The magazine for the linked congregations and community of the

West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

The Link

Rev David A Albon BA MCS 01506 870460

The Manse, 27 Learmonth Crescent

West Calder EH55 8AF

theminister@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

West Kirk Session Clerk Stewart MacRae 01506 872486 23 Westmuir Road West Calder EH55 8EX sessionclerk@westkirkofcalder.co.uk Treasurer William Calder 01506 871281 25 Harburn Road West Calder EH55 8AJ treasurer@westkirkofcalder.co.uk

Polbeth Harwood Session Clerk Marian Kinsman 01506 871125 12 Langside Crescent Polbeth EH55 8UW marian.kinsman@polbethharwood.co.uk Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 439595 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE tom.griffin@polbethharwood.co.uk

News Editor

Colin Dempster 01506 414565

140 Staunton Rise

Dedridge West Livingston EH54 6PA

thelinkeditor@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

www.west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF Sunday, 30th September 2007 Dear Friends, One of the good things going on in both churches this summer has been the postcards folks have sent from wherever they have been on holiday. We’ve had cards from far-flung places as Shetland and Las Vegas and all sorts in between. Thanks are due to the West Kirk Youth Link for coming up with this great idea. Do feel free to keep sending cards as you get the chance to go away, even though summer is gone (although it is a lovely September afternoon as I type this). It was also good to get the chance to go on study leave a couple of weeks ago. This was the first time I’ve used this opportunity for on-going education thanks to the Church of Scotland’s Ministries Council. I visited the Isle of Iona for a few days and then connected it with another special Island in British Christian history: Holy Isle or Lindisfarne, off the Northumbrian coast by walking St. Cuthbert’s Way, which begins at Melrose Abbey, then for sixty-two wonderful miles, climbs between two of the Eildon Hills then follows the Rivers Tweed and Teviot, follows Dere Street (a Roman Road) and passes through St. Boswells, Morebattle, climbs some of the Cheviot Hills to Kirk Yetholm and then Wooler before passing by St. Cuthbert’s Cave and eventually crossing the tidal sands to reach Lindisfarne. Perhaps a group of us could walk St. Cuthbert’s Way together in the not too distant future and/or make our own pilgrimage to stay on Iona? In the meantime, I hope you find this season of Autumn, punctuated by Harvest and its focus on thanksgiving and gratitude, and Remembrance Sunday, meaningful. Yours in Christ,

Rev David A Albon Minister of the Parish Churches of the West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

Worship in the Linked Congregations

Sunday Morning Worship takes place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am.

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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The Parish Record

Polbeth

Funerals

23rd August – William Chapman, Burnside Terrace

West Calder

Funerals

29th August – George Halliday, Main Street

West Kirk – Eco-Congregation

The second of September was Creation Sunday, and in our Children’s Talk, David Albon encouraged us to take a little action to help to protect our environment and our future by reducing our use of plastic bags, and switching to handy, biodegradable and re-usable alternatives. The green mantra is ‘Reduce, re-use, recycle”: this sets out what we should be trying to do, and it also puts what we should do in order of priority. However, my one green tip this month is for a particular recycling project.

Green Tip In the entrance to the West Kirk Hall there is now a collection point for used inkjet cartridges. Christian Aid is working with Ink Again and receives £1 for every reusable cartridge sent. The money raised is being used to help fund the education of children at the Little School in the town of Los Platanitos in the Dominican Republic. There is a high level of discrimination in this community where relations between Haitian immigrants and the people of the Dominican Republic are increasingly fraught and sometimes violent. ‘At this school there is education without prejudice,’ says the head teacher, Milagros Capellán. ‘The relationships between the Haitians and Dominican have improved, but there is still much to do!’ In addition to helping to fund this project, inkjet recycling helps to reduce carbon emissions, a major cause of global warming: it conserves resources and reduces waste – a printer cartridge takes over 1000 years to decompose, while in the last 6 months inkjet recycling has saved more than 50 million litres of oil. You can either deposit your used Hewlett Packard, Lexmark and Dell inkjet cartridges in the box, as well as Canon BC02/05/20/BX2/BX3, or you can pick up an addressed envelope to send them away yourself.

Rosanna Rabaeijs

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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West Kirk Guild Report The first meeting of the Guild is on Monday 1st October at 7.30 pm.

Dates for your diary:

Monday – 1st October Rev. David Albon, Introductory Talk

Monday – 15th October Medical Herbalist

Tuesday – 16th October Autumn Rally, High Church Bathgate

The Guild meets at 7.30 pm in the West Kirk hall on the first and third Monday of the month. We look forward to seeing all our regular members and look forward to welcoming new members.

Moira Jack (Secretary)

West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The September Candy bar was very successful, raising the wonderful total of £708 – much greater than previous first Candy Bars after the summer break. Many thanks to you all. It was good to see our regular customers as well as welcoming new ones. The Kirk Session and friends will staff the Candy Bar on 6th October, followed on 3rd November by the Guild Coffee Day. By tradition all proceeds go to Guild funds, which the Guild disburses to worthy causes. Its format is the same as all other Candy Bars.

There will be a short meeting of the group on 14th October, after the morning service, to discuss arrangements for the Whist Drive on Monday 22nd October. It starts at 7.30 pm and tickets cost £2.50 on the night at the Church hall. All welcome at this enjoyable evening with tea and goodies served at the interval.

The next evening meeting of the group is on Monday 29th October at 7.30 pm to discuss the Christmas Candy Bar. All welcome to help us plan this major event.

Jill Murray (Convener)

Pastoral Care Committee – West Kirk

Dates for your diary:

Sunday – 25th November Garden Centre Trip

Friday – 14th December Christmas Party

The Pastoral Care Group would like to invite any member of the congregation to join us. Please contact Bill Russell (01506 871693) for further details.

Bill Russell

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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West Kirk Choir The West Kirk Choir has resumed its monthly practices. The next practice is on Wednesday 3rd October in the church hall at 7.45 pm. All are welcome – we need more members to help lead the praise on a Sunday. Once again we invite anyone who enjoys singing to join us for our annual evening of Christmas music on Friday 21st December in the West Kirk at 7 pm. Practices are every Wednesday from the 7th November until Christmas (as well as 3rd October). We shall be assisted on the 21st December and we reciprocate by joining them at Garrowhill for their Carol Party on Sunday 23rd December at 6.30 pm (transport will be provided).

Bill Russell

A Word From Cheeky Monkey Are you interested in puppetry? Want to learn more about using puppets (I prefer employing but I've yet to see any wages) in teaching and ministry?

One Way UK are holding a one day Puppet Ministry Festival in Cumbernauld on Saturday 17th November and I'm going with Aileen Hull. (She'll do the driving). The day will be filled with workshops covering puppetry skills, (advanced or beginner – does that mean me or Aileen?), dance, mime, script writing and much more. There's also a puppetry competition - we're just going to sit and watch that bit! I plan to take the opportunity to network with some other puppets working in churches in Scotland to see if I can pick up any tips. It costs £20 per human on the day – they don't mention a charge for puppets so I'm going to sneak in free …

If you'd like to come along you can call Aileen (01506 873023) for more details, or see the website www.onewayuk.com for more information. We'll let you know how we get on in a later issue of The Link. Wonder if there's a competition for best looking monkey?

Cheeky Monkey

Effie Halliday wishes to express her sincere thanks to everyone who has supported her in recent months. Visits to George and herself were greatly appreciated, also the numerous letters and cards of condolence received. Effie was greatly uplifted by the overwhelming number of people who attended the Service of Thanksgiving for George.

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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Life & Work – October Issue

The Editorially Independent Magazine of the Church of Scotland www.lifeandwork.org

Global warming – truth or myth?

Three writers this month offer Christian perspectives on the environmental debate of our time:

• Fred Dinning, an engineer and convener of the Church committee behind a recent report

on energy;

• The Rev Dr John Cameron, who claims the global warming debate has been “hyped into

an article of religious faith”; and, • Dr Stuart Monro OBE, Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth and Kirk elder, who looks at

the issue from a geological perspective.

Harvest blessing

In her regular monthly column, the Moderator, the Rt Rev Sheilagh

Kesting offers a harvest thanksgiving message. She expresses

concern regarding youngsters growing lack of knowledge of where

the food in our homes comes from.

A green warrior

Robin Harper, Scotland!s first Green MSP and joint leader of the

party in Scotland, is the subject of this month!s profile.

Multi-faith Scotland

In the first of a new series Laurence Wareing explores Islam and Sikhism.

A moderating influence

Recent Kirk legislation allows elders to act as Interim Moderators in a vacancy. Two elders

write about this new role.

God!s own country

The Rev Bryan Kerr highlights the challenges of rural ministry.

Faith in sport

The Very Rev Dr James Simpson reflects on the wider

altruistic contribution of the world!s top women golfers.

Space for the stranger

Douglas Galbraith looks at worship "beyond the walls!

And more…. monthly columns for elders and young people; book reviews; travel, finance, lively letters; news from far and near; monthly prayer; prize crosswords … all for £1.60.

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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West Kirk – Rota Information

West Kirk Crèche Rota

14th October

Margaret Farquhar

21st October

Kathy Black

28th October

Shirley MacRae

4th November

Mary Calder

11th November

Olive Gibson

West Kirk Tea Rota Contact Olive Gibson 01506 871291 Note: Tea Makers, please bring milk.

21st October

Liz Dyer

Janice Cooper

28th October

Olive Gibson

May Young

4th November

Irene Grindlay

Margaret Rennie

11th November

Margaret Lamb

Janet Meikle

West Kirk Duty Rota

Door Duty

Car Run

14th October

Alan Jessiman

Alison McNaught

Stewart Munro

Beryl Henderson

21st October

Jill Murray

Christine Nicholl

Evelyn Paterson

George Stott

28th October

George Stott

Hazel Tod

Juanita Allan

Stewart Munro

4th November

Jim Allan

May Arnott

Angus Baxter

Richard Bryce

11th November

Richard Bryce

Liz Dyer

Alex Easton

Hugh Clarkson

West Kirk Flower Rota If you cannot manage your turn to arrange or deliver flowers, please either swap, or contact Margaret Greenhorn (01506 871139).

Given Arranged Delivered

14th October

Margaret Douglas

Margo McEwan

Kathy Black

21st October

Katie Albon

Moira McRae

28th October

Isobel Young

Rosanna Rabaeijs

Ivy Johnstone

4th November

Evelyn Paterson

Evelyn Paterson

Irene Grindlay

11th November

Margaret Greenhorn

Margo McEwan

Kathy Black

M.A Smith Katie Albon

Moira McRae

The Link Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm

Friday 2nd November (Issue 23 – Nov)

Katie Albon Jeanette Ferguson Victor Ferguson Ena Prentice Betty Upton

Friday 30th November (Issue 24 – Dec)

Jill Murray Frank Mabbutt Shirley MacRae Stewart MacRae Ann Watson

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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Polbeth Harwood – Rota Information

Stewart Court Taxi Rota

21st October

Charlie Sturrock

28th October

David Prentice

4th November

Eleanor Davidson

11th November

Margaret Marr

Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota

Door Duty

21st October

Anna Muirhead

Tom Walker

Betty Upton

Margaret Dempster

28th October

Alice Mackay

Kenneth Mackay

Jenny Doyle

Janice Davidson

4th November

Ena Prentice

David Prentice

Wilma Dickson

Lilias Fairley

11th November

Etta Walker

Eleanor Davidson

Effie Halliday

Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota (for week commencing)

21st October

Esther Hamilton

Pat Erskine

28th October

Linda Eardley

Hazel Speirs

4th November

Ena Prentice

David Prentice

11th November

Mary Mabbutt

Frank Mabbutt

Polbeth Harwood Café Rota

24th October

Frank Mabbutt

Gordon Erskine

31st October

Chrissie McCormack

Esther Hamilton

7th November

Wilma Dickson

Jessie Kelly

14th November

Betty Upton

Janet Walker

The Link Collation Rota Meet in Polbeth Harwood at 4 pm

Friday 2nd November (Issue 23 – Nov)

Katie Albon Jeanette Ferguson Victor Ferguson Ena Prentice Betty Upton

Friday 30th November (Issue 24 – Dec)

Jill Murray Frank Mabbutt Shirley MacRae Stewart MacRae Ann Watson

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The Link Issue 22

October 2007

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The Christian Artist A little boy was drawing a picture with great concentration. ‘What are you doing?’ asked his mum. ‘I’m drawing a picture of Jesus’ he replied. His mum did not quite know how to respond. She queried, ‘But no one knows what Jesus looked like.’ ‘They will when I’ve finished this picture.’

Contributions for the next edition … Contributions for the next edition of The Link Magazine must be submitted by the first Sunday after the 15th of the month. For the November issue, this will be Sunday 21st October. Contributions can be sent via email, or handed in person to either Rev David Albon or Colin Dempster.

Paws… for thought

Whatever is to make us better and happy, God has placed either openly before us or close to us.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Roman Philosopher, Statesman and Orator – Died AD65)