A pan and tilt device is purchased.  This allows the video camera to be moved remotely.  Together with the camera's own remote zoom function, it can now be used to follow activity in the Chancel area more closely.

Insulated flasks are purchased to carry hot liquids through from the kitchen to the halls. Previously, kettles and teapots had been carried and/or an urn sat on the stage.  Both these methods were considered to be risky and should no longer be used.  A trolley is also obtained.  New cups and saucers were purchased to replace broken and damaged crockery.

A new Parish Grouping printer is purchased to replace the original machine which is showing signs of age and becoming unreliable.  St John's pays the full purchase price and Kirkton agree to refund their share over a period of 5 years.  St Andrew's decides not to be involved with the printer purchase and maintenance, but will have access on a per copy basis.

Lanark Presbytery Plan Review Group presents its proposals to Presbytery and congregations in a meeting in Kirkton Church in June.  For Carluke, the Plan proposes that a United Parish of Carluke (made up from all three churches of Scotland congregations), served by 1 minister and 1.7 Parish Worker.  The Plan is rejected.

A young member, Gordon Robson, currently a medical student in Glasgow, is sponsored by the congregation to visit a hospital in Zambia.  He takes donations from the congregation.

This year's Holiday Club, Rocky's Plaice, is held in St John's halls.  A group of the leaders are, once again, invited to visit Jedburgh.

Souper Sunday 2011 is held in September to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

No Parking cones are purchased to be used at front of church when funerals etc are held.  This is necessary due to large amount of parking around the front door, including on church ground.

A Christmas Day lunch is held, for the first time, for those in and around Carluke in need.

Several members of St John's and other town churches complete a listening course, run by Acorn in Scotland. This will allow them to offer a sympathetic listening ear to people's problems.

Smart Water is applied to the lead on roof. This allows the lead to be uniquely labelled and identified as "ours". Apart from the crime-stopping potential, the application of this treatment means that 100% of any loss is covered by insurance (50% without the treatment).

A new printer, for the use of the Parish Grouping churches, replaces the previous one which is worn out. It is bought outright by St John's with Kirkton church re-paying their share over a five-year period, and St Andrew's paying a copy charge as they use it. As before, the printer is based in Kirkton office.

In response to concerns about potential for accidents with stacking tables, storage cradles are purchased.

Two extra cameras are added to the CCTV system to provide a wider area under observation.

A fortnightly "Time for Prayer" is instituted by the Parish Grouping. Prayers, spoken or silent, will be offered for the Mission Priorities, the three Church of Scotland congregations and the Parish Grouping.

A Food Bank is established, initially housed in premises of New Beginnings.

A second Christmas Day lunch is held.  The expectation is that this will become an annual event.

Rev Dr Stanley Peat, minister at St John's between 1977 and 1984 dies in February.

CHOICES celebrates 20 years of service to the town in February.

Lanark Presbytery Planning Group proposes a Deferred Union between St John's and St Andrew's Churches.  Inclusion of Law Parish Church in the Carluke Parish Grouping is also suggested.

A new small-scale printer is obtained for the office to allow short runs to be printed without having to use jointly-owned printer at Kirkton Church.

Lanark Presbytery withdraws provision of IT equipment to ministers.  A rebate of fees paid by the congregation for this is received.  From now, it is the local congregation's responsibility to provide its minister with a computer/laptop and printing facilities.

Pastor Roy Cowieson celebrates his 70^th birthday in May and retires in June, with the intention to return to Canada.

Karen Gillon and 4 young people from the Parish Grouping visit Malawi, working with Open Arms Children's Charity.

In response to an identified slippage risk on stairs to gallery, non-slip paint is applied to treads.  repairs are also made to damaged tread.

The doors are removed from the back pews.  This is to facilitate exit from all pews in case of emergency as, when open, the doors block the aisle.  Also, to provide more space for wheelchair users, the back right pew is removed.

JAFFA 2, catering initially for young folk in S1 and S2, is set up.

The Basis of Deferred Union between St John's and St Andrew's is accepted by both congregations at congregational meetings held simultaneously on 1 December.  As a result, Lanark Presbytery grants permission for the formation of a Nominating Committee.  This is to consist of 8 members from St John's and 5 from St Andrew's.  As per Parish Grouping arrangements, 2 non-voting members from Kirkton are also included.

The Young Person's Group (formerly the Young Women's Group, and earlier the Young Wives Group) is disbanded due to falling numbers of members.

A Nominating Committee to find a new minister for the deferred union between St John's and St Andrew's is elected during simultaneous meetings of the two congregations on 6 April.  The first meeting of the Committee is held on 1 May.

A Parish Profile, combining information from both our congregations, and including new material is prepared.

After receiving over 20 suggestions, a short list of 3 names for the new congregation, which will come about upon the deferred union of St Andrew's and St John's, is chosen at a joint Session meeting.  The combined preference of the two congregations was for the name Forest Kirk.

A new gas-fired boiler is installed.  Improved efficiency together with favourable Church of Scotland fuel contract will result in significant cost savings in medium term.

New 6mm polycarbonate sheets installed to replace failing protective panels on some sun-exposed windows.

Carluke Business Development Initiative is set up.  St John's and CHOICES fall within its area.  As a charity, it is felt that St John's should be exempt from charges.  (After protesting our inclusion in appeals, it was, reluctantly, agreed to pay these dues in 2016.)

A portable PA system is acquired, used principally by Youth Church, but available to all.  A wired microphone is installed in the pulpit in an attempt to solve problem of interference with wireless microphone.

During vacancy, much work is carried out both within and outside the Manse.  Major re-decoration is undertaken inside, with plans prepared for a re-fit of the kitchen and utility room.  Outside, many weeds and excess growth is cleared in preparation for re-modelling as a "low-maintenance" garden.

A Data Protection policy is formulated and approved.  It is uploaded to website, where it can be read here.

Grace Notes youth choir is set up in March, led by Janis McBride.

In May, the Trustees approved a request by Playbarn (an out of school care company) for a let.  Playbarn would be using much of hall time before and after school hours not already used by other groups.  The let is understood to be a temporary matter while Playbarn seek permanent accommodation of their own.

As part of a nation-wide commemoration of VE day, Moira Elliott rings the church bells for 5 minutes at precisely 11:00 am on 9 May.

On the 12th June 2015 South Lanarkshire Council hold a reception in the church hall to celebrate the centenary of the award of the Victoria Cross to local man William Angus, a Lance-Corporal in the 8th Royal Scots Guards.

Over the summer, new PIR controlled lights are installed in the Gents' toilet. This is felt to be so successful that it is proposed that similar controls be installed elsewhere in the building.  A new flushing system, more economical with water, is also installed in the urinals of the Gents' toilet.

Both halls are extensively re-decorated, with the Small Hall also receiving new lighting.

Scott Murray, who runs the Kwai River Christian Hospital (KRCH), and his family take a furlough in Scotland, during which Scott accepts an invitation to preach in St John's  At a church lunch after the service, Scott gives an illustrated talk on the work of KRCH

An attempt to start an informal singing group to present simple items during the occasional service is made in September.

The Nominating Committee propose that the Rev Dr Elijah Obinna as Sole Nominee to the vacancy.  Dr Obinna preaches separately at St Andrew's and St John's on 20 September and both congregations vote to Call him.

An appeal for furniture for the manse is made and the congregation respond generously to ensure that the new manse family will be comfortable when they arrive.  A Gift Day is also held in December to raise funds to help with the very considerable expenses the Obinnas will meet when moving to Carluke from Nigeria.

The induction of Rev Dr Elijah Obinna is held on 11 February.  A disco is held by the young (and some not so young) people of the congregation to welcome the Obinnas to our church family.

Long Service Certificates are awarded to Mrs Doreen Green and Mrs Betty Smith to mark over 35 years each of service as Elders.

Playbarn advises that they are in negotiation with South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) over the purchase of Braidwood Village Hall and give notice to cease their let from May.

The simpler Receipts and Payments accounting format is adopted to replace the previous Fully Accrued Accounts system as the income limit for the simpler system is raised by OSCR.

St John's is advised by Church of Scotland Legal Department that they would challenge the Carluke Business District (BID - the new name for BDI) attempt to charge the church fees.  The Legal Department would take this on as a test case so the only cost to St John's would be incidental expenses.  In August, we are advised that the appeal has failed.  In response, an appeal to the ombudsman of Scottish Public Services is to be made citing SLC's failure to conduct the initial ballot correctly. This appeal also fails.  Since further action would involve the courts and be very costly, it was, reluctantly, agreed to drop our opposition and pay the charges.

A relief team is set up to take over cleaning duties when the Church Cleaner is unavailable.

A new router is installed in the church office, with PowerLine connection to the vestry.  A new PC is purchased to replace the aging office PC (bought in 2008).

The window behind the pulpit is painted and parts of the walls are re-pointed.  Railings at the side of the church are re-painted and subsequently modified to meet newer Health and Safety regulations.

A full review of the audio system is undertaken with a member of staff from Magnum Sound (Wishaw).  As a result, a new, digital wireless microphone is recommended to eliminate the frequent interference on existing analogue system.   The microphone is first trialled then purchased outright.

A recycling area is set up in corridor opposite the kitchen door.  Separate bins are now provided for paper and card; cans and plastic bottles.

After a sudden, heavy rainstorm, water again leaks into the cross-corridor and the small hall.  Inspection of the valley gutter above suggests that the probable cause is the failure of the existing downpipes to carry water away quickly enough.

Grace Notes attend Rock Nations 2016 - a Christian youth conference - in Bradford in August.  They had hosted a Soup 'n' Sweet lunch in in April to raise funds towards costs