Sunday 1st. September, 2019 at 10.30 a.m. A large congregation gathered for a very special service. It was special because this was the first service since we completed the three year period of continued services which Presbytery allowed us following the retirement of the previous minister. The real challenge for us was to get over that line — and although it has been clear for several months that we now have a longer term future, it was really good to be worshipping in Fogo Church with the three year date now past.

But Sunday was special for real reasons as well! Particularly because we celebrated the Baptism of Alison and then the confirmation of both Alison and Laura. It was a most memorable service.

After some wonderful hymns, two Bible readings narrating the baptism of the Ethiopian pilgrim by Philip and the Philippian jailer and his family by Paul, and a short talk on the significance of these events for us today, Alison was baptised using the font lent to us by the congregation at Burnmouth whose church is closing.

The baptism was followed by the confirmation of Baptismal promises by Laura and Alison, after which they were presented with certificates, books and flowers and invited not only to participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion but also to share in leading the service by carrying out the bread to the congregation. The service then came to a glorious conclusion with the singing of the old Scottish paraphrase ‘I’m not ashamed to own my Lord’.

After the service there was a short meeting of the Kirk Session and Congregational Board to which all members of the congregation were invited to contribute. The most important item of business was the decision to show our thanks to God for his goodness to us as a congregation by making a donation of £5,000 to the development programme of Eyemouth Parish Church, one of the sister congregations within our presbytery.

Then everyone made their way to Liz and Jim’s home for lunch served in the Church marquee.

It was there that Molly took this picture of Pete and Melanie with Laura and Alison. The significance of the picture is that Pete and Melanie were Alison’s Baptismal sponsors and will provide her with support within our church family.

At three in the afternoon musicians from the Edrom Casals Centre provided an excellent concert under the leadership of Lucy Cowan. They were ably supported by Heather Cattanach and Heather Playfair and the concert reached an exciting conclusion with a performance of Bach’s double violin concerto. It had been a splendid day.