PRAYER BREAKFAST

Church leaders gathered in Oban Church Centre on Thursday morning, June 15, for a Civic Prayer Breakfast for the local community.

The main speakers were Mark Kitson, of the Cinnamon Network, who spoke about the contribution of faith groups to the community across Scotland, and Caroline Fothergill, headteacher of Rockfield Primary School, who spoke on current challenges and needs in education. Neil Matheson was interviewed about the aims and needs of the local business community.

Guests included local councillors and representatives of the business community and the third sector.

The photo shows, left to right: the Rt Rev Brian Mcgee, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles; the Rt Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Argyll and The Isles; the Rev Dugald Cameron, Church of Scotland minister of Kilmore and Oban, and Moderator of Argyll Presbytery; Catherine Sheldrick of the Salvation Army; Monsignor James MacNeil of St Columba’s RC Cathedral; and the Rev Stuart Lawson, minister of Oban Baptist Church.

OPEN AIR COMMUNION

An open air communion service was held in the grounds of Stair Parish Church, in the Presbytery of Ayr, attended by members of the six congregations under the banner name ‘C6’.

The six churches – Coylton l/w Drongan, Ochiltree l/w Stair and Patna l/w Dalmellington – formed a committee a number of years ago with a view to fostering co-operation, fellowship and sharing resources. Though all six churches are in vacancy at present, they regularly have concerts, fundraisers and services of worship throughout the year.

The communion service, on the evening of May 17, was conducted by the locums Morag Crossan, Ian Jamieson and Douglas Moore.

DIAMOND AWARDS

Two members of Woodside Parish Church, Aberdeen, have been presented with Christian Aid Week Diamond Awards for dedicated fundraising over many years. Jean Couper and Joan McKichan are pictured with Woodside minister, the Rev Markus Auffermann.

STEEPLECHASE PILGRIMS

Members of the linked Borders charges of Maxton & Mertoun, with Newtown with St Boswells, took a seven-mile walk on May 13 to celebrate the history of their places of worship.

The walk was inspired by the definition of ‘steeplechase’, which originated in the 18th century when horses and riders raced from one town’s steeple to the next.

Fortified by bacon rolls at Newtown Church, 35 gallant walkers braved the first rain for weeks to walk the River Tweed path to St Boswells for lunch, to shelter from a hail shower and visit to the parish church to learn something of its history. The route continued to the site of the old St Boswells Parish Church at Benrig, and a suitable song. Then on to Maxton Kirk (where the picture was taken) for tea and cake, and an interesting talk about some of the 1000-year-old church’s past.

The walk finished at Mertoun Kirk, the younger ‘sister’ of Maxton Kirk by 25 years! Although it was not primarily intended to generate funds, the event raised £656 for the charge’s current charity appeal, Vine Trust’s ‘Build a House in Tanzania’ project.

TEABAG ANGEL

The choir of Banff Parish Church in Aberdeenshire are pictured entertaining at a craft fair held as part of the Coastal Fringe Festival on May 28.

They are shown with the ‘Teabag Angel’, an artwork created by local artist and choir member Alison Simpson (standing on right) to raise awareness about recycling and to encourage people to discard less. Teabags were donated by churches from Shetland to Ballater.

Also during the weekend, the annual Blessing of the Fleet service at the harbour marina was led by the Rev David Locke, while the Rev Hugh O’Brien from Macduff offered a prayer of dedication for the new harbour general purpose boat.

The church hall was open all weekend for refreshments, with displays from the various church groups and the craft fair on Sunday afternoon. The choir, led by organist Stephen Pratt, sang for two hours.

60 YEARS AS SESSION CLERK

The Rev Alan Garrity presents Professor J Alistair M Inglis with a specially commissioned Certificate of Long Service for his role as Session Clerk. Prof Inglis served nearly 60 years in the role – his first five years as Clerk in St Andrew’s Parish Church, Kilmarnock, where his father and grandfather had also served as Session Clerks. Over 54 years was served in Caldwell Parish Church, Uplawmoor where this presentation, on the occasion of his retirement, took place in March 2017.

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