About Us - Oxnam Kirk

Oxnam is a small rural parish with a simple 17th century church which sits on a hill overlooking the surrounding farmland. Normal attendance at worship is between 30 & 40, up to 200 for special events. The membership has increased under our present minister's 4 years with us, & visitors are most welcome.“…. Finally, I should like to say how much I love this place, where I have lived and ministered for over fifty years; the river, the sky, the scudding clouds as they chase their shadows at midnight across my lawns, the always voices of the birds, pigeons and the calling of rooks and crows, and this small white church, this kirk on the hill. And the enormous loyalty and good nature and forbearance of my friends, my most true friends, the people of this place; their great natural abilities, their outspokenness, their down-to-earthness, their strong commonsense, their countryman’s cheerfulness and their quiet observant kind neighbourliness. I have loved it since the first day I saw it and its primroses in the damp orchard grass. I love it now, and I shall love it always.” From WMDT’s last address at Oxnam Sunday 31st August 2003 All services start at 10.30 a.m. unless otherwise stated Oxnam Parish Church of Scotland Registered Charity No. SC010593 Good News! Anna Rodwell, our Minister, has now got an extra day in Oxnam. Previously only with one day for visiting etc., we requested that we had 2, & this has been approved by Presbytery. So we now have Anna for Wednesdays & thursdays, so that she can see more of us.November 2011 From the Minister … Need a light? The nights are dark and Advent approaches. This time of year always reminds me of a child. A child who was abandoned by his mother. A child who never knew his father. This child was told to wait on a street corner for his mother to return. She never did. A minister passed by and saw him waiting. Many hours later, he passed by again and the child was still there. He took him home and contacted the police. When the boy’s parents could not be found, the minister adopted the boy into his family. The child grew up and he too became a minister like his adoptive Father. His mission was to children living in the Brooklyn, New York, where he still works to this day. He once told me of a Christmas gift he received. He was picking up children from the poorest areas of Brooklyn in a battered old mini bus, to take to Sunday School. A little girl gave him a scrumpled ball of tattered newspaper. “I have a present for you, pastor Bill.” Bill unwrapped layer after layer of old newspaper until he was left with a tiny, plastic, fluorescent yellow, baby Jesus lying in the manger. It was broken and chipped and obviously part of a bigger ornament. The girl looked up expectantly and asked: “Do you like it?” Bill looked at the broken piece of molded plastic. “I absolutely love it!” he replied. “That’s not all” she cried “Look!” And cupping her hands around the figure she invited him to peer in,"Jesus glows in the dark!"Anna. From the Session Clerk … November. 2011 When I come to write this part of the Parish Page I begin by looking at the Kirk Session Minutes for inspiration and guidance. Since July we have had one Kirk Session meeting held in the vestry and joining us we had Paul and Ann Syme to observe what the Kirk Session discuss. At one of our meetings earlier this year, Margaret Clayton came. It is always nice to welcome members of the congregation to these meetings and I would encourage you to come along and observe. You don’t join in the general discussion unless asked and you can leave when you want!! The most exciting development of late is that our Locum, the Reverend Anna Rodwell, has agreed to give one more day to Parish business so from 1st September Anna has been working in our Parish on Wednesday and Thursday of each week and of course the stated Sundays. This arrangement is for one year and not open ended as Oxnam Kirk is funding this extra day and your Kirk Session will have to ensure that we have the necessary funds available when this comes up next year for discussion. Thank you Anna for again taking on more Parish work. The last Parish Page noted that Anna had taken over as our Interim Moderator so I am wondering what I will be reporting in the July 2012 Parish Page?! Although our Kirk finances are quite healthy we can never be complacent with regards our bank balance as there are many calls on our funds. Maintenance of the fabric of the Kirk goes without saying and, as mentioned above, Anna’s extra day. Another potential cost could be the new Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition, if we decide to purchase. Edited by some of the best known names in Christian music, this long awaited publication contains over 750 hymns and 100 psalms. Approximately a quarter of the new selection is made up of new items written since the Third Edition was published in 1973, not least from Iona which has made such a distinctive contribution to modern worship music. Prices for the new Hymnary range from £9.50 (words only) to £27 for music and words. Nothing is cheap nowadays! I would urge you to read Challenge to the Church, National Stewardship Programme, particularly the back page. If you do wish to help build our Church funds please do discuss the options with our Treasurer, Fiona Geddes, who can be contacted during office hours on 01835 865106. The Jedburgh Presbytery, of which Oxnam Kirk is a part, have over many months been discussing their proposed Presbytery Plan and as far as Oxnam Parish is concerned the Plan shows Oxnam as a Continued Vacancy or, as it is now called, in ‘Guardianship’ with a Locum. The Presbytery Business Committee submitted to Presbytery that they believed that the best interests of the charge are served by the present situation continuing and for that reason Oxnam would be designated a congregation in guardianship. However, the committee would pay particular attention to the situation at annual review and encourage Oxnam to continue conversations with the wider Presbytery community. Over the weekend of 20th and 21st August Sprouston held their Sweet Pea competition and our Sunday School , under the guidance of Val Hunter and with input from Moira Land, were very much to the fore with their exhibits. They are to be congratulated on their success in the competition. What fun it was to see them on the TV programme, The Beachgrove Garden. The Harvest Supper on 14th October was most enjoyable with the Village Hall filled with us enjoying good food, fellowship and music. Congratulations must go to all those who organised this tremendous evening which raised around £900 for Kirk funds. The next day was our Harvest Thanksgiving Service. The Kirk had been beautifully decorated and again, a huge thank you to all who helped with the decoration. Your efforts certainly produced the ‘wow factor’. It has been suggested that the pews behind the organ should be removed to create an area that can be used for hospitality. We should be able, when required, to sit in comfort and be able to hear clearly which is not always possible in our very small vestry. Creating a pleasant space behind the organ would require structural change and could also be expensive. Some argue that if would spoil the ambiance and beauty of the Kirk. For a trial period ‘Sunday hospitality’ is being held in the area in front of the Communion Table. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? Lastly, the Oxnam bridge closure. It is hoped that the bridge will reopen just before Christmas. I am in close contact with the Engineer for the Works at Scottish Borders Council and will keep you informed of any developments. Colin Hogg, Session Clerk National Stewardship Programme The General Assembly of 2011 have instructed all parishes to embark on a stewardship programme in 2011/2012. The suggestion is that in the first year of the programme, we look at our regular Christian giving; in the second year we look at the giving of time and in the third year, we look at the giving of talent, the fourth year we go back to money! A leaflet produced by the moderator has been included with your newsletter. Anna Report from PresbyteryPresbytery meets every month on the 1st Wednesday and anyone is allowed to attend (but not allowed to speak). The most recent update concerns the new Presbytery Plan which was voted to go through last week. In this Oxnam is now under a “Guardianship” status. This means we have the Rev. Anna Rodwell as our Minister as well as our Interim Moderator. Anna now works for Oxnam Kirk two days a week which is excellent news. There will be a reduction in the number of ministers in Hawick from the present five ministers. One is due to retire in June 2012 and this will then be allocated to the Kelso area. In June 2011, the General Assembly passed that – “All congregations have to participate in a National Stewardship Programme.” Presbyteries are expected to enforce the instruction, so we shall all be hearing more about this. Moira Land. From the Minister … July 2011. A Surprise “I was born at Oxnam Valley in 1929 to Adam and Eveline Hunter and the youngest of ten children. I went to Oxnam school briefly and then the family moved to Edinburgh.” On arriving at the church one day, I found a mysterious package in the vestry. On opening it I found a very old, very well loved book of poetry and prose. A letter lay enclosed. It had been sent to us by Gladys Hunter and these words at the beginning are hers. The book was written by James Broomfield and published in 1901. He lived, it seems, in Roxburghshire. Born in 1862 and educated locally and then in Edinburgh he landed in America in 1885 and lived in Michigan. The book is a collection of ‘murmurings’ , not in the sense of complaint, but rather as a joyful ripple of musical meandering streams, leaping, laughing contentedly and merrily over the pebbly obstacles in their course. It was published in Detroit and I am not quite sure how it came to Gladys. However, Gladys is one of only three remaining in her family and the brothers had no interest in the book and she parceled it up and posted it to ‘The Minister’ Oxnam Kirk. What faith. She believed there would still be a church in Oxnam, opening its doors to folk and there would still be a minister. True, she probably imagined he would be living in the lovely big manse and that the services would be every Sunday. There may no longer be a service every week and there may no longer be a minister living in the parish, but the church is very defiantly still here and thriving. Marvelous that she thought of us. Marvelous that we now have the opportunity to share in these ‘murmurings’ of a Borderland. They will appear from time to time in the Parish Page and if anyone is interested in borrowing the book, please let me know. Anna Rodwell Interim Moderator “An Interim Moderator has a dual role to discharge. On the one hand, being the Presbytery’s appointee, the Interim Moderator is expected to help in representing the views of Presbytery to the congregation. On the other hand, as the congregation’s minister for the time being, the Interim Moderator may be called on to help in representing the congregation’s views to the Presbytery.” * During my time with you here in Oxnam, I have served as your locum minister while various Interim Moderators have been in position. Now Presbytery has appointed me to be both Locum and Interim Moderator. I am now, one of the voices of Oxnam Kirk in Presbytery and I am one of those bringing the voice of Presbytery back to Oxnam. This is a great privilege for me. With God’s grace, I will endeavour to carry out this task to the best of my ability. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Scott Elliot, who stepped down from this post in April this year, for all his diligence and hard work and for the gracious way he conducted session meetings and led worship. Taken from ‘Guidelines for Interim Moderators’ Produced by The Ministries Council 2007 Rev. Anna Rodwell From the Session Clerk July 2011 Since our last Parish Page Oxnam Kirk has lost two Elders who had given so much dedicated service to our Kirk. In December we lost Hugh Fraser who had, until last year, been the Session Clerk for the last twelve years. Not only did he fight very hard to ensure that Oxnam remained independent but he spent much time ensuring that the fabric of the Kirk was continually being improved within our budget. Toe Jeffrey, an Elder for many years at Oxnam passed away in April only six months after losing his Wife. He had not been a fit man for some time, but life was hard for him after losing Margaret. Oxnam Kirk is much the poorer without these two wonderful men. The Kirk meant so much to them and both dedicated much of their time to its well being. How nice it is to see Oxnam Kirk now gleaming with its new lick of paint and completed on time and within budget. Looking back through Kirk fabric reports I see there are still a number of outstanding jobs to be completed. These are not necessarily obvious to the naked eye but must be carried out if we are to maintain the fabric of the building. All this requires money which we as a congregation have to find. To this end your Kirk Session are presently looking at how we can raise the necessary funds. If you have any ideas do let me know. We are blessed nearly every time we meet to worship by having visitors. They are always welcome and please encourage them to sign our Visitors Book which is slowly but surely filling up. It is also wonderful when we can add names to our Roll of Communicants. During the last six months the following have been Admitted by Resolution:- Chris and Sue Vind from Brundeanlaws, Maude Brownlie from Gattonside and most recently, Ann and Paul Syme from Morebattle. A particular warm welcome to Ann and Paul who have only recently joined us at Oxnam. Anybody wishing to join the Roll of Communicants please contact your Elder, Anna or myself. In March our Interim Moderator, Mr. Scott Elliot from Hawick, stood down after two years and the post is now filled by our Locum, The Reverend Anna Rodwell. Oxnam Kirk benefited from Scott’s wide knowledge of the Kirk and indeed Presbytery’s working. We enjoyed having him worship with us and indeed, on occasions, leading us in morning worship. Our thanks must go to him for his wise counselling. Welcome to Anna and thank you for taking on yet more in the life of Oxnam Kirk – we are extremely grateful for all that you do for us. Before closing, I must mention two Kirk activities:- The Library Café which is open in the Village Hall coinciding with the Library Van visit. This ‘get together’ is going from strength to strength and if you have any unwanted card tables they would certainly be of use in the Library Café. Many thanks to those who have already responded to this request. The Parish Walk was a tremendous success with over twenty walkers. £210 was raised and even two who donated not to walk!! Colin Hogg, Session Clerk From the new Session Clerk …. Nov. 2010 My thanks to Hugh for such a seamless handover, but I don’t think that he told me before the handover just how much is involved! To try and learn more of what is expected from the Session Clerk I attended a most informative Session Clerks Conference at Carberry near Dalkeith in early October which was organised by our Mission and Discipleship Council Congregational Learning Team from 121 George Street. I have also attended two Presbytery meetings and I am a little clearer now how the Kirk is governed. Having seen two of our Courts at work I better aquaint myself with our “Supreme Court”, The General Assembly! Perhaps I should also read Andrew Heron’s book “The Law and Practice of the Kirk”. Oxnam Kirk continues to flourish as you will see from the various articles in the Parish Page. Sunday worship goes from strength to strength as does our Sunday School. Our Harvest Supper was an outstanding success with a full hall. Many thanks to Annabelle Scott and Natalie Cairns and their helpers for organising such a wonderful evening. We are still investigating the restoration of the Kirk’s exterior, however, I don’t think that this project will be completed before the Spring. The task is a little more complicated than one might think, but it must be done. Sadly Hugh Fraser has not been in the best of health over the last few weeks and has spent time in both the Western General in Edinburgh and also the Borders General Hospital. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we see him back worshiping with us. It was so nice that he was able to make our Harvest Thanksgiving Service on 3rd October when he received a presentation on behalf of us all for his twelve years as our Session Clerk. If I can be of any help to you please do contact me on 01835 863368 01835 863368 or by email colin.hogg25@btconnect.com Colin Hogg Autumn . From our Minister..... [John Keats (1920) ] Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To blend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease, For Summer has o’er brimm’d their clammy cells. Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, The hair soft-lifted by the sinnowing wind; Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep, Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers: And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep Steady thy laden head across a brook; Or by a cider-press, with patient look, Thou watchest the last oozing hours by hours. Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, - While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft; And gathering swallows twitter in the skies. July 2010. A year ago the Kirk toilet was still under construction, now a fine facility is in place. Accessible to the disabled, it has a baby changing facility and hot water for washing up. Most would say ‘it is long overdue’, a sentiment I heartly endorse. We are constantly trying to make our Kirk more ‘user friendly’ so the next step will be to re-plan the vestry interior for its purpose of hospitality, Sunday School and meetings. As I wrote last year, Session welcome suggestions from members about this improvement and their long-term wish is to restore the Kirk’s exterior but serious research into the best coating requires to be done. As the Kirk is a ‘B’ Listed I believe the building is worthy of National assistance and Session will do its best to attract such help. As this is the last article I will write as Session Clerk I must acknowledge with gratitude all the help I have had since 1998 from everyone connected with Oxnam. No-one could have had better support and I am glad Session has found such an able successor in Colin Hogg. My best wishes go to him, I will do my best to make the ‘hand over’ as seamless as possible. Good luck Colin! Au revoir is not goodbye! Hugh Fraser Steward to the General Assembly This year I was a steward at The General Assembly in Edinburgh. Sometimes you can hear the debates and in your free time go to the visitors gallery and listen. You also pick up lots of information as to what is happening in other churches, both from leaflets and talking to the people involved in The Assembly. If you fancy helping by being a steward next year contact Rev. Frank Campbell. Moira LandOXNAM KIRK – by the late Jean Hunter of Oxnam When one looks round from far away Soon your eyes will stop and stay Looking at that landmark clear and bright On top of a hill at Oxnam, shining white, It is oor Kirk where many are led To worship God and his words are read Sing hymns and psalms unto his praise Beneath the roof their voices raise. But to turn back a while to 1949 When Rev. Robertson did resign That left us with a manse to fill With a Minister for our Kirk on the hill. It was not so easy in those days To find one willing to come our way But we were lucky for very soon Rev. Thompson came to us in the month of June. With him he brought his pretty young wife And their son, David, so full of life. No in these days Oxnam was peace But now busy roads as the traffic increased At the time our Minister came to stay It was a usual sight to see him bike by on his way Going on his rounds to visit his flock, Spinning round the valley viewing the stock. But, as the years slipped quickly past Life’s pace soon began to move very fast, At the manse now added to the family tree, Came along another three. Making the old walls abound With happy lively kiddies sound. When Rev. Thompson and his wife you meet Have two small boys and two wee girls so sweet David, Edward, Jane and Harriet by name They grew up so quickly it was a shame But now they return home from the school So grown up they make the manse full Of happiness for their Mum and Dad. Everyone was happy and glad We had such a happy family as they We all loved when they came home to stay. Now back again to our Kirk’s open door Open to all who wish to go And sit in silence and pray to God To unburden our sorrows as we go on our road, It’s kept so clean with gentle care By Cha and Ena’s willing hands They share the credit for our neat shining Kirk, Unselfishly spend hours of their time Making it such a lovely place It’s shining pews so full of grace. Time goes by more quickly now As we grow older and our heads we bow We thank God we are blessed still With such a shepherd our pulpit to fill, For now as we look at his deat face We find, like us, all these lines easier to trace They grey hairs have begun to show Where his red curls used to grow, But he has shared with us all Our joys and sorrows as they fall But never does he fail his post, To be near us when he is needed most A kind word or our hand ashake All the difference it doth make. The original of the above poem was found in Oxnam Horticultural Society’s Minute Book NOVEMBER 2009 From the Minister ... All words no Action As Christians, are we all words and no action? Jesus said: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and cloth you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The king will reply , 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40 Let us love one another If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Are we 'noisy gongs' like Linus? I think it does us no harm to take a long hard look at our lives and actions every now and then. Rev. Anna Rodwell COMMUNION CUPS For the first time the Kirk will be using individual communion cups for our winter communion on 6th December. Peter and Heather Rhodes have very generously donated communion trays and glasses to Oxnam, for which we are most grateful. We are aware that some members of the congregation had voiced concerns at drinking from the common cup and hopefully this will now meet with everyone’s approval. We look forward to having your comments. July 2009. From the Minister ... When I am gone... I was given something recently, an order from a memorial service. There was a reading printed in it, that so touched the reader, she had kept it and leant it to me. It so moved me that I wanted to share it with you. It spoke to the secret voice that whispers into my thoughts from time to time. The voice that asks “is this it?” “Is this enough?” Have you ever sat through a funeral service and thought: “what a life! How could one person have done so much?” Has the secret voice ever whispered in your ear “what will they say about you when you are gone?” This reading speaks to reassure and banish such questions: “To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a well cared for child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” Rev. Anna Rodwell July 2009 Report from Session Clerk. The question I have been asked most often this year is ‘when will we get the toilets at the Kirk’? The answer now, as always, is ‘just as soon as we get the work done’! Only one small hurdle remains to be cleared, that is to satisfy Scottish Borders Council’s Building Standards Department that the septic tank tail-drain will not pollute the small burn running down the far side of the Cleuchside field beyond the kirkyard. When we get the go-ahead the Gregor McKechnie can start the work. When considering our plans for their approval, Presbytery asked us to re-check the state of the Kirk’s roof to find out what had caused the bulge above the WWII War memorial. The roof is fine, not likely to cause extensive problems for quite a few years, but investigations revealed an interesting story. When Laidlaws opened up the plaster they uncovered what seems once to have been a window, no longer needed when the north aisle was built. When this had been filled in and plastered over the batten used to carry the plaster wasn’t straight which had left a visible bulge. The worry here was that water was getting in but it never has so the corner should be sound and finding this out means we can safely go ahead with the interior decoration. The toilet and interior decoration look like being what we can afford at the minute. Historic Scotland are helping us fund the toilets and our own funds should cover the interior decoration so it will be prudent to prioritise and budget improvements beyond these. Session thinks the next step should be to re-frame the south facing windows followed by re-decorating the outside of the Church. Safety and efficiency of the heating system need upgrading along with this goes better insulation and possible generation of power by ‘renewables’. Ways of altering the interior of the Church to accommodate the needs of hospitality and the growing Sunday School are being discussed by Session but we welcome members ideas on making the place more suitable for its job. Don’t be afraid to put new ideas forward. The Church is a tool to do a job in the community. It is very pleasing to see the Sunday School growing thanks to Val Hunter’s efforts on the third Sunday of each month. Better tables and chairs are on the way to help her in this vital part of Church life. Shaping Oxnam’s Kirk to meet changing needs of a dynamic community is quite a challenge for Session, we are always looking for new people with fresh ideas to shake us out of the ‘aye been’. Maybe there is a potential elder dormant inside you. You will never know unless you try!! Hugh Fraser .FINANCES Despite the Coffee Morning being held a month earlier this year, once again it proved a great success realising the sum of over £800 for the Kirk funds. The ‘Talents’ initiative is still going strong and to date we have raised around £600. There are lots of £5’s still to be returned and I am looking forward to hearing how people raised their money. Some of the methods will be included in the next Parish Page. If you are not taking part in the scheme and would like to do so, just speak to your Elder or myself. The final total from the sale of the Christmas Cards was £160. This was a great fund raising event and many thanks to all concerned. Fiona Geddes, Kirk Treasurer From your Interim Moderator …. Autumn 2009 I was invited to write a short article as a way of introducing myself to the Church members – and this I am delighted to do, following my appointment as your Interim Moderator by the Presbytery of Jedburgh on 24th June 2009. I have been as Elder in Hawick Burnfoot Parish Church since 1970, Session Clerk since 1976, and a member of Presbytery for a good number of years and have been treasurer of Presbytery since 1996. Until recently only a Minister member of Presbytery could be appointed as an Interim Moderator in a vacancy. However, some years ago the Church of Scotland amended its legislation to also allow members of Presbytery to be appointed, provided they “had received such preparation for the task as the Ministries Council shall provide”. In October 2005 I attended a training day in Glasgow and am now on the list of those who can be appointed to this role. My previous experience of being Interim Moderator was in the recent vacancies and union in Jedburgh. I know Oxnam has had a rather lengthy vacancy – some 12 years – and I hope the congregation can in the foreseeable future move on to a more settled position. I have already attended three Kirk Session meetings and was present at the Service in August to welcome Colin Hogg as a new Elder. I had planned to worship with you on a more frequent basis but your worship Sundays have never been suitable to me. I look forward to getting to know you all better as I work with you. If there is anyway I can be of further help to you please do not hesitate to contact me. Meantime as we approach Advent and Christmas may I wish you all a peaceful and joyous Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Scott Elliot From our Interim Moderator … Spring. 09. "As your Interim Moderator I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with you some of the things that have occupied the attention of the Kirk Session these past six months. We are pleased that our worries concerning some of the problems of the state of the church building were proved to be ill-founded and that they have been satisfactorily remedied. However, the office-bearers are pursuing a rigorous examination of the building in order to bring it more up to date to meet the needs of the congregation in the 21st century. This process is in its infancy. Nevertheless we hope that we will be able to move forward. We are being assisted by property survey reports prepared on the building in the last two years and they will help us determine priorities. The Presbytery is also active in its advice to us. Indeed, the Presbytery is currently undertaking a Visitation of the congregation...a five yearly visit that it makes to every congregation to encourage and support the congregation and offer advice and guidance, where it thinks it is appropriate. I have already met the Committee and they will shortly meet Mrs Rodwell, then the Kirk Session in mid August and finally an opportunity will be given for members of the congregation to meet the Committee. It is good to know that the Presbytery's chief concern for all its congregations is that they be strengthened and affirmed in their Christian witness. The challenge for Oxnam is no different and no greater from that of other congregations. Indifference to the Church and its Gospel is prevalent in our society. And so, remember one another in your prayers. Respond to the work that you have asked your locum, Mrs Rodwell, to undertake. Support your office-bearers in all that they do for you and with you. My best wishes to you all. Rev. Bruce McNicol NOVEMBER 2008 Newsletter.From the Locum Minister … Best Seller Could you guess what the best -selling book was this week? How about last week, or the week before? How about last month or last year? I’ll tell you, it’s the Bible. It was this week and last week. In fact it is a very rare week when it is knocked off the top spot. I am talking about the UK, but the picture is the same worldwide. "An article in The Times recently was sub-headed ‘Forget the modern British novelists and TV tie-ins; the Bible is the biggest-selling book every year.’ The writer remarked: As usual the top seller by several miles was...the Bible. If cumulative sales of the Bible were frankly reflected in best-seller lists, it would be a rare week when anything else would achieve a look in. It is wonderful, weird, or just plain baffling in this increasingly godless age - when the range of books available grows wider with each passing year - that this one book should go on selling hand over fist, month in, month out.... It is estimated that nearly 1,250,000 Bibles and Testaments are sold in the UK each year.’" Quite staggering. Obviously, as your minister, I am delighted by this statistic. I do wonder however, just how many of those 1,250,000 are actually read. Is yours on a shelf somewhere gathering dust? Go on, do something amazing today. Let God speak to you through his word. "Blessed are those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like the trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. Whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:1-3)." It doesn’t have to be ‘day and night’, of course - five or ten minutes would do! Rev. Anna Rodwell Presbytery News The Presbytery of Jedburgh, of which we in Oxnam are a part, has been considering the possibility of employing one or two community ministers. Churches are being asked for their views on what they would like a community minister to do in their area. Representatives from Oxnam have been attending meetings and would value any thoughts you might have in this area! Please speak to Anna Rodwell or Moira Land. Rev. Anna Rodwell Churchyard Memorials To avoid confusion in the future, Session would like to point out that anyone wishing to erect memorials in the churchyard, other that a normal headstone, firstly obtain approval from the Kirk Session, and permission from SBC, prior to anything being put in place. Hugh Fraser, Session Clerk Update on Toilet Plans have been drawn up and submitted to the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. We are hopeful that, along with our own fundraising, the Trustees may give us a grant to help with the cost of the toilet. Estimated costs stand at £17,000. Rev. Anna Rodwell Talents I’ve spoken about this before, now, here it comes in an envelope near you! It is a fund raising initiative by Oxnam Kirk, to raise money to put a toilet into the Kirk. People are being given a £5 note, from church funds and asked to multiply it using their own, God given talents. The proceeds are then returned to the church within a year, but no later than Harvest Thanksgiving next year. How you do it is up to you. This has been done all over the country and ideas have been limited only by imagination. Some have bought seeds and sold the plants. Some have bought flour and eggs etc and sold cakes. Some have clubbed together with other £5 holders to pool resources and held coffee mornings in their homes. Some have bought wool and made scarves. Some have bought wrapping paper and offered their services as wrappers at Christmas. Some have used it for petrol and offered their services mowing grass, or chopping logs, anything goes - so long as it’s legal. Whether the money is doubled or tripled or left untouched in a drawer, we simply ask that the £5 be returned to the Kirk by October 2009. The time scale is long enough so that hopefully everyone has time and space to work out a little plan! No pressure, no shame if you lose money or ‘don’t get round to it’, just return the sum of at least £5 to us, and we will be happy. Rev. Anna Rodwell CHRISTENING CARDS Christenings at Oxnam Kirk are always wonderful services. The Church is often attended by many family and friends of the parents. It is a big day and after the christening or baptism, the relations often have a celebratory lunch. In all of this, the baby is usually unaware of the special occasion except when he or she has an extra "watering"! The child is then a member of Oxnam Kirk and so the Session decided it would be appropriate to commemorate this occasion by sending a card to the child on the anniversary of their christening for the following five years. Suitable cards were looked for but there was nothing on the market so we just had to make them ourselves. There are five cards, one for each year, and they will be sent out to each child of the anniversary of their christening. Cornerstore bookshop in Edinburgh has agreed to sell some and if anyone knows of another church who would like to purchase some, please let us know. This is a sample of the card sent on the first anniversary, the actual card, however, is in colour. The Session CHRISTMAS PANTO Oxnam Village Hall Youth Club, toddlers and some bigger folk! Even talk of the WRI on stage too!! Sun 21st and Mon 22nd Dec In the Village Hall 6.30pm pre-show mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets £4 Adults £2 Children (Available from Mark Murdie 862830 From Me to You, Jedburgh or Wendy Meldrum 840644) Raffle Why not come along and enjoy an evening of festive fun for all ages. Wendy Meldrum A MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM MODERATOR Hugh Fraser asked if I'd write a few words of my experiences of being interim moderator of Oxnam, as I bow out after three years with you. I've thoroughly enjoyed moderating (posh word for chairing) the Kirk Session meetings. Oxnam is in good hands with the people on the Session. They are very warm, and have some wonderfully innovative ideas about how to be a church. They organised a super Harvest Supper recently, and it was a credit to their hard work to see the numbers who attended. A good evening was definitely had by all! I am delighted that their ideas for providing a disabled access toilet have been approved by the General Trustees, and I hope that their thoughts and ideas continue to enhance the life of the church and the community. My own church is heading towards a big celebration, so I have to stand down as moderator, so that I have time to organise some talks, meals, and other celebrations. I wish you all God's blessings on your continuing successes and ministry. Warmest regards. Rev Lisa-Jane Rankin. FUND RAISING The Kirk has had a busy year with fund raising events and, to date, have raised just under £2,500 which a tremendous effort by everyone concerned. Coffee Morning The annual coffee morning was held in March and, as ever, proved to be a good start to the year’s fund raising by bringing in £780 for Church funds. We are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to the various stalls and to all helpers on the morning. Special thanks to Carry Scott for making the all important coffee. Next year’s coffee morning will be held earlier than usual on 14th February 2009. Parish Walk The walk took place on 10th August starting at the Kirk and following the route by Oxnam Row, Oxnam Sawmill, Birkenside, Oxnam Neuk and back to the Church. Around twenty people (including children) took part and the sum of £270 was raised. The rain towards the end of the walk did nothing to dampen the spirits of the walkers and a good time was had by all. Many thanks to Anna and Rob for organising the event. Great North Run Kenny Taylor ran the Great North Run half marathon in October. Kenny kindly offered to raise funds for the Kirk to help us reach our target for the new toilets. To date he has raised the sum of £635. This is a tremendous achievement and we greatly appreciate his commitment and support of the Kirk and thank all who sponsored him. Parish Supper A large number of locals gathered together in the Village Hall recently at the Kirk’s Parish Supper, the first to take place for a number of years. Chairperson for the evening was Colin Hogg from Mounthooly who entertained the crowd with his good humour. Grace was given by Lisa-Jane Rankin, our interim moderator then the ladies of the Kirk served a most enjoyable supper which was finished with coffee and Hugh’s delicious tablet. The musical entertainment was provided by fiddler Carly Blain, Kelso, folk group Carlin Jig and singer Jackie McGaughin. We would like to thank all these artists who gave their time and provided the entertainment free of charge. The approximate sum raised, which included a raffle on the night, is £800. We wish to express our gratitude and thanks for all the support given by everyone concerned. Fiona Geddes Kirk Treasurer Sunday School Since the summer break in July we have had just three sessions. Our first theme on ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’ went well but our planned picnic had to be postponed until next summer because of the awful downpours on that day in August. At the September session we had the brilliant idea of asking the children to design a Christmas card for the Church. Several cards were enthusiastically drawn and two subsequently printed (see below). The sale of these has already raised over £100 for Church funds which is a marvellous effort and cards can still be purchased from Moira Land. Our sincere thanks go to Graham Dane for helping so much with their production. Next time it will almost be advent and we shall be planning what to do at The artwork for the card above is by Zoe Collins and below by Rosie Tile Sunday School Since the summer break in July we have had just three sessions. Our first theme on ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’ went well but our planned picnic had to be postponed until next summer because of the awful downpours on that day in August. At the September session we had the brilliant idea of asking the children to design a Christmas card for the Church. Several cards were enthusiastically drawn and two subsequently printed (see below). The sale of these has already raised over £100 for Church funds which is a marvellous effort and cards can still be purchased from Moira Land. Our sincere thanks go to Graham Dane for helping so much with their production. Next time it will almost be advent and we shall be planning what to do at the annual carol service. We are always hoping that new members will come along and join in. Val Hunter Artwork of the first card by Zoe Collins and the second by Rosie Tile (originals in colour)Baptisms 29th June 2008 Angus Robert William Barbour, son of Sarah and Scott, Samieston, Jedburgh. 31st August 2008 Annika Schaeli, daughter of Sabine and Urs, Lintonbankhead, Morebattle. Deaths Mary March Banks Henderson, formerly of Cappuck Annie Allan, formerly of Marchcleuch Elizabeth (Betty) Forster, formerly Netherwells Helen (Nellie) Brown Dodds, formerly of Hardenpeel Ena Richardson, formerly of Oxnam Neuk Obituaries Mary Henderson Mary March Banks Hendry was born in Lanarkshire on the 19th Feb 1917. Mary met and married James Henderson who was a dairyman. They were married in Mary’s family home at Kirkmuir Hill. Mary worked alongside her husband in the dairy. In December 1948, they moved to Cappuck, where they were to stay for 19 years. Mary was a quiet soul and kept herself to herself. She felt very welcome in the Oxnam community and enjoyed regular visits to the guild. The next move was into the town and to 26 Hartridge Crescent. Both Mary and James now took work in Manetti and they loved their work there. When James died Mary carried on. She was a fit, strong woman and when ill health over-took her she fought to be independent to the last. She was a content woman who was loved by all her family. Nellie Dodds Helen Brown Borthwick was born on the 20th January 1921 at Synton Mains. Nellie started her school days in Ashkirk, but later continued in Glendouglas Primary, when the family moved to Langlee. What she loved more than anything was to play rugby with her brothers in the field at Langlee! She was rugby daft, even to her dying day. She kept up to date with the local and national scene. On the 30th April 1943 Helen married Thomas Dodds, in Boston Blackfriars church in Jedburgh. Married life began at Hardenpeel, where Tom’s family farmed. Nellie loved it here. She attended Oxnam church and the woman’s guild. She made good friends. When Tom died in 2001 Nellie missed him terribly. Family and good friends were close by and were a tower of strength. In June 2006 the move to Queens Court was like a breath of fresh air to Nellie. She relished being so independent. She loved the freedom of the town and she loved being able to keep an eye on the movements of ‘her boys’ as they flew past in their various contraptions. Nellie was a tower of strength and had a fantastic sense of humour. She was always there for her children and her grandchildren. She was part of the very fabric of the Oxnam Valley community. KIRK SERVICES 16th November 2008 Sacrament of Communion at 10.30 a.m 30th November 2008 Sunday Service at 10.30 a.m. (1st Sunday in Advent) 7th December 2008 Baptismal Service at 10.30 a.m. Usual Hospitality Afterwards 21st December 2008 Family Service (4th Sunday in Advent) 24th December 2008 Family Candlelight Carol Service at 6.00 p.m. A special collection will be held as usual 4th January 2009 New Year Service Festive Hospitality Afterwards Church Services will continue on the first, third, and where applicable fifth Sundays of each month commencing 18th January and the Sunday School will be held every third Sunday, also commencing 18th January. Special Services 12th April 2009 Easter Sunday Service Oxnam Parish Church of Scotland Registered Charity No. SC010593 From the Minister ... When I am gone... I was given something recently, an order from a memorial service. There was a reading printed in it, that so touched the reader, she had kept it and leant it to me. It so moved me that I wanted to share it with you. It spoke to the secret voice that whispers into my thoughts from time to time. The voice that asks “is this it?” “Is this enough?” Have you ever sat through a funeral service and thought: “what a life! How could one person have done so much?” Has the secret voice ever whispered in your ear “what will they say about you when you are gone?” This reading speaks to reassure and banish such questions: “To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a well cared for child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” Rev. Anna Rodwell