Preachers for April/May Unless otherwise specified the same preacher will be at both Kilbrandon and Kilchattan Kilbrandon 10am - Kilchattan 11.30am * Last Sunday of the month Kilbrandon 11am April 3rd Ken Ross Family services April 10th Robert Rae April 17th Palm Sunday Ken Ross * April 24th Easter Sunday Kilbrandon M. Waddell Kilchattan J.Alexander May 1st Martin Waddell Family services May 8th May 15th May 22nd May 29th June 5th Ken Ross Communion Ken Ross Ordination of new elders John Alexander Joint Netherlorn Churches service at Arduaine Gardens at noon. Robert Rae Family services
www.netherlornchurches.org.uk KILBRANDON & KILCHATTAN The Link Number 166 April / May 2011 Being a Caring Church The Manse 01852 200565 See how these Christians love one another Tertullian reports this as the grudging acknowledgement of critics opposed to Christianity as it took root in 3 rd century North Africa. They found the Christian message hard to swallow but they had to admit that the church had something its members loved one another. Over the Sundays of February and March the Netherlorn Churches have been thinking about what it means to be a caring church. Do we care for one another in a way which would make even hostile critics stop and ask whether, after all, there is something in the faith which we profess? After a year in Netherlorn I can vouch for the fact that a great deal of caring takes place mostly in a quiet, unostentatious and practical way. But I can also vouch for the fact that we need a great deal of care. We carry wounds from the past and we meet crises in the present which mean that we are much in need of loving care. Care comes from many quarters but there is something distinctive in the care offered within the life of the church. It has a distinctive and defining source. Jesus said: Love one another as I have loved you. The amazing love of God which embraces us in Jesus Christ sets the tone for the way we relate to one another. One of our new hymns sets out our calling in words which are simple yet profound: Brother, sister, let me serve you, Let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you Speak the peace you long to hear. There is a transforming journey in front of us all as discover more of what it means to be a caring church. Let s open our hearts to travel that journey together. Your minister and friend, Kenneth Ross
FROM THE KIRK SESSION Since the beginning of Ken s ministry with us in Netherlorn, it has become the practice for some of our Kirk Session meetings to be held jointly with the Craignish and Kilninver/Kilmelford Kirk Sessions. One of these joint meetings was held on 23 February, with a great deal of discussion regarding the different initiatives that have followed on from the Gathering last October. Amongst other things, each of our Netherlorn congregations has been invited to take the lead in a project this year in connection with our global outreach Craignish and Kilninver/Kilmelford have already decided on theirs, while discussion is taking place on what we will do in Kilbrandon and Kilchattan watch this space. The joint meeting also approved the new Netherlorn Churches website take a look at www.netherlornchurches.org.uk the website steering group has done a tremendous job in developing this, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. At our own Session meeting on 23 March, we had a detailed report from the Super Sunday team on the exciting new development in children s work in Kilbrandon. After only a month or so, we already have a good number of children coming regularly, and we understand that they are talking to their friends at school about it and trying to persuade them to come as well! The team deserve our warmest thanks and congratulations on taking this initiative, which is so important for the future of our church. On Sunday 15 May, at both our services at Kilbrandon and Kilchattan, we will be welcoming some new elders onto the Kirk Session. Once again, watch this space for more information. Martin Waddell, Session Clerk FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD The board met on March 4 th to approve the accounts and trustees report, and to plan for the Annual Stated Meeting, which is scheduled for April 2 nd. Along with reports on the year s work of the church, elections will be held for some members of the congregational board. Also on the agenda was the amount of work needed on Kilbrandon Church following the Quinquennial Inspection, the most important of which are the repairs to bases of some of the roof trusses, though there are many more items needing attention, some of which can be done by members of the congregation, so volunteers will be needed. The winter weather had prevented any of the Kilchattan members attending the December meeting, which had not been cancelled as it was essential to approve the changes to the vestry and the relevant expense, so that the youth work could begin as planned. There was much discussion whether to hold meetings when one church was poorly represented (there was only one person from Kilchattan at the March meeting), and the board favoured stipulating a minimum number to be present, but subsequent enquires showed we are bound by a standard constitution and cannot change it. However, the board did decide to revert to the old system of meeting venues alternating between the two churches throughout the year, as the need for winter meetings to be at Kilbrandon no longer applied. Phil Moss
The Treasurer s Report as at 18 th March 2011 Since the turn of the year a payment of 3,049 has been made towards the 2011 Kilchattan and Kilbrandon Minister s contribution of 7,049. The balance will be paid by direct debit over the next ten months. The Kilbrandon Vestry has been transformed into a Super Sunday School room by decoration and the provision of new chairs, cushions and shelving etc. The cost was 914.40 and certainly has made a difference. A payment of 540 was made being the cost of a consultant s report into the state of Kilbrandon s roof trusses. This is a live issue and further costs may be incurred before the Kilbrandon Fabric committee can submit any recommendations to the Board. The Kilchattan Fairtrade stall has been set up by Linda Leggett and has recently made its first sales. The opening stock of 189.50 was financed by the Church. It joins the existing Kilbrandon Fairtrade stall managed by Myra Waddell. A copy of the Annual Accounts and the Trustees Report for 2011 are available for inspection at Kilchattan and Kilbrandon. The Stated Annual Meeting will be held at Kilchattan on Saturday, the 2 nd April. The time is 1430. It is a relaxed affair and I commend it to you. IAIN FULLARTON PARISH REGISTER FUNERAL On January 25th at Oban Parish Church and afterwards to Kilbrandon Cemetry by the Minister, JOHN SIMPSON of Oban. FUNERAL On February 25th at Kilbrandon, and afterwards at Kilbrandon Cemetry, by the Minister, MIRANDA BRUNNER of Tigh-an-Truish, Clachan Seil. The strange sight of a policeman on points duty at Balvicar Cross signified the unusual circumstances of that Friday morning in February when mourners gathered in their hundreds to testify to the affection and admiration they held for that pillar of society Miranda Brunner. Sheila Downie Sunday March 13 saw widespread power outages across Argyll, but ten members of the congregation came to a cold Kilbrandon church for Sunday worship. With no power, there was no heat, no organ and no microphone system, so after waiting for any latecomers, eight people adjourned to the warmth of the log fire at the home of Phil and Sue Moss. John Roberts led worship, hymns were sung without accompaniment, and as usual after worship at Kilbrandon, tea, coffee, cake and fellowship were enjoyed. The service at Kilchattan suffered the same fate, and was cancelled.
EDITORIAL Owing to circumstances beyond my control, there is no editorial in this issue. - Fair Trade stalls in Luing and Seil Great news that Linda Leggett has volunteered to run a Fair Trade stall in Kilchattan. Linda will be assisted by her daughter Lauren Leggett and Hazel Cruickshanks. We are grateful to Linda, Lauren and Hazel for being so willing to take this initiative. Both the Kilbrandon and the Kilchattan stalls will normally be held after the family service on the first Sunday of the month. Both Linda in Luing and Myra in Seil are registered as Fair Traders with Traidcraft and endeavour to order a wide range of goods, but if there is anything you would like us to stock, then please let us know. Buying Traidcraft products from your Fair Traders rather than a supermarket means your money goes further. Income from Traidcraft sales enables work with new producer groups and in new community areas. In addition Traidcraft as an organisation goes beyond the standards demanded by the Fairtrade Mark. Many thanks for your continuing support of the Fair Trade stalls in Kilbrandon and Kilchattan and if anyone would like to help with the stall in Kilbrandon then please have a word with Myra (300395). Netherlorn Churches Website Up and Running Over the winter, a team drawn from all the Netherlorn churches have been working on the development of the website. It is now up and running and you are welcome to visit at www.netherlornchurches.org.uk The home page offers a friendly welcome and always has the times and places of worship on the next Sunday. It also offers a thought for the week a sermon at a glance. Each of the five churches has its own page to introduce itself and give some of its latest news. A drop-down menu offers you the opportunity to explore: services and events, faith today, youth, about us, and news archive. The site features a variety of media stunning images and thought-provoking text, with a toe in the water when it comes to music and film. All of this is work in progress but it is expected that increasingly the site will function as a key interface between the churches and the wider world. Your contribution to the site is invited. Many of the pages offer the opportunity to comment. Good images are always welcome whether of the churches in action or our distinctive surroundings in Netherlorn and can be submitted to webmaster Fiona Cruikshanks at luing66@btinternet.com Suggestions for links with sites of kindred organisations are also welcome. A big thank you is due to all who have worked hard to get the site to the point of lift-off. Now it is up to all of us to make it a dynamic site, an experience of church online.
HUMOUR PAGE A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her 5 and 6 year olds. After explaining the Commandment honour thy father and the mother, she asked, Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?. Quick as a flash one little boy answered, Thou shall not kill. Three young boys were walking along the road and arguing about whose dad was the greatest. One said, My dad must be because he owns the local garage. The second one said, That is good, but my dad has two bakery shops. The third boy said, That is nothing, my dad is a minister and he owns hell. He came home last night and told my mum that the Kirk Session had given it to him. A mother was teaching her three year old daughter the Lord s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime she repeated it after her mother. One night she said that she could do it on her own. The mother listened with pride as she carefully went through it right up to the end and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some e- mail. Amen. - After church one Sunday morning, a young boy announced to his mother, Mum, I have decided I am going to be a minister when I grow up. That s fine, she replied, but what made you decide on that?. Well, he replied, As I go to church anyway on a Sunday, I think it would be more fun to stand up and speak instead of sitting and listening.
FAITH IN A TIME OF RECESSION 3 worship occasions centred round open discussion Prepare for the celebration of Easter by thinking through what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means in the context of today s economic recession. TUESDAY 5th April 1800 Craignish Parish Church TUESDAY 12th April 1945 Kilbrandon Parish Church TUESDAY 19th April 1930 Kilmelford Parish Church You are invited to attend the event in your locality or to make it a Lenten pilgrimage and attend all three as part of your preparation for Easter. Used Stamps: Towards the end of last year I was able to send off a further couple of packets of used stamps, and have now had a letter from the Stamp Bureau in Edinburgh asking me to pass on to you their appreciation of all your dedication in collecting these stamps so faithfully over the past year. I am sorry I do not know the actual amount raised in total on behalf of the Hostel at St. Columba s Religious Training Centre in Sialkot, Pakistan, but it seems to be usually somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 a very useful contribution for the small charities the scheme supports each year, and all from stamps that would otherwise be thrown away. The chosen charity for the year to February, 2012 is to be the Mount Olivet Boys Home in Jamaica. This is run jointly by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the Government of Jamaica to provide a place of hope for boys of about 12 and upwards who have been abused or neglected, and gives them spiritual nurture, medical care and education, with training in farming and livestock rearing. In order to develop this care further and help meet the ever-increasing cost of doing so the money raised by the Stamp Bureau will be very welcome. So please continue to let me have those stamps! Thank you very much. Elizabeth Lyon
Photographs coursety of Clive Brown SUCCESSFUL WORLD FOOD NIGHT The Craignish Church 90kg rice challenge was successfully launched with a World Food Night held at Craignish Village Hall on Saturday 5th March 2011. People from Ardfern and further afield produced a dazzling array of dishes, the kitchen team provided excellent coordination and everyone enjoyed a memorable meal. They also had the opportunity to hear John Riches, of Just Trading Scotland, explain how a sale of 90kg of Kilombero rice will enable a farmer in northern Malawi to send a child to secondary school for a year. Sales at the Fair Trade stalls was brisk as participants took the opportunity to acquire quality produce. Look out for Kilombero rice on sale in the Netherlorn Churches and play your part in meeting the 90kg challenge.