PARISH NEWS

HATS FOR REFUGEES

The Guild of Currie Kirk in Edinburgh handed over more than 2000 knitted hats to help Syrian refugees this winter. The hats, donated by knitters from across Edinburgh, were handed over in November for delivery to Arsal, in the Lebanon. There, over 5000 feet above sea level, over 70,000 refugees, including 6000 children, are enduring a fifth winter in tents in sub-zero temperatures.

Currie Guild first got involved in 2016 when they were approached to help with an appeal by the charity Edinburgh Direct Aid, which over the past few years has shipped containers of clothes to the refugees in Arsal.

As well as clothing, the Guild decided they would knit hats, and set themselves a target of 100. By the end of November 2016, they were able to hand over 611.

Last year, the donations kept coming, and by the time Ann Thanisch of Edinburgh Direct Aid attended the meeting of the Guild on November 7 there were 2,203 hats for her to collect.

For more information on Edinburgh Direct aid visit www.edinburghdirectaid.orgor phone 0131 552 1545.

GUILD LONG SERVICE

Eight members of the Guild at Rubislaw Parish Church in Aberdeen received long service certificates at the Guild Dedication Service in October.

Pictured, left to right, are Liz McCaw (27 years’ service), Margaret Yule (27), Jenny Dey (57), Anne Paterson (27), Faye Hay (37), Mary Wallis (53), Margaret Parkinson (27) and Elspeth Crombie (25). Back: Rubislaw minister the Rev Dr Robert Smith.

Not in the photograph: Margaret Marriott (57), Margaret MacWilliam (57).

HALF A CENTURY AT THE ORGAN

The organist and choirmaster of Falkirk Trinity Church celebrated half a century in the post last year. Bob Tait was appointed to what was Falkirk Old Parish Church in November 1967. He is pictured with church minister, the Rev Robert Allan.

KNITTING THE REFORMATION

A 15yearold from the linked charge of Galashiels Old Parish & St Paul’s and St John’s churches spent eight months knitting the core figures of the Reformation, which were displayed in the churches on Reformation Sunday, October 29.

Mary McVicker also gave a PowerPoint presentation about the display at the morning service in both churches.

Starting work in February, Mary designed and knitted the clothing for figures such as Luther, Knox, Calvin, the Pope, Mary Queen of Scots and John Wycliffe. She also created backgrounds to create a series of tableaux of reformation scenes.

Bringing it uptodate, she also knitted the churches’ presentday minister, Leon Keller, placing him alongside Luther to show that today’s preacher is preaching the same truths Luther did.

Mary said: “When I was younger, I used to like reading children’s biographies of the Reformers, and as I have become older I have progressed to more indepth books as well as various movies and documentaries on the Reformation.”

40 YEARS

The Rev Dr Ian Maxwell marked 40 years as an ordained minister in the Church of Scotland on November 22.

His current congregation of Uphall South Church planted a grove of trees in the Caledonian Forest on his behalf, and a lunch was held after the service on November 19.

PULPIT FALL

Jeanette Carson, Jean Menigall, Anne Blackwood and Marion Nimmo are pictured with the new Guild pulpit fall they made for Duntocher Trinity Church, Clydebank, which was dedicated during Guild Week.

REFURBISHMENT CELEBRATION

Former Moderator the Very Rev Dr John Chalmers joined the worship at Maryculter Trinity Church in Aberdeenshire, as they celebrated the completion of a 12month refurbishment on November 1.

Life and Work staff are available for talks to Guilds and other church groups.

Please contact us through 0131 225 5722 or magazine@lifeandwork.org

This article appears in the February 2018 Issue of Life and Work

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