March2020

the magazine
Peebles Old
Parish Church of
Scotland
with
Eddleston Parish
Church of Scotland
March 2020

in Peebles Old Parish,10am
Daily Worship Leaders Jan/Feb.
Mon. 2nd Frances Carrol John 18:15-18,25-27 March
Tues. 3rd Alistair Robertson John 18:28-38
Wed. 4th Wilma Barrett Luke 18:9-14
Thur. 5th Tom Fairbairn Luke 17:1-8
Frid. 6th Lily Swinney Luke 17:9-19
Sat. 7th Rachel Forsyth Luke 17:20-26
Mon. 9th Geoff Goldstraw Mark 1:1-13
Tues. 10th Isabelle Coghill Mark 1:14-28
Wed. 11th Mary Wight Mark 1:29-45
Thur. 12th Charles Aitchison Mark 2:1-12
Frid. 13th David Donaldson Mark 2:13-22
Sat. 14th Pauline Copeland Mark 2:23-36
Mon. 16th Janette Cameron Mark 3:7-19a
Tues. 17th Haisley Moore Mark 3:19b-35
Wed. 18th Mary Wight Mark 4:1-20
Thur. 19th Marjorie Renton Mark 4:21-34
Frid. 20th Tom Fairbairn Mark 4:35-41
Sat. 21st Elizabeth Parker Mark 5:1-20
Mon. 23rd Frances Carrol Mark 5:21-43
Tues. 24th Lily Swinney Mark 6:1-13
Wed. 25th Wilma Barrett Mark 6:14-29
Thur. 26th Charles Aitchison Mark 6:30-46
Frid. 27th Janette Cameron Mark 6:47-56
Sat. 28th Rachel Forsyth Mark 7:1-23
Mon. 30th Geoff Goldstraw Mark 7:24-37
Tues. 31st Isabelle Coghill Mark 8:1-10
Wed. 1 st Alistair Robertson Mark 8:11-26
Thur. 2 nd David Donaldson Mark 8:27-9 1
Frid. 3 rd Haisley Moore Mark 9:2-13
Sat. 4 th Pauline Copeland Mark 9:14-29
From early in its history, the church has developed forms of daily worship. At the
Reformation, the people were encouraged to join in daily worship in their parish
churches, and the 1564 book of Common Order made provision for daily services.

Pastoral letter
March 2020
Dear Friends,
There was a nice moment at last month’s Peebles Kirk Session meeting when a letter
from a Peebles High School pupil was read out. The letter expressed thanks to the
Parish Church for making the MacFarlane Hall available for lessons following the
devastating High School fire. The writer also went on to acknowledge the disruption
this had created for other users of the Halls, who had had to find alternative
accommodation, thanking them too, and hoping things were now getting back
normal.
It’s always nice to get a thank-you letter, but what particularly impressed me about
this one was the writer’s appreciation that things don’t just happen; rather, people
make things happen. How easy it is to take things and people for granted, when the
reality is that responding to a crisis can involve a lot of people in a great deal of
work. That was certainly the case in relation to the MacFarlane Halls and other
facilities which were rapidly made available and adapted for temporary school use.
In the seventeenth chapter of St Luke’s Gospel we find a tale of ten lepers who were
healed by Jesus. All ten were cured but only one came back to say ‘thank you.’ Is it
really the case that we are more inclined to complain when things go wrong than to
offer thanks when they go well? I fear that that may be so, which surely gives us
food for thought. Meantime, how good it is to receive the thanks of a teenage
schoolgirl for all the efforts made to prioritise her ongoing education, and that of her
friends, during a time of crisis and disruption.
We continue to work our way through the various vacancy procedures. By the time
this is read the Electoral Registers of the two congregations will have been drawn
up, with a number of additional names added by applications from regular
worshippers whose names were not listed on the membership rolls. It is these
Electoral Registers which will be used when it comes to electing a Nominating
Committee, eligibility to serve on that Committee and the right to vote in the election
of a new minister. Preliminary conversations are also beginning on the proposal to
include Stobo Kirk in the current link between Eddleston and Peebles Old. Two elders
from the Presbytery’s Implementation Group will be advising and assisting as these
discussions go forward.
Finally, may I warmly commend the article by Ronald Ireland on the current financial
situation. Vacancies which, by definition, fall between settled ministries are
challenging times. I am hugely impressed by the natural leadership within our two
congregations and urge you all to support your local church in the traditional
stewardship way, through time, talents, money and, not least, your presence in the
worship of the sanctuary.
Grace and Peace be with you all, Finlay

News from
Peebles & Eddleston
What we’re up to.
A Bite and a Blether
A Bite and a Blether takes place every Wednesday from 11.30am – 1.00pm in
Eddleston Village Hall. For a minimum donation of £3.00 enjoy a bacon roll or
vegetarian alternative, home baking, tea or coffee and some great camaraderie. The
Primary 7’s will be down to help out on 11th March. A carry out service is also
available and a warm welcome awaits all ages.
Church Clean at Eddleston
The next Eddleston Parish Church monthly clean will take place on Monday 30th
March at 9.30am
Craft Group at Eddleston
The Craft Group will meet on Thursday 5th & 19th March at 1.30pm at 3 Station
Lye Eddleston. For further information contact Jo Oliver 01721 730696
Lenten Study Group
A Lenten Study Group will again take place in the Song School,
at 10.30am on the six Thursday mornings of Lent, beginning
this Thursday 27 February.
I shall lead the first one (copies of the Study Guide will be
provided) and then Rev Haisley Moore and Rev David
Donaldson will take over throughout Lent when I will be in New
Zealand.
We look forward to welcoming all who can join us, for all or
any of the weeks as we Journey to the Cross. This year’s study guide is produced
by the ecumenical charity, EMBRACE the Middle East. Rev Pamela Strachan, OLM
Mindfulness Group
The Mindfulness group will meet on Tuesday 10th & 24 th at the home of Rosemary
Fowler, 2 The Glebe. Further information contact Christine Donnelly 01721 730764
An Hour with…
The final concert in our series ‘An Hour with……’ takes place on Sunday22nd March
and will feature Graham McDonald - piano and his daughter Sophie – clarinet.
Graham is well known to Eddleston audiences for his amazing pianistic styles.
Sophie is a student at the Junior Conservatoire of Music in Glasgow. This promises
to be super concert to finish our series. Entry is by donation and all proceeds go to
Eddleston Parish Church.
Chat in the Hat
The final meeting of this in formal discussion group for this session is on
Wednesday 4th March at 7.30pm in the church. Bring along a topic, put it
into the hat, and enjoy the enfolding discussion. Nibbles are provided but
BYOB. A small donation is invited.

Breakfast Church
For the last five years we’ve enjoyed Breakfast Church at the Old Parish as it has
been evolving and changing. Essentially laity-led, it is cafe-style informal worship
held in our MacFarlane Hall and it is much loved by many, with numbers attending
remaining buoyant.
We have moved through a number of themes which reflect our concerns as
committed Christians: hope, fear, caring for one another and our obligations within
the community, helping our neighbours both here and abroad. Our current theme
is ‘Helping and Serving - our Christian duty and our joy’. We welcome suggestions
of new speakers and any who wish to join the planning group and take part in
leading our services.
After a talk on ‘Mary’s Meals’ in April 2018 when Deirdre O’Reilly came to speak to
us, we began supporting the Backpack Project and have since donated over 50
filled backpacks to this splendid charity from the Old Parish. Mary’s Meals is now
feeding over 1.6 million hungry school children each day in countries throughout
the world where poverty is an obstacle to education.
Our next Breakfast Church will be held on 19 April, when our Eco-Coordinator, Neil
Cummings will remind us of our obligations as an Eco Congregation and inspire us
afresh with ways we can help tackle the current crisis brought on by changes in our
climate patterns. Other forthcoming speakers include Graham Garvie (speaking
about his involvement in postwar
reconstruction in the
Balkans) on 21 June and
Alanna Carson (a young Irish
Christian volunteer who was
kidnapped in Nigeria) who will
come to our Breakfast Church
on 1 November.
Do join us if you can and
contact us with suggestions of
speakers and we welcome your
involvement in Breakfast
Church worship.
A request from the Flower
Committee
We are on the look-out for
more volunteers to join the
Old Parish Church Flower
Committee to be part of a
team that decorates the
church for major festivals
(such as Christmas, Easter and
Harvest).
The Flower Committee is
funded by generous donors
who provide funds for the

committee to buy flowers and decorate the church. No previous experience is
required and full artistic licence is given!
It's a great way to learn a new skill and be part of a team. For more information
please contact Rachael Forsyth via 01721 724693 or rachael.forsyth@virgin.net.
Christian Aid Week 2020 Plant Sale
The sale of plants donated by local gardeners regularly raises important funds
during Christian Aid Week and we would like to remind gardeners who would like to
help us that while it’s not exactly gardening weather just now, preparations can
begin by thinking about which plants could be divided when spring comes or seeds
sown or cuttings taken. All contributions will be most welcome. The plant sale will
be on Saturday, May 16. For more information please contact John Hutchinson
01721720885/07914724552
Diary Date
A Festival of Flowers and Music is being planned for Saturday 18 th & Sunday 19 th
April in Eddleston & Stobo Churches. The Theme is ‘New Beginnings’. Please look at
the church facebook page for further information. A full list of events will be
published in next month’s Magazine.
Duke of Edinburgh Volunteer
As part of her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, Jennifer Brown will be serving
coffee before morning worship every Sunday for the next six months. The Kirk
Session of Eddleston Parish Church is delighted to welcome Jennifer who is a
former member of the Junior Choir.
Meet & Make Update 2020 from Mandy Durkin
We had a fantastic year of crafting last year and finished with sparkle
by making Decopage Christmas Bottles. This involved huge amounts of wine
bottles (empty!) napkins, baubles, foliage, ribbons, glue and each room
looked like a Christmas Hurricane had passed through by the time we had
finished. Needless to say everyone had a lot of fun!
We are now starting to a new year of creativity. We have 4 groups are
eager crafters starting again and we have also 6 fantastic volunteers,
who are such an important of the project and we would like to say big
thank you to them for giving their time. Everyone involved is so
enthusiastic and eager to doing something new. And everyone is improving
their crafting skills all the time. This year we are also hoping to
create a display in the MacFarlane Hall, so everyone can see the crafts
we make.
We would also like to say a big thank you to Castle Warehouse who have
very kindly chosen us to receive their carrier bag fund, which is the
money collected from carrier bags sold over 6 months. This will start in
Jan 17th until July 17th.

Kirk Session Report
19th February 2020
1.Annual Accounts 2019 - The draft Annual Accounts were presented.
Total Income was as per the budget. Offerings were below budget by £1,252,
which was worrying, but this was balanced by £1200 received from Scottish
Borders Council for the use of the Hall during the recent High School crisis. Other
items were broadly in line with the budget.
Expenditure exceeded the budget by £1,611. There was a reduction of £3,000 in
Ministry & Mission, but the main divergence from the budget was in respect Fabric
repairs and maintenance which was £5,153 over the budget, due to unanticipated
essential repairs. Otherwise the other items taken together were more or less in
line.
It was noted that figures include Meet and Mend which have to be included for
OSCR. Allowing for that the overall result was a deficit of £14,069 which was £1749
more than budgeted. This was clearly not sustainable.
Turning to the Balance Sheet, this showed a reduction in Total Funds of £19,741
but that also included Outreach Meet and Make spending, so that the General Fund
position was a reduction of £14,993 which was a reflection of the deficit. Invested
Funds remained virtually same as at 31 December 2018.
The Draft Accounts were approved for submission to the Presbytery and OSCR in
due course.
Special thanks were due to Derrick Redfern for his continuing and valuable role in
preparing regular trial balances and monitoring the accounts. Thanks were also due
to Charles Gray and his team for completing the Annual Accounts in time for the
meeting and for their work throughout the past year.
2.Budget 2020 - This largely followed the previous year, with income remaining
at the same level, but it should be noted that it included a wind fall of £4,000 from
the letting of the hall to Scottish Borders Council.
Expenditure was expected to increase by £3,202 compared to the previous year.
Once again the Interim Treasurer would be asking Presbytery for a reduction in
Ministry & Mission (last year £3,0000). There was also the question of what
reduction if any, will come about as result in the proposed new linkage. For the
moment the existing figures should be maintained, so that the end result was once
again a very large deficit of over £15,000, which was not sustainable and would
have to be seriously addressed.
3.Legacy - We had been recently advised of a legacy from the Estate of the Late
Mrs Jean Johnston. The final figure had not yet been advised, but would not be less
than £20,000. It was anticipated that this would be received in April or May.
4.Actions - With regard to the legacy, the Finance Committee had looked at this
and proposed that £10,000 be used as a part of a new Fabric Fund invested with
the Church of Scotland Investment Trust Income Fund and the balance held in the
current account to offset the 2019 deficit. This was agreed.

As a major step towards improving the immediate situation, the Finance
Committee proposed that at an appropriate time this year, after making the
congregation aware of the current situation, a Gift Day would be held. It was noted
that the last time one was held, in total around £8,000 was raised. For budgeting
purposes this time a total of around £6,000 would be realistic.
It was agreed that it be remitted to the Finance Committee to look into this and
make appropriate arrangements. This was agreed.
5. Donations from Restricted Funds - It was noted that at the present time the
Flower Fund had a Balance of £4,285 and the Guild of Friendship £1,544 standing
to their credit. These balances had built up over a number of years and seemed to
be substantially larger than was necessary to meet commitments. The Finance
Committee therefore proposed that a donation to the General Fund from those
funds should be invited. It was suggested that £3,500 and £750 respectively would
be appropriate. This was agreed.
If all those steps were taken, it would go a long way to balancing the books this
year, but it should be clear that that they would not provide a long term solution
and it would be necessary to ask members to review their offerings and look at
whatever other measures might be taken to improve the situation. Following his
article in the December Magazine, the Interim Treasurer, would write a further
article setting out the position to the congregation.
6.Fergusson Bequest - There is an account with Church of Scotland Investment
Trust called Fabric Endowment Trust valued at £3,204. This is part of Miss
Fergusson’s bequest, and had been unused for many years. As originally
constituted in 1979 the income was to be used for fabric. The Finance Committee
proposed that it should now be closed and the whole amount added to the new
Fabric Fund. This was agreed.
7.Current Bank Balances at 19 February - Treasurer’s Account: £18,342.55
Outreach Account: £7,541.55
8.Manse Council Tax - Exemption had been claimed and £661 recovered for
period from 14 December when Macdougalls vacated the Manse
9.Scottish Churches Trust - The Annual membership subscription of £50 now
due. It was agreed to continue membership.
10.Fabric – a report from the General Trustees was brought to the Session’s
attention with encouragement to read the document – anyone in the congregation
wishing to see this should contact Allister Jamieson.
The Session agreed to postpone the cost of getting a new notice board for the
entrance to the disabled walkway as the new notice board at the church steps has
now been installed.
11.Worship – Holy Week Services were discussed and duty Elders were
confirmed.
12.Presbytery Planning – The Session were informed that Rev Jim Cutler wishes
to step down as Locum from the end of March. Dr Macdonald was seeking a
replacement to take over from April 1 st .
It has been agreed by Presbytery that TOPCOP is able to call a minister on a 7 year
renewable tenure.

13.Peebles Churches Together – the World Day of Prayer will be held on 6 th
March at 2pm in St Andrews Leckie – all are welcome.
The Session has received 2 letters: one from a pupil of Peebles High School
thanking the Church for allowing pupils to use the hall to continue their studies.
The second letter was from the Food Bank thanking us for the donation sent to
them from the amount collected at the 9 Lessons & Carols service in December.
The Session adjourned to meet on 15 th April.
More Good Housekeeping
Ronald Ireland
Interim Treasurer
In the December edition of the Magazine I drew attention to the likelihood that the
financial position at the end of the year would show a deficit of at least £11,000. We
now have the final result as set out in the Annual Accounts for the year to 31
December. This was reported to the Kirk Session at its meeting on 19 February.
Sadly they show a deficit for the year of £14,069 pounds compared to the budget
for the year which was a deficit of £12,320. The full details will be shown at the
Annual Congregation at a date as yet to be fixed. In the meantime a summary will
be available on request at the Church Office.
We now also have the budget for the current year which anticipates an even larger
deficit, this time £15,033. Clearly this is not sustainable. We do have substantial
reserves, but as I have previously explained, those are invested and produce a
significant income, which would diminish if reserves are depleted.
What is to be done?
We will for the most part be able to cover the 2019 shortfall without drawing on
reserves, but that will not be possible in the current year. So, I am appealing to all
members to consider their present level of giving and if possible to increase it on an
on-going basis.
We know that for many people an on-going commitment can be difficult, but that
often people have something to spare which can be made available as a one-off
donation. For that reason, the Kirk Session has agreed that during the course of this
year we should hold a Gift Day. This was done several years ago and produced an
excellent response. It has been remitted to the Finance Committee to consider the
best time for this to happen and how it should be organised. The details will be made
public in due course.
In addition, I would appeal to any of our organisations or groups to look at the
possibility of running additional fund-raising events throughout the year. Every little
(or indeed, large) contribution will help.
As I noted in the December article, in the not too distant future, we will start the
process of calling a new minister. As I said then, it is very important that potential
candidates are not deterred by an adverse financial prospect. We need to show that
we are taking effective steps to address the issue.
In the knowledge that difficult financial times lie ahead, I hope everyone will take on
board the problem that we face and do all they can to assist in turning what at the
moment is negative, into a positive outcome.

Food for Thought
Living in a Christ-soaked world
Pamela Strachan, OLM
Many of you know I have been following Fr. Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations for a
number of years and have found these meditations and other publications from the
Centre for Action and Contemplation a rich source of challenging and thoughtprovoking
Christian spiritual insight.
The meditations are a free daily resource, pinging into your inbox first thing in the
morning - or you can choose to receive them weekly or monthly. As it’s not
possible for me to join you for the daily worship each weekday morning (as I would
wish if I lived in Peebles), I’ve found these meditations an excellent alternative
discipline of daily reflection and contemplation. This is the link if you’re interested
in receiving them: cac.org and click on Daily Meditations.
Here is a recent one to share with you. It’s from last November but is particularly
relevant as we suffer from recent extreme weather and are having to think
seriously about how we’ve all contributed to climate change. It will also be our
topic for our April Breakfast Church - see p.5 when Neil Cummings will talk about
Eco Congregations and the Climate Crisis.
I write this from a very soggy glen where we’ve been rescuing marooned sheep
trapped in the swollen Holms Water and with the Cardon Burn racing past my
window…. all ultimately flowing into the rising River Tweed. I trust you are all safe
and dry and not flooded out as so many unfortunate households have already
been.
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
From the Center for Action and Contemplation
Economy: Old and New
Making Do with More
Monday, November 25, 2019
Charles Eisenstein is a fascinating public speaker, author, and advocate for gift
economies. At a rather young age, he walked away from a thriving business career,
recognizing that our cultural models of success simply weren’t working for him.
Drawing on his background in business, mathematics, philosophy, and spirituality,
he turned his attention to the some of the largest problems facing the world today,
including climate change. Here he writes of a future in which material limitation
actually delivers a greater sense of wealth:
A world without weapons, without McMansions in sprawling suburbs, without
mountains of unnecessary packaging, without giant mechanized monofarms,
without energy-hogging big-box stores, without electronic billboards, without
endless piles of throw-away junk, without the overconsumption of consumer goods
no one really needs is not an impoverished world. I disagree with those
environmentalists who say we are going to have to make do with less. In fact, we
are going to make do with more: more beauty, more community, more fulfillment,

more art, more music, and material objects that are fewer in number but superior
in utility and aesthetics.
Part of the healing that a sacred economy represents is the healing of the divide
we have created between spirit and matter. In keeping with the sacredness of all
things, I advocate an embrace, not an eschewing, of materialism. I think we will
love our things more and not less. We will treasure our material possessions, honor
where they came from and where they will go. The cheapness of our things is part
of their devaluation, casting us into a cheap world where everything is generic and
expendable.
Put succinctly, the essential need that goes unmet today, the fundamental need
that takes a thousand forms, is the need for the sacred—the experience of
uniqueness and connectedness.
We are starving for spiritual nourishment. We are starving for a life that is
personal, connected, and meaningful. By choice, that is where we will direct our
energy. When we do so, community will arise anew because this spiritual
nourishment can only come to us as a gift, as part of a web of gifts in which we
participate as giver and receiver.
When I use the word spiritual, I am not contradistinguishing it from the material. I
have little patience with any philosophy or religion that seeks to transcend the
material realm. Indeed, the separation of the spiritual from the material is
instrumental in our heinous treatment of the material world. So when I speak of
meeting our spiritual needs, it is not to keep cranking out the cheap, generic,
planet-killing stuff while we meditate, pray, and prattle on about angels, spirit, and
God. It is to treat relationship, circulation, and material life itself as sacred.
Because they are.
As I often say, when it is true, it is true everywhere, even in economics. In my
opinion, Eisenstein seems to be describing the reality of the Universal Christ,
though I do not even know if he is a Christian. There are so many insights worth
sharing when we recognize that we live in a Christ-soaked world.
Gateway to Presence:
If you want to go deeper with today’s meditation, take note of what word or phrase
stands out to you. Come back to that word or phrase throughout the day, being
present to its impact and invitation.
Image credit: Le Denier de la Veuve (The
Widow’s Mite) (detail), James Tissot,
between 1886 and 1894, Brooklyn
Museum, Brooklyn, New York.

An update from Malawi
Pamela Strachan, OLM
I have recently received the following from the
Malawian prison chaplain, Revd Stanley Chimesya,
with whom I stayed last October. You will remember
I had the opportunity to visit a number of prisons in
the Blantyre Synod during my visit and was able to
see at first hand how desperate the living conditions
are for many of the prisoners. Food and clean water
are priorities.
‘Greetings, servants of the Lord Jesus.
As you are aware, I initiated a water project in
Ntcheu prison which had not water. A family in
Australia, the Breens, offered their heartfelt donation
of 14.5 million (Kwacha) to drill a borehole powered
by solar energy, with 2 tanks of 5,000 litres each.
The work was completed on 10 January 2020 and
the facility handed over to the prison authority on 17 January.
The challenge now is that the water hasn’t yet been extended to inmates’ cells,
kitchen, toilets and bathrooms. I would invite God-loving well wishers to support
the remaining phase which will cost local currency, 4.7 million Kwacha from the
point where the tanks and a water tap are, to the mentioned area.
To me the work is incomplete until I bring the water to inmates’ cells, bathrooms,
etc. The contractor is ready to do the work once well-wishers are ready to finance
the last phase.
God bless.
Rev. Stanley Chimesya
Prison Chaplain
Malawi.
4.7 million Kwacha would be nearly £5,000 and Rev.
Stanley is now asking his friends in parishes worldwide
to help raise the additional funding for Phase 2
of this project.
The photos are of the ceremony at Ntchen
Prison Malawi on January 17 th this year.
Rev Stanley standing with the Chief
Commissioner of prisons, Wandika Phiri
and the Blantyre Synod General
Secretary, Rev Dr Billy Gama

Words of Wisdom
You Can Start Again
‘He comforts us in all our troubles.’ 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT
God can make you comfortable in some of life’s most uncomfortable
places. He can bring you through situations you think you won’t survive,
or feel like you’ll be stuck in forever. He can give you peace when you’re
under pressure.
Before your life is over, you’ll experience loss. Indeed, losing some
things will actually help you appreciate the things you have. It’s the
taste of failure that makes success so sweet. You’ll live not knowing
what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God has all your tomorrows
planned out. Your future isn’t in the hands of your boss, your banker,
your spouse, or anybody else. Nor is it in your own hands to control. All
your tomorrows are in God’s hands to control.
And just because you don’t understand the path you’re on, doesn’t
mean He isn’t leading you. He promises: ‘I will lead them in paths they
have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked
places straight. These things I will do for
them, and not forsake them’ (Isaiah 42:6
NKJV). So get to know God, because
you’ll need Him. And He will be there
when everybody else has failed you. He
will be there for you in the dark places.
The psalmist writes, ‘Weeping may
endure for a night, but joy comes in the
morning’ (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). However
long the night, morning will come – and
with it His joy. Looking back, you’ll realise that His grace has protected
you, provided for you, calmed you, comforted you, and brought you
through.
Times and seasons change, but not the Lord. He’s ‘the same yesterday,
today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
This is reproduced with kind permission from United Christian Broadcasters (UCB)
Word for Today. Copies can be obtained from them at UCB Operations Centre,
Westport Road, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4JF
They can be reached on 0845 6040401 or at www.ucb.co.uk

Bell-tower Craik
More tea Vicar?
Avocados
A wife asks her husband, "Could you please go
shopping for me and buy one carton of milk
and if they have avocados, get 6.
A short time later the husband comes back
with 6 cartons of milk. The wife asks him,
"Why did you buy 6 cartons of milk"
He replied, "They had avocados.
"If you're a woman, I'm sure you're going back
to read it again! Men will get it the first time.
My work is done here.
Water in the carburettor
Wife: "There is trouble with the car. It has
water in the carburettor."
HUSBAND: "Water in the carburettor? That's
ridiculous "WIFE: "I tell you the car has water
in the carburettor."
HUSBAND: "You don't even know what a
carburettor is. I'll check it out. Where's the
car? WIFE: "In the pool".
Today's short reading from the bible
From Genesis: "And God promised men that
good and obedient wives would be found in all
corners of the earth"
Then he made the earth round and He laughed
and laughed and laughed!
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage. He didn’t
have to hear about all the men she could have
married, and she didn’t have to hear about the
way his mother cooked.
Lost in translation
Two American preachers were visiting in
Germany and attended Sunday services. Since
they couldn’t speak German, they decided to do
as the man sitting in front of them did.
A few minutes into the service the preacher from
the pulpit said something and the man in front of them stood, and they stood also.
The congregation burst into laughter. They then sat down when the man did.
At the end of the service, they met the pastor and found that he spoke English.
They asked him why everyone laughed so much when they stood?
The pastor explained that he had announced that they would have a christening
service that evening, and would the father of the child please rise

How
can you be part of this
Magazine?
This is your magazine!
We’re looking out for travel stories, life stories, recipes, jokes and articles that
would brighten up our magazine pages. Don’t just leave it to the small band who
contribute regularly…get involved yourself.
Just think you could see your own thoughts and
words in print and be able to share the things that
inspire you about life, worship, travel, cooking, or
even The Old Parish Church itself.
We can even help you with the scanning of
photographs if you don’t have them electronically
and if you ask nicely we can arrange for articles to
be typed up from your own notes or ideas.
So why not get in touch with me as detailed below
or simply e-mail magazine@topcop.org.uk
To:
Would you like your own copy each month?
Well help is at hand… just fill in and post this form!
Miss Fiona Taylor, 12 Graham Street, Peebles EH45 8JP P:724196
Your name ……………………………………………………………………
Your address……………………………………………………………………………………..
I’m happy to enclose a donation of £….... towards the cost of the
Magazine.
Please make cheques payable to “Peebles Old Parish Church of Scotland”

READERS
CHURCH ORDERS (PEEBLES)
March 1 Isabelle Coghill
8 Lily Swinney
15 Tom Fairbairn
22 Janette Cameron
29 Elizabeth Parker
April 2
9
Readers will receive the readings
directly from Jim Cutler.
DUTIES
16
23
March
April
Marjorie Renton
Allister Jamieson
Please note: Elders unable to undertake any of the above duties are asked to
arrange for a substitute and let the Session Clerk or Ruth Kerr know. Duty
elders should be in place by 9.30am.
HOLY COMMUNION
March 29 Geoff Goldstraw Anne Derrick
THE BELL RINGERS
March 1 Kirsty Davidson
8 Rosalie Gibson
15 Margaret Anderson
22 Mary Hudson
29 Calum Armstrong
CONGREGATIONAL REGISTER PEEBLES
Deaths
27 November 2019 Mrs Annie Cunningham
28 November 2019 Mrs Marjorie McLean
16 December 2019 Mrs Donalda Wood
6 January 2020 Mr Alan Wilding died on.
28 th January 2020 Mr Stanley Francis Ian Ashton.
New Members by Special Resolution of the Kirk Session
Pamela Burnside, 32 Gallowhill, Peebles
Andrew and Marion Henthorn, 15 Drovers Way, Peebles
Caroline Lazenby, 61 Whitehaugh Park, Peebles
Wilma Smith, 25 Kingsmeadows Gardens, Peebles

FORTHCOMING SERVICES EDDLESTON
March
Sunday 1st 11.45am Worship4All in Eddleston Village Hall.
First Sunday of Lent. Rev Jim Cutler.
Coffee Served from 11.15am
Sunday 8th 11.45am Morning Worship in the church.
Second Sunday of Lent.
Very Rev Finlay MacDonald
Sunday 15th 11.45 am Morning Worship in the church. Sacrament of Holy
Communion. Third Sunday of Lent. Rev Jim Cutler
Sunday 22nd 11.45 am Morning Worship in the church. Mothering Sunday
Fourth Sunday of Lent. Rev Jim Cutler
Sunday 29th 10 am Morning Worship in the church. Passion Sunday.
Fifth Sunday of Lent. Rev Pamela Strachan.
April
Sunday 5th 11.45am Morning Worship in the church for Palm Sunday.
Very Rev Finlay MacDonald
FORTHCOMING SERVICES PEEBLES
March
Sunday 1st 10am Morning Worship. First Sunday of Lent
Rev Jim Cutler
Sunday 8th 10am Morning Worship. Second Sunday of Lent.
Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald
Sunday 15th 10am Morning Worship. Third Sunday of Lent.
Rev Jim Cutler
Sunday 23rd 10am Morning Worship. Mothering Sunday. Fourth
Sunday of Lent. Rev Jim Cutler
Sunday 29th 10am Morning Worship. Passion Sunday.
Fifth Sunday of Lent. Rev Jim Cutler
April
Sunday 5th 10am Morning Worship. Palm Sunday.
Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald

Flower Calendar
Convenor: Rachael Forsyth 01721 724693
rachael50forsyth@gmail.com
1 Donor
Arranger
8 Donor
Arranger
15 Donors
Arranger
22 Donors
Arranger
29 Donors
Arranger
Mr & Mrs Tom McAndrew
Rachael Forsyth
Mr & Mrs W Nicoll
Gill Arnott
Mrs Margaret Percy-Robb
Ruth Forsyth
Mrs Jill McBain
Stephanie Porter
Fiona Hamilton
5 Donor Mrs Isabel Arthur
Arranger Rachael Forsyth
12 Easter Flowers
19 Donor
Arranger
26 Donor
Arranger
Mrs Isabel Coghill
Gill Arnott
Mrs Jean Duguid
Ruth Forsyth
Distributors required
If you can help distribute flowers, please let one of the flower
committee know or phone Rachael Forsyth on 724693
OFFERINGS
Eddleston
Total Offerings for February 2020 £678.72
Total Offerings for February 2019 £716.43
Total offerings for the first 2 months of 2020 £1,243.91
Total offerings for the first 2 months of 2019 £1,202.43
Increase in offerings over 2019 £41.48

A very warm welcome to
Our Organisations
You’ll receive a warm welcome at any of our groups, whose details are given
below. For further information about each organisation, please see our website
www.topcop.org.uk
Group Where and when we meet Contact
Choir
SHARE
Flower
Committee
Bellringers’
Group
Guild of
Friendship
Traidcraft
Green Team
Toddlers’ Group
Bacon Rolls
Song School
Thursdays 7.30-9.00pm (not July and
August)
We meet in the MacFarlane Hall, once
a month at 2pm on a Sunday
afternoon. Dates will be announced.
Meets once a year as a whole group,
Members take their turn at arranging
the flowers in church each week and
at major religious festivals.
Members take their turn on the
Sunday Bell ringing rota and ring on
other community occasions if they
wish.
Members meet together twice a year.
The Guild visits housebound members
of the congregation. The number of
homes and frequency of visits is
flexible and can easily be arranged to
suit the availability of the Visitor
Members take turns at the purposebuilt
cupboard selling Fairtrade goods
after morning worship each Sunday
Help to provide ideas for each of us to
better care for God’s creation.
MacFarlane Hall
Tuesdays in school terms. 9.30-
11.00am
Friday mornings. Join a team taking
your turn preparing and serving
Bacon Rolls. Each team is ‘on’ once
every 6 weeks. Great fun!
Sarah Brown
(Director of Music)
07597 394059
Cathy Davidson
01896 830419
Rachael Forsyth
01721 724693
Anne Derrick
01721 721075
Elizabeth Fairless
01721 720344
Janette Cameron
01721 722528
Neil Cummings
01896 831771
Please speak to the
Minister or Session
Clerk
Janette Cameron
01721 722528

Who’s Who at Peebles & Eddleston
Interim Moderator:
Very Rev Dr Finlay A J Macdonald
8 St Ronan’s Way
Innerleithen
EH44 6RG
01896 831631 07770 587501
Locum : Rev Jim Cutler
12 Kittlegairy Place
EH45 9LW
01721723950
07540497577
revjimc@outlook.com
Session Clerk:
Vivien Aitchison
sessionclerk@topcop.org.uk
Ordained Local Minister:
Rev. Pamela Strachan
Glenhighton, Broughton
ML12 6JF
01899 830423
Pamelastrachan19@gmail.com
Organist & Choir Leader:
Sarah Brown
41 March Street, Peebles
07597 394059
music@topcop.org.uk
Church Administrator:
Ruth Kerr
07845 122356
Office: 01721 723986
admin@topcop.org.uk
Roll Keeper Data
Officer:
Alison Duncan
House: 721033
Mobile: 07707 001795
Eddleston Treasurer:
Archie Smellie
Hattonknowe, Eddleston.
01721 730282
Bellringers’ Team
Leader:
Anne Derrick
Edderston Road, Peebles
01721 721075
Beadle:
Edward Knowles
41 Dukehaugh, Peebles.
01721 722860
Eco Church Co-ordinator
Peebles:
Neil Cummings
01896 831 771
carcatnel@yahoo.co.uk
Eddleston Session Clerk,
Organist & Choir
Director: Lorraine
Mulholland
Millbank, Eddleston.
01721 730332
Lorajazz@aol.com
Registered charities (Peebles) SC013316 (Eddleston) SC010081