November 2025

Dear Friends,                                                             Lybster Manse in late October

As I type we are not quite at the end of October, but with the clocks going back last weekend, suddenly the darkness is falling so early. So,  what has been happening and is to come? Our Harvest Thanksgiving services in both Argyle Square and Lybster brought an enormous amount of food for the Food Bank – they were SO grateful when it was all delivered, so enormous thanks to all who contributed.

Then on the second Sunday of each month ECCoS leads a short afternoon service in Pulteneyhouse Care Home at 3pm and I just thought I’d tell you so that if ever you want to join us, know that you would be very welcome; the residents love to have visitors.  Last month we made it a harvest service and I had an enormous basket of various fruits and vegetables and as we talked about what was in the basket, I was delightedly amazed at how many of the residents remembered growing their own vegetables when they were younger. Maybe that’s something we could all get back to with just a little effort.  There is nothing tastier than something edible straight from the garden! God provides for us abundantly, doesn’t He?

In the middle of October we had a delightful visit from Suresh and Roja, our mission partners from India.  They told us all about the amazing work that is being done with all ages at their mission, from care for abandoned babies right up to the very elderly. Our charity table in December will be for funds for their India Village Ministries (IVM). Then we have a monthly service in Watten hall also and this month it will be on 23rd November at 3pm – you are all welcome to join us.

The Wednesday walking group (meet at 2pm) has started again for a few weeks, and actually as long as it’s not raining there are some lovely walks to take and enjoy around the town. By the time you read this, news will have no doubt reached you that we have a ‘sole nominee’ for the post of minister in ECCoS. Rev Cleopas Takavada has been invited to preach to you all, on Sunday 30th November He will lead worship in Dunbeath hall at 10am and then in Argyle Square at 11.30am. After each service anyone whose name is on the parish electoral register of ECCoS as a member or an adherent will be invited to vote for or against Cleopas being your minister. Please attend if at all possible.

Blessings as always,

 Linda B ( lnterim Moderator & locum in ECCoS )

Weekly Prayer Opportunities in Argyle Square Church – come and join at ANY time . . . . .

–Wednesday morning – 9.45 – 10.15am . . . then coffee

–Sunday morning at 11am for 15 minutes before worship

–Wednesday evening at the end of Growing Together.

Donating to your Church

You can, any time, give money for the ongoing work of our Church

Account  Name – East Caithness Church of Scotland

Bank details: Bank of Scotland, Wick

Sort Code – 80-09-96                        A/C number   00704587

Or we have Gift Aid envelopes if you are a tax payer. The work of the Church goes everywhere; we have missionaries overseas,  homes and projects in Scotland; every penny counts, so  ‘thanks’

East Caithness Church of Scotland  Nominating Committee

We have been very privileged to have received a few applications for our vacancy and I’m pleased to let you know that we have just concluded all of the necessary interviews for the vacancy in ECCoS and have selected a sole nominee, Rev Cleopas Takavada,  who  will come and preach to the whole congregation on Sunday 30th November. You will then be invited to cast your vote  for or against Cleopas. It has been a busy time for the team, travelling all over the Highlands to hear prospective candidates and also holding follow-up meetings. It’s also good to note that we now have a new website for East Caithness Church of Scotland – if you want to look there you can see how we advertised ourselves while looking for a new minister!  Thank you for remembering us in your prayers especially as there is still a bit to do before your new minister is actually in post. Paul asks the young church in Rome a very pertinent question about knowing the right person when he says, ‘How then, can they call upon the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ (Romans 10 v 14&15). It’s another clear message that we all need to work together in unity as we continue to build up our Church and congregation here in East Caithness.

Richard Munro ( Convenor of ECCoS Nominating Team)

SOLAS conference on Confident Christianity

We would really love you to support the Confident Christianity conference which is being run in the Baptist Church on Saturday 22nd November from 10am – 1.30pm. It’s being run by SOLAS CPC and is all about being confident in sharing the Christian message with those who have never heard, or if they have heard, have decided that it’s not for them. The whole point of this short conference is to be encouraging in communicating the Gospel to the unchurched. The event is free so please just come along and learn about sharing. Doors open and coffee is at 9.30am

November ‘Giving ‘ month

This month all the donations from the wee table in the foyer of Argyle Square church will actually be for our own home congregation as November has been traditionally your ‘giving month’ but this year your money will go specifically to the funds for our new community and church minibus.  It’s ordered, but it might be a few months before it actually arrives,  however it’s good to know just where your money is going!  You were SO generous last month giving to Blythswood both in filled shoe boxes and in financial donations to help with the transport of the boxes – well done as always!

ECCoS Referral Point for Caithness Food bank

It’s good for you to know that we are now officially a referral point for Caithness food bank, so that if anyone comes to the church and is in need of support with a food package, we have a box ready to give to them.  It’s in the Argyle Square vestry and there simply is a little form to fill in with the details of the recipient.

Remembrance Service – Sunday 9th November – 11.30am

On Sunday 9th November the Wick Community Remembrance service will be in Argyle Square at 11.30am and everyone is welcome to come and share with the British Legion and others involved. There are various short services taking place at memorials around the district – see the notice sheet. There will be a retiring offering for the British Legion.

Film Night – Sunday 16th November at 6.30pm -‘Molokai’

The story of Father Damian and his work in the Leper Colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai some years ago. One commentator said, ‘Father Damien was one who embodied the love of Christ like few others have done. He climbed the cross which few dared.’  Damian was so moved by the plight of these people that he went above and beyond to make their life more bearable.  Come and watch this captivating movie  with us in Argyle Square church. No charge and bring friends.

Christmas Lunch?? Thoughts and ideas please!   It has been suggested that there might be quite a number of people in the community who are on their own at Christmas and so would appreciate the offer of having Christmas lunch with others in the church hall in Argyle Square on Christmas Day, after the service. What do you think? It’s easy to arrange. If you are in favour could you PLEASE let us know. Speak to an elder or the minister if you would like to join in or help and it can be arranged, no bother.

Remember your God both sees and cares about you. Give thanks that He is Involved in every detail of your life.

*East Caithness Church of Scotland (ECCOS)*

       Lybster and Dunbeath weekly  activities – November 2025

Sunday  2nd November – Service in Lybster Church        11am

Sunday           9th November – Remembrance services

                        Dunbeath  War Memorial  10am

                        Clyth War Memorial  10am

                        Latheron War Memorial       11am

                        Lybster War memorial         11am followed by

                                    worship in Lybster Church

                        Berriedale War memorial     15.00

Sunday 16th November – Service in Dunbeath Hall     11am

Sunday 23rd November –  Service in  Lybster Church 11am

Sunday 30th November – Service in Dunbeath Hall            11am

 Rev Cleopas Takavada will lead worship as Sole Nominee

Lybster Church is available for baptisms, weddings and funerals

**Please ask**

In Lybster Church Hall during November the following continues

             – All are welcome to join where they wish –

Monday – 7.30-8.30pm  – JABOS (Just A Bunch Of Singers)

    In Lybster Church all are welcome to come and sing

Tuesday 1-3pm            Biscuits and Blether in Lybster Church hall

                                                sit and chat over a cuppa

Wednesday  2-4pm   Knit and Natter in Lybster church hall

            Enjoy company as you knit and sew – refreshments too

Friday Club                6.30-7.30pm in Lybster Church hall

  Games, Bible stories, songs and fun

                                    All primary age children welcome

Sunday Club in Lybster Church hall 7 – 8.30pm – Primary 7 upwards

Explore your thoughts, talk and share.   (Games and snacks too!)

*ECCOS – Argyle Square Church, Wick*                                        

Calendar of Activities for November 2025

Sunday worship at 11.30am – tea/coffee beforehand from 10.45

     Prayer before worship from 11-11.15am – just pop in!

Sunday 9th November – Remembrance Service at 11.30am

Sunday evening worship – at 6.30pm

9th and 23rd November – in Argyle Square

2nd and 16th November- In Baptist Church in Dempster Street

Sunday 23rd November – service in Watten Hall at 3pm

***Sunday 30th November – 11.30am in Argyle Square

  * * * *Rev Cleopas Takavada will preach as Sole Nominee* * *

Last Sunday 6.30pm  – Cafe Church in old hall

Discussion over coffee. Drop in and join us in the old hall.

November topic is ‘What does Christmas mean to you?

Each week day:-

Tuesday – 7-9pm in upstairs lounge –  Forge continues and all men welcome every week

Wednesday 10am-12noon – coffee club in church café

Wednesday prayer – 9.45 – 10.15am – pray for our way forward

Wednesday  7-9pm – ‘Growing Together’ bible study and prayer in upstairs lounge.  We are looking at the book of Revelation – challenging but VERY interesting. Come and join us. No question is too obscure!!

Thursday  3.30-5pm – Super Club for primary age children  –

Friday 2-4pm – Knit and Natter in upstairs lounge – refreshments!

This Month:-

Sunday 9th Nov.. – Service in Pulteneyhouse Care home at 3pm

Tuesday 11th November — Caithness Guild meets at 2.30pm with the guest speaker Doreen Leith, on ‘Wick Voices’ – this is an OPEN meeting and all are welcome

Sunday 16th November – Film Night in Church – ‘Molokai’

‘Molokai’ is about the life of Father Damian on a Hawaiian island

Saturday 22nd November – SOLAS Confident Christianity Conference in Wick Baptist Church from 9.30am – 1.30pm

Thursday 27th November – Kirk Session meets at 7pm

East Caithness Church of Scotland in Argyle Square  

Prayer Card for November 2025

Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes 3 v 9 – 14

‘What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on his people. He has made everything beautiful in its time and He has also set eternity in the hearts of everyone: yet they cannot fathom what God has done, from beginning to end. I know there is nothing better for humanity that to be happy and do good while they live; so that everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is God’s gift. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that all people will revere Him. Our Father God is our refuge and strength; He is majestic and loving.’

Pray for our Church and Congregation

: Pray God will meet our minister Linda’s needs and she will be blessed.

: Thank God for Rob, for all the good work he is doing and remember Tiff, Tristan and Jaden in prayer.

: Thank the Lord for the Super Club; pray for the leaders and children.

: Pray for our service on Remembrance Sunday

: Thank God for all the shoe boxes and pray for Blythswood, for their safety travelling abroad and for all the families they meet.

: Pray for our families, our friends and our neighbours.

: Pray for the sick, at home or in hospital; pray for all the lost souls, for the bereaved and for those with special needs.

: Give thanks for ‘gift month’ for our Church – all thro’ November

: Pray for the Nominating Committee searching for our new minister.

: Pray for the Kirk Session meetings and for our Charity table.

Pray for our Community

: Pray for all the NHS, the Medical centres, our community nurses and for all the helpers who go into peoples’ homes every day.

: Remember the care homes, their residents and all the staff.

: Remember our neighbours near and far

Pray for God’s Wider World

: Pray for King Charles’ health

: Pray for all the countries at war that there will be peace in our time.

: Pray for those living in refugee camps

: Pray for all the corrupt local authorities abroad and pray for all the bonded labourers trapped by masters of the brick factories

: Pray for the gospel workers who minister to the families

: Pray for Christians in Pakistan, orphans in Afghanistan, for Christians in war torn Syria and displaced Christians in Myanmar – these are all Muslim countries and Christians are being persecuted or displaced from their homes and churches, or forced to leave the country.

: Pray for protection worldwide from all acts of terrorism.

: Give thanks for Suresh, Roja and family,  for their visit last month and for IVM

: Give thanks for all the Good News that God is at work with young people of many nationalities and people groups.  They are sharing their stories of the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. There may be much darkness yet, the light is breaking thro’ as Jesus is proclaimed by Gospel hearted ambassadors

: Pray for boldness for Church Leaders,  that they will remain true to the Gospel’s teaching and that many will experience the work of the Holy Spirit