Canonbie United Parish Church

Yesterday our service at Canonbie Church was led by our very own Rev Wendy Le Huray. Her theme was ‘Trees’ and she expounded on Luke chapter 19 where Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree in order to be able to see Jesus. It was a lovely and lively service, we sang some great hymns and songs, and the children participated, waving colourful flags during the singing.

Wendy drew our attention to the correlation between how trees take in carbon dioxide and transform this into oxygen, in the same way that Jesus, when he sacrificed his life for mankind, took our sin and gave us forgiveness in its place.

Wendy has been part of our congregation on and off for many years, and has been an extremely valued friend. She and her husband John are heading for pastures new, possibly in Guernsey or Exeter, down in the South West anyway. Wendy will be much missed but she goes with our prayers and good wishes.

Now available Autumn 2018 Chronicles

This Sunday we celebrated with Archie and Lis Findlay, as Archie has been an elder in the Church of Scotland for an amazing 50 years! Our Locum Minister, Pauline Steenbergen, presented him with a certificate marking this achievement, whilst at the same time, Lis was recognised for all her work over the last ten years as session clerk. Matthew, Lizzie and Hannah presented Archie and Lis with a beautiful cherry tree on behalf of the whole congregation, as we all know how much they both enjoy their garden (and hopefully for years to come anyone passing their garden on the way to the Church in spring will be able to see the blossom).

Lis thanked the congregation for their support over the years, it was an emotional speech as can be imagined, with a few teary eyes in evidence throughout the Church. Lis is retiring as session clerk of Canonbie Church, and a new team will be attempting to take on the tasks which she shouldered so admirably and in such a Lis-like-fashion.

Matthew Coulthard was thrilled to be involved in the proceedings, here he is posing with Lis and Archie and their tree.

Times are changing for Canonbie United Parish Church, and for our linked charge, Liddesdale Parish Church. A new Interim Moderator, Paul Read from Lochmaben, has just been appointed to steer us through vacancy; we have a great Locum Minister who is available for pastoral needs; and we have a new team taking on the role of session clerk.

Lois, Ruth and Leoniek can be contacted at canonbiechurch@gmail.com

Rev Susan Brown, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, will be visiting Canonbie Parish Church on Sunday 23rd September, along with her Chaplain, the Rev Jim Stewart.

There is an interview with Rev Susan published on the Church of Scotland website which makes interesting reading and gives an insight into the life and character of our Moderator. Her theme this year of ‘walking with’ is particularly interesting.

Please click on the link below the picture to find out more.

Church of Scotland article Rev Susan Brown

The children have been discovering who really are the Church and body of Christ.

The promised kiss of springtime…

Solway Singers’ Spring concert

The Solway Singers’ spring concert this year has a modern and transatlantic feel to it.  Even the anchor piece of the entire concert, Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, written in 1906, has an American link as the words were written by Walt Whitman.

The programme for the concert includes settings of folk songs from both sides of the Atlantic – Aaron Copeland’s light-hearted I bought me a cat and others from ‘Old American Songs’ are balanced by British folksongs from ever-popular British composer John Rutter’s lovely ‘Sprig of Thyme’ – as well as jazz and even popular music.  George Shearing was a British composer who moved to live in America: his settings of Shakespeare songs include the gorgeous Who is Sylvia? and the sultry, tongue in cheek Live with Me and Be My Love.

The American blues/music theatre composers of the time of Gershwin are not forgotten, with two songs by Jerome Kern arranged for choir; and gospel influences can be heard in the choral arrangement of Simon & Garfunkel’s signature song Bridge over Troubled Water (1970).  The most modern piece is then Ola Gjeilo’s The Ground (2008).  The Norwegian composer now lives in the United States, but the floating, linear harmonies of this piece and its religious text neatly remind us of Solway Singers’ roots in the British choral tradition: and that it’s a tradition which is going strong to this day, with composers still writing beautiful music for both religious and secular reasons.

By way of contrast, talented cornet player Olivia Beckett will be Solway Singers’ guest soloist for these concerts.

Performances take place:

– at St. Patrick’s church, Patterdale on Saturday 5^th May at 6pm (free entry; gift-aided donations to their Music Account welcome)

– at Canonbie United Parish Church on Sunday 6^th May at 3pm (£10 full price; students £5; school-age children accompanied by an adult free) and are available from either church, from choir members, Solway Singers Chair Janet Madden (07789 263605/ jahmadden@btinternet.com) or on the door.

Editors

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact:

Publicity officer Sarah Lewis-Briggs: 07399 628387 sarah.j.lewisbriggs@gmail.com

OR Chair Janet Madden: 07789 263605 jahmadden@btinternet.com

*** INCLEMENT WEATHER***

Due to the snow, drifting and icy conditions along the access road to Canonbie Church, this Sunday morning’s service has been re-located to the Cross Keys.

See you there!