Dear Friends
I find the making of lists is something hard to avoid especially at this time of year.
Food / services / cards / gifts…
Occasionally I spot a present for a family member in the summer but then you have the challenge of trying to remember where you put the box in order to wrap it and get in with the rest of the presents. I’ve been known to find a strange box under the bed months after Christmas and realised in horror what it was!
I wonder what was on God’s to do list for the first Christmas?!
-making an announcement well ahead of time! (prophets)
-suitable parents!
-the right setting for the birth!
-a special choir of angels to announce the news? Yes, tick. But to a ragtag group of shepherds!!?
The joy of Christmas is that God comes to us in the mystery and wonder of the ordinary circumstances of life. God can be at work even when things don’t seem best prepared or work out as we had planned.
Some of us would say to that ‘thank God!
Calling all Presbytery Youth Leaders -New network forming!
On January 11th 2025, the Lothian and Borders Presbytery will be hosting an informal conference for everyone in the Presbytery who is involved in working with children or young people. At this conference there will be worship, two sessions of training provided by Reign Ministries, and plenty of opportunities to meet with other people in the local area who serve in the same field. We're hoping it will be a great time to learn from one another and walk away feeling energised and ready to continue our mission.
The conference will be held at Gorebridge Parish Church, EH23 4TT, on January 11th with doors opening at 10.30 for an 11.00 start. It will finish around 1500.
Contact Andrew Duncan andrew@standrewblackadder.org.uk or
Joel Nicholas joel@gorepc.com
Christmas Lebanon Appeal
Despite the sudden change of regime in Syria the people of Lebanon continue to be caught up between warring factions. The future remains uncertain for Lebanon. Presbytery council has asked if at one of your Christmas services you might consider taking up a collection for the work done by NESSL in Lebanon.
The Church of Scotland has long term mission partners in Lebanon who are trying to do what they can to bring relief and refuge at this critical time.
Contact the Mission Officer or Fiona Burnett for bank details.
Thanks to those churches who have already responded.
See attached a recent letter from the Moderator to NESSL
The Presbytery Website now live.
https://lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/
Caroline CKirk@churchofscotland.org is our webmaster
Congratulations from everyone in Presbytery to Professor Murray Campbell, our Convener of the Presbytery Council who was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Carlops Church and to the local community in Tweeddale and Edinburgh.
Here he is in the picture (left) receiving the medal at a ceremony recently from the Lord Lieutenant Catherine Maxwell-Stuart.
Duns & District are looking for a projector screen! Do you have one spare?
“We are looking for a very large standalone projector screen, at least 7 feet wide & just as high to show slides on to replace one which has gone missing.
Somebody might have one tucked away at the back of a cupboard. I know it’s no important in the greater scheme of things but it is to those who used it.”
Jedburgh & Oxnam Parish ask us to give thanks for the recent Christmas Tree festival which raised £450 for the church and the same amount was given to local charities.
Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Week beginning December 22nd
Penicuik North Kirk
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Pray for the Youth Alpha starting.
May you know joy in your Christmas celebrations and I do hope that you manage some quiet down time after Christmas has passed.
Peter
Other news…
Children’s and Families Worker –St David’s Carrick Knowe Parish Church
Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian
Part Time 28.12 hours per week (0.75FTE with flexibility available to increase or decrease hrs)
Salary £21,611 to £24,431 per annum
Ref: M23/24
“Could you be part of something different? We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their gifts, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of the people in our parishes and communities.
In the new Union of St David’s Carrick Knowe the congregation is very aware of the need to re-establish Children’s and Youth work and are looking for someone to take the lead with this.”
For a full job description and details on how to apply, please click here.
Closing date: Monday, 20th January 2025 at 12 noon.
Scottish Church Theology Society
New Year’s Conference in Perth -January 6-9th
‘Looking back to look forward: The role of history in theology and ministry’
Attached!
Bridge Pastoral Foundation
Residential Event 2025 to be held in St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth PH2 7BP from Monday 24th – Thursday 27th March 2025.
Brochure & booking form attached.
Attached
Rev. Peter J. Wood
Mission Officer for Lothian & Borders Presbytery
Professor Murry Campbell BEM
