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We had a wonderful Harvest Thanksgiving celebration on Sunday, 4th October, in Humbie Church. The church was decorated beautifully - many thanks to all the joint efforts of the flower team!
You can see a recording of the service here:
Many many thanks to all who came along and helped this weekend.
In our closing prayer, we considered grains freshly harvested in the parish, and took some sunflower seeds with us, ready to be planted as a symbol for all we want to grow and cultivate.
We closed with a prayer by Tom Gordon: As you go from here, may you enjoy the stillness of the forests; may you gaze on the beauty of the hills; may you be soothed by the sounds of the sea. And may you know that God hears the beat of your heart, the gentleness of your breathing, the yearnings of your soul, the expansiveness of your searching, the depths of your desires and the mysteries of your mind. Many thanks to all participants!
Like in previous years, we are glad to be able to support the Blythswood Christmas Shoe Box Appeal again. Blythswood says: A simple shoebox packed with love and care can mean so much. Every year, thousands of people take part in Blythswood’s Shoe Box Appeal, filling shoeboxes with gifts for children and adults affected by poverty, trauma and exploitation. A shoebox filled with simple, practical items such as toiletries, stationery, clothing, sweets and a small gift can bring joy to someone who may have very little. It is about more than the things inside. Each box is personal. Each one is an expression of care. Each one lets someone know they have not been forgotten. Since our first Shoe Box Appeal in 1993, we have delivered more than 2.9 million shoeboxes – each one is different, each one personal, each one an expression of your care and kindness towards a stranger in need. The individually-wrapped boxes have been distributed in churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages and care homes, and to households in very low-income communities. Many have gone to people affected by the war in Ukraine. This Christmas, your shoebox could help us reach even more people. Where will my shoebox go? Shoeboxes are delivered through our trusted partners to people in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. Once your box has been checked, Blythswood will also add a Bible storybook for children, a story of a life transformed by Jesus for teenagers or a calendar with Bible verses for adults.  If you would like to fill a shoebox, please check this leaflet, and bring your shoebox to church by Sunday, 25th October. Many thanks to Jim and Liz for coordinating our collection! 
Our next Messy Church will take place on Sunday, 15th November, 4-6pm, in the Village Hall in Humbie, and all children of preschool and primary school age, together with their adults, are warmly invited! We have a wonderful team, and it would be lovely to see more children join in, so please spread the word.
We are offering another Reflective Morning on Saturday, 3rd October, in Humbie Kirk and Stables, following last Advent’s event with participants from our own area as well as from further afield in Presbytery. The peaceful surroundings of the beautiful church with the woodland and the river close-by, and the newly renovated Stables offer an ideal space for our Morning for Reflection.
Feedback for last year’s event included 'How wonderful it was - thoughtful, mind provoking, intimate' and 'What a beautiful way to spend the morning. It was a lovely way to take time away from the outside world. The setting at Humbie was gorgeous surrounded with the river and the woods. An ideal location to take time out. The food and hospitality was amazing.' Refreshments will be on offer throughout the morning, and we’re very pleased that Elizabeth and Guy have kindly agreed to look after the food again. Suggested donation £10. Book your place by contacting us.
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