July-August 2014 Newsletter

Transcription

1 The Parish Churches of Maxton & Mertoun with Newtown with St Boswells United in serving God, by welcoming you, sharing His love, and reaching out in service to our community July-August 2014 Newsletter

2 Who s who in the Parish Minister Rev Sheila W Moir, The Manse, Strae Brigs, St Boswells TD6 0DH Tel: sheila377@btinternet.com Maxton & Mertoun (Scottish Charity No: SC ) Session clerk Mr Douglas Scott, Stonewall Cottage, Main Street, Maxton TD6 0RL Tel: dandpscott@btinternet.com Treasurer Mr Christopher Blunt, Tel: blunty1000@btinternet.com Gift Aid Treasurer Mrs Ann Smith, The Old Schoolhouse, St Boswells. Tel: Newtown (Scottish Charity No: SC ) Session clerk Treasurer Gift Aid Treasurer Mrs Winnie Milligan, 26 Glenburn Avenue, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0QW; Tel: winnieandsandy@tiscali.co.uk Mr Alan Smith, 22 Roxburghe Place, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0QH Tel: alansmithplanb@gmail.com Mrs Anne Smith, 22 Roxburghe Place, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0QH Tel: St Boswells (Scottish Charity No: SC ) Session clerk Mrs Lucy Smith, Sunnybank, Main Street, St Boswells TD6 0AT; Tel: Treasurer Mr Brian Evans, Alderwood, Main Street, St Boswells, TD6 0AP Tel: Gift Aid Treasurer Mrs Sheila Scott, 19 St Cuthbert s Drive, St Boswells TD6 0DF Tel: Congregational Mrs Helen Stromme, Sunnyknowe, Weirgate Avenue, St Boswells TD6 0BT Board Clerk Tel: Newsletter Editor Mr Blair Cummock, Wester Cottage, Mainhill, St Boswells TD6 0HG Tel: blair.cummock@uk.iofc.org St Boswells Church hall & vestry bookings: Mrs Sandra Thomas, Tel: Voluntary Hospital Transport Scheme: Mrs Ann Melrose Tel: The Parish Churches of Maxton & Mertoun, Newtown & St Boswells take no responsibility for the advertisers in this newsletter, nor the services or goods offered by them. 2

3 From the Manse There s a line of a song that keeps going round in my head as I sit down to write my article for our Summer Newsletter Summer Time, and the Livin is easy! I don t think it has anything to do with my thinking about Newtown s Stewardship campaign project in which I have been asked to share my desert island discs with folks at the end of August. As a song it s good, but the lyrics don t really put me in a summer mood! I think Cliff Richard s We re all going on a Summer Holiday would put me in the holiday mood much more. The title of Summer Time, made me wonder, is life any easier in the summer, or was that something the very soulful jazz writer was hoping for? When you listen to the song, there is an implication that life and livin is anything but easy. Hush little baby don t you cry! your mother and father are always near, are not words that immediately bring a sense of life being easy. Songs and hymns are and were written to engage with people, and I think they do. When we hear familiar songs from decades gone by, it sparks memories, sometimes of the past that has been forgotten, but at other times memories that have made us smile, and do so again. Recently in Church we had a hymn that has always been a favourite of mine and brings back memories of my childhood in Church and Sunday School What a friend we have in Jesus, although it is only in adulthood that I now know the meaning of the words. In using words from the Bible we are assured that when we are at our weakest, when we are discouraged, when we are in pain, when we pray, when we seek the comfort of God in our lives, although livin at times is not easy it can be bearable as we always have a friend who will listen and in whom we will find rest. Whatever you do over the Summer time, please be assured of God s love and care for you all. 3 Yours in Him Sheila

4 Sunday Services in July & August WHAT S ON Saturday 12 July: St Boswells Church All Day Refreshments and Gardens Open Day (see advert) Friday 29th August: Auction of Talents and Desert Island Discs in Newtown Community Wing at 7 p.m. Advance notice: Wednesday 3rd September: Newtown Kirk Session in Newtown Vestry at 7 p.m. Weekly Mondays: Art Group, St Boswells Church Hall, pm (no summer break!) Wednesdays: Craft Group, St Boswells Church Hall, pm. (restarts 20 August) Fridays: Lunch Club, St Boswells Church Hall, noon pm (ends 4 July, restarts 29 August) St Boswells Church Flowers July 6 Helen Wilson August 3 Alison Hawkins July 13 Sheila Scott August 10 Shenagh Ellershaw July 20 Nancy Mitchell August 17 Margaret Smith July 27 No service August 24 No service August 31 Service at Maxton 4

5 LIFE EVENTS IN OUR CHARGE and Services on behalf of others Funerals: I am the Resurrection and the Life In Remembrance 19th May 2014 ~ Mr Donald McCall Cathro, Newtown St Boswells. Service and interment held at Greenlaw Cemetery on Monday 2nd June nd May 2014 ~ Mr Alexander David (Alex) Archibald, St Boswells. Service and interment held at Hundy Mundy on Thursday 29th May. 24th May 2014 ~ Mrs Esther Hendry, Drygrange, formerly of St Boswells. Service held at Borders Crematorium on Friday 30th May. 27th May 2014 Mr Clifford Straughan, Hawick. Service and interment held at Benrig on Thursday 12th June. 12th June 2014 ~ Mr David Pringle Douglas, St Boswells. Service held in St Boswells Parish Church with interment at Benrig on Friday 20th June Conducted by a close family friend, Rev Neil Robbie, who is vicar at Holy Trinity Church, West Bromwich. Weddings: And the Two are One At Dryburgh Abbey on Saturday 31st May 2014: Dr Wadiamu Joy Gashau and Mr Luke Plunkett, Leigh In Mertoun Kirk on Saturday 14th June 2014: Miss Linsey Anderson and Mr Adam Drummond, St Boswells Cont from previous page It was impressive to see two female Moderators in conversation over coffee, both the first female parish ministers in that role, and both bringing similar concerns for their respective churches to the table. The Rt Rev Brenda Bullock, Moderator of the PCTT has a five-year term of office. Our journey would not have been complete if we had not had the opportunity to sample Trinidadian hospitality. We were invited into homes for meals lovingly prepared, taken to sample the local delicacies such as bake n shark and doubles (the latter a street food influenced by the Indian heritage of much of the population, a third of whom are Hindu), we visited the market and the beach, took part in group Bible Study and watched a fantastic youth play. We sat around a table in Morton House, the church's guest accommodation, eating mango and pawpaw, drinking coffee and talking, laughing, learning into the wee small hours with the Sieunarine family and other members of the PCTT who cared for us so well. We were surprised to read that on our first night on the island, there had been a blue moon. That answered the question, How often does the Moderator visit Trinidad? Once in a blue moon - but it was worth it! 9

6 Moderator Pays Tribute to Church Social Care Staff The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has paid tribute to the church's social care staff who he said led 'faith communities to help in many places and circumstances.' Speaking at the annual CrossReach celebration service in Edinburgh, the Rt. Rev John Chalmers said: No one does more to serve those in deprived communities than the Church. We lead our faith communities to help in many places and circumstances we personally will never go, inspired by our faith and I am proud of that. Every single act of goodness we complete is another brick in the wall of building the Kingdom of God. We are a voluntary body no one in the country comes close to. Scotland's Chief Social Work Adviser also offered praise for the extraordinary contribution made by the staff of the church's social care arm to Scotland's care sector. Alan Baird also said the CrossReach team were part of a tough world with difficult challenges and paid tribute to their resilience and compassion. Dozens of staff were honoured at the ceremony, which took place at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh. THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND WORLD MISSION COUNCIL Once in a Blue Moon The Rt. Rev Lorna Hood, previous Moderator of the General Assembly, and her husband Peter, share something of their visit to Trinidad, the first island they visited on their Caribbean visit. As we flew into Trinidad we could see the whole island beneath us - three mountain ranges, flat plains, coastal swamp lands and beautiful golden beaches. Expecting to see a thriving economy and vibrant tourist industry, we were surprised to see empty fields and beaches. As we travelled around the island with our friends from the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago (PCTT), our partner church on the island, we discovered that the oil industry is today's source of the island's riches, much of which unfortunately does not reach the people, and the island, which should be able to sustain the people, imports the majority of its food. We journeyed through Holy Week, sharing in worship with congregations, from small and rural to a Trinidadian equivalent of the Church of Scotland's St Giles Cathedral. They also varied in style of worship from the more traditional and formal to the more participatory. In several congregations, it was a joy to be accompanied by the steel pan band. It was great to see many competent and gifted lay people leading worship which they had prepared themselves. As well as taking part in several services, the Moderator was inspired by the Caribbean worship and has made a note of some ideas, which she hopes to use when she gets back to her own parish. Beware Renfrew North Parish Church! Meeting with the Executive of the PCTT, gave us opportunity to explore some of the ways in which we might journey together over the next few years: twinnings, youth exchanges, Christian education, ministries training and social outreach were just some of the ideas shared. Cont over 8

7 12 Christian Aid Collection 2014 St Boswells, Maxton, Mertoun and Newtown George and Trudy would like to thank all those who contributed to the magnificent sum of from Newtown St. Boswells and Eildon also from St Boswells, Maxton and Mertoun. All monies have now been sent to Christian Aid from the House to House collections. They particularly appreciate the support they have received from those who distributed and collected the envelopes. We are also grateful to Tony for allowing a box in St Boswells Post Office for those who were not available when the collectors called. The generosity of the people of all communities in this area means that the relief and development work of Christian aid can continue amongst some of the poorest people in the world. A few words from Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland. I anticipate Christian Aid Week 2014 will raise over 1.5m in Scotland. Thank you for the part you played in making the Week such a success. Trudy Cash and George Luke LUNCH CLUB The last lunch before the summer break will be served on Friday 4 July, from 12 noon until 1.30pm. After the break we shall resume on 29 August, and extend a warm invitation to anybody who has not previously attended our lunches a good place to meet people and make friends. If there are any who would like to be collected by car please do phone Fiona Lynn (822053) to be included on our transport list. Have a wonderful summer and see you all at the end of August. Fiona NEWS The summer edition of this publication is now in the vestibule of the churches, spotlighting the Children and Family services with a story of a mother suffering post-natal depression, also touching on the issue of safeguarding, and much more. Do take a copy to read. The Prayer Letter is also available on the bookshelf for your use. 5

8 AUCTION OF TALENTS 7:00pm Friday 29 August 2014 Newtown Community Wing Entrance by Catalogue 1 Newtown Auction of Talents Have you offered a talent yet for the Auction of Talents on Friday 29th August? If not, don t delay, do it today! For inclusion in the catalogue, entry forms must be returned by the end of July, but the sooner they are received the better. All Newtown members should have an entry form if you need one or have lost yours, please contact your elder or spare forms are available in Newtown Church. Entry to the Desert Island Discs and Auction of Talents is by catalogue. These will be available early in August at 1 each. Come along and enjoy the evening and see how you could benefit from someone else s talents. Newtown Coffee Morning thank you We are very grateful to everyone who contributed in any way to our summer Coffee Morning on Saturday 21st June. Thanks to your support, the total raised was

9 FACING THE CHALLENGE ST BOSWELLS: SEPTEMBER Summer has hardly begun, if one gauges it by the weather, but what has begun in earnest is the preparation for our third Keswick in the Borders weekend conference. It will begin on Friday 26th September at 7.30 pm with two sessions on Saturday 27th September at 9.45 am and am and the final session at the morning service in St Boswells on Sunday 28th September at am. Facing the Challenge is the theme for the week-end when our guest speaker, the Very Rev. Albert Bogle will take us through the book of Ephesians with addresses on The Nature of God, The Power of the Gospel, The purpose of the Church and The Challenge. The Rev. Bogle, a recent Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, is a compelling speaker with tremendous overseas interest with his congregation at St. Andrews, Bo ness. He is chairman of The Vine Trust, which many of you will know about, and on the day following our conference he travels to Africa for the launching of a ship, Jubilee Hope into a new ministry on Lake Victoria. Please mark the dates in your diary now and come along to these special meetings. You will be very welcome. This weekend is not just for the regular churchgoers! It is a time when, as a community, we can learn of the work and sacrifices people are making to bring medical help, Christian teaching and hope for a better future to many needy people. We want it to be a time of fellowship for everyone in our villages and communities, as you meet and chat together over coffee in the newly refurbished Village Hall. If you don t want to come into the church itself, there is a live broadcast into the Village Hall where you can come and go as you please, but please do support this conference. We rely on your generous financial support through a Free Will Offering, to finance the conference. Childrens activities will be taking place in the Church Hall, on Saturday and Sunday morning. For all the details see the web site at Prayer Psalm 62:8: 'Trust in HIM at all times: Ye people, pour out your heart before HIM. GOD is a refuge for us.' Personal daily prayer will of necessity include a battle of faith against sin. We all have this in common. It will also include prayers for others. The rest will vary according to our own situation. But remember this in essence prayer means coming to GOD the FATHER and to JESUS with our whole being. We meet with HIM. We are aware that HE is there, that we are approaching HIM, that we are beginning a conversation with GOD. For what is prayer? Is it anything other than conversation with GOD? in trust. From Praying our way through life by M.Basilea Schli Rev Winnie Munson ST BOSWELLS GUILD Tea, Coffee and Chat: Thursdays 3rd July & 7th August, 7.30pm, in the church hall. Fri 18th July, 10.00am: FAIR DAY Coffee Morning/ Soup lunch/stalls in the church hall. (Stalls: Cake & Candy, bric-a-brac, books) Donations will be gratefully received. 7