Thursday August 29 2024
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Kinross Parish Church has been holding a family week each summer for nearly 40 years.
Irene McFarlane, a church elder, writes:
We never forget how long it is since our first annual Kinross Parish Church Family Week took place. One of the team brought along her one-year-old baby. That baby is now 38 years old, and this year she came from Glasgow to help, bringing her own pre-school daughter.
And she is not the only one. The team comprises quite a number of helpers who have themselves gone through Family Week as children and have come back to assist in many different capacities.
When the first Family Week took place in 1986, it was led for us by a team from Crieff who used SU Holiday Club materials. But after a couple of years, we had developed enough confidence to run it ourselves.
This year the title was Starship Discovery and the teaching materials were based around the Disciple, Peter. We had well over 200 children registered, including over 30 teenagers.
To begin with, we had only primary school children and older pre-schoolers, but then decided to include a programme for secondary-aged as well. At first, we used our own halls (The Kinross Church Centre), then a larger local hall, but as the number of youngsters attending grew, we had to find other premises. Taking out the pews when we did renovations in our church building in 2005 provided us with a large, flexible space to use, but as time passed this was still not going to be enough. We have been greatly assisted by the other churches in the area who have kindly provided us with their premises. As well as our church and church centre and the local playgroup building, this year we had the use of St Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Gospel Hall, and have also used St. James RC’s Hall.
But it is not just with their premises that the local churches have supported us. Our large team of yellow-tee-shirted helpers comprises people not only from other local Church of Scotland churches, but also other Christian denominations in the area, including the Gospel Hall, Lochleven Church and St James RC, as well as youth workers from KYTHE (Kinross-Shire Youth Enterprise, started by local churches). We once again had a group from our linked church, in Debrecen, in Hungary.
This mix of committed helpers from all of these backgrounds has worked together smoothly and in true joyful Christian fellowship.
As our Family Week co-ordinator, Ruth Robertson, said: “I have learnt that God always provides. Every year, I ask for helpers, and am so humbled by the many people who volunteer their time and talents, both behind the scenes and with the children and young people. It is a privilege to lead this large ecumenical team of enthusiastic and hard-working volunteers as we share the Good News of Jesus in our community.”
The Rev Gayle Taylor was formally 'introduced' as the new Transition Minister of St Leonard's Parish Church, Dunfermline, on August 15. The service was led by the Moderator of the Presbytery of Fife, the Rev Brian Porteous, and the sermon preached by the Rev Arthur Christie who was a member of St Leonard’s prior to training for the ministry. Gayle, who comes to St Leonard’s following a time at Newbattle in Midlothian, is a qualified counsellor, experienced school chaplain, bereavement support practitioner and a member of the board of Fischy music.
Faifley, Duntocher afternoon Guild held a Teddy Bears picnic, raising £300 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital and 25 teddies going to CHAS Robin House HOSPICE. They were joined by Guild members from Kilbowie St Andrews and Faifley, Duntocher evening guild.
A special service was held in Auchtermuchty Church to recognise and appreciate the many years of dedication given by the elders in Edenshead Parish. Current and retired elders received a Certificate of Service, and worship was led by Kay and Rod McCall, who themselves received certificates. From October 1, the church will be part of a new united Fife: Eden Tay Parish.
Life and Work is the magazine of the Church of Scotland. Subscribe here.
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