Dear Friends,As I do almost every morning except Sunday, I sat down at my desk this morning and opened my emails. There was the usual crop of adverts, a couple of questions which I could answer and one personal note, so I replied to the...
Read More9 March 025: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton.
Dear Friends,The story goes that when the famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren was directing the building of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, some of the workers were interviewed by a journalist who asked them ‘What are you doing here?’...
Read More2 March 2025: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,As most of you know we are privileged to own what we think is a first edition of the King James Bible. Some years ago, we had a visit from an American Pastor who asked to see it, and as we examined it together, we noticed what...
Read MoreSunday 16 February 2025: Letter from the locum minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,It is Thursday morning, and the race is on to have everything ready for Helen to print in time for Sunday. We, in this parish, are incredibly fortunate to have Helen to complete all the administrative tasks she undertakes for us, and...
Read MoreSunday 10 November: weekly letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,Today is a special occasion in the life of our church and of our country as we gather to give thanks to God for those who, down the years have sacrificed so much for our safety and freedom. We welcome all who have come to share with...
Read More20 October 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends, What a wonderful day of celebration and thanksgiving we enjoyed last Sunday as we welcomed new members by profession of faith and new elders to our Kirk Session and gave certificates to those who have served our congregation for...
Read More21 July 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,A young woman was waiting for a bus in dangerous slum area of a big city one dark evening when a young policeman approached her. ‘Do you want me to wait with you?’ he asked. She thanked him but told him she was not necessary because...
Read More22 September 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,Have you ever played Chinese Whispers? That is the game where someone whispers a message in your ear that you pass on. As the message is passed on from one to another it changes, so that by the time it reaches the end of the line it...
Read More8 September 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,We extend a very warm welcome to all who have come to worship with us today. We are particularly pleased to welcome our visitors, and also those who have come to see what church is like. We hope you enjoy your time with us and feel...
Read More7th July 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,As I write, it is the morning of the General Election and I am also thinking about how I should exercise my democratic right to vote. How I vote is of course between me and the ballot box, so please don’t ask! But I am also thinking...
Read More26 May 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,Every morning Zoomy and I go for a walk up the hill beside the hospital before breakfast. For Zoomy it seems to be an opportunity to sniff out which of her doggy friends have been there before her and for me it is an opportunity for...
Read More19 May 2024: Letter from the Locum Minister, Rev Marion Paton
Dear Friends,It has been an interesting week! Many years ago, I used to have a beadle who was very fond of saying ‘You can’t please everyone so you might as well please yourself!’ And he did! And the results were often quite catastrophic, and the...
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