Our Minister's Advent Newsletter
The Manse of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
Colvend DG5 4QN 07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk www.colvendchurch.com
The Word became Flesh: Hope for the world and Joy to the world!
On the Threshold of Advent: November 2025
Dear Members of CSK and all friends who feel a connection with the life of the Church in the villages here and far away,
The enclosed Christmas card designed by the children of Colvend Primary School says it all in four words with lovely pictures, A Baby is born!
This is, has been and always will be the central message of our Christian Faith, as St John wrote:
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
John Betjeman, some years ago in his poem ‘Christmas : A Few Late Chrysanthemums’ wrote :
‘And is it true, this most tremendous tale of all, seen in a stained-glass window's hue, A Baby in an ox's stall ? The Maker of the stars and sea become a Child on earth for me? No love that in a family dwells, no carolling in frosty air, nor all the steeple-shaking bells Can with this single Truth compare, that God was man in Palestine and lives today in Bread and Wine.‘
The message of the Angels from the Bethlehem Fields in the 1st C Anno Domini is unchanging, never-ending good news in every century, as the story is retold for us in 2025. Advent and Christmas beckon us to come and see, read and hear. Yes, to hear it again as we remember we are not alone in an increasingly complex and often very hostile world: God is with us in triumph and disaster, in our successes and our failures as St Patrick’s words inspire and galvanise us: ‘Christ behind us, Christ before us, Christ beside us: Christ in mouth of friend and stranger’ to give us hope. When the Parish recently donated 28 Shoeboxes for the annual Blythswood Appeal, to be sent to people in despair in Ukraine, the boxes also contained, in addition to those small presents children and adults would receive, kindness, love and hope; gifts which echo the greatest gift God offered to the world : His Son. His fragile and innocent life would end only 33 years after His Birth, when He then returned to heaven to remain even today, in the mystery of God’s Providence, in solidarity with our broken and fragile humanity here on Earth. Brokenness and sacrifice of course were key bench-marks in our recent Remembrance Sunday Services where we recalled love unlimited which, together with the Shoebox generosity of so many in CSK, are bonds of connection between the Love of God for His people and our service as His people in our Love for God. The Parish Christmas card with its pictures drawn by the school children- how grateful we all are!- comes to you with my best wishes and those of the Kirk Session* for a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for 2026.
John
PS: May CSK at Christmas mean not only Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean, but
a Celebration of the Salvation of the King
In conducting all of the Services advertised below, I look forward to welcoming you to Church.
* a short message from the Session Clerk, Mr Fraser McIntosh
At the request of Presbytery, and in order that we comply with current data protection legislation, we have been sent a Privacy Notice which has been published by the Church outlining how the Church of Scotland collects and uses personal data.
All our Trustees have been handed a copy of the notice and copies of it will be placed in both Colvend and Southwick Churches.
Remaining Sundays in November 2025
Sunday 16th : The 22nd Sunday after Trinity
Holy Communion Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 23rd : Christ the King
Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 30th : Advent Sunday : St Andrew’s Day
Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Ecumenical Advent Carol Service in Southwick at 3 pm
Services in December 2025
Sunday 7th : The 2nd Sunday in Advent
Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 14th : The 3rd Sunday in Advent
Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 21st : The 4th Sunday in Advent
Christingle Service in Southwick at 11 am
Wednesday 24th : Christmas Eve
Nativity Service in Colvend at 4 30 pm
Thursday 25th : Christmas Day in Southwick at 11 am
Christmas Morning Service with Holy Communion
Sunday 28th : The 1st Sunday of Christmas
Carols in Colvend at 11 am
All Services will be conducted by the Minister
Colvend DG5 4QN 07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk www.colvendchurch.com
The Word became Flesh: Hope for the world and Joy to the world!
On the Threshold of Advent: November 2025
Dear Members of CSK and all friends who feel a connection with the life of the Church in the villages here and far away,
The enclosed Christmas card designed by the children of Colvend Primary School says it all in four words with lovely pictures, A Baby is born!
This is, has been and always will be the central message of our Christian Faith, as St John wrote:
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
John Betjeman, some years ago in his poem ‘Christmas : A Few Late Chrysanthemums’ wrote :
‘And is it true, this most tremendous tale of all, seen in a stained-glass window's hue, A Baby in an ox's stall ? The Maker of the stars and sea become a Child on earth for me? No love that in a family dwells, no carolling in frosty air, nor all the steeple-shaking bells Can with this single Truth compare, that God was man in Palestine and lives today in Bread and Wine.‘
The message of the Angels from the Bethlehem Fields in the 1st C Anno Domini is unchanging, never-ending good news in every century, as the story is retold for us in 2025. Advent and Christmas beckon us to come and see, read and hear. Yes, to hear it again as we remember we are not alone in an increasingly complex and often very hostile world: God is with us in triumph and disaster, in our successes and our failures as St Patrick’s words inspire and galvanise us: ‘Christ behind us, Christ before us, Christ beside us: Christ in mouth of friend and stranger’ to give us hope. When the Parish recently donated 28 Shoeboxes for the annual Blythswood Appeal, to be sent to people in despair in Ukraine, the boxes also contained, in addition to those small presents children and adults would receive, kindness, love and hope; gifts which echo the greatest gift God offered to the world : His Son. His fragile and innocent life would end only 33 years after His Birth, when He then returned to heaven to remain even today, in the mystery of God’s Providence, in solidarity with our broken and fragile humanity here on Earth. Brokenness and sacrifice of course were key bench-marks in our recent Remembrance Sunday Services where we recalled love unlimited which, together with the Shoebox generosity of so many in CSK, are bonds of connection between the Love of God for His people and our service as His people in our Love for God. The Parish Christmas card with its pictures drawn by the school children- how grateful we all are!- comes to you with my best wishes and those of the Kirk Session* for a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for 2026.
John
PS: May CSK at Christmas mean not only Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean, but
a Celebration of the Salvation of the King
In conducting all of the Services advertised below, I look forward to welcoming you to Church.
* a short message from the Session Clerk, Mr Fraser McIntosh
At the request of Presbytery, and in order that we comply with current data protection legislation, we have been sent a Privacy Notice which has been published by the Church outlining how the Church of Scotland collects and uses personal data.
All our Trustees have been handed a copy of the notice and copies of it will be placed in both Colvend and Southwick Churches.
Remaining Sundays in November 2025
Sunday 16th : The 22nd Sunday after Trinity
Holy Communion Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 23rd : Christ the King
Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 30th : Advent Sunday : St Andrew’s Day
Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Ecumenical Advent Carol Service in Southwick at 3 pm
Services in December 2025
Sunday 7th : The 2nd Sunday in Advent
Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 14th : The 3rd Sunday in Advent
Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 21st : The 4th Sunday in Advent
Christingle Service in Southwick at 11 am
Wednesday 24th : Christmas Eve
Nativity Service in Colvend at 4 30 pm
Thursday 25th : Christmas Day in Southwick at 11 am
Christmas Morning Service with Holy Communion
Sunday 28th : The 1st Sunday of Christmas
Carols in Colvend at 11 am
All Services will be conducted by the Minister
Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean Church is a registered Charity, Scottish Charity Number SCO09384