Canonbie United Parish Church

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-55533377

The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is currently making an announcement about a further lockdown in Scotland from midnight tonight, which includes closing churches for services from this coming Friday. This means that from next Sunday our services will be online. Hopefully this will not be for too long and we will me able to meet together again soon.

Last Sunday Rev Morag Crossan preached as sole nominee for Canonbie and Liddesdale Churches. The vote was counted this afternoon after all those on the electoral register had the opportunity to vote in person or by post and we are delighted to announce that Rev Morag Crossan was successfully elected to be our next minister. Exciting and happy times ahead. The date of her induction will be announced once known, obviously this also will be different in these difficult times.

This means that the Nomination Committee is now disbanded and we thank them for all their hard work and support to each other resulting in such a successful conclusion. To all those of you who have had our vacancy in your prayers, a very heartfelt thank you.

We are delighted to announce that Rev Morag Crossan will preach on 20th September, at 10.00am in Liddesdale and 11.30am in Canonbie, as sole nominee for the vacant charges of Canonbie and Liddesdale.

Whilst everyone is welcome to this service, we will be limited in numbers within the Church in order to adhere to COVID-19 guidance, but hopefully we will be able to make the most of technology and broadcast the service on the internet. More details will follow!

After the service, those who are on the current Church Electoral Register will have the opportunity to vote either by post or in person, details of which will be announced soon.

We thank God for all that has led to this point, especially in these difficult times, and pray that Morag and those around her will be blessed and that God’s will is clearly discerned.

Whilst our Church building may be closed at the moment for services, it’s not going unused; there are children here most days enjoying the space, peace and surroundings. One of the things they have enjoyed is art, and we have put some of our work in and on the wall along the Church lane. They have even featured in the local paper! Here are just a few examples;

Please click on the link for the newest edition of Canonbie Chronicles. For the first time, we have included links to resources available. If you would like any more information or have any feedback, please feel free to contact us by phone or email.

Summer 2020 Canonbie Chronicles

“The coronavirus crisis is still evolving, and we don’t yet know how long it will continue, or what the overall impact will be. But we do know that our work has never been more critical than today. Our decisive actions and contributions now, surely will make the difference in the lives of producers and their families, preserve economic activity, and strengthen our ties to one another, and between producers and shoppers. Please stay safe and healthy. Wash your hands. Keep apart, but stay united.” #FairtradeTogether

We can be part of making the difference by continuing to buy fairly traded products whenever we can. The church still has stocks of its regular products such as ground coffee (Machu Pichu and Kilimanjaro), loose leaf tea and teabags, hot chocolate, cocoa, rice and some sugar. If you let me (on 71725) or Lois (on 71386) know what you’d like we can organise getting it to you.

You can also by food, craft and household items directly from Traidcraft online shop at https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/ or of course from our local coop.

A Prayer: Defend the rights of the poor

God of justice, God of the poor

Grant us energy, resolve and perspective

to challenge the injustice we see before us.

Speak out with fairness

and make your views heard,

Defend the rights of the poor

We will

Speak out for those who cannot speak

Defend the rights of the poor

We will

Speak out on behalf of the silenced and voiceless

Defend the rights of the poor

We will

In the presence of God, in the light of the world, we commit ourselves to this task:

We will defend the rights of the poor.

We will speak out,

We will speak out.

Amen

There are some great resources on the internet for children, follow the link for one which I particularly like https://www.authenticmedia.co.uk/images/Self%20Isolation%20Resources%20Downloads.pdf

s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.odb.org/resources/europe/hope-in-hard-times/Hope+in+Hard+Times.pdf

I have been accessing various resources online and one which I have particularly enjoyed is Daily Bread. Quite a few of their publications are free to access, so pop over and have a look. The above, ‘Hope in hard times’ is worth a read.