St Boswells with Maxton & Mertoun with Newtown - Church Newsletter December 2008 and January 2009

St Boswells with Maxton & Mertoun with Newtown - Church Newsletter December 2008 and January 2009

Hello from the Manse
At the end of October, I attended a Church conference overnight at Tulliallan Police College. The title of the conference was: “Value Added Church – the role of the Church in rural community life”. It got me thinking about what value we do place on the Church in our community, and especially as we think about Christmas, the time of year that for some is a time of sadness, and or loneliness. We are, I think, very fortunate in our community that we have so many who care about neighbours who are on their own and we still have a real sense of community in each of the villages and areas of this charge. Talking of Christmas though, it is easy to get caught up in the hype of Christmas, but with the credit crunch and recession, will our attitude to Christmas change this year – I wonder. Christmas is a time that, once we have unwrapped the presents, eaten too much, and said goodbye to the many visitors that come and go, a stillness and tranquillity comes to the fore. When Christ was born – the reason for all the madness in shops, he came very humbly and quietly, there was no fuss, people didn’t go out and start buying the latest in toys and games, so why do we do this now. Maybe as the need to count the cost of spending and be a little more prudent this Christmas, we will get to know the Christmas event in it’s true meaning – the free gift of God, and his light relight in hearts that have forgotten about God’s gift for whatever reason. Whatever you do this Christmas time, may the peace of God be with you all, and may the New Year bring happiness and prosperity.
Yours in Him
Sheila

With Thanks
My thanks to the Children of Primary 1 and 2 of Newtown and Primaries 1 – 3 of St Boswells for the lovely pictures that will be made into Christmas Cards and distributed with this newsletter. They were all well done, and it was difficult to pick one or two, which is why there are 7 winners. Again, well done and thank you for your pictures.
Rev Sheila

WHAT'S ON
Sunday Services
Newtown
9.30 am every Sunday, except 28 Dec
25 Jan at 5.00pm (See services for Christmas)
St Boswells
10.30 am every Sunday (See See services for Christmas)
Maxton and Mertoun
11.45 am every Sunday
Maxton Church: 14 Dec, 11 & 25 Jan
Mertoun Church: 7 & 21 Dec, 4 & 18 Jan

Worship on Wednesday
Wednesdays 10 December and 14 & 28 January in St Boswells Church Hall at 9.30am

Drop in for Teens
Sundays from 7-9pm in St Boswells Church Hall
(Youth group for S1 & upwards) (No meetings Dec 23 and Jan 4)

Prayer & Bible Study Group
Thursdays 11 Dec, 15 & 29 January
5 John Younger Gardens. All welcome

Lunch Club
Every Friday from 12 noon till 1.30pm in St Boswells Church Hall, except 26 Dec & 2 Jan.

St Boswells Guild
Meets at 7.30pm in the Church Hall
4 Dec: The Leprosy Mission of Scotland
18 Dec: Christmas Party
8 Jan: Rev Sheila Moir – Talk on the Guild Theme
22 Jan: Talk by Elder Voice

Craft Group
Every Wednesday from 1.30 – 3.30pm in St Boswells Church Hall

Newtown Hour of Praise
Thursdays 18 December & 15 January in Newtown Community Wing at 2.00 pm

St Boswells Kirk Session
Tues 20 Jan in St Boswells Church Hall at 7.30pm

Maxton & Mertoun Kirk Session
Wednesday 21 January, Mertoun Kirk, 7.30pm

Newtown Kirk Session
Tuesday 27 January, Newtown Vestry, 7.30pm

WANTED: CLEANER FOR ST BOSWELLS CHURCH & HALL
Starting 1st February 2009; Approximately 3 hours per week by arrangement
National minimum wage rates apply.
Further details and applications to: Mrs Lucy Smith, Session Clerk,
tel 01835 822425 by Friday 19 December at the latest.

LUNCH CLUB
The Lunch Club Christmas lunch will be on Friday 19 December, and we look forward to seeing you all there.
There will be no Club on Fridays 26 December or 2 January but normal service will resume again on 9 January.
Thank you for all your support and have a good Christmas.

St Boswells Parish Church Tea Towels
Just what you need for those last minute Christmas presents.
They are now available at the bargain price of £1.00 each from Mary Sargent, 9 Jean Lawrie Court 824261

NEWTOWN NEWS
Hour of Praise dates: Thursdays 18th December and 15th January.

Flower List: The list for 2009 will be available in Newtown Church.
If you wish to provide flowers, or donate to the cost of flowers, on a particular Sunday, please put your name on the list or contact Carol Hunter, the Flower Convenor.

Service of Lessons and Carols in Newtown Church
on Sunday 7th December at 6 p.m. Transport will be available for anyone in Newtown who wishes a lift to church for that service.
To arrange transport, please contact Jim Dickson (01835 822539) or Winnie Milligan (01835 823457).

Prayer
The 2009 edition of Pray Now will be available from me from the beginning of December at a discounted price of £3 (ie 40% discount!), thanks to a bulk order being put in by Presbytery. Pray Now contains daily devotions and also a CD which complements the contents of the book. This book and CD can be used on a structured daily basis, to dip in and out of as felt appropriate, separately or together. In fact its use can be structured to fit individual needs and preferences. In my opinion, Pray Now is an invaluable resource and I highly recommend it.
Elvira Denoon, Prayer Promoter

Maxton 21 Parish Social:
Sunday 7th December in the Hall at 3pm.
All residents of the Parish are welcome to attend.
Mulled wine and festive fare. Silver collection.

Maxton Village Carol Singing:
Sunday 21st December 2008 .
Why not join us for the Traditional Carol Singing in Maxton Village?
All are welcome. Meet at the Hall Car Park at 6.30pm.
Wear suitably festive clothing if you wish. Please bring a torch or lantern; carol sheets provided. Refreshments provided afterwards.
All proceeds to Maxton 21 Charity for 2008 - Princess Royal Carers' Trust Border Branch Youth Project.

Maxton 21 Hogmanay Ceilidh
Wednesday 31st December 2008 in Maxton Village Hall, 8pm till 1am
Adults £5 – Children free. Free raffle. BYOB. Light supper provided. As numbers are limited, pre-booking is essential.
Contact Priscilla on 01835 823392.

Maxton Meets – Richard Smart
Monday 12th January 2009
Richard will give an illustrated talk: "My time with VSO in Ghana".
Richard, who is Principal teacher of Biology at Earlston High School, will also detail the ongoing project with which he and the school are involved.
All meetings are in Maxton Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.
Admission is £1.50 (includes tea/coffee and biscuits)
All are welcome. Come to one; come to all.

Maxton Burns Supper 2009
This will be held in Maxton Village Hall on Saturday, 31st January, 7.30pm for 8pm start, and will be extra special as 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.
The Immortal Memory will be given by Rev Haisley Moore.
If you would like to attend, please contact Priscilla Scott, 01835 823392.

For Your Diary
9th February 2009 - Maxton Meets – Mark Mulhern

Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles
"Souper Sunday" in Conjunction with The Church of Scotland's HIV/AIDS Project Sunday 11th January 2009.
A Soup lunch will be served in St Boswells Church Hall on Sunday 11th January, from 12.00 noon to 1.30pm, the proceeds of which will go to the above project.
Cost £2.00 for adults £1.00 for children.

SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS

During December, in addition to normal Sunday worship in our churches, we will celebrate the Christmas season with some additional events. Occasionally these will be in place of the normal arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you to any of these.

Sunday 30 November – First Sunday in Advent
• United Morning Worship in Newtown Church at 10.30am - this will be the only morning service
• United Evening Service to mark the beginning of Advent, in St Boswells Church Hall, at 6.30pm, including Holy Communion

Sunday 7 December
• Newtown Church at 9.30am; St Boswells Church at 10.30am; Mertoun Kirk at 11.45am
• United Service of Lessons and Carols in Newtown Church at 6pm, with involvement by schoolchildren. Retiring offering – see below

Sunday 14 December
• Newtown Church at 9.30am; St Boswells Church at 10.30am; Maxton Kirk at 11.45am

Friday 19 December
Primary Schools and Nurseries End of Term & Christmas Services
• Newtown School at 9.30am
• St Boswells School in St Boswells Church at 10.45am
Parents and family friends are welcome to attend

Sunday 21 December
• Newtown Church at 9.30am – “ When Worlds Collide:
A Christmas Detective Drama”
• St Boswells Church at 10.30am – “ When Worlds Collide:
A Christmas Detective Drama”
• Mertoun Kirk at 11.45am – Sunday School Nativity Play

Wednesday 24 December - Christmas Eve
• Christingle Service in St Boswells Church at 4pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this service, with or without an accompanying child! Please bring children, including any young visitors, to the Church Hall at 3.30pm and help them to make Christingles – all materials and expertise are provided!
Retiring offering – see below
• Traditional Carol Singing round the Christmas Tree in Newtown at 6.30pm
• United Watchnight Service in St Boswells Church, with carol singing as we gather at 11.15pm, with the service commencing at 11.30pm. Please arrive when you can. Retiring offering – see below

Christmas Day
• United Family Service in Maxton Kirk at 10.30am – everyone please bring a new toy!
Retiring offering – see below

Sunday 28 December
• United Morning Worship in St Boswells Church at 10.30am - this will be the only morning service

Retiring offerings will be in aid of The Smile Train

Thanks for your support
The musical evening held recently in Mertoun Kirk raised £610 for Maxton and Mertoun Church funds. Sincere thanks to all who supported this event and special thanks to Catherine Fish and Molly Pringle for their lovely vocal and instrumental performance.

Used Stamps Appeal
This is the time of year when we all send and receive Christmas cards. Can I ask that you save your used stamps for me. I collect these stamps for the Church of Scotland World Mission who, from the proceeds of selling the stamps, are supporting a project in North India.
In India, many young girls have dropped out of mainstream education due to financial hardship, gender or caste discrimination. The Scottish University Missionaries Institution in Kalimpong has helped a few of these young girls return to school and continue their education - despite it being a boys school!
The money from our stamps goes to support the school deliver a first class education for these young girls.A very big thank you to all who have given me stamps this year. So far this year £1,262 has been raised from stamps for this project – please help us to raise this total over the festive season

Ann Smith Old Schoolhouse St Boswells

Material for the February Newsletter should be submitted by
Monday 19th January. It should be given or sent, preferably by e-mail,
to the editor, Blair Cummock.