Welcome to the East Mainland Church website.
Due to threat of Coronavirus/Covid-19 all Church services are cancelled until further notice.

Situated in Holm, the East Mainland Church is the local centre for worship for the  historical parishes of Deerness, Holm and St Andrews now worshipping together as East Mainland Parish each Sunday at 11am. Visitors are always welcome.

Tea is served after services on the first Sunday each month.
Minister          -   Rev. Wilma Johnston   Tel. 01856781797
Treasurer        -  Gareth Williams            Tel. 01856741395

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All You Need is Love….as the song goes
 
While writing this, I am conscious that the New Year is well underway and, before we know it, we shall be in the month of February. The shops are reminding us that it will soon be Valentine’s Day – when thoughts turn to hearts, flowers and LOVE!
 
As the shops and supermarkets start to overflow with chocolates, cards, heart-shaped gifts and the inevitable oceans of flowers, I wonder where is the love in all this?
Some years ago, it made me very sad to hear that folk in a certain African country were desperately short of water. Was it because of drought caused by global warming or some sort of other natural disaster, you ask.  No! ….it was because most of the water resources of that country were being used for irrigation. The water was being taken to produce cut flowers – roses – to satisfy the demands of the European markets. These same roses were exported and sold in this country, for many times the cost paid to the African growers, and to the cost of the African folk in precious water. And this … all in the name of LOVE ….red roses for Valentine’s Day?
Is this what Jesus meant by putting love first?
 
Perhaps children have got it right. They tell it how it is, especially when it comes to such important things as love. No wonder Jesus said that we must become like children –to see things as they really are – clearly and without complication. As six-year-old Amy confided to her daddy when he was kissing her goodnight, “I’ve been thinking. If people minded their own business and loved each other, there wouldn’t be all this fighting in the world.”
 
As we move towards Easter, this great theme of love echoes through Lent, Mothering Sunday and Holy Week  until Easter Day itself…..and beyond. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…. he put love first, whatever the cost. Through us, God’s love can reach beyond our community and these islands.

Let us try to share this love, in words and acts of compassion and kindness, to bring greater happiness and peace to our world…..today, this Easter and always.
 
The best of love…..
 
Val Kitchen.

​Thinking of getting married in church or in the Italian Chapel? See the options here