CHRISTMAS COMES TO ST NINIAN’S

The Church fills for the Christingle Service on Christmas Eve

The Rector oversees the children’s search for all the figures to poplulate the Crib

The Christingles are all lit in the darkened Church and the children sing ‘Away in a Manger’ The Sunday School retell the story of the Nativity in their own inimitable way!

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT THE KINGS ARMS
On a dreich December day, about 25 members of the congregation gathered at the Kings Arms for a Christmas lunch.

Some of those who enjoyed a delicious meal

SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER: ELLIE AND KATIE’S GERMAN EVENING
Ellie Stevens and Katie MacQuarrie hosted a German-themed evening to raise funds for their forthcoming trip with the Dumfries Youth Choir to Gifhorn (the town twinned with Dumfries).

The hall – and hosts – were decked in the colours of the German flag and a tasty meal of “wurst, kartoffeln und sauerkraut” followed by apfelstrudel was prepared by mums Rosie and Roz, served by the girls and much enjoyed by those present. German music played in the background, the girls sang for us and we were tested with a quiz on all things German, quizmaster Neil Eddyshaw.

Top centre: Ellie and Katie
Top left: mums (and cooks!) Rosie and Roz
Centre left: drawing the raffle
Top right: Canon David Main wins First Prize in the raffle
Centre right: Matthew, Rosemary, Maurice and Jenny win the German quiz
Bottom: Mike, Jenny, Stephanie and John dress the part!

ON SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER, ST NINIAN’S HOSTED A FESTIVAL EUCHARIST FOR ALL SAINTS-TIDE INCLUDED IN WHICH WAS A SPECIAL CEREMONY FOR THE LAYING UP OF THE OLD BRITISH LEGION STANDARD AND THE DECICATION OF A NEW ONE.

The Service was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry, Lt-Col Sir Malcolm Ross and his wife, Lady Susan Ross. and representatives from the Army and RAF cadets and from the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland.

The old and new Royal British Legion Standards are paraded through the church The new Standard following its dedication with Standard Bearer Martin Fortnum Chatting over refreshments after the Service Sir Malcolm (2nd from left) and Lady Susan Ross (right) following the Service

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2013 – WORKSHOP ON INTERCESSORY PRAYER

At a very interesting and informative workshop led by the Rector were representatives from St Ninian’s Troon, St John’s Moffat and St John’s Annan, in addition to those from our own congregation

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2013 – HARVEST FESTIVAL AND AN EVENING SERVICE IN MEMORY OF HILDA WALLACH
As usual the Church was beautifully decorated for the Harvest Festival and at 7.00pm we held a special Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Hilda Wallach, entitled “In our Music God is Glorified”, in which some of Hilda’s favourite music – Mozart, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, played by the Galloway Piano Trio – was interspersed with some of the hymns she loved, and Maurice Till played a selection of her favourite voluntaries on the organ. There were also readings – a Psalm and two poems – as well as musical contributions from Beth, Katie and Ellie and the whole evening was linked together with reminiscences and some amusing anecdotes by the Rector.

The Galloway Piano Trio The Girls – Katie, Beth and Ellie, singing “Thank You for the Music” by Abba Parable of the Sower Window decorated with autumn fruit, vegetables and flowers Floral display in Sanctuary beside St Kentigern Window Floral display in the Font – people arriving for the Harvest Festival Service

Here are some of the other floral arrangements:

The following three photos show a display by the Sunday School in the west window:

SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2013 – HARRY AND GILL PIPER’S DIAMOND WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

Harry and Gill, as people arrive for the 11.00am Service. Good to see Tim and Shirley Tuke in the background! After the Service, Harry and Gill chat to Lay Reader, Douglas Some of the congregation, including Lucy, enjoying refreshments provided by Harry and Gill Gill, David and Harry

Andrew Stewart writes:

OVER £1,000 RAISED FOR CHRISTIAN AID THANKS TO YOUR CONTINUED GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP
As you will probably be aware, during the summer of 2013, I entered two cycling events in order to raise money for Christian Aid.

This year’s London to Paris (my fifth consecutive ride) was slightly different in that out of the 130 cyclists only 11 were cycling for Christian Aid. This in some ways made the ride more interesting as I learnt more about the other worthy causes: everything from Children’s Hospices to Prostate Cancer. There was another rather more significant difference – the heat. The day we set off from Bexley was one of the hottest on record and by midday we were certainly experiencing the scorched atmosphere as we cycled through the Garden of England on our way to Dover. I was very grateful for the advice to get an extra water bottle fitted as at times going over the Downs I could not see due to the rain of sweat pouring out of my head. The heat continued until Paris but, for survival purposes only, I am now an expert in finding shade even if it means cycling or standing in the shadow of others.

The second event, “Ride London 100”, was more of an adventure, although the London to Paris provided excellent training, as I had never cycled 100 miles in a day before. As it turned, out by the time I had cycled to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, reached the start line and cycled from the finish along the Mall to Waterloo and home it turned out to be 110 miles. The event organisers did a fantastic job in closing off the 100 miles of London and Surrey roads for us so it was a real joy cycling legally through red lights and the wrong way around roundabouts in the safe knowledge that no unsuspecting lorry was about to carve you up and squeeze you, so you feel like the inside of a jam sandwich. I teamed up with Nick Guttmann, who is the head of the Humanitarian Division at Christian Aid (see photo) and we provided mutual support throughout the ride. We completed the ride in 7 hours 39 minutes which we aim to improve on next year.

Graham (L) and Andrew in front of Buckingham Palace on completion of the Ride London 100

So far just over £1000 has been raised or pledged and this does not include Gift Aid, so a huge thanks from me and all at Christian Aid to those who so generously sponsored me for this very worthwhile cause.

Sunday 21 July
At the start of Castle Douglas Civic Week, St Ninian’s was pleased to host the Sashing of the Douglas Lass and Lad and the Charter Ceremony. In the absence of the Rector, Revd John Martin welcomed members of the Crossmichael Drama Group, who enacted the reading of the Charter along with the Lass from 2012, the Lad and Lass for 2013 and a good number of visitors who were present to witness the ceremony and who stayed for the Service which followed.

The reading of the Charter by Sir William Douglas

Alan and Zoë Stewart
Alan preached his last sermon at St Ninian’s on Sunday 14^th July – not that this was the last service he and Zoë would be attending at St Ninian’s but, as they were about to go on holiday, it was the last time that the Rector and Alison would be there before Alan and Zoë moved south to be nearer family. Alan preached very sincerely and movingly on the Lord’s Prayer and, at the end of the service, David presented Alan and Zoë with a framed photo-montage of St Ninian’s and its congregation and also gave Alan a personal gift of a new large print edition of the Scottish Prayer Book.

Zoe and Alan following their presentation

David mentioned that Alan had been licensed as a Lay Reader in 1962 and had served as Lay Reader at St Ninian’s for 44 years. Alan and Zoë had been a true partnership in St Ninian’s and especially in the community. David said that Alan had practised what he preached for almost ten decades, faithful to the Lord’s Prayer and its simplicity: asking God for what he needed and for forgiveness. He had preached on so many occasions in the past but it was in the community especially that his example of Christian service had been shown – when Alan and Zoë together would visit those who were ill in hospital, in care homes or at home, caring and sharing with them. These were the people who would miss them the most, and they were probably not in church today. David ended by wishing them Godspeed to the south of England, but he looked forward to welcoming them back on visits to the Haugh of Urr, where Alan’s son, Andrew, had bought a property.

On Sunday evening, 16 June, a concert was held in Church to raise money for the Glasgow Children’s Holiday Scheme. Following a varied and interesting programme of songs and instrumental music by people from within the congregation and others, the Mothers’ Union provided a delicious buffet in the Hall. The evening raised £443 for the Glasgow Children’s Holiday Scheme.

The Church was well-filled for the concert. Some of the younger performers – Ellie, Katie, Beth, Peter and Michael – are seated at the front.

Sunday 26 May, following a Service of the Eucharist in church, Sandra Walsh, our Growth Strategy Facilitator led a meeting in the Hall at which we looked at the six strands of the Diocesan Growth Strategy and – in groups – discussed the strengths and weaknesses of St Ninian’s and how to move forward. Following the meeting, we all enjoyed a delicious lunch of soup, sandwiches and cakes. See the new page devoted to the Growth Strategy – Growing with God’s Grace at St Ninian’s.

Saturday 18 May: a very interesting and thought-provoking Vestry “Awayday” took place at Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse, led by Revd Canon Anne Tomlinson. On the next day, Sunday 19 May, Anne preached at the 11.00am Family Eucharist for Pentecost.

Vestry Members with Anne And how it rained while we were there!

On Wednesday 8 May, Bishop Gregor came to St Ninian’s to celebrate the Eucharist for Ascension-tide and also to confirm Mrs Judi Duck.

Judi chatting with Bishop Gregor in the Hall after the Service

Sunday 31 March- Easter Day
The Church was packed to overflowing for the Festival Eucharist at 11.00am.

The congregation begins to arrive …

Retired Bishop John Taylor was the Celebrant at the Eucharist. At the end of the service, the Rector thanked Bishop John for all his help over many years during his ‘retirement’ – not just at St Ninian’s, but all over the Diocese. Bishop John had decided that he now wished to retire fully – other than in an emergency, when he would always be willing to help – and the Rector showed his appreciation by presenting him with a bottle of ‘the dew of Speyside’!

Presentation to Bishop John Taylor Bishop John indicates his approval! (Apologies for the fuzzy image!) A beautiful floral arrangement next to the Holy Spirit window (Photo credit: Jenny Wright) Ann Gault helps the children to make the Easter Garden (yesterday) and the finished result

On 22 March, we had an unprecedented heavy snowfall lasting for about 24 hours, at the end of which it was blanketing the town a foot deep – in the countryside, where strong winds had whipped it up, there were drifts of about 12 feet in height. This was the day before St Ninian’s had been due to host the Chrism Eucharist for the southern part of the region. It was cancelled!

St Ninian’s during the snowfall

Sunday 10 March – Mothering Sunday
Today the Sunday School took charge of the first part of the morning service, their theme based on ‘Bind us together with love’.

All those who took part in the presentation

Ellie introduced their presentation with the following: “In Sunday school we have been thinking about how together we are stronger and more effective. If just one person says something it can be hard to hear it. If we all say it we are louder. One strip of paper is easily torn but several woven together are stronger.”

Euan said, “Mums help us and feed us and teach us but it is as part of a family that we learn about caring and sharing, negotiating and getting along.”

Beth, on a weekend home from university added, “We all want to be good and kind. We can do it on our own, in lots of little ways every day, by smiling, listening and being helpful. But when we do it together, in an organised way we can make big changes and see big differences. That’s how charities have a bigger impact on world problems. At Christmas we made cards to sell. We raised £38 which we spent on mosquito nets through the Christian Aid catalogue. Together by supporting Christian Aid we are able to make a difference to others.”

After saying the intercessions and beginning to sing, all the members of the Sunday School and the congregation linked hands for the final verse and chorus of ‘Bind us together with love’.

Later they distributed the little gifts which they had made to the congregation.

Distribution of the gifts During the service the Rector and Alison presented all the children with books

MOTHERING SUNDAY LUNCH AT THE KINGS ARMS

Twenty two members of the congregation enjoyed a splendid lunch – thanks to David, Pauline and all the staff at the Kings Arms

Diocesan Growth Strategy – Bishop Gregor’s plan to involve all the churches in the Diocese: On Sunday 3rd March, our facilitator, who comes from Gatehouse, will be attending the 11.00am Service to meet the congregation of St Ninian’s for the first time.

The Diocesan Growth Strategy Prayer, which will be included in our prayers in the future.