012016 Grapevine v 3

Some lovely dis-
plays from the
Kirk Bazaar held
in November
2015

Minister’s Letter Page 4

Tillicoultry Parish Church of Scotland Worship Services and Holy Week Pages 6-7
Dollar Road, Tillicoultry,
Who do you think she is? Page 8 and lots more ...
Clackmannanshire FK13 6PD
www.tillicoultryparishchurch.co.uk
Scottish Charity Number: SC016570

28

Thursday Club Christmas Party

Sunrise over
Tillicoultry 1st
January 2016

Photograph by
Isa Crawford

More on Page 9 Scenes from the
Nativity Play

‘Angel Express’
on Sunday 13th

December
2015—see Page

10

The front cover picture is a2snowy scene of the Parish 27

Minister: The Revd Alison E. P. Britchfield Tel. 750340 MISSION STATEMENT

Mobile: 0741 568 3871 Email: [email protected] Tillicoultry Parish Church aims to be a church of the whole
community; a place where those who have faith and those who have
Session Clerk: Alan Hunter Tel. 752997
Email: [email protected] yet to find it or renew it, can come together as a family of God’s
children; a place where all will be received with tolerance,
Deputy Session Clerk: Derek Brown Tel. 751001 understanding and friendship.

Email: [email protected] You are invited to share in the
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Church Officer: Ronald Rattray Tel. 751511 on Sunday 6th March 2016 at 9.00 am and 10.30 am

Email: [email protected]

Treasurer: Tony Thornton Tel. 752875

Email: [email protected]

Gift Aid Co-ordinator: Sandra Grant Tel. 751767

Email: [email protected]

Roll Keeper: Christine Wallace Tel. 750857

Safeguarding Co-ordinator: Kate Paterson Tel. 751198
Tel. 750074
Hall Letting: David Dobbie Tel. 750574
Tel. 07999 271465
Director of Music: Bill Kinross

Grapevine Editor: Jan Crombie

Email: [email protected] The Table of the Lord Jesus Christ
is open to all who know and love the Lord.

VESTRY HOUR Sunday Worship every week
9.00 am and 10.30 am
The Minister is available every Wednesday evening between 6.30 and
7.30 in the Vestry. Couples who wish to arrange to be married or any 6.30 pm on the last Sunday of the month,
parents who wish to discuss the baptism of their children should see except July and August
her at this time.
A crèche will be available at the 10.30 am service
She is also very happy to meet with anyone who wishes to discuss a
pastoral or spiritual matter. No appointment is necessary. If the time Your Elder is:
is unsuitable, please phone the Minister to make an alternative
arrangement or to ask for a home visit. Telephone:

26 3

TILLICOULTRY PARISH CHURCH ORGANISATIONS

TILLICOULTRY MANSE JANUARY 2016 Sunday Club - Juniors - Leaders: Iain and Joyce Watkinson - Tel. 751363
Age 3 - Primary 6
Dear Friends,
I write this on a cold, wet, blustery January afternoon, when my desk Discovery Group - Leaders: Sue Bytheway - Tel. 752947
feels like a good place to be. It has also been, of late, a place I have Rosemary Villis - Tel. 07780 384720
had to spend a fair amount of time. Easter comes early this year and
so preparations for all the services need to be in place by now, pasto- Primary 7 upwards
ral demands at present are very high and the amount of administra-
tion hitting my desk is relentless. Meet in Church at 10.30am for the first part of service, then leave
with the teachers to go to classes.
One of the things which came to my attention towards the end of last
year was the issue of Data Protection and how it affects the Church. I Sunday Brunch Club in the Manse after Church until 1.00 pm on third
was required by the Church of Scotland to change my email address, Sunday of the month - Primary 7 upwards
to ensure that all correspondence remains secure. This is no bad
thing, but, as with everything else takes time and effort to implement. Boys’ Brigade - Captain: Farquhar Wilson - Tel. 751520
More demanding, however, will be a requirement for the Kirk Session
to get written permission from every member of the congregation to Anchor Boys (Thurs) Primary 2-3 Large Hall 6.00 - 7.15 pm
hold any data. Primarily this is your details on the congregational roll Junior Section (Thurs) Primary 4-6 Large Hall 6.45 - 8.15 pm
and any financial commitment you have made to the Church. You will Company Section (Thurs) Primary 7+S1-S6 Large Hall 7.30 - 9.00 pm
hear more of this in the coming weeks and I would ask for your assis-
tance in this matter, by completing your return. All information Girls’ Brigade - Captain: Christine Pairman - Tel. 750961
which we hold is confidential and held appropriately.
Explorers (Wednesday) Primary 1 - 3 Small Hall 6.15-7.30 pm
In the early days of the Christian Church, the Roman Empire was at its
peak. In order to get the strongest possible grip on the people, the Juniors (Wednesday) Primary 4 - 7 Large Hall 6.15-7.30 pm
authorities introduced worship of the Emperor. On particular days
everyone had to come and worship the emperor and make sacrifices Brigaders (Wednesday) S1 - S6 Large Hall 7.30-9.00 pm
to him. When a person did that, they were given a certificate and
they could then go away and worship whatever or whoever else they Choir - Director of Music: Bill Kinross - Tel. 750574
wanted. All that a Christian had to do to be safe to worship God,
was to do enough to get the certificate, but for many Christians, that The choir meets for practice in the Small Hall at 7.30 pm on Wednesdays
was a step too far, and instead they died for their faith. during the winter months.
We have all, at one time or another made the declaration that Jesus
Christ is Lord. It may seem a small and insignificant step, but by al- Guild - Secretary: Rosemary Villis - Tel. 07780 384720
lowing us to retain your data safely, you are declaring that your faith Meets on Tuesday in the Large Hall at 7.30 pm on alternate weeks

4 Men’s Club - Secretary: David Dobbie - Tel. 750074
Meets on Tuesday in the Small Hall at 7.30 pm on alternate weeks

Country Dance Club - information from Mary Grant - Tel. 750594
Meets on a Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm on alternate weeks

Sewing Group - information from Lillias Dobbie - Tel. 750074
Meets on Monday evenings in Meeting Room 2 from 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

Thursday Club - Information from Eleanor Nicolson - Tel. 750040

For help with transport, contact Liz Duncan - Tel. 750609
Meets alternate Thursdays from 2.00 - 4.00 pm

25

AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY FENCING and your membership of Christ’s Church are still of great importance
to you. Sometimes God demands not grand gestures but simple
Our services include: faithful persistence. Will you continue to be faithful to your calling as
Christ’s disciple and seek to serve Him and bear witness to Him in
 Picket fencing your daily life?
 Panel fencing Your Friend and Minister,
 Fence posts
 Garden fencing PLUMBING YOU CAN TRUST CONGREGATIONAL REGISTER
 Agricultural fencing AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE
 Forestry fencing Deaths
 Gates 20 Stirling Street
Tillicoultry There is nothing in life or death, nothing in all creation
Competitive prices & 'no obligation' quote: FK13 6EA
Contact Gillian: 01259 760955 that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus his Son
Tel: 01259 751363
or 01786 860660 Gwendoline McEwan 5 Nov 2015
Mobile 07736 567600

Sarah Young 8 Nov 2015

William Stoddart 15 Nov 2015

Gordon Turner 24 Nov 2015 *

Marjorie Shepherd 16 Dec 2015

Janet Gray 18 Dec 2015*

John Cousins 20 Dec 2015

Helen McLean 9 Jan 2016

James Drysdale 14 Jan 2016

Dorothy McGlasson 15 Jan 2016 *Member

Baptisms

Jesus said “Suffer the little children to come to me

Emily Beth Reid 22 November 2015

Elsie Audrey Duffin 20 December 2015

Ordination of elders
Jan Crombie
Gillian MacAuslane
Ronald Rattray
Iain Watkinson

24 5

WORSHIP SERVICES Pet Needs & Feeds This Space
Could be Yours!
As well as our regular Sunday services, we also offer the following, 1 Stirling Street, Tillicoultry
which are open to everyone: Tel: (01259) 752002 Sponsor an
Advertisement in
Start the Day – every Wednesday 7.30am - a brief reflection, lasting www. petneedsandfeeds.co.uk
about 15 minutes. Grapevine
Pets galore for all your needs,
Mid week Worship – same Thursday as Thursday Club 1.30pm – an Come to us for pets and feeds, Help your business
informal service lasting about 25 minutes – in the Lesser Hall. We will deliver right to your door, while helping the
You really couldn’t ask for more, Church to cover some
Evening Service – Last Sunday of Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June, Budgies, rabbits, hamsters and fish,
September, October, November 6.30p - held in the Lesser Hall, this And other pets for your every wish! of the cost of
service usually lasts just over half an hour. This year our theme is Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5. 30pm printing the magazine.
“What a difference a faith makes”.
Further details from
Marchglen Second Sunday – 2.30pm – a group from the congrega- Derek Brown
tion attends this short service with the residents, offering help, fel-
lowship and friendship as we worship. New people are always wel- [email protected]
come to join us.
01259 751001
Trust Housing Communion Sunday 12pm – on every Communion
Sunday, Communion is celebrated at Trust Housing. Again, others T. A. Mack MRPharmS
are welcome to come along and help boost the singing. Pharmaceutical Chemist

LENT AND EASTER 107 High Street, Tillicoultry The Blossom Tree
Flowers for all occasions
Lent Bible Studies: Clacks FK13 6DS
Our customary series will run throughout Lent, as follows: Weddings - Funerals
Telephone: 750261 Birthdays - Anniversaries
Sunday 7.15 – 8.45pm Lesser Hall 14 Feb – 13 March
Wednesday 2.30 -4pm Lesser Hall 17 Feb – 16 March Open Six Days a Week We also do a range of Monumental
Hours 9. 0 am - 6. 0 pm Work - available to view in store.
This year’s study is entitled “From the Ram to the Lamb” – free copies Closed for Lunch 1. 0 pm - 2. 15 pm
are available from Mike Britchfield. Everyone is welcome. Closed Saturday from 1. 0 pm We are open 6 days a week.
EMERGENCY DISPENSING
Normal Bible Studies are suspended for the Lent Studies but will re- Delivery service available, including to
sume in April on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm in the Lesser Hall. At night, on Sundays Funeral Parlours and Churches.
and Public Holiday,
6 Tel: 01259 750770
DISPENSING MEDICINES, 71 High Street, Tillicoultry FK13 6AA

23

HOLY WEEK

Call This Number: As an independent funeral director As we go to press, the arrangements for Holy Week have not been
situated within the community, finalised and there may be slight changes to what is printed here.
Tel: 01259 928225 The Kirk Session has agreed that on the evenings in Holy Week when
we aim to provide families locally with an there is nothing happening jointly, we will have our own events. This
excellent service at a competitive price. is in addition to the daily Reflections which we introduced last year.
There will also be a ‘Thought for the Day’ on the website and Face-
• book from Palm Sunday to Easter Day.

We also aim to bring all your ideas Mon 7.30 am Holy Week Reflection
together and create a unique and 2pm Holy Week Reflection
personal funeral for your loved one 7.30pm Joint Hillfoots Service Dollar Parish Church

• Tues 7.30 am Holy Week Reflection
2pm Holy Week Reflection
24-Hour Helpline 7.30pm The Beginning of the End Tillicoultry Parish Church

01259 725999 Wed 7.30 am Holy Week Reflection
2pm Holy Week Reflection
• 7.30pm A Holy Week Labyrinth Tillicoultry Parish Church

111 Main Street Sauchie, FK10 2JX Thurs7.30 am Holy Week Reflection
2pm Holy Week Reflection
'Where caring comes first' 7.30pm Joint Maundy Thursday Service Tillicoultry Congre-

 Mechanical/Electrical Repairs Your Local Opticians gational Church (to be confirmed)
 Servicing Experience our Fantastic Service Fri 7.30 am Holy Week Reflection
 MOTs arranged/MOT repairs
 Clutches, Welding FREE NHS Eye Tests 2pm Holy Week Reflection
 Diagnostics 7.30pm Joint Good Friday Service Tillicoultry Baptist Church
 Batteries Complete Single Vision Glasses
 Exhausts from £39 (to be confirmed)
 Tow bars
 Sat Nav, Phone Kits FREE Glasses for patients Easter Sunday Dawn Service followed by breakfast in the Manse
 In Car Entertainment receiving benefits 7am
 Parking Aids Morning worship
- see staff for details. Garden Morning Worship
 DVD Systems and Tracking 9am Easter Evening Service Tillicoultry Parish Church (to
All types Home 10.30am
of Contact Lenses visits 6.30pm
available
fitted be confirmed)

105 High Street, Tillicoultry
Tel 01259 752755

22 7

WHO DO YOU THINK SHE IS LET US BUILD A HOUSE

Alison Black is an elder and, until recently, edited In December the Kirk Session agreed that as a
the Church Magazine for fifteen years. congregation we would support the Church of
Scotland’s World Mission Council Project, “Let us
Where were you born and spent early years? build a House”. The plan is that the length and
I was born and brought up in a Glasgow tenement. breadth of the land, congregations and Presby-
teries would get involved to help rebuild homes and lives in Nepal,
How would you describe yourself? following the devastating earthquakes last year. During 2015/16, we
Cheerful, caring, enjoying a challenge. are asked to help raise the money for houses, which cost £500 each.

Where is your favourite place in Clackmannanshire? Our Kirk Session agreed that we would support this, aiming to raise
On top of Seamab, looking down into Glen Devon – heaven on earth! the money for a house between Advent Sunday 2015 and Advent Sun-
day 2016. A group was set up to organise various events and other
Have you fulfilled any ambitions? people have then got involved in various ways. The response has
My teenage ambition was to be married and have four children! I been phenomenal. So far, we have raised money through teas and
only managed three but my husband, family, grandchildren and wee coffees, a stall at the School Christmas Fayre, one family providing a
great grand-daughter are my greatest joy. I consider myself hugely Christmas Hamper, and the retiring offering at the Christmas
blessed. Watchnight service. Our fantastic total at the end of December stood
at £780.80. Thank you!!!!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
My mother used to say: If you worry you die, if you don’t worry you There are many other small ventures in the offing, so keep your eyes
die, so why worry. It has become a family joke but easily translates open. As they say “Mony a mickle mak’s a muckle”.
into the Bible passage: Consider the lilies of the field etc … and often
makes me re-think in a stressful situation. LIFE AND WORK MAGAZINE

What is your favourite smell? Life and Work is the magazine of the Church of
A cake baking in the oven (it’s not usually mine!) Scotland. Although annual subscriptions (£24) for
2016 have been processed, it is still possible to sub-
What is your earliest church memory? scribe to the above magazine by ordering online at
In Sunday School, collecting ‘ship ha’pennies’ for missionary work. http://www.lifeandwork.org/subscribe/subscribe .

Name 4 people you’d invite to dinner and why. Anyone interested but with no access to the Inter-
Professor of forensic anthropology, Sue Black, Dame Judy Dench, net please contact: Susanne McEwan (Tel. 751988)
Andy Murray and Scottish mountaineer and quadruple amputee,
Jamie Andrew. All are inspirational in their very different achieve- 21
ments.

8

BIDE THOU WI’ ME Do you have any pastimes/hobbies?
Walking, reading, cryptic crosswords and cross-stitch. I play indoor
Lord, bide wi’ me; the nichts are drawin’ in tennis, badminton and table tennis twice a week at Stirling Universi-
The darkness fa’s, an noo I hardly see. ty.
Lang is the road, an’ hame I canna win
Oh tak my hand in Thine, an’ bide wi’ me. What was the last film you watched?
Suffragette.
Flooers o’ the past are withered an’ awa,
Noo nettles spread whaur roses used to be, What was the last book you read?
The hands that cared for them are gane an’ a’ All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
Lord, there’s nae change in Thee, bide Thou wi’ me.
Any regrets?
I need Thee, Lord, by day an’ in the nicht That I didn’t take up sporting activities earlier in life.
Through ilka hoor my guide an’ strength to be
Till earth’s last gloamin’ dawns in heaven’s licht Name your favourite hymn.
Syne, dread an’ darkness ower, we’ll bide wi’ Thee. Make me a channel of your peace.

Contributed by Eleanor Nicolson THURSDAY CLUB CHRISTMAS
PARTY
TILLY PRIMARY SCHOOL SUPPORTS THE GATE
A big Thank You to the ladies of the
Last term the Primary School Citizenship Group de- Thursday Club Christmas Party who
cided that they would like to support the Alloa Food- organised and provided the enter-
bank. The group gathered in donations of all kinds, tainment, the food, drinks (non al-
boxed the items up in shoeboxes decorated with Christmas wrapping coholic) and the presents, not for-
paper and at the Christmas Church service the boxes were on display. getting Santa, but most of all the fun
They were delivered to the Gate after the service and the Gate staff and the laughter on such a memora-
were delighted as this was their last day before closing until after the ble occasion.
New Year. All the boxes were delivered that afternoon allowing them
to give many a last minute top up. Well done to all involved in this From
pupil driven project!. A Thursday Club Member

Mary MacIntyre DIAMOND WEDDING THANKS

20 Margaret and Alex Cowbrough would like to thank every-
one for flowers, cards and good wishes received on the occasion of
their 60th wedding anniversary. They were all greatly appreciated.

9

SUNDAY CLUB PLANT AND BOOK SALE

The Sunday Club is back in action following a short break over Christ- This year’s Plant and Book Sale will be held on Saturday 28th May in
mas. Our Nativity Play - “Angel Express” received rave reviews as we the Church Hall 10am-12 noon.
performed in Church, in the Devonvale Hall and at Trust Housing. Our
boys and girls sang, acted and danced brilliantly and were able to re- As always, we require donations of plants (both indoor and outdoor),
tell the story of Jesus birth with a new twist through the newspaper bulbs, cuttings, flower arrangements, garden tools, etc.
business. So it was:
There will be a Tombola stall and we should be grateful for donations
“Read all about it ! Read all about it! Saviour born in Bethlehem. for this as well as small cakes and pancakes for the tearoom.
He's the one we've been waiting for.”
The Church Hall will open on Friday night 27th May from 6:30pm-
Many thanks to all our audiences for their support, applause and en- 8:00pm to receive donations.
couragement. A big well done to the cast and back stage team for a
great performance. For further information, please contact Kath (750671) or Jess
(751128)
Now we are looking at Jesus’ parables and Jesus the healer as we
move towards Easter. We will be singing in Church on Easter Sunday DATE TO REMEMBER:
Church Bazaar—Saturday 19th November in the Devonvale Hall.
So remember all are welcome at the Sunday Club and we want you to
come as often as you can and whenever you can. We are always glad NEIL’S BENCHSEAT
to see you. Contact Joyce and Iain on 01259 751363.
A very Big “THANK YOU” to all who made my wish for a BENCHSEAT
God Bless, in memory of my son, Neil, possible. To Christine Wallace and her
husband who put it together and for the gift of an inscribable plaque
The Sunday Morning Club Team from the Kirk.

BOWLING FUN Mike - thank you so much for the photos of the seat, it was a lovely
thought and very much appreciated.
On Saturday 16th January, the Discovery Group went bowling in Stir-
ling as a Christmas treat. We were a bit nervous, as we hadn’t bowled I hope to be over in the spring to see it all.
for a while. There was some competitiveness, as everyone secretly
wanted to win! Very Best Wishes & Bless You all.

The bowling alley was very busy, so it was lucky we had pre- Doreen Arthur
booked a lane. We all soon started knocking down skittles,
with half-strikes and strikes being achieved, to great delight! “Remembering your kindness with warmth and gratitude”

10 19

THE MAN WHO DID IT Near the end of the game, our lane was accidentally switched off.
When it was switched back on, Sue got an extra shot (which helped
Somebody said it couldn’t be done, but he with a chuckle replied her get more points than she should have!). However, Daniel was the
That: “Maybe it couldn’t but he would be one who wouldn’t say so till outright winner, although the score was quite close.
he’d tried”.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin on his face. If he worried Everyone had a good time and when we came out to go home, it had
he hid it! started to snow.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that, at least no one ever has
done it.” The Discovery Group
But he took off his coat and took off his hat and the first thing he
knew he’d begun it! GIRLS’ BRIGADE
With a tilt of his chin, and a bit of a grin, if any doubt rose he forbade
it. Our annual trip to see the pantomime “Aladdin” was
He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done. And enjoyed by all and it was yet another wonderful perfor-
he did it! mance by Forefront.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done; there are thou-
sands to prophesy failure. In our badgework this session, the Explorers are continuing with their
There are thousands to point out to you one by one, the dangers that “Bright and Beautiful” badge and are also learning about friendship,
wait to assail you. loving and caring. The Juniors are continuing to practise their “Fun
But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin, then take off your coat and Marching” and are also looking at the world of fashion. The Brigaders
go to it. are continuing with their badges and have a little more cooking to do
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing that cannot be done, and plus learning about the impact of poverty and what charitable agen-
you’ll do it. cies like Food Banks can do to help. They are also learning about
the many different faiths in Scotland. We are all still making some
Author unknown crafts and of course enjoying all kinds of games.

I learned this poem when eight years old to recite at our annual Sun- Our Fashion Show is the big event for us on Wednesday 3rd February
day School Anniversary. Reading from the Bible at our Church services and the girls are very excited about getting dressed up!! I’ll let you
followed soon after and this is something I have enjoyed doing, all my know how it goes in the next edition.
life.
As host company for the Central Division events this year, our next
Cynthia Johnson date is Saturday 27th February when we will be running a competi-
tion for the Explorers based around a gymkhana! Each team will
THANK YOU have to “make” a horse and then ride it in various team competitions.
It should be great fun and hopefully nobody will fall off!!! On the
Elsie Kirk would like to thank everyone for the cards, care and kind- same day we will be running the Brigader competition, when teams
ness over the past few months. It has been quite overwhelming. of Brigaders will compete in four different types of games using men-
With grateful thanks and love to all. tal, practical and physical skills. More outings, sleepovers and events
are in the pipeline once we get over February . Christine Pairman
18
11

SCENE IN THE CHURCH WINDOW A LETTER TO GRAPEVINE READERS

The small panel below I would like to start by thanking everyone who attended the church’s
the left-hand light in the bazaar and bought cakes. In August, I will be taking part in a spon-
Chancel window de- sored trek to Mount Everest’s Base Camp for ChildReach Internation-
picts the moment when al. I raised £180.14 for the charity at the bazaar, which will be going
Joseph’s brothers bring towards my target of £2,895 to raise for the charity.
his coat to their father,
Jacob, who recognises it. ChildReach International is a charity who help children in the UK, Ne-
This is recorded in Gene- pal, Tanzania and other countries across the world. Their mission is
sis 37, 18-35. to empower children with an education so that they can make a
difference in their own lives and reach their full potential. The charity
Mike Britchfield builds classrooms in remote areas so that the children can always
attend a school and their families have a place to go where they can
THE GUILD AND MEN’S CLUB CONCERT PARTY. get information or settle. They have also been providing humanitari-
an aid in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquakes last year, which
On Tuesday 26th January, the Guild and Men’s Club hosted a joint devastated many of the regions they work in.
evening in the company of Jack Delaney’s dance band. Around 50
members enjoyed a full and diverse programme of music and song I have a donation page set up at https://mydonate.bt.com/
including Burns, Brahms and Bizet. Directed by Jack on accordion,
the band consisted of John Delaney (double bass), Heather Delaney fundraisers/lucycrawford1, where you can follow my fundraising.
(violin), Charlotte and Alastair McGirr (piano/keyboards), Fiona
Mather (flute) with our own Kate and Sandy Paterson (vocals/guitar). Thank you all for your support. Lucy Crawford

The band opened with a weaver set – Burns marches, followed by YARN 2GETHER
solo performances. Husband and wife team Alistair and Charlotte
had us in stitches with piano duets (Hungarian Dance No 6, ‘Le Bal’ The Group is well established now with 10-15 members
finishing with An English Country Garden). “Think Hinge and Brack- meeting every Thursday from 10-12 noon in the Lesser
et!”. John finished off the concert with a rendition of the comical ex- Hall.
ploits of the Auchterturra Band before Jack invited the audience to
join in a medley of Scottish Songs. Many thanks to everyone who has donated wool and buttons - these
are being put to good use:- premature baby jackets and hats; knitted
A truly memorable night. A collection of £100 was taken at the inter- shawls, crochet squares and many other items.
val to be shared between Strathcarron Hospice and Let Us Build A
House. If you would like to join us, please pop in for a chat and coffee - you
don't have to knit, perhaps you have a craft you would like to share or
Jim McGlashan have company while you do it.
Any queries please speak to or phone Helen (750063) or Lilias 750074.
12
17

PARTNER PLAN COMMUNITY GARDEN STEERING GROUP

Keith and Ida Waddell, our Mission part- Many thanks to all who assisted in making the Bridge tournament on
ners in Zambia, have been transferred Friday 29th January such a good event raising £673. Donations to the
officially, from Mwandi Mission to Synod tombola and supplies of soup, sandwiches and cakes were all much
Headquarters as Health and Education appreciated.
Secretaries respectively. They have sent
their customary regular letter to us in which they tell of Advent activ- Ian Young’s team of ‘lumberjacks’ have almost completed reducing
ities, a family wedding in Limerick and various Church and Mission trees that are a safety issue. The remaining tree will be removed be-
conferences and Councils. The challenges of working in Mwandi are fore the end of February. As we now have Presbytery approval for a
bravely faced and the family is gathering for Christmas by the end of limited spend we can progress the Garden layout.
the letter. They finish:
‘As we remember the coming of the Incarnation into the world and Weather permitting, the contractor should have all of his paperwork
our lives, we wish you His Peace and Joy. approved shortly. We envisage the works commencing on Monday
With our love and every blessing in the coming year. 29th February, making good use of the extra day in the year, and be
Keith, Ida & Mubita‘ complete before the end of March.
The full letter can be found on the Church website.
In the Lesser Hall you will see four paintings donated by local artist
NEW MISSION PARTNER John Breingan. Funds realised are to go towards the Garden funds.
These are acrylic on canvas and beautifully framed, I am reliably in-
We have been allocated a new Mission Partner - his name is Joel formed that the materials alone cost around £100 for each, and they
Hafvenstein and he and his family are based in Kathmandu in Nepal. will be on display for a few weeks. Kirk Session has agreed that bids
They arrived in Nepal just before Christmas and are still settling in. for the paintings are to be made in sealed envelopes with the closing
However, we have now received their first letter and this will be on date being intimated at Sunday worship.
the website sometime soon. In the meantime they have asked us to
pray for the following: Please give your support as appropriate as well as general donations
 Protection of our emotional, physical and spiritual health that can be put into the collection plate on Sundays but please mark
 Patience and joy as we adapt to the day-to-day challenges of it as Orchard Fund or Community Garden.

life in Nepal Ian Sutherland (Chair)
 Wisdom as we help our sons adjust to life in a new country –
OLD TESTAMENT ANSWERS FROM A SUNDAY SCHOOL
especially Caleb, our eldest
 Good Nepali language learning for us both  Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.
 An end to the Nepal-India border blockade which is devastating
 Moses led the Jews to the Red Sea where they made unleav-
the country ened bread—which is bread without any ingredients.

16 13

KIRK SESSION excellent Kirk Session…a working Kirk Session, and one that many
churches would give their eye teeth for!. And it’s only with their sup-
There were some interesting responses in church this morning when port that I can do the job I do.
Alison asked the kids, what does a Minister do?. I wonder what kind
of response she would have received if she had asked the adults that At the service this evening Alison mentioned something that one of
question. I’m fairly certain that we would have come up with a num- her Elders in her first charge had said to her, that we all work for the
ber of things, however I’m sure we would never have come up with same boss. It doesn’t matter what we do, how much time we give,
everything that Alison does, whether seen or unseen. whether we could do things better or more efficiently, what we do,
we do for God and with His support and guidance, He provides every-
It got me thinking, perhaps we should all think about what we do in thing we need to minister for His glory and advance His kingdom here
our role, whether as Session Clerk, as an Elder or as a member of the in Tillicoultry!
congregation. As Session Clerk, what I do really depends on the time Yours in fellowship,
of year. First and foremost I am the secretary to the Kirk Session or
the Board of Trustees. Whilst December and January may be quieter KIRK BAZAAR
months in some roles, that tends to be when most things happen for
the Session Clerk. In addition to completing the minute of the De- We wish to thank everyone who came along to support us and for
cember Kirk Session meeting, the Yearbook with all the Elder’s duties all donations. Many people have to be thanked at this time—all
for the year needs to be compiled before the end of the year. In Jan- those who set up the hall, fetched and carried, stall holders, tea la-
uary, the annual statistical return is made, Presbytery return on our dies, Men’s Group for washing up and the Finance team.
Stewardship activities for the year, compilation of the Annual Report
for inclusion with the accounts for submission to Presbytery and Special thanks are due to the following people:-
OSCR (the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) and a wee addi-
tional one this year, data protection risk assessments for each of the Transport: D. Dobbie, N. Edgar, G. McIntyre and Scott -
church properties. Like the Minister’s role, these are many things I Cake: I Crawford
probably never gave a thought to happening before I became Session Doll: J. Lawrie
Clerk. Some might call it bureaucracy gone mad and in some cases, Hamper: H. McAuslane
it’s hard not to view it that way, but on the whole they are things Leaflets, tickets and posters: A. Wilson, R. Stewart
which lead to the smooth running, not just of Tillicoultry Parish
Church, but also the wider work of the Church of Scotland. Winners:
Numbers of sweets: Rachel Watt
For the remainder of the year we settle into monthly agenda and Doll: M. McAlonan
minutes of meetings, receiving correspondence, answering letters, Cake: A. Kinnaird
ensuring that policy passed down from the Church of Scotland is im- Hamper: E.Stewart
plemented and driving forward the 5 year Development Plan, which
Kirk Session committees are implementing. Fortunately we have an We wish to thank the committee for all their help over the year.

14 Cath and Jess

15