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 sessionclerk@polbethharwood.co.uk Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 438038 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE treasurer@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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A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF Sunday, 22 January 2006 Dear Friends, It is time to get the first edition of The Link for 2006 written and ready for the printers and for you. As we embark on a New Year with all the privileges, opportunities, uncertainties and challenges that await us (see Alan Jessiman’s report on page 9) it is good to have the encouragement of the Lectionary readings for this time of year focusing on the early days of Jesus’ ministry and his simple, but profound call to ‘Come, follow me’ (Mark 1:17). This year is an opportunity for us all, in both churches to discover more about how to be Christ’s disciples and help one another. I have included the words of St Teresa of Avila that I quoted in this morning’s services. Having had the opportunity to read some more about Teresa, I found it very interesting to learn that around 1536-7, Teresa became ill and fell into a four-day coma. After she revived, her legs were paralysed for three long years. Perhaps it was out of this life experience that Teresa wrote:

Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Yours are the only hands with which he can do his work;

yours are the only feet with which he can go about the world. Yours are the only eyes through which his compassion

can shine forth upon a troubled world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

It is a privilege to answer the call to Christian discipleship and to work together with one another as Jesus’ helpers here in our communities. Best wishes for 2006!

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

Contributions for the next edition … Contributions for the next edition of The Link Magazine should be submitted by the first Sunday after the 15th of the month. For the March issue, this will be Sunday 19th February. Contributions can be sent via email, or handed in person to either Rev David Albon or Colin Dempster.

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The Church Family (Parish Record)

West Kirk

Adult Baptism 4th December Peter Vincent, Mungle Street

Polbeth Harwood

Adult Baptism 4th December David McGonigal, Chapelton Place Charles Stewart Smirrill, Park Drive

Funerals 6th December Martha Miller, Talisman Rise, Livingston 5th January Margaret ‘Pearl’ Cowen Johnstone, Parkhead Crescent

Funerals 23rd January Andrew Stewart, Langside Crescent

New Members On 4th December, at the West Kirk, Peter Vincent and May Wyse made their adult profession of faith. On the same day, in Polbeth Harwood Church, David McGonigal, Stewart Smirrill and Gordon Dempster also made their adult profession of faith.

Worship in the Linked Congregations Sunday Morning Worship will take place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am unless stated otherwise. Special services are as follows: 5th March First Sunday of Lent – Sacrament of Communion West Kirk – 9.30 am Polbeth Harwood – 11.15 am United Reflective Evening Communion Polbeth Harwood – 6.30 pm

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Reflections

“The child grew big and strong and full of wisdom; and God’s favour was upon him.”

“My son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

Luke 2, Verses 40 and 48

Like the blank days of January, there is an intriguing empty space in the life of Jesus. We are only told that when he was 12, Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem and lost him. Three frantic days later, they found him in the temple, oblivious to their fears, astounding the audience with his intelligence, and dismissive of their worry.

What happened in those blank years? How many childhood illnesses did his mother nurse him through? How many boyhood tears of frustration did she gently wipe away? Did she have to negotiate him out of trouble at school for being a dreamer or for the typical adolescent’s battles with other children? How often did his father grow impatient as his happy, carefree son went off exploring the natural world around Nazareth, growing and learning and secure in his environment? Certainly he was secure if he grew in wisdom and self-confidence, as Luke’s Gospel reveals. And how many of these emerging qualities did Mary “treasure in her heart?”

Most parents are constantly aware of a mass of contradictory emotions raising children. There is the sigh of relief when all is well: the homework is grudgingly completed, teeth half-cleaned, faces half-washed and sleep has at last overpowered the little minx – or the parent! There is the fear-filled diagnosis: that nettle rash must be meningitis, the simple sprain must be a multiple fracture, or the bee sting must be an anaphylactic fit. There is the financial juggling to meet their ever-changing hobbies: the music lessons, dance classes, horse-riding, karate training, sea or army cadets. There is the common sense needed to calm the stormy tears when the class bully threatens them; or sooth their wounded self-esteem

when they do not gain that coveted top prize. There is the excessive pride in their tiniest triumphs: that Primary 5 sprint trophy means an Olympic champion in the making; that S1 cookery prize means a First Class Honours Degree in Sponge Making. Worst of all, there is the deep, helpless pain of watching a child suffering a genuine life-threatening illness; or the terrible instinctive knowledge of offspring secretly succumbing to the mental or moral monsters of a stress-ridden society.

This parental paranoia never ceases. When my father was a great-grandfather, he was still giving me, a granny, orders: “You get up that road, lassie, before the drunk drivers come out of the pub.” My mum would roll her wise eyes at me and silently indicate: “Forget him, hen, you’ll be just fine.” And, yes, I would love to forget the rows with my own children, and to smile shamefacedly when I was reminded by a friend’s very young son that “the apple never falls far from the tree.” Unfortunately, in these times of irresponsible media manipulation and criminal abuse of computer technology, our young people can easily be caught off-guard and parents, understandably, can become frightened and overprotective. A child in danger is a parent’s worst nightmare. If winter weariness replaces the festivities of Christmas, there is one inspiring message in Luke 2 and that is the symbolism of the Holy Family. Far from being a blank page, it is a picture of the pains and the pleasures of the child/parent relationship. It does not matter

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whether one is Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, agnostic or atheist. The birth of a baby, the love of parents, and the shelter of family and friends, fulfil the deepest desires of humanity to experience and share this world’s great gifts. Mary was warned about future pain by wise old Simeon and Anna: “you too will be pierced to the heart”. But she listened to the news around her and was given the power to endure the miseries and to treasure the growing strength and wisdom of her son. And through the generations, parents have witnessed that growth and that inspirational example of so many sons and daughters, from all pathways of the spirit, who have enriched us with their goodness.

Ann

‘Fear Not’

There are many reasons for fear including fear of the future, fear of the consequences of our actions, fear of dying and, to those of us who are Christians, fear of the wrath of God, or of Him doing something new in your life. The following article, written by Roger Jones, a musician who is associated to U.C.B., talks about fear and how to deal with it.

“Fear not” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind. There they were, quietly ‘washing their socks at night’ when all heaven broke loose, and the shepherds were treated to a heavenly fireworks display that was truly out of this world. Their reaction – not wonder and excitement but FEAR! Not surprising of course, it was way beyond their experience and totally out of their control. Fear is the most common reaction to God doing something new. Isaiah prefixes God’s words of love and redemption with ‘Fear not’ (Isaiah 43). When God does something new in Church, particularly to do with the power of the Holy Spirit, then his people are usually afraid. At such times we need to stick around, listen to Him and open our hearts and our Bibles. But how can the words ‘Fear not’ help? After all, by the time you hear them you’re already there – AFRAID! If we could do something about it then we wouldn’t be in this place of fear in the first place. I guess it’s all to do with who’s saying it. When God says the words then they are coming from someone with power, and so there’s power in the words themselves. There must have been times when Paul was very afraid. He’d just had a ‘barney with Barney’ (Barnabus) his great companion and encourager, and doors for further opportunities to spread the gospel now seemed closed. Early retirement or just plain redundancy loomed ahead – not something the active Paul relished. Then, one night, he hears a new word: ‘Come over to Macedonia.’ Was it a dream, a vision – no matter. It was God speaking and Paul knew that he was still not alone or rejected. It was more than an offer of a new job. It was that God knew he was there, and cared about him despite his failures and ‘rough edges’.

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When we walk through a difficult period in our lives, maybe a valley of life or death, a new experience, or whatever, we can know, as the Psalmist did, that we need fear no evil, for He is with us (Psalm 23). Take time today to stop and listen to God’s voice. Open your Bible and read about the One who keeps saying ‘Fear not’. Try looking at Psalm 23, Isaiah 43, Luke 24 – and then, in prayer, instead of doing all the talking, listen to His words of love. Don’t take my word for it – take His!

Finlay Carmyllie

West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The Christmas Candy bar raised the wonderful sum of £3030, roughly broken down as follows:

Raffle £257 Lucky Dip £140 Quiz £150 Cake and Candy £523 DVD £35 Donations £427 Lunches £630 Crafts and Soft Goods £514 Handbags £90 Whisky Bottle £73 Teddy £17 Jar of Sweets £5 Tombola £76 Session Stall £140

Very many thanks to all who took part, especially the cooks, stall holders, servers and those who worked so hard before, during and after the event to make it so successful. Thank you also to those who came on the day and supported us. A magnificent effort! The February Candy Bar will have passed by the time you read this. The Youth Link and friends will run the one on Saturday 4th March. All contributions will be most welcome.

Sponsored Knit-In

We are having a “Knit-In” on Monday 27th February in the hall at 7.30 pm. It has been many years since our last one and we hope you will support this either by coming and knitting squares that evening, or by sponsoring someone else. Forms and details are available from members of the Fund Raising Group. Bill Russell will be playing the piano to help the knitters along and he will be happy to take requests! The squares will be made into blankets to be sent to Africa. Please take part to help raise funds for the redecoration of the Church.

We look forward to seeing you at these forthcoming events.

Jill Murray (Convener)

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West Kirk Guild Report Our last meeting before Christmas took the form of a meal at La Capannina restaurant, which was enjoyed by all, including a gift for everyone from Santa’s sack.

Our first meeting of 2006 was a “Call My Bluff” quiz evening. Convener, Liz Dyer, had spent a lot of time finding unusual words and compiling definitions (incorrect ones being especially difficult). Thanks to her, the teams and audience had great fun and a few “bluffs” were managed!

On 23rd January we look forward to welcoming Rosanna Rabaeijs for a demonstration of her Body Shop products.

Dates for your diary: Monday – 6th February A Day at The Palace – Eileen Milne

Thursday – 9th February Alice Linden Trophy – Mid Calder

Monday – 20th February Crime Prevention – Lothian and Borders Police

Friday – 3rd March World Day of Prayer – West Kirk – 7 pm

Jill Murray (Joint Secretary)

I am holding an annual concert in the West Kirk in memory of my mother Effie Russell, as she hardly missed a concert and she enjoyed a variety of music. The proceeds of the evening will go to the West Kirk and to a charity. The first of these concerts will be held on Friday 24th March at 7.30 pm in the church. Tickets (£4) may be obtained from Bill Russell (01506 871693). Music will be provided by the Mure Memorial Church Choir, from Garrowhill (also known as the Garrowhill Entertainers) and Carolyn Murray-Hamilton. I hope you can manage to come along and enjoy an evening of music.

Bill Russell

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Parish Assistant It is almost a year since we started to look for a Parish Assistant to fill the gap left when Kay McIntosh resigned. During this time a number of enquiries were received but the small group* convened to deal with this matter have not felt it possible to recommend anyone to the Kirk Sessions to fill the gap. Also, application was made to the Ministry Council for the appointment of a Parish Assistant. The Ministry Council considered our application carefully but could not recommend an appointment from their scarce resources as essentially they felt we were in good shape. Also during this time, through the process of discussion with the enquirers, Ministry Council and amongst themselves, the small group reached the conclusion that there were other ways to fill the gap from within our own resources. The process had actually enabled them to define needs more accurately leading to the recognition that much work was being done already by the Pastoral Care and Worship Committees. The variable nature of bereavement and funeral workload together with the need for other pastoral visits gave the group some concern. In conclusion, the group has recommended to the Kirk Sessions as follows: 1 We withdraw from actively seeking a Parish Assistant 2 This decision will be reviewed in one year 3 A support group will be established for the Minister (drawn from both Congregations) 4 Provide training for individuals and committee members as necessary to support

them in their work, thereby building additional resource 5 Develop the Elder role for bereavement support and funeral services At their January meetings, both Kirk Sessions accepted the recommendations. *Group members: Rev David Albon

Polbeth Harwood: Marian Kinsman, Tom Griffin West Kirk: Bill Calder, Alan Jessiman and Stewart Macrae

Alan Jessiman

Santa’s Muffins “At the Christmas Candy Bar, there were some nice kits on sale to make and bake ‘Santa’s Muffins’. I’d like to make them again – could the clever person who did them please let us know the full recipe?”

Rosanna, 01506 871259 (or reply via The Editor)

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Notes Thank you to all who donated to the Child of Africa Appeal during our Christmas Eve Service at the West Kirk. We collected £598.45 (including £65 from our coffee and tea fund), of which some £212 was gift aided using the special Christian Aid envelopes. To this was added the collection from the end of term service for the pupils of Parkhead Primary School amounting to £113.68, giving a total of £712.13. The news then got better as, at the last meeting of the Kirk Session, it was agreed that a further sum of £287.87 would be added to make our total donation an impressive £1000. I have already received a thank you letter from Christian Aid Scotland, which is on display in the vestibule, and I have sent a copy to Parkhead Primary School. You may be interested to read a little more below about how our donation may be used.

More about the Child of Africa appeal Five years ago, the United Nations declared Angola the worst place in the world to be a child. The long-running civil war forced more than a third of the population to flee their homes. Now the war is over, your support helps families in Angola to return home, rebuild their lives and look forward with hope in 2006. Servina Marta’s family returned to their village to find it completely overgrown. Thanks to seeds and tools provided by Christian Aid’s partner, Associação Cristã de Mocidade (ACM), the family can now grow the food they need, so Servina can go to school instead of making daily trips to the city to sell firewood. ‘If ACM hadn’t come to help us, we’d be dead,’ Servina’s mother says. £20 can provide a family returning to their home with basic kitchen equipment, blankets, tools and seeds. With skills learnt at a training centre run by Christian Aid’s partner organisation, the Angolan Congregational Church (IECA), Tabita Benir de Jesus was able to successfully treat her children Josué and Jaeli when they had malaria. Malaria is Angola’s main childhood killer. £270 pays for a teacher to lead a three month health education course. Eduardo Palanga’s town was badly hit by the war, and until last May, his ruined classroom had no roof, desks or chairs. The school has been rebuilt with funding from Christian Aid, and 360 children now have lessons there. £1050 buys the materials for a new school roof.

In 2005 hundreds of thousands of people joined the campaign to Make Poverty History. Here is what was achieved and why there’s still more to be done: The year kicked off with the unusual sight of more than 600 female vicars marching down Whitehall. Led by Dawn French, aka the Vicar of Dibley, the campaigning clergy called on Tony Blair to make ‘trade justice, drop the debt and more and better aid’ government priorities for 2005. More amazing events followed: • In April more than 10 million people in 80 countries took part in the Global Week of

Action for Trade Justice. • Meanwhile in London 24,000 people took part in an amazing all night vigil in

Whitehall calling on the government to Wake Up to Trade Justice.

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• In June, 20,000 people gathered for a rally in Dublin demanding the Irish government honour its commitments to developing countries.

• In July, 225,000 people marched through the streets of Edinburgh just days before G8 world leaders held their summit.

• In November thousands braved the wind and rain to make the Trade Justice mass lobby of Parliament the biggest ever, with 375 MPs lobbied in a single day.

• Throughout the UK and Ireland, campaign events raised awareness of the need for trade justice.

By the end of the year more than 750,000 votes for trade justice had been collected and were handed in to Tony Blair.

Turning the tide The Make Poverty History campaign made a real difference to the struggle against poverty in 2005. Trade Justice Trade Justice was the biggest challenge, and, thanks to your campaigning, the UK government has said it will not force poor countries to open their markets and privatise public services. World leaders made a similar statement in the G8

summit communiqué. This could be a historic change, though much more needs to be done to put these words into action. Drop the debt Eighteen countries will receive more debt cancellation as a result of the agreement reached at the G8 summit. In time more countries could also benefit. This is real progress though many countries remain indebted and more needs to be done to agree a fair process for deciding which debts are cancelled. More and better aid The UK has said it will no longer attach damaging economic policies to aid. Internationally, aid levels are now increasing after years of decline. Keeping up the pressure There is no doubt that we would not have seen this progress, but for the amazing efforts of campaigners. However, in the end, decision-makers failed to live up to the promise of the year, or meet the passion of campaigners with real change. As a result millions of people will continue to miss out on basic rights to food, education, medicine, housing, dignity and choice, simply because they are poor. Poverty is still not history.

But 2005 does mean we are in a better position to campaign in the future. Millions of people are now aware of the need for action and what can be achieved through campaigning together as part of a worldwide movement for justice. Great movements take time to achieve their goals. The anti-apartheid campaign and the civil rights movement both campaigned for years before achieving their aims. In 2006 Christian Aid will continue to campaign for justice with people all around the world.

Alison McNaught

Rota Information

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West Kirk Crèche Rota Contact Freya Lornie 01506 870070 Note: Please check dates and arrange a substitute if necessary.

19th February Margaret Farquhar Freya Lornie

26th February Melanie Dickson Freya Lornie

5th March Val Occardi Christine Paterson

12th March Olive Gibson Rhoda Lawton

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

19th February Margaret Douglas Margo McEwan

26th February Jim Allan Juanita Allan

5th March Olive Gibson Isobel McChesney

12th March Janice Cooper Liz Dyer

West Kirk Flower List If you would like to give flowers one week, please add your name to the list in the church vestibule.

Given Arranged Delivered

19th February Rosanna Rabaeijs Moira McRae

26th February Katie Albon Margaret Ann Smith

5th March May Arnott Evelyn Paterson Ivy Johnstone

12th March Margo McEwan Margo McEwan &

Margaret Douglas

Irene Grindlay

West Kirk Duty Rota

Door Duty

Car Run

19th February Angus Baxter Jim Allan May Arnott George Stott

26th February Alex Easton Richard Bryce Liz Dyer Derek Burns

5th March Lorna Graham Jeanette Ferguson Victor Ferguson Richard Bryce

May Arnott Irene Grindlay Beryl Henderson

Alan Jessiman Jill Murray George Stott Serving Communion

12th March Alan Jessiman Irene Grindlay Beryl Henderson Hugh Clarkson

Rota Information

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Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota

19th February Laura Carroll Petrona Carroll

26th February Catherine Smith Anna Muirhead

5th March Anne Weston-Lewis Evelyn Cowie

12th March Ena Prentice David Prentice

Polbeth Harwood ‘Stewart Court Taxi’ Rota

19th February David Prentice

26th February Kenneth Mackay

5th March Margaret Marr

12th March Finlay Carmyllie

Polbeth Harwood Café Rota

22nd February Finlay Carmyllie Effie Halliday Grace Peace

1st March Gordon Erskine Chrissie McCormack Esther Hamilton

8th March Wilma Dickson Jenny Doyle Jessie Kelly

15th March Frank Mabbutt Betty Upton Janet Walker

Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota

Door Duty

19th February Marian Kinsman Betty Macauley Janet Russell Allan Mercer

26th February Anna Muirhead Tom Walker Betty Upton Margaret Dempster

5th March Lilias Fairley William Fairley Jenny Doyle Janice Davidson

12th March Ena Prentice David Prentice Wilma Dickson Bob Dickson

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West Kirk Flowers The list for flower donations in 2006 is now up in the church vestibule. If you would like to give flowers, perhaps to mark an anniversary, please add your name.

If the date in question is already on a rota, which has been printed in The

Link, please also make contact with the person who is arranging the flowers.

Paws… for thought

To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

St. Louis Inspirational Christian Connection