Diana Mackie recently received a long letter - and many photos (along with several videos) - from Hriday Basumata, our twinning correspondent in Mahakalguri. There's plenty of news to share!

Dear Diana,

Greetings from Mahakalguri. I hope you are all well. It is a pretty long time that we are just silent and nothing being heard. However, I was a bit mentally retarded due to sudden stroke of my sister and her treatment in different Hospital and Nursing Homes for the last 7 months. Although she has overcome life threatened seriousness but lost the mobility and totally bedridden now. Still hopping the she will stand and walk again someday. Thankful to God that He has saved my sister. Please, pray for miracle and recovery for my sister.

By this time, we had lots of activities in our Diocese and Pastorate. We got a new Bishop Rt. Rev. Roshan Thapa in the month of July this year. Since formation of Church of North India in November 1970 we had no Bishop from the local Presbyters. Bishops were appointed from other Diocese of CNI and also there were no Bishop in the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya since 2010 till date and the Diocese was running by Moderator’s Commissaries posted time to time by the Synod.

The newly formed Men’s Fellowship in our pastorate successfully visited all churches in the month of September this year. A one day Seminar of Men’s Fellowship on the theme “The Role of Man in Home and the Church” and on “Financial Management in Christian Family and the Church” was very successfully organized on 5th October at Dan Chandra Memorial Church for the first time in the pastorate. We are thankful to God for this event where men memberships of all the 5 churches of the pastorate participated enthusiastically. The one day seminar of the Women Fellowship also colourfully organized in the Mahakalguri Mission School Hall on 10th October.

On 2nd November we organized a Eastern Duars Regional WFCS One Day Seminar successfully. The number of participants from the churches of 4 pastorates was truly much encouraging. Everyone was truly blessed with the wonderful sermon by Rev. David Hansda of Jalpaiguri of our Diocese. The church visits of WFCS is over on last Sunday the 6th of this month. We had very lively get together in my small church Dan Chandra Memorial Church of Pototola village.

The churches and family visits of Youth and Sunday school Fellowship in 5 churches of the pastorate is going on successfully. Truly it is a wonderful blessing of God in connecting people and God through this young children. They have visited every house and even houses of two families who are staying far at a distances of 10 and 18 km away from Mahakalguri. They will complete their program by early December. The Women Fellowship will do the same in November.

Twinning Co-ordinator for our Diocese Mr. Bill Stevenson is on the way to India. He will be visiting Mahakalguri and surrounding pastorates on 15th and 16th of this month. We are eagerly waiting for him prayerfully for his safe journey.
Finally, it is a good news that we have started construction of new church demolishing the old wooden church of Mahakalguri and a New construction of Church on new location in Taleswarguri Church of the Pastorate and the construction work going on smoothly. Please keep in your prayers for the financial sufficiency and early completion of the constructions.

It is further to inform that the Diocesan Twinning Meeting is being held on 18th instant. Please pray for the success and blessing of Lord Jesus on the meeting.

Apart from the church, me. My wife and the children in US are all fine in His grace and Mercy.

Prayerfully Yours,
Hriday

All of the proceeds from Caring Christmas Trees goes directly towards the work of Bethany Christian Trust, helping to fund their work on Homelessness Prevention, Crisis Intervention, and Housing and Support. Bethany works to alleviate the suffering and meet the long-term needs of people facing homelessness, or the risk of homelessness.

Trees can be collected from Belhaven on Saturday 14 December. If you are willing to volunteer to help onsite on the day, please sign up on the Caring Christmas Trees website.

The annual report and unaudited financial statements for Belhaven and Spott Church for the year ending 31 December 2023 are now available to be viewed in the below PDF:

A Q&A session will follow the talk in Spott Church, covering more in-depth research into local families. Refreshments will be available, as well as an opportunity to view displays of Spott Parish archives. In the event of inclement weather, an illustrated version of the talk will be presented in the church.

East Lothian Council have now launched the full programme of events for the fortnight. Details and the booking facility can be found on the John Gray Centre website at this link. Numbers for the event will be restricted to two groups of 25, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Saturday; if you have difficulty booking a place, please call 01368 863035.

The displays will also be accessible in the church on Wednesday 4 September, Wednesday 11 September and Saturday 14 September from at 10 a.m. to Noon and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and also on Sunday 8 September from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The 1650 Battle of Dunbar Exhibition will also be open at these times.

With the combination of David Anderson’s amazing wealth of knowledge and the rich history of our church, this is an event not to be missed!

Donation envelopes will be available at Belhaven and Spott churches from the beginning of May and can be handed in at either church. Alternatively, you can donate online at Dunbar Christian Aid Envelope - Christian Aid Fundraise.

You are also warmly invited to attend an ecumenical Songs of Praise service in Belhaven Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday 12 May. The hymns will be chosen by members of all congregations in the Dunbar area. There will be a retiring collection for Christian Aid, and refreshments will be served afterwards in the Church Hall.