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Oh Happy Day! 2019 United Nativity
Nativity Story told by our Carol Singers. 2019
A message from King Herod!
Sweet singing Nativity 2019
Learning & Sharing Communion Dec 2019
Having a closer look!

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October 2018 Letter

  • 7 October 2018
  • nanda.groenewald

Dear congregations

We have a huge chestnut tree in our front garden. Last week all the leaves were still lush and green, today they are almost all yellow… Beautiful to look at, but also a sign that the seasons are changing. After the amazing summer we’ve had, I guess we shouldn’t complain that autumn is here – a wee warning that the winter is slowly creeping up on us.

Time goes by so quickly. When I tidied up my study this week, I came across a photo of my boys taken 3 years ago. And that sent me on a wee trip down memory lane… They look so grown up now, all of a sudden! How did that happen?!

Since the new school year started I’ve been privileged to be part of so many happy events, and I’ve also cried alongside others: I’ve conducted weddings and baptisms, I’ve done hospital visits and conducted funerals… Life is so short – we should really make the most of every minute we have.

So as the seasons are changing outside, let’s remember that as the seasons of our lives change too, we should always cherish the season we find ourselves in. There is beauty in every single one of them – blossoming flowers in the spring, vibrant greens in the summer, warm colours in the autumn, and the pure white snow in the winter. Wherever you find yourself now in your journey through life, remember the words we find in Ecclesiastes 3:11: God has made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time…

May God bless you all this autumn, and always.

Nanda

Food Bank Harvest Thank You

  • 7 October 2018
  • liz.dyer

West Lothian Foodbank is very appreciative of the 96.1Kg of food which was donated from both Churches today (Sunday 7th October) following the Harvest Thanksgiving services. this will provide approximately 225 meals for those in West Lothian who are in receipt of a food allocation.

If you would like to continue donating to the Foodbank,then, every week, there are collection points at the front of either church.

Many thanks

Douglas

Post of Organist West Kirk

  • 20 September 2018
  • liz.dyer

Here at West Kirk of Calder, West Calder, we invite applications for the post of Organist.

The instrument is a well maintained two manual pipe organ and regular worship commences at 9.45am on Sundays.

The salary offered is in line with Church of Scotland Organists Salary Scale.

Enquiries / applications to our Session Clerk:

Stewart MacRae, 

23 Westmuir Road,

West Calder

EH55 8EX          Tel: 01506 872486

Email: asmacrae@btinternet.com

'There was a Soldier'

  • 17 September 2018
  • liz.dyer

Opencast are to perform their Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show for the community around West Calder

 at West Kirk of Calder on Friday 26th October 2018 at 7.00pm

 The show commemorates West Lothian’s contribution to WWI, telling the story through song, poetry, humour and visuals.

 How it started…….

“We were clearing out my late aunt’s house a few years ago,” explains Liz Reid, the show’s co-creator, “and came across a bundle of letters addressed to her from a young soldier in the First World War.  Tied with a faded pink string, the letters and memorabilia from her sweetheart on the front line entranced Liz and her friend Mary Boylan.

The bundle of letters from David Wallace Dinwoodie stopped short with an almost-inevitable black-bordered envelope announcing his death in action. Liz and Mary  had to find out more. 

They did some research then visited his grave in France. “Then a few years later they saw a show in Glasgow called Far from Ypres, written by Ian McCalman. Ian made the format of the show freely available to anyone wanting to produce a similar story about the war in their own area.

Mary and Liz decided to research West Lothian’s experience of war in order to tell the story of so many young men, like David, who left their area with such enthusiasm and never returned. The resulting musical show There Was A Soldier… features David as the main character, and incorporates two songs written in an old jotter by Broxburn man, George Coyle, in  Flanders 100 years ago.

“Reading his good-humoured songs written on the front line, you can imagine he must have been an inspiring and positive man to be with in those terrible conditions,” Mary says.

The cast features young singers from local secondary schools , who are all of similar ages to the young men who left West Lothian for war.

Now...we’re still looking for stories of local people and pictures (if you have any) which might be able to be used in the show or displayed in the Church Hall after the event.

If you do have anything, or require any additional  information, please contact Karen Elliot, Email: kelliot250666@gmail.com 

 THIS GUARANTEES TO BE A TRULY AMAZING AND MEMORABLE EVENING. DO JOIN US

Tickets—which are free— will be available shortly

 

File Attachments: 
PDF icon There Was A Soldier poster draft 2 24102018[1680].pdf

September 2018 Letter

  • 3 September 2018
  • nanda.groenewald

 

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the apostle Paul said that he had a “thorn in his flesh”.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Paul could well have meant this metaphorically, but let me tell you – after our holiday in South Africa, I think I understand a wee bit better what Paul meant – namely that something was hurting him badly!

You see, while in South Africa, poor wee Nehan fell full force into a huge thorn that sucks into your flesh. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. The thorn was stuck in his hand… He tried pulling it out himself, then big brother Henro had a shot, and even daddy André tried his best – but to no avail. And through all of this the screaming just got louder and louder. When I saw the agony on Nehan’s  face, I just knew I had to get that thorn out – so I bit on my teeth…and I pulled it out! But by this time his whole hand was swollen and red and very painful, even without the thorn in it. The poor child couldn’t use his hand for 2 days!

But luckily, being just the way kids are, before long something else happened that was exciting, and the thorn was quickly forgotten. After all this, my boys decided that “Africa is not for sissies”! It’s so nice to be back home here in Scotland, where if your child falls, the only thing your need to get rid of is the mud on his hands and knees!

Nobody knows exactly what Paul was referring to when he spoke about “the thorn in his flesh”, but it must have been something that hurt him constantly.                                                                                                                                                                                   Only difference is, THIS thorn was never going to be pulled out by anybody…

So Paul decided that if he couldn’t change his situation, he’d just have to change his attitude. Which made him decide to delight in his weaknesses, because then, he said, he’d remember that in himself he can do nothing, -  he is utterly dependent on the grace of Christ.

May we all have that very same attitude in this new academic year – if we have any thorns in our flesh that we CAN pull out – let’s do that straight away, and leave the past in the past. But if there are things in our lives that bother us that we cannot change – let’s accept it, let’s even delight in it, because if we have Christ in our lives, in the words of Paul: “When we are weak, THEN we are strong.”

May God bless you all in 2018/2019,

Nanda

 

Special Welcome to All Children

  • 26 August 2018
  • lorna.graham

We extend a very warm welcome to Sunday Club this Sunday when we start back after the summer break at 10am.

There will be games, a video story, messy challenge, crafts and some colourful food.

We do hope you can all join us and please bring along a friend!

 

Build Namibia. Beetle Drive

  • 14 August 2018
  • lorna.graham

Beetle Drive - Polbeth Harwood, August 31st at 7pm

You can pay at the door on the night or buy your ticket in advance by contacting Rhoda or Aonghas.

West Lothian Food Bank August Update

  • 9 August 2018
  • liz.dyer

Very many thanks to everyone for the 55.1kgs of food that has been donated over the last fortnight. This is a fantastic amount and has helped our food stocks available for distribution to those who require our help the most.

The foodbank is still experiencing shortages in the following food items –

tinned vegetables, tinned potatoes, instant potatoes, tinned cold meats, curry sauce, diluting juice (750ml to 1 litre size) and tuna.

As always we are grateful for any donations but, if possible, please avoid donating soup and beans as we already have a year's supply.

If you have any questions or would like some more information then please speak to Douglas Horn.

 

 

West Lothian Food Bank Update

  • 19 July 2018
  • liz.dyer

West Lothian Food Bank appreciates all the donations of food items that are made by individuals. Currently, the items we most required are as follows;

diluting juice (750 ml to 1 litre size), tinned potatoes, tinned tomatoes, tinned custard and tinned tuna but please note any items donated are acknowledged with thanks.                             

 However we do have over a year's supply of soup and beans so if you can donate other items it would be better.

If you have any questions please speak with Douglas Horn.

 

 

July / August 2018 Letter

  • 29 June 2018
  • nanda.groenewald

Dear Congregations,

At last! Summer is here! And the better weather is making everybody smile.

At the church our summer started with our trip to Silver Sands Beach. We had a lovely picnic, and the day was filled with fun, games, laughter, and even a paddle in the sea!

My own family holiday starts on the 4th of July, when my 3 boys and I will be going to South Africa. We will return on the 3rd of August, and we are looking forward to spending time with family and friends. It might be winter in South Africa in July – but I won’t be surprised if it’s going to warmer there than here! We’ll be back just in time for the Holiday Club, which is yet another highlight to look forward too.

Whether you are going away on an exciting adventure, or staying at home to enjoy the lovely long summer’s days, please remember one thing:

God never goes on holiday.

He takes care of us wherever we are, and he never stops doing that. So let’s praise him, not only for giving us this special summer time to take a break from our normal routine, but also for loving us every minute of every day…

I hope that all of you will have a lovely summer and that the sun will shine brightly on you every day. 

May God bless you all,

Nanda

 

 

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