Hello everyone,
One of the many pleasant parts of being your Clerk is celebrating ordinations and inductions. It is great to see people and congregations embark on new phases of ministry.
We have three coming up.
Mr Alastair Stark being ordained and inducted to Belhaven and Spott in deferred union with Dunglass on Thursday 2nd October at Belhaven Church
Mrs Sarah Cook being ordained and inducted to Jedburgh and Oxnam linked with Ale and Teviot United on Thursday 6th November at Jedburgh Church
Rev Christopher Watt being inducted to Newbattle St Nicholas Buccleuch on Thursday 13th November at Newtongrange Church
These are Presbytery meetings but also more than that. For those involved they are the culmination of sometimes years of sacrifice through selection and training. For congregations they are days of hope because they put out the call for a new minister and someone answered. Together they hold the hope of future ministry, of seeing God at work in the lives of people throughout Lothian and Borders regions. We have the privilege to play a small part. It’s all very inspiring.
We attend these not to be quorate but to show support to our brothers and sisters. If you live within 10 miles of one of these congregations there is a high expectation you will go along to the service. If not, when the service is on, please take a moment to pray. In all cases Presbytery will meet at 6.45 with people on the door directing you to where Presbytery will gather. Ministerial attire is optional, you may wear what you wish but you must wear something!
For Newbattle St Nicholas Buccleuch we are meeting in the refurbished Newtongrange church. A request has come in from Mabel the Session Clerk, “do you know of any congregations in the Presbytery who may be looking to dispose of wooden framed sanctuary chairs which have arms? We have several of these at Mayfield which are used and appreciated, but none yet for Newtongrange. We would be looking for 4 or 5, burgundy in colour.” Can you help, if so please contact Mabel.
For prayer this week:
September 28th Earlston linked with Gordon St Michael’s linked with Greenlaw linked with Legerwood
We remember in prayer this week the leadership and all involved in the life of this community.
Pray for the unity in congregations as partnerships are renewed and strengthened and where new links are forged across local churches. Pray for vision as they together seek a new minister for the charge.
Over the past few weeks here are the items taken under powers:
| 25/08/2025 | Presbytery Clerk | Give permission to the congregations in and surrounding Hawick to come together for an open air service on 31st August and therefore not have servies in their usual places. |
| 28/08/2025 | Vacancy Procedure Committee | Appoint Rev Elisabeth Spence to be IM at The Parish Church of Haddington when Rev David Graham retires in October 2025 |
| 29/08/2025 | Vacancy Procedure Committee | Appoint Rev Jock Stein to be IM at North Berwick Abbey l/w Dirleton for a year in the first instance, when Rev David Graham retires in October 2025 |
| 04/09/2025 | Vacancy Procedure Committee | Appoint Rev Mike Taylor to be IM at Dryburgh and District Churches from the demission due to retiral of Rev Sheila Moir. |
| 04/09/2025 | Vacancy Procedure Committee | Appoint Rev Peter Wood to be IM at Haddington West from the demission due to retiral of Rev John Vischer until the date of union with Haddington St Mary’s. |
| 15/09/2025 | Presbytery Council | Gave permission for Rev John Vischer to stay in the manse of Haddington West for a period of 2-3 weeks beyond his official retirement date. |
| 16/09/2025 | Presbytery Councl | Approved the sale of land at 22 Orchard Crescent, Prestonpans, which belongs to Presongrange congregation. |
| 18/05/2025 | Presbytery Clerk | Appoint Rev Sheila Moir as Mentor to Sarah Cook on her ordination and induction |
| 18/05/2025 | Presbytery Clerk | Appoint Rev N Dougall as Mentor to Alistair Stark on his ordination and induction |
| 22/09/2025 | Presbytery Council | Concur with the decision of Stow Kirk Session to sell the building of Stow Parish Church and to confer preferred bidder status on Stow Community Trust until March 31st 2026 after which the building shall be placed on the open market. |
There are a few files attached. A couple of agendas just so you know what your committees are doing. GT determinations that we are required to notify you about. The presentation from last Presbytery that Rob Lee did on GT funds. A trust that gives away money and a preaching course being offered by Aberdeen University.
We’ve also received this one below. If you are interested, please contact Phil.
I am Phil Rowett (p_rowett@hotmail.com), a Reader in the CofE and a local history researcher. I am also the Librarian of the Berwickshire Naturalists, which is a body interested in both natural history and archaeology/history.
At a meeting this afternoon, we talked about the possibility of visiting a number of churches within the Berwickshire area and possibly those in neighbouring areas. The aim would be to investigate the plants growing in the churchyards, to establish whether any of the gravestones commemorate people with a story, and to visit the church itself. We would like to take photos of the church, kirkyard and the landscape in which it sits.
Obviously, there are a large number of churches involved and we would need to give out attention to a group every year. This could be a long-term project.
I was wondering if you thought that this project would be agreeable and if it was possible to gain access to the churches which might be locked most of the time. I know the Anglican one, where I worship and lead worship, is usually locked. We thought we ought to concentrate on those churches and chapels which may well be in danger of closing or are closing in the near future before moving on to those with a settled future, but we are at present unaware as to which kirks would fall into which groups.
That’s all for today folks!
May you know the closeness of God in your daily walk this week and find his blessing in your lives.
As always, feel free to share and if you have any ideas how to improve what we do as Presbytery, please let us know.
Norman Smith
Presbytery Clerk
Ps. I know there are 10 attachments, sorry about that.
Attatchments:
The Keay Thom Trust (application form)
Mission Committee Draft Agenda
GT Determination of Sale Sept 2025
Planning Committee Agenda – 13th August