Darvel Parish Church of Scotland

KIRK NEWSIssue number 81 August 2012

Published by Darvel Parish Church. Scottish Charity No. SC012014www.darvelparishchurch.org.

UNDER THEBANNER OF LOVE

There are two things it hasbeen difficult to avoid thissummer so far: the rain andthe Olympics. Although theunprecedented amount of rainthrough June and July madelife tough for farmers andmiserable for all of us, yet noone would seriously question

the fact that we need the rain, otherwise we would livein a desert. On the other hand the need for theOlympics might well be called into question.That might sound strange coming from a minister ofthe Gospel of peace and reconciliation. After all theOlympics is not just about the promotion of sport, butalso the promotion of peace through sport. TheOlympics is about bringing peoples of the worldtogether under the banner of sport, as symbolised bythe Olympic Rings. Sport is such a great way tochannel the energies of young people, and to see topathletes compete on a world stage is a great spectacle.So why am I an Olympic sceptic?The problem with the Olympics for me was highlightedin an incident that happened at the beginning of theLondon 2012 games, when the North Korean women’sfootball team found themselves under the banner of theSouth Korean national flag. They walked off in a huff,and could only be coaxed back to compete after anhour’s consultation. Sadly, what the Olympic Gamesreally promote is nationalism; the Olympics have beenused more than once by host countries to promotetheir own political ideology. According to the OlympicCharter, the Games are not about countries competingagainst one another, so why do we make such a fussabout national flags and national anthems? Most ofthe hype for us as the host nation has been aboutTeam GB and the number of medals we might win,rather than a celebration of world class sport.Within the Church we have a similar problem; notnationalism but denominationalism. Over the past1000 years or so the church has divided itself into anynumber of denominations; Catholic, Orthodox,Anglican, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist,Methodist, Pentecostal etc. All purporting to promotethe Gospel of peace and reconciliation, but oftenpromoting our own religious ideologies.There is only one Church; the Bible knows nothing ofdenominations; we all serve under one flag, the bannerof Christ’s love. If we want to ‘inspire a generation’ withthe gospel of peace and reconciliation, the Churchmust strive to be reconciled within itself.May the peace of God be with you all. Charles.

Back to Church SundayThis year our Back to Church Sunday

will be held on the 30th of September,which gives us over a month to preparefor it. Last year we were delighted towelcome a number of people back toChurch and we hope to do so again thisyear. As we did last year, we areinviting all regular church attenders toinvite one person back to Church. OnSunday the 16th of September we shallbe handing out invitation cards at thebeginning of the service, so startthinking about who you will invite.

Church isn’t of course just aboutcoming along to the Sunday Service andbeing part of God’s family, it is alsoabout taking an active part in thedemanding task of extending Hiskingdom. If you would like to explorehow you can be of service to God in thiscommunity, and represent his interestsin a rapidly changing world, then comeback to Church.

See you on the 30th Sept!

This edition of Kirk News is anexpanded edition. The reason forthis is the sheer number of churchprojects and activities that areeither planned or on-going.

Contact names and telephonenumbers accompany most of thethings that are happening - so ifyou’d like to get involved, pleaseget in touch.This is your Church,be part of it.

And of course the regular Sundaymorning church service, conductedby Rev Charles Lines, takes placefrom 11 a.m. to 12 noon

Office-bearerson Duty

SeptemberH. Nisbet, A Thomson,

Mrs A. Thomson, Mrs Strang,J. Craig, Ms. C. Forbes,

Mrs Fauds

NovemberD. Ralston, R. Coltherd,R. Struthers, J Harrison,

Mrs Baird, Mrs N.Henderson,Mrs Macrae, Mrs Struthers

COMMUNIONSERVICE

will be conductedby

Rev. Charles Linesin

Darvel Parish Churchon

Sunday 26th Augustat 11a.m.

1ST DARVELBOYS BRIGADE

The 1st Darvel BoysBrigade resumes on

Monday 20th August 2012.

Lots of interesting topics and trips have been organised.New boys welcome from P1 to P7.

We meet in the New Church Hall, Ranoldcoup Roadfrom 6.15 to 7.30 every Monday

Any adult wishing to volunteer an hour or so would begreatly appreciated.

Further details can be obtained by contacting LynseyHenderson on 01560 329573 or evjc2009@yahooo.co.uk

Drug Proof your KidsMr Brian Devlin from East Ayrshire Council will be running a

course of 2 hour sessions over a six week period, teaching parentsabout the early warning signs of drug or alcohol misuse. It alsohelps on ways to talk to children informatively about the evils of drugand alcohol abuse.The proposed date for the course is after the school restarts.Places are limited but if you would like to go please contact LynseyHenderson 01560 329573 or our minister, Rev. Charles Lines

OctoberMrs L. Hendrson, J.Seton,

R. Henry, J.Grier,Mrs Higton, Mrs Macinnes,

Mrs.Todd

StewardshipStewardship is about how we, as a church, use our time, talentsand money to extend God’s Kingdom. Every congregation of theChurch of Scotland has been instructed by the General Assemblyto undertake a stewardship campaign on a yearly basis. It hasbeen suggested that congregations could adopt a StewardshipSeason approach to Stewardship. This approach provides theopportunity to explore the various elements of Christianstewardship in an imaginative way. The giving of time, talent andmoney are considered separately over a three year period, with amonth each year being designated as the stewardship season.The Kirk Session has decided to adopt this approach toStewardship.Last year our treasurer challenged us all to consider our givings, sothis year the Kirk Session have decided to begin our new approachto stewardship with a season devoted to looking at the way we useour time. This season will run through the month of October andwill include devotional material, and themed Sunday Services. Wealso hope to open the church doors to the community for a week.This will provide an opportunity for people who don’t normally comeinto the church building to spend some time in a space set apart formeeting with God.We shall keep you posted through the church notices and thechurch website.

Full details of the proposedWednesday afternoon Tea Dances is

in the above poster

COFFEE MORNINGSThe monthly tea/coffee morning are heldin the Church Hall from 10a.m. to 11.30The next coffee morning takes place on

Thursday 6th SeptemberPlease come along - you will be most welcome

DARVELPARISH CHURCH

MinisterRev. Charles Lines, B.A

Tel: 01560 322924Session Clerk

T. Graham CouperTel: 320583

Congregational ClerkMrs J.H.T. Ireland

Tel: 321944Congregational Treasurer

Derek BlackTel: 320596

Freewill Offering SecretaryMrs J. Struthers

Tel: 320261Covenant SecretaryMrs Anne Thomson

Tel: 321339KIRK SESSION

Mrs. M.BellD. Black, T.G. Couper,J. Craig, T. Ferguson,

Mrs. J.Gordon,J. Grier, R. Henry,

Mrs. M. HenryMrs. E.Higton,

Mrs. J.H.T. Ireland,Mrs. E. Lines

R. McBride, D. Ralston,Mrs. A. Ramsay,

J. Seton,Mrs. J. Struthers,

R. Struthers,Mrs. A.Thomson,

A. Thomson,Mrs.A.Walker.

ADDITIONAL ELDERSA.Y. Cameron,R. Cochrane,

Mrs. I. Findlay,G. Ferguson,

R. Gebbie, Mrs. I. Goldie,Mrs. E. Service,

W. Steel, G.Willis.CONGREGATIONAL

BOARDMrs Una Baird,Robert Coltherd,

Mrs Barbara Couper,John Dobson,

Mrs Jessie Faulds,Miss Cheryl Forbes

Jim Harrison,Mrs Lyndsay Henderson,Mrs Nancy Henderson,Mrs Margaret McBride,

Mrs Maggie Macrae,Mrs Mary MacInnes,

Hugh Nisbet,Miss Janette Purdie,

Billy RamsayMrs Jean Strang,Mrs Doris Todd

HOMELESS BOXESThe New Laigh Kirk send sincere thanks to all who continue to donatefor the hygiene packs. The donations help to make up approx 50 packseach month some going to individuals or families who, for variousreasons, find themselves homeless. Others go to Women’s Aid for veryvulnerable women and children – all recipients are very appreciative ofthe packs.For your information each pack contains hand towel, shower gel,shampoo, conditioners, roll-on deodorants (no aerosols please), comb,hair brush, face cloth, sponge, toilet bag, nail brush, emery board. Inaddition specifically for men, women or babies, nappies, baby lotion,wipes, nappy cream, shaving gel, disposable razors, after shave,moisturiser, sanitary items.We are advised that at the moment they are particularly short ofdrawstring toilet bags. Also very welcome are hair brushes, disposablerazors and hand towels. Plus of course all the items received aregratefully received. Donations can be placed in the box at the vestibuleof the church. Contact person is Ann Thomson phone 321339

The Sunday SeekersThe Sunday Seekers meet on Sunday morningsat the same time as the morning service ofworship and after the short children's servicein the church go to the new Church Hall,Ranoldcoup Road with their teachers.Miss Janette Purdie (tel. 321131) and herfellow teachers extend a warm welcome to allchildren to come along and join in the fun withthe assurance that they will be well lookedafter. There is also a creche available foryounger children.

Pictured here with their prizes are AndrewFleming, Stuart Fleming, Vhairi Henderson,Jamie Henderson, David Harwood who alsoreceived a special prize; absent was AlexanderHarwood

FFLLOOWWEERR FFUUNNDD

TThhiiss ffuunndd ccoonnttiinnuueess ttoo bbee

vveerryy wweellll ssuuppppoorrtteedd bbyy tthhee

ccoonnggrreeggaattiioonn ssoo mmaannyy tthhaannkkss

ttoo aallll wwhhoo ttaakkee ssppeecciiffiicc

ddaatteess ttoo ppuutt fflloowweerrss iinnttoo tthhee

CChhuurrcchh aanndd aallssoo ttoo tthhee mmaannyy

wwhhoo ffaaiitthhffuullllyy ddoonnaattee ccaasshh ttoo

tthhee fflloowweerr ffuunndd..

WEBB IVORYHi! its that time of year

again. The catalogues areat the ready, so why notshop from the comfort ofyour own armchair and

help the funds at the sametime. Contact J. Ireland on

321944

The winter series ofFRIDAY NIGHT WHIST DRIVES

will be held inTHE CHURCH HALL at 7.15

starting in October Dates will be announced soon

Admission £2 - includes tea/coffee etc

Darvel Parish Church WebsiteOur new Parish Church Website is up and running.

Anyone with access to the Internet can now find a great deal of information about Darvel Parish Church - news,events, photographs, history, who’s-who etc. at www.darvelparishchurch.org .In addition, this newsletter is now available to be downloaded (IN COLOUR) from the website as a PDF anywherein the world, making it possible for absent friends and ex-patriot Darvel people to share in the news and activitiesof our church, however far away they may now live.

Anyone or any organization within the church who has news, events or photographs to be placed on thewebsite, please pass them to Gordon Cree or email them to webmaster@darvelparishchurch.org

Parish RegisterBaptisms

Duncan Walker Conway; 77 LearnmonthCourt, Edinburgh

WeddingsRaine Carlaw & Stewart Christie

Claire Orange & Tony ScottGemma Walsh & Luke Griffiths

Kayleigh Sayers & Ross HepburnDeaths

Mrs Margaret Ritchie, 19 Dublin RoadMrs Agnes Reacher, 16 Loudoun Avenue

Mrs Elizabeth Pollock, 40 John Morton Cres.Mrs Ishbel Bryce, 33 East Main Street.

Miss Cathryn Stevenson, formerly of 53 East Donington StreetMr George Alston, Loudoun Hill Farm

TThhee CChhuurrcchh CCrraafftt GGrroouuppTThhee ooppeenniinngg mmeeeettiinngg ffoorr tthhee nneeww

sseessssiioonn wwiillll bbee oonn TTuueessddaayy 2255tthh SSeepptteemmbbeerr..

TThhee mmeeeettiinnggss aarree hheelldd oonn aalltteerrnnaatteeTTuueessddaayy eevveenniinnggss ttoo tthhee GGuuiilldd aanndd aarreehheelldd iinn tthhee CChhuurrcchh HHaallll,, RRaannoollddccoouupp

RRooaadd ffrroomm 77 ttoo 99 pp..mm..AA vvaarriieettyy ooff wwoorrkk -- eemmbbrrooiiddeerryy,,ccrroossss--ssttiittcchh,, ttaappeessttrryy -- iiss bbeeiinngg

uunnddeerrttaakkeenn bbyy iinnddiivviidduuaall mmeemmbbeerrss..

AAnnyyoonnee iinntteerreesstteedd pplleeaassee ccoonnttaacctt JJaanneettttee SSttrruutthheerrss oonn 33220022661 Life and Work

The magazine, Life and Work, is available each monthand contains a wide variety of articles and featuresreflecting the life and work of the Church of Scotland.Copies can be obtained at the vestibule of the church.For regular orders, which can be delivered to yourhome, contact Jim Harrison (tel. 323087)

Please note that there is disabledaccess to the church via a wheelchairramp to the east door of the frontvestibule. A disabled toilet located at the

vestibule of the church is alsoavailable at all times when thechurch is open.

FOODBANK PROVIDESOVER A THOUSAND MEALS

THE FOLLOWING UPDATE HASBEEN RECEIVED FROMCHERYL FORBES, PROJECTMANAGER OF THE FOODBANK.

Since the successful launch of the Foodbank on11th May, 120 people have received food boxes -this is the equivalent of 1080 meals delivered topeople in need within East Ayrshire.

893 kg. of food have been distributed.

There have been two supermarket collections upto now. One at Asda and one at the Co-op inGalston which brought in a combined total of1206kg. and Hurlford church alone contributed128.5kg

There are a further three supermarket collectionslined up: Sainsburys in Stewarton on August25th from 1 to 6 pm; Tesco Extra in Kilmarnockon Saturday 15th September from 10 to 4 andMorrisons , Kilmarnock on Saturday 27thOctober from 10 to 4.

We have received cash amounting to £2,158.52.

Some items appear always to be needed. Theseinclude UHT milk, cereals, chocolate bars, crispsand SMALL bags of sugar.

A new development is our Cumnock sub-centrewhich has now opened at St. John’s on GlaisnockStreet and in this connection donations of “bags-for-life” carrier bags would be greatly appreciated.

We have also started a supported volunteerscheme at the Foodbank, working with peoplewith learning difficulties to help develop skillsand confidence.

More delivery drivers are still required for theFoodbank. Anyone willing to add their name tothe list should contact Anne Thomson, VolunteerCo-ordinator on 321339

During the relatively short time the Foodbankhas been in existence the support has beennothing short of overwhelming. This is after all aDarvel Parish Church project and everyoneinvolved should feel immensely proud of the workbeing done to help the needy in the community

MMuussiicc ffoorr aaSSuummmmeerr’’ss EEvveenniinngg

APRAYER MEETING will beheld every Saturday morning

from 9 to 10 a.m. in the smallmeeting hall behind the church.Enter by the side lane of thechurch.

The last two concerts in the seriesMusic for a Summer’sEvening

arranged by Gordon Cree, will be held in the Church on the lastSundays in August and September at

7.30 p.m.as detailed here

DARVEL PARISH CHURCH GUILD

Meetings are held in the New Church Hall,Ranoldcoup Road on alternate Tuesday

evenings at 7.15 p.m.

2nd October Opening Social. A Choired Taste7th October Dedication service. Rev. Charles Lines16th October Mrs Catherine Mills. Nurtsery Rhymes30th October Mr Frank Donnelly. Sir Alexander Fleming13th November Margaret Tooth. Bylthswood Care27th November Mr Stewart Wilson. Wartime in Kilmarnock11th December Party Night20138th January Gwyneth Guthrie. Talk on her experiences22nd January Mr. Stuart Cochrane. Talk - Burns Centre5th February Dr. Bill Ramsay. A day in the life of a doctor19th February Rev. Linda Godfrey. Talk on Iona5th March Cheryl Forbes. Talk on the Foodbank19th March Closing SocialA cordial welcome is extended to all old and new

members and to both men and women

For more information contact Margaret Ferguson on 321892

Please note that tickets for the GalaConcert may be purchased in advance

from Anna’s shop, Gordon Cree or onlineat tickets@gordoncree.co.uk

D a r v e l 2 0 1 2 H o l i d a yThe Holiday Club got off to a great start on Monday 6thAugust when 44 children attended the opening day of theweek-long event. They were soon into the swing of thingswith the Olympic theme quickly becoming evident.Thechildren were grouped into teams with names such asNoah, Moses, Joseph, etc., and after an introductorymorning of craft work, teaching, games, story telling andgreat fun singing the holiday club songs the arrival of theOlympic torch heralded the opening ceremony. This was areal Olympic torch proudly carried by AlanJardine who had carried it as part of thetorch relay in Kilmarnock

The “cauldron” was lit and the Darvel Olympic Games declared open.Towards the end of the first day thefirst part of a drama was skillfullyenacted about an Olympic athletewho arrived in the hall having wonhis race but was found to havecheated - he was assisted by usinga jet-pack on his back - and thechilden had to decide whether ornot he deserved to run for God’steam . . . to be continued.

The vast amount ofthoughtful preparation wasevident in the smoothrunning of the holiday club and which madeit all the more enjoyable for the children.

The organisers, headed by MaggieHenry, are to be applauded for theirefforts in organising an event, inconjunction with the FlameFellowship, which was for all childrenin the community regardless of faithor denomination. The team theme was evident in the t-shirts worn by many of thehelpers which were emblazoned “God’s team”. Helpers involved included Charles Lines,Evelyn Lines, Janette Purdie, Jean Gebbie, Jeanette Gordon, Irene Sayers, ElaineWaggott, Nancy Henderson, Margaret Gilmour, Maureen Pritchard, Graham Couper,David Ralston, Richard Henry, Margaret Bell, Alex Thomson, Stuart Cochrane, LindaThomson, Cameron Thomson, Jean McFarlane, Elizabeth Higton, Ann Walker.