Canonbie United Parish Church

Don’t forget that tomorrow, Sunday 22nd December, is the Nativity Service at 11.30am and the Matinee showing of It’s A Wonderful Life at 2.30pm

Our service this morning, the third in Advent, was taken by our Interim Moderator,  Andrew Morton, and the theme of his message was  When The Time Comes

This morning Canonbie Church welcomed the Reverend Adam Dillon from Moffat, who conducted communion and the christening of Sam William Ellwood.

It is also the first Sunday in Advent, which was the theme of Adam’s sermon: Advent is God’s time. He went on to talk about what kind of language we use when referring to time. Although we all experience time equally, there are those with not enough time and those with too much time, the time poor and the time rich, the powerful or the powerless.

The powerful view time as something they can control as they would a commodity, buying and spending time, quality time, investing time, putting time aside, time is money. Whereas the powerless have an abundance of time, more supply than demand, they waste time, have time on their hands, kill time.  However, God is the one who gives us time, and it is His. If time is our friend then we can use it to make the world a better place, we can use time to spend time with the people around us, both friends and family, and also those we might find more challenging. God gives us the opportunity to discover that we have nothing to fear. So this Advent remember this, God has given us time, so that we can use it for His good.

Give a gift this Christmas to help a homeless or vulnerable person or family in Annandale and Eskdale. It is a similar idea to buying a goat or chickens through Oxfam for families in Africa, but this is much closer to home.  £10 will pay for ten meals, or a food parcel, or a cooking skills class, at Kate’s Kitchen in Annan. For those who don’t know Kate’s Kitchen is a local charity, based in Annan, that helps the homeless and vulnerable in Annandale and Eskdale. You can read about Kate’s Kitchen by clicking here.

You can buy a card to give to your loved one explaining the donation that you have made on their behalf.

The cards are available from the Church, just put £10 in the money box,  from Kirsteen on 013873 71725 or alternately leave a message using the contact button below with your contact details and we will get back to you.

Thank you once again to Andrew Morton for a thought provoking and challenging sermon this morning here at Canonbie Church. It was entitled the Throne of Christ, and the whole service, including prayers, hymns and blessings is available by clicking on Throne Of Christ

Whilst  in Edinburgh on Sunday, I visited  the Scott Monument on Princes Street. I am so glad I did, it was so moving to see this field of poppies.  There were hundreds of crosses placed there with names of loved ones and relatives written on.

Here in Canonbie a service was held at the Memorial with the Brownies and Guides followed by a service in the Church. The full script including prayers and hymns is available by clicking Whisper Of Peace

This coming Sunday is Remembrance Sunday and there will be a short service at the War Memorial at 10.45am followed by a service in the Church at 11.30am which will involve the Brownies and the Guides

A chitenge is an African garment similar to a sarong, often worn by women wrapped around the chest or waist, over the head as a headscarf, or as a baby sling.

Chitenges are similar to kangas, lapas and kikoy, but are of a thicker cloth, and have an edging only on a long side.
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Malawi are some of the African countries where chitenges are worn.
Chitenges serve as an inexpensive, informal piece of clothing.

The printing on the cloth is done by a traditional batik technique. Many of the designs have a meaning. A large variety of religious and political designs is found as well as traditional tribal patterns. The cloth is used as material for dresses as well.

These bags have been made by girls and young women at the Youth Resource Centre in Ekwendeni, Malawi, as a way of generating some income. All the money from the sale of the bags will go directly to the Resource Centre to buy more chitenges to make more bags.
So go on, support the young women of Ekwendeni and buy a bag for just £5!

Bags are available from Canonbie Church or by contacting Lois on 0770 4201875