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This summers holiday club is now fully booked, all seats have been reserved and we busy drawing up the menu's for a really exciting week! If you are able to travel to East Calder they are running a holiday club the same week at the same time, so all is not lost, and they have a few empty seats still available but don't wait too long. For more information or to book a place check out www.knec4jesus.org.uk or email holidayclub2015@hotmail.com
The funeral of Bill Russell will take place on Wednesday 11th May at 1pm at West Kirk, followed by the interment at the cemetery at 2.15pm.
All are welcome back to the church hall for a buffet tea afterwards.
Dear Congregations,
The end of April delivered a few highs and lows - with Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations probably the biggest high and the death of the pop star Prince probably the lowest low...... I find it quite ironic that on the very same day that the Queen turned 90, Prince died ( at a mere 57 years of age). There's even some word-play involved here; "Queen" x "Prince"
That's just the way life is I guess: Somebody's big, special day, is always, somewhere, somebody else's hard, sad day. Lots of people all over the world celebrated this very special milestone with the Queen; while, on the same day, lots of people all over the world mourned the loss of their icon, to a much-too-soon death.
Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, and most of these are unpredictable. The only thing we can know for sure is that none of us will be here on earth forever; that life is short. In Psalm 130: 15 - 17 we read: "The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone...But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him..."
The fact that life is short shouldn't make us feel depressed, it should make us pro-active. We should make the most of each minute. We need to LIVE every moment we have, so that one day, when our time is up, we won't have any regrets. Here, the Queen is setting a fabulous example.
And you know, although we don't know how many years we'll have here on earth, we know - without even the faintest shadow of a doubt, that for every single one of them, we'll have God by our side.
What more can we ask for?!
May God bless you all,
Nanda
Book your seat now for Rockie's Plaice! This summer's holiday club. Post boxes and registration forms are in Polbeth Harwood church, The West Kirk church hall and Parkhead Primary school. You can also download a form and email it to: clovenford@gmail.com.
Spaces are limited so do not leave it too late, to secure your table! It promises to be an action packed week. The club starts daily at 10 am and finishes at 12:30 pm.
The pew cushions for the downstairs at West Kirk have now arrived and are in place!
During April we are exploring "Superhero's" in the Bible.
At the end of this topic on Sunday May 8th the children are all invited to come to church dressed as a "superhero" in their eyes in today's world of movies, books or cartoons. They will head out to the hall as normal and face the challenge of an assault course dressed as a superhero! the children have been given sponsor forms to raise some money to help cover the cost of the new pew cushions for the church.
If you would like a sponsor form you can down load it following the link. All children are invited to join us this special Sunday or any Sunday when we meet in the church at 9:45am then head out to the hall after the children's hymn for some wonderful Bible adventures and games.
Dear Congregations
What a privilege to start Easter morning in the Auld Kirkyard at the crack of dawn!
There were dark clouds looming in the sky, but for the few moments we remembeered Jesus' resurrection, the sun shone brightly through the skies, colouring some of the clouds in a light shade of orange; and although it rained on and off all day long - for those few moments not a drop fell out of the sky. It felt as if even nature held its breath to remember what Jesus did for us.....
After a tremendously busy week, and even having to get up an hour earlier because the clocks changed, I felt more alive than ever, not even a little tired. I was thinking about my boys (all 3!) still cosy in bed, and then thought about Mary - grieving the death of her son like only a mother can, and then eralising that he is alive - that all his suffering wasn't for nothing (John 19 & 20).
Jesus conquered death for all of us. Because of what he went through, no amount of suffering we have to go through in our daily lives will ever be for nothing, nor will we have to handle it alone.
So let's live like people who believe this......let's see the sunshine through the rain and feel his love through our pain.
May God bless you all,
Nanda
This summer's holiday Club theme is "Rocky's Plaice" a very special fish and chip restaurant. Which runs from Monday August 8th till Friday 12th. Registration forms will be available from May 1st, so you can book your table at the best restaurant in West Lothian!.
Dear congregations
We find ourselves in the time of Lent niw - a time where we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to remember what He went through to save us.
Since we've moved to Scotland, Easter has got a whole new meaning to me. Because South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, Eastertime is the start of autumn. But here, in the northern hemisphere, Easter and the start of spring coincides. So what happens outside, in nature, also happens inside, in your heart. And that just gives a whole new level of meaningfulness to what Jesus did for us!
Already our garden is filled with snowdrops, and I've had my first bunch of daffodils bring some warmth into the house (seeing the sun isn't doing it at the moment!). Despite the fact that the weather is very unpredictable this year, the promise of spring is in the air - no doubt about that!
But this year Easter will be even more symbolic, because British Summer Time literally starts on Easter morning! I know that might mean fewer hours in bed if you are planning to attend the 7am service in the Auld Kirk yard, but that also means that as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the long, dark nights will be something of the past....
What Jesus did for us on the cross means that on a spiritual level we can also put the long, dark nights behind us - He brought us new life, joy and light. So please join us for all our special Lenten and Easter celebrations this year, so we can celebrate the fact that Jesus withered and died to give us the opportunity to blossom.
May God bless you all,
Nanda
We have changed our format recently and have introduced a "Fun-day Sunday" at the end of every topic!
We share what we have been learning with the congregation at the end of each block, which is roughly every four weeks. Sunday past was a quiz in church on creatures mentioned in the Bible which was fun, this was followed by a great mix of games for the kids in the hall.
Next week we have some great new things to share with all children from 3yrs - primary 7 so come along and see what we have in store!