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Polar Explorers - Fully Booked!
Submitted by lorna.graham on Mon, 29/06/2015 - 10:49
We are now fully subscribed for this summer's holiday club. Sorry if you did not manage to secure a place in time.
If you child has booked a place and circumstances change meaning they are no longer able to attend, please let us now by dropping an email so we can offer the place to another child.
We look forward to welcoming all subscribed children on Monday August 3rd at 10am.
July / August 2015 Letter
Submitted by nanda.groenewald on Sun, 28/06/2015 - 17:26Dear Congregations
Excitement about the summer holidays is running high in this house! I think everybody is ready for a break. As I was going round the schools conducting the end-of-term assemblies, all the teachers were counting the sleeps along with the kids! It’s been a busy year – but we wouldn’t want it any different…
It’s been a busy year at the church too. I can’t believe that it’s been a whole year since my induction as the new minister at Polbeth Harwood & West Kirk of Calder. I got to know so many lovely people, and I look forward to getting to know you all even better!
But talking about taking a break – we people need that, even if it is just a wee break in our day-to-day routine, doing something different, to build up our energy for the demands we face every day. Luckily, God never takes any breaks. In Psalm 121:3&4 we read: “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep”.
This was written against the background of the gentile nations who lived around the Israelites, and believed in gods who had to go for a “winter sleep” and had to be woken up again in the spring.
Our God is not like that – he is always awake, always there, taking care of us. He never goes away on holiday. So whether you are going away somewhere exotic this summer, or whether you are staying home enjoying the lovely sunshine (that we are going to get!!), remember, God is there with you too. And he will not let your foot slip.
May God bless you this summer, and always:
Bless me in the city, and bless me in the country.
Bless me in the present, and bless me in the future.
Bless me in the busyness, and bless me in the calm.
O Lord of contrasts and continuity, carry me through your world.
(From “Livings Stones”, by the Pray Now Group)
Kind regards, Nanda
Polar Explorers - Base Camp awaits YOU!
Submitted by lorna.graham on Sat, 06/06/2015 - 00:03
It is now only 57 days until we meet at our Base Camp, have you secured your place? Do not leave it too late as places are filling up fast for this summers great expedition!
We have lots of wonderful stories to explore, games and silly challenges, for the older kids, science experiments, winter sports, and much more!
An "Ice" time awaits !
June 2015 Letter
Submitted by nanda.groenewald on Tue, 02/06/2015 - 21:19
Dear Congregations
This year I was commissioned to attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in the Assembly Halls in Edinburgh. What a privilege that was! As it was my first Assembly, I didn’t really know what to expect, and to be quite honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the long hours and attending a meeting that lasted a whole week! But to my surprise it was very interesting and relevant, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of the decision making process for the future of the church.
I was accompanied by George Stott from the West Kirk and Jessie Kelly from Polbeth Harwood, who also both enjoyed the experience very much. It was a full week, starting with a training session for first time commissioners on the Friday evening, and including lots of different events alongside the actual meeting. On the Sunday morning I attended the Assembly Service at St Giles Cathedral, and stayed on for the communion service afterwards. Sunday afternoon I went to “Heart and Soul” in Princes Street Gardens, a lovely event with lots of displays and activities, attended by about 4000 people.
During lunch time every day there were fringe events which you could attend if you wanted to. It was like a treasure chest full of information… One evening I attended a lecture on John Knox and his influence on the Church, and on another I was invited to Holyrood House Palace for a Beating of the Drums ceremony and a reception afterwards. On the last day of the assembly all the new ministers were invited to lunch with the new moderator, Rev Dr Angus Morrison, after which we were presented to him at the Assembly. What a humble and inspirational person he is!
Throughout the week I met lots of interesting people, listened to people competently debating about important issues, and worshipped God alongside more than 700 others. I loved the singing, and found the worship enriching. Everything was based on the theme “Living Stones” (1Peter 2:1-10).
I left the assembly feeling that I have learnt so much about the workings of the Church and all the different people who worship in the Church of Scotland.
I also felt motivated for working in our own congregations and I am proud to be able to say that I am a minister in the Church of Scotland - a Church that takes her responsibility seriously as a beacon of hope and bringer of change in society.
My wish is that we will all realise that we have important responsibilities in the Church of God as his livings stones – we are all needed to keep this church standing for generations to come.
I regard myself as extremely fortunate to be a stone in the living Church of Christ.
I hope you do too!
God bless,
Nanda
Sermon 24th May 2015 Living Stones
Submitted by liz.dyer on Sat, 30/05/2015 - 09:03File Attachments: