Parish News Round-up

Thursday October 29

Our regular round-up of news received from churches

Please send items of parish news to magazine@lifeandwork.org or Life and Work, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN. Digital photographs should not be reduced. Please check the quality of your pictures: images which are blurry or too dark cannot be used. If there are children in any picture please confirm that their parents or guardians have given permission for publication.

The Kwenderana Partnership in the south side of Glasgow hosted a Faithshare visit by Jack Longwe, Session Clerk at Ekwendeni Congregation, Malawi and Songelwayo Banda, Chairman of the Kwenderana Partnership Group at Ekwendeni.

During their visit, the gentlemen stayed with four different hosts, visited all the churches within the Kwenderana Partnership as well as visiting many parts of Scotland.

Prior to the visit both gentlemen had intimated that they wished to learn more about modern farming methods, which they hoped could be adapted to their own farms at Ekwendeni. Bearing this in mind, they visited the Scottish Rural Life Museum outside East Kilbride, a working dairy farm near Eaglesham, and the vegetable garden and tomato houses on the Pollok Estate in Glasgow.

They also went to the Scottish Agricultural College Campus at Crichton in Dumfries, where they met Dr Mizeck Chagunda, a fellow Malawian who is a world expert on dairy farming and Jeremy Taylor, lecturer at the Ayr Riverside Campus who was born, brought up and had farmed in Malawi.

They also visited Eastwoodhill Care Home, Bridging the Gap asylum seekers centre and East Renfrewshire Food Bank.

Pictured from left: Mr Longwe, Mr Banda, Dr Chagunda and Dr Bill Steven, Chairperson of the Kwenderana Partnership Group in Glasgow.

 Alex Urquhart of Fraserburgh Old Parish Church was presented with a Certificate of Long Service at the regular morning service on Sunday September 27 in acknowledgement and appreciation of 50 years service as an Elder.

Alex, who was just 24, was ordained into the Eldership in March 1965. For most of that time he has also been the church beadle, having been appointed to the role in the mid 1970’s.

In recognition of his contribution to the life and worship of the church over 50 years, he was presented with a commemorative bible, watch and travel vouchers at the service as well as his Certificate. Alex’s wife Rosemary also received a bouquet of flowers and the service was followed by tea and celebratory cake in the church hall. 

In October, Orkney was visited by two representatives from the International Justice Mission. Richard and Irene Fowler had been invited to address the Orkney Presbyterial Guild Rally and to speak to the linked charge of Kirkwall: East Church with Shapinsay about the work of IJM.

Richard explained that he had begun to work with IJM in 2010, coming in at the start of the second year of the Guild’s partnership with IJM in the “Cambodia – Terrify no more!” campaign. He was proud of his involvement in that campaign, in which the Guild had raised £174,000. As a result, IJM field staff had tackled the issue of young people being trafficked into prostitution in Cambodia so effectively that in the past 32 months no person under the age of 20 has worked as a prostitute in that country. He was proud of the Guild and its efforts to help the young people of both sexes who had been physically abused so horribly.

He gave an overview of the work of IJM in its 19 field offices across the world and spoke of the aftercare available to rescued clients. He showed examples of articles made by rescued clients, available from a company called FreeSet, with almost all of the sale price going to the client.

Richard’s wife, Irene, helped distribute information and answer questions about IJM’s work.

At the end of each presentation, Richard and Irene received donations for the work of IJM. Altogether the churches and the Orkney Presbyterial Guild Rally raised over £400 for the continuing work of IJM.

Springburn Parish Church celebrated the anniversary of the ordination of two elders: Nancy Morris, who has served for 30 years; and Duncan McColl who has served for 61 years and is still an active member of Board and Session. Duncan also served as Session Clerk for many years.

They are pictured with their minister, the Rev Brian Casey.

It was a double celebration as more than 100 Boys’ Brigade members gathered at Tulliallan & Kincardine Parish Church on Sunday to celebrate Founder’s Day in line with the 75^th anniversary of the 1^st Tulliallan Company.

The young people welcomed many from the local community and guests including the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison, who preached at the service.

It was also attended by senior BB figures including the Director for Scotland, Bill Stevenson, CEO Andrew Johnston, vice president Alistair Burrow and the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan, chaplain for the UK and Ireland.

Founder’s Day is a national celebration where Companies up and down the country come together for a special service to celebrate the life and work of Sir William Smith, who founded the organisation on October 4 1883.

The picture shows Dr Morrison with the Rev Alec Shuttleworth of Tulliallan and Kincardine Church and members of the 1^st Tulliallan Company.

Comments

wishart mzembe - Saturday, October 31st, 2015

“Good and encouraging stories.”

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