ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH CARLUKE

Registered Charity SCO13986

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Summer 2018

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

A church where people of all generations grow in faith and share in active participation.

WHO’S WHO

Minister: Rev Helen Jamieson: Tel: 01555 771218

Session Clerk: Mrs Liz Bradley: Tel: 01555 751797

Treasurer: Mrs Libby Muir: Tel: 07723639080

Roll Keeper: Kathleen Wood: Tel: 01698 372063

Church Caretaker: Mrs Jennifer Johnston: Tel: 07944366898

Organist: David Edment

Worship Team: Liz Bradley, Margaret Bell, Barbara Mackie, Libby Muir, Allison Plenderleith,Pamela Watt

Kathleen Wood

HospitalityTeam Leaders: Elizabeth Smith and Laura McConnell

Pastoral Care Team Leaders: Pamela Watt and Margaret Bell

Property Team Leader: Gordon Bryan

United Summer Services

July 1 and 8th in Kirkton ChurchJuly 15th and 22nd in St Andrew’s Church29th July in URC (Communion)5th and 12th August in St John’s Church

‘Sandcastle moments’

As I write this, we have been blessed with a spell of wonderfully warm and sunny weather and bank holiday weekends have seen people heading to

the beaches on our coastlines.

Carol Hamblet Adams in her book ‘My beautiful sandcastle moments’ writes ‘Life’s little joy filled moments are truly our greatest riches. ‘What good are all the riches the world can offer if I haven’t taken time to have fun and build a sandcastle along the way?’

Even if we are not actually on a beach building sandcastles, we can all have these little joy filled moments. At times though we can be so concerned about the future or dwelling on what happened yesterday that we lose the joy of the present.

The month of May has been a special month with two important ‘sandcastle moments ‘ for us in St Andrew’s.

We had the privilege of welcoming the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland - His Grace, the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. His Grace is a keen supporter of Playlist for Life – and as we are an Information Point for Playlist for Life we held a special session of our Drop in Support and welcomed also the choir from Victoria Park School. Singing ‘ Love shine a light in every corner of my heart’, the children truly shone a light in the afternoon. We received a lovely thank you letter from His Grace and even a mention at the closing session of the General Assembly where he commended the commitment of all those who assist with the Drop in Support.

It was also a great pleasure in May to welcome as members of St Andrew’s (by profession of faith) Alistair McIntosh and Colin McDowall. We also welcomed some of their family members who shared their special day too – and of course we had to celebrate with some cake in the hall after worship!

As we look towards the summer and hopefully some more warm sunshine, let’s ensure we take some time to reflect on our ‘sandcastle moments’ – and give thanks to God for them.

May you find time for relaxation, refreshment and renewal this summer and to continue with the theme of the General Assembly this year – May the peace of God be with you.

Helen

The book My Beautiful Sandcastle Moments concludes with these words of Ida Scott Taylor‘One day at a time… this is enoughDo not look back and grieve over yesterday, for it is gone, and don’t worry about tomorrow, for it has not yet come.Just live in today and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering’

Stewardship & Finance

The figures below show our financial position at 30th April 2018

Income (2018) £ £Offerings 15,946Other Income 9,907 25,853Expenditure (2018)Ministries & Mission 9,064Heat & Light 2,895Fabric repairs & maintenance 2,801Other Local Costs 6,902 21,662Balance 4,191Balance 01/01/17 [ General fund ] 3,065Balance 31/04/17 [ General fund ] 7,256_______________________________________________Property AppealThe annual Property Appeal aims to raise sufficient funds to keep our buildings in good repair. You will receive a Property Appeal envelope with this magazine. Please give what you can and return it to Church or to your elder or visitor as soon as possible. If you have not received an Appeal envelope or wish to arrange for it to be collected please contact me by phone, text or email. Tel: 07723 639080 email: libbymuir19@gmail.com.

Offering envelopes, including Property

Appeal, put in the plate at any of our united services will be forwarded to St. Andrew’s Treasurer.Christmas Appeal

The sum raised for Street Level was £376.50. If you would like to become a regular supporter of the work of Street Level I would be happy to supply a Standing Order form.Musical Evening

The evening with the Campsie Players held on 19th April raised £414.30 for church funds.Fred Higgison Bequest

A legacy of £1,000 received from the estate of the late Fred Higgison has been used to purchase a Casio digital piano to replace the piano which has served us in the halls for many years. Miss Nancy Hastie’s Bequest

Please pass on any suggestions as to how these funds may be put to good use by contacting any member of the Kirk Session.Libby Muir, Treasurer Tel: 07723 639080

We invite you to support St Andrew's Church when shopping at AmazonSmile. This link will take you directly to where you

can request that a small percentage of what you spend is donated to St Andrew's.

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/SC013968

JOCK’S GARDENThey say that a hard winter brings a good summer, let’s hope. It has certainly brought a late start to gardening and of course farming as well. I reckon I am around four weeks

late but at last I have made a start planting. Today actually, 24 April, I notice the grass is now growing. The one gardening job I don’t like is cutting grass, but it does help to make compost. I am still using last year’s onions and just finished the shallots a few weeks ago. I finished the potatoes last month and the leeks as well, swedes the other week, so that is not bad. The May flowers are out, so the weather should be improving. My plum blossom is out so I’d better not let the frost get them this year. The fruit bushes are looking good. I hope the rasps have got over the drain overflow, but though they are starting to look good I am not expecting much from them this year either. All the fruit blossom is looking well now.Having given the grass it’s first cut I have now got onion sets and shallots in, all the potatoes as well, peas, turnips, beans and swedes. As the deadline is fast approaching for the printers, I will have to stop my ramblings, the editor is on my back. Good gardening.

Jock

The Glory of the

Garden by Rudyard

KiplingOur England is a garden that is full of stately views,of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues,with statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by;but the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.

For where the old thick laurels grow, along the thin red wall,you find the tool- and potting-sheds which are the heart of all;the cold-frames and the hot-houses, the dungpits and the tanks,the rollers, carts and drain-pipes, with the barrows and the planks.

And there you’ll see the gardeners, the men and ‘prentice boys

told off to do as they are bid and do it without noise;for, except when seeds are planted and we shout to scare the birds,the Glory of the Garden it abideth not in words.

And some can pot begonias and some can bud a rose,and some are hardly fit to trust with anything that grows;but they can roll and trim the lawns and sift the sand and loam,for the Glory of the Garden occupieth all who come.

Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not madeby singing:- “Oh, how beautiful!” and sitting in the shade,while better men than we go out and start their working livesat grubbing weeds from gravel-paths with broken dinner-knives.

There’s not a pair of legs so thin, there’s not a head so thick,there’s not a hand so weak and white, nor yet a heart so sick,but it can find some needful job that’s crying to be done,for the Glory of the Garden glorifieth every one.

Then seek your job with thankfulness and work till further orders,if it’s only netting strawberries or killing slugs on borders;and when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden,you will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.

Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him seesthat half a proper gardener’s work is done upon his knees,so when your work is finished, your can wash your hands and pray

for the Glory of the Garden, that it may not pass away!And the Glory of the Garden it shall never pass away!

Drop in support and Drop in ActivitiesThe last Friday of the month (Drop in Support) and the second Friday of the month (Drop in Activities) continue to meet an ever increasing need for support for those with memory difficulties and their carers. Most months between the two sessions on offer, we have 50-60 people attending.

Since January this year we have been saddened by the death of two people who regularly attended the Drop in and also by the death of the spouse of

one of our attendees. The families expressed their gratitude for the support provided by having a retiring offering at the funeral services and so Drop in funds have benefitted by over £1000 in memory of the late Peter Torrance, John Armstrong and Bob Inglis. We are very grateful to the families for their generosity and support at such a difficult time. As John worked all of his life as a market gardener the Drop in Development Team decided to put the donation from Mrs Armstrong and her family into the fund to extend and improve our garden area.

In June, members benefitted from a day out to Summerlee Heritage Centre in Coatbridge and we were able to cover the cost of the coach from our funds. Everyone enjoyed their time; a trip on the tram, time to look at the old houses, lunch together and then the opportunity to see round the museum. Thankfully we had our tram trip first in the amazingly warm weather, because by mid- afternoon we had torrential rain! We also enjoyed listening to the Compton organ being played in the afternoon – and some of us even managed a wee dance!

We have shared in a variety of activities including singing and dancing with Gordon Cree at the organ, a therapy taster session from the Haven, baking and arts and crafts. We also enjoyed a visit from Victoria Park choir and have continued to build contacts with The Haven and the Carers Network. We will participate in a Carers Information Fayre in Lanark in mid June.Our partnership with the charity Playlist for Life continues and as an Information Point, we offer support to people to make a Playlist of personalised meaningful music.

In May we were delighted when Playlist for Life asked us to host a visit of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. We organised a special session of the Drop in on Monday 21st May and welcomed His Grace, Richard Scott, the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry and his entourage. His Grace spent some time with Sarah Metcalfe (CEO for Playlist for Life), Mary McDougall (Communities Officer for Playlist for Life) and Helen before joining everyone in the hall for afternoon tea and entertainment provided by Victoria Park Choir. Everyone had a wonderful time and the choir sang their hearts out.

A thank you letter sent by the Purse Bearer said “His Grace very much enjoyed meeting all the people who come to the Drop in and hearing at first hand the benefits of Playlist for Life. The highlight of his day was hearing the choir from Victoria Park School who sang their hearts out and who were clearly loving the music and singing, as he said ‘they shone a light into everyone’s hearts’”In his closing speech to the General Assembly His Grace paid tribute to the work undertaken here to support people with dementia and encouraged people to learn more of Playlist for Life. If you’d like to hear what his Grace said then visit the Church of Scotland General Assembly page and look for the webcast of the Closing Ceremony http://stream1.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/general_assembly/archive/closing_worship_and_ceremony

As some people who would benefit from the Drop in Support cannot attend due to transport difficulties, we are currently having some discussions with South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership to see if it might be

possible for us to work together to provide some accessible transport to the Drop in.

The Drop in has an amazing team of volunteers and so to Jennifer, Sharon, Irene, Libby, Elizabeth, Margaret, Jan,

Janet, Sandra, and Roberta we extend our sincere thanks for your commitment.Gavin Whitefield has joined the Development Team to assist us in funding applications so that we can continue to develop the project and hopefully expand our gardening area. We are grateful for Gavin’s time and financial expertise.

Drop in continues as normal during the summer with more activities planned. We are looking forward to a visit from the Jubilee Jammers , a return visit from Victoria Park – and we even have seats booked for the pantomime in the Kings Theatre in December!

If you know someone who has memory difficulties and who may benefit from the Drop in Support please encourage them to come along – tea/coffee/friendship – and cake – are always on offer!

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH GUILD

‘BE BOLD, BE STRONG’

The title of our strategy over the last three years. Very Rev Dr Elizabeth Lorna Hood addressed the Guild Big Sing during Assembly week and congratulated the Guild on the work which is undertaken by each Guild throughout Scotland and in England. No matter the number of members

within each church Guild members adhere to the four cornerstones:

WORSHIP PRAYER FELLOWSHIP ACTION

“At the General Assembly, the Business Convener announced that the offering at the Guild Big Sing raised £3735.00! This will be a huge help to our friends in the Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi. Great news for us and for the Louden Training College in Embangweni, to assist in the completion of a water bore hole and the tailoring project of the Umanyano Woman's Guild. Thanks to everyone who gave so generously.”

A few of our own members attended The Guild Big Sing in the Assembly Rooms at the top of The Mound, in Edinburgh, we joined with almost 1000 members, men and women. The hymns were selected by each of the retiring Project Partners and two past National Conveners. Our united voices must have almost raised the roof of this old building and carried out to the courtyard and beyond. The Guild National Convener announced the latest total raised through the Guild Projects, £725,000.00. The Projects which have been supported over the last three years will continue to be supported prayerfully by each Guild though no longer financially.

Projects:

Ascension Trust Street Pastors £128,855.36Care for the Family Let’s Stick Together £110,886.22Christian Aid Caring for Mother Earth in Bolivia £110,042.11Feed the Minds Breaking the Cycle of FGM £142,996.70

Mission International Haiti Project £118,358.50Prospects All Friends Together £113,952.61

St Andrew’s Guild members have enjoyed a varied and interesting session, hearing from two of the Projects, enjoying musical afternoons with the Wishaw Girls Singing Group and Alan Smith. The weather did cause some havoc not only to the end of our session but also to the World Day of Prayer Service which was rescheduled, our speaker Rev Drew Sheridan spoke of ‘the Wombles’ a group set up in Lanark to assist in clearing the enormous amount of rubbish thrown out onto the countryside and verges. This echoed the theme of the service at which we were asked to consider what we could do to ‘Care for Mother Earth’. Our session ended with a Meal and Communion, and we take this opportunity to thank our minister Helen for leading this day and also for introducing the Guild theme each year. In September we move into a new triennium, a new strategy ‘One Journey, Many Roads’ with the first theme being ‘Seeking the Way’. One of the facts of the Christian life is that we are all on a journey and the roads we follow on that journey can have many twists and turns for each of us. Being in the Guild we share in fellowship and most of all we have the support and love of our Lord Jesus guiding our path, walking with us each step of the road.

The six new Projects are:

Sailors’ Society The Boys’ Brigade Empowering Teenage Mothers in Zambia Growing the Future Join up the Dots Free to Live Trust

We look forward to renewing our commitment to the Guild, to understanding and learning of the work of our new Project Partners as we journey into the new session which starts in October.

‘Whose We Are and Whom We Serve’

Heart to Heart

In June some little seeds of hope were planted through the first meeting of our Heart to Heart group. This group is being run on a Tuesday evening by Mrs Moira Irszak to offer support to those who have been bereaved.The group will offer time to share confidentially and informally over a cuppa.If you or anyone you know may benefit from some support on the difficult journey of grief, please get in touch with Moira (Tel: 01555 750323) or speak to the Minister.

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HOSPITALITY

We arranged an Evening with the Campsie Players on Thursday, 19 April. It was an exceptionally good evening, well attended, and

everyone enjoyed the selection of music. The Team outdid themselves regarding the supper with plenty of lovely baking. We hope to have the Players back again at a later date so that anyone who didn’t manage along will have the opportunity to hear them.

We are also thinking ahead for some events during the autumn and winter months so look out for information coming your way.

Elizabeth

Friendship and Faith - monthly Services at 2pm

On the last Sunday of each month there is time to gather in the small hall for tea/coffee/cake and

friendship and our time together is concluded by a short time of worship. In February, June and October we celebrate Communion.If 11am is not a good time for you for whatever reason – why not come and join us?

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Musical Tea… last Tuesday of each month 1.30-3pm Singing is good for the brain! It has been wonderful to sing together and even have a dance with Gordon Cree at the organ. We have also been delighted to welcome residents and staff from Clinton House Nursing Home, Shawsburn. Thanks to the superb efforts from members of the Hospitality Team - making lovely sandwiches, ensuring all the tables are set and people are welcomed, coupled with the wonderful home baking kindly donated by members of the congregation we also enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea.We continue on the last Tuesday of each month – and we don’t stop during the summer! Why not come along and join us for an afternoon of music and friendship.

*********************UNICEF: our Jar of Grace Appeal 2018A final total of £1460.95 has now been sent to UNICEF and, since over £700 of this amount qualifies for Gift Aid, the actual sum UNICEF will receive from Carluke Parish Churches to help respond to disasters involving vulnerable children all around the world should be over £1700. Please accept our thanks once again for your generous support. Allison Plenderleith, Kenny Scott, Chris Shanks

Kirk Session news…….. Using the legacy kindly bequeathed by the late Fred Higgison, we

purchased a new Casio digital piano for use in the hall.

Discussions with Presbytery regarding the Deferred Union of St Andrew’s and St John’s are ongoing. A report in respect of the two church buildings was received and then withdrawn by Presbytery and then in May the Kirk Session received a letter from the Presbytery Support Committee stating that the Kirk Session of St John’s Church has expressed their misgivings concerning the viability of the Deferred Union. Presbytery representatives have visited both Kirk Sessions and spoken with the Ministers. What lies ahead, no one knows – but St Andrew’s continues to look forward in hope and develop our mission and outreach within our parish, community and beyond.

The worship team meets regularly and participates most weeks in leading worship – and taking some services – in fact the Minister has been told she’ll soon be redundant! It is wonderful to see folk offering the gifts they have. The worship team also participates in and leads monthly worship in MiltonGrange Nursing Home.

The Pastoral Care team is looking forward to continuing to develop our relationship with MiltonGrange by working with the charity Faith in Older People and participating in the Purple Bicycle Project which aims to support spiritual care of those with dementia.

Reflecting on the fact that some people find it difficult for a variety of reasons to attend the 11am service, the Kirk Session decided to begin a monthly service at 2pm. It also provides the opportunity to build fellowship.

Our monthly time for prayer at 11am worship ensures that we uphold the needs of others whilst respecting privacy and maintaining confidentiality. On a daily basis, the worship team uphold those who have been named on prayer cards.

September will be our stewardship month and this year we will focus on being good stewards of our money. Without the regular committed giving of members we cannot continue to fulfil our mission to share the good news of Christ’s love, so please take time to reflect on that and look out for more news in the autumn.

Some members of the Kirk Session attended a seminar by Michael Harvey and have been reflecting on the power of invitation. We are good at talking about the fact that fewer folk now share in worship – but we can change that if we invite folk to come – and leave it with God’s Spirit to do the rest. Most folk have come to worship because they have been invited - who could you invite to join us in worship?

Pamela’s week at the General Assembly

When it was first suggested that I should go as a Commissioner to the General Assembly my first reaction was that I would be completely out of my depth, then, I came to the conclusion that everyone feels like that, so I said that I would give it a go. And I’m glad I did.

Well, I was overwhelmed by the singing and the vast number of people who attended; there was enough to fill every seat of our church with a couple of hundred standing. Everyone was very friendly and those organising the event were keen for all to enjoy the experience.

SATURDAY: The theme for 2018 is “Peace be with you”. The opening ceremony was all very orderly and there was a procession of all the past Moderators with the retiring Moderator, the Very Rev Derek Browning, leading the way. He bowed to the Assembly and we all bowed back. Then there was a fan fair to announce the arrive of Richard Walter John Montague Douglas Scott, The Lord High Commissioner, His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to represent her at this year’s Assembly. After he took his place we sang, unaccompanied, “All people that on earth do dwell”.

The formality of the next bit of business was to approve the Rev Susan Brown as Moderator. Once that was agreed all the past Moderators went out to collect her; it was ages before she came in, but in she came and she looked really happy and ready to get started.

His Grace brought a letter, a message of goodwill from Queen Elizabeth and this was read to the Assembly. A letter of reply to her Majesty’s gracious letter was being written and would be read to the Assembly on Monday. His Grace gave a very good speech, and was given a hearty round of applause.

The rest of the day was taken up with the business of reports, motions, counter motions, amendments and deliverances, which sometimes went straight over my head. We were given a Blue Book to read up on all that would be discussed

and on which we would be voting. I don’t mind admitting, I’m a bit of a ditherer when it comes to voting and I hoped that as the week went on I would get better at it. At one point during the voting it would come up on a screen when to vote yes, or no, but instead it was the football footage which came up. This had everyone laughing. On the whole everyone conducted themselves really well and there was little arguing, that day.

SUNDAY: I attended Morning Service in St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh. Pentecost was the theme, as it would be in every Christian church in the world. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper; to help us to spread the message of a living, loving God who loves us unconditionally. The hymns, prayers and readings passed on that very message. We said the Apostles Creed and sang the National Anthem. His Grace was in attendance as he was for a short time every day.

The Rt Rev Susan Brown gave an enlightening sermon.

An invitation to stay for Communion was on the order of service, so I stayed. It was lovely and very different from our own service. The theme was still the same but at the Communion itself a steward came and invited a few rows of people at a time to go out to the front and form a circle around an impressive marble altar; the bread was passed from one to another all the way round and the same with the wine. We were invited to say “Peace be with you” to the people either side of you and as there were a lot of people there it took five or six rounds before all were served. It was a great experience and I’m glad I attended.

I then went for a wee wander round ‘Heart and Soul’. Tents were set up to host different presbyteries and Christian Church Organisations who wanted to spread the Good News of what they were doing. Lanark Presbytery, The Boys’ Brigade, The Guild, The Iona Community and Dalgety Church asked me to “sharer your piece” and handed me a piece of jam, and some poppy seeds to plant, Peace. Then the Army gave me the War Cry to read. I sat for a wee while and listened to the singing groups and individuals talking about the work they were involved in. And Carluke’s ‘Grace Notes’ sang beautifully. I wasn’t able to stay for the Songs of Praise at 5pm but I enjoyed Sunday at the Assembly.

MONDAY: It was a very busy morning preparing for His Grace to come and visit the people at the ‘Drop in’ and those involved in ‘Playlist for Life’ so cakes were baked, scones were buttered, strawberry tarts and meringues were made

up. Tables were set and all was ready. The children from Victoria Park School came to delight us with their singing. We sang “Come in come in it’s nice tae see ye” as a welcome song for His Grace, then he went to chat to the people from the Drop in. The children sang a few songs and signed as well; they stole the show and they thanked us for inviting them. His Grace joined in with the singing the chatted to the children and their teachers. He high fived all the children and gave them a hearty clap. It was a great day and a wonderful outcome for Playlist.

TUESDAY: We were entertained for a short time by three children from Dornoch ‘The Three Music-tiers’, twin girls playing violins and a boy playing an accordion. They played a selection of Scottish songs finishing with ‘Highland Cathedral’, this was very fitting as the Moderator is Minister there.

At 9.15am the Assembly was constituted by a service led by the Moderator with hymns, a prayer and readings from John’s Gospel read in Gaelic by two boys. Based on the reading ‘Jesus and the woman at the well’ the Moderator relfected on the struggle and persecution of this Samarian woman and the same struggle that women had when they wanted to become ministers of Word and Sacrament. The hostility they faced and the antagonism they had to endure didn’t faze them one bit. Women of courage who truly loved their Lord were here to stay and no turning back.

The business of the day was the Report from the Ministries Council.

At 1.30pm the celebration of 50 years of the Ordination of Women to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. All the female ministers and their supporters met at the square near Princes Street then marched up the Mound to the Assembly Hall. It was truly a sight to see. There was a photo shoot in the quadrant and on the steps leading up to the hall with lots of cheering. Then it was back to the committee reports from Ecumenical Relations, Review and Reform, Safeguarding, Iona Community and the Guild. All very important and all affecting the church.

The day closed by singing Hymn 786 May the God of peace go with us, to the tune Aye Fond Kiss.

WEDNESDAY: The opening devotions began with Psalm 150 Praise the Lord

all living creatures. With all the noise you can make. The reflection was very inspiring and uplifting, which everyone enjoyed. The letter of reply from the Assembly to the Queen’s most gracious letter was accepted by the Assembly after which the reports of the day were tackled and they too were interesting. Those who had the courage to get up to the microphone and make comments I thought very brave. Sometimes we were asked to vote using our handsets. The day went well.

THURSDAY: The devotions were linked to the subject of depression, an illness that is very common today. In the reading from 1st Kings chapter 19 sees Elijah in a state of depression. And how God supported him. The business of the day started with a report from the Forces Chaplin who described how members of our Armed Forces can have depression or PTSD and require help to talk things through about their feelings. Their report was accepted and every effort will be made to give support to the Chaplins as well as our lads serving their Queen and country. Many more reports were received, talked about and you will probably hear about them in due course. In the evening I went along to Holyrood Palace on the invitation of His Grace. It was a nice sunny evening although a bit breezy. We were entertained by the youth pipe band who played a selection of toe-tapping tunes and marches plus there was Highland dancers too, so everyone was delighted. We were then invited into the ‘Big House’ for refreshments of wine, orange or apple juice, and teeny weeny savouries, which were really nice.

FRIDAY: The final day was started by worshipping God. The assembly choir sang a Gaelic blessing, which was followed by a reading from Matthew chapter 5. And us being like salt - how even a small amount can make a difference. Leave the salt out, things don’t work so well. There was a bit more business and then the Assembly was suspended until 3pm. The closing ceremony was amazing, how it brought everything together, all that has been accomplished over the last year and will see us into the next, the connecting with the people and the friendships made will last in my memory for a long time to come. I really enjoyed the experience. It was a real learning curve which I hope will be of use as I continue with all the things I am involved in within the church and community.

What did I like best? Well I liked the Worship but I also liked the tea and lunch breaks when you could chat to new people. I met Mike, Ali, Jeff, Neil, Alan, Nicola, Joyce, Rena, Tamsin and Liz. Lovely people of God.

ART ANGELS

This year at Art Angels was called Mish Mash which incorporated lots of different things from emojis to owls and even sheep.

Our last night was a pirate party and we had pizza and pasta and ice cream cones. We made pirate cakes, wooden spoon pirates and water bottle parrots. We all even got to pick treasure from a treasure chest!

Anyone coming into the Session House on a Wednesday evening may wonder what is going on. Not the usual committee meetings that’s for sure. The click of knitting needles, the groan of a wonderful machine called a Cricut which cuts out letters and shapes for card-making etc, the smell of ‘UHU’ glue, the mess of glitter and beads (thankfully our church cleaner/caretaker, Jennifer, is one of the group!) - but most importantly the laughter of a small group of like-minded folk who get together to share their interest in all things ‘crafty’ and have fun while doing it. We have raised funds for the church and donated money to some charities from the sale of our goods at Christmas, Easter and summer. At present some of us are knitting hats for the Sailors’ Society. If you have a craft you’d like to share or are

interested in learning a new one, come along on Wednesdays from 7-9pm.

First Impressions by Les PeckGrannie warned me not to judge on a First Impression. “Anyone can paint a cow for market,” she believed. “Wait till morning – see her in daylight.” Very good advice…

*****

It was half-past nine on a misty autumn evening. I was in Birmingham. I needed a bed for the night. Why so far from home? Not by choice, you understand - but when they offered money, I said ‘thank-you’? But first, I had to find a bed.

My agent (Sylvia) claimed she’d booked me in with Mrs Randall. “Best billet in Solihull,” Sylvia had promised. And thanks to SatNav, it was getting closer by the minute.

Time check: ten o’clock. I had found the road - but Number 87 was hidden in the frosty mists of late October. By counting down from Number 41, I found a six-foot wall with a heavy wooden gate. Could this be Number 87?

I locked the car and squeezed through the gate. In here, the garden was a forest of yew trees – and the ‘crunch’ of footsteps on that gravel path filled the frosty mist with all the horrors of a ghost-ridden Hallowe’en.

And then a gentle breeze disturbed the mist to let the moon illuminate the House! It stood alone, dark and silent… waiting for another victim.

Ten more steps: I found a door – and on the door, the number 87. It had a bell: it wanted me to [PRESS]. When I pressed, a mournful ding-dong-ding echoed back from the darkness.

Footsteps? Shuffling footsteps? And with a ‘creak’, the door inched open. “Are you the man from Scotland?” came an old and rusty voice.

To prove I was friendly, I whispered the password: “From Carluke…”

It worked. The door creaked open just enough to let me see this four-foot

apparition dressed in black from head to toe. “You’d better come in…” and she aimed an arthritic finger at a switch to flood the hall with 40 watts of light. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Halfway along the upstairs corridor, the Lady-in-Black stopped and opened a door. “You’re in here…” and then she asked me: “Are you wantin’ kippers?”

“I doubt it,” I said. “But I wouldn’t mind a key.”

The Lady-in-Black shook her head. “We never lock our doors,” she said.

I decided not to argue. In the morning, I would find a place that did lock their doors.

“Breakfast from seven,” was her final warning as she vanished into the night.

For security, I slid the bedside cabinet to block the door.

*****

At 07:22, I reported to the breakfast room, expecting the usual Bed-&-Breakfast misery of toast-&-cornflakes. But NOT in here!

“I can still do kippers if you want…” came a voice from her kitchen.

“That’s very kind, Mrs Randall,” I guessed, “but your eggs and bacon will be perfect, thank you!”

“I thought all you Scots had kippers for breakfast!”

And when I looked up, I found a silver-haired old lady in a light-blue dress, who was carrying a coffee pot. Mrs Randall believed that every day should start with a Full-English fry-up, endless toast with home-made marmalade and as much coffee as you needed.

“When in England, eat an English breakfast,” I smiled.

“Help yourself to cereal…” she offered as she filled my cup with fresh-brewed coffee. “Eggs and bacon, in the pan - but are you wanting beans or tomatoes? Or both?”

Thank you, grannie – you were right! “The full house, please, Mrs Randall,” I grinned. Look for somewhere better? I don’t think so! And who needs a key, anyway?