The latest news from the parish

Refurbishment of the Manse
The Manse in Denholm - vacant since Rev. Jones and family departed - has now been extensively refurbished. The works included installation of a new ktichen, the conversion of the old kitchen into a utility room, extensive recarpeting, painting and cleaning; minor repairs and a thorough make-over of the garden. Both Ruberslaw and Hobkirk with Southdean Parishes can now be proud of the accomodation that will be offered to any prospective minister by the Nominating Committee. As such an event may be some way off, the Manse has been let on a Short Assured Tenancy as from 21 July 2008 with the full co-operation of the Church of Scotland General Trustees. The proceeds will be held for Fabric matters. Our thanks are extended to all those on Ruberslaw Fabric Committee who put so much time and effort into completing this project to budget and within a relatively short period.

Vacany progress
A Nominating Committee has been constituted with representatives from both parishes - six from Hobkirk & Southdean, and seven from Ruberslaw. This committee now has the task of advertising the vacancy, producing a parish profile, and meeting prospective ministers. Any regular worshippers who are not on the Congregational Roll are invited to apply to have their name added to an electoral roll which will enable them to vote in the election of the new minister when he or she is presented to the congregation. The likely course of events is that over the next month or two there will be many meetings and notices in church. Then it will all go very quiet - but do not be deceived; the Nominating Committee will be very busy. In the meantime you can pray for the whole process and for those who have been given the responsibility to fill the vacancy.

Anthony's farewell to the parish
Our minister, Revd. Anthony Jones, preached his last service for us on Sunday, 25th November.  His service of induction at his new charge inin Argyll was held at the High Kirk, Dunoon, on Saturday 15th December at 2:30pm., and we send Anthony and his family  our warmest wishes for this new chapter in their lives.

Memorial bench: David "Wolfie" Wolfenden
Following the Annual Service of Remembrance on Sunday 11th November, a bench was dedicated by the Minister in memory of David "Wolfie" Wolfenden.  The seat - commissioned by three wise men of this parish, namely Timmy Douglas, David Skinner and Henry Douglas - sits just alongside the main entrance to Hobkirk Church and was crafted by the Session Clerk, David McFayden.  The inscription - by Timmy - reads:

"WOLFIE"
The unforgettable David Woolfenden of Wolfelee
English gentleman, adopted Irishman and naturalised Borderer.
One of the best

A short account of the United Service of Hobkirk & Southdean with Ruberslaw - Sunday 23rd September at Denholm Church

The Minister welcomed everyone including the special friends and visitors from across the parish from Hobkirk & Southdean linked charge to the United Service. This was the sixth unique service of its type instituted during his ministry.  The intimations included a big thank you to all who supported the Parish Church Fete on Denholm Green on Saturday, which realised £520 for church funds. Readers at the service were Helen Howden (Denholm) and Stuart Scott (Hobkirk).  The theme of the sermon was "God is a God of Surprises" (nothing is ever dull with God). The well known text was from John's Gospel:

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but, have everlasting life"

With humour the minister contrasted the thoughts of the regular church-goer who might get into a rut and find church-life always boring (no matter what hymns are sung or who the preacher is!) with the non-attender who might criticise from without but would never attempt to enrich church life by being in the pews themselves; and then with those who never cease to see God acting in a surprising way in their lives - every day is a blessing full of surprises for them. He also referred to having travelled thousands of miles in his ministry over the years 'between the churches of Hobkirk and Southdean with Ruberslaw.' "Each time of worship is different, though the folk are the same at both Hobkirk and Ruberslaw. We have friends in both parishes. But they are the same people under the skin. The essential thing is not the place or building but, that we share the same rich fellowship of the christian faith."

Brenda Glennie [Hobkirk) and Alison Henderson (Ruberslaw) shared the door and offering duty, and the service ended in the fellowship of coffee, cakes and biscuits.

The next service in the Spring will be at Hobkirk and will be confirmed after the Joint Kirk Session on 29th January, 2008.

Heritage service for the Turnbull clan
On Wednesday 13th June, a special Heritage service was held at Bedrule on behalf of some very special guests from across the Atlantic: representatives of the Turnbull family, who were visiting to commemorate the family's origins from this parish.  A short service within the church was followed by a "heritage" event during which a flag at bearing the Turnbull arms was raised at the site of the old castle on the hill behind the church.

Click here for a short account of the Turnbulls' visit with photographs
Click here to visit the Turnbull family website

New communicants
On Easter Day,  new communicants Eben Colin and Margaret Louise Kirkpatrick were confirmed into the Church.  A very warm welcome to them both.  We hope that a further service of confirmation will be held shortly to extend the welcome to Tom Stamper of Minto parish.

BB success!
Congratulations to Robert Bailey and Samuel Jones of 1st Denholm, Boys Brigade, who have won the Boys Brigade Borders Battalion Painting Competition.

New Brownies leader appointed
1st Denholm Brownie Pack is pleased to welcome Karla Pearce to it's leadership.  The pack continues to meet in the Church Hall in Denholm at 6pm on Thursday evenings.  New members are warmly invited.

New Minister at Kelso Country Churches
On Wednesday 7th March, 2007 a new minister was ordained and inducted at Stichill into the Kelso Country Churches grouping (formerly Revd Valerie Watson's parish) - combining Smailholm, Roxburgh, Stichill, Hume & Nethorn parish churches. Revd. Jenny Earl hails from the Borders area and studied and trained at New College, Edinburgh. Upon the retirement of Revd Marion Dodd, and in agreement with Presbytery plan, Revd Earl's parish will be extended to include Kelso Old and Sprouston. Your Minister  served on the Vacancy Procedures Committee during the vacancy in the parish (since Valerie Watson left) and is highly delighted that a minister has been secured so quickly!  Welcome Jenny and many happy years of ministry to you in the Borders.

New Communicants
On Easter Day - Sunday 8th April - the family service at Denholm Church will include a Service of Confirmation. It is hoped that the following new communicants will be confirmed by the Minister: Alan Williamson of Minto Parish; Eben Colin Kirkpatrick of Bedrule Parish; Margaret Anderson of Trinity Parish, Hawick; Tom Stamper of Minto Parish.

Joint Kirk Session
The Joint Kirk Session met at Hobkirk Church on Ash Wednesday, 21st February. Click here for a summary of the meeting.

Christmas Service 2007
At the last Hobkirk Session on 6th February a motion was carried to hold the Christmas service at Hobkirk this year, not Southdean. It was agreed to give it a try to assess the response - please let us know!

If you have any news or intimations related to parish life, please get in touch with the website editor by clicking here.  You can also see past news stories on our news archive page, which you can get to by clicking here or the "Archive" link below. Please bear with us, though - this is a new site so the archive is inevitably a little thin at present; help us along by sending us anything you think would be of interest to anyone browsing our site. Thanks!