Keeping Fit with Rev Ray Gaston 3 Bicentenary Blasts from the Past 8

News of our Missionary Partners 5 Financial Affairs 13

Clackmannan Parish

Church of Scotland Minister: Rev Scott Raby LTh The WindowThe Window

May 2017 Theme: Bicentenary

Page 2 The Window

Date Time Service

7th May 11.00 am All-age Family Worship

14th May 11.00 am

Morning Worship followed by Soup or Sandwich Lunch for Christian Aid Week

3.00 pm Afternoon Service—BMH

21st May 11.00 am Morning Worship—Traidcraft Fair Trade Table

28th May 11.00 am Morning Worship

4th June 11.00 am

Pentecost. Service of Confirmation—welcome of new members and Renewal of Membership Vows*

Sacrament of Baptism*

11.00 am Sacrament of Communion

11th June 3.00 pm Afternoon Communion—BMH

6.30 pm Evening Communion—BMH

* Subject to Confirmation by Kirk Session Crèche available every Sunday

Church Services

Telephone Numbers and Email Addresses

Position Name Tel No Email address

Minister Rev Scott Raby

Interim

Moderator Rev Alex Millar 01786 469979 alexander.millar@churchofscotland.org.uk

Locum

Minister Rev Ray Gaston 01259 743202 gaston.arthur@yahoo.co.uk

Session Clerk Jim Millar 01259 217361 sessionclerk@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Depute

Session Clerk Anne Dawson 01259 219350

Clerk—Board John Young 01259 215914 cong-board@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Treasurer Joyce Morrison 07557537611 treasurer@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Organist Meg Carroll 07900443425 organist@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Church Officer Willie Hunter 07775686664

Church Office 01259 214238 office@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Page 3 May 2017

Pastoral Letter

Keeping Fit!

At the outset of the Enquirers’ Group, members were asked to set down their questions and expectations from the Group meetings. A number sought help in keeping the Christian life vital and healthy through personal devotion, involvement in church life and effective witness in the commu-nity.

It’s a tall “ask” to tackle this wide range of topics in one letter, but I’m will-ing to give it a “go”!

Without question, retaining a full and active Christian life requires that we are constantly proactive in all of the above areas and critical to this is our cultivation of the regular habits of prayer, bible reading and worship.

As food is vital to the life of the body, so also is the breaking of “the Bread of Life” (the Bible) to the soul; As healthy air is necessary for life, so also is the constant breathing in of God’s Spirit, renewed through prayer; As family life enriches our life’s experience, so also the company of God’s people in worship and fellowship keeps faith vibrant and connected; As physical exercise keeps the body fit and strong, so also the challenges of being a Christian, living and speaking as a Christian in the face of an all too sceptical world is the best muscle-toning exercise I know!

The Bible is not an easy book for the new-comer. Its 1st century (New Testa-ment) setting defines it as a book of faith and not of 21st century scientific understanding. Therefore, to read it effectively a good set of daily reading notes is highly advisable.

Scripture Union (contactable through the Internet) will provide these on a regular year by year basis at modest cost.

Prayer is a vast subject, but for us all – for we all have our times when prayer is difficult – Jesus has given us the perfect formula in the familiar “Lord’s Prayer”.

Taking it as our basic outline, and used phrase by phrase expanding it with

Page 4 The Window

Maureen Brember Lorna McAllister Articles for the June Window may be given to any member of the Editorial Team or placed in the “Window” box in the Office.

Chris Fyfe Mary Millar

Bill Izett Meg Young

DEADLINE DATE FOR JUNE WINDOW - 14TH MAY

Articles can also be emailed to windoweditor@clackmannankirk.org.uk

Magazines will be available on 28th May 2017.

our own expressed words and needs, our prayer problems and dark periods can be overcome as we -

Worship God …….. “Our Father in Heaven; hallowed be thy name …” Subject ourselves afresh to his rule of love ….. “thy kingdom come; thy will be done ….” Confess our failings and ask to be forgiven – AND FORGIVING! Seek God’s presence to protect us from temptation and evil; Add our own prayers for ourselves and others, before leaving all in God’s hands .… “for thine is the kingdom …..” You’ll find your prayer gets longer and longer – and stronger and stronger! It’s the complete prayer. It’s a formula that’s guaranteed never to fail. Be bold! Be strong! For the Lord your God is with you.

Ray Gaston Locum

Minister’s Diary Dates Thursday 4 May 7 pm Pastoral Care Group Monday 8 May 7 pm Sunday School Leaders’ Meeting Sunday 18 June 11 am All-Age Family Service - Close of Sunday School.

Page 5 May 2017

Word from the Hafvenstein Family in Nepal

Joel wrote in March of the frustrations of still being locked in negotiation with the government over United Mission to Nepal being allowed to rebuild the houses of vil-lage folk in Dhading, destroyed by the earth-quake, and being prevented from doing other poverty alleviation work in another area because of the local government’s distrust of the motives of UMN.

Nevertheless, progress has been made in restoring schools, bridges, paths, water systems and micro hydro plants and people are making their own ef-forts to rebuild shelters as best they can with the resources available to them. Caleb and Isaac Hafvenstein are picking up the Nepali language and Fiona, their mother, is making friends in Kathmandu and feeling less stressed. She has had a lot of migraine headaches which may not be helped by the poor air quality in Kathmandu.

We are asked to pray for the progress of the negotiations so that the work may get under way and for the peaceful conduct of the local government elections in May, the first for 20 years! We should remember Fiona and the boys as they continue to adapt to a very different lifestyle, that they may have good health and supportive neighbours who become friends.

Anne Dawson

Enquirers’ Group

Some sixteen people have “stayed the course” as we prepare to draw it to a fitting close. The video presentations have given a clearer pic-ture of Jesus’ birth, life and mission with our course ending appropri-ately at Easter. Computer imaging and archaeological findings have recreated for us the Temple, villages and homes of Jesus’ homeland and group discussions have roamed far and wide.

If occasion permits and there is demand, perhaps a further Group could be formed.

Page 6 The Window

GUILD TRIP

Thursday 25th May 2017

We will leave from the Mercat Cross at 10 am and journey to Callander for morning coffee/shopping.

We will leave Callander at 12.15 am to be in time to board the steam

ship Sir Walter Scott at 12.45 pm for a 1 pm sailing. The sail on Loch Katrine will last for one hour.

The cost of the sail is £12 and there will also be a donation to the Boys’ Brigade for the hire of the bus.

Those travelling in Linda’s car can make cost arrangements with Linda.

After the sail we will continue to Gartmore House for a late lunch at 2.45 pm at a cost of £11.95, followed by an optional tour of the house. There is a possibility of paying a visit to Aberfoyle afterwards if people

feel so inclined.

Total cost is £23.95, not including donation for transport.

For any further information or answers to questions please

Contact Janice Scotland on 01259 750294

DO YOU HAVE SOME SPARE TIME—ARE YOU BORED SITTING AT HOME?

We are looking for volunteers to help out with manning the Church Office, either on a regular basis or on an ad hoc basis to cover holidays/absence. Full training in the use of the printer/photocopier will be given. If you can help please speak to John Young or any member of the Board.

Page 7 May 2017

Remembrance Thanksgiving Service

Sincere thanks to our dear friends who act in the Lord’s name through our Church Care Group, and to those who delivered such a beautiful, reverent and sensitive devotional time recently. Many more came this year with eyes wet with sorrow - but they left God’s house thankful for the warm words of blessing and for being wrapped in arms of compassion and love.

Many in the church have asked that the church be seen to be touching the lives of parishioners. This service certainly did exactly that.

It is to be hoped that this service continues to be a similar source of strength, comfort and peace that Jesus himself was to the bereaved home of Mary and Martha at the loss of Lazarus.

On behalf of all attending …

Thanks, and may you, who delivered the service, be as blessed as we, the recipients, were.

Anon

Helen White is hosting a

Garden Party

on

Saturday 13th May 2017

funnily enough in her garden at

3 Kennet Village, Kennet

from 1 pm – 4 pm

You are all invitedYou are all invitedYou are all invited

Any donations of baking or raffle prizes would be gratefully received. All proceeds go MacMillan Cancer Support

to celebrate the support they gave Helen 10 years ago. It would be great to see you there.

Page 8 The Window

What The Papers Said

Like most of you I was in church the other week and remained after the ser-vice to attend the Stated Annual Meeting and hear the presentation of the Church's Statement of Annual Accounts and Reports for the year 2016. What a contrast to times gone by. Once, it was a time of social gathering in the Clackmannan Town Hall. The evening’s formality of the necessary presenta-tion of the church's financial affairs was broken up by some musical preludes and guest speakers. During my researching of information for the Bicen-tenary Book I uncovered the undernoted article, dated 13th March 1947, amongst some of Rev Crouther Gordon's personal papers held by Clackman-nanshire Library. I'm sure it will bring back memories to many of you and you may even remember some of the people mentioned. Enjoy!

PROGRESS IN CLACKMANNAN CHURCH ACTIVITIES

The Annual Congregational Meeting and Social of Clackmannan Church took place in the Town Hall on Friday evening, when a very large number of members turned out to hear of the progress of the congregation during the past year. Some 65 hostesses welcomed members to their tables and music and speeches made the evening very happy indeed.

The chair was taken by the minister, the Rev Dr T Crouther Gordon, who ex-tended a hearty welcome to all present and after tea had been enjoyed gave a résumé of the congregation's life during 1946. He intimated that the Communion Roll now numbered 1101, which was a very considerable in-crease from the date of the union of the three congregations in 1932 when it numbered 830.

TRIBUTES

He congratulated Mr Allan and his Choir on their excellent and high stan-dard of work and expressed thanks to the Leaders of all the organisations for their loyal service: Mr Andrew Duncan and Miss Jessie Gibson and their teachers in the Sunday School; Captain Burns in the Boys’ Brigade; Miss Betty Gardiner in the Life Boys; the Women's Guild and Mrs John Forsyth and the Girls' Association, who had made an excellent start with 35 girls. Special mention was made of the Church Collectors, whose returns showed

Page 9 May 2017

a marked increase on 1945. Mr Lamb, the Beadle, and Mrs Hume, the Hall-keeper, were likewise recognised for their good work in the cold days.

FINANCES

The Treasurer gave his report, which was very gratifying. The Ordinary Ac-count showed a credit balance of £99, £70 of which was transferred to the Reserve Fund. The appeal for the Ceiling Fund had been very fine and the Fund now stood at over £1,000, with much still to come in. Thanks were expressed to the Collectors for their work and also to Mr James D Muir who had efficiently audited the accounts.

MUSICAL PROGRAMME

Songs were sung by three talented artists. Mrs J Richardson sang "Roses of Picardy" and "Shine Through My Dreams" with all her usual grace and power. Mr Robert Innes delighted the audience with both "The Garden Where The Praties Grow" and "Maire My Girl," while Miss Margaret Fyfe touched every heart with "Afton Water" and "Bless This House".

GUEST SPEAKERS

One of the guest speakers was the Rev J Chalmers Grant, BD, minister of Dunblane Cathedral, who sounded a note of optimism in religious matters and gave encouragement to all church people by his firm belief that matters would turn again in favour of spiritual things. He stressed the centrality of public worship, saying that the church hall should be the annexe of the church and not vice versa. He delighted the audience with several telling stories and pleased them by saying that his great-grandfather had been born in Clackmannan Town.

The other guest speaker was the Rev David Dick, BD, of St Ninian's Parish Church, who congratulated the congregation on raising money for the fur-ther beautifying of the church, and instanced his own church, which had raised £7,000 in recent years and was well on the way to raising a further £8,000. He urged the people to go on working and praying for the Kingdom of God.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks to all by Mr G McCulloch, which was generously accorded. Duncan Brember

Page 10 The Window

Duncan Brember now has copies of this Bicentenary Book hot off the press available at a cost of £7.

The booklet covers the history of the church over the past 200 years and makes extremely interesting reading.

Get your

copy now! £7

Page 11 May 2017

THE GREAT TAPESTRY OF SCOTLAND

This tapestry is coming to Clackmannanshire (Speirs Centre) from

29th May until 18th August 2017.

This is a very exciting opportunity to see a work of art created here in Scotland.

MUSIC IN MAY

Saturday 27th May at 7.00 pm

A concert of music through the years to celebrate 200 years of Clackmannan Parish Church.

Robin Bell

will headline this concert with organ music

and be supported by

Stephen Morrison, Classical Guitarist, Hillfoots Recorder Ensemble, Clackmannan Brass Band and

Clackmannan Parish Church Choir.

Entry by donation

BICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS—CHANGE OF DATE Please note that the Big Summer Sing will be on Sunday 18th June at 7 pm and NOT 22nd June as intimated in the April Window.

Page 12 The Window

TO BOOK OR HIRE THE CHURCH HALL OR BRUCE MEMORIAL HALL—Contact the Office. ALL meetings should be entered in the diary.

LOG BURNING - LOGS FOR SALE

2 boxes of wood have been sold—2 boxes to go. Stock up now for next winter, the wood is down to 12% moisture and is ideal for burning.

James Cuthbertson has the logs in storage. Donations are accepted but a price of £50 per box (which would contain about 1 tonne) has been sug-gested. Boxes will not be included. Money received will go to Church funds.

Contact James (01259 730864) if interested.

Open Church 2017

This year the summer opening of our church will begin on

Monday 12th June and run until Friday 8th September.

We will be open to visitors each week day from 2 pm – 4 pm.

To commemorate our bicentenary we will be running an exhibition of pho-tographs and memorabilia throughout the summer and I hope to encourage visitors by advertising our opening hours as widely as possible.

It is, therefore, vital that we have sufficient volunteers to cover our adver-tised hours. Please, please think about helping us out with this. The more people who get involved, the easier it will be and even if you can only man-age once or twice, it will be a great help.

A diary will be available in the vestibule from the middle of May. Volunteers should enter their name and telephone number in the appropriate dates.

It is preferable that we should have two people each day, where possible, so please take a look at the diary and if you see a day where someone is on their own, think about joining them or perhaps you could bring a friend along.

If you would like more information about this, please speak to me any Sun-day after the service or call me on 751742.

Anne Paterson

Page 13 May 2017

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 Feb/Mar Feb/Mar

INCOME includes £ EXPENDITURE includes £ Offerings 8,379.29 Ministry 9,374.60 Gift Aid Tax Reclaim Travel 491.55 Hall Lets 320.00 Salaries 1,952.00 Printing Donations 0.00 Music Licence 470.26 Investment Income 16.16 Heating, Lighting, Ragbag 68.80 Telephone, Insurance 2,457.50 Donations 715.00 Fabric 920.07

John Bell Spring Sing 520.00 Office, Stationery and Postage

751.92

Coin-a-Day 371.29 Independent Examiner 200.00 Insurance Claim 200.00 Other 123.39 Funerals 400.00 Total Income 11,010.54 Total Expenditure 16,741.29 Surplus/Deficit -5,730.75

The deficit for the year to date is £3,913.95. Gift Aid Claim for £7,800 is in progress.

Fabric Account – Coffee Morning Income January–March £750. Secret Child donations received £60.

VACANCY—CLERK TO THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD—CAN YOU HELP?

As intimated at the Stated Annual Meeting John Young, Clerk to the Congrega-tional Board, is resigning and this position will soon become vacant. The Clerk does not need to be a member of the Board but should be a member of the Church. As well as some administrative functions the main duties of the Clerk are: in collaboration with the Chairman to prepare for meetings of the Board, including the drafting of an Agenda; to circulate the Call Notice (and Agenda) to members of the Board; to keep Minutes of Board meetings; to attend to corre-spondence before and after Board meetings; to ensure that the Board Minute Book is properly kept; via the Session Clerk to submit the Board Minute Book annually for inspection by the Presbytery; to keep the Minutes of the Stated Annual Meeting of the congregation; to be as informed as possible about prac-tice and procedure in the Church of Scotland in general and Finance and Prop-erty Regulations in particular. Please speak to John Young if you are interested in this post or need more details.

Page 14 The Window

JUST A WORD OF THANKS ...

Many thanks for the lovely flowers I received from the Church. They are lovely and very much appreciated. Thanks again."

Mrs Mary Reid Please pass on my thanks to the Church family for the lovely flowers I received on Sunday night and to Mary Millar for delivering them. I feel that there are a lot more deserving people who should be getting flowers than myself but I very much appreciate the kind gesture.

Jean Hillis

I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the Pastoral Care Team for the flowers and card I received after my recent operation and particular thanks to Helen White for delivering them. Laraine also wishes to thank the Pas-toral Care Team for the lovely card she received after she came out of hos-pital after her bad fall. The messages and calls of goodwill from members of the congregation were very much appreciated.

Alex Birrell

Thank you for the lovely flowers I received from the Church and a special thanks to Elizabeth for bringing them to me.

Also sincere thanks for the many cards and good wishes received.

Helen Paterson

I would like to thank the church family and Pastoral Care Group for the lovely card and flowers I received on Sunday 9th April. I really appreciated Helen delivering them with her cheery smile and chat.

Rosemary Ramage

I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to my friend Catherine who visited me while I was in hospital and to everyone who has been asking about me; also the Prayer Group for keeping me in mind.

I got a nice surprise when Anne Paterson came into my room on Thursday—it was nice of her to take the time. I’ve just received a lovely Easter card from the Sunday School and also a nice ‘get well’ card from the Pastoral Care Team. Thanks so much for thinking about me.

Mary Stewart

Page 15 May 2017

CHURCH FLOWERS

If anyone would like to choose a date for May just let me know.

Please keep us informed of anyone in the congregation who has been ill or had a family bereavement so we can distrib-ute the flowers after the ser-vice accordingly.

Elspeth Cuthbertson Flower Co-ordinator (01259 730864)

May Flowers

Contributed by Arranged by

Irene Sloan

Pat Cochrane

Karen Brander

7th Vera Currey

14th Flower Fund

21st Flower Fund Distributed by

Linda Sloan

Helen White

Barbara Wilson 28th Flower Fund

CALLING ALL GARDENERS

We are planning to have a Plant Stall at the Flower Festival in August (24th—26th). Now that you are getting into your gardens again, if you have any plants which are needing divided up or you can take cuttings from, please either pot them up or let me know and I can collect and keep them for our stall.

Also if you have any spare plastic plant pots recycle them our way. Elspeth Cuthbertson Flower Co-ordinator (01259 730864)

I would like to thank the Pastoral Care team and my friends from The Guild for the caring thoughts in the cards I received following my operation. Thanks to Barbara for the flowers from the Church.

Margo Prentice Just a note of thanks for the lovely flowers I received recently from the Church. They were very much appreciated. Thanks also to Betty Cameron for delivering them. Kind regards.

Jan Archibald

Catherine Gray would like to thank the Pastoral Care Team and Helen Pater-son for the lovely cards and kind thoughts sent recently; also Helen White for delivering the lovely flowers.

Page 16 The Window

Date Elder Members in these districts are asked to supply baking etc on the dates indicated

2nd May Lysbeth Fleming South Pilmuir Rd/Zetland St

Betty Cameron Cattlemarket/Dundas Cr/Izatt Terr

Helene Paterson Chapelhill

9th May Catrina Mackey Mannan Dr/St Serf’s Gr/Ladywood

Mary Millar Brucefield Cr/Mercat Pl/Northfield Gdns

Helen Paterson Kennet/Kennet Vill/Marquis Dr

16th May Anne Paterson Alloa/Bonnybridge/Brightons/Dunipace/Stirling

Les Pike Forestmill/Helensfield/farms

Anne Dawson Carse/Kincardine/farms

23rd May Kenny McCall Alva/Coalsnaughton/Dollar/Fishcross/Menstrie/

Tillicoultry/Tullibody

Jim Millar Alloa/Sauchie

Robert Fleming Burnside Cr/Cherryton Dr/Riccarton/Laird’s Dr

30th May Alex Birrell Devonway

Roberta Davidson Devonway

Nan Marshall Devonway

6th June John Young Alloa Rd/Mill Rd/Millbank Cr

Bill Izett Kirkwynd/Mary Pl/Mayfield Cr

Jim Millar Backwood Ct/Erskine Pl/Kersegreen Rd/Woodside

Terr

Baking Rota for Tuesday Coffee Mornings

Coffee Morning income for 4 weeks in March was £280.

MERCAT FAYRE – 3RD JUNE 2017

An exhibition is being held in Church on the afternoon of the Mercat Fayre.

We are looking for: pictures of anyone who was married in Clackmannan Church and would be happy to have their picture displayed; pictures of Gala events, whether in recent years or years gone by; pictures that anyone may have of any of The Queen’s visits to Clackmannan in 1963 or 1997 and

any information/pictures of any of the organisations in the town. Helen White

Page 17 May 2017

PRAYER GROUP

A time to read and meditate briefly on the scriptures is provided every Wednesday evening at 8 pm in the Bruce Memorial Hall.

Please do consider coming along.

If you know of someone who is ill, or would appreciate being remem-bered in prayer, please tell Rev Ray Gaston and Rev Bill Izett.

April April (continued)

1 19

2 Mrs Linda Sloan 20 Robert and Lysbeth Fleming

3 21 Jim and Mary Millar

4 22 Mrs Nan Marshall

5 23

6 Sam and Margaret Harris 24

7 Mrs Nan Marshall 25 John and Mary Gordon

8 26 John and Mary Gordon

9 27 John and Mary Gordon

10 The Chalmers Family (Clackmannan

and Canada) 28 Mrs Freda Lambie

11 29 John and Mary Gordon

12 30

13

May dates still available:

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th,

12th, 17th, 22nd, 28th and 31st.

14 Mrs Lorraine Lindsay

15 Mrs Lorraine Lindsay

16 Mrs Linda Sloan

17

18 Robert and Lysbeth Fleming

Contributors are listed below and their names and dedications will be on

display at the Church entrance. If you wish to sponsor any future dates please

contact Rosemary Ramage (01259 720805). The cost to light up the

Church for one night is £5.

FLOODLIGHTING OUR CHURCH

Page 18 The Window

PASTORAL CAREPASTORAL CARE

Remember to contact Helen White (Co-ordinator) by

phone (01259 210520) or email—white-helen3@sky.com if

you know someone who needs a card or a visit, either at

home or in hospital.

WORLD CONCERN GROUP

World Mission Stamp Appeal last year raised £4,334 for a Church of South India project.

This year the funds raised from the sale of used stamps will go to support the Giffen Institute of Theology which trains the ministers of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan. Because of the civil war which has been raging there since December 2013, the college has had to relocate twice and is now in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The funds raised will help to buy resources which have been lost, like library books, which are needed to prepare ministers to serve in very difficult cir-cumstances.

I sent off the latest parcel of almost 2kg of stamps last week. Thank you to those who helped fill that envelope. Please continue to save your used stamps for this appeal.

As I write, the congregation’s contribution to the Dis-asters Emergency Committee Appeal for the East Afri-can Crisis—a famine affecting millions in the region and brought about by climate change as well as by displacement due to conflict—has passed the £800 mark, with a week of filling Smartie tubes still to go. The World Concern Group has run out of superlatives to describe the generosity of the folk of Clackmannan Kirk who have not grown weary in well doing over recent months.

Anne Dawson

LOST AND FOUND A silver pendant charm was found recently in the Choir pews. Give a description to Aileen Birrell to claim this.

Page 19 May 2017

Community Monthly Events

First Tuesday 7.00 pm Maker’s Dozen Craft Group in Bruce Memorial Hall

Third Thursday 2.00 pm Circle of Friends in Town Hall

Special Events

13th May 1 pm - 4 pm Garden Party—3 Kennet Village– Macmillan Cancer

Support

27th May 7.00 pm Music in May—Clackmannan Parish Church

3rd June 12 noon Mercat Fayre—Main Street, Clackmannan

Community Weekly Events

Monday 6 pm - 7 pm Aerobics (CHL) in Clackmannan Town Hall

Tuesday 10.00 am Coffee Morning in Church Hall

Wednesday 2.00 pm Wee County Walkers. Meet at Town Hall

Wednesday 8.00 pm Prayer Group in Bruce Memorial Hall

Thursday 11.00 am Active 50s Keep Fit (SD) in Town Hall

Thursday 7.00 pm Choir Practice in Bruce Memorial Hall

Friday 12 noon Bargains and Bites Community Café in Town Hall

Friday From 5.30 pm Boys’ Brigade in Town Hall

CHL = Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives SD = Sports Development

Community Fortnightly Events

Monday 6.30 pm Ukulele Group from 8th May on alternate Mondays.

UKULELE GROUP—NEW MEMBERS WANTED

The Musical Allsorts have started a Ukulele Group and would love to have more members so anyone wanting to join this small group please speak to Janice Scotland or Margaret Sneddon.

We have a few spare instruments if anyone would like to give it a try. It is very easy and great fun! You can learn at any age and everybody will be made very welcome.

We meet every second Monday in the Church Hall. Next meeting is 8th May.

Page 20 May 2017

Printed by Clackmannan Parish Church of Scotland Office

Scottish Charity Number SC002324

LET’S CELEBRATE ... LOCAL SUCCESS

ClaXfactor 2017

Volunteers impressed with their talents during this year’s ClaXfactor. Children in P4-P7, living in Clackmannan or attending Primary School, had the chance to audition for the show. The final on Saturday 25th March saw those gifted with singing, dancing or playing musical in-struments talents taking to the stage. The event, organised by Clack-mannan Town Hall Trust and in its 11th year, went down well and was greatly supported. In First Place was

Triple T— sisters Gracie, Keira and Erin Molloy (all 11 years) sing-ing ‘Royals’ by Lorde, netting them

£100.

Second Place went to

Ross Millar (also 11 years) who played a medley of Highland Cathedral and Auld Lang Syne on the bagpipes, with a prize of £60.

Third Place went to

Ava Bowes (10 years) with a dance routine she choreographed herself and which earned her £30.

We certainly have very talented children in Clackmannan.

Well done to everyone who took part. Karen Brander Photos Garry Quinn Photography