As of the end of September Betty and Jessie Eastland are retiring as active elders in Skirling Kirk. They have however assured us that they still intend to be involved in the life of the Kirk and are keen to stay in touch with what is going on in the Parishes. The congregation in Skirling would expect and accept nothing less. Here are some of their recollections of their long involvement with Skirling and its church.
The sisters were both born in the village and attended Sunday school along with all the rest of the children, even those whose parents were not in church. Then when they were older it was Bible Class in the Church or in the Manse. Bible Class involved homework on that week’s text in a pink exercise book marked up each week by the Minister. Then they joined the church in their mid-teens again along with majority of the local children; they remember twelve teenagers joining one Sunday. Betty has seen ten ministers come and go in Skirling, initially Skirling Ministers, then linked with Broughton then in the 1970’s, as we are today, linked with Broughton, Stobo and Drumelzier and Tweedsmuir. Nine of those Ministers went into retirement from the charge.
100 years after the end of the first world war it features a three page article by Neil Morrison on the Robin Chapel, "a place of remembrance".. More
Janet Hunter Comes 2nd in National Guild Convenor Challenge
Janet Hunter comes 2nd in guild convenor's challenge
On 1st September Janet Hunter was in Dundee to attend the Guild Annual Gathering where it was announced that her embroidered cushion came second in this year's national Guild Convenor's Challenge. The challenge was to embroider a cushion.on the theme of "One Journey Many Roads", that being the Guild's theme for the next three years.
This year's Harvest Supper will be held on Saturday 29nd September at 6PM in Broughton Village Hall.
As in previous years this will be a mixture of musical entertainment headlined by the Peebles based ukelele band Strumash, challenging quizes and delicious food and most of the money raised this year will go to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
This year, instead of asking for donations of baking, we have been asking for donations of plums and apples before the day so we can transform them into crumbles. As a result we have been wonderfully inundated with fruit so at present we have enough. Many thanks to all who have donated.
As always everyone is welcome.
Church notices for Sunday 16th September 2018
The first meeting of the Guild for this session will be this Wednesday, 19th September in Broughton Village Hall starting at 2:30pm. Our speaker will be Rev Tony Foley who will be introducing the new 3 year Guild Strategy 'One Journey, many Roads' All are welcome to join us, new members and visitors are especially invited.
Just a reminder that next Sunday (23rd September), Harvest Thanksgiving will be celebrated in Broughton and Skirling churches at the usual times and in Tweedsmuir and Stobo the following Sunday. Donations of dried and tinned goods and toiletries welcomed. These will be taken to the Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road in Edinburgh. This shop serves the local communities of Muirhouse and West Pilton with whom the Parishes of Upper Tweeddale have long had a connection.
The annual Harvest Supper will take place in Broughton Village Hall on Saturday 29th September at 6pm. Food, fun and music are on the menu so please encourage your friends and neighbours to join us to celebrate harvest home in our community. All proceeds will be going this year to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
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. More
Parish Profile
STOP PRESS! We're now looking for a new Minister. For more information and our parish profile click More
Presbytery Visit from Young People of Malawi and Lebanon
Geoffrey at Borders General Hospital
On 26th August the visit of an inspiring group of young people from Malawi and Lebanon to the Presbytery came to a fitting end with a party/service at Innerleithen Church. The many activities (social and serious) of the visit were encapsulated in two hours of food and friendship.
Fiona Burnett, convenor of the World Commission Committee of the Presbytery, conducted an interview with the group during which they gently laid down a challenge to us to listen more to young people, to embrace change so that the church can become more attractive to the young and to have more interactive services.
Sundae Sunday - Digby Welch reads the story of Ruth
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. More
Broughton Kirk at 10am
Tweedsmuir Kirk at 10am
Skirling Kirk at 11.30am
Stobo Kirk at 11.30am
Coming Soon...
Joint Service followed by Lunch in Skirling
Sunday
21 October 2018
Weekly Listening Hour
Tuesdays 10:30
Laurel Bank Broughton
Coming Soon... Joint Service followed by Lunch in Skirling Sunday 21 October 2018
