August 2020

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

At Peebles Old
Sadly, but in keeping with the Covid-19
guidelines, our Daily Worship along with
Sunday Worship is still 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
August 2020
Dear Friends
France is a favourite country of ours. Over the years there have been
many excellent holidays in the country. Brittany, Paris, Chartres,
Carcassonne, Bourges, Toulouse, Poitiers, Tours, Avignon, Annecy - each
has provided (some more than once) the centre for touring surrounding
towns and countryside. We have close friends who live in a small town
outside Toulouse, so some of our visits have been close to living like
locals - which is always a different experience.
Sadly, in many country villages visited, a visit to the local church has
proved sad and depressing. The sense of emptiness and abandonment
is sometimes very tangible. Like a rose well past its full bloom, gently
decaying while still giving glimpses of its former glory, the church will
stand in a village square, bypassed and feeling forgotten. An occasional
funeral may come to the churchyard, and bring a crowd, but on a Sunday
worshippers are few, and the interior seems always dark and musty.
Historians could sketch for us the reason why the Church in rural France
has come to this. Why church attendance is dying out.
There are parts of Scotland where there are similar concerns. Many of
our rural Borders churches labour under the same sense of becoming
meaningless to the general population. Not all of them by any means,
but we do detect signs of disconnect. How many children and
grandchildren no longer are to be found in the pews where their
grandparents sit?
It’s part of the task ahead of us, looking towards days when Covid-19 is
under some degree of control, to encourage people to take up again the
habit of church going. After all, several months of no church for some
will lead to a breakdown in a life-long habit. And yet, the congregation
gathered in worship is a powerful factor in the nurturing of faith. Our
religion has always recognised that worship is best done together. The
cry of the people of Israel by the waters of Babylon could well be our cry
- “how can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land”. In other words,
can we really truly worship God in a society where church attendance is
falling away?
The answer in ancient Babylon was the emergence of synagogue
worship. Although far from the Temple in Jerusalem, the faithful could
approach God in prayer and praise.

As you’ll read elsewhere, for the very best of reasons neither the Old
Parish Church or Eddleston Parish Church are unlikely to open for Sunday
worship for a time yet. But as soon as it is wise and careful of the health
of our people to reassemble we assuredly will.
If that is going to be a joyful moment, then think on these things. How
can each one of you contribute to a good return? Think on that question.
Pray about it. What can you say to your friends and neighbours to
perhaps get them thinking about it too. We need a feeling of calling, and
an intentionality about our return. Just to drift in and think that things
will carry on as before, well that may be too weak a response as,
together, we seek to reboot church! For the glory of God, and the
spiritual sustenance of the people.
Grace and peace,
John R Smith
Have a look at our refreshed and revised website
Our webmaster Willie Nicoll has been busy through lock down and the results
can now be seen at www.topcop.org.uk. The site has a refreshed appearance
and the content has been simplified and the navigation tidied up to bring it up
to date and relevant for the current time. Do give it a look and if you have
any comments please let Willie know at webmaster@topcop.org.uk.

Vacancy matters
Finlay Macdonald
Dear Friends,
Two main issues facing our congregations relate to re-opening the churches and
moving forward with the vacancy.
With regard to the former, both Eddleston and Peebles Kirk Sessions are adopting
a cautious approach. Those who follow the Old Parish website will have noted the
appeal for volunteers to assist with cleaning and stewarding. These are necessary
preliminaries for any re-opening of the Church for private prayer and an eventual
return to Sunday worship. Meantime we will be continuing with the on-line Sunday
services.
I am hoping now, with the easing of lockdown, we can start moving the vacancy
process forward and, to this end, representatives of the Peebles Old, Eddleston and
Stobo congregations are picking up the threads of earlier conversations on the Basis
of Linking. Thanks to a Protocol recently adopted by the Church of Scotland we can
take matters forward by means of Zoom and seek congregational approval of a
negotiated Basis of Linking without the need for physical meetings. Details will be
discussed at a meeting scheduled for 29th July and once congregational agreements
are secured concurrence will be sought from the Presbytery.
The other issue relates to the question of whether the congregations are open to
the possibility of a minister in a same-sex marriage or civil partnership. Stobo has
already been through that process and the Eddleston and Peebles Sessions have
agreed that they should now consider the matter. The Eddleston Session will do so
on Tuesday 11th August and the Peebles Session on Wednesday 12th August. The
2015 General Assembly legislation states that if the Sessions are open to that
possibility this is reported to the congregations. Thereafter, with due notice given,
a further Session meeting is held to confirm or set aside the decision. The rather
convoluted process is designed to allow an opportunity for church members to let
their thoughts be known to their elder.
Hopefully, once these matters are resolved we can move on to the next stage in the
process of calling a new minister.
Grace and Peace be with you all,
Finlay Macdonald,
Interim Moderator.

“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
We recognise that not everyone has access to the
internet. So now you can listen to the material, too,
by dialling 0113 467 8156. Anytime, 24/7. If you
have a calls package from your telephone provider,
this should be free. Otherwise you just pay your
standard rate. The call will last approximately 20
minutes.

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
Private Devotions
The Church has traditionally been open for private prayer, a feature welcomed
over the years. But now that permission is coming into place to allow us to do
that again, some difficulties have appeared. It would be very hard to provide
all the suggested support to allow this to happen. Two examples. We would be
required to have stewards on duty the whole time of opening. And there would
have to be cleaning taking place throughout the period.
But it has inspired us to look at another solution. We can provide material online
for individual people, sitting at home, who would like to pray and would welcome
some images, music and words to help them do that. The site would be on
peeblesold.online, but separate from our Sunday worship offering - and with a
different purpose. Of course, for those unable to access the internet, the prayers
would also be available on our telephone service. I hope that the facility will be
in place very soon. Full details in next month's Newsletter.
John R Smith
Church opening During the Covid 19 Crisis…how can you help?
At the present time with the current Scottish Government regulations in place,
the Kirk Session are agreed that it is not feasible to open the church either for
private prayer or normal services. Hopefully, however, it will be possible to return
to normality before too long.
When reopening becomes possible it will be necessary to have volunteers to
undertake cleaning of the building and to act as stewards. In preparation for reopening
we are asking for volunteers for those tasks.

Under current regulations volunteers will be required to undertake the following:
Church Cleaning
A thorough cleaning of the whole church will be necessary before the first opening
of the building.
A full clean of the areas in use, before and after each opening either for services
or private prayer, using approved disinfectant materials.
Volunteers will need to observe social distancing and wear a face covering and
wash hands on entry and before leaving.
Volunteers will be required to direct cleaning operations on each occasion.
Stewards
Will require to control access and take contact details.
Ensure that everyone entering the church hand washes with materials provided.
Ensure that face coverings are worn.
Direct worshippers to specified seating.
Ensure hand washing on departure.
Anyone willing to volunteer is asked to email admin@topcop.org.uk indicating the
amount of time they would be prepared to give to those tasks.
Eddleston
The Mindfulness Group will re-start on Tuesday 8th September at 7.00pm, all
being well.
The Good Life Cafe has been renamed Cafe Conversations and is hoping to have
its inaugural event soon. Cafe Conversations is a community initiative to help
anyone facing loss of any kind or who has been bereaved or is grieving. We also
hope it will be a resource for unpaid carers and for those facing major life
changes.
Anyone interested in helping with the group should contact Christine Donnelly
(c.donnelly657@gmail.com) ,
Jo Oliver (jo@ijknowledge.com) or Pamela Strachan
(pamelastrachan19@gmail.com) for more details.

Looking for a good home
Many will recognise these books form a series written by Dr Clement Gunn of
Peebles. These three have arrived with the editor from the collection of a former
member of TOPCOP and they are looking for a new home in exchange for a suitable
donation to the church.
They are:
The Church and Monastery of the Holy Cross of Peebles 1261-1560.
The Book of the Cross Kirk Peebles 1560 – 1690.
The Book of the Cross Kirk, Peebles 1690-1784.
Published by James Lewis, Selkirk and George Allan, Peebles 1912 and 1914.
If they are something you’d like
to have please get in touch with
editor@topcop.org.uk

Najwa’s Story
From Embrace Magazine
Rev Pamela Strachan
We hope that you've seen the
latest issue of the Embrace
magazine is out now. In this
issue, we shared the amazing
story of a brave young woman
called Najwa, who overcame all
the odds to achieve her dream
of getting an education.
It's such a good story, we
wanted to make sure as many
of our supporters as possible
read it - so we've decided to
share Najwa's story in this week's re:action email. Read on for her inspiring tale of
courage and determination...
Najwa remembers feeling as though she was about to travel to the moon. Although
the city of Mallawi was only 12km away, it was beyond anything she had ever
experienced.
Going there for the first time was a daunting prospect – but also incredibly
exciting. Najwa, 29, was born without sight, and like many young Egyptians with
disabilities, she grew up facing limited prospects. Her family assumed she needed
constant supervision, which stifled her independence.
‘My parents accepted my disability and took care of me all these years, but they
did not allow me to go to school. We are a poor family and they are illiterate, and
they did not want the expense of educating a blind girl.’
Najwa’s experience is far from unusual. Although it’s difficult to know exactly how
many Egyptians live with a disability, there could be up to 13 million – and their
abilities and talents have traditionally been overlooked. In 2018, the Egyptian
government passed legislation to enshrine the rights of disabled people in
education and the workplace – a historic law that has been welcomed by Egypt’s
disabled community but is yet to overcome entrenched social attitudes.
Our partners at BLESS – part of the Coptic Orthodox Church – aim to improve
disabled people’s access to opportunities. Najwa heard from church friends that
BLESS ran a project specifically for young blind women. ‘When they told me about
the project, I was dancing!’ says Najwa.
‘I wanted the chance to travel to the city, get some money in my hands, go to
education classes, learn crafts, eat good food, drink juice, talk to people ...’
So that’s when Najwa set off for Mallawi for the first time. She has now been
attending BLESS’s programme for four years and her life has changed. She has a

mentor who helps her develop her daily living skills, and she attends seminars
about employment, social issues, women’s rights and more.
Her confidence and independence have grown so much that she has become a
volunteer supporting other young women, and has set up a small business selling
perfume.
‘I’m not “the blind girl” anymore,’ she says.
‘I’m an educated woman who can travel independently, dress well, train others and
advise them on starting their own small projects. Thanks a million to everyone who
has worked on this project to give me my vision of what I can achieve.’
We hope you are as inspired as we are by Najwa's story. She represents one of the
many resilient and brave beneficiaries with whom our partners work to provide
opportunities in the most difficult circumstances.
We’d love it if you’d consider sharing this story with those you know. It feels like
everyone needs some positive good news at the moment.
To read more stories like Najwa's, download our latest Embrace magazine here:
https://www.embraceme.org/magazine
And if you'd like to help our partners provide vital services like those which helped
Najwa, you can donate to Embrace here:
https://www.embraceme.org/donate-embrace
Embrace the Middle East is a Christian charity, originally set up in 1854.
We have worked with and supported Christian communities doing life-changing
works in countries in the Near and Middle East, including Turkey, Syria, Egypt, the
Balkans, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Cyprus. Currently Embrace supports
projects in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt Iraq and Syria.
Faith in Action
Faith in Action is our strategy that outlines how we will build stronger relationships
with our Christian partners, expand into new countries, help more disadvantaged
people, challenge poverty and injustice and inspire churches, volunteers and
supporters to join us - See more
at http://www.embraceme.org/faithinaction#sthash.lX1OGacX.dpuf
Transform the lives of vulnerable and marginalised people across the Middle
East, enabling them to live life in all its fullness
Strengthen and encourage Middle East Christians as they bring about positive
change in their communities
Challenge injustice, poverty and exclusion in the Middle East through targeted
advocacy and campaigning.
Pamela Strachan writes: my trips to Cairo were in 2008 and then again in 2016, so
both before the Revolution and then again after. I remember the shocking contrast
in Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak -
from a traffic-filled lively meeting and trading hub, to the eerie quiet of a city under
curfew.

Here are some of the beautiful crafts and toys which I bought during my visits to
Cairo.** There was an excellent school for the deaf, where both adults and children
were learning new skills and making
these charming toys. Both the camel
and the donkey have attended a
number of ‘Children’s Talks’ and also
been greatly appreciated by patients
at Carstairs.
And this is an ‘I love you’ candle.
The ‘I love you’ hand sign (of
thumb, forefinger and pinky
extended, with two middle fingers
bent to palm) was a widespread
form of greeting as we passed
through camps, craft workshops and
schools. Little children’s flexible
fingers can do it more easily than
more mature arthritic joints - try
it! But it was a joyous way to
interact with the deaf community -
and also the blind children who
would feel your hand sign and spontaneously respond with the ‘I love you’ sign
back. We would also see old folk sitting in doorways or greeting us from upstairs
windows with the familiar hand sign.

6th August:
The Transfiguration
– a glimpse of Jesus’ future glory
The story is told in Matthew (17:1-9), Mark (9:1-9) and Luke (9:28-36).
It was a time when Jesus’ ministry was popular, when people were seeking Him
out.
But on this day, He made time to take Peter, James and John, His closest disciples,
up a high mountain. In the fourth century, Cyrillic of Jerusalem identified it as
Mount Tabor (and there is a great church up there today), but others believe it
more likely to have been one of the three spurs of Mount Hermon, which rise to
about 9,000 feet, and overlook Caesarea Philippi.
High up on the mountain, Jesus was suddenly transfigured before His friends. His
face began to shine as the sun, His garments became white and dazzling. Elijah
and Moses, of all people, suddenly appeared, and talked with Him. A bright cloud
overshadowed the disciples.
Peter was staggered, but, enthusiast that he was – immediately suggested building
three tabernacles on that holy place, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah. But God’s ‘tabernacling’, God’s dwelling with mankind, does not any longer
depend upon building a shrine. It depends on the presence of Jesus, instead. And
so, a cloud covered them, and a Voice spoke out of the cloud, saying that Jesus
was His beloved Son, whom the disciple should ‘hear’. God’s dwelling with mankind
depends upon our listening to Jesus.
Then, just as suddenly, it is all over. What did it mean? Why Moses and Elijah?
Well, these two men represent the Law and the Prophets of the Old Covenant, or
Old Testament. But now they are handing on the baton, if you like: for both the
Law and the Prophets found their true and final fulfilment in Jesus, the Messiah.
Why on top of a mountain? In Exodus we read that Moses went up Mount Sinai to
receive the sacred covenant from Yahweh in the form of the Ten Commandments.
Now Jesus goes up and is told about the ‘sealing’ of the New Covenant, or New
Testament of God with man, which will be accomplished by His coming death in
Jerusalem.
That day made a lifelong impact on the disciples. Peter mentions it in his second
letter, 2 Peter 1:16-19, invariably the reading for this day.
The Eastern Churches have long held the Transfiguration as a feast as important as
Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension and Pentecost. But it took a long time for the West
to observe the Transfiguration. The feast starts appearing from the 11th and 12th
centuries, and the Prayer Book included it among the calendar dates, but there was
no liturgical provision for it until the 19th century.

Words of Wisdom
Don’t Look Back
‘His wife looked back…and…became a pillar of salt’ Genesis 19:26
NKJV
Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, angels of the Lord
rescued Lot and his family. ‘When they had brought them
outside…he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor
stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be
destroyed” (v17 NKJV). But the record reads: ‘His wife looked
back…and …became a pillar of salt’.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
There’s an important lesson here
for each of us: resist the
temptation to linger in the
quicksand of past mistakes – either
your own or other people’s. It can
be hard to see ahead when
horrendous things have happened
to you in the past. But when you
get bogged down in the past, you
miss what God has for your in the
present and fail to see its
connection to your future.
The good news is that its not too late to allow God to use you and
move you forward on your journey. He can heal the wounds others
have inflicted on you. He can make you wiser as a result of the
poor decisions you made in the past. Its not too late to become
who you might have been. God delights in transforming our
weakness into strength. He can create treasure from what you’ve
discarded as rubbish. Even if you’ve backslidden and detoured
from the path you know He wants you to follow, now is the time to
return to His road. ‘”I know the plans I have for you,” says the
Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a
future and a hope”’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). So move forward – and
don’t look back.
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?
What am I?
A teacher gave her young class a lesson on Zoom. It was about the magnet, and
what it does. The next day in a short test, she included this question: “My full
name has six letters. The first one is M. I am strong and attractive. I pick up lots of
things. What am I?”
When the answers were sent in, the teacher was astonished to find that more than
half her students had answered the question with the word: “Mother.”
Some thoughts:
It’s okay to let your mind go blank,
but please turn off the sound.
Worry kills more people than work
because more people worry than
work.
Middle age is when broadness of the
mind and narrowness of the waist
change places.
Misers aren’t much fun to live with,
but they make great ancestors.
Opportunities always look bigger
going than coming.
The real reason you can’t take it with
you is that it goes before you do.
Junk is something you throw away
about three weeks before you need it.
Hospitality is making your guests feel
at home, even if you wish they were.
Some people are like blisters. They don’t show up until the work is done.
A babysitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like
teen-agers.
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage
makes you a mechanic.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you
make it again.

How
can you be part of this
Magazine?
This is your magazine!
We’re looking out for travel (it’ll not be too far in these restricted times but how
about a local walk?) stories, life stories, recipes, jokes and articles that would
brighten up our magazine pages. People are at home just now with some extra time
to read so now’s your chance for literary recognition!
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……………………………………………………………………………………..
Although we’re only on-line for the moment your donation would still be
gratefully received. 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 continue to cheer us up by ringing on Sunday mornings
as you’ll see below.
THE BELL RINGERS
August 2 Margaret Anderson
9 Malcolm Lumsden
16 Mary Hudson
23 Jeanette Mackison
31 Fiona Taylor
Our bell ringers (as heard on BBC
Radio 3 no less…) are to carry on
raising our spirits by ringing out from
the tower on Sunday Mornings.
Keeping safe but spreading some
cheer.
Deaths
Congregational Register
8 th July Donald SINCLAIR of Riverside House, Peebles (formerly Eddleston)

A very warm welcome to
Our Organisations
You’ll receive a warm welcome at any of our groups, whose details are given and
whose activities will recommence when we are finally out of full lockdown. 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 but currently by Zoom!
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
07837 873688
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
Beadle:
Edward Knowles
41 Dukehaugh, Peebles.
01721 722860
Roll Keeper/Data Officer:
Alison Duncan
01721 721033
Mobile: 07707 001795
alisonduncan291@gmail.com
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