The Link - Issue 2

The magazine for the linked congregations and community of the

West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

The Link

Rev David A Albon BA MCS 01506 870460

The Manse, 27 Learmonth Crescent

West Calder EH55 8AF

[email protected]

West Kirk Session Clerk Stewart MacRae 01506 872486 23 Westmuir Road West Calder EH55 8EX [email protected] Treasurer William Calder 01506 871281 25 Harburn Road West Calder EH55 8AJ [email protected]

Polbeth Harwood Session Clerk Marian Kinsman 01506 871125 12 Langside Crescent Polbeth EH55 8UW [email protected] Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 438038 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE [email protected]

News Editor

Colin Dempster 01506 414565

140 Staunton Rise

Dedridge West Livingston EH54 6PA

[email protected]

www.west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

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Issue 2 October 2005

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A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF 1st October 2005 Dear Friends, Doesn’t time fly by? It is already time for the second issue of The Link to be published. We hope you enjoyed the first issue last month. If you missed it completely, the changes will come as a surprise to you. Read on to discover more! And there is a lot happening in October. The West Kirk Sunday School is back in full swing (look out for more inside about that!). On Sunday 2nd October we are having a United All-Age Harvest Service at Polbeth Harwood. The lighting work in the West Kirk is still progressing. The Guild resumes at the West Kirk on Monday 3rd October (see you there?). I’m going to be involved in Harvest Services at the Primary Schools … and I’m also taking a couple of Sundays off this month. I hope you have been enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of autumn as much as I have over the last couple of weeks. Best wishes,

Rev David A Albon Minister of the Parish Churches of the West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

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The Church Family (Parish Record)

West Kirk

Weddings 17th September Suzanne Hogg to Liam Conway

Polbeth Harwood

Deaths 26th August Margaret Erskine, Langside Gardens 29th August George Smirrell, Polbeth Crescent 13th September Elizabeth Smirrell, Polbeth Crescent

Worship in the Linked Congregations Sunday Morning Worship will take place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am unless stated otherwise. Special services are as follows: 2nd October United All-Age Harvest Service Polbeth Harwood – 11.15 am Note: No service at the West Kirk on 2nd October 9th October Guild Dedication Service West Kirk – 9.30 am

Membership Class

If you would like to become a member of the Church please phone or email our minister who will arrange a series of group meetings to explain what this entails (refreshments could be involved!).

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My Prayer Corner It is a familiar pull … this season of leavings and arrivings, Swallows vacate the garage with no thought of cleaning up after their summer rental. Yet they swoop through their temporary housing as if checking they haven't left anything behind, And, with a flourish, command a final flypast before queuing at the departure wire, keen to be away. While far above the chattering lines, a very different bird beats its orderly V towards newer feeding grounds. These wintering pilgrims, with no need for reduced rate accommodation, will land as fancy or foraging takes them. Oh, no residence required, thank you. Fields and ponds will offer seasonal fare enough. All my life these entrances and exits have pulled at the heart, Lord. The instinct to be moving on when the right time comes. It may never be a change of habitat or place of pilgrimage, -an upping and leaving of familiar and family- But more a simple willingness to meet You, Where the seasons of my life take me.

Louise Lorraine

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West Kirk of Calder presents

2005/2006

Friday 18th November 2005 7.30 pm A Musical Double Bill

Scottish ceilidh music from

‘Ceilidhoke’ &

a welcome return to the singers

‘Jinty and Max’

Friday 17th February 2006 7.30 pm Scottish accordion music at it’s best

‘Willie McFarlane’

Advance tickets for both concerts: £10

Single concert pay at the door: £6

Concessions: £6

Concessions: £4

Tickets from Shirley MacRae 01506 872486

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Transnistia & Moldova 2005 – Orphanage Appeal Update For several years BT Communication Workers’ Union have collected items for a special hospital and orphanage in Transnistia, which is a small area in Eastern Europe, as West Lothian is to the United Kingdom. BT employees give of their time as volunteers each year. A convoy of approximately fourteen large lorries filled with ‘goodies’, travel for three weeks over very rough terrain, encountering hair-raising events as they pass through various countries’ borders. Our garage at home has been a collection point for some time now for this Union. We are supported by neighbours, members of Polbeth Harwood Church and St John’s Hospital – all contributing to this worthwhile cause. As the photographs show, Patricia and I have managed, through donations, to collect soap, toothbrushes, talcum powder, and other hygiene products. We also received new or nearly-new baby clothes, together with younger children’s items in excellent condition, which this year alone made up to forty large cardboard boxes. Bulkier items included prams, bicycles and beautiful toys, some of which, being honest, had never been used!

We have been very fortunate. Patricia, taking ‘the bull by the horns’ went to St John’s Hospital to request if any old stock could be taken off their hands by the BT boys. This resulted in the donation of beds, incubators, resuscitation machines, delivery tables from the Maternity Unit, plus baby foods, dressings etc, all out of date but still sterile. According to European Union rules, food, dressings etc cannot be used after their ‘sell-by’ date; so, in the old tradition of ‘waste not want not’, all of those items from St John’s Hospital and Polbeth Harwood Church landed up in our garage.

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We received a letter from the hospital in Transnistia; it was written in broken English, thanking us for the incubators. The lady consultant there had only ever seen one incubator in a St Petersburg hospital; yet she was actually receiving two of those machines, which, she stated, have saved the lives of very ill babies. Yes, it does make it all worthwhile, thanks to the kindness of folks here at Polbeth Harwood Church. The volunteers who delivered all of these items told us: “Just to see the recipients’ faces and to listen to the cries of joy made the ‘hair-raising’ journeys so very worthwhile.” Anyone with access to the Internet can find details of the 2003-2004 convoys, plus lists and details of requirements for future travel on www.cwuha.org. Patricia and I thank you once again for your most generous donations to this worthwhile cause.

Gordon Erskine

Forty & Feisty at Howden If you happen to have an hour or two free on Sunday November 13th and like your music jazz-flavoured and varied, local chanteuses Louise Holden and Elaine Clark are performing in their own show at 2 pm in the Howden Park Centre. Originally a charity concert - and a successful one at that - held last February for cancer care at St John's, they decided to risk repeating the experience when offered the chance by the arts centre. But to be honest, it's always nicer to have an audience who out number the jazz trio so all support would be welcomed. (Especially as it may mean they don't have to be busking for the next six months to pay the musicians). Expect anything from Fats Waller to Peggy Lee, Glen Miller to Ella - with some original material besides and even a wee bit sign language... Tickets priced £7 or £4.50 for concessions are available from Howden Park 01506 433634.

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Reflections One Sunday a few weeks ago I went home from the Church feeling very distressed. A dearly-loved friend had died two days earlier and the shock and sadness was hard to bear. I had found nothing in the service to calm me nor was there any consolation from the warm sunny day. I took a cool drink and sat in the back garden browsing disconsolately through a magazine. Suddenly a butterfly flitted from our buddleia bush onto my shoulder, hovered and darted off again. Startled, I called to the “better half”: “Did you see that?” Then just as he came down the steps towards me, the butterfly floated back, this time settling on my blouse. It settled there for what seemed to be a long time. I stayed stock still, scarcely breathing, admiring the vivid red, white and brown wings. Its slender proboscis flicked out in search of nectar. Unrewarded, it flitted off again to return to the buddleia’s flowers. But I was rewarded! The butterfly revived my spirits and made me laugh. I felt greatly honoured because this had never happened to me before. We know about its metamorphosis from an inert grub into magical wings of flight; but we are not given the wisdom of how or why. We know its life span is a mere flicker of days, but what delight it gives in that short time! My friend was like that butterfly. When she came with us to the Church concerts, I was initially concerned about making her, her husband and their friends feel welcome. How naïve! She knew far more of the audience than I did. I saw very little of her at the intervals as she flitted, in her inimitable manner, from one group of “auld acquaintances” to another. But it was easy to track her flight – just follow the laughter. Everywhere she went she spread happiness. Every life that she touched was enriched by her bright personality, her warm generosity, her zest for life and her deep faith. We are not given the wisdom to understand the mystery of our own metamorphosis from human life to the life of the spirit. When we are lost and confused, we are blessed with the touch of butterfly wings, compassionate companions and fond memories. And with these gifts our faith is strengthened. We see that it is not the time, place or manner of our leaving that matters but the love and joy we share on our journey through the years.

John 11:35-36 – ‘Jesus wept. The Jews said:

“How dearly He must have loved him!”

Ann

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West Kirk Guild Report The first meeting of the Guild is on Monday 3rd October when our Minister, Rev David Albon will be our speaker. Due to the rewiring work being carried out in the Church, the Guild Dedication Service will now be on Sunday 9th October at 9.30 am in which Guild members will take part. Dates for your diary:

17th October The Bowen Technique – Janet Graham

4th November Guild Coffee Day

7th November The Gemme’s a Bogie – Mary Ferrie

We look forward to welcoming current and new members. Do come along and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun.

Jill Murray (Joint Secretary)

West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The September Candy Bar was very successful, raising the wonderful total of £572. Many thanks to all concerned. It was good to see our regular customers as well as welcoming some new ones. The October Candy Bar staffed by the Kirk Session and friends will have passed by the time you read this. The Candy bar on 5th November by tradition is the Guild Coffee Day and all proceeds go to Guild funds. Its format is the same as all other Candy Bars. The Annual Whist Drive is on Monday 24th October in the West Kirk Hall at 7.30 pm. All are welcome at this enjoyable evening with tea and goodies served at the interval. We look forward to welcoming you at these social occasions.

Jill Murray (Convener)

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West Kirk Sunday School – The Youth Link We would like to give you all an update on our takings and money raised last year up to the summer. In July we received a lovely thank you letter and certificate from “Save the Children” for raising the fantastic sum of £280.36 from the envelopes handed out on Mothers Day. This was a great figure and we would like to thank all those who helped us raise the money. Just before the end of term the children had a great debate on what charities they would like to donate our offerings to. The juniors decided on RSPB, who currently are focusing on “Save the Skylarks” as the population are in sharp decline. Our Explorers choose “Make a Wish”, a charity granting wishes of children aged 3 to 18 living with life-threatening illnesses. £50 was sent to each of these charities. You will see the certificates and further information on both topics on display in the hall at the West Kirk. Last month we mentioned a change of name was being looked at for our Sunday School as the word “school” did not seem too appealing!! Can’t think why! Well, after much debate and voting, the children’s decision was … “The Youth Link” as our new collective name. Children from 3-7 years will have a great time at our “Base Camp”

Kids from 7-12 pace things out at “Trackers”

Teens from 12-15 chill out at “The Summit” I can’t help but feel a little of our Minister’s enthusiasm for hill climbing, and walking is rubbing off onto our youth at the West Kirk. I think some of the teachers had better get in a bit of training or we may get left behind!

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On a more serious note, the children are the future of our church both today and tomorrow. We would love to see some more children come along and join us on Sunday mornings. We have a great time with a dedicated team of people who enjoy sharing worship with our children each Sunday.

Lorna Graham

Christian Aid Notes

Reap Change This Harvest What does harvest mean to you? For farmers like Sharhabanu Begum in Bangladesh, where 85% of the population depend on the land to survive, a successful harvest means everything. A few years ago Sharhabanu’s family were persuaded to use foreign seeds that needed chemical fertilisers. Private companies marketed these after the World Bank lifted restrictions on imports to Bangladesh. Many farmers accepted these seeds, and bought the fertiliser required to grow them, because the private companies gave them credit. However, the seeds didn’t grow well, and the chemicals in the fertiliser were bad for the environment. Sharhabanu was desperate: ‘Our soil became hard and unhealthy. Our situation was bad. We couldn’t even buy our children clothes.’ Thanks to Christian Aid’s partner UBINIG and the introduction of organic farming methods, Sharhabanu and around 120,000 other farming families in Bangladesh are reaping the benefits of better harvests and sustaining local seed varieties for the future. Sharhabanu explains: ‘We switched from chemicals to composting and began trying to save more of our local seed. Now we get four crops a year and our children can go to school.’ Sharhabanu now harvests a range of vegetables and sixty different varieties of rice! Christian Aid invites you to celebrate with Sharhabanu not by feasting but by fasting. Daniel 1 tells the story of a man who would not compromise his commitment to follow God. One of the things he did was to eat and drink only vegetables and water. In the week leading up to/after your harvest celebration, why not cut back to a simple diet to help you appreciate the diversity and reliability of what you normally have? You might want to leave out meats, dairy products and treats or consider eating the same main meal every day, all week…

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This is an ideal way to reflect on the true significance of harvest, and to celebrate the variety you enjoy by raising money to help families like Sharhabanu’s. Why not ask friends to sponsor you in your different kind of fast, or put aside the money saved in the week from your normal grocery bill? By entrusting the money to Christian Aid you will allow them, on your behalf, to help people around the world to enjoy a better harvest next year and hopefully for years to come. Alternatively, you can make a donation to the Reap Change appeal. Whatever you give can make a lasting difference to someone’s harvest; just £8 can provide a five-day training course in seed-saving enabling Bangladeshi farmers to gain new skills to improve their livelihoods, and preserve their land’s natural resources. Please use the distinctive Christian Aid envelope to make your donation and return it during the Harvest Thanksgiving service or on any Sunday during October. If you are a UK taxpayer please remember to complete the Gift Aid flap on the envelope.

Harvest Prayer (Based on Psalm 8)

God, when we think about your creation, we’re amazed; We walk through a masterpiece every day. Your imagination has created such beauty.

We can never come to the end of your wonders. How incredible it is that you’ve trusted us to take care

Of your prized possession! You’ve shown us how to sustain life:

Help us to use this knowledge for the good of your world, The benefit of your people and the glory of your name.

We praise you, painter of creation’s harvests! Amen

Alison McNaught

Members of the West Kirk raised the splendid sum of £970.50 for Christian Aid through the sponsored walk across the Forth Road Bridge in April this year. Thank you to all those who participated, especially to the young people. Kathryn, Samantha, Vivienne, Isla, Ewan, Cameron, Craig and Grant who took part with great enthusiasm. Polbeth Harwood raised £343 with walkers both young and a little older including a runner and two dogs!

Our thanks also go to all those who sponsored the walkers with such generosity.

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Church Without Walls Pilgrimage It was a wet and miserable morning as Marian and I, representing Polbeth Harwood, set off at 8.30 am on Sunday 28th August on our way to South Queensferry to board the Maid of the Forth to sail to Inchcolm Island. We found a parking space and made our way to Hawes pier. All 200 seemed in good spirits as we waited to be checked off the lists of representatives before climbing aboard. As it was still raining we were advised to stay on the lower deck if possible, six at a table instead of the normal four. During the sailing to Inchcolm, a commentary described what we might see as we went along: seals, cormorants, dolphins, puffins etc. What a shame the windows were all steamed up! It was not possible to see anything! After about 30 minutes we arrived at Inchcolm Island, where the Moderator was waiting at the pier to greet us. We had 45 minutes to look around the island before gathering outside the abbey at 11 am for the communion service. The Queensferry Praise Band were already singing as we gathered and all joined in to practice some of the songs. It was still wet and windy. We were welcomed to worship and invited to introduce ourselves to others around. The Rev David Lacy, Moderator of the General Assembly led worship. We sang, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, Majesty and Shine Jesus Shine. As you can imagine 200 people singing heartily and the praise band playing, we raised the roof! The Moderator’s sermon was inspiring. He told us of the first mechanical man, developed in Spain, many centuries ago. It was a figure, which, with the use of chains could kneel, sit and stand. It was used in a church where the robot stood for hymns, knelt for prayer and sat during the rest of the service. Rev Lacy spoke about people today who attend communion in a mechanical fashion, just because it was Communion. They did not take part in a meaningful way and therefore got nothing out of the act of worship. He also spoke about ministers and elders who were so anxious about getting everything running smoothly, that the true meaning of worship was lost. This was food for thought. The main thing being that everyone should be made to feel welcome and part of the special occasion. The bread and wine were served from a huge stone Alter slab, in front of the abbey and was passed back and forth until everyone had been served. Much more difficult than if we were sitting in straight lines! As the wine was being

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passed round, the sun broke through. It felt really good that it happened at that point. A very special moment! Everyone was given a bookmark, a memento of our day. Women on the border of Thailand and Burma had made these. It was wonderful to be part of the celebrations of Church Without Walls and leaves us with many lasting memories.

Margaret Dempster

Traidcraft at the West Kirk There will be a Traidcraft stall in the West Kirk church hall after the morning service on the following Sundays: • 9th October • 6th November • 20th November • 4th December Look out for Christmas cards and wrapping paper at the November and December stalls. Contact Jean Pringle 01506 873532.

The Wednesday Café at Polbeth Harwood

The café is open every Wednesday between 10 am and 11.30 am for tea, coffee and biscuits and other goodies! (Biscuits are free!) You are welcome to come along for a wee cuppa and blether. The more the merrier!!

The Traidcraft stall is also there on a Wednesday between the above times and on Sundays before and after worship. Contact Margaret Dempster 01506 414565.

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Rota Information

West Kirk Crèche Rota Contact Freya Lornie 01506 870070

9th October Louise Holden Val Occardi

16th October Olive Gibson Louise Holden

23rd October Moira McRae Christine Paterson

30th October Pauline Jackson Freya Lornie

6th November Rhoda Lawton Val Occardi

13th November Olive Gibson Freya Lornie

West Kirk Tea Rota Contact Olive Gibson 01506 871291 Note: Tea Makers, please bring milk.

16th October May Young Olive Gibson

23rd October Margaret Lamb Jean Graham

30th October Katie Albon Olive Gibson

6th November Jim Allan Juanita Allan

13th November Alison Baxter Alison McNaught

West Kirk Flower List Many thanks to all those who give flowers to the church. Flowers are used, after the service, to take to people when pastoral visits are made. As you can see there are some gaps under the ‘Given by’ column on the Flower Rota. So often it is the same people who generously donate flowers, so if you’ve not done it recently, do please consider this, either for marking an anniversary, or even for no specific reason. Speak to one of the arrangers to find out how easy it can be to have ‘your’ flowers in church, and cheering people afterwards. If you would like to give flowers one week, please add your name to the list in the church vestibule. Given Arranged Delivered

23rd October Evelyn Paterson Evelyn Paterson Margaret-Ann Smith

30th October Margaret Greenhorn Rosanna Rabaeijs Ivy Johnstone

6th November Katie Albon Irene Grindlay

13th November Rosanna Rabaeijs Kathy Black

20th November

Margaret-Ann Smith Margaret McEwan and

Margaret Douglas

Moira McRae

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West Kirk Duty Rota Door Duty

Car Run

23rd October Alison McNaught Jim Milne Stewart Munro Alan Jessiman

30th October Jill Murray Christine Nicholl Evelyn Paterson Stewart Munro

6th November George Stott Hazel Tod Juanita Allan George Stott

13th November Jim Allan May Arnott Angus Baxter Richard Bryce

20th November

Richard Bryce Liz Dyer Alex Easton Derek Burns

Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota Door Duty

23rd October Etta Walker Gordon Erskine Lilias Fairley William Fairley

30th October Reeta Griffin Frank Mabbutt Betty Upton Anne Weston-Lewis

6th November Jimmy Greer Charlie Sturrock Margaret Dempster Nancy Fitzpatrick

13th November Eleanor Davidson Margaret Hampson Jenny Doyle Janice Davidson

20th November

Bob Dickson Wilma Dickson Jessie Kelly Tom Kelly

Polbeth Harwood Café Rota

26th October Frank Mabbutt Betty Upton Janet Walker

2nd November Jimmy Greer Maisie Baird Janet Wilson

9th November Findlay Carmyllie Effie Halliday Grace Peace

16th November Gordon Erskine Chrissie McCormack Esther Hamilton

23rd November

Wilma Dickson Jenny Doyle Jessie Kelly

Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota

23rd October Sandra Roy Marjorie Bellingham

30th October Laura Carroll Petrona Carroll

6th November Linda Eardley Hazel Speirs

13th November Catherine Smith Joan Philips

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Young People A minister in England came across this quotation recently.

“The world is passing through troubled times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They are a law unto themselves and have no knowledge of God’s laws. They have no reverence for age or parents, they are impatient of all restraint, they talk as if they alone know everything. And what passes for wisdom with older people is for them foolishness.”

When was it written? The date given was 1260!

Contributions for the next edition Contributions for the next edition of The Link Magazine should be submitted by the first Sunday after the 15th of the month. For the November issue, this will be Sunday 16th October. Contributions can be sent via email, or handed in person to either Rev David Albon or Colin Dempster.

Paws… for thought

If there is something you own that you can’t give away, you don’t own it – it owns you.

Albert Schweitzer

Documents

The Link - Issue 2