KILBARCHAN WEST PARISH CHURCH Newsletter Spring 2015

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Peter Baker
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1 KILBARCHAN WEST PARISH CHURCH Newsletter Spring 2015 Dear Friends, The long period of waiting is now almost over. The surveyor's reports on East and West Churches and Halls are now to hand. What we had been hoping was that one of the churches would have a major problem and the other not. Then the building with no serious problem would have been the obvious choice for the union. However, what has emerged is that both churches have serious problems with their roofs involving considerable costs in repairing them. It has to be said that the cost of repairing the West Church roof and setting right other defects is considerably higher than the costs relating to the East. For the West it is estimated at 442,497, while the figure for the East is 223,905. You may recall that the original architect's report recommended the use of the West Church and you may wonder where the roof problem featured in that. The architect based her work on a recent surveyor's report commissioned by the Presbytery as part of a Quinqnennial investigation. The surveyor at that time simply viewed the roof from ground level without any closer examination. As a result current problems were not spotted. It is in the light of the figures quoted above that both congregations will need to make their decision about the building to be used for the union. With that in mind a meeting of members has been called for Tuesday, 17th March at 7 p.m. in the church. Although it might have been more convenient to hold such a meeting at the close of the Sunday service, it is anticipated that the meeting will not be brief as people ask questions and contribute to debate. Two weeks before that, in the period between the writing of this letter and its publication, the Kirk Session will meet to consider the two reports. It is anticipated that they will come forward with a recommendation to the congregation. In the meantime I appeal to you to give the matter your prayerful consideration. I appreciate that it is not easy to make a decision involving a building which holds many precious memories. However, this is a time to look not to the past, but to the future and to consider what will be in the best interests of the new Kilbarchan Parish Church. I send you my best wishes, Yours sincerely, Rev. Alistair N. Shaw, Interim Moderator.

2 Dear Friends, There is a rhythm to the life of faith. The anticipation of Advent. The joy of Easter. The energy of Pentecost. As Christians, we have a set of days and seasons, leading us in one spiritual direction before switching gears to another. We are now in the season of Lent. It is the time of starkness that always contains surprising space for growth and depth space we might not have noticed otherwise. In Kilbarchan, as the church in transition, we are perhaps more aware of the seasonality of our Christian journey both together and individual than we may have been in years past. I know that I am. And so, I am especially thankful for Lent this year, because I really need it this year. Maybe you do, too. Because Lent gets us back to the basics of our faith and our Jesus story. From the moment he s born, they re out to kill him, the Christ child, and in Lent we see Jesus turn his face towards Jerusalem, towards those who are out for him, towards the inevitability of death and the impossible certainty of resurrection. Lent is about the growth that happens when we embrace God s calling to us. It is about the seriousness of our faith, and the surprising joy that can only come in the aftermath of disappointment, suffering and tragedy. It is about life and death and life after death. And so it s back to basics and what is at the heart of our faith, individually and together. And so in times of doubt and faith, days of challenge and comfort, know that Jesus journeys with you this Lent. Your friend Stephen KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH GIVING There are various fabric projects we are keen to tackle in the coming months. The winter has been reasonably kind thus far don t speak too soon - and with spring on the way thoughts are turning to outside repairs and enhancement. We have an enthusiastic team of people who are generally good with a screwdriver and nails or paint brush and ladders and they would be delighted to welcome new members no matter your skill, or lack of, in DIY. We always need funds to do the special things! Please continue to review your giving on a regular basis and even a small increase will add to our overall fund and allow us to do more. Remember that all open giving is increased in value by 25% once gift aid is added. Thank you for reading this and for your generous support for giving and fundraising. Kind regards, Ken Dalgleish Treasurer

KILBARCHAN GUILD As we draw towards the end of this session we can look back and reflect on how the changes have worked as we have come together as one Guild.

3 KILBARCHAN GUILD As we draw towards the end of this session we can look back and reflect on how the changes have worked as we have come together as one Guild. The afternoon meetings have been well received and all our meetings have gone ahead as planned and none have had to be cancelled because of bad weather, which might have been the case for evening meetings. A very successful Coffee Morning on Valentine s Day raised the sum of and more importantly gave the committees a chance to work together as one. We also hosted the World Day of Prayer on Friday 6 th March in the West Church. This was the first time it has been held in the village and another chance to work together. Since December we have enjoyed our Christingle Service at Christmas, talks on Peru, Coats of Paisley and our chosen project and hosted a Guest Afternoon for other Guilds in the district when we were entertained by a group, Highlights. A wonderful afternoon of popular music and fellowship. On the 10 th March we meet in the East Church hall when Mr Douglas Keith will show slides of Lake Garda and Venice. His slide shows are always most enjoyable. We close with our A.G.M. on Tuesday 24 th March in the West Church Hall. On Wednesday 27 th May we are hoping to have an outing to see The Kelpies, followed by shopping in and around Linlithgow. I hope everyone enjoys a sunny and restful summer and look forward to welcoming old and new members in the autumn. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SAFEGUARDING SERVICE The Safeguarding Service in Edinburgh has a target date of October 2015 to complete the PVG Membership Scheme s applications for everyone who was helping in the Church, with children and/or vulnerable adults, prior to the Scheme s introduction. I am delighted to say we are well ahead with this and should be finished shortly, well before our union into Kilbarchan Parish Church. When we do formally become one Church, Elizabeth Dunn will be the Safeguarding Coordinator and I will be Assistant Coordinator. Both of us will work together to make our Church as safe as possible for all who enter. In the Sunday pew notices are dates of this Spring s training meetings to explain about the Safeguarding Service. If you have not previously attended I would urge you to do so. May I draw to the attention of elders, who have not yet attended any training sessions, the meeting in Bridge of Weir Freeland Church on Tuesday 24 th March, pm. As members of the Kirk Session we are legally liable for all actions in our Church and as such the Church of Scotland has made it mandatory all elders attend one training session specifically for elders. Anyone wishing to attend this, or any other training meeting, please speak to myself or Elizabeth Dunn and we will be delighted to pass your name on to Presbytery. Recognising and Reporting Abuse Harm or abuse of children or vulnerable adults can happen anywhere even in our Church communities. We all have a responsibility to ensure the Church is safe for everyone. If you suspect harm, witness harm, or it is reported to you, you must immediately report it to your Safeguarding Coordinator or group leader. As always, if you have any questions about any aspect of Safeguarding, no matter how trivial it may seem, please don t hesitate to ask. Anne Whyte Safeguarding Coordinator

4 FEWsion At FEWsion the number one thing we try to do is have some fun, we talk about anything and everything, from world events to what the latest in thing is, from the humble calculator to the latest smart watch. If you re reading this and are looking for some excitement on a Sunday morning, rather than have a long lie in why not come and join us, even if you stopped coming for whatever reason we miss you. You never know, you just might like it! 1 st Kilbarchan Boys Brigade We have been very busy as a Company since the turn of the year. Sunday 15 th February was the BB Spring Service. The Company Section and Junior Section will have their sponsored all night games night in March. Three of our older boys Jack Miller, Scott Simpson and Stuart Brown will attend the Queens Badge completion course on the weekend of March 21 st and 22 nd at BB Scotland HQ in Carrovale. They will receive the Queens Badge, the highest award in the Boys Brigade at the display. We have an overnight canvas camp organised for the boys at Easter time at Barnbrock. This year s Paisley and District Battalion Service and Parade will be held at Renfrew North Church. All three sections will hold a joint Inspection and Display on Friday 22 nd May in the East Church Halls. W.C.Speirs Tel: mob: william.speirs8312@o2.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Twitter SCOTTISH ISLANDS QUIZ The Quiz this year was based on Scottish Islands. Once again there was a good uptake and the sum of 215 was raised for the Publications account. Many thanks to all who purchased a sheet and thanks also to the un-named donor of the prizes. There were 50 returned entries and of that 44 were correct. Two ladies of the Guild Committee drew out the winners who were Elizabeth Andrew and Tom Ferguson. This is the first time for many years that both winners happened to be members of Kilbarchan West. The answers were :- Scotland in miniature/arran, Brewers Stone/Bass Rock, All above the earth/skye, Shetland Shout/Yell, Tar s tot/rum, Dirt/Muck, TV fictional detective/lewis, Religious retreat/holy Isle, Think it over/mull, 1984 was written here/jura, Most northerly inhabited island/unst, love lilt/eriskay, Does Grandad need to get cleaned up/papa Stour, The Orb symbol is used here/harris, Great and little in the Clyde/Cumbrae, Look in and speak/colonsay, You could roll it or get it on your face/eigg, Mixed up tube (anag)/bute, Sir Chris /Hoy, Aquarium/Fish Holm, King or Queen missing an R/Monach, Home of the Hebridean Overture/Staffa, Paddy s milestone/ailas Craig, Awash with distilleries/islay, Comes after April/Isle of May.

KILBARCHAN JUNIOR CHURCH In December the Junior Church s many weeks of practice came to a triumphant conclusion when they presented The Christmas Present on the Sunday prior to Christmas.

We would also like to say a big thank you for the wonderful set to Robert Scott and his team from the drama group, it was fabulous and was created just as we had envisioned.

5 KILBARCHAN JUNIOR CHURCH In December the Junior Church s many weeks of practice came to a triumphant conclusion when they presented The Christmas Present on the Sunday prior to Christmas. Although not the traditional nativity script all the essential characters, with the exception of the wise men, were included with a few contemporary additions. We would also like to say a big thank you for the wonderful set to Robert Scott and his team from the drama group, it was fabulous and was created just as we had envisioned. Also many thanks to FEWsion for their participation in bringing the story to life. Since resuming Junior Church in 2015 we have been exploring the story of creation, and the children have enjoyed colouring in birds, a collage showing where a variety of creatures might be found, in the sea, on the farm or at the zoo. We also learnt about insects and made a ladybird out of a paper plate. The older children discovered new things about each other by asking a series of questions and finding out how we are all unique in our own way. For the last few weeks we have been learning about how God heals through stories like Jesus and the leper and the paralysed man. The children enjoyed finding out how Jesus recruited his first four disciples and to help them remember they made some fishing rods. With Mothering Sunday and Easter approaching there will be lots more exciting stories to hear and activities and crafts for our Junior Church to participate in. We would also like to take this opportunity of thanking Christine Erwin, Margaret Gibb and Moira Macdonald for their many years of service in Junior Church, and we hope we can follow in your footsteps. Ros & Linda One of Glasgow s oldest amateur dramatic societies, Glasgow Light Opera Club is bringing its acclaimed concert 'A Little Light Music' to Kilbarchan West on Saturday 28 th March Presenting some memorable show songs from through the years and featuring a selection from their Autumn presentation Sunset Boulevard, under the watchful eye of their concert Musical Director, Mr David Mackie (ex D Oyly Carte, ex Greenock Academy!!). Tickets priced 10 are available NOW by telephoning / or by contacting the Kilbarchan Kirks facebook page or any of the Fundraising Team. Please come along and support this fundraising event, having attended a number of these concerts I can guarantee a wonderful evening of 'easy listening' and a fair bit of wisecracking banter thrown in the guise of Glasgow's Mr Walter Paul - all for a bargain price. I can assure you, you won't be disappointed. Alison Bone

RENFREWSHIRE FOODBANK How a foodbank works Food is donated Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank.

6 RENFREWSHIRE FOODBANK How a foodbank works Food is donated Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations. Food is also collected at Supermarket Collections : These are events held at supermarkets where volunteers give shoppers a foodbank shopping list and ask them to buy an extra item or two for local people in crisis. Food is sorted and stored Volunteers sort food to check that it s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Frontline care professionals identify people in need Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals who are best placed to assess need and make sure that it is genuine. Clients receive food Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem. Some foodbanks also run a rural delivery service, which takes emergency foodboxes to clients living in rural areas who cannot afford to get to a foodbank. To visit a foodbank near you contact foodbanknetwork@trusselltrust.org or call Mrs. MAY McINTYRE Mary Wallace McIntyre (known to all as May) a well-known and respected figure in the village passed away peacefully on 28 th December, 2014 in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley aged 85 years. She was a native of Greenock and proud of it and came to Kilbarchan following her marriage to James McIntyre from an old Kilbarchan family. She joined Kilbarchan West Church and being a talented singer was welcomed into the Church choir of which she was a long serving member up until a few months before her death. She had a short break when her children Marianne and Ian were young and she became a Sunday School teacher. May was also an active member of the Woman s Guild (now the Church of Scotland Guild) serving on the committee and later as Guild president. A few years ago she was made Honorary Guild President. Other local organisations she was involved in were the Order of the Eastern Star, Glentyan Chapter; Kilbarchan Community Council; Kilbarchan Civic Society and was also part of a musical group May and the Boys which entertained extensively throughout the district. In June 1985 she was one of the first Lady Elders to be ordained in the West Church. She was a person of a warm and generous nature and will be sorely missed by all who knew her and especially by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. John Connell, Session Clerk.

7 PARISH REGISTER. Baptism:- Death:- 25 th January, 2015 Mila Rebecca Anne, daughter of Iain and Nikki Gardner. 23 rd December, 2014 May McIntyre 30 th January, 2015 Anne Neil Members leaving the Church:- Ian Chalmers and Aileen Chalmers Pam Noonan to U.R.C. Kendal WORSHIP PROGRAMME. March 1 st 11.00am East Church - Holy Communion 6.30pm East Church - Holy Communion March 8 th 11.00am West Church March 15 th 11.00am East Church March 22 nd 11.00am West Church 6.30pm West Church - Divine Service for Masonic Lodge March 29 th 11.00am East Church April 2 nd 7.00pm East Church - Maundy Thursday April 3 rd 7.00pm West Church - Good Friday April 5 th 8.30am Easter Day early service at Weaver s Cottage 11.00am West Church April 12 th 11.00am East Church - Baptism April 19 th 11.00am West Church April 26 th 11.00am East Church - Baptism May 3 rd 11.00am West Church May 10 th 11.00am West Church - Holy Communion 2.00pm West Church - Holy Communion May 17 th 11.00am East Church May 24 th 11.00am West Church May 31 st 11.00am East Church June 7 th 11.00am East Church - Holy Communion 6.30pm East Church - Holy Communion June 14 th 11.00am West Church June 21 st 11.00am East Church June 28 th 11.00am West Church

8 LISTS when in WEST CHURCH CRECHE COFFEE FLOWER DELIVERY 8 th March Julie Johnston Margaret McIntyre Mrs C Crabbe Mairi McLean Aileen Hardern Miss H Robertson 22 nd March Ellen Osborne Yvonne Kane Mrs A Hardern Tracey O Hare Irene Collinson Mrs E Gilchrist 5 th April May Whyte Jean Meikle Mrs M Jamieson Lesley Dickie Ethel Hamilton Mrs K Dale Catherine Connell 19 th April Christine McLeod Margaret Jamieson Mrs W Osborne Evelyn Connell Mairi McLean Mrs A MacKinnon 3 rd May Ann McLeod June Barratt Mrs E Kennedy Fiona Payne Angela Murray Mrs R Borland 10 th May Janice Douglas Communion Mrs M Morning Lisa Moore No Coffee Mrs C Florence 24 th May Betty Cameron Margaret Lamb Mrs C Crabbe Joan MacKinnon Anne McCallum Miss H Robertson 14 th June Julie Johnston Rona Borland Mrs A Hardern Mairi McLean Anne Syme Mrs E Gilchrist WELCOME AND OFFERING TEAMS MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE Helen Robertson, Christine Dale, June McLaughlin, Ann McLeod, Charlie Wighton Robert Clark, Catherine Connell, Margaret Jamieson, Marjory Love, William Osborne Robert Booth, Ron Irvine, Margaret McIntyre, Jack Miller, Rodger Miller Agnes Higgin, Caroline Bain. Evelyn Gilchrist. Sandy Graham, Jim Shaw, Ann Whyte CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Tuesday 17 th March, 2015 West Church 7.00pm

Kirknewton and East Calder Parish Church of Scotland Scottish Charity No: SC006973

Kirknewton and East Calder Parish Church of Scotland Scottish Charity No: SC006973 From the Manse In Focus House Groups EnerJ Men s Fellowship Thursday Prayer Group Boys Brigade The Break Prayer Matters