October 2025

Dear Friends,                                                Lybster Manse in early October

What an active month September has been! Most importantly  your Nominating Team has been hard at work, the advert and the parish profile are on the Church of Scotland’s website and already we have had positive response from interested ministers. That’s as much as I can tell you at the moment, but it’s very good news to have responses so soon. However if you want to look at the ECCoS profile and advert, just google ‘Church of Scotland vacant charges’ and follow the links. You’ll find East Caithness Church of Scotland under ‘Cleir Eilean I’ presbytery. Then have a look at how some other congregations are advertising and see what you think. The Kirk Session would love to know your views!!

The Doors Open weekend was a great success I think and because we hosted a concert on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, that encouraged lots of people to come and visit Argyle Square building, many of whom had never been inside  before – that’s the point of Open Doors, to encourage people to go to places they have never been. After both the Pentland Brass concert and the Caithness hand bell ringers performances, the audience were invited to ‘have a go’ at one or more of the instruments. I was particularly impressed at how complete novices with hand bells were able to make a really beautiful sound.  We had looked out some of the communion plates and goblets which have come from other buildings that are now closed, and with a bit of ‘silvo’ and some ‘elbow grease’ they all now are on display shining magnificently!

Harvest Thanksgiving is on 5th October in Argyle Square, and like last year, we are collecting goods for the Food Bank as our harvest offering. Do bring what you can; it’s SO appreciated. In Lybster Church, Harvest will be on Monday 20th October at 7pm which means that many of us can enjoy sharing in that evening service. Then the following Sunday on 12th October we have a visit from Suresh and Roja, our partners from India Village Ministries. They will be at the evening service in Argyle Square – do come and meet them again. September activities drew to a close when the Wick Quilters held a superb exhibition of their work over the last 25 years. The intricate stitching on quilts, cushions, table runners and wall hangs delighted all who came to view. Is this something you like doing? There’s always a welcome to join them every Thursday in the old hall in Argyle Square.

As always there is much to be involved in but as long as we have, as Paul says to the church in Ephesus, ‘our roots and foundations in love so that we may understand how broad and long, how deep and high is Jesus’ love,’ (Eph4v18) then we shall not go far off the path and in time will come ‘to be completely filled with the very nature of God’ (v19) Something to aim for.          Blessings to you all

Linda Broadley (Interim Moderator for ECCOS & Locum in Argyle Square) 07867 795792 – lindabroadley@btinternet.com

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’

ECCoS charity table – Blythswood for October– Thanks for your generosity last month for the Save the Children charity work in Gaza. As usual we were able to send over £500.  I know you will join me in hoping and praying that the war will end soon, and Gaza can be rebuilt and its people educated and free. This month we are collecting money for Blythswood, as well as  filling shoe boxes. It costs a lot of money to transport the thousands of full shoe boxes to wherever they are going, so money is needed as well. Huge thanks as always. Please take a shoe box if you are in church and cover it then fill it for any age you wish. There are plenty leaflets with all the instructions. Or just bring what you can!

ECCoS Guild  – meets 2nd Tuesday in the month at 2-30pm

Our October speaker for the Guild  is Ken Crossan, the local natural history photographer. We are making this an ‘open’ meeting and invite all interested to join us. Ken is coming to speak about his latest book ’Life on the Edge’  and he will have a slide show of beautiful local scenes to accompany his talk. So anyone who would like  to hear Ken,   please come and join us in the old hall.  I believe that Ken will have some copies of his book to sell if you wish. . . .and there is always a delicious tea at the Guild!!

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.

Opportunities to help in ‘Church teams’

You know that there is lots happening in our Church every week in Argyle Square and also in Lybster. Grateful thanks to all the volunteers who already help. However there is always space for more and as the number of people helping grows, so the tasks become less arduous for everyone.  Could you help? Do you like arranging flowers? We have a rota for putting flowers in the church on Sundays; if they are put in on a Friday they last for two Sundays!! We have people delivering newsletters each month all over the town and beyond; if you could take a few for your area and pop them thro’ doors that would be wonderful. Would you like to join the team who make the coffee on a Wednesday morning? No-one has to ‘host’ more than once a month.  Do you like reading to people? We have a rota of folks who read the bible lesson each Sunday – could that be you? Do you like helping with children? If you do there are many opportunities both in Wick and Lybster and we have a Safeguarding       co-ordinator who will arrange for the necessary certificate for you to do this. And there are other areas where you can help. If you are interested in any way please get in touch with the minister, Linda and she’ll guide you (07867 795792) Or in Lybster speak to Heather.  ‘Team work makes the dream work’ as we grow our Church together.

Remembrance Sunday – forward notice

This year the town’s Remembrance service will be in Argyle Square Church on Sunday 9th November at 11.30am This will be preceded by a short service at the Wick memorial. As usual we shall include commemorating those lost on the Exmouth ship, altho’ the actual memorial is still in what was St Fergus church; but there are plans to move the memorial to somewhere permanent and more accessible. Please know that you will be welcome to join the congregation no matter where you are from.

Lybster and Dunbeath

October already! The nights are getting darker and the clocks will soon be changing. Out in the East Caithness parish of Lybster and Dunbeath it will soon be school holidays when the  Friday Club will be having a break for a couple of weeks. We shall be holding an evening Harvest Festival on 20th October in Lybster and everyone is welcome. Then on 26th October there will be a morning Harvest Service in Dunbeath Village Hall. We are thankful for everything that God provides for us. 

NOTE – clocks move back one hour on Sunday 26th October

Thought for the month . . . . .

‘’Who is like the Lord our God? He lives in the heights above but he stoops down to see the heavens and the earth!’

                                                                        Psalm 113 v5&6

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 – October 2025

Sunday  5th October – Service in Lybster Church 11am

                                    led by worship group

Sunday           12th October – service in Dunbeath  Hall   11am

                                    led by worship group

Sunday 19th October – Service in Lybster Church     11am

Monday 20th October – Evening Harvest Festival

                                                            in Lybster Church. 7pm

Sunday 26th October –  Harvest  service in  Dunbeath Hall 11am                         

Lybster Church is available for baptisms, weddings and funerals

**Please ask**

In Lybster Church Hall during October 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 returns  6.30-7.30pm in Lybster Church hall

On 3rd and 31st October.   Games, Bible stories, songs and fun

                                    All primary age children welcome

Sunday Club in Lybster Church hall – High school & primary 7 kids. Explore your thoughts, talk and share.   Games and snacks too!

*ECCOS – Argyle Square Church, Wick*                                         Calendar of Activities for October 2025

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

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

Sunday evening worship – 12th October at 6.30pm with our friends Suresh and Roja from India Village Ministries – tea after

( on alternate Sundays worship is in Baptist Church at 6.30pm)

NEW Last Sunday 6.30pm – 26th October – Cafe Church discussion over coffee on relevant topics for today.  Drop in and join us in the old hall.

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  –  watch for the date when this begins again – after school starts

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

This Month:-

Thursday 2nd October – Kirk Session meets at 7pm in New Hall

Sunday 12th Oct. – Service in Pulteneyhouse Care home at 3pm

Tuesday 14th October — Caithness Guild meets at 2.30pm with the guest speaker Ken Crossan, who has a natural history photographer – this is an OPEN meeting and all welcome

Sunday 26th October – Cafe Church at 6.30pm in the old hall – all welcome for conversation and refreshments

FORWARD NOTICE – Remembrance Sunday is 9th November and the town service will be in Argyle Square Church at 11.30am  preceded by short service at Wick memorial just before  11am

East Caithness Church of Scotland in Argyle Square  

Prayer Card for October 2025

Bible Reading – Psalm 145  – verses from 1 – 16

‘I will praise You my God and King and always honour Your name. I will praise you each day and always honour Your name. You are wonderful Lord and deserve all the praise because you are much greater than anyone can understand.  Each generation will announce to the next Your wonderful and powerful deeds.  I will keep thinking about Your marvellous glory and Your mighty miracles. Everyone will talk about Your fearsome deeds and I will tell all the nations how great You are. They will celebrate and sing about Your matchless mercy and Your power to save. You are merciful Lord! You are kind and patient and always loving. You are good to everyone and You take care of all Your creation. All creation will thank You and Your loyal people will praise You. We praise You Lord and everyone will respect Your name for ever.

Pray for our Church and Congregation

: Give thanks for Linda and for her love of Jesus, for her enthusiasm,  for her kindness and for the Lord bringing her to our Church.

: Thank God for Rob, for all the good work he does with the children; pray for health, protection and Spiritual guidance for him, Tiff, Tristan and Jaden.

: Pray that we may all be bold witnesses.

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

: Ask God to direct our steps for good.

: Pray for the sick, the lonely and the bereaved.

: Pray for all the ongoing meetings in our Church.

Pray for our Community

: Pray for all NHS staff, all surgical and medical staff.

: Remember those in prayer with mental health issues and those with special needs.

: Pray for the Council and Wick businesses

: Give thanks for all voluntary workers.

: Pray for safety and happiness for all teachers and school children on holiday.

: Remember in prayer the staff and residents in our local care homes

Pray for God’s Wider World

: Pray for protection worldwide from all acts of terrorism.

: Pray for the over crowded and brutal prison conditions for Christians. Hebrews 13v3 tells us, ‘Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering but imagine you are there with them.’

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

: Pray for all missionaries and their families.

: Give thanks for Suresh, Roja and family. Pray for their visit this month and for IVM

: Give thanks for all the Christian charities who pray and help the persecuted, the needy and provide money for food and for solar-powered bore holes which give access to clean water.  Give thanks that these charities also provide money for new church buildings and even provide equipment and live stock in rural areas.

: SPECIAL prayers this month for our nominating team who are searching for a new minister for East Caithness Church of Scotland. Give them wisdom and discernment