Note : All Evening services at 7 p.m. (except as shown.) Note that the Informal Communion has been moved to
second Sunday of the month
, all other evening services have a youth focus.
SERVICES & EVENTS
Christmas Services
Sat 26 November Christmas Fayre 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Sun 27 November Memorial Service for the Bereaved 2 p.m.
Sunday 4 December Communion service at 11 a.m.
Wednesday 7 Dec Communion Service 2.30 p.m. at Trust Housing
Sat 10 Dec Carols, Cards & Candlelight 4.30 p.m.
Sun 11 December Christmas Praise & Gift Service 11 a.m. – with MacTaggart Scott Band
Sun 18 December Junior Church Nativity Service 11 a.m.
Sat 24 December Christingle Service 4.30 p.m.
Watchnight Service 11.30 p.m.
Sun 25 December Christmas Day Service 11 a.m.
Sunday Services in the New Year
1 Jan 11 a.m. Morning Service
8 Jan 11 a.m. Morning Service 7.30 p.m. Praise Night
15 Jan 11 a.m. Morning Service
22 Jan 11 a.m. Morning Service
29 Jan 11 a.m. Family Service
5 Feb 11 a.m. Morning Service 7.30 p.m. Praise Night
12 Feb 11 a.m. Morning Service
19 Feb 11 a.m. Morning Service
26 Feb 11 a.m. Family Service
To tie in with the Christmas Card competition we are holding a special event on Saturday 11 th December. We’ll kick off with Carols led by members of MacTaggart Scott Brass Band, a reflection on Christmas and prizes being given to the winning entrants of the Christmas card competition. Then all of the entries for the competition will be displayed in the church hall with hot dogs, snacks and coffees available. We are still planning out the final details for the event so more may follow!
Christmas Gift service
The Christmas Gift service will be on Sunday 11th December. Last year we took these out to families in Loanhead with the support of the local Primary Schools and the local Health visitors. The gifts were well received and we are planning to repeat that this year. Please bring along a gift on the 11th that is suitable for a child. It is helpful if the gift is not wrapped, but wrapping paper included, so that those organising the distribution can ensure that families receive gifts which are appropriate for their children.
Communion Services
Our December Communion Service is on Sunday 4 th December at 11 a.m.
The Afternoon Communion will be on the Wednesday following at Trust Housing. All are welcome.
Wednesday 7 th December at 2.30 p.m.
December & January Praise Nights
The Praise nights continue on the first Sunday of each month (although in January it will be a week later!) The evenings provide a lively evening of praise and worship with thought provoking reflections that a wide number of people will be able to attend and enjoy.
December 4th, January 8th, February 5th, March 4th
All at 7.30 p.m.
Fellowship Groups
The Thursday Fellowship Group restarted in October, and will meet fortnightly until Easter (with a short break for Christmas!) Speak to Jane Duffin for more information.
We are also considering starting a group which will meet during the day rather than the evening. Speak to the minister if you are interested.
Prayer Breakfast
Once a month we meet for breakfast and prayer from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. The minister usually gets the bacon rolls ready – or black pudding if you prefer – before we spend some time in prayer. The prayer time is split into 3 sections with prayers provided for those who would rather have something written down.
The first meeting of 2012 will be on Saturday 7 th January with the following months also on the first Saturday of the month.
Joint Evening Service – Sunday 22nd January
Dalkeith: St John’s & Kingspark 7 p.m.
This is part of a series of evening services for all Church of Scotland congregations in Midlothian – an evening of lively worship, teaching and an opportunity for ministry. The preacher this time is Rev Graham Duffin.
Parish Christmas Cards
This year we are repeating our Christmas card competition with the children in the local Primary Schools. The winning card will be printed by a local printer and then distributed to the parish with details of the Christmas services in our church and at St Margaret’s. This is being funded with money drawn from Rev R. W. Thompson Memorial Fund. The fund was set up in memory of Rev Robert Thompson, and this use ties in with his interest in work with children. Mrs Margaret Thompson will choose the winning card from among the entries, along with her son Owen Thompson, one of our local councillors.
The cards, with details of our Christmas services will need to be distributed to the parish as in former years. We rely on your help for this – if you can distribute them to the street where you stay or another area in Loanhead, please pick up a set on Sunday 11th December.
Carols, Cards & Candlelight
To tie in with the Christmas Card competition we are holding a special event on Saturday 11th December. We’ll kick off with Carols led by members of MacTaggart Scott Brass Band, a reflection on Christmas and prizes being given to the winning entrants of the Christmas card competition. Then all of the entries for the competition will be displayed in the church hall with hot dogs, snacks and coffees available. We are still planning out the final details for the event so more may follow!
Christmas Gift service
The Christmas Gift service will be on Sunday 11 th December. Last year we took these out to families in Loanhead with the support of the local Primary Schools and the local Health visitors. The gifts were well received and we are planning to repeat that this year. Please bring along a gift on the 11 th that is suitable for a child. It is helpful if the gift is not wrapped, but wrapping paper included, so that those organising the distribution can ensure that families receive gifts which are appropriate for their children.
Partnership with Newton Parish Church
The work at Newton Parish continues to develop under the leadership of Christopher Anderson. We entered into a partnership with Newton for a period of five years, which finishes in 2012. At that stage it is likely that the partnership will come to an end and a new partnership forged between Dalkeith: St John’s & Kingspark and Newton
Staffing
Alan Duffin has taken on additional responsibilities for Disciplship Groups in the schools and the Friday evening youth outreach project and has been employed for additional hours in his role as Children’s and Youth Worker to allow him to develop these groups and activities.
Joel Robertson has been sharing responsibilities as a worship leader in our Family Services and has been employed to head up the youth outreach project with Alan. Joel is currently in his final year of a Bachelor of Divinity course at New College.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group has been meeting regularly over the Autumn on a Thursday evening. If you would like to join this group please speak to Fred Harrison.
Sunday evening Youth Group
We continue to meet with a small group of teenagers on a Sunday evening from 7.30– 9 p.m. They are a lively group with a real interest in exploring further how to live out their faith. If you know of others who might be interested in joining this group please speak to the minister or Margaret Brady.
Connect Bus - Outreach
Hopefully by the time you read this the Connect bus will be on the road. The bus will have a café area downstairs and a “lounge” upstairs which will include comfortable seating, a flat screen TV and a playstation. We’ll be using the bus for tow sets of activities
Firstly for outreach youth work on a Friday evening, with the bus providing a good venue for informal youth work.
Secondly for our Community Outreach – we’ll be using the bus one afternoon a week to provide a venue for meeting with young adults, providing a listening ear and debt support through Christians Against Poverty.
Church Website
The website includes information on Baptisms/Blessings, weddings, children’s activities and services, along with a “gallery” of pictures from different church events and activities
Loanhead Parish Church , The Manse, 120 The Loan, Loanhead , Midlothian, EH20 9AJ Loanhead Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Registered Charity No SC014420
0131 448 2459 
