of harvest/ food bank items

'Meals with the Messiah' wk 3: A picnic with Jesus'; Sun 27 Aug.

WELCOME to worship and to week 3 in our 'Meals with the Messiah' series. This week, we're in the great outdoors, on an unexpected picnic with Jesus and a small gathering of around 5 000.

OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE
and church notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES:
Sun 27 Aug. 5pm: Leadhills worship -'Table talk' style service where we'll pick up the themes from the feeding of the 5 000, share what our favourite meals are, and ponder scripture while praising God over a cuppa. Come along and join us for this more informal service.
Sun 3 Sept. 10.30am - Communion service
Foodbank Sundays - as this is a communion month, the Sundays in September will also be an opportunity to donate to the great work of Clydesdale Food Bank  👈Just click the link should you wish to make an online donation. Onsite, the food bank box will be in the vestibule for any food or other items over the course of the month.

Sun 10 Sept. 10.30am - Songs of Praise service and Guild dedication. This is your opportunity to nominate your favourite hymns for possible inclusion in worship. Either email, phone, or use the 'contact us' facility to the right of the page to pass along your nominations.

Sun 1 Oct. 10.30am - Harvest Festival. It's time for our annual Harvest Thanksgiving - where we praise God for the harvest. Onsite, after the service, there'll be a simple harvest lunch through in the hall. All welcome! We'll also be looking for willing hands to help with decorating the church and organising lunch - do get in touch if you can lend a hand.

Thurs 7 Sept. 1-3pm - Reminiscence group. This is a joint parishes group that will be starting up on the 7th of September. Meeting at the Douglas Bowling Club, it's the opportunity to share memories, and also pass along stories of local and social history... all over a cuppa. This is open to anyone who'd like to come along for a cuppa and blether.

These are all the notices, so as we move into a new week, may you find this time of worship encouraging and nourishing food for the soul.
God bless

Nikki

Worship Sun 4 June - 'Incomprehensible'

'The hospitality of Abraham' aka 'The Trinity' by Andrei Rublev

WELCOME to our time of worship on this Trinity Sunday. 'Incomprehensible' is our word for the day, as we ponder the God who is One, yet Three... and Three, yet One.
To go directly to the service, CLICK HERE.


CHURCH NOTICS
Onsite, today is also Communion Sunday, as well as our Annual Stated Meeting.
And, again, just to remind you of our upcoming community event - our combined car boot sale and coffee morning. Details on the poster below. And volunteers to help in all sorts of ways (baking, setting up, serving, clearing away, looking after the tombola stall, etc.) are very welcome. Do get in touch via the 'contact us' link to the left, or by phone or email. Thanks in advance.

Have a good week!
God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 28 May: Pentecost

WELCOME to worship - it's Pentecost Sunday and we're remembering the coming of the promised Holy Spirit and celebrating the birthday of the Church.

Notices are copied below... but to go straight across to the service, the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES
Evening worship is happening in Leadhills Village hall tonight at 5pm, where we'll be exploring God through sacred art, in what's being called our 'Iconic' service. Curious to find out more? Come along and see... and then stay for a cuppa and a blether afterwards. All welcome.

Sun 4 June 
Communion, 10.30am - our quarterly Communion service will be held onsite in the parish church at Abington. All are welcome to come and share in the meal that Jesus created for his friends.
Annual Stated Meeting - this will be held immediately after our service. A chance to review this last year and to receive the annual accounts. If you're able, please do come along.

Looking ahead
Sat. 17 June, 10am-1pm Car boot sale and coffee morning - this will be held at the parish church in Abington. Details below on the poster. If you're able to help by providing baking for the coffee morning, serving, etc. we would so appreciate it. Also, if you've any items you think would be useful to put into a tombola, we'd love to receive them! Thanks in advance....
Monies raised will be shared between Clydesdale Food Bank and Upper Clyde Church.

Worship Sun 5 March - Lent 2: 'Moving on'

WELCOME to worship where we continue our Lent theme
‘On the move’.  
Last week, we were moving out… out of the garden with Adam and Eve and into an unlooked for, unwanted, and unknown future. This week, we’re moving on, this time, by invitation: with Abram and his family – as take a step of faith, and make a journey into the unknown.

Church notices are copied below, and our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
Congregational meeting today - onsite in the parish church we'll be having a congregational meeting to discuss the presbytery plan. For those of you worshipping online and who are members, or, who live within the parish bounds, we want to make sure you get to have your say as well. If you have any questions, or would like to share your thoughts, get in touch with me - Nikki - either by phone, or email, or via the 'contact us' link to the right of this page. We want to hear from as many of you as possible.

Church newsletter - just a reminder that the deadline for our Easter newsletter is coming up: if you have any items for inclusion, please send them to Dee or myself by 1pm this coming Sunday the 12th March. Thanks.

Bereavement support group - we meet on Thursday at 1.30pm in the Abington Community Hub. 

Kirk Session - meets online via zoom on Thursday at 7pm. Link will be emailed out.

Foodbank donations this month - as this is a month in which we have a formal communion, you’re invited to make a donation to the Clydesdale foodbank over any of the Sundays in March. You can do this by dropping in items in the box under the vestibule table, at the manse, or by making a donation online via their website…. at CLYDESDALE FOOD BANK DONATIONS

As you move on, into another week of Lent, be blessed and take care,
Nikki

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 4 Dec - 2 Advent: 'A little child...'

WELCOME/ 
welcome to worship on this 2nd Sunday of Advent –
where we listen to the voices of the prophets,
pointing to the Messiah, and calling God’s people to prepare.... 
The traditional theme for this Sunday is ‘peace’, so we’ll be picking up on that throughout this time together.

Today is also a Communion Sunday onsite - if you're watching the service from within the parish, and would like a home communion
do, please get in touch, as I'd be more than happy to accommodate!

If you'd prefer to skip reading the notices below, the LINK TO WORSHIP IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/ 
Food bank: Over these next two Sundays, the food bank donations box is in the vestibule –
or you can access the website to make a donation online by our link on the right hand side of the page.

Bereavement support group: meets on Thursday, 1.30 at the Abington Community Hub –
if you, or someone you know would like a quiet, friendly space, where you can talk, or borrow helpful books, do come along, and pass this information along.

Special service: 'Tidings of comfort and joy' - Saturday at 2pm, in the parish church. A gentle, reflective service for those who struggle a little at this time of year. Again, if you know of someone who might find this service helpful, do let them know.

Parish newsletter: our Christmas edition is out and in the post. Please do bear with me as I organise uploading a copy here on the blogsite!!

Kirk Session: meets via zoom on Thursday this week, at 7pm. A link will be sent out on Wednesday.

These are all our notices. Have a good week as you move further along your Advent journey,
and until next time...

God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 28 Aug - 'Seating arrangements'

WELCOME/
Hello – and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish where, this week, Jesus has a chat about dinner parties and seating arrangements.

If you want to skip the notices and go straight to the service, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

For general reference, the notices are also copied below:

Sun 5pm 28 Aug: Worship at 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall. This will be a Songs of Praise style of worship, so come along for a good sing! After our time of worship, there’ll be tea and coffee, and a chance for a good blether, so if you’re able to come along, it’d be great to see you.

Sun  4 Sept. 10.30am: Communion This coming Sunday, onsite in the church building, we’ll be having our quarterly Communion service... all are welcome to share at the table of the Lord.
The Guild Dedication will also form part of this service, as it begins a new session for the year...

Clydesdale Foodbank: a reminder that over the Sundays of September, the food bank box will be in the vestibule for donations. For those of you online – if you’re able, you can help by donating using the link below. This is a very practical way of helping our neighbours.
Clydesdale foodbank link

Thurs 1 Sept, 7pm: Kirk session meeting: this will be held by zoom – the main item of business will be the proposed presbytery plan. 

May you be encouraged by this time of worship, and as you move forward into the week, may you feel God, close beside you.
God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 5 June: Pentecost

WELCOME/ Hello! Welcome to worship on this Pentecost Sunday – where we remember and celebrate the birthday of the church: the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit to those who followed, and still follow, Jesus.
Just to note that, on site, in the church building, we'll be holding our summer communion service.

Notices are below.
Meanwhile, if you'd rather jump straight across to our service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

NOTICES/ 
Caring hearts project - A wee update on our ‘caring hearts’ project – where we’re knitting or crocheting hearts for our 5 schools within the parish. The total number of hearts I’ve received so far is 125. Let’s see if we can push this to 200, and when we’ve got that target, I’ll be parcelling them up in readiness to distribute to our schools at the beginning of the new school year in August. A great effort so far everyone, so thank you so very much!   

Pulpit swap - Next week I’ll be across at Douglas and Rigside churches, where I’ll be conducting services of holy communion for both congregations. Onsite at Upper Clyde, we welcome Denham Macdougall – the interim moderator for Douglas Valley Parish, and also an elder at Cairngryffe church.
Online, I’ll be providing links to other online services to go and visit.

Jubilee Community events - Both Crawford and Roberton will be holding community gatherings today as part of the Jubilee weekend. If you're able, why not head along to support these events, and have the opportunity to catch up with folk for a blether and a cuppa.

These are all the notices. As we go into this coming week, may you know the comfort, the encouragement, and the strength of God's Spirit with you, in all you think, and say, and do.

God bless,
Nikki