Our Minister's Latest News Letter
The Manse of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
Colvend DG5 4QN 07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk www.colvendchurch.com
My dear friends of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
On the threshold of Ascensiontide, may I thank you all for supporting the life of the Church as together we fly the flag for the Christian Faith, trying our best to give the best to God. Currently I am preparing two people online for Confirmation and part of that involves examining the vows for membership of the Church: confessing Christ as Lord, promising to worship regularly, being faithful in reading Scripture and in prayer, promising to give of our time, our talents and our money for the life and work of the Church as we profess our loyalty to Jesus Christ in daily life. We all took those vows at some point, as we confirmed the Baptismal vows which were taken on our behalf. As your Minister I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on and holding fast to those vows, being committed in regular worship and contributing to the life of God’s people, locally and beyond.
As I write on 21st May, one of our seven Elders, Bob Wright, is attending the General Assembly in Edinburgh as a member of HM Forces Chaplains’ Committee, a Committee of four responsible for the recruitment and selection of Ministers to serve in the Forces. We thank Bob for this commitment to the life of the national Church – an example to all of service. There are many ways in which we can serve the Church at all levels and perhaps you might want to offer yourself for advancing the Faith here where we live: speak to me if you feel there are certain avenues you’d like to explore. Remember, your local Church needs you and needs you and me to pray for the work of the Church : its life, its witness and its growth locally, nationally and internationally.
Please visit our website regularly to keep abreast of what is happening in our Church; especially wonderful was the recent VE 80 Sunday Service in which over 100 people gathered in Southwick to honour all who served at home and abroad and to give thanks to God for an end to tyranny in 1945. The Services for June and July are appended. Do please note the following.
Sunday 15th June : Holy Communion in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 22nd June : Beach Service at 4:30 pm on Rockcliffe Beach
Afterwards Doreen Kirkland’s Pizza Wagon will be nearby for purchase of delicious pizzas.
Sunday, 27th July at 6 pm in Southwick Church : Songs of Praise
If you would like your favourite Hymn sung, email me by 20th July, with two or three short sentences about why it is special for you. I will try to include as many hymns as possible but may have to reduce verses.
In September there will be two opportunities of sharing with you the encounters in Ministry I was privileged to have during my study leave in March: each meeting will last for an hour, over tea and cake.
Thursday, 18th September in Southwick Church Hall between 3 and 4 pm and
Thursday, 25th September in Colvend Church Hall between 3 and 4 pm.
Do please come along to either or both. I send you my very best wishes for the summer of 2025 and pray for
God’s richest Blessings upon you and all whom you love. John
June
Sunday 1 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 8 June : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 15 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : Holy Communion : The Minister
Sunday 22 June : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am: The Minister Beach Service at 4 30 pm at Rockcliffe : The Minister
Sunday 29 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11am : The Revd Richard Allen
July
Saturday 5 July : Wedding in Southwick : Pastor Colin Reilly
Sunday 6 July : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Revd Richard Allen
Saturday 12 July : Wedding in Southwick : The Minister
Sunday 13 July : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : The Minister
Wednesday 16 July : Mid-Week Holy Communion in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 20 July : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 27 July : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : Songs of Praise in Southwick at 6 pm
The Minister
Colvend DG5 4QN 07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk www.colvendchurch.com
My dear friends of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
On the threshold of Ascensiontide, may I thank you all for supporting the life of the Church as together we fly the flag for the Christian Faith, trying our best to give the best to God. Currently I am preparing two people online for Confirmation and part of that involves examining the vows for membership of the Church: confessing Christ as Lord, promising to worship regularly, being faithful in reading Scripture and in prayer, promising to give of our time, our talents and our money for the life and work of the Church as we profess our loyalty to Jesus Christ in daily life. We all took those vows at some point, as we confirmed the Baptismal vows which were taken on our behalf. As your Minister I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on and holding fast to those vows, being committed in regular worship and contributing to the life of God’s people, locally and beyond.
As I write on 21st May, one of our seven Elders, Bob Wright, is attending the General Assembly in Edinburgh as a member of HM Forces Chaplains’ Committee, a Committee of four responsible for the recruitment and selection of Ministers to serve in the Forces. We thank Bob for this commitment to the life of the national Church – an example to all of service. There are many ways in which we can serve the Church at all levels and perhaps you might want to offer yourself for advancing the Faith here where we live: speak to me if you feel there are certain avenues you’d like to explore. Remember, your local Church needs you and needs you and me to pray for the work of the Church : its life, its witness and its growth locally, nationally and internationally.
Please visit our website regularly to keep abreast of what is happening in our Church; especially wonderful was the recent VE 80 Sunday Service in which over 100 people gathered in Southwick to honour all who served at home and abroad and to give thanks to God for an end to tyranny in 1945. The Services for June and July are appended. Do please note the following.
Sunday 15th June : Holy Communion in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 22nd June : Beach Service at 4:30 pm on Rockcliffe Beach
Afterwards Doreen Kirkland’s Pizza Wagon will be nearby for purchase of delicious pizzas.
Sunday, 27th July at 6 pm in Southwick Church : Songs of Praise
If you would like your favourite Hymn sung, email me by 20th July, with two or three short sentences about why it is special for you. I will try to include as many hymns as possible but may have to reduce verses.
In September there will be two opportunities of sharing with you the encounters in Ministry I was privileged to have during my study leave in March: each meeting will last for an hour, over tea and cake.
Thursday, 18th September in Southwick Church Hall between 3 and 4 pm and
Thursday, 25th September in Colvend Church Hall between 3 and 4 pm.
Do please come along to either or both. I send you my very best wishes for the summer of 2025 and pray for
God’s richest Blessings upon you and all whom you love. John
June
Sunday 1 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 8 June : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 15 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : Holy Communion : The Minister
Sunday 22 June : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am: The Minister Beach Service at 4 30 pm at Rockcliffe : The Minister
Sunday 29 June : Morning Service in Colvend at 11am : The Revd Richard Allen
July
Saturday 5 July : Wedding in Southwick : Pastor Colin Reilly
Sunday 6 July : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Revd Richard Allen
Saturday 12 July : Wedding in Southwick : The Minister
Sunday 13 July : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : The Minister
Wednesday 16 July : Mid-Week Holy Communion in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 20 July : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am : The Minister
Sunday 27 July : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am : Songs of Praise in Southwick at 6 pm
The Minister
Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean Church is a registered Charity, Scottish Charity Number SCO1353