From Monday 26 March 2018 Presbytery Office will be situated at:

Rex House

103 Bothwell Road

Hamilton

ML3 0DW

The telephone number is also changing.

We have been given a provisional number from BT which is:

01698 269384

The email address remains the same:

hamilton@churchofscotland.org.uk

During Thursday and Friday (22 and 23 March of this week) the phones and IT equipment will be moved and there will be periods when the landline and email/internet access is unavailable.

If you are unable to contact Presbytery office by the normal methods throughout these periods and have an urgent matter you wish to discuss with the Clerk please phone him on 07918 600720.

Airdrie is clearly the place to be! Only two weeks after the Induction of the Rev. Dr Peter Donald to Airdrie: Cairnlea linked with Calderbank, the town of Airdrie was further blessed with the arrival of a new minister in the person of the Rev. Hanna Rankine, spouse of the minister of Hamilton: Hillhouse. Hanna was latterly a graduate candidate with the Presbytery and accepted the Call to Airdrie: Clarkston at the end of last year. Her Ordination and Induction took place at Airdrie: Clarkston on Tuesday 13 March 2018, and Hanna is depicted her with the Moderator, Mrs Roberta Hutton, and the Presbytery Clerk, the Rev. Dr Gordon A McCracken.

The Rev Dr Peter Donald, formerly minister of Crown Church, Inverness, was inducted to the pastoral charge of Airdrie: Cairnlea linked with Calderbank, on Tuesday 27 February 2018. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Terry Moran, Minister at South Wishaw Parish Church, and presided over by Mrs Roberta Hutton, the first such occasion of her Moderatorial year. Dr. Donald comes with a great wealth of experience both as a Parish Minister and in the higher courts and committees of the Church, and his arrival will strengthen the capacity of the Presbytery to fulfil its wide-ranging responsibilities.

Hamilton Churches have united once more to bring the Easter story to life – and this year it’s happening in the heart of the town!

Building on the success of 2017’s “Walk With Christ” where the churches took to the streets on Palm Sunday and then dramatised the Easter events throughout the week, this year sees the bold move of a full Passion Play, performed at Hamilton’s bottom cross on Easter Saturday (31^st March) at 2pm.

A Passion Play is a community event that tells the story of the final week of Jesus’ life through drama. The cast comprises around 50 people drawn from the local community and led by a professional actor in the role of Jesus.

Joint church services will take place each evening, culminating in the play, as Reverend John Carswell,of Cadzow Parish Church, explains.

“Cadzow Parish Church is delighted to host Holy Week Services this year. Beginning Sunday night 25 March at 6:30 and following Monday to Friday at 7:30 we will join together with other churches, ministers and choirs for nightly worship services leading up to Easter. A special joy this year is the preparation for the Passion Play. Each night of the week a short monologue from one of the cast will start our worship. Do join us and see characters from the bible come alive!”

This year’s production of the full play means there is opportunity to see more of the events leading to the crucifixion and to meet new characters, as well as the familiar ones.

Caroline Goodship played Mary Mother last year and now has the opportunity to reprise her role. This year it includes a new and very moving scene following the crucifixion when she resolves to visit the tomb. Caroline says, ‘Last year’s Passion Play performance was our first and we wanted to give a taster of the Easter Story. We had no idea that it would provoke such a positive reaction.

This year’s performance is richer in content and delves more deeply into the characters involved in the life of Christ, his betrayal and final resurrection.

I am looking forward to reviving the role of Mary, mother of Jesus, once again’

Services take place in Cadzow Parish Church from Monday to Friday at 7.30pm.

The Passion Play will take place at the Bottom Cross, near Asda, on Saturday 31^st March at 2pm.

https://www.facebook.com/passionplaylanarkshire/

A play telling the story of the final week of Jesus’ life.

Saturday 31 March at 2pm to be performed at the Bottom Cross in Hamilton, behind Asda.

On Thursday 22 February 2018, the Presbytery of Hamilton linked the congregations of Craigneuk and Belhaven with Motherwell: North under the ministry of the Rev. Derek Pope, the incumbent of Motherwell: North. The guest preacher on the evening was the Very Rev. Dr John Miller, a long term friend and mentor to Derek, who delivered an encouraging and insightful message based on the mixed emotions experienced by the Jews at the laying of the foundations of the second temple; some remembering the sorrow of their loss, and others rejoicing in the prospects of what is to come. The photograph shows Dr Miller and Mr Pope to the left of the Moderator, Mrs Hutton, with the Rev. Gavin Black, former Moderator, and the Clerk, the Rev. Dr Gordon McCracken to the right of the photograph. It was a joyous occasion for all concerned. The congregation of Wishaw: Old, with whom Craigneuk and Belhaven were previously linked, will be granted a call on a 0.5 FTE 7 year reviewable tenure.

Our new Presbytery Officer, Ian Simpson, has had his first briefing meeting with the Clerk and collected the gown he will wear when on duty.

To celebrate Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Wishaw Churches Together have arranged a service each day at 12 noon (15 - 20 January) all to be held at Wishaw: South Wishaw but being conducted by a variety of local clergy and congregations. Lunch is available after each service.

The week will conclude with an evening service at 6.30pm on Sunday 21 January.

All welcome.

Presbytery has been informed that there is an organist available.

Please contact Edith Scott for further information.

EScott@churchofscotland.org.uk

or telephone 01357 520503

On Tuesday evening the Presbytery of Hamilton met at Hamilton: Hillhouse for the service to recognise Graduate Candidate, Hanna Rankine. The Moderator, Mrs Roberta Hutton, conducted worship; presenting Hanna with the gift of a Bible and the all important certificate. Rev Murdo Macdonald preached a seasonal and thought provoking sermon reminding us all of the love God has for everyone.

Hanna also addressed the congregation giving a brief background to her journey and Presbytery wishes her well in her future as a full-time minister of word and sacrament.