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
Did you have anyone turning up late for church on Sunday?! As we put our clocks back one hour I am reminded of the beautiful statement by John the Baptist “He [Jesus] must become greater and I must become less…” (John 3 vs.30) It was with this declaration in mind that the early church decided to set John the Baptist’s birthday for June 24th -the time of the summer solstice when the days begin to get shorter -whereas Jesus’ birthday was set for December 25th around the time when the days get longer and the light comes back into the day.
Advent
>Presbytery Advent Reflections are currently being made ready. If you wish the daily reflection to drop into your email please drop Caroline a line before November 17th ckirk@churchofscotland.org.uk
Please note that the Mission committee will ensure that each reflection also appears each morning on the Presbytery facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552394798223
>Advent Retreat
“Sometimes we need a little time out, a bit of space to breathe, and just to be. Sometimes we wish for some time to think, and reflect and pray, and often, in our busyness, we don’t find that time. Lammermuir Church is offering an Advent morning exactly for this, spending some time with the Nativity narrative, and reflecting on what matters to us at this time. This will take place on Saturday, 29th November, from 9.30 to 12.30 o’clock, at the Humbie Stables, Humbie Kirk, and with a walk in the nearby woodland.
Refreshments will be available throughout the morning, and everyone is welcome. Please book your place by contacting Aniko at anikosb@churchofscotland.org.uk or 07936 042191 by 15th November.”
>Advent Study -‘The first Advent in Palestine’ by Kelley Nikondeha. This is the study book chosen by West Tweeddale for Advent.
Thinking about how we approach Christmas
Rachel Turner helps us think afresh about the place of our Christmas celebrations by asking four strategic questions on a helpful paper on ‘How to approach Christmas’ See attached
Christmas Ideas > Find attached a few more all age ideas for children & families See attached
Christmas Video Competition. We are inviting youth groups to make a short video that can be shown by at a café church to explain the meaning of Christmas. All youth groups from secondary school aged to early twenties are invited to submit an entry. The closing date for entries is Monday Dec 1st.
Latest video interview
On Friday a number of us had a great day with Roy Crowne talking about the changes in society that are prompting more people to consider the place of Christian faith and church. It is always wonderful to hear of folks coming to faith and professing faith publicly in church. I had heard that Eddleston church had received eleven people into membership over the past couple of years. I was intrigued and went to Eddleston to investigate! Watch the wee interview that took place.
New Members at Eddleston video https://youtu.be/H-30PHwUMEk
Stewardship Webinar: Preaching Generosity > Wednesday 5 November 2025 4pm - 5pm
Particularly relevant for ministers, deacons, readers, MDS and local worship leaders:
Weaving stewardship into the worship year ahead
Register now for the webinar: Register on Eventbrite – Preaching Generosity
National Day of Prayer November 29th
Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, is encouraging Church of Scotland congregations to join together in a special Day of Prayer on Saturday 29 November, the eve of St Andrew's Day. The Moderator said this is a good date for the Church of Scotland to gather in prayer.
"There is very little about St Andrew in the Bible," she said. "He's remembered as the disciple who brought people to Jesus - his brother Peter, the boy with the loaves and fish, the ‘inquiring Greeks'.
"This year on the eve of St Andrew's Day can I encourage you to take part in the Church of Scotland Day of Prayer 0800 to 2300 and come together to bring your prayers to Jesus.
Resources, flyers etc go to
https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/prayers/national-day-of-prayer
How can you respond?
-Get people to sign up and maintain a prayer vigil through this time
-Hold various events -inviting folks in your village or town to come & pray for that place (no experience necessary!)
-Do a prayer walk
-Hold an ecumenical gathering
-Pray for three or five people specifically
The Five-Finger Prayer
Thumb - Pray for those closest to you, closest to your heart, your family and loved ones. (Colossians 4.2)
Pointer finger -Pray for those who instruct/teach you, the people who point the way. (1 Thessalonians 5.25)
Tallest finger -Pray for those who lead and instruct us including our government and our church. 1 (Timothy 2.1-2)
Ring finger -Pray for those who are struggling or are in trouble or pain. (James 5.1)
Little finger -Pray for ourselves and our own needs (Philippians 4.6)
Greenbelt 2025
Reflections from Revd. Aniko Schwetz-Bradwell, Lammermuir Parish
‘In late August, we went to Greenbelt as a family, held at Boughton House near Kettering in Northamptonshire. It was glorious. Not only the sunshine and warmth (which definitely helped with the camping), but the joy of seeing friends and sharing something truly precious with them, meeting people not seen in a long time, and being part of something bigger, creative, calling (or perhaps singing and dancing) out for justice in God’s wonderful world.
There was so much on offer over the long weekend that everyone was invited to join in with, from craft workshops, music sessions, yoga and even a Saturday morning run, to the many talks and panel discussions on various topics, most in person and some with speakers joining in remotely, like Daoud Nassar from the Tent of Nations in Bethlehem, to the concerts and performances (of comedy, theatre, acrobatics and so on: a mini fringe, almost) during the day and evening. We were particularly impressed with the large number of children’s and family activities on offer, with shows, crafts and games all day. We enjoyed how inclusive the festival is, open to everyone, with people of truly all ages joining in, and participation enabled eg through many (volunteer) sign language interpreters. There were different kinds of services and worship times, from quiet Ignatian reflections, Quaker worship and Taizé, to Forest Church and Pilgrim Cross Catholic Mass (including dancing!) and Wild Goose songs. It was sheer impossible to join in with everything in which we were interested, and there was certainly something for every taste.
What united the various sessions and worship expressions was our faith as underlying foundation and motivation for everything, and a longing for peace and for justice throughout the world, under this year’s banner of ‘Hope in the making’…
See attached for the complete article with pictures
The Vivid Vision resource
Tommy McNeil writes, “This resource was created by FAPLT to engage hearts and spark conversation—helping individuals and congregations reflect on this question: “What does it mean for us to be the Church, the people of God, in the places He has called us?”
It’s not the answer to all our challenges, but an invitation to dream together about what our church and nation could begin to look like by 2027 as God works through us in our communities.
If you haven’t yet explored the materials with your Kirk Session or congregation, may I encourage you to plan to do so early in 2026. An encouraging way to start the New Year.”
Books & Belief Festival at New College on Nov 7-8th
https://divinity.ed.ac.uk/new-college-festival
New College Pioneer course > January 2026
For whom is your heart broken? How do we find new ways to enable God’s love to reach folks not in church? https://divinity.ed.ac.uk/news-events/short-courses-for-church-people
Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Week beginning November 2nd Hawick: Wilton linked with Teviothead
We remember this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Pray for the fellowship as it looks at a new way of being together; for ministry in the school, in the sheltered housing and the future shape of worship in the valley.
Finally, I, like many of you, received the news of the forthcoming departure of our friend and Presbytery Clerk, Norman as a bit of a shock. He has done such a great job of getting our new Presbytery together and moving forward. We will miss him hugely but congratulate him warmly on his appointment as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the national church. Pray for Norman and for us all as we look to God’s guiding for the adventure that lies ahead!
Love & prayers
Peter
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
