THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD...Minister’s Letter (Locum) Dear All, First of all thank you for your warm...

of 24 Scottish Charity SCO139245 Kirkliston Parish Church Dec. 2019

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLDTHE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Newsletter ContentsMinister’s Letter (Interim Moderator).....................................................3Minister’s Letter (Locum)........................................................................4Copper Coins............................................................................................5KPC Women’s Group...............................................................................5 1st Kirkliston Boys’ Brigade Company Anchor & Junior Section...........6Finance Report.........................................................................................7Kirky Krafters..........................................................................................7Transport Rota..........................................................................................8Guild Report.............................................................................................9Dorcas....................................................................................................10Christmas Card.......................................................................................10Shoeboxes..............................................................................................10Fundraising.............................................................................................10Flower Calendar.....................................................................................11Alpha......................................................................................................12From Our Missionary Partner................................................................13Refugees.................................................................................................14Little Coffee Stop...................................................................................15Property..................................................................................................16A Lighthouse Of Prayer.........................................................................17Children and Families News..................................................................18Getting to Know Rachel!.......................................................................20Administration (Admin) Team Resumé.................................................21Communion Dates..................................................................................22Newsletter..............................................................................................22Taking Thanks For Granted....................................................................23Who’s Who In Kirkliston Parish Church...............................................24


Minister’s Letter (Interim Moderator)Dear Friends,

It has been my pleasure to get to know the Kirkliston Parish Churchcommunity these past few months. I have come to admire your dedicationand the active teamwork of your elders and members.

We are moving swiftly to the setting up of a Nominating Committee. Theywill be the team of people who will search for a candidate to present toyou. It is an important task, finding the right person to accompany youinto the next decade of the congregation’s life and mission.

I hope you will consider whether you, or someone you know, are the rightkind of person to be involved in the search. The list of possible committeemembers is already known. The Electoral Roll, the list of eligible membersand regular worshippers was formally adopted at the last Kirk Sessionmeeting. That list now needs to be whittled down to eleven people. Thesewill be individuals with passion for the community of the church,imagination to see God at work in the world, and the spiritual maturity todiscern what is good. I will be on hand to support them, but they will dothe work. I encourage you to pray for them now so that the right peopleare set apart for this important task.

It is clear that only a small percentage of the congregation will be involvedin the search process. But that doesn’t mean others are left out. They willcontinue to support the work and worship of the church community. Theirrole is vital, welcoming strangers, supporting the vulnerable, identifyingthe needs not being met. You have the support of your locum minister,the Reverend Christine Clark. She comes with a breadth of experience andis excited to be part of your congregation at this time. I commend her toyour prayers as she supports your worship and mission.

Your friend in Christ,

John Cowie


Minister’s Letter (Locum)

Dear All,

First of all thank you for your warm welcome and patience as I settle onceagain into the role as your Locum Minister, this time following Rev MaggieLane’s retirement. As Locum I will be working the equivalent of two days aweek plus Sunday Worship times. I am both delighted and excited to beback amongst you as you journey through this phase in the life of thechurch and community here.

I love to sing and have recently been involved in the Rogers andHammerstein musical, ‘Carousel’. It is a musical which covers a whirlwindof emotions and ends with the well known and uplifting lyrics:-

‘At the end of the storm is a golden sky

and the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,

walk on through the rain

though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your hearts

and you never walk alone….’

As the recent chapter in your church life ends it lays a sure and goodfoundation as the next begins. It is in faith, upheld by prayer, that younavigate through this time being sensitive to the prompting of Godthrough His Holy Spirit.

‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see’ Hebrews 11:1

There will be a whirlwind of activities, emotions, hopes and aspirationsaround as the vacancy progresses, but be assured that you do not walk


through this time alone, that God is with you, working out his will in hisperfect timing.

As we approach the Christmas Season may I invite you to join us at ourvarious Christmas Services and activities. As you do, my hope is that wecome to a new freshness of faith as we gather together, all ages at allstages, to hear the Christmas Story anew and to celebrate the wonder ofGod in this time and in this place.

With every Blessing and Seasons Greetings

Rev Christine M Clark

Copper CoinsOver the last few months Ihave sent £50 each toThreshold Support Servicesfor Cunningham House,Edinburgh which providessafe and supportive hostelaccommodation to homelessmen and women, and, to theGuild for the worthwhileProjects it is supporting.

Please keep the coppers and5p's coming.

Sincerely,Muriel Naylor

KPC Women’s GroupOn our last outing we visited the secretgarden. We had a very enjoyable timebut the weather was not kind to us. Forthat reason we will re-visit this venue inthe new year.

Our next outing will be on the 3rdSaturday of the month 16th Novemberat 10-30 when we will visit the Christianbook shop in Gilmerton and enjoycoffee or maybe some late breakfast.

Please come along and join us in thenew year. For information contactChristina on 0131 333 0333

Christina Pearson


1st Kirkliston Boys’ Brigade Company Anchor & Junior Section

We have had a varied programme this session,including learning more about recycling plastics,Roald Dahl, the stars and planets. We have alsohad a fitness night, secret agent night andgunpowder plot night.

In September the boys were given a chance tochoose what they would like to do at Boys’Brigade, and we are trying to fit their suggestionsinto the programme. We were fortunate to haveSteven Gray come along and show a slideshow ofthe planets, before allowing the boys to observe the Moon and Saturn through his powerful telescope. Through December we have Christmas countdown, Christingle and the Nativity story.

The session ends on the 16th December with a Christmas Party and we have a magician coming along to entertain us.This will be my last night at Boys’ Brigade as, after 30 years, I have decidedto retire from active service. I will certainly miss all the boys and I hope that you will keep them and the remaining staff in your prayers as they start the new session in January.

Valerie EdwardsOIC Anchor/Junior section


Planet spotting,

The Moon and Saturn

Finance ReportThe main Congregational Account is showinga slight surplus on the credit side, which theTreasurer and the Finance team are reasonablyconfident will be maintained to the year end.

The Genesis Account is also at this stageshowing a surplus, which should bemaintained into the new year.

A fundraising group is being established toco-ordinate the raising of funds to support theexpenditure that will be required to carry outthe remedial fabric work on our properties, asper the recent Quinquennial report. This isnecessary to protect the reserves we have atthe present moment.

The 2020 Budgets are in the process of beingformulated, and should be ready for approvalby the Kirk Session in early January.

The Treasurer and the Finance Team wish toput on record their grateful thanks to themembers of the congregation for their sincereand regular giving to the work of the Churchhere in Kirkliston, and also to the work of thewider Church of Scotland.

David Buchanan

Kirky Krafters

Thank you everyone foryour support at ourannual sale.

We made good use ofyour old Christmascards, and would bepleased to have themagain this year. You canhand them to any of thecrafters, or leave them inthe church centre, theywill find their way to us.

The amount raised atthe recent sale of workwas £2011.

Many thanks

Ann Denholm


FINANCE REPORTto 31st October, including fundraising

Transport Rota

DECEMBER 2019

1 Ella Marsden

8 Maggie McConnachie

15 Ann Denholm

22 Helen McPhee

29 Ella Marsden

FEBRUARY 2020


9 Ann Denholm

16 Helen McPhee

23 Ella Marsden

APRIL 2020

5 Ann Denholm

12 Helen McPhee

19 Ella Marsden


JANUARY 2020


12 Ann Denholm

19 Helen McPhee

26 Ella Marsden

MARCH 2020


8 Ann Denholm

15 Helen McPhee

22 Ella Marsden


Contact Numbers

Maggie McC. 0131 333 3123 Ann Denholm 0131 333 1834Helen McPhee 0131 333 2479 Ella Marsden 0131 333 0799


December 2019 – April 2020

If you would like a lift to church, please contact the person on the rota by 9 a.m.If you have any queries, please contact Ann Denholm

Guild ReportONE JOURNEY MANY ROADS

Companions on the Way_____________

Our 2019-20 session is wellunderway and we have been treatedto a variety of topics, from the hardhitting, and at times emotional,presentation of the facts behind thesetting up of Seema’s Project inPune, India, to a light hearted lookat the life of Scottish servants fromthe past.

Our first meeting after theChristmas break is on 8th Januarywhen we hope to welcome IainWhyte, General Secretary of theGuild.

Following meetings will seespeakers give talks on theInternational Rescue Corps, OpenBook, The Yard and the HaggisBreeding Programme.

The second of the projects we aresupporting this year is theCrossreach ‘Join the Dots’ projectwhich has been set up to tackle theproblems of loneliness and socialisolation in Scotland. The Guild isopen to all so, if you’d like to hearmore about any of the topics pleasedo come along and join us

Joan McConnachie & Maureen Glen

The (re-used) picture below comes from an outing to visit Dumfries House this summer, 2019.


DorcasOur Dorcas Christmas lunch takes place on Tuesday 3rd December in the church centre at noon.Entry is by ticket only, available from any member of the team. This will be our last lunch this year and we will resume in the new year on January 14th. Wishing all our customers a very happy Christmas.

Ann Denholm

ChristmasCardWish all your friends inthe Church a “Happy Christmas” by signing the Church Christmas Card. If you wish, you can put the money you have saved in an envelope marked “Christmas Appeal” which can be placed inthe offering bag any Sunday. The card will be available to sign from the first Sunday in December, in the Church Centre.

Linda Moss

ShoeboxesMany thanks to everyone who has donated Shoe Boxes and items for them. We had a wonderful response. So far we have received over 100boxes, but the final total will be more thanthat. Donations have also been given for thetransport of the Boxes to Eastern Europe. Thank you for giving a Christmas Present to someone whose only present will be yours.

Margaret Brechin

FundraisingExtensive work is required on the Norman Arch and other parts of the church and manse. To help support this work, a fundraising team has been set up, and they are looking for volunteers to join them.

We’re particularly keen to hold events that involve our local community. If you feel you’d like to be part of the team or if you have any fundraising ideas, please get in touch with Tracey Henderson or Susan Small or email us at [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Flower CalendarJanuary – March 2020

December 2019Church Decorated For Christmas

January 20205th Joan McConnachie, Maitland Road

12th Pam Doig, Stoney Flats, South Queensferry19th Louise Bowmaker, Queensferry Road26th Margaret Brechin, Wellflats Road

February 20202nd Women’s Rural Institute9th Joyce Brooks, Stewart Place

16th Isobel Pollock, Kirkstyle23rd Ella Marsden, The Steadings

March 20202nd Karen McKay, Winchburgh9th Eileen Brown, Alan Park

15th Liz Robertson, The Glebe22nd Christina Pearson, Newbridge29th VACANT

If you would like to donate to a vase of fresh flowers or a pot plant during December when the Church is decorated for Christmas, please let me (Joyce Brooks) know.

The above rota is for flower provision /donation. The Flower Delivery volunteer rota can be seen on the following page.

Continued next page …..


FLOWER DONATIONS

…… Continued from previous page

Flower Deliveries Rota 2019-2020December Maureen Rooney, Annelies Kay, Adrienna ThomsonJanuary Eileen Brown, Liz Bird, Gina KingFebruary Margaret Buchanan, Karen McKayMarch Joan McConnachie, Maureen Glen

Once again I would like to say thank you to all the helpers, flower arrangers, those who have given to the flower fund, and everyone who hasoffered words of encouragement in the past year.

If you can help in any way, whether it is with deliveries, a donation, arranging the flowers or filling any of the vacant Sundays, please give me aphone. The more people who are involved, the easier it is for everyone.

JOYCE BROOKS Flower Convenor Tel: 0131 333 3710

AlphaWe are enjoying coffee and bacon rolls, some laughs and some deep discussions in the current ALPHA course running in the Newliston Arms, finishing in early December.

If you would like to take part in relaxed discussions about faith, God, prayer, reading the Bible - and 'who is Jesus?' - look out for ALPHA in 2020. Queensferry, Dalmeny and Kirkliston churches run ALPHA together each year, usually in the autumn.

The talks are also online, although we find that the discussions and fellowship are very much part of the sessions. All are welcome - church goers, new folk or enquirers with no knowledge of the Bible.


From Our Missionary PartnerDear Friends,

Warm greetings from Kolkata!

The season of Hindu festivals is just over this week. There has been muchnoise, fireworks and people spending lots of their time popping in to thedifferent pandals(Shrines) for worshipping idols. Where are they headingto? What do they worship? Where is the truth? Who is their creator?What are they celebrating for? It seems very meaningless to me.

If these festivals are only something cultural for them as a time to gettogether and share life together as individuals, families and communities,there is much value in that, yet if this is rooted in their philosophy andbelief practice that is connected to the way of salvation, then all theireffort, time and money is spent in vain.

This makes me think what would be God’s heart for people who are lovelyand precious yet, their eyes and ears are closed and their lives are lived inthe darkness of spiritual realms. I know that I live today with an assuranceof having a citizenship in heaven as Paul says that “But our citizenship is inheaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there the Lord JesusChrist.”(Phil 3:20) So how about my neighbor; close friends; their families,even my own family members? Where are they heading to? One thingfor sure is that God has created all of us and we are called to becomesomeone significant and He will complete His great work in everyindividual’s life someday. You and I are thankfully His channel to others.Praise God for that!

Manik from the Hottat Pally (slum) community is really struggling. He isjobless and his wife is pregnant. He is a Masters degree holder yet unableto find work. I can only listen to their stories and earnestly pray for them,


but sometimes wish…. Lord please let them experience you answering ourprayers NOW… I am very concerned for them. I am doing well, and this month has gone by so fast as I had to visitanother city for some work. In November, Shaping Hand Enterprises willdecide with whom we are going to start the building project and hopethat all practical arrangements can be completed.

Jamsad and Bapi are helping me with this andI am so grateful for their input. Due to somany holidays this past month things are notmoving as fast as I would like. (Please prayabout this.)

HIV/AIDS community centre seems to moveforward well under Suvo’s leadership and I am pleased with that. ThisMonday, our church went for a picnic and it was a lovely day. We enjoyeda peaceful time and green nature and had a great fun.

Now, we only have two months left in this year.I pray that we all will live days full of meaningand purpose by learning how to love and livewell in His sight. Thank you so much for allyour prayers and support.

Blessings. Jen

RefugeesThank you to all who responded to the call from Re-Act (Refugee Action Edinburgh) for sleeping bags, blankets and clothes for refugees arriving in Greece. The goods are now on their way and will be much appreciated. There may be calls for more items as the cold winter weather returns to the area.


Little Coffee Stop The Little Coffee Stop (LCS) has had record-breaking attendance in recent weeks – it’s so exciting to have some new families and babies, and is also heart-warming to see our regular children growing up. It’s been busy in terms of activities too – we’ve had Potty Emma, the Sleep Lady, and Helping Hands with Hazel, who have all proved very popular. The childrenhad an opportunity to make some gorgeous cards with Kirsteen and Lisa –who knew so many adorable pictures could be made with handprints? Weare already working on our Nativity (which will be shown at the Church service on 15th December) and are getting ready for our Christmas Party on 13th December, after which the Little Coffee Stop will be closed until Friday 10th January 2020.

Our volunteers are amazing, committing their time and energy week after week, going above and beyond to serve the under fives and their families living in our village (and a few other nearby locations). We are privileged to have so many wonderful grown-ups and children who come along to participate and enjoy the Little Coffee Stop.

As you know, Little Coffee Stop is a 'free to attend' group to ensure that allfamilies in our community are able to benefit from our service and the network of support that it generates amongst you all. Our mission statement is "Building community by strengthening families". We do, however, sell food and drinks to those who wish them. The revenue from cafe sales contributes to the running costs of Little Coffee Stop, but we arealso able to support other charitable causes.

This year we are supporting “TearFund”, a Christian charity whose mission is to reduce material and spiritual poverty throughout the world. Responding to emergency situations and global issues, they work to make lives better and transform communities. We are also supporting LCS volunteer Lisa Scott’s daughter Morgan, who is volunteering with Project Trust next year, spending a year in Ghana teaching primary school


children. Find out more about these two charities at www.tearfund.org and www.projecttrust.org.uk and for more information contact [email protected] or keep up to date through our facebook page - www.facebook.com/Littlecoffeestop

A Very Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and healthy 2020 to you all from Morag, Sarah, and all of the LCS Team

PropertyThe Property and Finance Teams are working with our building consultantto manage a renovation and repair project on the church and churchcentre - both listed buildings. The Presbytery Of Edinburgh and theChurch of Scotland General Trustees have each offered £ 5000 towards thecost. We have been advised that we should submit a new grant applicationbefore 31 December to Historic Environment Scotland for the church only,including the Norman Arch. The initial estimate of the cost for the workon the church including the Norman Arch is £82000. During 2020 we willconsider applying for grants for a much smaller building project on theThomas Chalmers Centre. We are obliged by the Church of Scotland tocarry out repair work detailed in the Quinquennial Report (published in2017) with all work to be completed by 2022.

We await a formal report following an inspection of the manse by thePresbytery of Edinburgh Property Committee (standard procedure duringvacancy). It is only during a vacancy that a church has a real opportunityto consider the manse and for the Session to agree whether an upgrade isnecessary and affordable.

I am delighted to advise that David Denholm has accepted the invitationto join the Property Team.

Wilson MarshallProperty Team Lead


http://www.projecttrust.org.uk/

A Lighthouse Of PrayerAre you a ‘Lighthouse ofPrayer’?

A ‘Lighthouse of Prayer’ is simply a Christian praying at home for their neighbours, for their street. When we do this we are a ‘spirituallighthouse’.

Just as in the natural, a lighthouse projects its powerful beam into the surrounding darkness to‘light the way’ for passing ships and keep them safe. So when we pray for our neighbours we are asking God to shine the light of His grace and His blessing into their lives, homes and workplaces. In this way a complete community can be saturated in prayer – and prayer changes things!

Some of us do this already, but wouldn’t it

be great if, from the start of 2020, every street in our parish was prayed for regularly? The Mission & Discipleship team recently agreed to make this one of their targets for next year, and we won’t be alone, as Kirkliston Community Church are promoting this also. Between us we should be able to cover the community, and we will be marking up the street map in the Prayer Room as each street is ‘adopted’.

This need not be a large time-commitment. Praying once a week is fine, but some will wantto pray more often, even daily for short periods. How do we pray? In whatever way we wish, especially if we know that some of our neighbours have some specific needs. Butfor those we don’t know so well, we could prayfor them using the BLESS examples, as follows:

B Body: Health, strength, protectionL Labour: Work, income, securityE Emotions: Joy, peace, comfortS Social: Love, marriage, family, friendsS Spiritual: Salvation, faith, grace

As we pray, don’t be surprised if God opens upopportunities for us first of all to care in some way for a neighbour – maybe someone you have never even spoken to before who unexpectedly asks for some help, or just needsa ‘listening ear’ and some encouragement.


Then, as you care and show God’s love to that person, over time look out for opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel, maybe even to invite them along toa service or an event in the Church.

Pray – Care – Share …. many Christians throughout the nation have used this as an effective way to be ‘salt & light’ in their street. If you want more information there

are Lighthouse leaflets and bookmarks on the information table in the Church Centre – please do take one.

Alistair Barton

Children and Families NewsAs the cold weather creeps in and we approach winter, what better time toreflect on our summer holiday club. ‘Backpackers Holiday Club’ took placefrom the 5th - 8th August, with a Sunday service on the 11th August. Wehad a brilliant week, travelling to London, France, Sweden, Italy andSwitzerland - unfortunately we couldn’t afford the fares for children andadults to actually travel there, so we used our imaginations!

The focus of the teaching was travelling with Jesus in His last week onearth, His death and resurrection. It maybe seems strange to have theEaster story at a summer holiday club, however, the children were able to

focus on the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus madefor us and why, without the distractions of Eastereggs and chocolate.

We had an amazing team who led a brilliant, funand engaged group of children in a week of biblediscovery, crafts, games, memory verse and prayer.

The drama and ‘Backpackers’ theme helped us to learn the key themes


through various characters. 45 children attended Holiday Club this year.Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way whatsoever.

We celebrated Harvest Festival with anassembly at the school. The assembly wasabout the fact there are people in the world,including this country, who do not haveenough food and we can show we care bysharing what extra we have with them.Harvest donations from the school weregiven to the local Food Bank. Dynamite continues to be well attended. We have made some smallchanges to the structure, one of which is some group time for discussionof the story and the opportunity to ask questions. We also have teamsbuilding points towards being the best at Christmas. If you know ofanyone who would be interested in attending, Dynamite takes place atKirkliston Primary School on Thursdays from 3.15 to 4.30 for Primary 4-7.Contact me if you are interested or would like further details. We have a group of children regularly attending CAB on a Friday night. Afavourite activity at the moment is cooking. The children love to makesomething to take home and enjoy the process. It is a night full of energyand fun where we can show the love of Jesus through stories, games,crafts and listening to the children. Thank you to everyone who volunteersand helps in this outreach.

On Sunday mornings at the Connections service, we have been learningabout God, His promises, His plan and His protection in Genesis andExodus. We started with creation, and looked at Noah, Abraham, Josephand Moses. Through stories, crafts and lots of discussion, we have beenincreasing our understanding and awareness of how God is there for ustoday, in our situations, just as He was then. The children are enthusiastic,keen to learn, fully partake in discussion and ask great questions. Our nextevent will be the Nativity Service, for which planning is ongoing, and wewould love you to come to watch the children (and adults) who are taking


part, and we look forward to seeing you there. Thank you for yourcontinued support and prayers for the work with children and families inthe community.

Kirsteen MarcelinChildren and Families Worker

Getting to Know Rachel!Rachel Hawkins, our Youth Worker, has been with us for a few monthsnow so ‘we’ thought it was time to get to know her a little better withsome quick fire questions:

Favourite Film - Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsFavourite Song - You Say by Lauren DaigleFavourite Animal – Kittens

3 words to describe you - Happy, Loving, Kind

Best Joke - My dog Minton steals all my shuttlecocks so I have to shout‘BAD MINTON!’

Favourite Bible Verse - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid orterrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he willnever leave you nor forsake you. “Deuteronomy 31:6”

Best Holiday - New York CityFavourite Book - The Chronicles of Narnia Favourite Quote - “Aslan is on the Move”Favourite Food - Spaghetti Bolognese

Thank you Rachel, and congratulations to you and Chris on your marriage.


Administration (Admin) Team Resumé

The Administration Team, as it stands, has been in situ since the change tothe Unitary Constitution - approximately September 2015. The team hasseven members, each having responsibility for various tasks that comeunder the umbrella of administration.

Tasks that have been carried out under the umbrella of Admin. are asfollows: -

• Noticeboards – External and internal, church centre or church• Compiling, proofreading printing the Newsletter• Compiling printing the Christmas and Easter Cards • Assisting with the compiling of booklets with various teams and printing• Compiling visiting cards and printing• Intimation and order of service sheets• Website• Facebook• Rotas• Hall Letting• Key Holder List

This is only a snap shot of what we do, or can do. We, as a team, arehappy to assist with any admin that you may require. All we ask is that ifyou are looking for us to assist you, please speak to the Team Leaders witha clear outline of what you require. If it is text only, we required 4 weeks’notice. If there are graphics required it will be 6 weeks.

Over the next few weeks we will be carrying out housekeeping on all ofthe noticeboards and the table that sits in the crush area. All theextremely old items will be removed keeping only current material.If you require anything put onto any noticeboard, church centre or church,internal or external, a request should come to the Admin Team Leaders via


the admin mailbox, who will ensure that it is displayed on the correctnoticeboard; these can also be printed if supplied in an appropriateformat.

All items that are dealt with by the Admin Team should be sent by email [email protected] This means that if any of the team is onholiday or otherwise indisposed, all tasks can still be completed.

We would also like to stress that if there is a deadline date given, we askplease that you adhere to it; failure to do so will cause a disruption of theproductions and, ultimately, possible disappointment for you if submittedlate.

Jan Wemyss and Karen McKayAdmin Team Leaders

Communion Dates

On these following Sundays, a jointcelebration of Holy Communion willtake place in the main church, ledby our Locum Minister:-

• December 1st 2019• March 1st 2020• June 7th 2020

NewsletterPlease submit articles for the Easternewsletter (the next one) no laterthan Sunday 8th March.

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions,for My own sake, and remembers your sin no more”

Isaiah 43:25


Taking Thanks For GrantedSir Winston Churchill once told the story of a sailor who one afternoondived into the water at Plymouth Harbour to save the life of a little boy.Three days later the sailor met the boy and his mother in the street. Thesailor saw the lad nudge his mother, whereupon she stopped the sailorand asked “Are you the man who pulled my son out of the water?”Anticipating an expression of gratitude the sailor smiled and saluted andsaid, “Yes ma’am, it was me.” “Thank you,” the child’s mother replied, “butwhere’s his cap?”

In a letter Paul once wrote to the early Christian church, he lists the basicqualities which are essential to build a new and real life – things likecompassion, kindness, forgiveness, and love. He goes on to say “In allcircumstances, give thanks, whatever happens … remember to say thankyou.” Paul wrote this from a prison cell in Rome. He had learned thatwhatever state he was in, to be content. It’s an attitude in life which doesnot come easy to anyone in every circumstance life throws at us.

It’s so easy to forget to say thank you. In times of joy, when the sun isshining and the sky is cloudless, how easy it is to forget to simply saythank you – especially to God for all his blessings and happiness. Webecome so caught up in the happiness He has given us that we forgetthese two magic words.

For those of us who still count good road manners as important, we areoften quite surprised when another driver actually does acknowledge ourcourtesy, when we give him right of way or let him out.

How easy it is to take thanks for granted, both with our fellow man andwith God. As Christians we must try to practise what we preach! Showgratitude when compassion is shown for us, and give thanks.


Who’s Who In Kirkliston Parish Church

Interim ModeratorRev Dr John Cowie [email protected]

Locum MinisterRev Christine Clark cclark @churchofscotland.org.uk

Youth WorkerRachel Hawkins [email protected]

Children & Families WorkerKirsteen Marcelin [email protected]

TreasurerRob Brechin [email protected]

Session ClerkPaula Roots [email protected]

Roll KeeperKaren McKay [email protected]

Church Office /Admin. TeamEnquiries etc. [email protected]

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/KirklistonParishchurch/

www.kirkliston-parish-church.org.uk


http://www.kirkliston-parish-church.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/KirklistonParishchurch/










THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD...Minister’s Letter (Locum) Dear All, First of all thank you for your warm...

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