Spring 2006
Kirk and Community News
For the Parishes of Cairngryffe and Symington
Church of Scotland
Cairngryffe with Symington Parish Churches
Minister: Rev Dr Graham Houston
16 Abington Road, Symington (01899 308838)
Session Clerks: Cairngryffe- Mr Euan Davidson
Redmires, Carmichael (01555 880555)
Symington- Mr Ross Russell
Spindrift, Main Street, Symington (01899 308240)
SUNDAY SERVICES
March and April 2006
9.30am Cairngryffe 11.00am Symington
May June July and August 2006
9.30am Symington 11.00am Cairngryffe
Sunday March 5th
9.30am Cairngryffe 11.00am Symington
EASTER 2006 HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th at 7pm
Symington Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th at 7pm
including Maundy Thursday Communion
Family Services Sunday April 2nd at above times
Easter Day Sunday April 16th at above times
Joint Office Bearers’ Meeting: April 24th Cairngryffe
Board and Session Meetings: Cairngryffe May 8th
Symington May15th
Visit our website at www.symingtonkirk.com
FROM THE MANSE SPRING 2006
Everywhere in our two parishes the skyline is dominated by Tinto, the biggest hill to be found entirely in South Lanarkshire, with its summit at 711 metres (2,297 feet) above sea level. Those of us who have walked to the top will remember the cairn, which archaeologists date to 1,500 years BC. About that time, the people of ancient Israel were enslaved in Egypt, where the pyramids had been built by the Pharaohs 1,000 years earlier. It’s possible that Tinto’s name means “Hill of Fire” and that human sacrifices were carried out on that cairn, and/or that it was used as a beacon hill to pass on tribal messages. While the stories that we know from the Old Testament part of the Bible were being unfolded, life around here was probably pretty brutal and relatively short. It was another 2,000 years before the Christian good news was first passed on in these parts, when BC (Before Christ) became AD (In the year of our Lord).
Since then Christianity has been central to the shaping of our music, learning, and lifestyle. It was the Church that first set up hospitals for the sick or colonies for lepers (as at Libberton), and later established schools in every parish. Worship became a community event where people met with God and fellow parishioners, and human beings found a place for themselves within the big story of the Bible. They identified with Jesus of Nazareth as a real man who had lived a model life and died a sacrificial death, for others. They shared the beliefs of the ancient creed which declare that this Jesus was more than a mere man: “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord, who was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven..and he will come to judge the living and the dead.”
So the story is still unfolding, and we all have the chance to become part of it. This is a story which helps everyone to find meaning and purpose in life, and which gives hope to tackle the challenges which we all face, not least the great unknown, death itself. We all need encouragement and support, understanding and comfort, direction and correction. We need other people, and can’t make it on our own. Yet so many folk today are living isolated lives, struggling with the upbringing of children and coping alone with the stresses of employment and everyday life.
Not a few come to this beautiful part of the world in the hope that they will escape the harsh realities of urban living and find an ideal life which is safe for their children and healthy for an outdoor family lifestyle. Yet, wherever we travel, we take ourselves with us, and the key to happiness is always found through our relationships. The good news is that it is possible for us to have open relationships with God, our Maker, and his people. The forty days before Easter (this year Sunday April 16th), the season of Lent, help us to focus on that and to find a faith which can be really fulfilling. Those days remind us of the period early on in Jesus’ mission and ministry when he went through hard testing and was tempted to give up his Father’s plan of bringing peace to the world, and enabling people to know God’s good will. That means that Jesus understands our struggles and doubts, and wants to show us a better way, based on his teaching. Think of the Golden Rule of Jesus, “Do for others as you would have them do for you”(Matthew 7:12). Would not this world be a wonderful place if we could all follow that?
The sad fact is that so often we don’t treat each other as we would like to be treated ourselves. Jesus said that such a positive attitude is actually rooted in prayer. “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you…If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”(Matthew 7:7,11) It’s only when we are right with God that we can truly do right by others. The good news is that God wants us to talk with him and listen for his word to us. And the best place to be for that to happen is together with other people in praise, prayer and learning, in the fellowship of the church.
Please join us any or every Sunday for worship. We do believe that God can change all our lives for the better, if only we will let him. May this Lent and Easter be a very special time for you and yours.
Yours in Christ
Graham Houston.
NEWS FROM THE PARISHES
Funerals
Cairngryffe
November 28th 2005 David Forbes Station Cottage Sandilands December 6th 2005 Jean Warnock Watchknowe Sandilands
Symington
December 15th 2005 Ann Douglas 14 Carding Street
February 8th 2006 Eileen Plenderleith 2 Kirk Place
CHRISTMAS 2005
Our festive services this year were very well supported, and we’re grateful to all who helped in any way to make them a success, especially our Sunday School and Trailblazers leaders’ work for the Family Services. It was great to be able to welcome back to worship a number of folk whom we haven’t seen for a while. But as the poster outside a Greenock church said:
“Jesus is for life, not just for Christmas!”
SCHA Homelessness Sunday February 19th –Christmas Appeal
Thanks to all who contributed to our Christmas Appeal for Scottish Churches Housing Action. The sum of £520 was sent from our two congregations (£210 from Cairngryffe and £310 from Symington). On Sunday February 19th, our services will include a prayer focus on homelessness.
THE GUILD
Symington Guild
We would like to welcome as many as possible to the last two meetings of this 2005/2006 session. On Thursday 23 March in the Church Hall at 7.30pm Margaret Brown will tell us about the Biggar Museum Trust. Our Closing Dinner will be on Thursday 27 April and we hope that all members, past and present will join us on that occasion (the venue to be announced). Contact Sheena Carlyle at 01899 308269.
Cairngryffe Guild
Our February meeting was a talk, ’Talking books for the Blind’ given by Mr Sandy Gilchrist and he gave us great insight into the work undertaken by his eight readers who bring local news to those who are unable to read the Gazette.
Our first event in March is the World Day of Prayer on March 3rd. Then you can join us in Thankerton Village Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 March for a Musical Evening with Symington Church Choir. Our AGM this year will be on Wednesday 12 April when our theme for the evening will be Sharing
Please set aside Friday 2nd June in your diaries as on that date there will be a Summer Rally for Guild members at Carnwath Parish Church.
Contact Jessie Duff, President at 01899 308365.
The children are working hard studying Bible based topics. So far this term we have learned about Jonah and are presently looking at the life and work of Paul. Then we will be preparing for Easter later in the term. At the moment we are meeting during the Church Service at 9.30am but from May 7 we will return to the 11.00am time.
If you would like your child to join us, bring them along on a Sunday or contact Rosemairi Galloway at 01555 880779
SYMINGTON TRAILBLAZERS
Trailblazers have had a very busy and exciting time since Christmas. We now have over 30 children coming every week which is wonderful. If you would like to come along and join in the fun, games, stories, singing and activities why not join our happy throng on Sunday mornings at 11am?
The Junior Choir is also looking for new members. We will shortly be starting to practise a play for Easter as well as enjoying our normal activities. There will be no Trailblazers on Sundays 9th and 16th April, but we will return on 23rd with lots of great activities for the summer term.
For information, contact Linda Tucker at 01899 308943.
CHRISTIAN AID
Christian Aid Week - 14th - 20th May - As usual there will be an envelope collection in the villages of Symington, Thankerton, Carmichael and Pettinain. Anyone able to help with this, please get in touch with Marianna Watson at 01899 308711 or anyone in either Church. Hopefully there will also be a coffee morning in Symington after the Church service on either the 14th or 21st May.
SYMINGTON CHURCH CHOIR
On Wednesday evenings the choir, including two new members, squashes happily into the pews at the church for the weekly practices at 7.30pm. Currently we are preparing for our visit to Cairngryffe Guild in March for their Musical Evening. The choir has also been invited to sing for Greenbank Church, Edinburgh in April 2007. As always more members would be welcomed.
Contact the choir director, Gaynor Russell at 01899 308240.
FROM OUR KIRK TREASURERS
Symington
The financial year has now ended and I am pleased to report that we had a surplus in our General Fund for the year, the first time this has happened for several years. The hard work which was undertaken during the “Money Matters Campaign, is now beginning to show dividends.
Robert Carson, Treasurer
Cairngryffe
As we go to print the accounts are being audited. They will be available to look at nearer the end of February.
Linzi Struthers, Treasurer
Symington Kirk now has a website and it can be found at the above address. Please visit it often.The site presently has the following features among others:-
Church: displaying some photographs
History the history of the Church in Symington
Services times of the Church Services
Minister information about the Minister and his family
Elders details about the Elders and when they meet
Board details about the Congregational Board
Office Bearers who’s who in the Church
Trailblazers details of the Sunday School
Guild details of the Guild meetings and speakers
Focus Magazine back copies of the Focus published here
Other features will be added on a regular basis.
Robert Carson, Webmaster
SYMINGTON DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Symington Kirk Development Plan has been initiated as a result of the Presbytery Report of October 2004 following the Quinquennial Visitation. In order to take forward the suggestions outlined in the report it was decided to select objectives which will be worked towards over the period 2006-2010. Seven objectives were identified and approved by the session and board.
The last four are all in the process of development and we are confident that we are moving forward together in fellowship and awareness The Money Matters campaign was highly successful. We introduced the new Church Hymnary (CH4) in October 2005. We now have our own website: - www.symingtonkirk.com which is well worth visiting. A questionnaire to all households within the Symington parish area is the next step in the process.
If you receive one, please take a few moments to fill in the questionnaire and have it ready for uplift between 20th and 31st March 2006 or you can pop it through the Manse letterbox as suggested. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO IDENTIFY JUST HOW OUR KIRK CAN BETTER ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY.
The Church of Scotland web pages on “Church without Walls” tells us to “expect miracles” when committing ourselves to our Kirk’s developments. With your help I’m sure miracles can happen.
Frank Mitchell, chairperson.
Our Family Meal event was an outstanding success and we learned a lot about our community and our Kirk from it. We have been reflecting upon this information and are in the final stages of drawing together a development plan for Cairngryffe. We expect to be able to give you full information in the next issue of Focus when our planning is complete.
Jack Meikle, chairperson
FLOWER LISTS
CAIRNGRYFFE SYMINGTON
March 5 Maureen Bannatyne Sheena Carlyle
March12 Isabelle Struthers Ella Hodge
March 19 Annie Callan Etta Prentice
March 26 Margaret Smith Marlyn Masterton
April 2 Margaret Struthers Mary Hodge
April 9 Mamie Gilmour Janet McDougall
April 16 Cathryn Forrest Jean Atwood
April 23 Mrs Warnock (Pett) Margaret McGregor
April 30 Jean Gilbert Anne Hill
May 7 Elizabeth Warnock Mrs Day McCormick
May 14 Liz Hiddleston May Lindsay
May 21 Agnes Mundell Nan Warwick
May 28 Isobel McClymont Peggy Prentice (Cairney)
PRESBYTERY NEWS
Firstly news of recent changes within the Presbytery: -
Rev. Aileen Robson (Coalburn linked with Lesmahagow Old) has been appointed to the World Mission Council
Rev. Bryan Kerr (Douglas Valley) has been appointed to the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church of Scotland.
Mr Robert Tweedie (Douglas Valley) has been appointed as the Presbytery’s Convenor of the Property Committee.
Rev. Susan Cowell has been appointed as Locum at Carluke: St. John’s.
Presbytery has now entered the electronic age with all correspondence now taking place using e-mail wherever possible. This commenced on the 1st January 2006.
Youth members of Presbytery are to be appointed over the next few months. Members will be aged between 16 and 25. Nominations are to be returned by the 17th February.
There is to be a Celebration Service for Pentecost 2006. Further details will be announced later.
CAIRNGRYFFE EVERYOUNG CLUB
Meetings are held fortnightly on Thursdays in Thankerton Village Hall at 2.00pm.
The programme for the spring meetings is: -
March 9 A Changing Life with Mr Marshall Watson
March 23 A visit from a police dog handler
April 13 Mrs Moira Dobbie on McMillan Cancer Relief
April 27 Antique Dealer Jim Leonard will join us
May 11 Our Annual Trip
For more information contact Sadie Campbell at 01899 308740.
CARMICHAEL CARPET BOWLING CLUB
There is still time to join this club on a Monday night till the end of March but remember that we continue meet all summer long on a Tuesday night in Carmichael Village Hall from 7.30pm till 10.00pm. New members, ladies gents and juniors from 10 years are always welcome. Our Annual Dance will be held in Carmichael Hall on Friday 7th April.
For more information call Jack Meikle at 01899 308397.
PETTINAIN BADMINTON
Adults in this energetic club meet in Pettinain Village Hall on Mondays from 7.00pm till 9.00pm. They also meet on Fridays , same time, same place, when it is open to adults and youngsters alike. Contact Charles Galloway at 01555 870865 for full details.
SCOTTISH WOMEN'S RURAL INSTITUTE
Carmichael Institute
Carmichael WRI meets on the second Monday of each month in Carmichael Hall at 7.30pm. Forthcoming meetings are:-
March 13 Panel Night with David Fanshaw in the chair
April 10 AGM and Sheila Nixon on ‘Canapes’
May 18 Annual outing (to be arranged by Thankerton)
Janette Elliot, secretary, at 01555 880614 can provide more details.
Thankerton Institute
Thankerton SWRI meets in Thankerton Village Hall at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of each month. In spite of changes and last minute cancellations members have attend and, to date, all evenings have been a success. Planned meetings are:-
March 2 Spring Pots with George Goulding
April 6 AGM and Meal Out – venue to be confirmed
The planned outing to Rothesay with Carmichael WRI is being changed because of ferry costs. Two other venues are being considered.
Contact Connie Johnstone at 01899 308764 and Irene Ross at 01899 308738
Pettinain Institute
Pettinain WRI meets in Pettinain Village Hall at 7.30pm on a Wednesday. Why not join us? New members are welcome.
March 15 Confectionary by Mrs Shaw
April 19 AGM and Presentation of prizes
Contact Ann Murray on 01555 870379
Symington Institute
New members are always welcome to join us at our meetings in Symington Village Hall on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm. We enjoy a talk or demonstration each month on a variety of subjects.
March 2 Craft with Sheena Simpson
April 6 AGM and a talk on the McMillan Nurses
Contact Janet Hope –01899 308716.
BIGGAR PROBUS CLUB
Membership of the Biggar Probus Club is open to men residing in Biggar and the surrounding area who are aged 50 years and over, and who are fully or partially retired.
Meetings take place in the Municipal Hall, Biggar on the first and third Thursdays of each month from October to April. The club meets around 9.45am for a cup of tea and a chat followed by a visiting speaker, finishing around 11.30am
We also hold an annual luncheon, usually in January, to which members may bring wives and/or partners.
Meetings have been arranged for March 7th and March 21st 2006 with our AGM on April 4th. We are planning an outing for members and wives/partners, later in April, possibly to the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh
Membership currently costs £5.00 per annum plus a small contribution to defray refreshment costs. Any man who wishes to join may either come along to a meeting or telephone one of the numbers below. He would be assured of a warm welcome.
Contact John Pratt at 01899 308729 or Robert Ross at 01899 220017.
YOUTH ORGANISATIONS
Beavers, Cubs and Scouts
1st Biggar Tinto Beavers, Cubs and Scouts meet in Biggar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout term time. They currently have a waiting list in all sections. If you are interested in joining, either as a Beaver Cub or Scout or are interested in helping as part of the leadership team, please contact Alex Clark at 01899 308330. He can give full details of meeting times and venues and of the waiting lists involved.
Rainbows
Rainbows are for girls aged 5-7 years and meet in Symington on a Monday during school term time. If you have a little girl who would like to join, please contact Wendy Carrick at 01899 308544 for more information.
Brownies
1st Symington Brownies We finished last term with a trip to the cinema to see Narnia. We also held an evening of Christmas Carols by Candlelight. Our thanks go to Caroline Wilson who kindly played the organ for us and to guests/parents who came along and supported us. An excellent time was had by all.
This term the brownies have been busy working on the Big Garden Birdwatch by the RSPB, enjoying various arts and crafts, as well as playing games, etc. They are looking forward to the Thinking Day celebrations this month.
Girls aged 7 – 10 years old wishing to join will be made very welcome. For further details please contact Gillian Aitchison, 01899 308098 or Linda Tucker, 01899 308943.
1st Thankerton Brownies were started in September 05 to help take the pressure off the waiting lists for girls in the area. They have made an enthusiastic start and are currently looking forward to an Oriental Themed Camp at Wanlockhead Community Centre. There is still room for girls aged from 7 to 10 years in the pack. For full details of meeting times and places contact Mandy Reilly at 01899 308387 or Anne at 01899 308293
Guides
Both Guide groups, which meet in Symington on Mondays, are currently full but if you would like to add your daughter’s name to the waiting list or for more information please contact Anne Galloway at 01555 870865.
Tinto toddlers meet twice weekly, days to be confirmed, from 9.30am until 11.15am. We have a variety of toys for babies and toddlers including a quiet baby corner, craft table, book corner and many other toys to play with. We also offer healthy snacks to the toddlers. Mums, dads, grandparents and childminders all bring toddlers to play while they have a chance to sit down and chat. We charge £1 per session per child to cover costs. If you would like further information please call Lara Boyd (chairperson) on 01899 309070
CARMICHAEL PLAYGROUP AND TODDLERS
This group for little ones from 0 to 5 years continues to meet in Carmichael on Mondays and Thursdays from 9.15am to 11.15am. The children enjoy a good variety of activities and all will be made very welcome. More details of location and times can be had from the playleader Catherine Hamilton on 01555 665239.
SYMINGTON PLAYGROUP
Symington Playgroup is open to all little ones from 2 years upwards. The sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am till 11.20am. There are still a few spaces for new children. Why not bring your child along to join in the fun? For full information please contact Lesli at 01899 308164.
Tinto School After School Club
The After School Club runs a variety of Clubs within the school and grounds once school has finished. We do not provide childcare; we exist only to introduce the children to different sports, crafts, arts etc. The clubs currently running include Netball, Football, Gardening, Chess and Chanter.
We also offer blocks of activities 1 day per week for 4 or 6 weeks e.g. Basketball, Rugby, Cookery, Reading & Storytelling and many, many others. Some of these may become Clubs in their own right if we can recruit leaders with experience of an activity who could volunteer their time and enthusiasm to share their interest with the children!!
We are also very proud of our Gardening Club. We now have a vegetable garden in addition to the shrubbery and we have plans to extend the use of the area to include seating for outdoor learning. The Club generally runs on a Thursday but we don’t meet during the winter months.
We very much need help with the general maintenance of the garden and would be delighted if anyone would like to spend some time after 3p.m just pottering and tidying up
Please contact Jane Stevens on 01899 309713 for further information or if you would like to help.
SYMINGTON VILLAGE DAY 2006
We will be starting to get organised for this year’s Village Day very soon. If you can help out in any way, or are willing to come along to the meetings with some new ideas (only about 3 or 4 between now and June), please contact
Jane Stevens, coordinator, at 01899 308713.
SYMINGTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE FREE BUS TRAVEL SCHEME
The Scottish Executive has decided to introduce their own Free Bus Pass Scheme, which will supercede all the various local authority schemes from 1st April 2006. The new scheme will have considerable benefits for all, in that it will be valid for bus travel throughout Scotland, on both local and long distance bus routes of all bus operators who participate in the scheme. Free travel will be available all day and not subject to the present offpeak restriction. All those who are 60 years of age and over or who suffer from disabilities are eligible.
Every registered user of the existing SPT scheme is automatically eligible to join the new scheme. If you already hold a SPT concessionary travel card, you will have been sent an application form, which you must complete and take to the Post Office, who are collecting the forms on behalf of SPT. If you do not do this you will lose your entitlement to free travel from 1 April. There is some concern countrywide that, up to a few days ago, less than 50% of the forms, which have been sent out, have been returned.
If you have not received a form you should call the SPT information line on 0845 601 6499. If you are not a member of the current scheme and you currently qualify, you should join the present scheme now and obtain a Strathclyde Passenger Transport concessionary travel card. By doing so you will automatically be sent an application form for the new scheme.
Alan Mackie, Symington Community Council
Editor's Note
Thank you to all contributors who provided the information contained in this newsletter. Some articles had to be edited in order to fit them all in.
The summer edition of FOCUS will be issued late in May. Contributions from church groups and organisations, covering the period from June 2006 to the end of August should be sent to me by Sunday May 14th at the latest.
I can be reached at: - Rena Mitchell, Mossgiel, 64 Biggar Road, Symington, ML12 6FT Tel: 01899 308261
or by email at mossgiel64@tiscali.co.uk
