Lamlash Church Reopening
Procedures for attending worship, in accordance with Scottish Government and Church of Scotland Guidelines
The Kirk Session met by Zoom on 25 November to discuss the opening of the church for worship. It was decided that we could meet the requirements of the church offices and the Scottish Government to create a safe environment for you to attend worship. Consequently, we aim to recommence worship from 6 December. This will be in the church hall for a few weeks until the windows in the church are replaced.
This being the case we have given careful consideration as to the arrangements for worship, the details of which are below. However anyone who is unwell or shows symptoms of COVID-19, who is in an extremely vulnerable group, who is isolating or who is living with someone who is isolating or is unwell must not attend Church.
In summary
- You must register, giving contact details by Friday
- Remember to bring a face covering which must be worn in church.
- Seating layout allows a maximum of two from the same household to sit together.
- An usher will show you to your allocated seat.
We wish you well, and hope to see you soon
— Ian Watt, Session Clerk
Before the service Wednesday to Friday
Contact Vivienne Haigh at Tel. 600092
Please give the following details.
Name
Contact details
tel./email
Number in the household attending.
You will be informed if there are places available and if you can attend. This is necessary as we have a limited capacity of 20 which may not be exceeded. Ensure you have a face covering which must always be worn in the church.
Your arrival at church
To maintain two metres distancing, allow people in the doorway to enter the church before approaching the entrance. Put on your mask and enter the church. If your offering is in cash the offering plate will be in the vestibule as you enter. Hand sanitiser will be on the table so please use, then go into the hall where an Usher will now confirm your contact details. We must have this information for ‘Trace and Protect’ purposes.
This information is destroyed after three weeks.
As you know, parking is very limited and we can’t have folk mingling, so if at all possible, please do not bring your car up the lane.
Seating
An usher will show you to your allocated seat. People from the same household may sit together. A single person will therefore be sitting by themself. There will be no bibles or hymn books in use. Please leave nothing in the behind when you leave.
During the service
Please note masks must be kept on throughout the service. There will be no singing. There may be contemplative music.
Leaving
Those closest to the exit door (the one you came in) must leave first, with everyone leaving one row at a time, from the back. Please maintain social distancing and do not delay. Theservice leader will not be at the door to greet people Please do not congregate in the car park.
It will take a bit of getting used to, but we hope that you enjoy the service.
A Word from the Manse
Dear Friends
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”
Deuteronomy 33 v 12.
What an affirmation of our Father’s love, care and overarching grace! In these strange times we are living through, what joy and strength it is to KNOW we are loved with an everlasting love. We have no idea when the Coronavirus will pass. We have no idea when we will be able to visit family again or be together with friends. We do not know when we will be able safely to reopen Kilmory or Lamlash churches and share in worship. 2020 is indeed an unforgettable year the world over. As Christians, we are blessed to know that even in all the isolation of COVID-19 and throughout the ever-changing safety guidelines and restrictions, we are indeed blessed to know we can rest in the Saviour’s love.
We are
“Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above, You have taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this wonder all divine!
a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.”
We draw our strength, our joy, our patience from the Father who loves us. Just to be able to say every morning and every evening that I am His and He is mine lifts us above the present pandemic, lifts us to new heights of relationship with our Lord who loves us.
In Deuteronomy 33, Moses is blessing every tribe of Israel before he dies. He calls the leaders of each tribe and pronounces a blessing on them one by one. On Benjamin and his tribe, Moses pours out these words:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”
I wonder what do you think of when you read this verse? For me an image comes to mind. It is that beautiful sight of the Shepherd leaving the 99 sheep safely in the fold and going out to search for the one that is missing and carrying that lost sheep home on His shoulders.
An old hymn captures the Shepherd’s love and faithfulness:
There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold
but one was out on the hills away far off from the gates of gold;
on the mountains wild and bare, away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from me;
and although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep.”
But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed;
nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
He found His sheep that was lost.
in the desert He heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die.
“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way, that mark out the mountain’s track?” They were shed for one who had gone astray ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are thy hands so rent and torn?”
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
And all through the mountains, thunder riven, and up from the rocky steep,
there arose a glad cry to the gate of heaven,
Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
and the angels echoed around the throne,
for the Lord brings back His own!”
Moses blessed the tribes of Israel and we are blessed too. We rest secure in the Father’s everlasting love. We are carried on the shoulders of the Lord of Lords! The King of Kings! We are His and He is ours forever and forever! There is nothing that can ever separate us from such life-changing and life-sustaining love! Christians all over the world proclaim, I am His and He is mine now and forever!” Wow! What a blessing!
May you and those you love know the limitless love of God the Father, the amazing grace of Christ the Son and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you to show the amazing love we share as lost sheep found, brought home, safe on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, the crucified and risen Lord.
Lily
The Big Question
When will the church reopen?
The church is not a building! The church is the people who know and share the amazing love of God.
The building is closed but the church is open always!
- We are the church wherever we are.
- Stay safe.
- Stay responsible.
- Show love and care for one another and remember we are here for you.
You can use the prayer box on the church railings if you would like us to pray for you or someone you love.
We do not have a date yet for reopening the building. Watch this space!
We are checking government and Church of Scotland guidelines every day and we will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile you can contact Rev Lily on 01770 600047.
Donate to Lamlash Church
FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
The impact of the global coronavirus pandemic has forced us to close our church buildings and stop many of our usual activities, but the vital work of the Church goes on and is needed now, more than ever.
Support your local church with our new online donations system
To help support the work of our churches, the Church of Scotland is now launching an online donations system where you can choose to support us nationally or donate to one of our local churches directly.
This could be a way to give your Weekly Freewill Offering in this day and age when hard cash is being used less and less.
Anne Macintosh, the Church of Scotland’s General Treasurer, said she is “delighted” to be able to launch the new donations system.
“Anyone who wishes to make a donation either to the national funds of the Church of Scotland or to an individual congregation can do so by visiting the donations page and by clicking on the donate button,” Anne said.
“All donations made to an individual congregation will be returned to that congregation, enabling members to continue to make their regular offering – or to make a special donation – to enable the Church’s work to continue at this difficult time.”
PLEASE NOTE: If your normal way of giving to Lamlash church is by Direct Debit or by Standing Order, then these methods will continue as usual.
How you can donate
Whether you are a church member who wants to continue to give your regular offering to your own congregation or a friend to the Church who is moved to contribute for the good of your community, we want to help you support the Church in whichever way you feel led. You can choose to give a one-off donation or donate every month.
You can opt to direct your gift to a specific congregation or contribute to the general funds of the Church for use wherever the need is greatest.
By clicking the ‘donate’ button below, you will:
- Choose where you wish to donate to
- Opt in to gift aid (applicable to UK taxpayers only)
- Complete your donation via PayPal (automatic)
Summer Newsletter 2020
It’s time for our summer newsletter!
Our coffee mornings are not running because of Covid-19, so we’ve added a bonus recipe book to this summer’s newsletter, with recipes submitted by members of our congregation.
If you make one of the recipes, send us a photo and we’ll put it on our Twitter!
Intimations for 15 December 2019
Welcome to all visitors, and to our Family Nativity. We hope you enjoy your time with us, and please take Please take our good wishes back to your own congregation on your return home. May each one of us know God’s blessing as we worship together. We are very pleased to welcome Mrs Aileen Brookens to lead our worship.
Freewill Offering Envelopes are available today. Anyone who wishes to join this way of giving to the church, or wants more information, please speak to Ian Watt. Also, if anyone wishes to enhance their giving by registering for Giftaid, which adds 25% from the Government, they should speak to Ian. The cash collection in the plate on Sundays automatically qualifies for Giftaid.
The Memory Tree is here for anyone to hang a card in memory of those you love who are no longer with us. Take a card, write a name or a message and hang it on the tree or place it in the offering plate and we will hang it up for you. May you find God’s comfort and peace at this special time.
Our Candlelit Christmas Eve Service will be held at 10 pm Monday 24 December. We hope that as many as possible can come along and share in celebrating this momentous event in the Christian Year.
There is no Service on Christmas Day. Normal service will be resumed on Sunday 29 December.
Prayer Requests: Please put any prayer requests in the box in the Vestibule, and they will be prayed over, in strict confidence.
Faith Development Group: There is no meeting on 17th December. It will resume in January.
Hymns and Readings
These are on a separate sheet, along with
Hymn 279 Make way, make way
Offering Hymn 316 Love came down at Christmas
Hymn 320 Joy to the world
A Word from the Manse
Here is our minister Lily’s news from the Manse for the Christmas season.
Intimations for 17 November 2019
Welcome to all visitors. We hope you enjoy your time with us, and please take Please take our good wishes back to your own congregation on your return home. May each one of us know God’s blessing as we worship together. We are very pleased to welcome Rev. Dr Ian MacLeod to lead our worship.
The Communion which would have been on 1 December has had to be rescheduled for 22 December, The reason is that Ian Macleod is the only ordained Minister available, and only on 22nd.
Prayer Requests
Please put any prayer requests in the box in the Vestibule, and they will be prayed over, in strict confidence.
Advance notice
Arran Churches Together are having a St Andrew’s night celebration on Thursday 28 November in our own Church and hall. There will be a time of worship together at 6.30 followed by a family Ceilidh 7pm in the church hall. Everyone welcome. Since we are the host church, it would be good if as many as possible can come to the church service and/or the ceilidh. A light supper will be provided. We are looking for a volunteer to help at the church door at 6.30.
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards are available to purchase from Alison until mid November at £5 per pack of 10 cards. There are 3 lovely designs to choose from. Cards can be purchased on line but buying locally will save you additional postage costs.
*School + Food = Hope *
The Faith Development Group meets on 19 November at 2pm on at Pearl’s House (68 Murray Cresc.) All are every welcome to join us.
Prayer Meeting
Arran Churches Together Prayer meeting is on 21 November at 2.30pm in St Margaret’s Church. You will be made most welcome.
Today’s Readings
Isaiah 26; 1 – 4
Philippians 4; 4 – 9
Matthew 6; 24 – 34
Read by Vivienne Haigh
Intimations for 10 November 2019
Welcome to all visitors and to our Remembrance Sunday service. We hope you enjoy your time with us and please take please take our good wishes back to your own congregation on your return home. May each one of us know God’s blessing as we worship together. We are very pleased to welcome Mrs Sharon MacLeod to lead our worship.
There will be a Retiring Collection today for Poppy Scotland.
We are pleased to say that Lily is embarking on a phased return to work.
The Communion which would have been on 1 December has had to be rescheduled for 22 December, The reason is that Ian Macleod is the only ordained Minister available, and only on 22nd.
Prayer Requests
Please put any prayer requests in the box in the Vestibule, and they will be prayed over, in strict confidence.
The Guild meets this Tuesday (12/11) at 2pm in the church hall. The speaker is Margaret Wright, on her visit to Mozambique on behalf of Save the Children. All are most welcome.
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards are available to purchase from Alison until mid November at £5 per pack of 10 cards. There are 3 lovely designs to choose from. Cards can be purchased on line but buying locally will save you additional postage costs.
School + Food = Hope
Messy Church meets on Thursday 14 November from 3pm. This is for children and families, and all are most welcome.
Today’s Readings
Micah 4; 1 – 5 Matthew 5: 1-12
Ready by Maureen Oakes
Intimations for 3 November 2019
Welcome to all visitors and to our celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism to welcome Amelie Lauren Fergusson to the Church Family. We hope you enjoy your time with us, and please take our good wishes back to your own congregation on your return home. May each one of us know God’s blessing as we worship together. We are very pleased to welcome Rev. Dr Ian MacLeod to lead our worship.
There will be a Coffee Morning in the church hall (behind the church) on Wednesday from 10-15 to 12 noon. All are welcome to come along for a cuppa and a chat with friends old and new. There will be the usual stalls.
Prayer Requests: Please put any prayer requests in the box in the Vestibule, and they will be prayed over, in strict confidence.
The Faith Development Group meets on 5th November at 2pm on at Pearl’s House (68 Murray Cresc.) All are every welcome to join us.
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards
Mary’s Meals Christmas Cards are available to purchase from Alison until mid November at £5 per pack of 10 cards. There are 3 lovely designs to choose from. Cards can be purchased on line but buying locally will save you additional postage costs.
School + Food = Hope
Today’s Readings: Hebrews 11; 32 – 39
Hebrews 12; 1 – 2
Revelation 7; 9 – 17
Ready by Jack Paterson
Today’s Praise:
137 All things bright and beautiful
530 One more step
740 For all the saints
739 The Church’s one foundation
511 Your hand O God has guided
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