Dollar, Muckhart And Glendevon Autumn 2018 - Linked Parishes of - Dollar Parish Church
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Linked Parishes
of
Dollar,
Muckhart
And
Glendevon
Autumn 2018
Letter for the Grapevine October 2018 Dear Friends, this letter comes at a time of some uncertainty for our linked charge. On Sunday 9th September we had our Sole Nominee preach in Muckhart and in Dollar, with members of Glendevon attending either of these services. The vote on that day, as has already been well publicised, means that Rev Dr Iain Barclay is our Minister Elect. Eighty four people voted in his favour and thirty eight people voted against. As I write this letter, members of the congregations are being invited to sign the Call if they wish to do so. Sunday 14th October, after the services in Muckhart and Dollar, will be the last day on which that can be done. This ‘Call is important because the responsibility of the Presbytery of Stirling in this process is to consider whether or not to sustain the call to Dr Barclay. One of the factors they take into consideration is the number of signatures on the Call itself. The decision of Presbytery on this matter will be made on Thursday 1st November. As things stand we have no idea what will happen next. However, there are two things that I want to say to you. Firstly, I want to say a word of thanks to the Nominating Committee for all their hard work over the last two years. The work of that Committee officially ended when our Sole Nominee preached on the 9th September and I feel that it is important that we express our gratitude to the Committee for taking on a huge task and doing it with enormous integrity and openness and commitment. Whatever happens over the coming weeks, the Committee have thought deeply, prayed sincerely, discussed intensely, and worked together with great sensitivity and wisdom. The members of the Committee have helped us forge a vision for the future with the headline, ‘Linking Lives, Building Communities’, a vision which is outlined in much more detail in our Parish Profile. It has been a pleasure for me as Interim Moderator, with the task of acting as advisor, to work with the Nominating Committee. The Committee has been very well served by the Convenor, Ian Simpson and the Clerk, Cathy Gladwin and we are grateful to them. So many hours of detailed
and painstaking work has gone into this whole process with a lot of
conversations, a lot of letters written and a lot of soul searching. We
owe our Committee a huge debt of gratitude.
The second thing I want to say is likely better said in the words of the
Old Testament book of Joshua chapter 1, verse 9:
Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and
confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God,
am with you wherever you go."
I never cease to be struck by the resilience and commitment and skills
and compassion of the people of this linked charge and I know that
whatever lies ahead of us we will work together, follow our vision with
determination, faith and confidence in the God who says that he goes
with us wherever we go.
Every blessing,
Iain
WHERE LIES OUR FUTURE
Lord, what's happening in the world today
Have we forgotten how to pray.
Each day we hear of troubles new,
As things get worse, what should we do?
Instead of asking you to forgive
And show how we ought to live,
We seem to go from bad to worse,
And instead of praying we just curse.
The laws you made so long ago
We no longer keep or know.
You are forgotten because “We know best”
And we put your forgiveness to the test.
Please Lord just tell us what to do
And help us all come back to you.
Isabel Young
Letter to participants in the Sounding of the Last Post this
Remembrance Sunday:
Dear Participant,
RE: THE LAST POST
I am delighted you are taking part in this unique, historic event by sounding
the Last Post in tribute to the millions of men and women who died or were
injured in World War One.
Thank you for your most generous support in joining hundreds of other
organisations on 11th November 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the
end of the Great War.
Please note the following:
1) The current Guide to Taking Part in Battle’s Over - A Nation’s Tribute
11th November 2018 - the overarching event for this anniversary - will be
updated again on 25th October to ensure that all those involved are included
in the publication. The guide can be viewed and downloaded at
www.brunopeek.co.uk. You may also download the Battle’s Over logo,
which you are welcome to use in any printed or digital material you produce
.
2) As previously requested, please play the Last Post at 6.55pm at your
chosen location.
3) You can now go to www.brunopeek.co.uk and download, print and
frame a special certificate as a permanent reminder of your participation in
this event.
4) On the 1st November 2018 you will find on our website a press release
template which you can download and tailor with details of your event,
including the location, your name and contact details. You should send this
on 2nd November direct to your local, regional and national media to
generate publicity for your organisation.
5) You will find a list of all those taking part in the event by viewing and
downloading the Guide to Taking Part found at www.brunopeek.co.uk.
Thank you for being involved.
Yours sincerely,
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR
Pageantmaster
Battle's Over - A Nation's Tribute 11th November 2018
Tel: + 44 (0) 1493 662 168 (8am – 6pm)
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7737 262 913 (24 hours)
Email: brunopeek@mac.com
STOP PRESS!
(from “Life and Work”)
“Guild Charity total passes £750,000”
“The Church of Scotland Guild has announced that the total amount raised
for its partner projects from 2015 – 18 has passed three quarters of a million
pounds (£750,322) and is still rising!”
Hanging Baskets in Dollar This summer has seen Bridge Street enhanced by the beautiful hanging baskets at the business premises. The comments by visitors and Dollar residents have been very complimentary and favourable. A small team of volunteers watered the baskets every day using the large bowser, some had a very hard job during the dry, hot spell. Thanks to everyone who helped with this project and especially Joanna and Kevin for their enthusiasm and organisation of everyone involved. Looking forward to an even bigger and better display on Bridge Street next year. Margaret Stephenson
Craft Group The Craft group kicked off the new session by celebrating Ruet Roe's 100th. birthday. We had a most happy time at the Muircot listening to some of Ruet's tales and confessions. We have watched Ruet over the months knit beautiful socks. She can turn a heel without a pattern but she confessed that day to not being able to remember how to graft a toe so if you know of any one wanting toeless socks let us know!.Our next project is a wall hanging for Armistice Sunday. This task tested us all but hopefully the end result will look good. We asked the congregation to help by making poppies. The response was overwhelming and we thank all who contributed,but I wonder why it is not standing room only at our monthly meetings when there is all that talent out there!!Here is a question for you-----Do you know why we have included white poppies and purple poppies in our display? Christmas is the next event on the calendar when we hope to be able to contribute. Anne Stewart The Burnside Badminton Group The Burnside Badminton Group is up and running after our summer break and welcome any new ladies to join us every Monday morning in the Burnside Hall from 10.00 until 12.00. These are fun games with tea and coffee thrown in. Patricia Sutherland
An very interesting extract from an article in the Herald on September,11th by Neil Mackay. “Kindness I witnessed in this Kirk challenges my Atheism.” I did something I have never done before I went to church. When I walked into the church, I was greeted by almost every member of the small congregation of 40, including the minister, free from dog collar and dressed in a civvy suit and tie. The sermon was simple as this: go in peace, do no harm and do good. As I looked around at the grey hair and the walking frames, I couldn’t help but think that, in 10 years there might be no-one here. When was the last time you found yourself able to pause and think about what makes you a decent human being; or rather, if you will ever be a decent human being? How often do we hear the words, love, peace, kindness, selflessness and charity in the same sentence? Our world may not yet be one of perpetual greed, cruelty and selfishness but it is edging close to that. I did not think I would go to church one Sunday morning and come back mourning religion, an institution I have spent a lot of time despising but I did. And I did so because of the human beings inside the institution, not the institution itself. I am sure those worshippers are just as flawed as every one of us but their words and deeds seem to me tiny flames of decency in an increasingly dark world. For this atheist, these may not be the flames that light my path through life, but I would prefer if they carried on quietly burning, guiding others who need it, and keeping little of the black cruelty that so starkly dominates the world in which we live at bay. Submitted by Margaret Stephenson
Coffee Morning in Aid of Manse Garden The Coffee Morning in aid of the Manse garden was a great success due to so many contributing and helping or just coming along and supporting. Thank you to all of those lovely people. There was a great atmosphere in the Hall and a lot of people sat and chatted most of the morning. Because of all that a wonderful sum of £558 was raised. Well done everyone.
Manse Garden
At the start of the summer a group of volunteers set about restoring the
garden. This followed the removal of the Leylandii hedge and
construction of the ranch style perimeter fence. The adjacent neigh-
bours offered to share the costs of the fencing. There had to be a lot of
trimming of overgrown branches and light obscuring shrubs to regain
some shape and form. After a lot of work the garden is resuming the
original state, but, as we are all too aware, this is an ongoing process
and it is proposed that we employ a professional to make further
inroads and restoration, in order to make the garden a lovely place for
our new minister.
The coffee morning which was organised by Liz Noble raised nearly
£580 and we thank all those who helped and gave so generously. The
money raised will offset the costs hugely. Thanks are also due to those
who laboured and cleaned the garden, making it a more attractive
place.
Hector Brodie
Before
AfterAnother Way to Remember….
Every autumn, Christian Aid Scotland
organize a very special event where
people can come together and take part in
a WALK in memory of loved ones they
have lost.
So, on Saturday, 1st September, Margaret
Upham, Catriona and Iain Ogilvie and
myself put on our walking shoes and
enjoyed a 10 mile walk with other Christian Aid supporters from Central
Scotland.
We started with a welcome from Christian Aid Legacy Coordinator,
Joanne Dallas, at Dollar Parish Church. We followed the Hillfoots
Diamond Jubilee Way on foot, enjoyed a picnic lunch at Alva Woodland
Park, then, ever onwards to Logie Kirk for welcome tea and cake. Old
friendships were renewed as well as new ones forged (including two
lovely dogs accompanying their owners!)
We carried candles en route which we lit at the touching remembrance
service, led by the Rev Ruth Halley, minister of Logie Kirk. These candles
gave us an opportunity to celebrate the lives of people we have loved but
who are no longer with us. It was a special day for all of us who took part.
Please do join us next year, if you can.
Ashley LeitchDOLLAR PARISH CHURCH FLOWER GROUP We are continuing in our weekly Pastoral care visits, with the Church flowers from the Sunday Service, to those in our Congregation and wider Dollar Community who have suffered from Illness and Bereavement. Please inform us of anyone you know, or are aware of, who might like a visit and a chat. You can do this by writing in the book which is now in the Gathering Room at the back of the Church, or by speaking to Liz Noble, Flower Convenor. It was nice to be able to help with the Celebrations of the 100th Birthdays of Ruet Roe and Dorothy Baird, by presenting them with gifts of flowers on behalf of the Church Congregation. The colours used were symbolic of 100 years and were made by Vivienne Stephens who is a member of our Congregation and a professional Flower arranger. The preparations of the Church for the Christian Festivals are supported by our talented team. We start off with an idea and let it grow. Please join us on these days as they are sociable and friendly. You will be very welcome. We all have different talents which are useful. Anne keeps us going with Tea, Coffee and cake. We recently helped at the successful Coffee Morning to raise funds for the maintenance of the Manse garden. Liz Noble.
THE GUILD The Guild had its opening meeting of the Autumn session on Thursday, 13th, September, 2018 and at this first meet- ing The Guild is re-dedicated with a short communion service. This is usually taken by the minister but unfortunately Rev Iain Goring was indisposed and Rev Ray Gaston took the service instead, Business was discussed, capitation fees were paid and it was time for tea. Before this was served congratulations were given to Rouet Roe who had her hundredth birthday in August A beautiful cake had been baked and decorated by Margaret Johnston our Tea Convenor and a card was given to Rouet. We are all so proud to have her as an active member of The Guild. On October, 11th our speaker is Mr, Alastair Dickson of The Sand- piper Trust, This voluntary organisation that gives medical help when called should be a most interesting and enlighting subject to learn about. Their equipment is carried in special rucksacks. November, 8th, brings speaker Mr. Ian McCallum from The Boys Brigade , based in Larbert. This is one of the new Guild Projects and the theme is Faith in Young People. On November , 25th The Guild serves Teas after church in The Burnside Hall as this will be Guild Week. Om December 13th we have our Christmas Party which is much looked forward to, with its special tea. To our great pleasure The Church Choir is coming to entertain us with a short programme and some well known carols. The Guild meets on the second Thursday of each month at 2pm in The Burnside Hall. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. Evelyn Gaston/ Ella Macdonald
Muckhart Parish Church Harvest Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, 23rd September saw
the festival of Harvest being
celebrated in Muckhart
Church. The church had
been beautifully decorated by
the flower committee. I
particularly liked the vibrant,
friendly sunflowers. The
communion table was fes-
tooned with harvest gifts and
the whole scene bathed in
that wonderful light that is the
autumn sunshine. A Family
Service, the music was more than ably provided by the Praise Band.
The themes of creation, God’s omnipotence and being thankful featured
throughout the songs and in Rev. Goring’s address. The children of the
Sunday School performed (with actions) the John Hardwick song,
“God’s people aren’t super-brave, super-heroes, They don’t have mus-
cles from their heads to their toes. They’re not gladiators, that’s easy
to see. In fact, it’s amazing, they are just like you and me.” Then it was
the congregation’s turn to have a go. We did our best!
For Iain’s address, he asked for eight volunteers and gave each one a
letter of the alphabet printed on a sheet of A4 paper. After much to-ing
and fro-ing and a lot of help from the children, the word ‘creation’
appeared. Iain then asked a series of questions, the answers to which
could be made from the letters in ‘creation’. We had words like rain, eat,
cat, rat, iron, tin. He finished with the sentence ‘I care’, but pointed out
that ‘I care not’ can also be made. God’s people should care for His
amazing creation which provides for all our needs. Thanks be to God.
Alison MannDollar Community Trust Dollar Community Development Trust is now in its second year and we hope that members of the community are now seeing the results of our work. The most concrete example is perhaps the defibrillator, now installed on the corner of Bridge Street and McNabb Street. This could prove a lifesaver both through the equipment and through the CPR training which many members of the community have now undertaken. The volunteer driver scheme which we set up to help some of the more vulnerable members of the community get around is proving very successful. Anyone needing a lift for shopping, clinic, library visits etc. can call on a Sunday morning between 9.00 a.m. and 12.00p.m. - 0756 571 2131 and we’ll match you to a volunteer to help you get to and fro your destination during the following week. Much more has been happening behind the scenes and the Trust has been in negotiation with Clackmannanshire Council for many months to secure the Civic Centre for use by the community when the Council closes it at the end of September. We are pleased to say that this has been successful and we have been jointly running the Centre with the Council throughout September, managing the booking process and successfully arranging a lot more lets. We’ve also established an enthusiastic group who would like to establish a community library now that the Council’s library has closed. We’re grateful to all of the groups who are currently letting the Centre and still want to expand this, making sure that this valuable facility is much better used. We’re holding an open day on Saturday 20th of October 10.30a.m. to 12:30p.m. for anyone to come along, find out how the Centre is now being used and let us have your ideas. A week later, on Sunday the 28th of October, we’re trying out an initiative to help clean up the village with a family litter pick and barbecue starting at 10:30a.m. We have also been very involved, working with the Community Council and other concerned individuals in the village, to ensure full participation in the two major planning applications which are currently under consideration. To maximise the impact of the community’s views and to
try to coordinate these as far as possible we have established a group–
Dollar Action Group - with representatives of the key organisations.
DAG will enable us also to arrange professional advice should this be
required.
We have ambitions to do much more and we are delighted to have
received grants recently which will enable us to open a small office in the
annex to Dollar Golf Club and employ a part-time development officer.
This should underpin the hard work of our existing volunteers and help
us to provide a more consistent service.
We have a growing membership – 280 – and a number of very
committed volunteers, but we still need more help with the activities
above and especially in ensuring that we make the Civic Centre an and
attractive viable resource for the community – so if you can help in any
way with maintenance, wielding a paintbrush, helping with the opening
and closing, or managing the booking, we would be delighted to hear
from you.
You can contact us at dollar.cdt@gmail.com and keep up to date with
our activities and find out when the Civic Centre is available for bookings
through our website – dollarcdt.com - and follow us on Twitter or through
our Facebook page.
Norman Dunning
Woman’s Group.
We have had our opening Beetle Drive and now look forward to our
varied programme taking us up to January and our Pot Luck Supper on
8th January2019. On 8th October we have Lesley-Ann Calvert from the
Church of Scotland Mission talking about Women in the World. On 12th
November Jennifer Carruthers will be teaching us the art of Paper
Folding and on 10th December once again Margaret Stephenson will
be getting us into the Festive spirit with some Christmas Activities.
Everyone is very welcome to come and join us every second Monday of
the month, to enjoy our speakers and a friendly chat and a cup of tea.
Time 7.30 for 8.oopm.
Patricia SutherlandF.U.N Group Events
Saturday 27th October 7-11pm Ceilidh
Saturday 1st December 10-12 Christmas coffee
morning
Friday 8th February 7-10pm Quiz night
Saturday 30th March 10-12 Easter coffee morning
Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan’s Purse UK is an international relief and development
organisation that works through local churches to proclaim and
demonstrate the love of God amongst communities in need (in
Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries)
across the world.
Since 1990 more than 157 million children in over 160 countries
have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox
gifts from Operation Christmas Child.
Our churches will once again be supporting this very worthwhile
cause. Shoeboxes will be available for collection from the
vestibule in both Dollar and Muckhart from 14th October.
Please return the filled shoeboxes to church on or before 11th
November.
Muriel Simpson
Agnes McMillanLetter from The Rev Sally Foster Fulton, Head of Christian Aid, Scotland Dear All I am delighted to confirm receipt of £5,473 arising from fundraising by Dollar Christian Aid Group during Christian Aid Week, May, 2018. Christian Aid Week remains our greatest opportunity to raise awareness of what Christian Aid does and to invite the people of Scotland to contribute to this work. This year, more than a thousand churches up and down the country have come together for the world’s poorest people. They have held house-to-house, church and street collections and hosted Big Brekkies, coffee mornings and book sales. When all has been counted, Christian Aid Week will have raised almost £1.5 million in Scotland. Christian Aid is not only a charity but – at its heart – a justice movement. Together we expose the root cause of poverty and through campaign and advocacy, sustainable international development and immediate humanitarian aid, we respond in practical, tangible and transformational ways. This year’s theme, “Together, we are stronger than the storms”, focused on the issue of internally displaced people and is a live example of the transformation possible through our partnership here in Scotland and across our planet home. I would like to thank you, and everyone who joined with you, for enabling us to continue to stand alongside and offer support to our global neighbours like Vilia. When the storms came, Vilia welcomed and sheltered others by creating a “chain of solidarity”. Together with our global neighbours in the thousands of communities where we work and in partnership with the hundreds of local organizations who help us, we can build a chain
of solidarity and create a world where everybody has a safe place to
call home.
With best wishes
Sally Foster Fulton
Bramble Time
100 years ago
The arrangements of the Food Commissioner for the systematic
gathering of brambles for jam involve the employment of about
250 local agents in the West of Scotland. A payment of 3d per lb.
Is offered to children and others who pick the fruit and hand it over
to the nearest agent. It is hoped that where necessary school
boards may sanction one or two bramble holidays, and the
teachers may organise parties of their scholars for the work. The
jam ration has now been fixed at 4 ounces per head per week.
Submitted by Margaret StephensonBuffet with Movie
Saturday 24th November
6.00 - 9.30pm
Burnside Hall,
Dollar
Adults £10 Children £5
For more information or to buy tickets please contact
Muriel Simpson
01259 742953 07789 011868October 2018
CrossReach Information Sheet
CrossReach celebrates its contribution to YOYP at Parliamentary
reception Many of our staff and people we support were delighted to be
invited to join the 200 guests at a reception in the Scottish Parliament’s Garden
Lobby to mark the Year of Young People. The event was attended by MSPs,
young people and staff from Church-supported projects, members of the
National Youth Assembly, Youth Parliament and Young Scot as well as experts
involved in education and welfare. Our Daisy Chain Early Years Project,
Children’s Residential services, and The Mallard in Glasgow were among those
representing some of the innovative work which takes place in CrossReach
Children and Families. One highlight was a short film showing young people
at The Mallard and Garratt enjoying an interactive music making session – just
two of the church groups and projects showcasing their pioneering work with
young people supported by CrossReach.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney commented: “The Church of Scotland has
been incredibly active in 2018’s Year of Young People. It has run events and
celebrations throughout the year at local, presbytery and national levels and
delivers some of the most creative and innovate youth work in Scotland. This
has highlighted the invaluable contribution young people make in Scotland,
and the significant role of the Church in helping to achieve this.”
Ross Greer MSP (pictured) sponsored the reception: “The
Year of YoungPeople is an amazing opportunity for
Scotland to celebrate the incredible contributions our
young people make to their communities and society.
Nowhere is this more true than in the Church of Scotland,
where there are young people leading amazing work. It’s
a terrible cliché to say that young people are the future
when they, we, are here right now, contributing so much
to the Church’s present. It’s a privilege to be able to mark
that in the
Scottish Parliament.”
CR 0212
www.crossreach.org.ukwww.crossreach.org.uk
Pastoral Notes Deaths Mr Wilf Shepherd, 14 Walton Cres, d 19 March 2018, f 3 April 2018 Mr Chartres Baillie, Newcarron Grove Care Home, d 13 June 2018, f 25 June 2018 Mr David Laing, 3 Green Loan, Muckhart d 22 June 2018, f 3 July 2018 at DPC Mrs Barbara Crighton, Beechwood Care Home d 26 July 2018, f 7 August 2018 at Alloa Coop funeral parlour Rev Ernest Sangster, 6 Lawhill Road d 16 August 2018, f 24 August 2018 Wedding Grant Stewart Blair to Marjory Rose Janet King, Dollar 2 June 2018 Baptisms Fraser Muir Corsar Baptised 1 April 2018 Fergus James Barr Born 5 March 2018 Parents Alan and Hilary Baptised 8 July 2018
Linked Parishes of Dollar,
Muckhart and Glendevon
Interim Minister: Rev Iain Goring,
email imgoring@gmail.com
Dollar Session Clerk: Cathy Gladwin,
Tel.01259 573476
Glendevon Session Clerk: Jim Paterson
Tel 01259 781223
Muckhart Session Clerk:
Sheena Anderson
Tel 01259 781391
Church Secretary: Mr Derek Munn,
Tel: 07958 729785
email secretary@dollarparishchurch.org.uk
Please contact the Secretary,
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9.30am-12.30pm
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