MONDAY 22 DECEMBER 2014
In response to today’s disaster in Glasgow, Bishop Gregor has issued the following statement:
The whole Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway offers our prayers for and condolences to all so suddenly and terribly caught up in this latest tragedy to befall the City of Glasgow. We bless God for the response of our emergency services. The disaster occurred very near our Diocesan Centre and I saw with my own eyes the awful aftermath. I shall not forget what I saw. +Gregor The Rt Revd Dr Gregor Duncan, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway. There are responses from other church leaders from Glasgow Churches Together at: http://glasgowchurches.org.uk/george-square-crash-reaction-and-prayers/
SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2014 – ADVENT 2
IN THE RECTOR’S WORDS: “This is happening too often – another member of the congregation is leaving us. “Vivien Bremner has decided that living where she does is no longer appropriate and, for the time being, she is moving to live with her son in the Tweed Valley near Peebles. Both she and Douglas, her late husband, have contributed so much to St Ninian’s and, indeed, I would describe Vivien as the epitome of faith in action, helping so many people in so many ways. We are immensely grateful to her.”
FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER – TOILETRIES FOR WIGTOWNSHIRE WOMEN’S AID
SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER – SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Ann Gault was celebrating her 70th birthday: she and Clem provided wine and nibbles, followed by birthday cake, for all the congregation, who sang a rousing “Happy Birthday to you …”
SUNDAY 5 OCTOBER – HARVEST THANKSGIVING
(Click on image for larger view)
SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER – ST NINIAN
MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER – ST NINIAN’S HOSTS THE BISHOP’S LECTURE ON THE HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH
SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 – YET ANOTHER FAREWELL …
SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2014 – FAREWELL TO BISHOP JOHN AND EDNA TAYLOR
Today was the last occasion on which Bishop John and Edna attended a service before moving to be closer to family in Kirriemuir (or ‘Thrums’, as the Rector called it). He remarked how sad we would all be to see them go and wished them well in their new home.
Sunday 20 July 2014: At the beginning of Castle Douglas Civic Week, St Ninian’s once again hosted the Charter Ceremony and Sashing of the Douglas Lad and Lass. In the absence of the Rector, the service which followed was led by Bishop Gordon Mursell.
Future Ministry in the Stewartry A Briefing Paper for the Congregation of St. Ninian’s, Castle Douglas Background
- In the summer of 2012, when it became apparent that by mid-2014 there would be clerical vacancies at both Christ Church Dalbeattie (CC), and the linked charge of Greyfriars, Kirkcudbright (Kbt) and St. Mary’s, Gatehouse of Fleet (GoF), Bishop Gregor initiated discussions to develop a strategy for the future. The three existing Rectors offered their thoughts, and the charge Treasurers presented draft budgets for the next few years. Out of these initial soundings, the following were the major factors for further consideration:
- CC simply could not afford to appoint a new Rector; its congregation is small but positive about the future.
- Kbt/GoF was struggling financially and not confident of the charge’s ability to regenerate.
- Only St. Ninian’s, Castle Douglas (CD) has the human and financial resources to maintain the status quo.
- A second series of discussions, led by the Bishop and the Dean, with each charge’s Vestry represented by its Lay Rep, Treasurer and Secretary, explored possible options. [Note: St. Margaret’s, New Galloway was invited to take part in the discussions but declined.] “Option 1” – a grand coalition of all four congregations – was rejected as too unwieldy. “Option 2” – linking CC to Kbt/GoF – was felt to leave CC too far out on a limb. And so “Option 3” emerged as probably the most-practical way forward, and this was the proposal Bishop Gregor put to a joint meeting of all 4 congregations in CD on 22 May, 2014, attended by over 60 people.
Option 3 The Bishop gave an overview of the proposal, followed by a lively and positive question-and-answer session. The following emerged:
- Kbt/GoF will remain as at present and a new Rector will be appointed. Financial support will be provided for 5 years on a tapering basis to give breathing space for regeneration. The grants will come, not directly from CD, but from the Diocesan Gordon Fund, which is an accumulation of the annual donations from CD’s Endowment Fund.
- CC and CD will be linked initially for a five-year period. The Rector of CD will additionally become Rector of CC. A Curate will be appointed to the joint charge in the autumn of 2015 and will live in the CC Rectory (which is let pro tem). At least half the stipend costs of a Curate will come from the Province as a training grant.
- This should be seen as an opportunity for growth under the Diocese’s shared vision for growth and there will be a review before the end of the five year term.
- Each congregation will be invited to discuss the proposal at special meetings in the course of June (CD’s is on 29 June).
Next Steps Assuming the congregations approve, the Vestries will then have to begin detailed negotiations mediated (probably) by the Dean, with a view to implementation in the autumn – although no timetable has yet been set.
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At the meeting on 29 June the congregation of St Ninian’s agreed unanimously to accept Option 3.
30th March 2014 – Mothering Sunday
The morning service was a specially adapted Service of the Word, led by Jenny Wright with members of the Sunday School reading the lessons, leading intercessions and doing a presentation before handing out sunflower seedlings to the congregation.
During the service Alison, the Rector’s wife, gave out specially selected books to the youngsters, to their obvious delight.
Following the Service there was a Mothering Sunday Lunch at the Kings Arms, organised by St Ninian’s Men’s Group (photos supplied by Steven Dill)
Some images (taken by the Rector) from the Sunday School Families’ Ceilidh on Sunday 9th March (Click on an image to open it in a larger view)
MWAYA BEACH, MALAWI – ST BARNABAS ANGLICAN CHURCH Last autumn, Judi Duck and her husband Jim spent some time in Malawi and attended the Anglican Church of St Barnabas at Mwaya Beach – then currently held in a school room because, although a new church building was being constructed, there was insufficient money to provide a roof. The Vestry of St Ninian’s agreed to provide funding up front for a roof for the church and, so that the work could be done before the advent of the rainy season, the money was sent immediately from the Endowment Fund, to be repaid through subsequent fundraising events. Just before Christmas, photos arrived showing the completed work.
