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
It’s always interesting when you go away on holiday to see other churches and notice what strikes you about them -what they might be doing or not doing! As my wife and I were cycling we saw and visited a variety of parish churches and I noted: church doors wide open in a very welcoming fashion; a church minibus collecting older folks and bringing them to church; happy photos of recent church weddings which communicated that the church loved weddings. There was also in one town a church noticeboard which looked ancient and was in a terrible state. So much so that I was surprised to find that a local congregation did actually still meet in the building behind it! What, I wonder, have you noticed on your summer travels?! What inspired you? What reminded you of what you have been needing to attend to?!
Summer reading
Summer can provide us with a little more space and time to think strategically, to reflect and to read. It would be great to hear of any books or novels that you would recommend for those involved in leadership in the church at this time. Let me kick things off by mentioning a couple -a classic devotional and a contemporary practical book:
‘A testament of devotion’ by Thomas R. Kelly
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/97698001
& ‘Listen: How to find words for tender conversations’ by Kathryn Mannix.
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/listen-book-kathryn-mannix-9780008435431#9870456520977
Presbytery Seminars
Please find attached notes and slides that were shown by Professor Jean Ngoya Kidula on Pentecost and Praise & by the Rev. Ian Alexander on the situation in the Middle East.
See attached
Presbytery Decisions taken under powers
| 17/06/2026 | Presbytery Clerk | Permission granted to Eddleston l/w Peebles:Old l/w Stobo and Drumelzier to hold joint worship on Sundays 28th June, 19th July and 30th August 2026 |
| 26/06/2026 | Property Committee | Grant permission to the congregation of Dunglass to carry out urgent rewiring identified in an EICR report at Cockburspath Church for £23,100 and to draw down the same amount from its capital holding in the Consoldated Fabric Fund |
| 26/06/2026 | Property Committee | grant permission to the congregation of Traprain to replace exisiting seating in the Prestonkirk santuary with stackable lighter weight chairs for £51,358 and to draw down the same amount from its capital holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund |
| 24/06/2026 | Presbytery Council | Approve a five year Basis of Reviewable Charge for North Berwick St Andrew Blackadder |
| 24/06/2024 | Presbytery Council | Approve a five year Basis of Reviewable Charge for Hawick South |
| 24/06/2024 | Presbytery Council | Approve a five year Basis of Reviewable Charge for Cheviot Churches linked with Kelso Old and Sprouston |
| 30/06/2026 | Property Committee | grant permission to the congregation of Haddington to draw down £2,485.25 from its capital holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund for fabric expenses at the Church |
| 30/06/2026 | Property Committee | grant permission to the congregation of Haddington to draw down £2,613 from its capital holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund in relation to pre-sale marketing costs for the Manse of the former Haddington West Parish Church. |
| 01/07/2026 | Presbytery Clerk | grant permission to the congregation of Hawick:Wilton linked with Teviothead to hold a joint service in Teviothead on Sunday 2nd August 2026 and not to hold a service on Sunday 30th August 2026 in order to join the united worship in Volunteer Park |
| 03/0702026 | Property Committee | grant permission to the congregation of Ale and Teviot United Churches to sell Crailing Kirk, Crailing, TD8 6TL |
Blindwells Update
It was reported verbally at the Presbytery meeting that the Presbytery has had a successful application to the Seeds for Growth fund. This is the main source of funding in the church for new and renewing mission work. We are now preparing an advert and pack in the hope of appointing a full-time mission worker. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in the post or in the project do please get in touch with the Mission Officer.
Seeds for Growth Funding is available to local churches and can help where there is a new mission opportunity or the upscaling of existing successful mission outreach. It can also fund research into new potential areas of work. Mark Nicholas & Peter Wood would be happy to discuss further if you have queries.
Public life and public issues barometer survey
The Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group is inviting views on political issues, and on the role of the Church of Scotland in public life today.
If you hold a leadership, communication or outreach role in a congregation or presbytery, you are warmly invited to complete this short survey:
https://forms.office.com/e/SbPQFa23jB
The survey will remain open until 19 July 2026.
Venezuela Earthquake DEC Appeal
On Wednesday, June 24, two catastrophic earthquakes hit Venezuela within seconds of each other. The UN estimates that millions of people have been affected, with more than two million in the worst impacted areas. Families have lost loved ones, homes and the sense of safety and security they once knew.
Rescuers are searching for survivors, but the scale of loss is already significant and the people of Venezuela urgently need help. Together with the 14 other charities that make up the DEC, Christian Aid has launched a UK-wide appeal to meet the escalating needs of people affected by the earthquakes.
Val Brown, the Head of Christian Aid in Scotland and spokesperson for the DEC Scotland Appeal said: “This is an unimaginably difficult time for the people of Venezuela affected by this disaster - from the terror and chaos of the earthquakes to the ongoing anguish of missing or injured loved ones. People are coming to terms with the fact that their whole lives have changed in seconds. Many have lost their homes and belongings, whole neighbourhoods have been destroyed with buildings reduced to rubble. The scale of the destruction is catastrophic.
Please keep the people of Venezuela, and all those responding to this crisis, in your prayers.
You can donate to the DEC Venezuela appeal via Christian Aid: https://caid.org.uk/HelpVenezuela
- £10 could provide essential hygiene supplies to a family to prevent illness
- £50 could help provide emergency food support to two families for a week
- £100 could provide shelter kits for six families whose homes have been destroyed
The UK Government will match donations to the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal pound-for-pound up to £2 million, through its UK Aid Match scheme.
See further slides attached
Iwa collaborative
This is a course that prepares church leaders to lead their church communities through change and towards becoming more outward-focused and missional. A new Church of Scotland cohort is starting soon.
Iwa? Why? Leaders and organisations hold two things together: a birdʻs eye view of their mission and ground-level rootedness in real relationships with people and a place.
The ʻiwa (pronounced ee-vah) bird flies so high for perspective that it can soar for weeks.
When it comes to eating and nesting, the ʻiwa bird joins other birds and animals low to the ground.
“Over 6 months and 70 hours of transformative coaching, tools, training and content,
equipping you, your leaders and your church for the mission God has for them.”
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RF4dSiOm6W8_SbhzOpCYQLpMlhiOnu9k/view
July 9th St.Boswells Strawberry Tea
“We would be delighted to have you join with us in St.Boswells on the afternoon of Saturday July 9th
See info. attached.
Evangelical Alliance > Invitation to Ministers
We are writing to invite you to a special gathering in partnership with the Evangelical Alliance for those in ordained ministry within the Church of Scotland. This will take place on Wednesday 23 September at Letham St Marks Church in Perth. We are delighted that the Moderator of the General Assembly, Gordon Kennedy, will be with us and will share from God’s word during our gathering.
The purpose of the gathering is for mutual encouragement, fellowship, prayer and worship. We will also take some time to reflect together on how the Evangelical Alliance might be able to serve those in ministry within the Church of Scotland in the coming years.
Arrival and coffee will be from 9:30am, with the programme running from 10am until 2pm, which includes lunch. For catering purposes, please sign in via this link, letting us know of any allergies or dietary requirements before the 18th September.
Resources for Rural Mission & Ministry from the Methodist Church
Some useful resources here…
https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/evangelism-growth/rural-mission-ministry/
Finally in the Presbytery Prayer Calendar
We continue this week to pray for our friends at Cavers & Kirkton & then on the
Week beginning Sunday 12th July for Channelkirk & Lauder
We remember the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
“We give thanks for all involved in the mission and witness of our Church in our parish at present , and ask humbly for Your guidance in our future.”
I pray that you have space and time this week to receive all the good gifts that God has for you.
Love and prayers
Peter
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
Website: www.lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/
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