EDINBURGH NORTHWEST KIRK ANNOUNCEMENTS
7 - 13 December 2025
Minister : Reverend Julia A Cato
Organist : Simon Bertram
Hymns & Readings -
Hymn numbers : 685, 275, 661, 281
Readings – Isaiah 11 : 1 - 10 & Matthew 3 : 1 - 12
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WELCOME TO WORSHIP at Pennywell Kirk in church and on-line. We are glad you have been able to join us.
FURTHER INFORMATION on many of the following announcements is available from Louise in the Cramond Kirk Office or from Alan Fisher at Pennywell Kirk (fishatthewell@hotmail.com). The Cramond Kirk office is open from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, Monday to Friday. Louise can also be contacted on 336 2036 or by e-mail at office@cramondkirk.org.uk.
CONTACTS If you need to contact the Minister, Julia’s phone number is 07706 454148 and her email address is jcato@churchofscotland.org.uk and our Pastoral Assistant, Reverend Jessie Fubara-Manuel can be contacted on 07305 622493 or at JFubara-Manuel@churchofscotland.org.uk
THE KIRK OFFICE will be closed on Friday, 12 December.
RETIRING COLLECTION There will be a retiring collection in support of the Sunday Explorers’ chosen charity following the 10 am service at Cramond Kirk on Sunday, 14 December.
THE 2025 ADVENT BIBLE STUDY is taking place at 7 pm on the 4 Tuesday evenings of Advent and is covering the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Please note all of the Bible study evenings are on-line only and the zoom link is available from Reverend Julia A Cato at jcato@churchofscotland.org.uk. The second meeting on Tuesday, 9 December, is on the theme of Peace and will look at Isaiah 11 : 1 - 10 and Matthew 3 : 1 – 12.
MANY THANKS to everyone who supported Guidings’ recent bake sale. The sale made £735 and lots of happy customers.
EDINBURGH NORTHWEST KIRK SERVICE TIMES At the Kirk Session meeting on Monday, it was decided to introduce new worship times from the summer of 2026. The decision was not made lightly and had sparked a lot of debate within the Worship Team and again at Session. The past year has highlighted the many challenges that need to be overcome to succeed in this but it was generally agreed that now is the time to address them. In the meantime the pattern of services will continue with joint services at the start of each month and 8.45 am & 10 am services at Cramond and an 11 am service at Pennywell on the remaining Sundays.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2025 is open! The trees will remain in Cramond Kirk until Sunday, 4 January 2026 and the Kirk will be open to all visitors on 10 December (11 am – 2 pm) and 14 December (3 pm – 5 pm). Pennywell’s Festival will be open to the public from 14 – 21 December between 3 pm and 5 pm daily. Please do come along and enjoy “Our Enchanted Christmas”.
THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ There’s still time to pick up your copy of this year’s Christmas quiz which are available at the Kirk doors and in the Kirk Hall. Hours of entertainment for you and your families for just £1 and all money raised will go towards the Christmas Fair charities – Fresh Start, the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and the Kirk. The deadline for entries is Monday, 5 January 2026.
THE VISITING TEAM CHRISTMAS SERVICE is being held at 2 pm on Wednesday, 10 December in Cramond Kirk Hall. The doors open at 1.30 pm and following the service there’ll be lots of music and singing, chat and fun and a tasty afternoon tea. All are welcome so come along and enjoy a happy afternoon.
CHRISTMAS CLUB AT CRAMOND It’s time to look out the glitter and glue, the Christmas sing-a-longs and lots of fun and games as the Christmas Club returns to Cramond on Monday, 22 December from 10 am – 1 pm. Primary aged children from 4 years upwards are welcome. Further details and registration forms are available by emailing enkholidayclub@gmail.com. And if you can spare an hour or so and can help out, we’d be very grateful. Please let Louise in the Kirk Office know if you’d like to join the team.
THE GATHERING SPACE CAFÉ will be closing for Christmas at 1 pm on Saturday, 13 December. Heather & Kathy wish everyone a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back in 2026.
‘THE PLACE TO BE’ COFFEE MORNING is celebrating Christmas with a number of outings. On Monday, 15 December there’s a special outing and on Monday, 22 December it’s a visit to Fort Kinnaird’s Christmas Market so there will be no coffee mornings in Pennywell Kirk Hall on those dates. The coffee morning then breaks for Christmas and returns on Monday, 12 January. Further details are available from Violetta on 07305 848150. All are welcome.
A GAMES & MOVIE AFTERNOON is being held in Pennywell Kirk Hall on Sunday, 14 December. From 1 pm to 3 pm the Uno cards will be out again followed at 3.30 pm by a Christmas film. All are welcome to either or both.
CRAMOND COMMUNITY CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT is being held in Cramond Kirk Hall on Tuesday, 16 December at 7.30 pm. There are still a few tickets available (£10 each). If you’d like to attend, please contact Ian Huggan at iwhuggan@gmail.com.
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT The Cramond Association's Carols by Candlelight celebration is taking place at 7 pm on Wednesday, 17 December in Cramond Kirk Hall. We warmly welcome you all to this very special celebration – tickets cost £6.50 for adults and £3.25 for under 16s and are available HERE.
FRESH START Many thanks for all the festive treats and toiletries. Please do keep the donations coming, including toiletries. Donations can be left in the Fresh Start box in the Kirk Hall at any time or delivered to the Fresh Start warehouse at 22-24 Ferry Road Drive from Mon–Thurs, 9 am – 4 pm. However, please note the warehouse will be closed from 17 December until 6 January.
EDINBURGH NORTHWEST KIRK SERVICES
Sunday, 14 December – Advent 3
(Minister : Reverend Julia Cato)
8.45 am : Morning Prayers
10.00 am : Nativity Service
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Sunday, 21 December – Advent 4
(Congregation-led service)
8.45 am : Morning Prayers
10.00 am : Service of Lessons & Carols
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Christmas Eve
(Minister : Reverend Julia Cato)
11.00 pm : Christmas Songs
11.30 pm : Watchnight Service
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Christmas Day
(Minister : Reverend Julia Cato)
at Pennywell Kirk
Sunday, 14 December – Advent 3
(Minister : Reverend Jessie Fubara-Manuel)
11.00 am : Morning Worship
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Sunday, 21 December – Advent 4
(Minister : Reverend Julia A Cato)
11.00 am : Nativity Service
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Christmas Eve
(Minister : Reverend Julia Cato)
4.00 pm : All Age Christmas Service
LIVE STREAMING Please note that the 10 am service at Cramond Kirk and the 11 am service at Pennywell Kirk are live streamed to the Kirk website every Sunday morning. The cameras will focus on the front of the Kirks – the pulpit, lectern and Communion Table. However some of those sitting at the front may also be in camera shot. For those of you watching from home, the links to the services can be found HERE.
FACEBOOK Edinburgh Northwest Kirk’s Facebook page can be found HERE so please do keep in touch to check all the latest news & happenings and if you do visit, please remember to “share” our page.