May 2020 Magazine

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

At Peebles Old
Sadly, but in keeping with the Covid-19
guidelines, our Daily Worship along with
Sunday Worship is currently suspended.
However the texts and hymns for weekly
services are available at peeblesold.online
In these changed times it’s more important that
we keep in touch with those around us by safe
means. As this and foreseeable editions of this
magazine will only be available electronically
please share the word around that it can be
obtained online at www.topcop.org.uk
You can also keep up to date
via our Facebook page.

Pastoral letter
May 2020
Dear Friends
This is my first pastoral letter for the Newsletter since taking over as Locum
Minister on 1st April! Now I don’t attach any importance whatsoever to the
date myself, but you can arrive at your own judgement!
In the three weeks since I started, I have been building pictures in my head
of the congregations and how they work. One of the tasks has been producing
a new way of providing online resources for use in weekly worship. The aim is
to do something which is very strongly our own. And so, to date, we have
introduced the bells of the Old Parish welcoming Easter, and the Organ
contributing music to the site. There is a lot of future development in mind for
this resource, which is statistically very successful with regular viewers at
home and abroad.
But let me make no overblown claims. The production of the special site -
peeblesold.online - needs the patience and skill of Willie Nicoll, and I’m grateful
to him in his role as webmaster. I would encourage you to visit. The worship
is updated weekly and available fresh each Sunday morning and then remains
there to return to as often as you wish.
My other main enterprise has also been made somewhat essential by the
present pandemic restrictions. It is simply not allowed to meet people in the
traditional way. As a substitute, I am making telephone calls to members to
introduce myself, to find out a little about them and how they are coping. I’m
enjoying many warm welcomes and starting relationships that I look forward
to nourishing in person when the time comes for relaxation of the rules.
One pastoral relationship that is greatly changed is centred round
bereavement and funerals. Sadly there have been four funerals of members
in the last four weeks. Visits to homes by ministers and funeral directors are
not allowed, numbers at crematorium or cemetery are strictly limited to
immediate family, the churches may not be used for services, and all the work
of preparation has to be done by telephone. This can only make the stress and
pain of bereavement worse. We understand that, and look forward to the time
when better support can be reintroduced.
It is the strangest of times. Well outside the experience of any one of us, I
fear. The sad stories increase daily. Our own moods probably rise and fall with
the news. And you don’t need me to rehearse all the troubles of separation
from friends and family, health concerns, shopping concerns, and economic

woes that now surround us. The Psalmist who wrote in Psalm 119 “This is my
comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” was proclaiming a
truth about our reliance on our God who supremely knows suffering in all its
darkness and despair. Often we hear the question “where is God in all this”.
At every bedside. At the side of every exhausted health and care worker. That
is the strength for which we pray.
In this settling period, as you will not be surprised to read, the guidance and
collegiality of Finlay Macdonald has been unfailing. He will still be appearing
regularly in the Newsletter – especially on vacancy matters, but also providing
the pastoral letter from time to time. When next I write to you - next month -
I hope and pray that we will be seeing better times.
With every blessing
John R Smith
PS. I had just completed this letter when I heard the devastating news of the
unexpected death of Mrs Lorraine Mulholland. This is a tremendous loss in our
church community. Elsewhere in this Newsletter there will appear an
appreciation by our friend, Revd Calum Macdougall. In the meantime, our
thoughts and prayers are with Lorraine’s husband, Peter, and their son Patrick.
“If you have been able to read this edition,
telephone someone you know who does not have
internet access and ask them if they would like to
know what is in it”
Remember that you can view the content of each
Sunday service at www.peeblesold.online

Vacancy matters
Finlay Macdonald
The current Covid-19 restrictions are inevitably impacting on the
timetable for progressing vacancy business. Before the lockdown a
meeting was held with representatives of Eddleston, Peebles Old and
Stobo and Drumelzier Kirk Sessions to consider issues relating to the
proposed addition of Stobo and Drumelzier to the present linkage. A
follow-up meeting had to be cancelled, but in the meantime preliminary
conversations on financial aspects are underway amongst the three
treasurers. Other matters to be considered include service times and the
drawing up of a parish profile for the information of potential applicants.
Once a Basis of Linking is prepared approval will be sought from the Kirk
Sessions and congregations.
Already in place are Electoral Registers listing the names of those
entitled to vote on the Basis of Linking, on the membership of a
Nominating Committee charged with identifying a new minister and,
ultimately, on the election of a minister.
Over the past decade the Church of Scotland has adjusted its position
with regard to same sex relationships. In 2015 the General Assembly
enacted legislation which permitted congregations to call a minister in a
same-sex marriage or civil partnership. The legislation also provided a
process whereby Kirk Sessions could consider that possibility, subject to
the requirement that notice be given to the congregation as to when
that consideration would take place. As far as the present vacancy is
concerned both the Eddleston and Peebles Kirk Sessions have agreed
that they should have that debate, and due notice will be given when
the time comes. The Stobo and Drumelzier congregation, having been
vacant for some years, have already considered the issue and agreed
that they would be open to that possibility.
I hope this update is helpful to members of the congregations and that
over the coming months we can begin to make progress in identifying
and calling a new minister.
Grace and Peace,
Finlay Macdonald, Interim Moderator.

How the Covid-19 Virus will
affect our church life
Church of Scotland Briefing
Church of Scotland - Covid-19 Briefing 17th March 2020 – Cancellation of
Services and other information.
The Church’s Covid-19 Task Group met this morning, and considered the most
recent advice from the Scottish Government, issued on the evening of Monday
16 th March.
The Scottish Government advised that people should minimise social contact by
avoiding crowded areas and large gatherings, including religious congregations,
and smaller gatherings, listing areas which were of concern.
Worship – Cancellation of Worship Services
In the light of the above, the Church of Scotland Task Group has agreed to ask,
in the strongest terms, that all gatherings for worship should cease until further
notice, with effect from Wednesday 17 th March 2020, or earlier if possible. Other
Scottish Churches are taking similar actions. This obviously includes Easter
services. Some Presbyteries have already instructed this action. This will
include, but not be restricted to, house groups, meetings for youth work, and
church cafes. It will still be possible for an individual to offer a livestreaming of a
sermon and prayers. Further information on livestreaming, including information
on copyright, can be found in the circular on the Law Department’s
webpages. Sunday broadcasts of a weekly service take place on Radio 4, and
also on Radio Scotland; other radio stations are available.
Church buildings can be kept open as a place for people to come and pray.
Notices should be clearly displayed asking that visitors observe robust hand
hygiene, including washing their hands on entry to the church.
Prayer
The Moderator, the Right Reverend Colin Sinclair, has along with the Archbishop
of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and other church leaders, issued a call for a
National Day of Prayer.
Offerings
The Task Group is aware that closing down worship services will impact on
congregational income, and we want to encourage people to continue
contributing financially as far as possible, and to encourage the increased use of
standing orders as an expression of ongoing stewardship.
Funerals
The key phrase here is to minimise social contact. Sensitive conversations will
need to take place with families and mourners ahead of funeral ceremonies, and
to consider the size of groups gathering for funerals. It may be necessary in the
future to consider whether funerals should be restricted exclusively to minister,

immediate family, and funeral directors. In addition, local guidance from funeral
directors and crematorium staff will be critical here. It should be noted that
many crematoria have the facility to livestream services and to host a recording
of services for a period of time after the cremation service.
Weddings
For weddings, the advice offered in the briefing note of 12 th March 2020 remains
unchanged; certain venues will be restricting attendance, and it may be that
couples have to work through what changes have to made, including in some
cases rearranging. Travel restrictions on travel into the UK will also have an
effect on guests at weddings. Again, sensitive conversations will be the order of
the day.
Pastoral Care Networks
Please find attached a guidance note from the Church’s Safeguarding
Department with some useful guidance about setting up small pastoral care
networks with a practical outcome. This guidance note contains a postcard which
may be useful. There are some good ideas here about small groups; such groups
can mitigate social isolation, and help people to continue to feel that they are
part of the wider community of faith. Previous advice about using tools such as
Skype, email, letters, greetings cards, Facetime, and Whatsapp groups are all
useful approaches and some of these are particularly helpful where people don’t
use technology.
Covid-19
We are living in strange times and the thought that church services should be
suspended until further notice would never have occurred to any of us. Going
forward we plan to provide worship resources to be placed on the Old Parish Church
website and on the Eddleston Church facebook page. We hope that this will offer
some compensation for the loss of public worship. Meantime, all members and
friends are urged to continue their support of the congregations through your
prayers, service and giving and, where possible, to offer practical support to those
particularly affected by the Covid-19 virus. If visiting is not advised a phone, skype
or facetime call may offer some comfort and reassurance.

News from
Peebles & Eddleston
What we’re up to.
Church Office contact arrangements
Whilst closed to visitors you can still contact the church office. By telephone
on 01721 723986 (number has been diverted to my mobile phone) mobile 07845
122356. You can also email me on admin@topcop.org.uk or via the 'contact us' box
on the website www.topcop.org.uk
Best wishes and keep well.
Ruth Kerr
Church Administrator
Peebles Resilient communities – Shona Haslam
I know as churches you are going to be key to getting through this situation. I am
involved in the resilient community group in Peebles who are attempting to get
some structures in place so that we can all stay safe. The advantage of using the
resilient communities model is that all the volunteers are covered by insurance and
we can make sure that we are co-ordinating support.
I know that you will be helping out your own congregations, but wanted to offer
the support of this structure and organisation if you would like to use it.
We have a Facebook page Peebles Resilient communities. And also a freephone
number for people to use. The number is 0800 0096709.
We have two forms operational, one for people wishing to volunteer, and one
asking for assistance. Both can be found on our Facebook page.
The food foundation will be delivering hot meals to anyone that needs one from
Monday, this is a free service. It can be accessed through the freephone number
and through the forms.
We are trying to get a solid structure in place before it is needed so that when
things get really bad (and I hope they won’t) we are completely ready.
Obviously I know you are doing your own things but if you would like to direct
people to these services then we would be pleased to work with you on this. I think
as this situation develops then a bit of co-ordination now will stand us in very good
stead.
Shona
Eddleston Parish Church
As you are all aware, due to the coronavirus pandemic, no Church activities or
service are taking place at the moment.
Church Services can be accessed on the Eddleston Parish Church Facebook Page
and members of the congregation who are on social media, are receiving copies by
email. If you know of anyone who is not on social media, could you please share
the contents or part of them, and this Magazine, with anyone you think might be

interested. Services of Worship can also be accessed on BBC One on a Sunday
morning too.
In Eddleston we have Resilient Eddleston: CV - 19 Facebook Page which gives
regular updates about what is happening within our community and beyond. If help
is required with shopping, uplifting of prescriptions, setting up online facilities etc,
please telephone: 'EddlePhone' on: 07444 438732 or connect with the community
support group on Facebook:
Eddleston Community Support Group -
https://www.facebook.com/207297943821571
The Horseshoe Inn has also been facilitating frozen meals on a Tuesday and Friday
between 5pm - 7pm as well as free soup which is also available at 1.00pm on
those days too. Fiona & Iain Dempster have also offered the Horseshoe as a hub
for the collection of fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh meat. Milk, eggs and bread
are also available. For those self-isolating, Fiona & Iain will happily deliver. For
further information go to the Horseshoe website or Facebook Page or telephone
01721 730225.
Please stay safe and keep well.
Christian Aid Week
Changes for 2020
Update
Sadly, this year we will not be able to have our normal programme of events for
Christian Aid Week, but even in these difficult times, it is still important for us to
support Christian Aid and their partners in the work they do. This year they are
concentrating on the drought situation in Kenya, where people like grandmother
Rose walk for six hours a day to collect water for her grandchildren. A simple earth
dam could change their lives.
If you have been filling a Smartie box with coins, please continue to do so and post
the full boxes through the letterbox at the Leckie Memorial Church – last year we
raised almost £700 in this way.
We have also set up a JustGiving page for Peebles and District Christian Aid Week
and have set a target of £5000. The page can be found at
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Peebles-Christian-Aid
It is to be hoped that folk in Peebles and the surrounding area will be as generous
as ever this year. Last year we raised a total of £8900.
If you use the JustGiving page, it enables us to track local donations, but other
ways in which you can contribute to Christian Aid Week are by phone at 08080 006
006, online at www.caweek.org, or by SMS by texting GIVE to 70040 to donate £5.
For more information, contact Nancy Hutchinson on 720885, 07512 859861 or at
nancy.hutchinson@btinternet.com

An update from Down Under
Pamela Strachan, OLM
Holy Week
It has been a very strange time with a ‘Lenten Lockdown’ that none of us could
have anticipated. Having been asked to give a view of the virus from ‘Down
Under’, I’m wondering whether my experience here is really very different from
your own - apart from the weather, of course. When I left the UK in early March,
NZ didn’t even appear on the global maps plotting the spread of coronavirus as
there were only 5 cases recorded here at that time. It seemed one of the safest
places in the world to be. For the first fortnight here that continued to be so - noone
hospitalised with the virus, free movement of people, international flights
arriving daily. And suddenly that all changed. There
was a dramatic increase in reported cases as more and
more overseas travellers arrived and began to infect
communities throughout the country.
The epidemiologists and medical advisers acted quickly
and so did the government. PM Jacinda Ardern
addressed the nation and a 4 stage Alert Level
programme was introduced; there was no need to
panic, but the situation was grave and many people
would die from this spreading virus without immediate
action. The instructions were clear; the example of
what had happened in Italy was a lesson to us all.
Lombardy had been in lockdown but physical distancing
was not enforced. Pubs and clubs and restaurants
continued to have thousands mingling and transmitting the virus in northern Italy
and the infection rate soared by the thousands. Lockdown plus social distancing
was key and international travel one of the obvious methods of transmission.
On the whole, NZers are a law-abiding nation although reluctant to follow
instructions if they don’t understand the reasoning. They’re resourceful and
enterprising, known for their ingenuity with No.8 wire, blessed with a glorious
climate and a naturally abundant supply of food. But now NZ is very much on the
international tourist track and as vulnerable as any to the spread of Covid-19. The
need for protective gloves and masks, for regular hand-washing and for remaining
within your “bubble” as each household is termed, is reinforced daily. Testing and
tracking transmission are essential. The supermarkets, thankfully, are well
stocked and although there are sometimes long queues as customers patiently
observe the 2m distancing rule, there are also local greengrocers and pharmacies
open and there really is no problem getting essential supplies.

Meanwhile, the sun has
continued to shine during the
late summer. The clocks
changed back on Palm Sunday
and the weather will be more
unsettled as the days shorten
and we move into autumn. I’m
very fortunate staying close to
Kohimarama Beach in Auckland
where we can continue to take
daily exercise, but there is now a
legal ban on swimming and all
water activity. As long as social
distancing is observed when
taking daily exercise, the line is
… be sensible, be responsible,
wear your mask - and be kind.
Sometimes we find that a crisis
helps us think through problems
in a new way, to ‘recalibrate our
priorities’ which is what I know
many of us will have been doing
as we look out for one another in
the community. It’s been
heartening to see the response
to online worship and other ways
of communicating with each
other as we all learn to observe
physical distancing and adhere to
new Covid-19 protocols. But
there are undoubtedly strains on
families as financial uncertainty
looms, jobs and incomes are at
risk and the economy slows. In
addition, parents are providing
home-schooling for their children
which for some is yet another
challenge. So we’re in for the
‘long haul’ we’ve been warned,
although there is cautious
optimism here in NZ as the
infection curve appears to be
flattening, confirming the wisdom
of the early introduction of
movement restrictions and Level
4 lockdown.

It has been very good to share with your online worship in the Upper Tweeddale,
Eddleston and Peebles Old parishes and to journey with you all through this Holy
Week. This year, it is a particularly poignant journey as we adjust to life in
‘lockdown’. On Good Friday, the desolation of the Cross will have a new resonance
for us all. Many are separated from their families and friends and facing a very
uncertain future. Some are suffering from Coronavirus itself as is our Prime
Minister, Boris Johnson. Others, with underlying health issues are acutely aware of
their own vulnerability and all of us are particularly aware of elderly friends and
family who are at particular risk.
But the message of Easter remains as thrilling as it is every year and I’m sure we
will journey together with resilience and compassion as we accompany Jesus this
Holy Week. I will not be with you at Easter, nor do I know with certainty when I
will be back in Scotland. Meanwhile, I can share these lines with you.
This beautiful sonnet by Malcolm Guite invites us all to examine our own hearts as
we accompanied our Lord to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and into Holy Week.
How are we responding in this time of crisis? Concerned for our own and our
immediate family’s welfare alone (‘self-interest, and fearful guardedness’) - or
remaining open to Jesus and letting God’s love flood our lives and His will direct
our every action?
Palm Sunday
Now to the gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The Saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start;
They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing,
And think the battle won. Too soon they’ll find
The challenge, the reversal he is bringing
changes their tune. I know what lies behind
The surface flourish that so quickly fades;
Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,
And at the core, the dreadful emptiness
of a perverted temple. Jesus, come
Break my resistance and make me your home.
Malcolm Guite

Maundy Thursday
This Holy Week I had been asked to celebrate
Holy Communion in our neighbouring parish
of Stobo Kirk as I have occasionally in past
years.
But we find ourselves unexpectedly grappling
with a global pandemic. There is no public
worship for any of us and I am still in Covid-
Lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand.
This Maundy Thursday, when we normally
gather together for the most solemn
celebration of the Sacrament in the Church’s
year, reflecting together on the deep
mysteries of the Lord’s Supper and His
pending Cross, we are all confined to our own
homes.
Our Lord, however, is not confined by
pandemics or politics, by our fears and
anxieties or the miles that separate us. Wherever we are in the world, ‘He meets
us here and loves us into light.’
Maundy Thursday
Here is the source of every sacrament,
The all-transforming presence of the Lord,
Replenishing our every element,
Remaking us in his creative Word.
For here the earth herself gives bread and
wine,
The air delights to bear his Spirit’s speech,
The fire dances where the candles shine,
The waters cleanse us with his gentle touch.
And he shows the full extent of love
To us whose love is always incomplete,
The God of love is kneeling at our feet.
Though we betray him, though it is the night,
He meets us here and loves us into light.
Malcolm Guite
A crisis is also an opportunity. Maybe we
have been able to use this Lenten tide in this
way and my prayers are with you as we
travel through Holy Week to Easter. I hope to be back among you all very soon.
With my love,
Pamela

A Tribute
Lorraine Mulholland
Rev Calum Macdougall
The sudden death on 26 th April, at her home in Eddleston, of Mrs Lorraine Mulholland,
cast a cloud of very great sorrow over not only her village community but in all the
places throughout Peeblesshire and beyond where Lorraine’s rich talent brought joy
and encouragement to so many people.
Lorraine was a great enthusiast in all that she did. She was never half-hearted in her
efforts, always devoting a huge amount of time, care and energy to her wide range
of interests, passionately believing that only the best she could offer was good
enough.
Like her husband, Peter who was her faithful supporter in all that she did, Lorraine
was a native of Elgin but, following a few years in Glasgow, the couple moved to
Eddleston and established their home at Millbank. Early on Lorraine became involved
in the life of the local parish church, becoming organist and some years later an
elder, before becoming Session Clerk, a position to which she conscientiously
devoted herself for many years.
To many folk in the village Lorraine was Eddleston Kirk. Her drive and enthusiasm
were infectious and there are more than a few people in the district who have
discovered talents they were unaware they possessed until they came under her
influence. This is especially true of musical talent. Never afraid to break new ground,
Lorraine felt it was important to develop the congregation’s hymn-singing repertoire
and from time to time she would delight worshippers by playing one of her own
compositions as an organ voluntary or by singing a solo, for she was blessed with a
beautiful voice.
Back in 1994, and encouraged by The Reverend David
MacFarlane, Lorraine started the Eddleston Church Junior
Choir. Open to school-age children and drawing its
members particularly from the local primary school, the
Junior Choir followed the Royal School of Church Music’s
“Voice For Life” scheme which includes elements of music
theory and faith nurture as well as the opportunity to enjoy
the thrill of singing as part of a choir. Over the years many
a reticent youngster was brought out of their shell under
Lorraine’s influence. It was a source of considerable pride
to Lorraine that the Junior Choir celebrated its 25 th
Anniversary with a special concert in the church almost
exactly a year ago.
Over most of the past quarter century and more the Junior Choir played a significant
part in the worship life of the congregation. For many years the choir contributed an

introit and an anthem to Sunday worship twice a month with children reading the
lessons and collecting the offering and though, more recently, such involvement was
reduced to once a month, the high profile of the Junior Choir remained, at monthly
family services in the village hall followed by lunch on special occasions like Christian
Aid Week and the Harvest Festival.
Enthusiasm for choral singing was by no means restricted to Lorraine’s mentoring of
children. When she and a few others founded what is now known as Eddleston Voices,
it is doubtful if any of the group could have foreseen what a wonderful community
choir the Voices have become. Perhaps in her heart of hearts Lorraine did see it!
From the start, Eddleston
Voices has been about
enjoyment. From Eddleston
and the surrounding area,
men and women,
experienced singers and
complete beginners gather
on Thursday evenings in the
church to enjoy singing
together and, just as
important, to enjoy each
other’s company. There lies
the key to the underlying philosophy to so many of the activities to which Lorraine
devoted herself: creating, nourishing and sustaining relationships has always been
as important as the “headline” activity. Eddleston Voices is a vital and vibrant
element in Eddleston’s community life and the annual summer concert is a highlight
in the village calendar. Guest appearances around Peeblesshire too have been
warmly received.
Lorraine was always anxious to share two principles she passionately believed about
singing. First, everyone can sing. There were and are no auditions for Eddleston
Voices. People join the choir because they want to sing but, inevitably, some, when
they come at first, are less confident in their own abilities than others. With Lorraine’s
encouragement and eagerness for everyone to enjoy the experience served to dispel
self doubt. Secondly, singing is good for your health. Every choir practice began with
a warm-up of physical and voice exercises, for if the singers were to commit
themselves to the music that was to follow, they had to be physically and mentally
prepared. It is fair to assume that anyone who has been part of Eddleston Voices
has felt the better for each Thursday evening practice.
A very successful Eddleston Church initiative that has taken off in recent years has
been “A Bite and a Blether” and in this as in so many Church enterprises Lorraine
has been the driving force. Devised as a tool for parish outreach this weekly
Wednesday morning social gathering over tea, coffee, bacon rolls and home baking
has brought people together as volunteers (including senior pupils from Eddleston
Primary School), local users of the facility and visitors. It has fostered friendships
and provided a valued meeting-point. In those respects it meets both the aims of
the Church and the needs of the community and the occasional musical input from
Lorraine and others have been much enjoyed.

As Session Clerk at Eddleston Lorraine has been
a tower of strength. Her conscientious approach
and careful attention to detail, together with her
deep faith and considerable energy have been
a great blessing to the congregation and if I
may insert a personal note, she was a great
support and encouragement to the minister.
Without prompting she would assume
responsibility for many of the ongoing tasks in
the Church, either attending to them herself or
organising others to share the burden. Lorraine
loved her Church and worked tirelessly for its
well-being. She thought deeply about things and sought to relate faith to practice,
theory to theology. She served as a member of Presbytery for many years and was
pleased to represent Presbytery at the General Assembly.
In the wider community she worked as a primary teacher, latterly
at Eddleston Primary but previously in various schools in the
county. As well as being a class teacher at Eddleston she taught
music and was much involved in many a school concert or musical
presentation. Over the years the many children and adults to
whom she taught piano have owed her a great debt of gratitude.
At various times she had played for Peebles Orchestra and Peebles
Singers and she tutored at Nomad Beat which she chaired for
several years.
There is much more that could be written, but from all the above
it is clear that Lorraine has left a huge and enduring legacy in her Church, in her
local community and further afield. Her energy and her enthusiasm, her smile and
her wit, her generous spirit and her organisational skills will be badly missed far and
wide, but nowhere more so than in her family. To her husband Peter, her son,
Patrick, her parents and her sister we extend our loving sympathy and we remember
them in our prayers.

Follow up from the Bothy
Pamela Strachan, OLM
When I wrote to you during Holy Week it was unclear whether or when I could get
a return flight from New Zealand. It was a deeply unsettling feeling being so
powerless and out of control. My family at home was anxious to have me return -
not least with a new grandchild in the glen due in July. Equally my NZ family was
very concerned about my exposure to risk of infection by taking an international
flight, assuming I could get one. I felt wretchedly torn between competing pulls of
love and concern. But I also knew how very fortunate I was having two beautiful
places in which to self-isolate (albeit in a rural bothy here). Many others are not so
lucky. And so the sense of powerlessness grew.
Yet this is central to our faith that we learn to trust
and place ourselves in God’s hands - always. Of
course we must be prudent and take all practical steps
and follow medical advice but ultimately, we rest in
God’s mercy. My faith was surely being put to the
test. As it is when any of us receives a terminal
diagnosis or loses a beloved friend or family member
without warning.
We are all in shock with the news of Lorraine’s sudden
death last Sunday. I have been sharing some of
Richard Rohr’s meditations in this Magazine and
today’s is particularly helpful as it is about entering
‘liminal space’ and spiritual accompaniment during
deep suffering, something Lorraine and I had talked
about a good deal. At the moment, I feel that is all
we can do as we ‘put virtual arms’ around her family
and the community of Eddleston while we try to
come to terms with this great loss.
Learning to live with powerlessness is part of the
spiritual journey for us all. Of course we find it hard.
Of course we recoil from not being in control
ourselves. Of course this pandemic is throwing all
these issues into sharper focus.
Suffering can be transformed, as we know from the
Easter truth.
God bless us all.
Pamela.

Food for Thought
Living in a Christ-soaked world
Pamela Strachan, OLM
Dark Liminality
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
When I am in that darkness, I do not remember anything about anything
human. —Angela of Foligno (1248–1309)
After working as a physician and bioethicist for decades, Living School alumna and
chair of the CAC Board LaVera Crawley became a hospital chaplain and spiritual
companion for patients and their families in the liminality that often occurs
between life and death. It seems to me that spiritual companionship is an art many
of us are learning to practice these days, but we must be willing to be present to
those in need, not just physically (or virtually), but with our whole selves. LaVera
shares some of the challenges of this spiritual work and how it can be
transformative for both parties.
There are likely few situations with the
power to reliably propel us beyond the
threshold of everyday existence and
into the realm of the liminal than the
way of the despair of receiving a
diagnosis of a serious, life-threatening
illness. It can feel like being hit by a
brick or like being hurled into the dark
abyss. Once there, the territory can be
utterly disorienting and terribly
frightening.
Few know how to enter the liminal
space where their loved one or patient
has been forced to go, let alone how
to be there should they be brave
enough to dare to enter. We are
uncomfortable in these kinds of liminal spaces because it is strange and unfamiliar
territory, woven with the difficult feelings we’ve been taught to suppress by
medicating them away, by bypassing them through platitudes . . . or denying them
all together.
It takes willingness, fortitude, knowledge, skill, and a deep trust in Spirit to go into
these dark places as both witness and companion.
To be very clear, I am not equating darkness with something bad or negative, any
more than I would consider the apophatic way [1] as such. There is deep beauty in

the darkness, in the unknowing, in the indescribable, if only we can open ourselves
to its purpose. Metaphorically, the dark emotions of grief, fear, and despair can be
profound teachers and guides. The primal howl of existential suffering holds within
it the lesson that we all must learn at some time in our lives: To heal from our
suffering—not merely to ease or palliate it, but to transform it into the source and
substance of our growth and wisdom—requires a journey through it. We must
listen attentively for whatever message it has for us and, according to
[psychotherapist Miriam] Greenspan, find authentic ways to befriend it so that we
can surrender to its transmuting power. All spiritual traditions teach some variation
of this wisdom. While it may not come naturally to us to respond to suffering in this
way, through practice, it can become a learned skill.
The art of spiritual companionship through the realm of the liminal can be learned,
whether we are accompanying others or attending to our own souls. The first step
requires trusting that, in the course of time, the very healing we seek can emerge
by our journeying through liminal space, listening attentively to what the liminal
seeks to tell us.
Gateway to Action & Contemplation:
What word or phrase resonates with or challenges me? What sensations do I notice
in my body? What is mine to do?
Prayer for Our Community:
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we
do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a
community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory.
Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. [Please add your own
intentions.] . . . Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer
these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen.
Story from Our Community:
The shock of a pandemic was . . . overwhelming and foreboding. Spinning out of
control, my life seemed to shrink and dissolve as I knew it. Now, as the days pass,
sheltering in place has provided a rhythm for more creative arts, breath in nature
and pausing in solitude. For that I give thanks. –M. Patrevito
[1] The apophatic way (or via negativa) refers to the unknowability and ineffability
of God.
LaVera Crawley, “The Art of Spiritual Companionship,” “Liminal Space,” Oneing,
vol. 8, no. 1 (CAC Publishing: 2020), 81, 82–83, 90.
Epigraph: The Book of the Blessed Angela of Foligno: The Memorial, chapter IX.
See Angela of Foligno: Complete Works, trans. Paul Lachance (Paulist Press:
1993), 205.
Image credit: The Swan (No. 17) (detail), Hilma af Klint, 1915, Moderna Museet,
Stockholm, Sweden.

Good Housekeeping as the
Crisis Continues
Ronald Ireland Interim Treasurer
It seems amazing that a whole month has passed since my article last
month and that we are still managing to keep the wheels turning.
I have been asked if there is any way members who do not give their
offering by Standing Order could continue to give on a regular basis rather
than saving up until the church is once again open for worship.
It would be possible to do this by making a pay-in to their bank. It would
also be possible to do so at the Post Office. The information needed to do
this is as follows:
Peebles Old Parish Church of Scotland – Treasurer’s Account
Sort Code: 80-09-33
Account Number: 00686055
If you do decide to use that facility, please ensure that we can identify
your payment by name, particularly if your offering is to be Gift Aided. It
would also be sensible to keep a note of the total amount you have paid
(e.g. pay-in slip counterfoil). If in any doubt please contact me on 01721
720592.
Many of our members do make their offering monthly by Standing Order
and this does provide a large part of our income flow. Once again, I would
encourage anyone who does not do so at present, to consider changing
to a Standing Order if that is possible. If you would like to change to this
form of giving, contact me on the above number and I will be happy to
send you the necessary form to send to your bank.
As we move into the start of summer and look for better days to come, I
hope everyone will continue to stay safe and I look forward to once again
gathering together on a Sunday morning in Peebles Old in the not too
distant future.

Words of Wisdom
God’s Peace
‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…Then you
will experience God’s peace’ Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
God’s peace is a wonderful thing. And some of the people around you
today are in need of it. It comes when you commit your life to Christ
and live by the principles laid out in Scripture. When you ‘commit’
something to the Lord, you transfer every part of it from you to Him
(see Psalm 37:5). Peter writes, ‘Casting…the whole of your…concerns,
once and for all, on Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC). What
a privilege. Have you been availing yourself of it lately? ‘How do I cast
all my cares on Him?’ you ask. Through prayer! As soon as you become
aware that you’re starting to worry and lose your sense of peace, take it
to God immediately and leave it with Him. Don’t give the devil time to
work you over. The longer you wait, the greater his holdover you
becomes. ‘But I can’t help thinking about it,’ you say. ‘What can I do?’
These 2 things:
1 Give it to God and then start to focus
on other things. It’s a learned response,
one you’ll have to practice daily. Paul
writes, ‘Whatever is true…honourable
and worthy of respect…whatever is
lovely and brings peace…think
continually on these things’ (Philippians
4:8 AMP). In other words, redirect your
thoughts!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
2 Find out what God says in His Word
about your situation. Then line your
thoughts, words and actions up with it.
When you do this, ‘You will experience
God’s peace’ (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
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?
THE ANGLER
The rain was pouring down. And there
standing in front of a big puddle outside the
pub, was an old fisherman, drenched, holding
a stick with a piece of string dangling in the
water.
A passer-by stopped and asked, "What are
you doing?"
"Fishing" replied the old man....
Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent said,
"Come in out of the rain and have a drink with
me."
In the warmth of the pub, as they sip their
whiskies, the gentleman cannot resist asking,
"So how many have you caught today?"
"You're the eighth" said the old man.
Why Jesus walked on water
A tourist, planning a trip to the Holy Land, was
aghast when he found it would cost £50 an hour to
rent a boat on the Sea of Galilee. “Goodness,” he
objected to the travel agent. “In England it would
not have been more than £20.”
“That might be true,” said the travel agent, “but
you have to take into account that the Sea of
Galilee is water on which our Lord Himself
walked.”
“Well, at £50 an hour for a boat,” said the tourist,
“it’s no wonder He walked.”
Worth remembering
A man felt he was overloaded in the ‘trouble
shooting department’ of his office, until he found
this memo on his desk. “Be thankful for the
problems, for if they were less difficult, someone
with less ability would have your job.”
Water
The Bishop was coming to speak at Deanery Synod and everything that could be
done to make the evening a success had been done. There were fresh flowers on
the table, and coffee and cakes prepared. When the Bishop arrived, however, he
was in a crabby frame of mind. Looking around, he beckoned a nervous vicar over.
“I would like to have a glass of water in front of me on the table, if you please,” he
said. “To drink?” was the vicar’s idiotic question. “Oh no,” was the sarcastic reply.
“When I’ve been speaking half an hour about parish shares, I do a high dive.”

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 Tel. 01721 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”

Church Notices
Without any services in the church there will be no rotas required. However, our
intrepid bell ringing team are to continue cheering us up by ringing on Sunday
mornings as you’ll see below.
THE BELL RINGERS
May 3 Kirsty Davidson
10 Margaret Anderson
17 Fiona Taylor
24 Mary Hudson
31 Anne Derrick
Our brave bell ringers are to carry on
raising our sprits by ringing out from
the tower on Sunday Mornings.
Keeping safe but spreading some
cheer.
Congregational Register
Deaths
17 Th March Mrs Margaret Campbell of Waverley Residential Home, Galashiels,
22 nd March Mrs Catherine Robertson (formerly) of Kingsland Square, Peebles,
6 th April Dr Bruce Blyth of Kershop, Kerfield Farm, Peebles,
12th April
Mrs Isobel Kilner, at Greenhills Nursing Home, formerly of Stobo
26 th April Mrs Lorraine Mulholland, Millbank, Eddleston
(Session Clerk of Eddleston Church)
29th April
Mrs Adelaide Simmonds at Greenhill Nursing Home, Biggar.

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 John R. Smith MA BD
25 Whitehaugh Park
Peebles
EH45 9DB
07710 530 193
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
01721 721033
Mobile: 07707 001795
alisonduncan291@gmail.com
Beadle:
Edward Knowles
41 Dukehaugh, Peebles.
01721 722860
Eco Church Co-ordinator
Peebles:
Neil Cummings
01896 831771
carcatnel@yahoo.co.uk
Eddleston Treasurer:
Archie Smellie
Hattonknowe, Eddleston.
01721 730282
Bellringers’ Team
Leader:
Anne Derrick
Edderston Road, Peebles
01721 721075
Registered charities (Peebles) SC013316 (Eddleston) SC010081