Welcome to News
MacMillan Coffee Morning
During September, we host a MacMillan Coffee Morning. In addition to being enjoyed by everyone, the event raises significant funds to support this worthwhile organisation, and there was enough left over to sell after church on Sunday!
Loaves and Fishes
Our Community Link volunteers collect donated grocery items and deliver them to the Loves and Fishes Foodbank, which provides over 150 food parcels weekly to our local community. This effort supports families, pensioners, veterans, and all sectors of society.
Doors Open Day
We open our gates and doors in September to welcome visitors for Doors Open Day!
During the Doors Open Days, guided tours of the church, graveyard, and the adjacent hall will be available upon request. The church hall features murals and displays that provide information about the church's history.Knowledgeable guides will lead fascinating tours of the graveyard, the church, and the nearby church hall, where visitors can enjoy refreshments and explore an engaging information display alongside the vibrant murals. This site has housed a church since the 1170s, with the current structure dating back to 1774. A recent study conducted by a group researching the history of the gravestones and graveyard uncovered the oldest visible grave, which dates back to 1703.
Leaving No (Head) Stone Unturned
The EKOP Church Heritage Group has been researching the history of our graveyard and the individuals interred there. They aim to publish a book detailing their findings about the approximately 450 burial "lairs" identified. In the meantime, check out Fiona's monthly "History Corner" articles in our church magazine, the EKO, and watch for information about Doors Open Day in September.
Many notable individuals are buried in the graveyard, including the parents of famous surgeons William and John Hunter and Rev. James French, who tutored the young Walter Scott. The oldest flat gravestone belongs to John Warnock, dating back to 1703 (Lair 448), and the group discovered it in February and March 2022. The oldest readable upright gravestone dates from 1712.
If you are interested in learning more or have valuable skills, old photographs, or family history information to share, please use the "Contact Us" section on this website or speak to Bill Arthur at the church.
Coalburn Silver Band
We are delighted to welcome the Coalburn Silver Band on several occasions throughout the year, including concerts and special services.
The concert evenings are fantastic. The turnout can be so great that we even ran out of biscuits and raffle tickets! In addition to performances by the entire band, we enjoy solo performances from talented singers and instrumentalists. A big thank you to Kirk Life for organising this fantastic event!
Community Link
Our Community Link Team hosts events throughout the year. One of these very successful events was a Communion Lunch. The events are always a joyous and chatty occasion! Guests enjoy a choice of three soups, a variety of sandwich flavours, and a selection of sweet treats to finish. All of this was served happily and efficiently by volunteers who embodied a spirit of generosity.
Stated Annual Meeting
The primary purpose of the meeting is for Mr Des Laverty, our treasurer, to present the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the previous year. Once approved, the report of accounts is submitted to the Office of Scottish Charity Registration (OSCR), charity number SC000609.
New Way To Make Donations And Offerings To The Church
We are excited to introduce a new way for you to make donations and weekly offerings to the church using digital technology. If you're familiar with using a bank or credit card in places like supermarkets, you'll recognise a small device called a terminal. We have placed one next to the traditional collection plate in the church entrance foyer.
To help you navigate this process — especially if it's your first time — we have provided an instruction sheet. Don’t worry! Assistance will always be available if you need it.
SELECTION OF CURRENT AND PAST ITEMS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 'NEWS' PAGES
Spot The Familiar Face
Yes, that's Hazel Shaw, our recent trainee, second from the left! The photo shows the Church of Scotland ministers - the 'class of 2023'.
The group attended the final conference of their probationary training period at the Conforti Institute in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire. Rev. Eleanor McMahon, Recruitment and Training Manager for the Church of Scotland, stated, “This is an inspiring group of individuals who have wholeheartedly committed themselves to ministry training. Together, they will bring a fresh perspective, energy, and dedication to the life and mission of the Church, challenging congregations in new ways and supporting their growth and outreach.”
Well done, everyone!
Conference Shows How Churches Can Welcome New Scots
As migration and the question of how the UK treats people seeking asylum dominate headlines, Christians from a wide range of backgrounds gathered to discuss their role in welcoming New Scots. (4 April 2023)
Click Here to read more on the C.of S. website...
Presbytery Reform Continues As Three New Presbyteries Are Formed
Three brand new presbyteries—the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders, the Presbytery of the North East and Northern Isles, and the Presbytery of Perth—were established on Sunday, January 1. The formation of the new presbyteries represents further progress in streamlining the Church of Scotland's presbytery structures to ensure the Church is lean and fit for growth.
"I welcome the formation of our latest new presbyteries as we continue on our journey of reform as directed by the General Assembly of 2019," Rev Fiona Smith, the Church of Scotland's Principal Clerk, said.
"This work has been a major undertaking for the Church and has brought many challenges both for individuals and our congregations, Kirk sessions and presbytery committees. But there have been joys and new beginnings to celebrate, too. I know much prayerful consideration has guided us on this path, which will see us find new ways of working together, often across much larger areas, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. I wish every blessing to those in the new presbyteries as they work together to reshape and renew the life and mission of the Church." (19 Jan 2023)
Click Here to read more on the C.of S. website...
Presbytery Changes Prepare Church For The Future
The Church of Scotland is on target to streamline its presbytery structures by 2024 as part of a wider drive to meet the demands of a 21st-century mission.
These radical reforms will see the number of presbyteries in Scotland fall from more than 40 to under a dozen, creating a simpler structure to support the work of the Church as it looks for fresh opportunities to grow, reach out and serve communities across the country. (7 Nov 2022)
Click Hereto read more on the C.of S. website...
Charity Chief Named as Moderator of the 2023 -24 General Assembly
Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, 58, who has led Christian Aid in Scotland since 2016, will take a year's sabbatical to become the Kirk's ambassador at home and abroad for 12 months from next May. (28 Oct 2022)
Click Here to read more on the C.of S. website...
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