The magazine for the linked congregations and community of the

West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

The Link

Rev David A Albon BA MCS 01506 870460

The Manse, 27 Learmonth Crescent

West Calder EH55 8AF

theminister@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

West Kirk Session Clerk Stewart MacRae 01506 872486 23 Westmuir Road West Calder EH55 8EX sessionclerk@westkirkofcalder.co.uk Treasurer William Calder 01506 871281 25 Harburn Road West Calder EH55 8AJ treasurer@westkirkofcalder.co.uk

Polbeth Harwood Session Clerk Marian Kinsman 01506 871125 12 Langside Crescent Polbeth EH55 8UW sessionclerk@polbethharwood.co.uk Treasurer Tom Griffin 01506 438038 60 Easter Bankton Murieston Livingston EH54 9BE treasurer@polbethharwood.co.uk

News Editor

Colin Dempster 01506 414565

140 Staunton Rise

Dedridge West Livingston EH54 6PA

thelinkeditor@west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

www.west-kirk-polbeth-harwood.co.uk

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Issue 7 April 2006

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A Word From Our Minister The Manse 27 Learmonth Crescent West Calder EH55 8AF Saturday, 25 March 2006 Dear Friends, At the time of writing we have three weeks until Easter and there are a number of things I want to tell you about. This Easter, the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic and United Free Church of Scotland Churches in our villages are working together in a number of ways. We are producing and will be distributing a leaflet with the details of all our Holy Week and Easter Services to the homes within our parishes. This enables the folks from the various churches to know what is going on in each other’s Churches and also communicates something very important regarding our unity in Christ to the wider community. We are also working together in planning an early morning celebration of Easter – 7.00 am! – at the Auld Kirkyard in West Calder. So if you are up with the Larks, do join us for a short service to celebrate our risen Lord Jesus Christ. There is plenty going on in our own Churches too. The West Kirk will be open on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of Holy Week for prayer and reflection as in previous years. I am preparing some materials that people can use when they come and there will be a short reflection or prayer each evening. On Holy Thursday, there will be the Potluck meal with Communion at Polbeth Harwood. There is a service at the West Kirk on Good Friday and all age worship in both Churches on Easter Sunday. See the list of services for all the details and times. In the mean time, how are you getting on with this year’s Lent Challenge? If you have found it helpful, or if it has raised any questions, please let me know. Finally, best wishes for the rest of Lent and a very Happy Easter!

Rev David A Albon Minister of the Parish Churches of the West Kirk of Calder and Polbeth Harwood

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Issue 7 April 2006

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The Church Family (Parish Record)

West Kirk

Polbeth Harwood

Baptisms 19th March Baillie Ellie Susan McAdam, Brisbane Street, Craigshill

Funerals 22nd February John ‘Jock’ Chapman, Polbeth Gardens 15th March Finlay Carmylie, Clement Rise, Dedridge

Worship in the Linked Congregations Sunday Morning Worship will take place in the West Kirk at 9.30 am and in Polbeth Harwood at 11.15 am unless stated otherwise. Special services are as follows: 2nd April Passion Sunday 9th April Palm Sunday

Holy Week Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th April West Kirk open for prayer and reflection: 6.30 – 7.30 pm Thursday 13th April United Potluck Meal and Communion at Polbeth Harwood – 7 pm Friday 14th April Good Friday United Service at the West Kirk – 7 pm Sunday 16th April – Easter Sunday Ecumenical Celebration of Easter in the Auld Kirkyard, West Calder – 7 am All Age Worship – West Kirk – 9.30 am All Age Worship – Polbeth Harwood – 11.15 am

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Issue 7 April 2006

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Reflections But the Lord said, “Martha, Martha, you are fretting and fussing about so many things; only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best; it shall not be taken away

from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 The telephone rings; the visit is planned. The friends are arriving soon and the welcome will be warm. Then panic sets in. Lethargic winter has left signs of household neglect: books in this corner, magazines in that, untidy cupboards and drawers, dusty furniture, muddy footprints. A frantic fluster of activity! There is food to buy, meals to prepare, cleaning to do; and time is short. Feathers are ruffled over who does what and the friction spoils the happy purpose of the visit. (The better half does not like dusting either). Still, out come the dusters and the rubber gloves, the cleaners for mirrors and pictures. Ornaments are rearranged and flowers put into vases. Isn’t it so easy to identify with Martha in Luke’s Gospel.

As the dull spring-cleaning proceeds, the energy gradually flags; the pace slows; enthusiasm wanes and distractions abound. The Word for Today rises to the top of the pile. Sit down, flick it open and you find, ”Do not ask God to bless your plans, ask Him to show you His; they are already blessed.” Next, the quarterly magazine, Grace appears with the lovely Jewish blessing: “May joy dwell within these walls, and joy shine from its windows, may His peace protect it, and His presence never leave it.” The Scriptures publication, In Times of Worry, reappears after nine years. Its peaceful scenes enhance the readings: “God gives

strength to the weary … those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Its handwritten message from a dear Christian friend reads: “Take comfort in the promises contained in these pages for they are the eternal word of God and will be fulfilled for you as they were for me”. The drawers reveal a motley collection of inspirational cards which restore the spirit: “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark”; “Deep peace of the running wave to you”; “Life is only for love, time is only that we may find God.” And thus the ever-boring housework is abandoned to the greater pleasure of reading these lovely little gifts from kind friends. Isn’t it much easier to identify with Mary, who was content to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening intently to his teaching and annointing his feet with oil. It may well appear to those who know that I have never been a Martha, addicted to housework or to cooking, that I am irreverently using the lovely Gospel story to excuse my lazy habits. Well – yes, you are right! But if Spring cleaning is a necessary evil for you, too, feel free to relax with a nice cup of tea and the company of beautiful books of inspiration. Let Mary’s priorities be yours. Choose ‘what is best.’ As the great festival of Palm Sunday draws near, and as much loved friends arrive for Easter holidays, it is good to forget the mundane cares, the winter weather, the long, weary nights, the colds and flu; and to enjoy the Spring with all its promise of new life, all its renewed spirit, renewed strength and faith in the future.

Ann

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Issue 7 April 2006

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West Kirk Guild Report On 20th February, the Guild welcomed a local member of the police force as our speaker. Since West Calder is such a law-abiding village with very little crime, the subject was changed from crime prevention to drugs misuse. This proved to be most interesting. It was good to know that this area produces few house breaking or other offences.

On 6th March, Eric Creaney showed us slides of his recent trip with the charity ‘Street Child Africa’. Street children spend their lives on the streets in absolute poverty with little hope of achieving anything except, with luck, survival. Funds raised help to feed, clothe and look after the babies, children and their mothers.

The Guild session is fast drawing to a close. We look forward to our theatre trip to see the musical Mamma Mia and our summer outing to Durisdeer, then Moffat with high tea in Abington on 20th May.

Jill Murray (Joint Secretary)

West Kirk Fundraising Group Report The March Candy Bar was a great success, raising £711. Many thanks to the Youth Link and friends who helped make this possible. The April Candy Bar, staffed by the Guild will have passed by the time you read this. It will be followed by the May event on Saturday 6th May, staffed by the choir. As ever, all donations will be most welcome. The sponsored “Knit-In” saw a gathering of over 30 ladies, engrossed in knitting as fast as possible helped along by Bill Russell on the piano. George Stott, assisted by Pearl Reid, supplied a much-needed ‘cuppa’ after the first hour. After the second hour, the knitting was measured and the winner announced. The winner was Joan Philips from Polbeth Harwood, who managed 17”. She was rewarded with a beautiful floral gift. Well done, Joan!

The strips will be sewn together to make blankets for Oxfam. For many families, their Oxfam blanket is the only piece of ‘equipment’ they possess. The blankets are used for everything: carrying babies; collecting firewood; and as a shade for the family’s tiny shelter. The total raised will be announced in the May issue of The Link. Thank you to all who helped to make the evening so enjoyable and successful. Your support is much appreciated as we raise funds to help with the redecoration of the church.

Jill Murray (Convener)

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Issue 7 April 2006

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Easter Wordsearch

D E I F I C U R C B L O O D

G E T H S E M A N E L I A N

R E S U R R E C T I O N X Z

C R O W D E I F I C U R C E

C O M M U N I O N L O R D F

Y R I S E N E K C I H C X I

Z L E N T O R N Y Y R A M L

X J U D A S N J T O M B F G

S E V I L H Y E S Y Z H O N

Z P E Z O E A S T E R A R I

X R G J C L B U N N Y P G T

D O G F O N O S I N Y P I S

R M S R H E A V E N Z Y V A

O I Y O C N X P E T E R E L

B S Z G R O L L A W A Y N R

E E L A S T S U P P E R E E

Y O J H O S A N N A Y Z S V

H I L L S I D E N I W X S E

Blood Bunny Chicken Chocolate Communion Cross Crowd Crucified Easter Eggs Everlasting Life Forgiveness FROG (Fully Rely on God) Gethsemane Happy Heaven Hillside Hosanna Jesus John Joy Judas Last Supper Lent Lives Lord Love Mary Nail No Sin Peter Promise Resurrection Risen Robe Roll Away Son of God Stone Tomb Torn Wine

One word appears twice – which one?

Rota Information

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Issue 7 April 2006

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West Kirk Crèche Rota Contact Freya Lornie 01506 870070 Note: Please check dates and arrange a substitute if necessary.

23rd April Margaret Farquhar Freya Lornie

30th April Melanie Dickson Val Occardi

7th May Rhoda Lawton Freya Lornie

14th May Olive Gibson Louise Holden

West Kirk Tea Rota Contact Olive Gibson 01506 871291 Note: Tea Makers, please bring milk.

16th April Margaret Lamb Jean Graham

23rd April May Wise Olive Gibson

30th April George & Morag Stott

7th May May Young Olive Gibson

14th May Margaret Douglas Margo McEwan

West Kirk Flower List If you would like to give flowers one week, please add your name to the list in the church vestibule.

Given Arranged Delivered

16th April Margaret Ann Smith Rosanna Rabaeijs Kathy Black

23rd April Evelyn Paterson Moira McRae

30th April Katie Albon Margaret Ann Smith

7th May Mary Graham (Crosswood) Margo McEwan &

Margaret Douglas

Ivy Johnstone

14th May Helen Sneddon Rosanna Rabaeijs Irene Grindlay

West Kirk Duty Rota

Door Duty

Car Run

16th April Richard Bryce Liz Dyer Alex Easton George Stott

23rd April Jeanette Ferguson Victor Ferguson Lorna Graham Richard Bryce

30th April Irene Grindlay Beryl Henderson Alan Jessiman Derek Burns

7th May Jim Milne Stewart Munro Alison McNaught Hugh Clarkson

14th May Christine Nicholl Evelyn Paterson Jill Murray Richard Hawes

Rota Information

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Issue 7 April 2006

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Polbeth Harwood Cleaning Rota

16th April Carol Chapman Edna Kinsman

23rd April Mary Mabbutt Frank Mabbutt

30th April Sandra Roy Marjorie Bellingham

7th May Mary Totten Pamela Parlak

14th May Esther Hamilton Patricia Erskine

Polbeth Harwood ‘Stewart Court Taxi’ Rota

16th April

23rd April Charlie Sturrock

30th April David Prentice

7th May Kenneth Mackay

14th May Margaret Marr

Polbeth Harwood Café Rota

19th April Frank Mabbutt Betty Upton Janet Walker

26th April Jimmy Greer Maisie Baird Janet Russell

3rd May Effie Halliday Grace Peace

10th May Gordon Erskine Chrissie McCormack Esther Hamilton

17th May Wilma Dickson Jenny Doyle Jessie Kelly

Polbeth Harwood Duty Rota

Door Duty

16th April Jessie Kelly Tom Kelly Anne Watson William Watson

23rd April Marian Kinsman Betty Macauley Janet Russell Allan Mercer

30th April Chrissie McCormack Esther Hamilton Moira Mushet

7th May Anna Muirhead Tom Walker Betty Upton Margaret Dempster

14th May Lilias Fairley William Fairley Jenny Doyle Janice Davidson

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Issue 7 April 2006

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Santa’s Muffins As requested by Rosanna in the February issue of The Link – the full recipe for Santa’s Muffins is provided below: The recipe provided here is for a one-litre glass jar. Place the ingredients into the jar in the order listed (starting with the flour, working downwards, finishing with the sugar). The one’s Val made were 1/2 litre jars so just use half of the ingredients for this size of jar.

300g (10oz) self raising flour 100g (4oz) pecans or walnuts 2 teaspoons baking powder 140g (5oz) tropical dried fruit medley 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 100g (4oz) light muscovado sugar 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice

Add a label with the following details to the jar:

• Tip contents into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre • Add 1 egg, 150ml (1/4 pint) milk and 50g (2oz) melted butter • Mix quickly and lightly

• Bake at 190°C/Gas 5/Fan oven 170°C for 18-20 minutes

• Use within 4 weeks

Finally, wrap and attach a spoon to the jar

Recipe by Valerie Moody, Mid Calder (Janet Mackay’s daughter’s friend)

Contributions for the next edition … Contributions for the next edition of The Link Magazine should be submitted by the first Sunday after the 15th of the month. For the May issue, this will be Sunday 16th April.

Contributions can be sent via email, or handed in person to either Rev David Albon or Colin Dempster.

Paws… for thought

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they’re not so good and sympathises with your problems when they’re not so bad.

Arnold H Glasgow Psychologist