Dear friends January 2021 Happy New Year! Or is it! We are back in Lockdown and it isn’t really clear when this present Lockdown will end. The depths of winter, the middle of January, and we have to spend most of our time at home. Stuck indoors! Of course, January is named after the Roman God Janus. The Romans believed Janus was the god of doors, beginnings and endings, and transitions. Janus is depicted as having two faces. He could look ahead toward the future and back at the past at the same time. Looking back, 2020 was a year like no other in my memory. There was such challenge and stress placed on our NHS by the Covid-19 pandemic and there continues to be. So many changes to the way we now live our lives. There was also a renewed appreciation for frontline workers. Who will forget the achievements of Captain Tom raising money for charity in the run up to his 100th birthday? Of course, there has been so much grief and sadness and loss. We cannot at present measure the toll this is taking on our collective mental wellbeing. The full extent of the pandemic's impact on education or the economy has still to be fully worked out. Looking forward, there is no doubt there are still massive challenges ahead, but we now know what we are facing and the restrictions we still have to live with. But there is also renewed optimism and hope and light in the news that vaccines have been approved and are beginning to be ‘rolled out’. We have taken the first steps on the road to a new future. But there are still massive challenges ahead. As we get rid of an old year and look forward to a new one, we all try to be a little like Janus. We know through experience what we did wrong and what we did right, and hope to do better this year. Some people make ambitious New Year’s resolutions; others just take a deep breath and hope for the best. In my first online reflection of the year, I mentioned a few nuggets of wisdom based on writings and teachings of the early monastic church that could act as New Year resolutions. Here are a few. Perhaps they can help us as we try to navigate the year ahead. 1 Never stop starting over. 2 Live intentionally, not aimlessly 3 Never ever despair, no matter what 4 Pray simply. 5 Stop judging others 6 Celebrate theological modesty. 7 Acknowledge my brokenness 8 Be ruthlessly realistic 9 Always think good of everyone

Your minister and friend Stephen

As a congregation, we extend our sympathy to any in our congregation and parish who have experienced bereavement recently. In particular, we remember the families of the late Jean Clark, Les Meneely, Elizabeth Martin, Moira Donaldson, Walter Gardner, Fred Broughton and Marion McLean.

The Guild

It is such a pity that we can't meet up every second and fourth Tuesday in the month for our Guild meetings. I, for one. am missing meeting up with everyone. However, now that the vaccine is being rolled out things are looking better. I do hope that you enjoyed The Big Lockdown Guild News magazine and can I thank you all for paying so willingly towards the cost of 20/21 membership fees. These monies have been forwarded to Edinburgh. With all my good wishes. Jan Howitt

Farewell to Dorothy. It was fortunate that we were still able to worship in church on 20th December, when we bade a fond farewell to Dorothy Wallace. The congregation had been very generous with their donations towards a gift, reflecting the depth of affection for Dorothy and appreciation of all she had done during her probationary period with us. Stephen presented Dorothy with a painting of the church by George Grant plus a sizeable cheque. A message of thanks from Dorothy is below.

To all at Kilbarchan Parish Church, Many thanks for the beautiful painting of the Church and for the very generous cheque you presented me with. I will put the money to good use once I am settled in the manse – wherever that may be – and when I look at the picture, already in pride of place on my sitting room wall, I will think fondly of you all. You are all in my thoughts as we enter a new year and possibly a few more difficult months. But there is a glimmer of light, with the vaccine and we must be glad of that. Alex and I wish you all a very Happy New Year. With much love and thanks Dorothy and Alex.

Thanks - we are very grateful to those who helped decorate the church for the Christmas services in Church and also to everyone who delivered the Church cards to all houses in Kilbarchan and Brookfield. The Christmas services using zoom were much appreciated and thanks go to the organisers, participants and tech experts involved.

Attendance at worship - booking of places. We aim to resume worship in church once the Tier 4 restrictions are lifted and still intend to operate the booking system for as long as there are limits on the numbers attending. Bookings can be made from Monday until Thursday at 5 p.m. for the following Sunday’s service. Bookings must be made, and contact details provided each time you plan to attend worship. Please book a place by emailing [email protected] or by texting or phoning 0787 620 1096. We are grateful to the volunteers managing these arrangements.

Renfrewshire Food Bank

Our Reverse Advent Calendar Initiative resulted in 2 fully loaded car boots of foodstuffs and toiletries being delivered to Renfrew. We were supported by Kilbarchan Bowling Club and Smith & McLaurin. We also handed over £240 in cash donation.

Currently the Foodbank is closed and not receiving donations in an effort to protect its volunteer helpers. This closure resulted in us having a carload of donations from the church community and the Bowling Club for which we needed to find a home. We managed to pass our donations on to the City Mission charity working with needy families in Linthouse, and areas of Glasgow. The charity was so appreciative of the support from the village of Kilbarchan.

Since lock down in March 2020 Renfrewshire Foodbank has received just under 106tonnes of items and is able to provide essential items to those in the community struggling during the difficult times.

The closure of the Foodbank to donations will be reviewed towards end of January.

Thanks for your ongoing generosity and support. Jack & Graham

Weekly reflections can be found at http://www.kilbarchan-kirk.btck.co.uk The phone number for dial a sermon is 01505 805893.

Kilbarchan Parish Church Registered Scottish Charity No.SC012123