Dear Friends,

Welcome to spring! Some sunny days, and lighter mornings and longer evenings. All this makes me realise that the seasons keep coming around. God is faithful in His promises of providing for the needs of His people year after year. And I had three things on my list for prayer with regard to the wider parish; so far God has answered two of them. We now have permission to search for your new permanent minister, and things will begin in earnest after Easter, when we shall go thro’ the process of electing a Nominating Committee. That group will formulate your parish profile and then advertise the post up here in ECCOS… and then they will meet and interview whoever applies to come here… and then they will choose the very best person for you. It’s SO exciting to begin the search for the person – or persons – whom I know God has already chosen. We just need to get on His wave length and pray for discernment. Your task right now is to think prayerfully about who would be good on the ‘Nom Com’ and then make sure they are willing to at least be nominated and that they know what qualities are needed in your minister – 1st prayer!

It’s wonderful to have Rob Petersen, our outreach worker, back in harness and feeling positive about the future. His family are in good health and Tristan gets stronger every day – 2nd Prayer! Rob has restarted the ‘Forge’ meetings for men on a Tuesday evening so, gentlemen, know that you are welcome every week – men sharing together? Amazing!

We welcomed two more new members into the congregation at the beginning of February, Anne Marie Simpson and Elaine Sutherland; if any of you would like to explore membership for yourselves, just get in touch with Linda, the locum who is always willing to share and listen.

We are coming up to the season of Lent, that time leading up to Easter, when Jesus took himself off into the desert to pray about his ministry which was about to begin. Prayer is SO important in all our lives and strengthens, not just the praying person, but all those situations being prayed for. You can join in prayers each Sunday before worship at 11am, and your presence makes a BIG difference, so do come and sit in any time. Jesus said that we ought to ‘pray in times of trouble, pray in times of happiness, pray for others.’ That’s just about all the time! See how often you can quietly pray during the days leading up to Easter, then note the difference it makes to you and others. Blessings as you go!

Linda Broadley (locum minister for ECCOS)
07867 795792 — lindabroadley@btinternet.com

Donating to your Church

Account Name

East Caithness Church of Scotland

Bank

Bank of Scotland, Wick

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”.

Spring is in the air!

After what seems to have been a long hard winter, the signs of spring are beginning to appear… (1 Corinthians 3v6-9)

Rev Heather Stewart (locum minister in Latheron)

A word from Rob Petersen, our Outreach Worker

Hello ‘ECCoS’, it is a joy to be back to work! … Romans 8:18 “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.”

Rob (Outreach worker for ECCoS)

The end of an era…

On Sunday 16th February Rev Heather Stewart conducted the service of closure in Dunbeath Ross church… However our prayer is that the rich heritage of service and worship will echo long in the community.

Andrew Martin (deputy Session Clerk for ECCOS)

He cares for us

We are now two months into the new year… “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)…

Iain Maclean (Session Clerk for ECCOS)

Cafe Church

Starts on Sunday 27th March at 6.30pm in the old hall in Argyle Square church. You could say it’s a ‘different way’ of being Church… The first evening is on the theme, “Giving up something for the good of another.” Everyone is welcome!

ECCOS — Lybster and Dunbeath weekly activities – March 2025

• Sunday 2nd March – Service in Dunbeath Village Hall 11am
• Sunday 9th March – morning service in Lybster 11am
• Sunday 16th March – Service in Dunbeath Village Hall 11am
• Sunday 23rd March – morning service in Lybster 11am
• Sunday 30th March – Service in Dunbeath Village Hall 11am

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

Weekly events:

• Monday 7.30–8.30pm — Just a Bunch of Singers (JABOS)
• Tuesday 1–3pm — Biscuits and Blether
• Wednesday 2–4pm — Knit and Natter
• Friday 6.30–7.30pm — Friday Club (primary age)
• Sunday 9th & 23rd March 7–8.30pm — Sunday Club (youth)

Thursday 20th March 7pm – ECCOS Kirk Session meets in Argyle Square old hall.

Looking ahead to Holy Week and Easter:

• Thursday 17th April — Passover shared meal in ECCOS Argyle Square at 7pm
• Friday 18th April 3pm — Good Friday service in Lybster Church
• Sunday 20th April — Easter services in both Churches as usual

ECCOS — Argyle Square Church, Wick — Calendar of Activities for March

Sunday worship at 11.30am – tea/coffee beforehand from 10.45. Prayer before worship 11–11.15am.

Sunday evening worship every 2nd Sunday at 6.30pm – tea after (alternate Sundays in Baptist Church).

Weekly activities:

• Tuesday 7–9pm — The ‘Forge’ (men)
• Wednesday 10am–12noon — Coffee club
• Wednesday 7–9pm — Growing Together Bible study
• Thursday 3.30–5pm — Super Club (children)
• Friday 2–4pm — Knit and Natter

This Month:

• Sunday 2nd March — Pentland Brass Band accompanying worship, followed by fellowship lunch
• Friday 7th March — World Day of Prayer service (theme: “I made you wonderful”)
• Sunday 9th March — Service in Pulteneyhouse Care Home, 3pm
• Tuesday 11th March — Guild meets, 2.30pm (“Silly McB” the Christian Clown)
• Thursday 20th March — ECCOS Kirk Session, 7pm
• Sunday 30th March — Cafe Church, 6.30pm (theme: “Giving up something for the good of another”)