'On the first day of the week...'

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Matthew 28:1-10
The Resurrection of Jesus 
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

'On the first day of the week' - a sermon for Easter Sunday

It is the first day of the week.
Light is breaking through the darkness as dawn comes.
In the garden, by a tomb, the guards keep watch –
for what?
It’s not as if the one inside is going anywhere, right?
Perhaps they ponder their lot,
wonder when they will be released from their task to get breakfast,
wonder what they’ll have for breakfast,
and look forward to getting some much-needed sleep.
Warring is only a part of what they do:
more often, theirs is the job of watching, waiting.
And so, on this particular early morning, they wait.
All is quiet –
‘quiet as the grave’, thinks one.
He watches as two women make their way to the tomb, nods to his comrade –
‘pretty harmless,’ he muses,
‘they’re just women, after all…’
still, it breaks the boredom…

But nothing – none of the years of training –
prepares him for what happens next.
Suddenly, and with no warning, the ground beneath him shakes:
heaves and moves with an almighty disturbance –
an earthquake?
The great stone that covers the entrance to the tomb rolls back…
No time to think.
He watches with his comrade –
both now utterly wide awake.
There is a light – blinding – 
and a being dressed in brilliant white sits on the now-fallen stone.
The guards –
hard men, toughened by the nature of their occupation –
find themselves shaking:
such fear is upon them that they fall to the ground as if dead.

Do the women cling to each other in confusion and wonder?
But, then they hear the words:
words so often uttered in stories long gone:
‘do not be afraid…’
even so, this angelic messenger is so … ‘other’
More words:
‘He is not here…he has been raised.’

How can this be?
They had watched as Jesus had carried the cross,
winced at every lashing and harsh word,
waited with him:
witnessing his last hours,
hearing his last words,
the cry of desolation,
…the acceptance:
‘it is finished’.
They had seen him die,
walked with the others to the tomb,
watched as the great stone rolled across its dark
and death-filled mouth.
…Wept.
They had certainly clung to each other then
just as they held each other now –
not quite taking this in:
even as this shining messenger from God continued to speak.
‘He is not here…’
‘Risen’
‘Going to Galilee.’

Beyond the fallen stone and the bright being, the women see an empty tomb.
They are not entirely sure what this all means –
but for the first time in a couple of days, the inner darkness of sorrow
has been replaced with
hope…
wonder…
…a strange… joy…
this, even while they are still, quite understandably, terrified:
for, it is an awesome and fearful thing to behold God’s messenger.

As instructed, they hurry away from the emptiness of the open tomb,
find the others – the friends of Jesus.
And, even as the news is told:
he is here… among them.
Unlike the guards who had fallen to the ground as if dead,
his disciples fall at his feet, astonished, a little fearful,
yet even so, somehow energised by life itself.
In wonder, they worship.
And prepare for a journey north:
time to go home, to Galilee to share the good news:
‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’
‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’

Over these last weeks, we’ve walked through the wilderness of Lent:
and, in this last week, have journeyed with Jesus through Holy Week,
through the palms and the cheers,
to Gethsemane and betrayal in the garden;
to arrest, and trial, and jeers, and crucifixion.
…And in the darkness of that death,
held our breath as time stood still,
and watched
and waited.
And, we have dared to hope -
for unlike the two Marys before the dawning of the light on that first Easter morning,
we know how this story ends:
that there shall be no more tears,
that darkness is overcome,
that death is defeated,
that the light of the world can never be put out.

If you’ve ever had your heart broken by loss and laid someone or something you loved in the tomb:
this story is for you.
If you’ve ever needed some earthshaking good news,
if you’ve ever needed hope,
if you’ve ever lived as if death had the final word:
this story is for you.
If you’ve ever needed light and warmth to return to your life,
if you’ve ever needed a second chance and the possibilities a new day offers:
then, this story is for you.
Indeed, this is a story for the world:
for all the broken people and broken places;
for all weighed down by the relentlessness of bad news stories
that whirl around on an endless spin cycle of doom;
for all who have lost hope and see no future;
for all who feel the chill of poverty, homelessness,
the horror of war and brutality and injustice; …
for all who so desperately need a second, a third, and more chances because the start they had in life means they have never been on an equal footing;
this story is for all of them,
for all of us –
for it is the good news story of God’s love –
from life, to death,
to hell and back…

Here, with an empty cross,
grave clothes folded,
and with resurrected alleluias,
we stand with the Marys…
we stand with the friends of Jesus:
we stand, astonished, at this strange, yet familiar story:
of death defeated;
learning that there is more to life than what we know or comprehend,
and that, in Jesus –
through his life, his death, his resurrection –
in the mystery that is God’s –
somehow, we are brought into his marvellous light,
we have cause to hope,
we have life.
Love wins.

And, as the two Marys were called,
as his friends were called,
so too, we are called:
to share the Good News –
and in these times in which we live,
the sharing of Good news is both a radical act, and so very much needed.
We share God’s love and encourage others to love,
and watch the darkness lift and see the light pour in –
see the power of love at work in the world.
We witness to the staggering truth -
that Jesus is not dead.
He lives still...

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is Easter:
and we are his witnesses:

‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’
‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’
Amen.

Easter prayer

Amazing, life-giving, and eternal God:

On this day, of all days, we raise the cry with such glad hearts:

‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’

‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’

We give thanks for the gift of Easter

that runs beyond our expectations,

beyond our categories of reason,

and which fills our hearts with the hope that keeps us going.

We offer our prayers to you Lord God reminded on this day of all days:

that this is not the end,

this is just the beginning -

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Over these next 50 days of the Easter season, may you know the joy of the risen Christ.
Easter blessings to you all,

Nikki

'From palms to the passion' - thoughts for Palm Sunday and Holy Week

It's Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week, and the beginning of the end to Jesus' walk to the Cross and beyond. In our service of worship, as has become our usual practice over the years, we begin with palms and end with the sealing of the tomb; from cheers to jeers as the crowd turns against Jesus. 

Our readings for today reflect that journey:
1st reading – Luke 19:28-40 The entry into Jerusalem;
2nd reading – Luke 22:1-6 The plot against Jesus;
3rd reading – Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays;
4th reading  Luke 22:47-53 The arrest of Jesus;
5th READING Luke 22:63-71; 23:1-12 Jesus on trial; 

6th READING Luke 23:13-25 Jesus sentenced to death; 

7th READING Luke 23:26-43 Jesus is crucified; 

8th READING Mark 15:33-47 The death of Jesus 

On the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, the crowds lined the streets, threw cloaks down upon the dusty road, waved palm branches, shouted 'Hosanna!' - save us. 

The palms tell their own story...

The palms tell a story

of a God who loved creation,

and a creation

who fell out of love with God.

Of a God who showed the way

through prophets who were silenced 

by the people who turned their backs.

Of a God who chose to become human,

and live this life in this world.

 

The palms tell a story

of a Saviour who was the word of life

but the people did not listen.

The Saviour spoke of justice for the poor

and food for the hungry

but the people did not listen.

The Saviour spoke of freedom

to all those oppressed,

but still the people did not believe.

The palms tell a story

of the man who rode into Jerusalem,

and the crowd cheered

of David and his progeny,

of the king of the Jews,

the king on a donkey

riding into the city of David

and the people recognised him:

‘Hosanna in the highest!’

The palms tell a story

for this is the journey to a table

of bread and wine

and friends gathered:

bread broken,

wine poured, for all.

 And he said:

‘re-member me,

re-member me,

re-member me.’

The palms tell a story

of the one taken from the table

to the garden.

 And from the garden

to the council.

And from the council

to the soldiers.

And from the soldiers

to the way of the cross.

The palms tell a story

of a saviour whose time

does not finish here.

As we move into this week and walk the last steps to the Cross with Jesus, a prayer and blessing:

May we whisper our hosannas throughout this week.

In every moment when the world goes silent on the cause of God

may we continue to cry out the beat –

the hosanna beat –

that marks the rhythm of this week;

In the sound of breaking bread may we hear the broken hosanna

and still believe in love’s way;

in the sound of coins being counted may we hear the betrayed hosanna

yet still trust in love’s choice;

in the twisting of the crown of thorns may we hear the tortured hosanna

and still believe in love’s way;

in the sound of the lashes, all thirty-nine, may we hear the scourged hosanna

yet still trust in love’s choice;

in the sound of nails being hammered may we hear the crucified hosanna

and still believe in love’s way

in the sound of silence may we hear the empty hosanna

yet still trust in love’s choice.

May we remain with Jesus

by whispering our hosannas throughout this week:

in every moment may we remain with you, O Jesus -

still believing

still following

still your companions...

And as we travel with you:

may God’s blessing be upon us all:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Amen.

Easter Sunday, 2025

WELCOME to worship on this Easter Sunday -
Christ is risen! Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

Today is a time when we celebrate hope overcoming despair;
Light overcoming darkness;
Life overcoming death:
a time when we remember that we are an Easter people and alleluia is our song....

Wishing you a joyful Easter and Eastertide.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 
and is now live...

CHURCH NOTICES
Annual leave - just to note that I'll be on annual leave from Mon 21st April to Wed 7th May inclusive.
Over this time the Rev. George Shand will be providing both pulpit and any emergency pastoral cover while I'm on leave. George can be contacted at ph. 07765987163 or email - georgeshand@live.co.uk

For general parish queries, contact either Dr Dee Yates at ph. 01864 504093 or Miss Heather Watt at ph. 01899 850211
For worship online, here are the usual links to other congregations that you might like to visit:

Biggar Parish Church - LINK  
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK 

Thank you: Just to say a thank you once again, for your food bank donations, which were dropped off to the food bank during the week. It's very much appreciated.

Newsletter update: our newsletter is running slightly later than usual, but is nearly sorted. One item we did want to include concerned an event on Maundy Thursday... I'm hoping to have the final draft done this week for checking and then to send off to the printer. Thanks for your patience.

Looking ahead:

Fri 9 May, 7.30pm - Southern Villages Cluster meeting: Rep's from the cluster will meet in Upper Clyde Church Hall for ongoing conversations regarding our proposed Union.

Sun 11 May - Christian Aid Week begins: Our service on Sunday morning will highlight the work of Christian Aid

Palm Sunday - worship link for Sun 13 April

WELCOME to worship...
We have moved from the wilderness and journeyed to Jerusalem and today, as we ourselves don’t have other services through Holy Week, we’ll journey from the cheers and excitement of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, through to the jeers and arrest, crucifixion and death on the cross on Good Friday. To do so, we’ll let the story tell itself through scripture and short reflections.
You can find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

Church notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES:
Kirk Session meeting after worship today: Session will meet for one-item of business - to approve our annual accounts. Our Annual Stated Meeting will be held on the 25th of May after worship for the congregation to receive the accounts.

Holy Week services: although we aren't having any services in our building during Holy Week, there are services being held within our cluster group, details of which are as follows:

Maundy Thursday Communion, 7pm Cairngryffe Church - We'll be remembering the story of that first communion, held in an upper room in Jerusalem... Worship will be conducted by the Rev. Louise Mackay and Rev. Dr Nikki Macdonald. All are welcome to come, for it is the table of the Lord, and he bids us welcome.
Also:
Maundy Thurs reflections, 7pm at Rigside Community Hall - this service of quiet reflection and prayer will be led by Mr Bill Love.
Good Friday, 7pm at both Douglas Church and Cairngryffe - services of reflection remembering the events of Good Friday.

Just a wee encouragement to attend: given we’re now in daylight saving time, all services should be well and truly finished before it gets dark – I say this as I know some of you find it hard to drive at night-time. If you’d like to attend, perhaps it might be good to have a chat with others and maybe do some car sharing?

Clydesdale Food Bank - I’ll be uplifting food bank items after worship this morning to drop off to my food bank contact for distribution. Thanks so much for the donations.

Blessings to you all as you enter into Holy Week.

'Rest as Resistance' - worship 6 April

WELCOME to worship where today, we’re thinking about rest and re-creation: taking time out and recharging the soul…

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES:

Clydesdale food bank - don't forget that we're still collecting up to and including next Sunday, Palm Sunday. All items dropped into the box in the vestibule will be uplifted after next week's service. Online, you can still make a donation by clicking on THE LINK HERE.
And thanks for all the donations so far.

13 April: Palm Sunday service at 10.30am: Just to flag up that next Sunday is Palm Sunday – and our service will be a mix of readings and reflections that will take us through Palm Sunday and to the cross… 

'Bread and Roses' - worship for Sun 30 March

WELCOME to worship on this fourth Sunday in the season of Lent.
In our time of worship we’ll be spending a little time reflecting on bread…

You can find the LINK TO SERVICE HERE 

Notices follow below...

CHURCH NOTICES:

Sun 30 March, 5pm: Evening worship at Leadhills Village Hall at which we'll share a simple service of communion together... All are welcome to come along. After the service, please stay for a cuppa and a blether.

Clydesdale food bank: Over the weeks of Lent, we’re collecting items for Clydesdale Food bank…we have a box under the table in the vestibule for any items you'd like to donate. These will be uplifted after worship on Palm Sunday. For those of you online, you can make a donation by CLICKING HERE

'Spring into Easter: A notice from our friends at Cairngryffe church: they’ll be holding an all age event at Cairngryffe Church on Saturday the 5th of April 2025, 1-3pm. From 1-2pm they’ll have the Easter Story and some associated craft activities. From 2pm there’ll be afternoon tea. Come to the whole event or just the bit you want to attend. If you have some small people who might be at a loose end… this might just be the thing for you!

WELCOME to our time of worship this week as we continue our Lenten journey. If last week we found ourselves in the wilderness, this week it's a lot more lush: tree by stream, with fruit in season, and some advice for navigating the river of life from the writer of Psalm One, and the Apostle Paul. 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 


CHURCH NOTICES/

Church newsletter: the deadline for items to go into the newsletter is by end of play today. So if you do have something you’d like to see in the newsletter, please do get it to Dee by midnight!!  

Pulpit swap: a reminder that I’ll be across at Douglas Valley next week, for a baptism and to share in communion. While I’m over there, worship onsite will be conducted by Denham Macdougall, from Cairngryffe. Online, I’ll put up the usual links to services elsewhere here on the blog, should you wish to join in worship. 

Cluster conversations: Just to note that on Wednesday evening, there’ll be another of our cluster meetings exploring our potential union with Douglas Valley and Cairngryffe – at Douglas. And Dee and I will be going to represent Upper Clyde. Do please keep these meetings and the ongoing conversation in your prayers. Thanks.

Food bank donations over Lent: don't forget that over the season of Lent, we'll be gathering items for the Clydesdale foodbank. Should you wish to make a donation online you can CLICK THIS LINK to take you across to their website. Thanks in advance.

'Non-conforming zone' - worship for 9 March, 1st Sunday of Lent

Welcome to worship on this first Sunday of Lent, where once again, we begin the
journey to Jerusalem with Jesus; starting that journey in the wilderness. Traditionally a time of spiritual ‘decluttering’ or a spring cleaning for the soul, as we travel through these next weeks, what might we hear God saying to us?

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Church notices: 
Clydesdale Foodbank over Lent: As this is a communion month, and also the beginning of the season of Lent, let’s get back into the practice of gathering items over these next Sundays – and extend the time through to Palm Sunday. You might even want to take this on as your lent practice. For the moment, just leave items on the table as you come in to the vestibule and we can put them in a suitable container when we need to. For those of you online, THIS LINK will take you to the foodbank website, and if you wish, you can make a donation online for their ongoing work. 

Tues. 11 March, 7pm: Kirk Session A reminder to elders that we have a meeting of Session on Tuesday evening at 7pm and I’ll be getting an email out with details later today to session members.

Parish newsletter: a reminder about the deadline for our parish newsletter, which is Sunday evening the 16th – next Sunday. If you’ve any items you’d like included, please do get in touch with Dee or myself and thanks in advance. Also, we’d really appreciate any feedback on the newsletter – what would you like to see included, or dropped… is the current format working for you… or not? Are there any particular ways it could be more helpful? Do let us know!

As you begin your Lenten journey, may you know God walking alongside you.

God bless,
Nikki

'What gives you joy?' Worship for Sun 5 May

Welcome to worship for this week. Apologies once again for a delay in uploading the service and thanks for your patience.  Our service this week picks up the theme of joy asking the question 'what gives you joy?' and exploring the answer by way of looking at Ps 16. To go straight to the service click on the WORSHIP LINK HERE 

CHURCH NOTICES/
12 May Christian Aid Sunday: just to note that this coming Sunday begins Christian Aid Week 2024. On site, there'll be a special collection for their ongoing work. Online, you can make a donation by going to their website HERE

Funeral notices:
Mary Craig - Mary's funeral will be held at 2pm on Thursday the 16th of May at Upper Clyde Church followed by her committal at Elvanfoot Cemetery at 2.45. Thereafter, all are welcome back to the church hall for the funeral tea.

John Wight - John's funeral will be held at 1pm on Friday the 17th of May at Biggar Kirk. Many thanks to the minister, Mike Fucella for enabling us to have the service there. Details for funeral tea tbc

Our thoughts and our prayers are with both families at this difficult time.

As you go through this week, may you know God's love surrounding you,
God bless,

Nikki

Risen - worship for Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024

Christ and Saint Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, 

by Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1638

CHRIST IS RISEN!
ALLELUIA! 
HE IS RISEN INDEED! 
A very happy Easter to you and welcome as we gather as God's people, online and onsite, to worship the One who defeated death, and who promises life in all its fulness.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and church notices follow below.

NOTICES/ 
Lent 40 for 40 appeal for Clydesdale food bank: just to say a huge thanks to everyone who donated items for the food bank over these last weeks. I'm delighted to say that we well exceeded our target, and also, hopefully provided a little Easter joy with gifts of chocolate eggs as well as basic food items. Well done everyone and thanks for your generosity.

Mon 1 April - Wed 17th - minister on annual leave: just to note that I will be taking some time off immediately after Easter Sunday and will be back at work again on Thursday the 18th. 

During this time:

     for general queries, our contact person is Heather Watt - 01899 850211

     for urgent pastoral cover (Upper Clyde only), please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella - 01899 229291

     worship cover over both Sundays on site will be provided by the Rev. George Shand

     music will be provided by Shenna and Philip Fox, on the organ

     online worship - some links to other congregations who have online services are copied below.

     You may like to visit with the following congregations:

     Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
     Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
     Hamilton Old Parish Church - LINK

Sun 21 April: Church Newsletter deadline for items to be included in our Pentecost newsletter. There will also be the latest update on where we are at with the 2nd draft, amended, reviewed, revised presbytery plan... If you have any items, please get in touch with Dee or via the 'contact us' link on the right of this page.

Anna Chaplaincy reminiscing café: do you have any photos of the old Abington School? If so, would you mind lending them to us for our reminiscing café in May, please? If you're able to help, please get in touch with Angela Wilson, our community outreach worker at: angela.wilson@churchofscotland.org.uk

In the meantime, a blessed and joyous Easter to you all.

Nikki

From palms to passion: a service for Palm Sunday, 24 March 2024

Welcome to our time of worship on this Palm Sunday, as we move into Holy Week. Our service moves us from the entry into Jerusalem and through to the events of Good Friday. A slightly different format for worship as we allow the story to unfold through scripture and poem...

THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Many thanks for all the generous donations of items for the food bank - I'll be uplifting them and dropping them off this afternoon to a friend who volunteers there. 

Just to note that there will be evening worship in Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm tonight. This evening, we'll be exploring Palm Sunday through the lens of the icon: 'Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem' as part of our 'Iconic' worship series. All are welcome to come and there will be refreshments and the opportunity for a blether after the service.

May you know God walking close by over the course of this week, and until next time, take care, goodbye, and God bless.

'Restoration' - worship for Sun 17 March, 2024

WELCOME to worship, on this 5th Sunday in the season of Lent – a season in the church year traditionally associated with reflection and repentance, and the colour purple, and yet, as we move into the week, this more quiet and reflective time is interrupted on Wednesday with International Day of Happiness. It may seem, somehow jarring and yet, scripture reminds us that happy are those who walk in God’s ways!
To go straight to the service the WORSHIP LINK IS HERE and the service should be available by c.6.30pm Sun evening.

CHURCH NOTICES/
'40 for 40' Lent Food Bank Appeal - Don’t forget our Lent ’40 for 40’ appeal for the Clydesdale foodbank – and this Sunday coming, which will be Palm Sunday, will be your last opportunity to pop a donation of food or other items into the food bank box in the vestibule – as I’ll be collecting it and taking it along to Ben for delivery to the food bank after worship. Alternatively, you can always make a donation online through the Clydesdale food bank website by CLICKING HERE.

'Remember when?' Café - one item I did forget to flag up was the upcoming 'Remember when?' Cafe which will be held at the Abington Community Hub. Over lunch, our Community Outreach Worker, Angel Wilson, will be facilitating a time for sharing of memories. All are welcome to come along and share memories over some lunch.
This is part of the Anna Chaplaincy project.

Sun 24 March, 5pm: Evening worship at Leadhills Village Hall - although not quite the last Sunday of the month, we'll be holding worship in the village hall this coming weekend. Do come and join us for worship, conversation, and a cuppa, from 5pm.

As we move towards Palm Sunday, may you know times of refreshing and restoration over this coming week.

God bless

Nikki

'We think it 'mazing' - worship for Sun 3 March, Lent 3

Welcome to our service of worship on this third Sunday in the season of Lent.

Today, we hear two stories from Luke’s gospel, in which we encounter two people in particular need of help – two people, whose circumstances couldn’t be more different and  yet, in both situations, we find the same love and compassion extended by Jesus…
You'll find the LINK FOR WORSHIP HERE

As is usual, church notices are copied below for reference.

Church notices/
Parish newsletter - an update: instead of an Easter newsletter, we're having a slight change of plan. As there will be a meeting of presbytery on the 27th of April to discuss the amended 2nd draft plan, Dee and I thought we would hold off on publishing the newsletter until after the meeting has taken place. This way, I can put include an up to date report on where we are - or aren't - at, with regard to the plan. So, for a change, we'll be having a Pentecost newsletter instead (Pentecost falls on 19th of May this year).

In the meantime, I’ll get information out about services around Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter – by way of poster, and on our blog.

Lent appeal - '40 for 40': Don’t forget our ’40 for 40’ Lent appeal on behalf of Clydesdale food bank – on site, we’re hoping to achieve a target of at least 40 donated items for the food bank by the end of Lent – to be taken to the food bank after Palm Sunday. If you have any items that you’d like to donate to the food bank, either drop them into the box in the vestibule at church, or, just let me know and I can arrange to have them collected. And for folk online, you'll find a link to the food bank on the panel to your right should you wish to donate that way.

Session meeting: For members of the Kirk Session, just to note that we have a meeting on Thursday this week at 7pm, and I’ll send out the papers and a link on Sunday evening.

Pulpit swap: Just to flag up that next week, we’ve a pulpit swap, as I’ll be over at Douglas and Rigside celebrating communion with them. In my place will be Denham Macdougall, who’ll be conducting worship for us in the building. Online, I’ll set up links to other online services that some of you in our online community might like to go and visit.

In the meantime, have a good week, 
God bless

Nikki

'Love anyway!' Worship for Sun 25 Feb - Lent 2

Welcome to this week's time of worship where today, we go right back to the heart of the gospel - love. We're reflecting on Jesus' command to love...even our enemies. How do we do that? Well, Jesus gives us some guidance.
Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Notices follow below... 

CHURCH NOTICES/
40 for 40 Lent Foodbank challenge: a reminder about our ’40 for 40’ Lent challenge – 40 days of Lent as an opportunity to gather at least 40 items to donate to the food bank… and, as I said last week, if there’s more, I don’t think the food bank will send any back! Alongside basic provisions, given I’ll be getting the donated items to Ben from the food bank for distribution just before Easter, if some of you were minded to make a donation of Easter eggs for folk using the food bank who have children but who would otherwise not be able to afford a wee treat that would be very kind. 

Concert in Moffat - Bruce Davies: I had an email from the Rev. Elsie Macrae next door in Moffat this week – asking if I’d let folk know about a concert that they’re having in their church building on Sunday the 3rd of March at 2pm – It will be a performance by Scottish singer/ songwriter Bruce Davies. Tickets are £5. 

Sun 3 March, 10:30 worship - COMMUNION: we’ll be sharing together in the first of our quarterly communion services for the year. Please do let folk know and, if you know of anyone who would appreciate a home communion visit with an elder and myself, please let me or Dee Yates know. And, all are welcome to come and share in the Lord’s Supper, for he is the host, and we, his guests.

Sun 25 Feb, 5pm - Evening worship: A reminder that our evening services begin again for the year, up in Leadhills Village Hall. Worship is at 5pm this evening, and we’ll be gathering around a table to share in a very simple communion service, accompanied with the music of the Taizé Community. All are welcome to come along, and there’ll be tea and coffee after our time of worship

Easter Newsletter - the deadline for any items is by the evening of Friday, 1 March. If you have any items you would like to include - such as sharing a favourite Easter poem, or memory, or a particular hymn and why it's a favourite... or even a seasonal cartoon, please get in touch with either Dee or myself (Nikki).

And so we continue on through Lent, moving closer to Holy Week and the Cross. As we think of Jesus' command to love - even our enemies - how might we take on that challenge as we go out into a new week?
May you know God beside you this week,

God bless,

Nikki

'I give up!' Worship for Sun 18 Feb - 1st Sun of Lent

Welcome  to worship on this first Sunday in the season of Lent – those weeks that will lead us to Holy Week and Easter…and so we follow in Jesus’ footsteps to Jerusalem and begin with Jesus preparing for that journey by travelling into the wilderness… 

To access our service, click on the LINK HERE to take you to our YouTube channel.
Notices follow below...

Church notices:
'40 for 40' foodbank challenge: for those of you minded to take something on over Lent, let's take on supporting our food bank over these next weeks. On site, I’ve put the food bank box in the vestibule, where it will remain until after worship on Palm Sunday. If, over these next weeks, you had items to donate that would help folk in our local communities, that would be great – I was wondering if we could manage to gather at least 40 items – to symbolise the 40 days of Lent – though, of course, if we end up with more, well, that would be excellent! Also, thinking that these items will be delivered during the week before Easter, if any of you were minded to donate some Easter eggs for little ones, for families who just have no money for treats that would be very kind indeed. For those of you unable to get to the church building, either drop them to me in the manse, or, let me know, and I can collect them from you at some point. Alternatively, you can make a donation online by clicking on THIS LINK. Thanks, as ever for your support.

Funeral for Kit McKendrick: Kit's funeral will be held in the church at 1pm on Thursday this week. Thereafter, we gather at Elvanfoot Cemetery for her committal, c.1.45pm. The funeral tea will be held in the Masonic Hall, Abington.

As we move into this season of Lent, a blessing to you on your journey.

God bless,
Nikki

Worship - Easter Sunday 'Earth, tell it out abroad'

WELCOME and a happy Easter to you! Christ is risen, hallelujah! He is risen indeed. 
We've made it through Lent, and Holy Week, and arrived at Easter Day...
Let's celebrate our risen Lord.

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Church notices follow below..

CHURCH NOTICES

Minister's annual leave: 10th - 25th April. 

I’ll be back at work once again from Wed the 26th…

While I’m away, we’ll be welcoming back our old friend, the Rev. Bill Buchan, who’s agreed to cover both our Sunday mornings. Over these two Sundays, we’ll also be welcoming back our friend, Shenna Fox, who’ll be playing the organ for us. So, a chance to dust off our hymn books!!

During this time, for any general parish queries, please get in touch with our Session Clerk, Dr Dee Yates on 01864 504 093.

For any urgent pastoral matters, please contact the Rev. Mike Fucella, of Biggar Kirk on 01899 229291 or by email at - mfucella@churchofscotland.org.uk

Funeral of Mary Hamilton - Most of you should now know the details for Mary Hamilton’s funeral – but just to confirm that the service will be held in the church at 11.30am on Wednesday the 12th. It’s going to be conducted by the Rev. George Shand, who is known to a number of you – and, who Mary knew through the Guild. After the service, there’ll be a funeral tea up at the Elphinstone Hotel in Biggar….

Guild AGM rescheduled - One more notice, which is that the Guild AGM has been rescheduled from this Wednesday, and will now be held on Wed. 10th May at 2pm.

A post will go up on Monday with these, and other notices...
In the meantime, a joyful and blessed Easter to you all,
God bless

Nikki

Worship: Palm Sunday - 'An old, old story'

WELCOME to worship on this Palm Sunday …

We’ve walked with Jesus through the wilderness over these weeks of Lent, following in the footsteps of our ancestors in the faith and hearing ancient stories.
As we did so, we recalled that God’s people are a people on the move.
And so, we accompany Jesus, the word of life, on this last part of the journey:
today, we stand at the gates of Jerusalem… 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
Some hard news this week. For those who may not have heard yet, our friend, and church member, Mary Hamilton passed away, quietly at home, on Monday morning. It was unexpected and has been a shock to both Mary's family and friends. Once I have details of the funeral, I'll make sure to post it here on the blog, and, to ensure it's passed on in other ways as well. The only thing that I can say is that it will be at some point after Easter. 
In the meantime, I'm sure our thoughts and prayers are already with Mary’s family in their time of loss.

Online, on Good Friday, I'll put up a meditation that we used last year, to help us with our personal prayer and reflection. 
On Sunday, on site, our Easter Service will be at the usual worship time of 10.30am, and there'll also be an online service to accompany it.

As you move through Holy Week 2023, may it be a time of connection, and reflection, and may you find yourself drawing nearer to the heart of God.

Every blessing

Nikki

Worship, Sun 26 March

Hi everyone... just a wee note about worship this week...
It's a pulpit swap week here at Upper Clyde, 26 March. I'll be across at the Douglas and Rigside congregations sharing the sacrament of communion with them. Meanwhile, onsite at Upper Clyde, we welcome back Mr Denham MacDougall - Interim Moderator for Douglas Valley congregations, and an elder at Cairngryffe Parish Church. We also welcome back Shenna Fox, who has kindly agreed to play for the service.

Given the swap, there will not be an online service from Upper Clyde. However, you might like to explore the following online worship options: 
Biggar Parish Church - LINK 
Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        
Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Normal service options are back this coming week, 2 April, which is Palm Sunday....

Don't forget that we're still accepting donations for the Clydesdale foodbank.... Thanks in advance for your support.

Worship Sun 19 March, Lent wk 4: Moving in a mysterious way

WELCOME/ Hello – and welcome to worship. We’re continuing on in our journey through Lent and this week we find ourselves with Ezekiel in a valley filled with dry bones, asking ‘can these bones live?’

If you'd like to go straight across to the service on YouTube you'll find the  WORSHIP LINK HERE

Copied below are our church notices:
This is our support your local food bank month. So, if you’d like to take the opportunity to donate food and other items, they can either be dropped into the box in the church vestibule, or to me at the manse. Alternatively, you can also donate through the webpage HERE 

Next week, there’ll be a pulpit swap, as I head across to the congregations of the Douglas Valley to share communion with them. Visiting onsite will be Denham MacDougall – who’s an elder at Cairngryffe and also the interim moderator for Douglas Valley and who some of you already know. Given this, there’ll be no online worship from Upper Clyde, but I’ll put some links to other online services if you’re not able to be with us onsite.

The parish newsletter has been put together and is now at the printers. These will be mailed out to those of you who are members, and spare copies will be available in the hall, as well as in the village stores at Abington and Leadhills, plus at the Abington community hub. I’ve already put an online version of the newsletter up on our blog, if you’d like to access it that way. Just look above this post at the tabs and click on 'Easter newsletter '23'

As we continue our journey through Lent, have a good week!

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 12 March 'Moving in circles' - Lent wk 3

WELCOME to our time of worship this week. We're moving further into Lent and this week, we're 'moving in circles' as we hear the story of Moses and the Israelites wandering and wondering in the wilderness.

WORSHIP LINK HERE

CHURCH NEWS 
Food bank: just a reminder that this month is a donations month for our local food bank. If you have any food, toiletries, or other items to donate, please drop them off at the manse, or the box in the vestibule at church on any Sunday morning during March. Alternatively, you can donate online via this LINK 

Cluster conversations: our next meeting to discuss the presbytery plan will be online, via zoom, at 7pm this week. The link will be emailed to all rep's.

In the meantime, have a great week.

God bless,
Nikki