Dear Friends,

I’m really excited this month as we have some new contributors to our wee newsletter. Now we are officially one parish of ECCOS, from Wick all the way down to Borrowdale with just two church buildings in Lybster and in Argyle Square; that is sadly after Dunbeath holds its final service on 16th February. In both places there will almost always be a weekly Sunday service. We have one Kirk Session which makes all sorts of decisions to keep the Church in ECCOS working efficiently and in touch with all the members, so that as many people as possible can continue to learn about Jesus and develop a relationship with Him – this is of course the Church’s mission.

As church members, you can at any time, get in touch with the office bearers, and make your request, if there is some way in which you think we can improve our mission. Then we shall do all that we can to make your Church more effective and efficient for the Lord. But you can help right now! If you have an e-mail and have not yet told us – or just me – what your e-mail is, then please do so by sending it to me at lindabroadley@btinternet.com.

Remember in Wick we have our monthly fund-raising charity and this month we are helping the Royal British Legion which supports veteran service men in all sorts of ways, so if you are passing, drop into the church in Argyle Square and pop something in the box as you take a jar of delicious preserves. And thank you! Last month you helped Scripture Union by raising around £500 which will enable a few youngsters to go to summer camp – another thank you for helping to “light up Scotland, one young life at a time!” Soon we shall be permitted to search for a new minister for ECCOS which is the most exciting news. A “team” will be elected from among the members to prayerfully decide what sort of person would best suit our parish and then begin the search for him or her!

So, many blessings to you all as you pray about our way forward.

Linda Broadley (locum minister for ECCOS – Argyle Square)

Renewed Vigour mixed with Wisdom and Realism

I have been asked to put a bit in the newsletter about the goings on at the “cheuchter” end of the parish – us down the coast. I’m hopeful for our union in 2025. The first Kirk Session was warm and constructive and decisions were made with gentleness and grace. The service of Union was forward looking and positive – and the refreshments? – delicious!

We must seek to carry forward the good things; the witness that our old congregations did and that our communities valued. Down here we are sad to close Dunbeath church, a grief shared with our brothers and sisters in Watten and St Fergus. The Session agree that, if we can find a suitable venue, we could continue services in Dunbeath village. And yet, we have to be realistic; our congregation is getting older. We long to see young families and teenagers, in our worship with us. We pray for that but until they come we need to use our resources wisely.

Can the union be a jumping off point for renewed vigour? Can folks who had to serve in administration now be released for Mission? May we accept that some things might have had their season and seek to reinforce success? I pray that we do so.

Andrew Martin (Deputy Session Clerk for ECCOS, based in Lybster)

Donating to your Church

You can, at any time, give money for the ongoing work of East Caithness Church of Scotland via our bank account. In the short term the bank details remain the same:

Account name

Pulteneytown and Thrumster Church

Bank

Bank of Scotland

Sort Code

80-09-96

Account number

00704587

Or we have Gift Aid envelopes in the church if you are a tax payer. The work of the Church goes far beyond Caithness; we have missionaries overseas and many homes and projects in Scotland; every penny counts, so again “thanks”.

Note: these are the bank details which will be used going forward so it doesn’t matter which part of the parish you are in. But the name of the account will change soon!

Prayer for today

Lord, I pray that I might finish this day wiser and kinder than I was when the day began. Amen

Where do we go from here?

This is a question many of us in our new congregation may have been asking over the past few weeks. But, while it may feel like a new question, it’s one that has been asked throughout the ages. One of those who likely wrestled with this question was Joshua, as he looked ahead to the daunting task of leading the Israelites into Canaan and helping them settle there. Faced with uncertainty he was told to be “courageous and strong” but that was not a call to act on his own terms. Instead, Joshua was reminded to return to God’s Word, to study it, to meditate on it, and live by it. If he did so God promised to be with him wherever he went. That same counsel applies to us today.

As we navigate this new chapter of Church life we are called to:

• Be courageous and strong as we step into this new way of being a Church.
• Continue to gather together to study and reflect on God’s Word.
• Take time to listen to what it says to us in our current situation.
• Go out and put that Word into action, obeying what we hear.

By doing all this we can move forward with confidence, knowing that God will be with us every step of the way in this new venture.

Iain Maclean (Session Clerk in ECCOS, Argyle Square, Wick)

Men’s group

Good news that hopefully the men’s group will restart later this month with Rob, our outreach worker, leading and meeting as it did before, on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in the Argyle Square hall for games. Then upstairs for refreshments and conversation around God’s Word. And as always, ALL men are welcome.

World Day of Prayer — Friday March 7th, Argyle Square

In 1910 more than 400 women met for the World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, and there, bringing together their experience and wisdom developed over years of ecumenical partnership in many countries, the vision for a World Day of Prayer was born. Today the WDP is an ecumenical prayer movement bringing together millions of people from over 100 countries to pray and worship together.

Come and share with us in this year’s WDP celebration — Friday March 7th in Argyle Square (Wick) at 2pm.

UNITY – The Way Ahead

I wonder what our picture of unity within the Church is? If we are honest, we have to admit that Church History is laced with friction and dissension leading to fractured relationships within the fellowship of the Church. What does it mean to be a United Church?

In Romans 15:5, Paul writes, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

One heart? One mouth? How is this even possible? We get caught up in our differences and refuse to move out of our comfort zones.

The basis for our unity with other believers does not depend on how we think or feel about others but rather depends firstly on our unity with Christ. It is through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that we are made one with the Father just as He was made one with Christ. This holy union is the basis for all other relationships.

A unified church brings glory to Jesus, and when Jesus is glorified, the world will sit up and take notice. There are a thousand ways to splinter a church and only One Way to bring it together again. We don’t have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand, but we must be walking the same path and headed in the same direction guided by Jesus.

Rev Heather Stewart (Locum Minister for ECCOS – Latheron)

East Caithness Church of Scotland (ECCOS) — Lybster and Dunbeath weekly activities

• Sunday 2nd February – morning service in Dunbeath 11am
• Sunday 9th February – morning service in Lybster 11am
• Sunday 16th February – morning service in Dunbeath 11am (last service in “Dunbeath Ross Church” building)
• Sunday 23rd February – morning service in Lybster 11am

Lybster Church is available for baptisms, weddings and funerals — Please ask.

In Lybster Church and Hall every week the following events take place (all welcome):

• Monday 7.30–8.30pm — Just a Bunch of Singers (JABOS)
• Tuesday 1–3pm — Biscuits and Blether in Church hall
• Wednesday 2–4pm — Knit and Natter in Church hall
• Friday 6.30–7.30pm — Friday Club