There was a great attendance at the first meeting of the Guild in the New Church premises.  Our speaker was the Rev Brian Hendrie who spoke on the Guild theme “Walking Humbly with God”.   The meeting held a note of sadness as tribute to Jenny Graham our pianist for many years was paid.  Jenny passed away on 31^st December 2011.

There was also a little ceremony denoting the coming together of the Old Parish and West Parish guilds in the new church.  Two of our longest serving members, Jean Boyd and Bette Coulter took part in covering the old embroidered cloths of both Guilds with our new table cloth.  The ladies were each presented with a bunch of yellow roses.

The meeting on 25^th January was our Guest Night, an opportunity to repay a little of the hospitality we have received from other Guilds over the last six and a half years we have been without a church.  It was a great success with approximately ninety guests turning up to hear Hugh and Friends entertain and enjoy a delicious supper provided and served by the members.

Mrs Isobel Johnson, Convenor of Ayr Presbyterial Council of the Guild, paid us a very welcome visit at our first meeting in February and after giving us a brief insight into the work performed by the Leadership Team, she enthusiastically joined in with the members in our discussion of the Guild topic “Thanking God for His Creation”.

Our planned speaker for 22^nd February was unable to come, but John Dunn and Neil Campbell filled the gap admirably and entertained with beautiful photographs, music quizzes and poems, and we are most grateful for that,

On March 7^th Jennie Campbell, a Keep Fit teacher had us “all shook up”.  Members took part with gusto led by Jennie and a team of ladies.  There may have been a few sore muscles the next day, but it was enjoyed at the time.

This has been a good end to the session, with four new members joining us and attendances keeping up despite the driech weather.

Our last meeting, the AGM and Fun Night will have taken place before this is printed, when a new Convenor will be in place.

Still to come:

• The Guild Outing will go to Inverary on Wednesday 13^th June – names are to be taken by Myra Ferguson.
• Charity Shop The Guild will be in the Charity shop on the week commencing 4^th June, goods to sell and volunteers to sell them are required.

Elspeth

Dear Friends,

As I write this, we’re settling in really well to the “temporary” manse at 16 McAdam Way.  As you well know, moving house is exhausting, however, our new home is in excellent condition and we’re delighted that the move is now behind us.  Needless to say, we will not be moving again for a considerable length of time!

A new home comes hard on the heels of a new church!  It’s only March, but a great deal has already happened this year.  By the grace of God, the new church in the Carrick Centre has witnessed a growing congregation.  A significant number of adults and children have swelled the numbers Sunday by Sunday and it’s been a blessing.  I must admit that the level of growth in numbers has somewhat taken me by surprise … “O me of little faith!”

In a time when church attendances in the UK are generally declining rapidly, we are witnessing growth.  Additionally, the Carrick Centre is a hive of activity every day of the week, benefitting the whole community and filled with volunteers from our congregation who are helping to make it function so successfully.

Yes, the Centre is still very much a “work in progress”, but it’s a building that energises me – it’s a building that causes me to be optimistic and I’m certainly not alone in thinking that!

At the risk of constantly repeating myself …“faith” is spelt R.I.S.K.!

Yes, by the grace of God we are growing numerically as a congregation.  That’s good, but it’s worthless if we’re not growing in grace too, as individuals.  Perhaps we need to reflect on these words of John Newton, who wrote the words of “Amazing grace”?

“I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.”

By making that comment, John Newton was implying that he was still a “work in progress”.  However, he wasn’t the person that he’d previously been once upon a time; he’d been changed by the grace of God.  To what extent is our faith affecting our daily lives?  Does our faith influence our lives only on a Sunday morning or all through the week?

I don’t know who wrote the following comment, but it’s certainly worth quoting  – “we need to recognise with humility that we all stand condemned, were it not for the amazing merciful love of God, which has dropped the charges and set us free.”

Please pray that as a congregation we’ll continue to grow in numbers and grow in grace as individuals.  I look forward to all the differing emotions of Holy Week, culminating in our Easter celebration, the greatest day in the Christian calendar.

Wishing you every blessing for the Easter season.

Sincerely

Brian

Jenny played the Church organ for around 70 years starting off at Crosshill Parish Church when she was 14 years old in 1934.  She was then invited in by Rev Alex Williamson to play at the West Parish Church or Glen Kirk, as it was commonly known, where she stayed until she retired.  She received a Long Service Award in 2003 to commemorate 60 years service at West Parish. She also taught many, in fact it must have been hundreds of children to play piano – myself and my family included.   We fondly remember reading “The Beezer” comic every week while we waited for the lesson to begin.  Music and the Church were her life as she tutored Sunday School Choirs, Senior Church Choir and also a Male Voice Choir and produced many excellent concerts.  Her career as Organist in Maybole spanned the careers of eight ministers – what a record!   She played piano for the Guild and Coffee Club, she worked endlessly making tablet and selling it in aid of the Organ Fund for many years, and her meringues were keenly sought after at the Autumn Fayres.  She had a keen sense of humour and loved a laugh and a blether – with her doing most of the blethering of course!  I would tell her often “Jenny, you’re some wummin” and she would give me a wee push and laugh.  As we all know she could be a wee bit stubborn, but we loved her just the same. She talked often of her well loved family and of course her beloved brother Adam who lived until he was 100.  She enjoyed many holidays and loved Pitlochry and surrounding area.

Jenny finally retired in 2005 at the age of 85 after a lifetime of giving of talents and service to the Church and her Lord and she still managed to attend Church services, Guild and Coffee Club until she died at the age of 91. It is indeed the end of an era, you are sadly missed, Jenny, and “Thanks for the Memories”.

Margaret Hutchison

The Baptismal Party

In his service Rev Brian Hendrie stressed that this was a work in progress as the new building is not yet fully equipped. He also pointed out that risk was part of faith and that the risk taken in embarking on this huge project would now pay-off. Outreach to the community is part of the duty of the church and this was a wonderful example. Innovation he said should be the hallmark of an active church. He expressed the hope that the centre would be busy everyday with people making full use of the facilities.

Services throughout January will start at 10am but in February this would change to 10.30am. The church would be very glad to welcome you along.

The congregation at the first service

[We only have the two pictures just now but expect to get some more soon.]