Linton, Morebattle, Hownam and Yetholm Stated Annual Meeting
Monday 28th March 2015at 7.30pm
Yetholm Church
- Constitute
- Apologies
- Minutes of 2015 Annual Stated Meeting - below
- Ministers Report
- Session Summary
- Presentation of Accounts
- Reports
- Benediction
Refreshments and Talk on Pilgrimage to Rome
LINTON, MOREBATTLE, HOWNAM & YETHOLM CHURCH Stated Annual Meeting held in Morebattle Institute on Monday 30th March 2015 at 7.30pm.
CONSTITUTE - The Moderator constituted the meeting with a reading and prayer.
SEDERUNT - there were thirty two members present and two apologies.
MINUTE OF STATED ANNUAL MEETING
The Minute of the Stated Annual Meeting held on 25th March 2014 was approved.
MINISTER'S REPORT – The Minister reported on a year which started with a ministry of hospitality which was interrupted with his recent illness but hopefully this will resume again soon.. He highlighted the success of fundraising events, the involvement of children in worship and the establishment of the Toast Club in Yetholm School. He also shared his collaboration with churches over the border.
SESSION CLERKS REPORT –Session Clerk Report
The Session met six times during the year and in January to admit Brian Kelly to the Session. Communion was celebrated eight times during morning worship with evening communion on ~Maundy Thursday and in the evenings rotating round the churches on the fourth Sunday of the month.
The various committees met on a regular basis and reported to the Session
The Roll as at 31 December 2013 was attested as 379 members and 42 adherents.
Thanks were expressed to all who contribute to the life of the congregation.
TREASURERS REPORT – The accounts which had been approved by the Session were presented and questions taken. The budget was then presented showing a deficit of approximately £10,000 for the year to 31 December 2015.
The Moderator thanked Mrs Linda Fleming and Mr Brian Kelly treasurer, for all their hard work on our behalf during the year.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The following reports had been circulated: -
a)Session Clerk.
b)Finance
c)Children & Youth Ministry
d)Communications
e)Mission & Outreach
f)Property
g)Ways & Means
h)Worship
i)Presbytery of Jedburgh
j)Morebattle Music
k)Yetholm Church Choir
l)Morebattle & Hownam Guild
m)Yetholm Guild
n)Coffee at the Kirk
o)Possilpark Twinning
p)Linton Kirk Heritage Appeal Fund
The above reports are filed with these minutes.
The meeting closed with the Benediction.
REPORTS
Session Clerk Report
The Session met five times during the year for normal business and thrice for single items of business.
They also held a conference to plan for the future of the congregation. Communion was celebrated seven times during morning worship, on Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve with evening communions rotating round the churches on the fourth Sunday of the month. The various committees met regularly and reported to the Session.
The Roll as at 31 December 2015 was attested as 352 members and 39 adherents. Yetholm Church has been re-dedicated and the Session are now looking and developing difference types of ministry with this great facility. Linda Fleming
Finance
The finance committee meet to support the treasurer, Brian Kelly and Gift Aid Convenor, Romie Scott and also to deals with various aspects of the financial running of a congregation including investments and insurance.The congregation general account continues to run at a deficit which cannot be sustained. The accounts prepared by Rennie Welch, to conform with OSCR regulations, are complicated and copies are available from myself or to view on our website. The committee have produced a budget for 2016 which shows a shortfall.
Linda Fleming
Children and Youth
The Children and Youth Ministry Team meet regularly to plan events to reach out to children and the youth. The highlight of the year was the Holiday club held in Yetholm church, it was wonderful to be able to hold this in our own premises and involve the whole congregation on the Sunday. It was also encouraging to have so many young leaders helping out this year. We continue to offer Cool Club in both schools, Toast Club in Yetholm and respond to request to support other events involving the young in the congregation. Safeguarding is also part of our remit, all those working with children in the congregation are now members of PVG Scheme. Thanks to Moira Keddie our safeguarding co-ordinator we comply with current legislation.
.
Linda Fleming
Communications
Remit of Communications Committee
- To Produce and distribute publicity materials as requested
by other committees
- To resource Cheviot magazine
- To use all available means to communicate church news and stories
- To recruit appropriate skills to enable the above tasks
Communication Committee continues to meet quarterly, to plan publication of Cheviot Magazine and for other business.
We hope that over the year, Cheviot has communicated church news and events clearly to the parish and beyond;it is good to see that all publications are now available on the church website.
Themes over the year have been Children, Rededication of our Church, including visit to Iona,Borders Abbey Way Pilgrimage, Stewardship and Music, all well received.
Notice of coming service and events are distributed via posters, rolling screens in village shops, Borderevents magazine, local press and church website.
Telling the story of our experience with Twinning partner Possilpark, at Hearts and Soul event in Princes Street Gardens during Assembly Week, was attended by folks from Possilpark, and Cheviot Church.Committee members were present at Church Stall at Yetholm Show where the Eco Baton was on display.
Annual lunch, much enjoyed at Templehall last year will take place in Border Hotel in March.
Grateful thanks to all those committed people who contribute in any way to Communications, from Robin’s expertise in editing, setting the print for our magazine, those who help print, assemble,deliver Cheviot, Stuart’s posters so easy to read,and to those who know where to put them in the right places.
Carol Butler
Mission and Outreach
We meet twice each year and this year we discussed a number of issues,the highlights of which are listed below. Our role is to be a forum to look at how we as a Church can promote Mission in our community and in a wider world roll. We distribute to our Church members the bi monthly World Mission Council magazine which helps us keep up with world events as they impact on the Church of Scotland.
Our main discussion centred on the amazing refurbishment of Yetholm Kirk and we looked at the impact on the community and visitors. We see the buildings as some of our best tools for reaching out to the wider community. Now that we have the new facilities at ground level we will be able to serve the older members and visitors with greater ease and safety.
Diane asked when the coffee mornings could be resumed as they have proved an outstanding success in the past. Robin pointed out that the building work was still ongoing and we would have to wait until the buildings are formerly handed back to us.
Trish drew our attention to the Guild research and the forthcoming Christian Aid week appeal.
The Elders packs are still available and the elders were to be encouraged to make good use of them as when they have been used in the past they have been warmly welcomed by folk moving in to our area.
We reflected on the World Mission Council and in particular the bi monthly magazine which is circulated in all our churches reminding us of our responsibility to the wider world.
It was noted that the York Lent Studies would be on the Psalms at Otterburn and the Sunday Series yet to be decided.
There was a discussion around the distribution of the Welcome Packs and an exhortation to elders and others to ensure they are delivered to folk moving into the Parish.
It was noted the coffee mornings are continuing monthly.
It was noted that the Harvest Service round the tables in Yetholm has had an impact on many people for different reasons and the virtue of sitting with others face to face and conversation before and after worship lifted outreach for many not regular in church.
The missional possibilities triggered by above need extended into the other places of worship.
The Stewardship notes should trigger some missional possibilities and would be studied over the coming year as they mirror experiences elsewhere of the Emerging Church
A short discussion around world church issues took place with the thought we might be hosting a monthly prayer for Palestine session such as Trish attended in Selkirk. The world Mission booklet Living Stones was shown to members.
Arthur Bates
Property
The completion of the Yetholm Project in terms of physical rebuilding occupied a good part of the year once it got going. We accomplished this well within budget and secured granting to cover the bulk of the costs including the generous response of members and friends to an appeal. The project is being seen as an excellent example of adaptation to be a church in the 21st Century by the wider church. Within the heading of Property the Session has embarked on the execution of selling our present manse and building a new modern home on a suitable plot. During the year permissions have been sought and negotiations begun. There are a number of items we are carrying forward to 2016 as a number of masonry tasks are still in hand through a contractor not getting round to them. We have instructed the work elsewhere. It is worth remembering that we have 5 substantial Church properties and a Manse to care for and this requires constant monitoring.
Robin McHaffie
Ways and Means
Meetings take place at the Manse approx 4 times a year and more regularly for sub-committee arranging fete.
Members of the Committee: Amanda Barnes, Bill Thomson, John Thompson, Robin McHaffie, Margaret Gibson, Grace Cessford, Simon Oldham, Sarah Butler
Events of 2015
Andante Choir raised £335
Auction - raised £5629
Golf at Roxburgh - raised £930
Hownam Coffee Morning £482
Table top sale and BBQ together raised £1000.
Plans for 2016
July 2016 - Golf Day at the Roxburgh Golf Course, organised by Bill Thomson
September 4th - Fete at Mainhouse, Robin’s last service, Organised by Fete committee with Joe and Christine Scott Plummer
November 12th - BMVC choir, concert at Yetholm Kirk
Coffee morning and possible other plans as yet unplanned.
Worship
Much of the year was taken with the final stages of the refurbishment of Yetholm Church. Yetholm had to move out for several months and the decision was made to move in with Morebattle and Linton. This was a very positive experience and led the Session to consider joint summer services in July and August to continue strengthening the bond within Cheviot Churches. Worship Committee met through the year and resourced consideration of worship to acknowledge the presence of the Eco-Baton on its way to Paris, the season of teaching on Stewardship and the rededication service by Presbytery of the renovated Yetholm Kirk. This was a very moving and affirming evening and we were delighted to welcome guests from Edale – the other end of the Pennine Way. It was agreed by the Session that we would conduct Tuesday Evening Prayers in Yetholm from December to end February. On our Agenda we bring to the Session planning and details of Lent Studies, Pilgrimage and Retreat. Wednesday Morning and Sunday Evening Lent studies continue to have a place in the life of the congregation. In April a group went to Iona on retreat staying at Bishop’s house and this was most rewarding for participants. We were accompanied by the Rev Peter Millar one-time Joint Warden of the Abbey with his late wife Dorothy.
Robin McHaffie
Christian Aid Report 2015
This year Christian Aid celebrated 70 years of fundraising and campaigning in support of the disadvantaged people around the world. In Scotland hardy folk commemorated this by climbing 70 Munros - mountains over 3,000ft - in all weathers (mostly not very good!) to mark 70 years of walking in solidarity with our partners, 70 years of overcoming poverty and 70 years of moving mountains of injustice. The last climb - in brilliant sunshine -was just before the conference held in Edinburgh in October. This was an excellent day and speakers included 3 of our partners; from India, from the |Palestinian Occupied Territories and from Bolivia.
The partner from Bolivia is the manager of the Christian Aid Project, ‘Caring for Mother Earth’, which is being supported by the Church of Scotland Guild for the next 3 years. Trish Gentry is a volunteer speaker for this.
Earlier in the summer the new country manager for Malawi, Pansi Katenga,was in Scotland and it was wonderful to meet this energetic and erudite woman and hear her speak about the Mothers of Malawi Project for which there is a touring photographic exhibition. (At time of writing this it is planned to bring it to Yetholm at the beginning of March).
The house to house collection during Christian Aid Week raised £1,597. This was down from the year before which was £1,981,25. Only cash amounts appear through the church account as cheques are sent directly to Christian Aid.
Trish Gentry
Eco -congregation Scotland
Cheviot churches became a member of this movement in 2015 and you may have read how the Climate Change Baton came to our primary schools on the way to the conference in Paris. To me the key word is congregation, meaning people and not just the environmentally friendliness of our church buildings. There are leaflets in all our buildings explaining a little more. We all need to look at how we treat our surrounding and steward our resources. I have taken this on board because it fits in with so much of the work that I see through Christian Aid. The Guild Project in Bolivia is a strand of climate justice and helping communities to become more resilient to the extremes of weather events, something we are having to look at close to home. I found this quote that I have copied down at sometime in the run up to a previous climate change conference.
The climate has gone mad - we don’t know when the rains will arrive or how much it will be. Sometimes there is not enough and the harvest fails. Sometimes there is too much and crops are spoiled or washed away and even our livelihoods and homes are destroyed. We never have much money even at the best of times and cannot afford to replace lost animals and buildings. We can build stronger houses but that needs money. Christian Aid partners help us thanks to the generosity of people in rich countries but we cannot go on like this. We need the climate to be normal again. We can only do that if everybody helps. We do not make long journeys or have houses full of gadgets. We very simply respect the environment but it is no longer respecting us.
Trish Gentry
Presbytery 2015
The Presbytery of Jedburgh met 8 times for ordinary business including one in Morebattle Church. In June there was an ad hoc meeting to celebrate the rededication of the refurbished Yetholm Church building. This was an open meeting and a wonderful occasion but with a disappointing attendance. Having begun the year with a full complement of ministers 2015 ended with 4 vacancies. This was due to 2 ministers demitting and a change in the Presbytery plan for the Kelso grouping and one retirement facilitating movement in the Presbytery Plan for the Hawick area. The current plan has been agreed by the relevant committee in Edinburgh. Several adjustments have had to be made to provide locum ministry and interim moderators for the various charges involved.
During the year there were presentations from the World Mission Council and from NHS Borders. At the end of a year the appointment of a new chaplain for the area hospitals was imminent. Reports were given throughout the year from various conferences and consultations and in June a report from the 2 Guild councils was received. We were asked to look at criteria for all church buildings and halls as part of the presbytery plan. In September Robin McHaffie took over from Douglas Nichol as Presbytery Moderator. Linda Fleming remains a valued member of Presbytery. Trish Gentry continues as Presbytery Elder representing the Session somewhat reluctantly. Not because this is not an interesting and sometimes rewarding post but because it would be good for a change of personnel and for someone else to become more aware of the wider work and management the church and the various committees.
Trish Gentry
Morebattle Music
Choir
As of the end of 2015 we number 12.
The choir continues its weekly practices in Morebattle Church on Tuesday mornings. We prepare for Sunday worship as well as for any joint events in the united parish. We continue to explore unfamiliar hymns and choir pieces from the hymnbook and elsewhere, and introduce these to the congregation during morning worship.