At a service held at Trinity Parish Church, Hamilton on Thursday, 30 October 2014, Lindsay Turnbull was Ordained and Inducted as the Congregation’s new Minister.

Lindsay is a graduate of Heriot-Watt University and of the University of Edinburgh, and worked as a community pharmacist before commencing her studies for the ministry.

She has served previously as locum minister at St. Andrew’s Memorial Church in Jerusalem and latterly as locum minister at Craigentinny St. Christopher’s in Edinburgh (her home church).

Presbytery met in conference session on Tuesday, 7 October 2014 when the Rev. Dr. Alister Bull, Secretary to the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church, addressed those present.Alister spoke on contemporary mission in Scotland and whether this should be regarded as a ‘crisis or opportunity’, highlighting how we are called by God to make a difference, to be part of the transformation of lives, to provide leadership and to show the links between life and health, spirituality and well-being.

A Service at The New Wellwynd Parish Church, Airdrie, Sunday, 21 September 2014 saw Jim Murphy, a Reader in Presbytery, was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament as part of the Ordained Local Ministry.Jim has been assigned to work with the Presbytery office, allowing him to support the work of the Clerks and deployment Presbytery-wide when required.

Scott McInnes was recognised as a graduate candidate for the full time ministry of the Church at a Service held in the South Parish Church, Motherwell on Thursday, 18 September 2014.Scott will serve his probationary placements with the Presbytery of Glasgow.

A four-person delegation from the Presbytery of Kwahu in Ghana were very impressed with what they saw during a recent ten-day visit to the Presbytery of Hamilton during which a revised Twinning Agreement was signed.

The original agreement was signed in 2010 which prompted a visit to Kwahu by a team of eight representatives of Hamilton Presbytery: twinning links then started to be formed between churches and schools.

Irene Anderson, convener of the Presbytery’s World Church Committee, said: “We are hoping this revised agreement will enable us to further develop the concept which has already proved very popular with everyone who has become involved.

“The Kwahu delegation, headed by their own Moderator Rev Paa Bonsafo, were very impressed with so many features and experiences they came across.

“They visited several churches and schools, including Morningside Primary in Newmains where they thoroughly enjoyed the musical performance by pupils.

“They also attended a number of church social events, and were very impressed with Wellhall House, the Church of Scotland Care Home in Hamilton – they just don’t have anything like that in Kwahu.

“We also arranged for them to visit other area of Scotland, including David Livingstone Centre, Edinburgh, sail on Lock Katrine - returning via Loch Lomond, and Glasgow Cathedral with tour of Transport Museum and Science Centre.”

During the tour, a Prayer Shawl was presented to the Moderator’s wife Mrs Theresa Bonsafo by Clare McKenzie on behalf of the South Presbytery Guild.

Hamilton Presbytery has elected as its Moderator for 2014-15 the Rev. Fiona Nicolson, minister of Coatbridge: New St. Andrew’s Church, in succession to the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Schluter, Larkhall Trinity Church.

The appointment was made at the September meeting of Presbytery in Motherwell Dalziel St. Andrew’s Church.

The new Moderator said: “I am extraordinarily humbled at the opportunity to be Moderator. I am going to do my very best to live up to the role - and will need everyone’s support and prayers.”

On taking up her new role, the former convener of the Parish Development Committee relinquishes her role as a member of the Pastoral Support Committee.

As parish minister, she is chaplain of Greenhill and Drumpark Primary Schools.