Worship Sun 13 March - Lent 2: 'Glimpses of God'

Welcome  to worship with Upper Clyde Parish on this second Sunday of Lent. Today we hear what the writer of Ps 27 has to say about God, and catch up with Jesus three years after his time in the wilderness. We find ourselves on the outskirts of Jerusalem listening in to a conversation between  Jesus and some pharisees on the matter of foxes and hens.
Church notices are below.
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

Church notices/
Healthy Valleys is looking for some volunteers:
if you enjoy having a chat to someone on the phone or meeting up for a cuppa or a walk Healthy Valleys would be interested in hearing from you as they are always looking for befrienders.
Also, they are on the lookout for bicycles:
if anyone has any old childrens or adults bikes hiding away unused and unloved Healthy Valleys could find them a new home, as they have a project sorting pre-loved bikes and giving them to people who need them.

Anna  Chaplaincy Commissioning Service: This service to commission Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, as an Anna Chaplain will take place on Saturday 2^nd April at 2pm at St Brides, Douglas, followed by refreshments at the Bowling Club next door. 

Clydesdale foodbank: don’t forget that this month, we’re highlighting the good work of Clydesdale foodbank, so, if you’d like to make a donation – you can do so by dropping goods into the box in the church vestibule or by going to the foodbank website and making an online donation. The link is on the right hand side of the blog under 'links'.

Worship Sun 6 March Lent 1: 'Hungry'

WELCOME/ Hello, and welcome to worship on this first Sunday of Lent: 
the season of the church year in which we take time to walk the way to Jerusalem with Jesus,
and make time to reflect on our relationship with God, and each other...
And following the long-held tradition, we begin our journey in the wilderness, and meet Jesus who, having fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights, was faced with temptation...
Notices are below - there are a number to read through, and it's useful to have them up on the site for ease of reference... so if you'd prefer to listen rather than read, you can go straight across to our youtube site for worship. 
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

NOTICES/ 
Foodbank: Today, we’ll be reintroducing one of our pre-lockdown customs. As we begin a month in which we have communion, we highlight the work of Clydesdale food bank over the course of this month. The food bank box will be put in the vestibule once again for donations each of our Sundays in March and meanwhile, for those at home, you can donate directly online by using this FOOD BANK LINK and scrolling down to the 'donate' button.
This is very much a great practical way of being able to love your neighbour – so thank you in advance. 

Ukraine: As the war by Russia on Ukraine continues, many of you are looking for ways in which to help. The latest update on donations is that it’s more efficient now, to donate money, rather than sending goods across borders. The Government has committed to matchfund donations £ for £ up to £25 million pounds, if made to the DEC – Disasters Emergency Committee – on top of that, you can also choose to gift aid. The DEC LINK IS HERE where you’ll be able to make your donation there and help our Ukrainian neighbours.

Church magazine deadline: Sunday the 20th March 1pm. 

Guild: The Guild meets this coming Wednesday at 2pm in the church. The speaker will be Angela Brydson, our community outreach worker.

Easter music: On Easter Sunday we’ll be having five hymns instead of three and, I’d like you to tell me what your favourite Easter hymn is – and, I’ll choose the top 5 most requested as our hymn list for that day. So... get thinking and let me know!

Morning tea after church - update: This morning, we’re reintroducing morning tea in the hall.

Covid restrictions update: If all goes according to plan, restrictions will be further eased towards the end of the month. It would be useful to have a conversation with those of you who are attending, about navigating the best way forward on this. We want to make sure that we continue to provide a safe environment and try not to exclude those who are more vulnerable, while at the same time, work out how to be a little less restrictive – so over the next couple of weeks get in touch and let’s have a chat, as I think this would be good to decide together as a community.

New church member: And, finally, we’re delighted to welcome Ralph Barker into church membership at Upper Clyde in the building. It's lovely to make this official.

Worship Sun 27 Feb - Transfiguration

WELCOME/ 
Hello –  today, we mark Transfiguration Sunday: Jesus upon the mountain top, who, in the mystery and in glory, meets Moses and Elijah, while Peter, James, and John look on, in confusion and astonishment.

Church notices are copied below - but they will also be announced within the service online, so feel free to skip them here and listen over at our youtube channel. 

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

CHURCH NOTICES/
 At this time, we cannot be unaware of what is unfolding in Ukraine – and our hearts go out to all who are caught up in this war. We stand with them, and may they be in our prayers... At the end of the service, the final slide gives details of various aid organisations and charities, if you’d like to help the people of Ukraine in some way...
THAT SLIDE IS COPIED HERE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE:

Evening worship - 5pm in Leadhills Village Hall. Prayers for peace.

Sun 6 March - Communion in the parish church. As we don't have the facility to live stream, we can't at this point in time, offer an online form of communion - our apologies.
Food bank - in line with our pre-Covid practice, we are bringing back our food bank box in those months when we have communion. So, for the Sundays of March, if you're in the church building look out for the box in the vestibule. For those of you online who would like to support the work of the food bank, you can do this directly by going to their webpage and make a donation. The food bank link HERE 
Lent begins - Also this week, the season of Lent begins – a time of reflection, of preparation, where we mark a spiritual journey, walking the way with Jesus to Jerusalem..

Worship Sun 20 Feb: 'You've got to be taught how to hate'

WELCOME/ Hello and welcome to worship where we continue on with Jesus' 'Sermon on the Level' and hear his thoughts on how we treat those who are our enemies - so, the theme is 'love', apt given Monday was Valentine's Day!!
Hope that you've all managed to weather the storms this week and have managed to stay relatively intact.

Just a couple of notices this week...
Caring hearts project - our new community project has started, and you can find out more about it HERE on a specially dedicated page. If you're able to help with crocheting or knitting, that would be wonderful.

Sun 27 Feb, 5pm - Evening worship, Leadhills - join us in the village hall at Leadhills for an informal time of worship with a catch up cuppa after the service. All welcome.

Communion 6 March - for those of you able to come to the service in person at the parish church, we'll be entering the first Sunday of Lent with a service of Communion. Please do let anyone you know, who may like to come.
Morning tea - we'll also be reintroducing morning tea in the hall after this service.

WORSHIP LINK IS HERE 

Blessings to you for this coming week,
Nikki

Worship Sun 13 Feb 'Levelling up'

WELCOME/ 
Hello. Welcome to worship!
Today we consider not so much the sermon on the mount but the sermon on the plain – Luke’s version of the more well-known sermon found in the gospel of Matthew.
There's just the one notice – and it concerns a wee project that we’re wanting to get up and running within the church and the wider parish community. It’s called the ‘Caring hearts’ project. 
This focuses on the younger members living in our wider parish community, who go to our five primary schools – and I’m asking those of you who knit or crochet for some help to enable us to do this.
You can find out more about it on our dedicated blog page -
here's the link CARING HEARTS PROJECT

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

As ever, I hope you find this time of worship an encouragement, 
and also spiritual nourishment.
God bless and may you know God walking with you through the week.

Nikki

'Caring Hearts' community project

Hi everyone!
I just want to flag up our latest community project - 'Caring Hearts'.
It's aimed to help some of the younger people in our community by way of asking the crafters in the community to take up their knitting needles and crochet hooks. 
To find out more about the project, along with patterns, check out the new, dedicated page above on the tabs or just click HERE and the link will take you there directly.
And thanks in advance for getting on board, folks - very much appreciated.

Worship Sun 6 Feb, 2022: 'Gone Fishin'

WELCOME/
Welcome to worship online where today, we're going fishing with Jesus and meeting some fishermen from Galilee...

A few notices and the link to worship below that:
Guild: the Guild is meeting this week, on Wednesday at 2pm, in the church, and the guest speaker will be Dee Yates, who’ll be sharing her experiences and some of the history of the sacred Isle of Iona. 

Caring Hearts project: Something for those of you who who knit and crochet.
We’d like to make some small woollen hearts which will be given to each of our five primary schools to be used as a resource for children who are going through difficult times:
the idea is that the school staff can give a child one of the hearts by way of helping to provide a little bit of care and comfort. When they hold it, it could be a reminder of someone they love and who they miss, or, to help them know that they are cared for and loved. A wee minding and pastoral care tool, if you like. I’ve got both a knitting and a crochet pattern, which I’ll put up on our blogsite in the near future on a separate page labelled 'caring hearts project' as well as print off copies to pass along. If you’d like to take part in this project, and to help the younger members of our community, do let me – or Angela – know, especially if you need a printed copy of the pattern.

Kirk Session: our kirk session will be meeting this week on Thursday evening at 7pm, by zoom.

WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

May God bless you as you go about your week,
Nikki

Worship Sun 30 Jan - 'A rock and a refuge'

WELCOME/
Welcome to our time of worship online for this last Sunday of January. We'll be hearing the words of Psalm 71, written by someone 'grey of hair', asking for God's help, and acknowledging God's faithfulness and love since birth. So, it's a psalm in which we see a long life, lived in faith and trust in God. What might it teach us today?

Having thought there might be a delay in getting the service online, things took a turn for the better!
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Many thanks for bearing with me.
Nikki

Church notices, info 17 - 25 Jan, 2022

CHURCH NOTICES....

Minister on annual leave:

As of Mon 17 Jan. up to and including Tues 25 Jan. the minister will be on annual leave. 

Urgent pastoral cover will be provided by the Rev. Paul Grant of Law Parish, who is currently the Interim Moderator for our neighbors in Douglas Valley up to 23 Jan. His phone number is: 
Mon 24 and Tues 25, contact Angela Brydson, our Community Outreach Worker: 

For any general enquiries please contact Dr Dee Yates, our Session Clerk on 

Worship in the parish church at 10.30am will be conducted by the Rev. Bill Buchan

For online worship you might like to explore the following services:

            Biggar Parish Church - LINK

            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK           

            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK        

            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Worship Sun 16 Jan, 2022: 'Taste and see'

WELCOME/ Last week, a baptism, this week, a wedding, at Cana, in Galilee. We'll be thinking about abundance in our time of worship.

Meantime, one notice:
As of Monday 17th, through to and including Tues 25th, I'll be taking some annual leave. Should an urgent pastoral matter arise, cover is being provided by the Rev. Paul Grant thru to Sun 23rd. He can be contacted on 01698 373180. And, should anything arise pastorally on the 23-24th, please get in touch with our Community Outreach Worker, Angela Brydson on 07543 796820. 
For any general parish matters, contact our Session Clerk, Dr Dee Yates on 01864 504093.
I'll be back at work on Wednesday 26th.

You'll find our WORSHIP LINK HERE

In the meantime, may God, the source of love, life, joy, and blessing, go with you through this week.

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 9 Jan 2022: Expect the unexpected

 WELCOME/ Hello and welcome to worship! We've left the season of Christmas behind us and entered into the season of Epiphany - a time of discovery and of revelation. This week, we meet Jesus, standing on the banks of the River Jordan, as he makes the move from his private family life to the beginning of his public ministry.

A couple of notices -
Guild afternoon tea - just a reminder that this has been moved from January to April. There will be no meeting this month. We'll gather again in February and March at the usual time.

#Run 1 000 - Rural mental health - this initiative began last year and is on once again this month. The 4 nations of the UK plus New Zealand will be competing with one another to see which team will manage the most steps over the month of January. This, to raise awareness of rural mental health issues, as well as raise funds for rural mental health charities. Our community outreach worker, Angela has signed up, as well as Crawford's own Jen Craig. If you'd like to cheer them on, make a donation to RSABI in their name - they'd be very chuffed! 

OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Have a good week, stay safe, take care, and God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 2 Jan, 2022: 'Look up'

WELCOME/ Welcome in these first shiny new days of 2022. We are still in the season of Christmas - that tree in the living room gets taken down on the 12th day of Christmas, so, the 5th of January... enjoy the decorations and twinkling lights a little more as we travel with the Magi to the stable in Bethlehem.
No church notices today.
Enjoy and be encouraged and nourished by this time of worship.
You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

In the meantime, may you know God's blessing and feel God's presence with you as you journey through 2022.
A happy new year to you all,
Nikki

Worship Sun 26 Dec - Christmas Service

WELCOME and a very merry Christmas to you! Our service is one of story and carols today and I hope it encourages, enriches, and recharges your spiritual batteries...
No announcements - we go straight into worship this week. 
You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE

God bless
Nikki
 

Worship - Christmas Eve Watchnight, 2021

WELCOME/ On this holiest of nights, a warm welcome to our online Watchnight service.
You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE to go across to our YouTube channel....

Our next service of worship is on Sunday 26th, so join us online or, if you can, socially distanced in the church building.

In the meantime, may I wish you all a blessed and very happy and merry Christmas and Christmastide. May you know the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love of God, this night and always.
God bless

Nikki

Worship Sun 19 Dec - Advent 4: 'love'

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

CHURCH NOTICES/
There are quite a few...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas newsletter 2021

Our Christmas newsletter is out...

front page...

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back page

Worship Sun 12 Dec, Advent 3: 'Joy'

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

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

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

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

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

Worship Sun 5 Dec - Advent 2 'Peace'

WELCOME/ It's the second week of the season of Advent, and following the traditional Advent themes, our time of worship will reflect on the theme of 'peace' - this, as we hear from Malachi and then from Luke and Zechariah's song.

Just a couple of notices before I put up the worship link, which are:
Volunteers wanted: if you are someone who attends worship at the church building, as well as online, this is a wee request for volunteers to help with post-service morning tea occasionally. We've recently had some folk needing to step down from this particular duty, and we're now a little thin, so if you can offer help, please get in touch with Janice Reed, who's taken on the role of coordinating the coffee rota, or you can contact me. We'd be delighted to hear from you!

'Tidings of comfort and joy' - 2pm Sat 11 Dec: a short service in the building at Abington particularly aimed at those who find this time of year a struggle due to loss and bereavement. All are welcome to attend and, if you know of anyone who you think might benefit from coming along, do let them know. After the service, there'll be time for a cuppa and chat through in the hall.

Parish Christmas newsletter: if you're on the mailing list, you should now have received the latest newsletter. If for any reason you haven't, do let Dee or Nikki know. A copy will go up on the blogsite in due course (apologies, I'd hoped to attend to it this week, but it's been one of those weeks!!).

The Guild meets at 2pm on Wed 8th in the church. Our guest will be Susan Crosby who will be guiding us through some Christmas crafts using ribbon weaving.

Kirk Session meets on Thursday 9th, this week via zoom, at 7pm

These are all the notices. You can find the WORSHIP LINK HERE

As we move closer to Christmas, may this week be an oasis of peace in amidst the preparations and rush all around us.

God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 28 Nov' 21- Advent 1

WEATHER UPDATE AS AT 9AM SUN -
Dear all, for those of you who were thinking of coming to the parish church for worship this morning - due to the snow, and in consultation with some of the elders, we've had to cancel meeting in the building: we want you to stay at home and safe, not attempt the uncleared road to church. Take care, keep warm, and stay safe! And enjoy the online service instead...
Nikki

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WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our online worship time. I don't know about you, but it only feels as if it was five minutes ago when Advent rolled around the last time, yet here we are once more. We stand at the beginning of a new church year as we mark the first Sunday of the season of Advent. As we do, we enter into the waiting time, a time of preparation and of getting ready as we prepare our hearts and homes to welcome God's promise fulfilled, in the birth of the child in the manger. Traditionally, the first Sunday of Advent follows the theme of 'hope', which is what our time of worship will be focusing on.
Before we move into worship, there are some notices...
CHURCH NOTICES/
Evening worship: will be held at Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm this evening. We'll be reflecting on the life of St Margaret of Scotland and what her life might teach us about walking in Jesus' way.
Volunteers wanted: a notice from Janice Reed, who's taken on looking after the morning tea rota.
A couple of people have had to step back from being on the rota, and it leaves us a little thin on the ground. If you are able to help every now and then, please do get in touch with either Janice or myself -
you can make use of the 'contact us' facility on the right hand side of the blogsite or leave a comment on this post.
Communion Service 5 Dec: Our quarterly service of communion will be held this coming Sunday for those able to attend. All are welcome. And, an apology: for those of you who can't attend in person, I haven't yet thought of an adequate way of doing this online... I'm sorry that we can't offer this as yet.
Christmas newsletter: the Christmas newsletter is just out. An online version will go up some time this week. If you're on the mailing list, one should be winging its way to you via the post later in the week.
Looking further ahead -
Sat 11 Dec. 2pm 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy': our annual service for all who wish to take time to remember loved ones. A quiet space in the busyness of the season. This will be held in the parish church in Abington. All welcome. 

Our WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

As you enter into Advent,
may God's hope be a light to guide you,
may God's peace calm your fears,
may God's love fill your heart,
and God's joy wrap around you, and those you love.

Blessings on you
Nikki

Crawford Community Cycling event: 20th Nov

Hi folks,Just a wee heads up on a free cycling event happening in Crawford, Sat 20th Nov.,
which Angela, our Community Outreach Worker, has asked me to flag up.
Details on the poster below...

Worship Sun 14 Nov: A service of Remembrance

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to Upper Clyde online worship where, this week, as with many around the country, we hold a service of Remembrance...
Outwith this online service, around the parish acts of Remembrance will occur at:
10.30am within our time of worship at the parish church in Abington;
11am at Wanlockhead Memorial;
12pm at Leadhills Memorial;
1pm at Crawford Memorial.

The online WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES....
Minister on annual leave:
As of Mon 15 Nov. up to and including Tues 23 Nov. the minister will be using up some annual leave. 

Urgent pastoral cover will be provided by the Rev. Paul Grant of Law Parish, who is currently the Interim Moderator for our neighbors in Douglas Valley. His phone number is: 01698 373 180.
For any general enquiries please contact Dr Dee Yates, our Session Clerk on 01864 504093.

Worship in the parish church at 10.30am will be conducted by the Rev. Bill Buchan
For online worship you might like to explore the following services:
            Biggar Parish Church - LINK
            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK          
            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

I hope that you find this Remembrance Sunday service helpful, and, as you go through
this week, may you know God's love, God's peace, and God's blessing.
Nikki

Worship, Sun 7 Nov: 'Pennies from heaven'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our worship portal, where along with the leaves falling and the nights deepening, we've also had a rare sighting of the 'merry dancers' - aka the Northern Lights.
This week, our worship weaves around themes of gifts and giving, and broken systems and structures, and features a thankful psalmist, some unhappy scribes, and a widow making her offering at the temple. But before we jump across to worship, a couple of notices...
NOTICES/
Remembrance Sunday services - 
10.30am in the parish church at Abington in our time of worship
12pm Act of Remembrance by the Leadhills Village Memorial 
1pm Act of Remembrance by the Crawford Village Memorial...
along with these, a service online for those unable to venture out.
Parish newsletter -
A reminder that the deadline for items to be submitted for our Christmas edition is 12pm, Sun 14th.
Thanks for items already sent in.

OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Have a blessed week
Nikki

A prayer for times such as these...

In a week where climate change and political corruption seem to dominate, and, in my own preparations for Sunday worship and reflecting on a widow's mites, a prayer...

I would praise you

but in times like these, 

praise is hard.

I would praise you

but all around, politicians lie, cronyism is rife,

and those in power care little for the least of these.

I would praise you

but worldwide, oil spills kill,

ice caps melt, temperatures rise,

and apathy and greed are killing our planet.

I would praise you

but everywhere, COVID creates fear,

the poor are still poor,

and refugees flee their homes,

looking for safe harbours to take them in.

I would praise you

for in times so hard,

 praise is all I have.

I would praise you for all around, leaders fail and fall

and only you are faithful, and reign forever.

I would praise you

for worldwide, even marred,

 creation bears your imprint

and your sheer will holds and heals it still.

I would praise you

for everywhere you watch over widows,

 strangers, orphans

and feed the hungry,

and lift the ones bowed down. 

I would praise you

because in times so hard,

times like these,

praise is both call to faith and call to action.

I would praise you

because all around mortal plans crumble into dust

and your promise lasts for all generations.

I would praise you

because worldwide, you sustain all that is

and lives, and moves, and has its being.

I would praise you

because everywhere, you champion the oppressed

and bring the light of hope into the darkest places.

I would praise you

even when, at times, the offering of praise is made

through gritted teeth.

I would praise you. 

       Nik Macdonald 2021

Worship Sun 31 Oct - 'Are we nearly there yet?'

WELCOME/

Good morning everyone, 

and welcome to worship. 

It’s good to gather once again, and praise the God 

who calls us here, and, 

who calls us to love.

A couple of notices –

thanks:
the first being a note of thanks to everyone who was able to help out in some way with our harvest thanksgiving service in the parish church – from decorators, to foodbank donators, to sandwich and baking making - for hungry climate change pilgrims, what a great effort – truly, well done, everyone.

Don’t forget, our Christmas newsletter is in process, and, if there’s an item that you’d like to submit, please do get in touch with Dee, our editor, or myself – and the deadline is after worship on Sunday the 14th of November – Remembrance Sunday. 

On the matter of Remembrance Sunday – 

which falls on the 14th of November this year –

the times of services are:

the usual here in the church at 10.30

then, 12pm at the memorial in Leadhills,

and then at 1pm at the memorial in Crawford.

These are all our notices.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.
I hope you find this time of worship helpful, hopeful, and an encouragement.
May you know God's love wrapped close roundabout you this week,
God bless

Nikki

Worship Sun 24 Oct - Harvest Thanksgiving Service

Harvest pulpit poster

WELCOME/ 
Come ye thankful people come!
It's our Harvest Thanksgiving service today at UCPC, where we give thanks and celebrate the Lord of the harvest. We also finish our brief time with Job today and reflect on the harvest of his faithfulness.

A couple of notices:
Evening worship will be held tonight at Leadhills Village Hall at 5pm, and it will be a wee time of praise led by musician Peter Crockett.
Wordworks writing group meets on Thursday at the Colebrooke Arms in Crawfordjohn at 7pm. All are welcome to come along - share a piece of your own work, or bring a favourite  piece of prose or poetry to share.
Our Christmas newsletter is in process and if you'd like to contribute an item, please do get it into Dee by the end of worship Sun 14 Nov. at the latest, for inclusion. And thanks to those who've already sent in items.

THE WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Worship Sun 17 Oct: 'Unexpected answers'

Hello and welcome to worship where we gather once more as God’s people to offer our praise and
thanks, and sing to God’s glory.

We’re moving further into the Book of Job in our time of worship, but before we do,some church notices.
Harvest Festival: First, next week will be Harvest-themed both online and in the church building.
For those of you who wish to help decorate the building for our Harvest service, please do come along on Saturday afternoon between 1.30-3.30 to make our pretty church building even prettier.

Communion: And on the Sunday morning along with celebrating the harvest,
we’ll also be celebrating communion in a new, more covid-compliant way.
The foodbank box will be available for those wishing to donate foodstuffs.

COP26 Pilgrimage: Along with that, walking through the parish that day will be a group of pilgrims, making the journey from London to Glasgow to meet up for COP26. Along the way, many many parishes have offered hospitality and support in different ways – and I can now confirm what we can do to help:
if possible, we’ve been requested to provide a very simple packed lunch –
a sandwich, maybe a piece of home baking, and a piece of fruit...
So I’m wondering if, on Sunday after the service, I could have a small team of volunteers to make 32 sandwiches. I’ll bring what we need for the sarnies and we can get set up with three different fillings to be made up in three different parts of the hall.
And in the meantime, those of you who bake, we’re after 32 bits of baking – it needs to be vegan if at all possible... so flapjacks I suspect. Please let me know if you’re willing to help make these, and if I could have them for the Sunday, or handed in to me on Saturday.
I’m hoping we have enough fruit from our harvest display that we can use.
Thanks in advance for you kindness!

Meantime, you can find the WORSHIP LINK HERE
Have a good week, and God bless
Nikki

Worship Sun 10 Oct: 'If I'm good, do I get a sticker?'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome once again to our time of worship online.
We'll be delving into the Book of Job today, and for the next couple of weeks. What does Job have to teach us about how we view God - in all of life's circumstances?

Some church notices:
Thanks to Ursula B and Heather W for conducting worship in the church building last Sunday, so I could get away for a week's break - much appreciated!

Guild/ This week, on Wednesday at 2pm the Guild will be meeting in the church, and our speaker will be the Rev. Tim Tunley from the Mission to Seafarers. All are welcome.

Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sun 24 Oct and, at that service, we'll also be celebrating Communion - our first time since being back from lockdown, and in a new and covid-compliant way.
Also joining us will be some of the Christian Climate pilgrims who are walking from London to Glasgow for COP26. For those of you who are bakers in the parish, I'll be calling on your talents - if we can provide some home baking for each of our pilgrims to take with them as they head off on the next leg of the journey, that would be fab, and thanks in advance!
Those who would like to help with decorating the building for our Harvest service can drop in on Sat 23rd between 1.30-3.30pm. This year, we will be keeping things simple, as due to covid restrictions, distributing items from displays in our usual way will be very limited. 
A box will be available for items to donate to the foodbank.

The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE for today's service.
May you know God's presence with you through this week,

God bless,
Nikki
 

Church news 27 Sept - 6 Oct '21

MINISTER ON LEAVE:

As of Mon 27 Sept. up to and including Tues 5 Oct. the minister will be using up some annual leave.

To catch up with Sun 26 worship, go to 'featured post' on the r-hand column and click to take you there. Or, just scroll further down this page to the previous post.

Urgent pastoral cover will be provided by the Rev. Paul Grant of Law Parish, who is currently the Interim Moderator for our neighbors in Douglas Valley. His phone number is:
For any general enquiries please contact Dr Dee Yates, our Session Clerk on

Worship in the parish church at 10.30am will be conducted by Ms Heather Watt and Mrs Ursula Baillie.
For online worship you might like to explore the following services:
            Biggar Parish Church - LINK
            Dunfermline Abbey - LINK            
            Kirkton Parish Church - LINK          
            Parishes of Upper Tweed - LINK 

Other church notices:
24 Oct. 10.30am - Harvest Festival Service : this year, we're pushing the date back ever so slightly, to tie in with the COP26 Conference, and the pilgrims who are walking from London to Glasgow. On this weekend, they will be passing through our parish and we're hoping to welcome some of them to our service and hear from one of their representatives just what they're doing and why.
The usual arrangements for decorating the windows/ church will be in operation, with the doors open on Sat morning from 9.30 - 12pm [or earlier if finished]. If you have any donations for the foodbank, you can drop them in on the Saturday to feature in the display or bring them with you to the service and put them in the foodbank box in the vestibule as you come in.
Communion will be observed during this service as we reintroduce it once more, in a Covid compliant way.

South Lanarkshire Winter Clothing Campaign, 2021:
The council has launched its annual winter clothing campaign for 2021.

And, this year, for the first time, donations of sportswear are also welcome,
alongside new, or nearly new, winter jackets.

All items collected will be laundered and given to early years, primary and secondary aged children and young people who need them.

The campaign will run until Friday 1 October, during which time donations will be accepted at the following supermarkets closest to us:

· Tesco, Lanark

· Tesco, Lesmahagow

Councillor Katy Loudon, Chair of Education Resources, said: “This exciting project, which promotes sustainability in the recycling of winter jackets and sportswear, comes at an exciting time, as we prepare to welcome delegates from around the world to Glasgow for the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

“Last year we recycled more than 1000 jackets and donated them to children and young people who needed them across South Lanarkshire. This year we are hoping to achieve similar, if not better, success. We hope as many people as possible will support us and donate whatever they can over the next two weeks.”

Heart for Art Exhibition and Event:

Worship Sun 26 Sept: 'Only Connect'

WELCOME/
Welcome to our time of worship online - whether you're new here or an old friend. It's great that we can use technology and praise our God.

This week, we come to the end of the Letter of James, and, in what's been a very practical and hand's on exercise in how to live as followers of Jesus, James finishes his letter by turning to the matter of prayer - not that it's a last resort, but that it underpins all that we say and do as Christians.
You'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE and once again, the format is one full clip, rather than a lot of smaller clips

Just to note that I'll be using up some annual leave this week, and will be back at work on Wed 6 Oct.
Urgent pastoral cover is being provided by the Rev. Paul Grant of Law Parish Church - he's currently the Interim Moderator for our neighbours, Tinto Parishes. His phone number is: 01698 373180
For any other general ongoing matters, please contact our Session Clerk, Dr Dee Yates on 01864 504093.
As to worship, I'll either update this post with links for services for Sun 3 Oct. or put up a new post. Meanwhile, in the parish church, worship will be conducted by Ms Heather Watt and Mrs Ursula Baillie.

I'll catch up with you all once leave is over, in the meantime, take care and God bless,
Nikki

Worship Sun 19 Sept' - 'Keeping up appearances'

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

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

Worship Sun 12 Sept: 'Sticks and stones'

WELCOME/ 
Hello friends, welcome to our online time of worship.... normally the service is available from Sun 10.30, but due to an uploading glitch, I'm afraid I'm running behind. Hope to have this sorted by this evening, so please do bear with me, and do try later on... my apologies!

And, here it is - WORSHIP LINK will take you across and the service has been compressed into the one longer video, as we've been doing the last couple of weeks. 
May you know God's presence walking alongside you this week, 
God bless
Nikki

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

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

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

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

Until next time, God bless, 
Nikki

Worship Sun29 Aug - pulpit swap

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

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

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

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

Minister's day off this week: Monday.

Worship Sun 22: 'The God who speaks'

 

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

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

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

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

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

Worship Sun 15 Aug 'Songs of praise' service

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

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

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

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

God bless
Nikki 

Worship Sun 8 Aug: Ps 40 'The God who hears'

WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to our online time of worship. Over the next several weeks, we'll be spending time in the Book of Psalms - God's songbook - reflecting, in part, that for worship in person, we're now allowed to sing once more. This week, we look at life through the lens of the writer of Psalm 40, and, as we do, we discover the God who hears us...
NOTICES/
Several notices this week, which are covered in more detail in our online welcome across on youtube.
The first is just to note that there will be a one-off meeting of the Kirk Session to approve adjustments to our Covid forms, required by presbytery. We're hoping to get these sent off by Sunday evening.
Briefly, they reflect the changes to regulations regarding Covid - we're now below level 0.
So, congregational singing will be mentioned, changes relating to social distancing, the use of our hall for meetings, and preparing to reintroduce morning tea after worship. This all needs the tick of approval from presbytery before we can proceed.
Second: Don't forget, this coming Sunday - the 15th - is our Songs of Praise service, with hymns chosen by both online and in person worshippers. For those of you online, our service will look and sound a little different, as there'll be a lot more music!  
Last: A wee reminder about our upcoming car boot sale on Saturday the 21st of August. Come and join us for a celebration of decluttering, and finding new treasures. If you're looking to see, a pitch is £10 - just use the 'contact us' form on the r-h side of our blog and we'll make sure it gets to the right person. We're also looking for helpers... if you're able to help with baking or looking after the refreshment stall, stewarding, and such, do let us know via Janet Telfer 01864 504265.

OUR WORSHIP LINK IS HERE

Blessings on you for this coming week, 
Nikki