Galashiels Old Parish and St Paul's Church
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
No. 200 December 2005/January 2006 www.oldparishandstpauls.org.uk Galashiels Old Parish and St Paul’s Church Minister: Rev. Leslie Steele. Tel: 752320. E-mail: [email protected] Session Clerk: Hugh Bain, 11 Langhaugh Crescent. Tel: 756615. E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: David Leckey, Dove Cottage, 69 Melrose Road. Tel: 757631 Newsletter Editor: Mrs Margaret Cashman, ‘Grantley’, 38 Abbotsford Road. Tel: 752711 E-mail: [email protected] Dear Friends, if this Christmas you are “enjoying” bad news? “SHOCK NEWS ABOUT THE NATIONAL Oh I know, bad news isn’t meant to be enjoyed HEALTH SERVICE” but sometimes a palate can be develop for it and enjoyment can come in the retelling, It was reported yesterday that everyone now especially if there is somebody to blame. We living in Britain will be dead by 2150 and the can be like the little boy who said when he grew National Health Service has no strategy to deal up that he wanted to be a critic so he could tell with it. The government has been quietly everybody they were wrong. Well Christmas is downplaying the matter but the DAILY NEWS altogether different, for the news is good that can now reveal that a confidential study has God has sent His Son not to condemn the world come up with the revelation that over 60 but so that through Him it might have life. million Brits will definitely be dead by 2150 I hope you will come and enjoy some of the and it has fallen to the DAILY NEWS to break Good News this Christmas at Church. Maybe this conspiracy of silence in our exclusive story another kind of shock news report might come on p5” if you did:- It was a spoof story like this that caught my “MIRACLE – CHURCH ROOF INTACT”. eye on the News Stands in Private Eye’s 2005 It was reported today that the roof did not fall Annual. It was humorous because it poked fun down as ……………………… entered the at newspapers’ love of revelling in bad news, Church. It was long felt that after such an either making it or breaking it and their delight absence the roof was bound to fall in and take in finding someone to blame once they have the life of …………………… in a sudden found out the bad news. In case any of you are catastrophic collapse however it was seen as an wondering about the truth of this let me put astounding miracle of grace that God was your mind at rest, yes, you will be dead in prepared to give good news even to people who 2150! hadn’t been seen in Church for years” – Christmas time is a time of news but it is a Hallelujah! time of good news, “Behold I bring you good With every blessing for Christmas, tidings of great joy” the angel said but I wonder Leslie Steele. Eddie Oliver To those who weren’t there we gave a special presentation to Myra Oliver on Communion Sunday Morning to take to Eddie as special thanks for all his 29 years as organist here in St Paul’s Church along with a card and three sheets of signatures from all the congregation. Later in the week a small delegation of us visited Cauld- shiels Ward with Myra to make the presentation to Eddie personally. The presentation for those who didn’t see was made by a member of the congregation from a redundant organ pipe from the Church, polished and mounted on a wooden base in the shape of a musical note with a support design of a cross. Christmas 2005 Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing Christmas Services Sunday 18th December 11.00 a.m. Christmas Family Service 6.30 p.m. “Performances of the Word” (Nine advent lessons will be recited from memory and Christmas carols sung) Christmas Eve 11.15 p.m. for 11.30 p.m. Candlelight Service Christmas Day 10.30 a.m. Short (45 mins) Informal Family Service January 1st 11.00 a.m. Morning Worship No Evening Services on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day Blessed art thou, O Christmas Christ, That thy cradle was so low that shepherds, Poorest and simplest of earthly folk, Could yet kneel beside it, And look level-eyed in the face of God The Guild Editor’s note Two of our speakers at the Guild in This edition of the newsletter is for December and November were from our own church January, so please remember to submit articles for family – on November 2nd, Jim Tennant the February edition by Sunday, January 29th at the told us how he first became involved in latest – however that Newsletter may be produced. the work of Tearfund, and brought us up Please look back to Peter Sandison’s article last to date with some of the current work they are month when he asked for views on the present doing. On November 16th, our Minister gave us Newsletter and offers of help for future editions. He new insights into the Theme for this year “Dare to asked for comments and opinions by the end of Care with Commitment, a meeting which all November – but to date, I have had very little present found challenging and helpful. As the News- response. PLEASE get in touch and let me know letter goes to press, we are looking forward to what you think – or if you are willing to help in any hearing Mrs. Christine Drummond, a Borders way. Social Worker, speak about the theme in relation to her work. On November 6th, the Guild again hosted a Soup Sunday School Christmas Parties and Sweet Lunch, and we would like to than all will be held in the church Halls on who supported us both by providing desserts and Saturday, 17th December above all by their attendance. Younger children 2.00 pm – 4.00 p.m Our only meeting in December is our eagerly Older children 6.00 p.m – 9.00 p.m. anticipated Christmas Party on Wednesday 14th. In January, we will be welcoming Miss Ella Dodds to show us slides of one of her overseas holidays, which always brings warmth and sunshine to a dull Deaths winter’s day. On January 25th, we have our annual Burns Lunch at 1.00 p.m. Jesus said “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Oct. 29th James Lawson, 11 Abbotsford Court Stamp Collection Oct. 30th Hugh Fraser, Kingsknowes Village, Galashiels Although the large pillar-box has disappeared from the porch, it has been replaced by a smaller and much lighter one to collect any used Nov. 2nd Jean Macdonald, Waverley, (formerly stamps you might have. They are sent up to Edinburgh periodically Duard, Tweed Road) to help in the fight against HIV aids. Please cut stamps from Nov. 11th Edward Crossett, 13 Abbotslea envelopes or parcels leaving at least a quarter of an inch of paper Nov. 19th Albert Wilson, 11 Tweed Crescent all around, as damaged stamps have no value. Thank you in advance for your valued support. Angela Miller We extend our sincere sympathy and the assur- ance of our prayers to the bereaved families. BOYS’ BRIGADE NEVER ENDING GARDENS During the first half of this session a few PROJECT – 26TH JANUARY 2006 changes have taken place within the Further to the article in the Company. Due to the retirement of Jim November newsletter, I Amos as Captain of the 4th Galashiels would like to take this Company, a few of the boys from their opportunity to thank every- Company Section have joined us. The 4th Company one who came along and is still running an Anchor Boy and Junior Section at supported the Ceilidh on St. Aidan’s Church. Saturday 26th November. We are fortunate in having the same Captain, The music on the evening Officers and helpers as last year, looking after a total of 58 boys in all three Sections. was professionally led by The enrolment service was held in our Church on Matt Bramhall, Gordon Allan and Rob McLeod. We Sunday 2 October and was well attended by both were also shown some proper dancing by the Gala boys and their parents. Hill country dance club and also had a star turn On Remembrance Sunday, our Officers and boys from Rachel Noble and Sarah Glenfield who sang of the Company Section attended our Church for ‘You are the Shepherd’ along with the CD of the the earlier part of the morning service before African Children’s choir. This all added to a very leaving to assemble with all the other organisations enjoyable night where we raised a sum of £740.50 in Park Street. In previous years the Galashiels which will help fund the group from Galashiels to Boys’ Brigade Companies assembled at the go to Africa on 26th January 2006 for the Never Volunteer Hall and marched direct to the War Ending Gardens Project. Memorial. It was good to see the Boys’ Brigade join We will be continuing to fund raise by hosting a the main parade from Park Street, especially when Praise Evening on Saturday 10th December at St. a Colour Party carrying the new Battalion Colours John’s Church starting at 7.30pm. Sons of Thunder preceded them. The Colour Party included one of are to be the Praise Band and there will be no our Officers, Dr.