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

theminister@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

West Kirk Session Clerk Stewart MacRae 01506 872486 23 Westmuir Road West Calder EH55 8EX sessionclerk@westkirkofcalder.co.uk Treasurer William Calder 01506 871281 25 Harburn Road West Calder EH55 8AJ treasurer@westkirkofcalder.co.uk

Polbeth Harwood Session Clerk Marian Kinsman 01506 871125 12 Langside Crescent Polbeth EH55 8UW sessionclerk@polbethharwood.co.uk Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 438038 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE treasurer@polbethharwood.co.uk

News Editor

Colin Dempster 01506 414565

140 Staunton Rise

Dedridge West Livingston EH54 6PA

thelinkeditor@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

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

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF Monday, 18th June 2007 Dear Friends, The wet and windy weather of the last few days – no, make that weeks – might have you somewhat confused. It is in fact Summer time, yet people have been telling me how they have had to have their central heating on again. When I was on holiday, walking coast-to-coast across the Highlands in May, the weather was good. Not as good as April had been, but quite settled and sunny enough to get a tan. A couple of days were hot enough for shorts! But at the moment it is very changeable. There have been some major changes in both our churches. I’m thinking mainly of the buildings. The West Kirk has been redecorated inside and the smell of fresh paint is still in the air when you go in. There’s a new smell as you walk into Polbeth Harwood as well. The church area is looking very good, with the wooden floor looking brand new and our new smart chairs are very comfortable (not that I get much chance to sit in them!). The new hymn book cabinets finish things off very well I think. Yes, there’s definitely the smell of something new around our churches. And though it might be hard to believe at times, I think it might be Summer! Whether you are home or away, or both, have a restful and refreshing time. Yours in Christ,

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

The Church Family (Parish Record)

West Kirk

Funerals

20th June – Agnes Anderson, Stewart Court 21st June – Bob Stewart, Dickson Court

Polbeth Harwood

Funerals

26th April – Janet Doyle, Polbeth Crescent 1st June – George Fairbairn, Chapelton Drive 6th June – Catherine Smith, Knowetop, Bellsquarry 7th June – Mary Cairns, Burnside Terrace

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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Worship in the Linked Congregations

Sunday Morning Worship takes place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am.

West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The Candy Bars for the year ended in June. An excellent total of £600 was raised from our summer buffet with its beautiful salmon centrepiece. We gratefully thank Agnes Clarkson and her neice for doing this again for us. Thanks also to Douglas and Margaret Lamb for all their hard work cultivating and potting plants which are always popular on the stall at this time of year. We have had a successful year and the group would like to thank all the bakers, cooks, craft makers, stall helpers, friends and customers who have supported and aided in any way. We have raised over £7,800 from the Candy Bars and Whist Drive since last September. We are delighted that we have been able to give this to the Redecoration Project. The next meeting of the group is on Monday 6th August at 7.30 pm in the church hall. If you would like to join our friendly, informal group to help our future events please come along where a welcome awaits you. We need new ideas to help us continue successfully. The next Candy Bar is on Saturday 1st September when we look forward to seeing you after the summer break.

Jill Murray (Convener)

West Kirk Redecoration The redecoration of the West Kirk has now been completed and the church is now looking “bright and beautiful”. Some additional work has still to be carried out such as the replacement of the baize around the balcony and this work will be carried out over the coming weeks.

The Minister and Kirk Session would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Bryce, the Finance and Fabric Committee and all those who took part in the many meetings, discussions and visits to other churches to enable this work to be carried out to a satisfactory conclusion. Thanks also to Margaret Greenhorn and the team of men and women who helped with the removal and restoration of the furniture and the cleaning of the church prior to its reopening in time for the June Communion service. Well done everyone!

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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West Kirk – Eco-Congregation The West Kirk has very recently registered as an Eco- Congregation, one of a growing number in West Lothian who affirm “that environmental issues and caring for God’s creation form part of our church’s life and mission”. As one who shares this commitment, I have volunteered to be the Environmental Co-ordinator – or, if you like, but I’m not sure if I do, the “Green Apostle” – for this, for the West Kirk.

Together with Bill Calder, Richard Bryce and David Albon, I worked through an environmental check-up to find out what we are already doing in our worship to express our concern for, and in our activities to help our planet and its inhabitants, and to see what we might consider doing in the future.

I then attended a meeting of the West Lothian Network of Eco-Congregations with Stewart MacRae, and it was encouraging to know that there is a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts to draw on in this network. I’d like to know people’s views on this, both at the start and as it develops – so please let me know what you think. I plan to submit a short article in each Link issue, and I will always try to include some: Green Tips Don’t stand by – when you’re not watching. Some actions that save energy do not even require any great sacrifice on our part: try to remember to completely turn off appliances with ‘stand-by’ – such as the TV and the computer, when not in use. It may not seem much, but apparently if we all did this, it would actually make a big difference. If you buy bottled water, consider choosing ‘One Water’. Check out www.we-are-one.org.uk to find out why.

Rosanna Rabaeijs

The Ship I am standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!” “Gone? Gone where?” Gone from my sight – that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left the shore.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!” there are other eyes, watching her coming, and the voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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This reading is also known as “What is Dying”. It was written by the charismatic Episcopalian Bishop Charles Henry Brent. His highly effective career including serving in a slum parish in Boston, being missionary bishop of the Philippines, acting as senior chaplain for the American armed forces in Europe in World War I and campaigning for church unity. He died in 1929, aged 66.

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Youth Link Picnic This year once again we headed for North Berwick on the Youth Link annual outing, and we were delighted to be joined by our friends from Polbeth Harwood. After all the nice weather we had earlier in April we were unsure just what the day might hold for us, as we were a week later this year. The day began with a joint communion service in our newly painted church, it was so nice and bright inside and we hoped the weather would be the same at North Berwick. This year we were dropped off slightly further away from the beach than usual, and how strange we all must have looked, marching along the street in a convoy, carrying our picnics, buckets and spades, and all the bits and pieces required for our races. The picnic was soon demolished and the kids headed for the water like magnets, the smaller girls paddled in the cool water whilst the boy's went on a jelly fish hunt! some on foot and some on a fantastic big dingy. The older girls showed us just what they were made of and ran straight into the water right up to their chin …… brrrrr.

Next on the agenda were the races. We started with the little ones working our way up through the age groups, first the flat race, then egg and spoon followed by wheel barrow, skipping, sack race and then a relay the list was endless. Every one took part, David placed a special request for an adult sack race which was fun, then the pressure was on when someone called for an adults flat race, I was most impressed we took up half the beach on this one and it was all good fun but still quite competitive. Thank goodness they needed someone to blow the whistle, I was most certainly not built for speed!

Our weather was dry for the picnic and we had a little drizzle during the races which was quite good as it kept all the athletes cool, i am quite sure most of them never even noticed! We all had a great day out at the seaside Our Youth Link will be on holiday by the time you get this magazine. We would also like to wish every one a happy summer holiday and we look forward to you all joining us again on September 2nd when we start the new term.

Lorna Graham

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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Veterans’ Badge

www.veteransagency.mod.uk

Those entitled to the Veterans’ Badge are: • Men and women who served in UK Armed Forces between the outbreak of WW1 and

31st December 1984 • Cyprus Regiment • Merchant Navy Seamen • Home Guard • Polish Forces under UK Command • War widows/widowers who receive a War Pension

If you would like Jim Devine, as Member of Parliament for Livingston to apply for a Veterans’ Badge on your behalf please fill out the form below and return to: Jim Devine MP, Suite 5, Pentland House, Livingston, EH54 6NG Tel: 01506 497965 Fax: 01506 497962

Title

First Name

Surname

Address (including Postcode)

Telephone Number

What was your Service Number?

Which years did you serve?

Which Service were you in?

Date of Birth

Was your name different when serving? If so please give your previous name

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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West Kirk – Rota Information

West Kirk Crèche Rota

1st July

Val Occardi

8th July

Margaret Farquhar

15th July

Kathy Black

22nd July

Shirley MacRae

29th July

Mary Calder

5th August

Olive Gibson

12th August

Melanie Dickson

19th August

Val Occardi

26th August

Margaret Farquhar

2nd September

Kathy Black

9th September

Shirley MacRae

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

1st July

Alison Baxter

Alison McNaught

8th July

Moira McRae

Jill Murray

15th July

Katie Albon

Olive Gibson

22nd July

Liz Dyer

Janice Cooper

29th July

Irene Grindlay

Margaret Rennie

5th August

Margaret Lamb

Janet Meikle

12th August

May Young

Olive Gibson

19th August

Jim Allan

Juanita Allan

26th August

Kate Perkins Jessiman

Olive Gibson

2nd September

Isobel McChesney

Olive Gibson

9th September

George Stott

Morag Stott

The Link Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm

Friday 31st August (Issue 21 – September)

Names to be announced …

West Kirk Duty Rota

Door Duty

Car Run

1st July

Jeanette Ferguson

Victor Ferguson

Lorna Graham

Alan Jessiman

8th July

Irene Grindlay

Beryl Henderson

Alan Jessiman

Stewart Munro

15th July

Alison McNaught

Stewart Munro

Jill Murray

George Stott

22nd July

Christine Nicholl

Evelyn Paterson

George Stott

Richard Bryce

29th July

Hazel Tod

Juanita Allan

Jim Allan

Hugh Clarkson

5th August

May Arnott

Angus Baxter

Richard Bryce

Robert Hawes

12th August

Liz Dyer

Alex Easton

Jeanette Ferguson

Beryl Henderson

19th August

Victor Ferguson

Lorna Graham

Irene Grindlay

Alan Jessiman

26th August

Beryl Henderson

Alan Jessiman

Alison McNaught

Stewart Munro

2nd September

Stewart Munro

Christine Nicholl

Evelyn Paterson

Richard Bryce

9th September

Jill Murray

May Arnott

Hazel Tod

George Stott

West Kirk Flower Rota Arrangers: If you will be away on your Rota turn, please either swap, or contact Margaret Greenhorn (01506 871139).

Given Arranged Delivered

1st July

Margo McEwan & Margaret Douglas

Ivy Johnstone

8th July

Kathy Black

Evelyn Paterson

Irene Grindlay

15th July

Mary Mabbutt

Katie Albon

Kathy Black

22nd July

Christine Mitchell

Rosanna Rabaeijs

Moira McRae

29th July

M.McCulloch Margo McEwan & Margaret Douglas

Ivy Johnstone

5th August

Craig Rennie

Katie Albon

Irene Grindlay

12th August

Anon c/o E.Paterson

Evelyn Paterson

Kathy Black

19th August

Viv Vinter

Rosanna Rabaeijs

Moira McRae

26th August

Isobel Young

Margo McEwan & Margaret Douglas

Ivy Johnstone

2nd September

Helen Forde

Evelyn Paterson

Irene Grindlay

9th September

Katie Albon

Kathy Black

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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Polbeth Harwood – Rota Information

Stewart Court Taxi Rota

1st July

Charlie Sturrock

8th July

David Prentice

15th July

Eleanor Davidson

22nd July

Margaret Marr

29th July

Charlie Sturrock

5th August

David Prentice

12th August

Eleanor Davidson

19th August

Margaret Marr

26th August

Charlie Sturrock

2nd September

David Prentice

9th September

Eleanor Davidson

Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota

Door Duty

1st July

Eleanor Davidson

Reeta Griffin

Wilma Dickson

Lilias Fairley

8th July

Etta Walker

Eleanor Davidson

Effie Halliday

George Halliday

15th July

Hazel Speirs

Linda Eardley

Margaret Hampson

William McCallum

22nd July

Jessie Kelly

Tom Kelly

Ann Watson

William Watson

29th July

Moira Mushet

Marian Kinsman

Jimmy Greer

Charlie Sturrock

5th August

Betty Macauley

Gordon Erskine

Janet Russell

Alan Mercer

12th August

Chrissie McCormack

Esther Hamilton

Reeta Griffin

Frank Mabbutt

19th August

Anna Muirhead

Tom Walker

Betty Upton

Margaret Dempster

26th August

Alice Mackay

Kenneth Mackay

Jenny Doyle

Janice Davidson

2nd September

Ena Prentice

David Prentice

Wilma Dickson

Lilias Fairley

9th September

Etta Walker

Eleanor Davidson

Effie Halliday

George Halliday

Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota

1st July

Mary Gray

Josephine Greer

8th July

Dot Cibbald

Norma Wilson

15th July

Anna Muirhead

Betty Macauley

22nd July

Marian Kinsman

Joan Philips

29th July

Ann Watson

William Watson

5th August

Margaret Marr

Jocky Marr

12th August

Ena Prentice

David Prentice

19th August

Mary Mabbutt

Frank Mabbutt

26th August

Laura Carroll

Petrona Carroll

2nd September

Reeta Grifiin

Tom Griffin

9th September

Mary Gray

Joesphine Greer

Polbeth Harwood Café Rota

July 2007 There will be no Café or Traidcraft Stall on Wednesdays throughout July

1st August

Grace Peace

Betty Upton

Janet Walker

8th August

Maisie Baird

Janet Russell

15th August

Frank Mabbutt

Effie Halliday

The Link Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm

Friday 31st August (Issue 21 – September)

Names to be announced …

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The Link Issue 20

Summer 2007

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Marriage Seminar While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor. "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favourite flower?" Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, “It's Homepride, isn't it?”

Contributions for the next edition … Contributions for the next edition of The Link Magazine must be submitted by the first Sunday after the 15th of the month. For the September issue, this will be Sunday 19th August. Feel free to write a short article about your holiday or time of rest and reflection. All articles are gratefully received. 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