Parish News Round-up

Thursday July 7 2016

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.

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Almost 700 primary schoolchildren from Livingston displayed their creative talents as they took part in Livingston United Parish Church’s 50^th anniversary competition.

To mark half a century of four different churches working together as one, pupils were invited to submit a piece of work on the theme of ‘Unity’.

 Pupils from seven schools submitted artwork, videos, PowerPoints, poems, stories and sculptures, focussing on one of the sub-themes of friendship, community or diversity.

 The winning ‘friendship’ entry was by Isla Thomson in P3 at Carmondean Primary School who produced a poster with the slogan “Friendship is about caring and being kind.” Carmondean Primary also scooped the winning entry in the ‘community’ section with a collage of photos showing their school community produced by Heather Boyd, Angel McCulloch and Melissa Ainslie in P4. Sophie Ure in P7 at Knightsridge Primary won the ‘diversity’ section with a painting of a flower celebrating a different aspect of diversity on each petal.

 Pupils were presented with their prizes at a celebration barbecue where all of the entries were on display.

Youth & Children’s Development Worker Darren Philip said: “The quality of work produced by the pupils amazed our judging panel. The entries were thought-provoking, inspiring and a fitting tribute to 50 years of working together in friendship, community and diversity.”

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Four elders who have clocked up more than 120 years of service between them were honoured recently at Dunfermline: St Leonard’s.

Minister, the Rev Monika Redman presented Graham Robertson (33 years), John Dewar (31 years), Douglas Niven (31 years) and Gordon Hamilton (30 years) with long service certificates during a special service in May.

The Rev Redman is pictured with Graham Robertson, John Dewar and Douglas Niven.

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Two Stirlingshire churches recently gave away ‘bags of blessing’ to over 350 people.

Minister of Dunblane: St Blane’s linked with Lecropt, the Rev Gary Caldwell explained the two churches took stalls at the Dunblane Fling in May and Dunblane and Doune Show and July.

He said: “Our stall was in amongst a whole load of other stalls that were selling items or raising money for their charities. We were different, our stall was completely free with a free game for the kids (milking a cow) and over the two events we gave away over 350 “bags of blessing”. The bags contained information about our churches, our faith, a sweet and a free tea bag encouraging people to put their feet up and have a blessed 10 mins on us. I think we were the first church to do such a thing at either of the shows.”

 He added: “The reaction of the people when they were given their free bag was priceless and we even managed to come 2^nd in the charity stall competition at the Dunblane and Doune Show much to our surprise (we’re now going for 1^st place next year).

 “All volunteers from the two churches in the linked charge had a great time, it cemented the great relations between us and we were delighted to bring a small bit of blessing to the communities around us.”

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The Rev Dr Ian M Fraser is pictured with the Moderator of Stirling Presbytery, the Rev Lynne Mack, and some of the members of Gargunnock Parish Church Kirk Session following the presentation of a long service certificate to mark the anniversary of his 70 years of ordained ministry on June 23.

(Dr Fraser, at the age of 98, is currently writing his 27th book. He is a regular contributor to publications of the Wild Goose Resource Group, and has several hymns included in CH4.)

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