Clearing the ground for the polytunnel at Broughton Primary School

On Tuesday 5th June a very small team of very small people ably assisted by Finlay Smith, Lynn Smith and Christine Parker made the first steps towards erecting a brand new polytunnel for Broughton Primary School. The Parishes of Upper Tweeddale have funded the purchase of this tunnel through last year's Harvest Supper and collections during Christmas services and other events.
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It might be the middle of summer but we are already making plans for the autumn edition of Kirk Matters which is due out at the beginning of September. The deadline for articles to be sent to Isobel Hunter is Friday 17th August.

 

Our visitors from Malawi  arrived on Friday for what is going to be a full programme in the Presbytery.Sadly the visitors from Lebanon had to pull out at the last moment due to illness with the other person unwilling to make the long journey by herself. We are still hopeful that they might join later in the visit.  The first public event of the visit is a service of welcome followed by a fellowship supper in Earlston Church tonight (12th August) at  6pm. Everyone is welcome to come. If you would like or can offer transport, please contact Fiona (830408).

 

Geoffrey Matias, one of the vistors and whom the Presbytery has funded through a Midwifery course, will be with us in Skirling church on Sunday 26th August for a joint service with Skirling and Broughton.   His home church, Namadidi is partnered with Upper Tweeddale. After the service, there will be a simple soup and sandwich lunch served in Skirling Hall so you can meet Geoffrey and have a chat with him. Please note, there will be services in Tweedsmuir and Stobo that day but not in Broughton.

 

On Sunday evening 26th August, there will be a farewell service and party for our visitors before they return home the next day. This will be held in Innerleithen church at 6pm and will be your last chance to meet and hear from our visitors. Everyone is invited to attend what should be a very colourful occasion.

At the end of May at the service celebrating 50 years of women in ministry with the Church of Scotland the collection was given to Rev Rola Sleiman from the Presbytarian Church of Lebanon and Syria in Tripoli to use as she saw fit within her church.

That church is doing a lot of great work to help and support the Syrian refugee community in their area. We have received the following message from Rola:

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Sundae Sunday

On Sunday 10th June about forty people from around the parishes gathered at Tweedsmuir Village Hall for a united Sundae Sunday service followed by ice cream and a wonderful range of sauces and toppings.

The focus of the service was on the plight of displaced people, a theme often repeated in the Bible (the reading was the story of Ruth) and sadly far too relevant today. According to UNHCR the world "is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record" with over 65 million people having been forced from their homes, over 22 million of whom are refugees, over half of whom are under 18 years old.
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To celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the ordination of women as Ministers in the Church of Scotland Sunday 27th May saw a special and inspiring service in Drumelzier Church. The service was lead by the Very Rev  Dr Sheilagh Kestings, one of just four women to have held the post of Moderator of the General Assembly. She is also connected with Drumelzier Church in that her grand-father was a previous Minister of Drumelzier.

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The cushion in Tweedsmuir Kirk's has recently been re-upholstered and is now back in place in the pulpit awaiting the installation of a new Minister.

The cushion used to be very threadbare, was lumpy and torn with horse hair protruding. Maura Glatt, a member of the congregation, took on the challenge and skilfully reupholstered the  cushion in it's new plush cover, chosen to match the pulpit surround.
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