Hello everyone,
Have to admit this has become one of my favourite times of year. It is only a month till the shortest day and then the days gets longer every day. It is the time of year when we get to sing O Come O Come Emmanuel and then advent is in full swing. Only 4 weeks till Christmas, only 5 weeks till a new year that is as yet unwritten. Being in the midst of dark dreich nights it can seem there will be no end to the darkness that ever squeezes out the light. Yet it is in the midst of darkness that hope becomes real. We know longer days are coming and we know one day the light will return. In the same way, although life in the church might be difficult just now, we know God’s promises that he will be triumphant. These are the days where our hope becomes more real until one day the reality of that hope will be fully revealed.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” ! Corinthians 13: 12-13
A couple of decisions were taken under powers by the Presbytery Council since my last update.
18/11/2024 Presbytery Council Concur in issuing Unitary Deed of Constitution to Ormiston Parish Church (Not model as it mistakenly says in the Presbytery agenda!)
18/11/2024 Presbytery Council Note and concur with the decision of Haddington West Church to sell the church and manse and the agreement of Haddington St Mary’s with that decision. Any sale to be effected
only after the union takes place. Note also this is in line with the approved Presbytery Mission Plan.
And one by Property committee
26/11/2024 Gorebridge Approval of hall redevelopment
Presbytery Council met and the agenda is attached for your interest. Our Prayer Calendar this week remembers North Berwick Abbey linked with Direleton
December 1st North Berwick Abbey linked with Dirleton
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Website
Our new website will go live in the next few days at this address: https://lothianandborderspresbytery.org.uk/ At the moment there is a holding page. By this time next week we expect the new site to be live. Please remember the website will evolve over time and it will be in constant change. We hope it will become a go to place for news/information/resources and support for our congregations.
Do you want to be a steward at the GA? See the attached poster for more details and get back to Sandy Gemmill.
As promised I have attached a poster for the recruitment of stewards for the General Assembly next year. I would be grateful if it could be included in the next edition of your Presbytery Newsletter. As I mentioned the poster which you publicised last year encouraged two people from Peebles to volunteer, and both wish to help again this year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information or if you require the information in another format.
Sandy Gemill
See also the attached poster for a concert in Selkirk Parish Church by the Gala Water Community Singers.
Rod Ward, our musician, has been working with Gala Water Community Singers, to present a concert in Selkirk Parish Church on Saturday, 7th Dec, at 3pm. It will be a joyful occasion, entitled “A celebration of love - human and divine”. Tickets at the door. Coffee and nibbles in the hall afterwards. Please make this event known to your congregations, friends and contacts.
If you recall John Fergusson, Presbytery Clerk in Perth, came to speak with us on Assisted Dying. There is one more opportunity to be part of the consultation. See below for details including Zoom link.
Dear all
The final Presbytery conversation on Assisted Dying will take place online via Forth Valley and Clydesdale Presbytery on Wednesday November 27th at 7.00pm
We are opening this up to all Presbyteries in order to allow those who were unable to attend one in their own Presbytery to join it, or in the case of Lewis and International, where we didn’t do one separately.
Below is a link which allows people to fill in a form, after which the Zoom link will be emailed to them.
https://forms.office.com/e/CHG3fJJRCH
I would be grateful if you could distribute this round your Presbytery.
Many thanks
John
Rev Dr John Ferguson
Presbytery Clerk, Presbytery of Perth
This is a plug from Lammemuir Parish for Advent and Christmas services. If you want us to advertise yours, send them in and we will do so.
Everyone is very welcome to participate in our Advent and Christmas events and services (all details here). In particular, we'd be grateful if you could publicise these to your congregations, please:
- Wednesday, 4th Dec, 9.30-12.30am, East Saltoun, Advent Retreat Morning. Places are limited, please book by contacting Aniko at anikosb@churchofscotland.org.uk. Suggested donation £5.
- Sunday, 15th Dec, 4pm, Humbie Church, Advent Service of Remembering, for all who have lost loved ones and miss them especially at Advent time.
Thank you very much,
Anikó
We are happy for you to share these updates far and wide. Want on the mailing list? Drop us an email. We are also happy to publish items from congregations advertising events or if you have a request for help. We are a family and here to help each other.
In this time of Advent, may God bless you and yours and may your congregations know his presence amongst you all.
God Bless
Norman Smith
Presbytery Clerk