The magazine for the linked congregations and community of the West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood
Rev David A Albon BA MCS 01506 870460 The Manse, 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF theminister@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk Session Clerk Stewart MacRae 01506 872486 West Kirk 23 Westmuir Road West Calder EH55 8EX sessionclerk@westkirkofcalder.co.uk Session Clerk Marian Kinsman 01506 871125 Polbeth Harwood 12 Langside Crescent Polbeth EH55 8UW sessionclerk@polbethharwood.co.uk Treasurer William Calder 01506 871281 25 Harburn Road West Calder EH55 8AJ treasurer@westkirkofcalder.co.uk Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 438038 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE treasurer@polbethharwood.co.uk News Editor Colin Dempster 01506 414565 140 Staunton Rise Dedridge West Livingston EH54 6PA thelinkeditor@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk www.west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk
A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF Monday, 1 June 2007 Dear Friends, The wet and windy weather of the last few days no, make that weeks might have you somewhat confused. It is in fact Summer time, yet people have been telling me how they have had to have their central heating on again. When I was on holiday, walking coast-tocoast across the Highlands in May, the weather was good. Not as good as April had been, but quite settled and sunny enough to get a tan. A couple of days were hot enough for shorts! But at the moment it is very changeable. There have been some major changes in both our churches. I m thinking mainly of the buildings. The West Kirk has been redecorated inside and the smell of fresh paint is still in the air when you go in. There s a new smell as you walk into Polbeth Harwood as well. The church area is looking very good, with the wooden floor looking brand new and our new smart chairs are very comfortable (not that I get much chance to sit in them!). The new hymn book cabinets finish things off very well I think. Yes, there s definitely the smell of something new around our churches. And though it might be hard to believe at times, I think it might be Summer! Whether you are home or away, or both, have a restful and refreshing time. Yours in Christ, Rev David A Albon Minister of the Parish Churches of the West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood West Kirk The Church Family (Parish Record) Funerals 20th June Agnes Anderson, Stewart Court 2 June Bob Stewart, Dickson Court Polbeth Harwood Funerals April Janet Doyle, Polbeth Crescent June Fairbairn, Chapelton Drive 6th June Catherine Smith, Knowetop, Bellsquarry 7th June Mary Cairns, Burnside Terrace - 3 -
Worship in the Linked Congregations Sunday Morning Worship takes place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am. West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The Candy Bars for the year ended in June. An excellent total of 600 was raised from our summer buffet with its beautiful salmon centrepiece. We gratefully thank Agnes Clarkson and her neice for doing this again for us. Thanks also to Douglas and Lamb for all their hard work cultivating and potting plants which are always popular on the stall at this time of year. We have had a successful year and the group would like to thank all the bakers, cooks, craft makers, stall helpers, friends and customers who have supported and aided in any way. We have raised over 7,800 from the Candy Bars and Whist Drive since last. We are delighted that we have been able to give this to the Redecoration Project. The next meeting of the group is on Monday 6th at 7.30 pm in the church hall. If you would like to join our friendly, informal group to help our future events please come along where a welcome awaits you. We need new ideas to help us continue successfully. The next Candy Bar is on Saturday when we look forward to seeing you after the summer break. Jill Murray (Convener) West Kirk Redecoration The redecoration of the West Kirk has now been completed and the church is now looking bright and beautiful. Some additional work has still to be carried out such as the replacement of the baize around the balcony and this work will be carried out over the coming weeks. The Minister and Kirk Session would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Bryce, the Finance and Fabric Committee and all those who took part in the many meetings, discussions and visits to other churches to enable this work to be carried out to a satisfactory conclusion. Thanks also to Greenhorn and the team of men and women who helped with the removal and restoration of the furniture and the cleaning of the church prior to its reopening in time for the June Communion service. Well done everyone! - 4 -
West Kirk Eco-Congregation The West Kirk has very recently registered as an Eco- Congregation, one of a growing number in West Lothian who affirm that environmental issues and caring for God s creation form part of our church s life and mission. As one who shares this commitment, I have volunteered to be the Environmental Co-ordinator or, if you like, but I m not sure if I do, the Green Apostle for this, for the West Kirk. Together with Bill Calder, Richard Bryce and David Albon, I worked through an environmental check-up to find out what we are already doing in our worship to express our concern for, and in our activities to help our planet and its inhabitants, and to see what we might consider doing in the future. I then attended a meeting of the West Lothian Network of Eco-Congregations with Stewart MacRae, and it was encouraging to know that there is a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts to draw on in this network. I d like to know people s views on this, both at the start and as it develops so please let me know what you think. I plan to submit a short article in each Link issue, and I will always try to include some: Green Tips Don t stand by when you re not watching. Some actions that save energy do not even require any great sacrifice on our part: try to remember to completely turn off appliances with stand-by such as the TV and the computer, when not in use. It may not seem much, but apparently if we all did this, it would actually make a big difference. If you buy bottled water, consider choosing One Water. Check out www.we-are-one.org.uk to find out why. Rosanna Rabaeijs The Ship I am standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: There! Gone? Gone where? She s gone! Gone from my sight that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left the shore. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: There! She s gone! there are other eyes, watching her coming, and the voices ready to take up the glad shout, Here she comes! - 5 -
************* This reading is also known as What is Dying. It was written by the charismatic Episcopalian Bishop Charles Henry Brent. His highly effective career including serving in a slum parish in Boston, being missionary bishop of the Philippines, acting as senior chaplain for the American armed forces in Europe in World War I and campaigning for church unity. He died in 1929, aged 66. ************* Youth Link Picnic This year once again we headed for North Berwick on the Youth Link annual outing, and we were delighted to be joined by our friends from Polbeth Harwood. After all the nice weather we had earlier in April we were unsure just what the day might hold for us, as we were a week later this year. The day began with a joint communion service in our newly painted church, it was so nice and bright inside and we hoped the weather would be the same at North Berwick. This year we were dropped off slightly further away from the beach than usual, and how strange we all must have looked, marching along the street in a convoy, carrying our picnics, buckets and spades, and all the bits and pieces required for our races. The picnic was soon demolished and the kids headed for the water like magnets, the smaller girls paddled in the cool water whilst the boy's went on a jelly fish hunt! some on foot and some on a fantastic big dingy. The older girls showed us just what they were made of and ran straight into the water right up to their chin brrrrr. Next on the agenda were the races. We started with the little ones working our way up through the age groups, first the flat race, then egg and spoon followed by wheel barrow, skipping, sack race and then a relay the list was endless. Every one took part, David placed a special request for an adult sack race which was fun, then the pressure was on when someone called for an adults flat race, I was most impressed we took up half the beach on this one and it was all good fun but still quite competitive. Thank goodness they needed someone to blow the whistle, I was most certainly not built for speed! Our weather was dry for the picnic and we had a little drizzle during the races which was quite good as it kept all the athletes cool, i am quite sure most of them never even noticed! We all had a great day out at the seaside Our Youth Link will be on holiday by the time you get this magazine. We would also like to wish every one a happy summer holiday and we look forward to you all joining us again on when we start the new term. Lorna Graham - 6 -
Veterans Badge www.veteransagency.mod.uk Those entitled to the Veterans Badge are: Men and women who served in UK Armed Forces between the outbreak of WW1 and 3 December 1984 Cyprus Regiment Merchant Navy Seamen Home Guard Polish Forces under UK Command War widows/widowers who receive a War Pension If you would like Jim Devine, as Member of Parliament for Livingston to apply for a Veterans Badge on your behalf please fill out the form below and return to: Jim Devine MP, Suite 5, Pentland House, Livingston, EH54 6NG Tel: 01506 497965 Fax: 01506 497962 Title First Name Surname Address (including Postcode) Telephone Number What was your Service Number? Which years did you serve? Which Service were you in? Date of Birth Was your name different when serving? If so please give your previous name - 7 -
West Kirk Rota Information West Kirk Crèche Rota West Kirk Duty Rota Val Occardi Farquhar Shirley MacRae Mary Calder Olive Gibson Melanie Dickson Val Occardi Farquhar Shirley MacRae Door Duty Jeanette Ferguson Alison McNaught Christine Nicholl Hazel Tod May Arnott Liz Dyer Victor Ferguson Beryl Henderson Stewart Munro Jill Murray Victor Ferguson Beryl Henderson Stewart Munro Evelyn Paterson Juanita Allan Angus Baxter Alex Easton Lorna Graham Alan Jessiman Christine Nicholl May Arnott Lorna Graham Alan Jessiman Jill Murray Stott Jim Allan Richard Bryce Jeanette Ferguson Alison McNaught Evelyn Paterson Hazel Tod Car Run Alan Jessiman Stewart Munro Stott Richard Bryce Hugh Clarkson Robert Hawes Beryl Henderson Alan Jessiman Stewart Munro Richard Bryce Stott West Kirk Tea Rota Contact Olive Gibson 01506 871291 Note: Tea Makers, please bring milk. Alison Baxter Moira McRae Katie Albon Liz Dyer Lamb May Young Jim Allan Kate Perkins Jessiman Isobel McChesney Stott Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm Friday 3 Names to be announced Alison McNaught Jill Murray Olive Gibson Janice Cooper Rennie Janet Meikle Olive Gibson Juanita Allan Olive Gibson Olive Gibson Morag Stott West Kirk Flower Rota Arrangers: If you will be away on your Rota turn, please either swap, or contact Greenhorn (01506 871139). Given Arranged Delivered Mary Mabbutt Christine Mitchell M.McCulloch Craig Rennie Anon c/o E.Paterson Viv Vinter Isobel Young Helen Forde Margo McEwan & Douglas Evelyn Paterson Katie Albon Rosanna Rabaeijs Margo McEwan & Douglas Katie Albon Evelyn Paterson Rosanna Rabaeijs Margo McEwan & Douglas Evelyn Paterson Katie Albon Ivy Johnstone Moira McRae Ivy Johnstone Moira McRae Ivy Johnstone (Issue 21 ) - 8 -
Polbeth Harwood Rota Information Stewart Court Taxi Rota Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota Charlie Sturrock David Prentice Eleanor Davidson Marr Charlie Sturrock David Prentice Eleanor Davidson Marr Charlie Sturrock David Prentice Eleanor Davidson Mary Gray Dot Cibbald Anna Muirhead Marian Kinsman Ann Watson Marr Ena Prentice Mary Mabbutt Laura Carroll Reeta Grifiin Mary Gray Josephine Greer Norma Wilson Betty Macauley Joan Philips William Watson Jocky Marr David Prentice Frank Mabbutt Petrona Carroll Tom Griffin Joesphine Greer Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota Polbeth Harwood Café Rota Door Duty Eleanor Davidson Etta Walker Hazel Speirs Jessie Kelly Moira Mushet Betty Macauley Chrissie McCormack Anna Muirhead Alice Mackay Ena Prentice Etta Walker Reeta Griffin Eleanor Davidson Linda Eardley Tom Kelly Marian Kinsman Gordon Erskine Esther Hamilton Tom Walker Kenneth Mackay David Prentice Eleanor Davidson Wilma Dickson Effie Halliday Hampson Ann Watson Jimmy Greer Janet Russell Reeta Griffin Betty Upton Jenny Doyle Wilma Dickson Effie Halliday Lilias Fairley Halliday William McCallum William Watson Charlie Sturrock Alan Mercer Frank Mabbutt Dempster Janice Davidson Lilias Fairley Halliday 2007 There will be no Café or Traidcraft Stall on Wednesdays throughout Grace Betty Janet Peace Upton Walker Maisie Janet Baird Russell Frank Effie Mabbutt Halliday Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm Friday 3 (Issue 21 ) Names to be announced - 9 -
Marriage Seminar While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor. "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favourite flower?" Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, It's Homepride, isn't it? Contributions for the next edition Contributions for the next edition of Magazine must be submitted by the first Sunday after the of the month. For the issue, this will be Sunday. Feel free to write a short article about your holiday or time of rest and reflection. All articles are gratefully received. Contributions can be sent via email, or handed in person to either Rev David Albon or Colin Dempster. Paws for thought If there is something you own that you can t give away, you don t own it it owns you. Albert Schweitzer - 10 -