st columbas parish landmark march 2017 - largscolumba.org · publicity purposes, but articles...

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,LARGS: ST COLUMBA’S PARISH CHURCH

Scottish Charity No. SC002294

LANDMARKVOLUME XV NUMBER 2 MARCH 2017

MINISTER:Rev Christian J Vermeulen MA, BTh, DipLT

14 Fairlieburne Gardens, FairlieTel: 568515

SESSION CLERK:Mr John Lewis BSc

40 Gogoside Road, LargsTel: 686631

TREASURER:Mr J Donald Wallace CA

2 Fife Place, FairlieTel: 568489

CHURCH SECRETARY:Linda Beveridge

St. Columba’s Parish ChurchGallowgate Street, Largs

Email: [email protected]: 686212

ORGANIST:Mrs Rhona Gourley L.T.C.L., L.T.C.L. (CMT)

2 St Beya Gardens, MillportTel: 531282

CHURCH OFFICE: Tel: 686212

www.largscolumba.org

www.largscolumba.org

We appeal to every member in our Church Family to help welcome and grow our Young Church through prayer and active interest

A MESSAGE FROM THE LOCUM MINISTER

My dear friends

We live on the north side of Largs. From our front window, we have wonderful views across the Clyde to Cumbrae, Bute and Arran and, then, down to Fairlie and Hunterston. This “room with a view” was one of the reasons

why we chose to retire to this wonderful part of the world. Maybe your choice was similarly affected.

The bonus for us here is that, at the rear of our apartment, we can look out on the raised beach which rises steeply to the Routenburn golf course. It is well wooded. In the summertime, the many trees cast a deep shadow. At this time of year, of course, the trees are bare and the banking is taken over by a forest of much smaller plants. As I write to you, I am looking out on a carpet of snowdrops or galanthus, the “milk flower”. If I was to choose my favourite flower, I suspect that it might well be these delicate snowbells. Their first appearing, toward the end of January each year, gladdens my heart. I am not entirely sure why that should be so but I suspect that it is because they seem to say “If we can brave the snows and frosts of winter then so can you”. One does not have to be big to be brave!

Some years ago, I decided to take a closer look at the little snowdrop and I was amazed by what I found. It has a very distinct scent. Now, my sense of smell is not so good these days but I have a clear recollection of its strong honeyed flavour. I call it flavour since it is sweet enough for me to want to taste, like an out-of-season honey bee. The other snowdrop secret I discovered was that inside its delicate white petals are some intricate green markings. I am not the first to make this discovery. In his poem, “The Snowdrop”, Walter de la Mare tells us of his encounter.

“From hidden bulb, the flower reared up, its angled, slender, cold,

dark stem,

whence dangled an inverted cup - for tri-leaved diadem.

Beneath these ice-pure sepals lay, a triplet of green-pencilled snow,

which in the chill-aired gloom of day, stirred softly to and fro.”

The poet goes on to describe a mystical experience, one in which “had met not two of us but three”.

In more recent years, the snowdrop has been adopted as a memorial symbol for those who suffered the loss of their lives at Dunblane Primary School on 13 March 1996. Once again, that anniversary approaches and we do not forget. Rather, we take to ourselves a commitment to be brave in the face of adversity, ready to find something new in our relationship with the eternal, the God who, in his son, Jesus, bravely redeemed the tragedy of our human condition by identifying with us in our suffering, ultimately, by the sacrifice of his young life on the cross.

John Purves, Locum Minister, Tel. 01475 676180

DATES TO NOTEMarch

3rd 2pm World Day of Prayer Service

5th 11.30am Morning Worship and Holy Communion

6th 2pm Guild Meeting

8pm Monday’s Alternative Club (MAC) Meeting

12th 11.30am Morning Worship


7-9pm Young Church Games Night

18th 10am Guild Daffodil Tea


3pm Haylie House Residential Care Home


8pm MAC Meeting

25th 11am Craft Fair



7-9pm Growing in God (GiG) Meeting

April

2nd 11.30am Morning Worship


10th 7.30pm Holy Week Service




14th 10am Walk of Witness

7.30pm Holy Week Service

16th 11.30am Easter Sunday Service

22nd 7.30pm Variations Concert

23rd 11.30am Morning Worship

24th 8pm MAC Meeting

29th 10am Tearoom

10am Craft Fair


May

1st 2pm Guild Meeting

6.45pm Games Night

7th 11am Morning Worship

Joint Service with Fairlie Parish Church


8pm MAC Meeting

13th 11am MAC Tearoom & Soup Lunch



7-9pm GiG Meeting

21st 11.30am Morning Worship

3pm Burnlea Nursing Care Home Service

22nd 2pm Guild Meeting

8pm MAC Meeting

27th 10am Tearoom

10am Craft Fair



7-9pm Games Night

Unless otherwise noted, our Sunday Morning Worship services will be led by Rev. John Purves

BEADLE & DUTY TEAMSTeam A Mr Boyle (Convenor), Mr Hendry, Mr Murdoch, Miss Black, Mrs Counter, Mrs Houghton

Team B Mr McNaught, Mr Jamieson, Mr D Jenkins, Mr I Jenkins, Ms Gallettie, Miss Kennedy, Mrs Lyon, Mrs McEleny

Team C Mr Wallace (Convenor), Mr Currie, Mr Hewitt, Mr Lewis, Mr R Rae, Mr Welch, Mrs McManus, Mrs Rae

Team D Mr Laurie, Mr Rankin, Mrs Bell, Mrs Butler, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Laurie, Miss McFarlane

March

5th Beadle Alister Hewitt, Team A

12th Beadle John Lewis, Team B

19th Beadle John Macdiarmid, Team C

26th Beadle Bill Puckrin, Team D

April

2nd Beadle John Lewis, Team A

9th Beadle Ian Jenkins, Team B

16th Beadle Douglas Blair, Team C

23rd Beadle David Hendry, Team D

30th Beadle Alister Hewitt, Team A

May

7th Beadle Willie McNaught, Team B

14th Beadle John Macdiarmid, Team C

21st Beadle Bill Puckrin, Team D

28th Beadle John Lewis, Team A

CHURCH REGISTERDeaths10th Jan Isobel Paton, Buckreddan Nursing Home, Kilwinning, formerly of Curlinghall, Largs2nd Feb Joan Howie, Burnlea Nursing Care Home2nd Feb Catherine Parker, Moorburn Road

“We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the

blessings of peace.”William Ewart Gladstone

GUILD REPORT

We had a very varied programme in February. Our first speaker was Sally Brewer from the Scottish Huntington’s Association. She explained to us the many symptoms w h i c h m a k e u p t h i s g e n e t i c

neurodegenerative disease and how all sufferers are completely unique.

The Association is a supportive and informative organisation which provides back-up and advice for sufferers and their families. On the 13th we learned about St Valentine and through stories, reminiscences, poems and songs had a love-themed afternoon. We joined our friends in Fairlie on the 21st when we heard from Mary Ford, a former National Convenor, about her life in the Guild and on the last Monday of the month we enjoyed a musical and humorous afternoon with Pat McDonald and friends.

I can hardly believe that our 2016/17 session is almost over and hope that you will all support our Daffodil Tea on Saturday 18th March from 10.00am till 12.30pm.

Christine Gallettie, Convenor

CHURCH CLEAR OUT

The first phase of the clear out of junk and rubbish from our buildings was successfully completed on 7th February when two large van loads were deposited at the local Amenity Site on the Haylie Brae. Unfortunately it was the wettest and coldest day of the year so far however in spite of that, all went well and according to plan.

The next phase which will follow soon is to ask all of the Church organisations and other users of the premises to have a further look at what they have stored and to take a ruthless view on what it is that they actually use and therefore, what can be thrown out.

We are very aware of the fire risk associated with uncontrolled and haphazard storage and this needs to be addressed. While we have already made significant progress to date the job is far from complete. In addition, within our buildings we have a serious shortage of storage facilities and where possible we also need to free up as much space as reasonably possible to allow important items and documents to be retained as required.

The Kirk Session is grateful to all who helped on the day and also to those who assisted in advance in identifying and clearing items ready for disposal; their input is greatly appreciated.

Millar Boyle, Property Convener

GUILD DAFFODIL TEA

The members of the Guild are hosting a Daffodil Tea in the Session Room on Saturday 18th March 2017 from 10.00am till 12.30pm. As the proceeds from this event go to church funds, we would appreciate a good turn out of church members. Come along and enjoy the home baking and a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. We’ll be delighted to see you!

CHURCH WEBSITEIf you wish to add or advertise suitable items of Church interest to our web site please use the 2Contact Button2 on the front page o f t h e C h u r c h w e b s i t e www.largscolumba.org or else hand the information to me on a Sunday. The Church Web Site receives some 1,500 hits a week. It has an electronic calendar on there

as well which is only as good as information received - www.largscolumba.org/calendar.html

Fulton Murdoch

NEXT ISSUEArticles for the next issue of Landmark to be with the

thchurch office by Monday 13 March at latest, which will

thbe available for uplift on Sunday 26 March.

Linda Beveridge, Church SecretaryViews expressed in articles in Landmark are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent those of the editor, minister, or church generally. Other editors are welcome to use dates & events for publicity purposes, but articles remain the intellectual property of the writer and may not be distributed without consent.

DATA PROTECTIONWould members please let their Elder or the Church Secretary know of any changes to their personal details, to ensure they are kept up to date. All information held about individuals will continue to be held securely by the Church for purposes connected with the Church. Individuals have a right to opt-out of their records being held.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Fern and Rosie McIntyre

How long have you been coming to church at Largs, St. Columba’s? Fern 10 years - since I was 3 Rosie 5 years - since I was 3What is your favourite hymn or song? Fern Jesus’ love is very wonderful Rosie Who put the colours in the rainbow?What do you do in your spare time? Fern Dancing (Ballet, Tap + Jazz), Baking Rosie Gymnastics, swimming and Girls BrigadeIf you could change anything in the world what would it be? Fern Chocolate was healthy! Rosie Not have horses, have unicorns insteadWhat is your favourite subject at school? Fern Art and Mathematics Rosie Mathematics and Golden time (game time on a Friday at school as a reward)What is the best thing about Church? Fern Baking, games and art & craft (lots of things) Rosie Baking, games and art & craft (lots of things)

YOUNG CHURCHMinistry with children in the Church can take many forms. We need the urgent prayer support and active interest of each member in our church family to welcome and help us grow Young Church! Over the next few months we will be giving you a few ideas to help with this:

HOW DO YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN TO WORSHIP?

• By being taught they have a place in the community of the church.

• By seeing, hearing, feeling, even smelling, the sanctuary as a place of welcome and worship.

• By being around other children in the worship space. • By watching how their significant adults sing, and

make prayers and offerings. • By sharing prayers, communion, and worship

leadership alongside adults. • By being given ways to watch for God’s presence in

their own lives, and encouraged to share where they notice God and how they participate in God’s love.

Alison Tunnicliff, tel. 673567

WORLD DAY OF PRAYERThis year’s World Day of Prayer Service is being held here in St Columba’s at 2.00pm on Friday 3rd March 2017. This year the service has been compiled by the Christian women of the Philippines and we hope that as many as possible will attend.

Largs Churches Together

PEREGRINES’ REPORT

The Peregrines had their first walk of 2017 along the banks of the River Ayr. After our obligatory coffee in Tesco cafe overlooking the racecourse, we headed for the Ayrshire College campus where we parked by the riverside. We crossed the road bridge and after a short walk along the main road, turned onto the River Ayr Walk which was opened in 1910 and eventually reaches Auchincruive, five miles away. The walk runs along the river bank and is through woodland most of the way. We were lucky with the weather, as we set off from Largs in the rain, but the sun eventually appeared and it was dry while we were walking. After two and a half miles, we crossed the river by the main road and, after skirting a golf course, came back onto the path on the other side of the river which is part of the campus of the University of the West of Scotland, formerly Craigie College of Education. We were surrounded by carpets of snowdrops and some copper coloured autumn leaves still hanging on the trees and sat in front of the University buildings to have our picnic in glorious sunshine. While having our lunch, a man passed by with a golden labrador which was carrying a baseball cap. One of our company suddenly realised that the cap was his and went chasing after it. The dog’s owner said that the dog would not give it up, but after some persuasion with the contents of a packet of crisps, the cap was eventually retrieved! It certainly provided some entertainment at the end of a lovely walk.

Christine Gallettie

FAIRLIE FAIRTRADE INITIATIVE

SPRING TEA PARTY

Teas – coffee – celebration cakeDelicious Fairtrade cakes and biscuits

Lucky draw – raffle

Join us to celebrate the start of Spring,and renewal of Fairlie’s official status as

a fairtrade village

Semple CentreFriday 10th March from 2 to 4 pm

st columbas parish landmark march 2017 - largscolumba.org · publicity purposes, but articles...

Documents