This week’s, and previous weeks’ news, can be found on the front page of the Presbytery website
https://lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/home/news-events/
Dear Friends
We were recently given a wee chilli plant as a gift. It’s sitting on the window ledge in our kitchen. It looks healthy but there’s not much happening. It’s not growing. It’s not producing fruit.
A week last Saturday at Presbytery the Revd. Sue Cook, Director of LYCiG (Leading Your Church into Growth) used a phrase which I thought was helpful. She said, ‘healthy things grow’ I like this because I’ve heard people nervous of the word ‘growth’ pitching it against words such as ‘healthy’ or ‘flourishing.’ Sue however went on to explain that LYCiG see growth as having three components
-spiritual growth -people in church becoming more like Jesus.
-missional growth -more people in church taking Jesus mission to the world, as well as
-numerical growth -new people coming to Jesus.
LYCiG emphasises the local, looking for ‘the one’ and practically doing what you can!
Whatever season of your life you are in, wherever you are or however hard the soil that you are working God is still active because he is a God of love. God continues to call people to himself and to live ever more like his son. If your church would like to be part of a two day LYCiG conference please let me know.
Final Summer(!?) Reading
John Mark Comer, ‘The Ruthless elimination of hurry. How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.’
See also recent publications by local CoS ministers Robert Calvert & Douglas Nicol on Mission topics in Scotland. See attached
Welcome and engaging visitors… 10 observations
Please find attached some ideas and resources that I spotted and compiled when visiting Northumberland which invite engagement from visitors and enquirers to your church. There were several points also which invited financial giving via a QR code.
Harvest
Surely, it’s not just about collecting tins…?! + Don’t let fruit drop and go to waste…
Longniddry Fruit Festival Oct 3rd at Longniddry Parish Church
The first Community Glut Hub happened just last week
Contact Robin Hill for more info…RHill@churchofscotland.org.uk
Harvest Prayer Ideas (from LYCiG)
1.Prayer using spring bulbs
Provide small flowerpots (compostable or reusable are best), bulbs and compost.
Ask each person to plant a bulb and as they do think of one person they would like to pray for to start
coming to church. Pray for them in the service and then ask people to take them home and keep
praying for that person. Don’t forget to remind them to pray in the coming weeks/months. This is
also a good activity to use as a community if you want to pray for growth for your children’s/youth
ministry.
2· Prayer using seeds
If you don’t want to get messy hand out individual seeds or small packets of seeds. Use these as a
visual aid as you pray for growth together as a church. People can then take them home to plant or
perhaps you can put them in a jar which could be used as a visual reminder of seeds you are sowing.
Request for Locums
At Channelkirk and Lauder Church
The welcoming congregation of Channelkirk and Lauder Church are seeking a Locum who would be willing to serve for the next six months or so until the end of February 2027. This would include two days a week pastoral cover and looking after the services on a Sunday: 10.00 am at Channelkirk and then 11.30 am at Lauder. For further information, please contact Revd. Lorna Souter, Interim Moderator (lsouter@churchofscotland.org.uk; 07889 566418).
At Hawick South…
This friendly congregation are on a journey. Could you come alongside for a period?
It’s Sundays and two days a week pastoral cover. If you are interested please speak with Sheila Moir the Interim Moderator SMoir@churchofscotland.org.uk
The Singing Bible
I came across this extraordinary resource! Have a listen: https://thesinging.bible/home
I particularly enjoyed Revelation as Heavy Rock & check out Song of Solomon as Soothing/Lullaby
Very varied musical styles in English.
Presbytery Social Media
With a small team now involved, our Presbytery is becoming more active on social media. It would be a great support if you followed https://www.facebook.com/preslothianborders/ and https://www.instagram.com/pres_lothian_borders/ from your church and personal accounts and invited others to do the same. Please do like, share and repost whenever you see Presbytery posts that are helpful. Social media algorithms measure engagement, so if posts receive ‘likes’ then they’ll be shown to a wider audience and in a very simple way our news spreads much further. A quick click to ‘like’ something indicates that it’s going to be worth showing to other people.
Good News Videos – Fraser Edwards is trying to put together a simple weekly short video post to share a wee bit of good news from a different congregation each week. If you have some good news and can make a simple video on our phone then please get in touch for more details FEdwards@churchofscotland.org.uk
For a recent example see Melrose and Bowden https://www.facebook.com/reel/2135099451225056
St. Kentigern Way Pilgrimage Walk Sept 19th
Contact FEdwards@churchofscotland.org.uk
‘Flourishing’ A Day Women’s Conference at Gorebridge on Saturday Sept 26th
To book email: flourishingconf26@gmail.com or text 07969 269795
A Reflective Morning 3rd October
Following last Advent’s event, Lammermuir Church are offering another Reflective Morning on Saturday, 3rd October, 9.30am-12.30pm, in Humbie Kirk and Stables.
Contact anikosb@churchofscotland.org.uk.
A Scam to watch out for…
The Church has been made aware of fake websites promoting a Church of Scotland fundraising lottery – both at a national level and also purporting to be individual churches.
These websites look very professional but are nothing to do with the Church and staff at the National Office have reported them to the appropriate authorities as a matter of urgency. A key indicator is the web address being used misspells Scotland with two ‘c’s.
If any Church members have concerns about these fake websites, they can contact our Law Department via email on LAWDEPT@churchofscotland.org.uk
If you are aware of any members having given money to this scam, please ask them to contact Police Scotland. For the avoidance of doubt, the Church of Scotland does not run a fundraising lottery.
Quiet Day
North Northumberland Spirituality Network
Sacred Pages: Creative Journalling
Facilitator: Rev’d Liz Jones
Date: Saturday, 31st October 2026
Venue: Berwick Parish Church Centre, The Parade, Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1DF
See attached
New Student work in Glasgow…
“My name is Abbie Mochrie and I’ve just begun working for Sandyhills Parish Church under our minister, Norman Afrin. You may be aware from the recent general assembly that Sandyhills has been designated as a resource church. As part of this, I’ve been employed as a student and Young adult worker within Glasgow Presbytery to help disciple, grow and reach this age range. If anyone has a young person starting as a student in Glasgow we would love to meet them so we can support them and even just be a friendly face for them in a new city.
The best way to reach me is probably via WhatsApp and my number is 07804 882337.”
Finally in the Presbytery Prayer Calendar
We continue this week to pray with our friends at Dryburgh & District Churches &
next week for Dunbar Parish Church
“Please give thanks for the Little Fishes toddler/carer group which is thriving; Bubble church taking off, for Alpha starting and for us to discern God’s leading as regards work with young people.”
May you see the beauty of God all around you
May you grow in the grace of Jesus
And may you live in the light of the resurrection.
Peter
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
Website: www.lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/
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