PRESBYTERY OF LOTHIAN AND BORDERS UPDATE
21st JULY 2026
Dear Friends,
I feel fortunate that my initial travels around the Presbytery have been in the summer. Driving to meet people for the first time, the life and beauty of the countryside seems to proclaim God’s creating and re-creating power.
As taking photos while driving isn’t advised, the picture above is from nearer home! Looking out to the Bass Rock on a Sunday afternoon in high summer evokes many allusions of the work of God in the world – the returning gannets and their young, the lighthouse speaking of the light of Christ in the darkness as well as God-given ingenuity and bravery of its builders, and the witness of St Baldred the 8th Century saint who made the Rock his home. This prayer from the Northumbrian Community, inspired by St Baldred, reflects on the power of God around us and within us:
Almighty God, help me to remember that with You all things are possible. You may not desire me to ask You to move a literal rock, but You do want me to pray that You will move the barriers to the advance of Your purpose in my own life and in the life of the world. Teach me to be faithful in prayer; through my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Yesterday I saw something I didn’t think possible: a group of over 2,000 young people worshipping God together in Scotland. Peter Wood and I spent part of the day finding out about the Magnitude Festival – a five-day Christian youth festival for 11-18 year olds at Scripture Union’s site at Lendrick Muir. We enjoyed meeting people from Lothian and Borders and hearing more about the event, but what inspired us most was watching, then being part, of the 2,400 strong line of people walking to the ‘Big Top’ to worship God with such enthusiasm and joy.
As a Presbytery we give thanks of the opportunities summer brings to share the love of Christ in our communities through church buildings open to visitors, open air worship, Holiday Clubs and other events. As we support one another in prayer, we ask for God’s blessing on all our work
Yarrow Blanket Preaching (see attached poster)
Join us at 3pm on Sunday 26th July 2026 for the traditional and historic 'Blanket Preaching’ Service held in the ancient St. Mary's Kirkyard in the beautiful Yarrow Valley overlooking St Mary's Loch.
Service led by Rev. Jim Wallace.
Dogs welcome.
Refreshments afterwards at Cappercleuch Hall with suggested donation of £5 adults / £2 children.
Christian Peace Vigil (see attached poster)
Each year churches across Scotland come together for a Christian Peace Witness at Faslane. This year’s Vigil takes place on Saturday 1st August, 11am to 12.30pm at the North Gate, Faslane. Free transport available from Edinburgh (details on attached poster).
Worship Resources from EcoCongregation Scotland (see attachments)
Rev David Coleman, Environmental Chaplain at EcoCongregation Scotland has sent advance notice of worship resources for September:
Creation Time/Season of Creation is approaching, observed through the Sundays of September - and by choice also the first in October.
We have once more gathered resources to support worship and reflection during this time, the greater formal part of which will be published and made available through Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship resource for September. Our own page is nearing completion - there may be some additional items before “launch” in August.
Our own Season of Creation page, which also includes video reflections, (sermon-slot and shorter versions for the five weeks), poems, image collections, and other links and resources will also be available. To note: the use of Vimeo ( a bit like YouTube) means that all the videos can be safely downloaded, rather than risking an online connection in a worship setting.
Church of Scotland congregations are the largest group within our membership, including some outstanding award-winning EcoCongregations, -and we’re very grateful for their support, which enables these resources to happen - and the CofS General Assembly some years ago endorsed and encouraged the observance of CreationTime/Season of Creation.
This year we do have the additional interest of a new dedicated lectionary for week 1, via the body which oversees the Lectionary, the “Commission on Common Texts’. This emerged following global and ecumenical conversations about how to encourage reflection on God as Creator, and the place of Christ inn our care for Creation.
The main page is here: https://ecocongregationscotland.org/resources/season-of-creation-2026/
The poetry page is here: https://ecocongregationscotland.org/poetry-2026-season/
This is the trailer for the videos: https://vimeo.com/1208499367
The new lectionary for week 1, in years A,B,C is attached.
And this is the new online catalogue for our popular ’stilling videos’ ( 2 minutes, natural setting, no words, to lead into or follow reflection or preaching)
https://ecocongregationscotland.org/resources/stilling-videos/
Wanted: Large Print Copies of CH4
If any congregation has spare large print copies of CH4, Ruberslaw Country Parishes would be delighted to give them a new home. Contact Laura Millar at lauramillar76@btinternet.
Presbytery Decisions Taken Under Powers
| 08/07/2026 | Property Committee | Grant approval to the congregation of Haddington to draw down £5,850.00 from its capital holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund to cover the cost of engaging an architect and local authority consents in relation to the proposed refurbishment of the kitchen in the Church. |
| 10/07/2026 | Vacancy Precedure Committee | Confirm that period of Permission to Call for Hawick Burnfoot extends to 31st December 2026 |
| 10/07/2026 | Presbytery Clerk | grant permission for Sheila Anderson and Yvette Hennessey to attend the national Safeguarding Conference in November 2026 and receive expenses from Presbytery |
| 17/07/2026 | Property Committee | Grant approval the congregation of Kelso North and Country Churches to carry our internal alterations at Kelso North Church for £73,239.42 and to draw down £68,285 from its capital holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund. (NB original application approved in 2024 with this resubission requesting and increase of £35,000 in the CFF capital drawdown.) |
Finally in the Presbytery Prayer Calendar…
This week we continue to pray for our friends at Cheviot Churches linked with Kelso Old and Sprouston.
From 26th July we pray for our friends at Cockenzie and Port Seton.
With best wishes
Dan Carmichael
Rev. Dan Carmichael
Presbytery Clerk
Mobile: 07783 473656
Church of Scotland
Presbytery of Lothian and Borders