FOCUSFOCUS
Christmas 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 Jack Meikle
Glenbow Cottage, Thankerton (01899 308397)
Symington- Mr Ross Russell
Spindrift, Main Street, Symington (01899 308240)
SUNDAY SERVICES
December 2006
9.30am Cairngryffe 11.00am Symington
January, February, March, April 2007
9.30am Symington 11.00am Cairngryffe
Christmas and New Year Services 2006
Everybody Welcome!
Sunday December 24th
9.30am and 11am
CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICES
7pm Symington and 11.15pm Cairngryffe
CHRISTMAS EVE CAROL SERVICES
Monday December 25th 10.30am Cairngryffe
UNITED CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE
Sunday December 31st 10.30am Symington
UNITED NEW YEAR�S EVE SERVICE
Session and Board Meetings
Monday February 19th 7.30pm Symington
Monday February 26th 7.30pm Cairngryffe
Joint Finance Committee December 4th
MERRY MINCE PIES
Remember to pop into Symington Church Hall after the evening service on Christmas Eve for mince pies, coffee and a chat with your friends. Mince pies will also be served at Cairngryffe from 11.00pm, prior to their late evening service
Visit our website at www.symingtonkirk.com
FROM THE MANSE Christmas 2006
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
�Christmas is for children� is only partly true. Christmas is for everyone, younger and older. Not only is the story about the birth of a baby to a young mother in trying circumstances. It also features much more mature people, like Jesus� uncle, Zechariah, the father of his cousin John (the Baptist), who predicted the coming of Jesus Christ in this way: �The rising sun will come from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.�(Luke 1:78-79) And then there was Simeon, an old fellow who met Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus when they went up to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, who proclaimed �My eyes have seen your salvation, Lord, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.�(Luke 2:30-32) Both men understood that the Christ child was very special. Both predicted that he would bring light to the whole world. By that they meant two things. First, God�s guidance and direction has been made available to ordinary folk living in a troubled world, to point us to the way of peace in dark times punctuated by warfare, disease, famine, and premature death. In the 21st century we are still very much in the throes of circumstances which can easily overwhelm us. We need the Light of the World to direct our way. Secondly, God�s revelation of himself and his plans is desperately needed. Only Jesus can unlock the secrets of history and explain where it is all leading. He is God in human form, showing us what we could never imagine by ourselves. We need the Light of the World to expose the truth and explain what is real. The result will be glorious for God�s people, as we seek to reflect God�s light in a shadowy world, and make a real impact on others.
Thank the Lord, there are plenty of examples of Christ�s light shining in today�s world. One such is the Amazon Hope Project in Peru, South America, started by a Church of Scotland minister, which provided a ferry for the Upper Amazon so that street children could have a means of earning a living. Such is the success of this that a second ferry has recently been delivered. Over �1.4 million has been raised so far and many kids have been lifted out of danger and abject poverty, as well as hearing the Christian message. In March 2007 we are holding an outreach evening when we can invite family and friends to join us for an entertaining and informative evening focusing on the good news of God�s Kingdom in today�s world- see below.
In addition, our Christmas Appeal this year will go to help the work of the David Gordon Memorial Hospital, Livingstonia, Malawi, Central Africa, which has special links with Scotland. Life expectancy there is less than 40 years,
due to health problems caused by unsafe drinking water, malaria, and AIDS. We can support the work of Emmanuel Healthcare, who run the hospital,
a Scottish charity and medical mission, which plans to improve the hospital�s water supply, to develop staff training and provide new housing and transport, which will cost over �100,000. In this way, more children and older people will be protected from life-threatening conditions. They will also get to know the good news of God�s love. Retiring Offerings will be uplifted at our Christmas Family Services, and there will also be a chance to contribute at our Christmas Eve Carol Services.
Let
the Light of the World shine! And may you and yours have a very Happy
Christmas and a Good New Year.
Yours in Christ
Graham Houston.
PRESBYTERY VISIT
As agreed after our last visit in 2004, a team from Lanark Presbytery will again visit the congregations in March 2007, led this time by Rev Anne McIvor, Law Parish Church, who was part of the last team. Much has happened in recent years, largely in response to our last visit, and there will be good news to share of developments in both of our kirks.
BUILDING PLANS AT CAIRNGRYFFE KIRK
On Sunday December 10th after the 9.30am service, there is to be a congregational meeting to hear of plans to create a Session Room and ancillary improvements to the church building. Apart from the installation of electric light and heating some sixty years ago, the church is substantially the same as it has been since 1904 when it was re-ordered in memory of the late young laird. The Kirk Session hopes that these plans will provide appropriate accommodation for the next fifty years, and that the scheme will be funded entirely from resources held centrally on our behalf by the General Trustees of the Kirk. All members are encouraged to come to the meeting to find out more.
OUTREACH EVENT IN LENT!
Lent 2007 begins with Ash Wednesday on February 21st, and Palm Sunday on April 1st. A feature this year is a special outreach event:-
a Cheese and Wine Evening on Friday March 16th in the Church Hall, Symington, at 7.30pm. Providing entertainment and a presentation of the Amazon Hope Project will be representatives from the Vine Trust, a Scottish-based charity founded by Rev Willie McPherson, formerly of Bo�ness Old Parish Church. They have provided two ferries for the Upper Amazon which generate employment and provide care for children in Peru who have been reduced to living on the streets. This is an opportunity to invite family and friends to find out more of what God is doing in today�s world and how Jesus can become real in our everyday experience. More details and publicity will be available nearer the time.
News from the Parishes
New Members by Resolution of the Kirk Sessions:
Cairngryffe:
Alan and Eleanor Potts, 216 Devonside Road, Carmichael
Symington:
Mike and Penny Nisbet, 85 Main Street
Funerals
Cairngryffe
September 6th: Richie Clarkson Langbrae, Stonehill Road
Symington
October 6th: Barbara Carrick 104 Burnhead Road
Pettinain
October 24th Tom Melrose, 2 Cairngryffe Street
November 2nd Harry Russell 4 Cairngryffe Street
THE GUILD
Cairngryffe Guild
Our speaker for the first meeting in September had to cancel so our secretary, Margaret Duncan, arranged a very interesting evening called �Getting to Know You� which could perhaps more aptly be called �Getting to know Oneself�! A great evening was enjoyed by all the members. The ladies also had two enjoyable evenings out in October, the first for dinner at the Tinto Hotel and then a visit to Symington Guild.
On November 25 the Guild is taking part in the Christmas Bazaar at the Gillespie Centre in Biggar. This is part of Guild Week to promote Guild Awareness in the Community. The next meeting in Thankerton Hall will be our Celebration of Christmas, on Wednesday 13 December. After the New Year we don�t meet again until February 14 when David Duncan will give a talk on the Museum of Lead Mining.
This year we have acknowledged two Guild ladies, Mrs Betty Roberts and Mrs Violet Russell, who are celebrating their 90th birthdays.
Violet still manages to attend most of our meetings.
For more information contact Margaret Watt, secretary at 01555 6633 84 or myself at 01899 308365. Jessie Duff, President
Symington Guild
Our meetings are now well underway. In September we enjoyed a most interesting talk by the optometrist, Jan Rae, and in October Ian O�Brien gave an excellent slide show illustrating his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. In November we are greatly looking forward to a concert by Symington Kirk Choir and our Christmas meeting on Thursday 14th December will be a light-hearted quiz followed by a Christmas Supper. Do come along and join us. The first meetings in the New Year are:-
January 25 �Clyde Organics� by Murray Brown
February 22 �TA Chaplaincy� by Rev Dr Jim Francis
Contact Sheena Carlyle, President at 01899 308269
The children have had a busy term of activities centred around both Old and New Testament stories. We are now busy making our preparations for Christmas and will be taking part in the Family Service on Christmas Eve.
There will then be a well deserved holiday from Sunday school during the school holidays.
The new term will start on Sunday 14th January 2007. We will meet in the church at the start of Sunday worship at 11.00am going over to the village hall, for our own activities, part of the way through the service.
Children will receive their own individual invitation to the Christmas party. For further information, contact Rosemairi Galloway. Tel. 01555 880779
SYMINGTON TRAILBLAZERS
Firstly, the Trailblazers and leaders would like to thank everyone who attended and supported us in our efforts to raise �180 to purchase a yak for a school in Tibet. We have finally reached our target! Thanks again to everyone who helped in this substantial fundraising venture.
The children also supported Jeans for Genes day in October and raised �21 to support charities that fund research into genetic diseases. Well done!
Trailblazers� Famous Christmas Party will take place on Saturday 23rd December, lots of fun, fames and party tea. Once again we expect a visit from a very special guest!
The
leaders and trailblazers are looking forward to presenting their Christmas play
on December 24 at the Family Service. This year the play is called �The Lonely
Rat�. Please try to attend as we all put in a huge amount of work and the
children enjoy it so much.
Junior Choir will also be meeting again shortly to perfect their performance for the big day. I�m sure Mrs Russell will choose something wonderful for the children to sing with great enthusiasm.If you would like to join trailblazers of the junior choir, please come along on Sunday mornings (11am at present) or contact Linda Tucker on 308943. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun.The trailblazers will commence back after the Christmas break, on Sunday 14th December at 9.30am. See you there!
CAIRNGRYFFE EVERYOUNG CLUB
We have one more event before the New Year � our Christmas Lunch in Cornhill Hotel on Thursday 14th December. After the festive season we resume our fortnightly meetings in Thankerton Village Hall at 2.00pm on Thursdays. The first meetings are
January 11 Games Day
January 25 Burns Celebration with Jessie Duff, Jean Shearer
and May Cameron
February 8 Talk on Biggar Museum by Margaret Brown
February 22 Talk on the NHS by Dr Flowerdew
For more information contact Sadie Campbell at 01899 308328
WORLD MISSION
The issue of World Mission has long been at the heart of the work of the Church of Scotland. This year I have been privileged to be invited by the two parishes, to become the World Church Representative and Convenor for the World Church Team. It is a new role in our two churches and I hope to be able to develop an interest along with the congregations into the work of the church abroad.
This is an area very close to my heart � my paternal grandparents were missionaries in China and several of my relatives have worked in the mission field in Africa. I was raised with stories of the joys and trials of proclaiming God�s word in foreign countries. I also had a wonderful time as a medical student, working in a mission hospital in Botswana.
I would be very grateful for suggestions as to how we could become increasingly aware of this very important aspect of the life of the church. Please contact me on 01899 308331 or [email protected]
Heather Gardiner
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CAIRNGRYFFE
This is to keep all our members up to date with what is happening in the Kirk Session at Cairngryffe.
* The website for Cairngryffe Kirk is still ongoing and I will keep you advised.
*Our Calendar is selling well and this year, we are ordering more copies as we sell them so we should not end up with unsold calendars at the end of the year. Please see your Elder if you need any more. Remember they make an ideal Christmas gift.
*A Craft Group was one of the items suggested on the feedback forms last year. Mary McLellan was hoping to have this up and running but this has been shelved meantime due to lack of interest.
*The Kirk Session at their last meeting was given a presentation by Mike Nisbet a local architect. We are planning to construct a meeting room in the Church under the gallery, several other alterations would be included at the same time such as complete rewiring, carpeting, improving the lighting etc. The Session hope to make a final decision on this on Monday 20th November and then a Congregational Meeting will held on Sunday 10th December after the service to explain the plans to the Congregation.
* We plan again this year to hand deliver a Christmas Card to all houses in our Parishes. This will show the times of all Christmas Services and I hope the same volunteers will help me to deliver them again.
* Finally do you know of anyone who needs a visit from our dedicated band of visitors? If so please let me know.
Jack Meikle. Session Clerk at Cairngryffe
PRAYER PAGE
Prayer and Praise Services
For anyone who doesn�t already know, Cairngryffe and Symington Churches are holding Prayer and Praise Services on the first Thursday of every month and we invite everyone to come along and be part of it.
Each congregation will find, in the vestibule, a box for prayer requests. Anyone can ask for a prayer to be said for themselves or someone they know or they can be anonymous.
The dates and times of the next three Prayer and Praise Services are as follows:
Cairngryffe Church Thursday 7th December 7.30pm
Symington Church Thursday 4th January at 7.30pm
Cairngryffe Church Thursday 1st February at 7.30pm
Well we are now looking forward to the fourth Prayer and Praise Service and with each new month our numbers have steadily grown, even though the nights are getting darker and colder. I think everyone has enjoyed the warmth of the fellowship at each service. It�s not a long service but we have been finding that at the end everyone seems to hang back a little to have a chat and there is a good friendly and informal feel to the night. During the course of the services we have prayed for ourselves, friends and family, our local community, government, the wider world and any particular situations being reported in the news.
If you want to know if prayer does work why not come along and find out for yourself? We would love to see you at the next meeting.
Living God we thank you for the privilege of meeting together
Open our hearts to you, to one another and all around us
Help us to continue to grow in Faith, in Fellowship and in numbers
Lord hear our prayer
Amen
Prayer Promoters
Symington � George Mathew Tel: 01899 308648
Cairngryffe � Sandra Stewart Tel: 01555 880655
FROM OUR KIRK TREASURERS
Symington Church
I am pleased to report that the Church�s finances are in a fairly healthy state.
You will recall that the target of the �Money Matters� campaign was an increase in giving of �11,000pa. I am hopeful that we will achieve this in the current year, six months ahead of target. This should result in a surplus of about �9,000 in the current year.
We have received next year�s allocation for Ministries and Mission, it is �17,800, an increase of 7.6% (�1,300). Minister�s salaries will increase by 5.2% over the same period.
We have also received our allocation of Presbytery dues. These will go up to about �900, from �400. This has largely come about by the introduction of the policy to supply each Minister in Presbytery with a computer, printer and software on a three year cycle.
Those members of the Congregation who give by way of Free Will Offering envelopes will receive these during the last two weeks in December.
At the year end, can I thank all those who have given so faithfully and generously to the Kirk in Symington so that God�s work can continue in this place.
Income / Expenditure for last three months
Income Expenditure
Standing Orders �5,402.52 Electricity �315.04
FWO envelopes �2,046.80 Choir Music � 67.75
Plate � 708.00 Cleaner's Wages �260.34
Electricity Meter � 213.00 Donation envelopes �152.34
Investment Income �8.98 Relief organist �56.00
Minister's travelling expenses �227.34
Tea and Coffee �6.86
Joint Congregational Account �500.00
Ministry and Mission �4,866.00
Totals �8379.30 �6451.67
Balance �1927.63
Robert Carson, Treasurer
Cairngryffe Church
1st August - 1st November Cairngryffe accounts
Income Expenditure
Offering - Ordinary �401 Church of Scotland �4236
Free will �502 Travel expenses �277
Covenants �2367 Joint Cong AC �500
Calendars �200 Organist �330
Life and Work �20 Cleaner �330
Life & Work �53
S. Power �220
Hall Lets �30
Hymn Books �312
Totals �3490 �6288
Loss for this quarter �2798
I am hoping we still have quite a lot of money to come in before the end of December in the way of offerings, money for calendars and money for hymn books that people ordered so that we can end the year in the black.
Linzi Struthers, Treasurer
FLOWER
LISTS
CAIRNGRYFFE SYMINGTON
December 3 Lily Borthwick Ollie Hunter
December 10 Sandra Stewart Susan Mathew
December 17 Christmas Flowers Muriel Knight
December 24 Christmas Flowers Janette Hope
December 31 Christmas Flowers -
January 7 Christmas Flowers Rena MacKenzie
January 14 Christmas Flowers Jessie Duff
January 21 Mary McLellan Jessie Rodger
January 28 Jean Warnock Isobel Grierson
February 11 Margaret Edge Hazel Howat
February 18 Dorothy Scott Rena Mitchell
February 25 Nancy Nicholl Margaret Cleland
SYMINGTON CHURCH CHOIR
The choir has had a busy session as we prepared for our Concert for Symington Guild on Thursday 23 November. We are also presenting a short Christmas programme at Roberton Rural on Thursday 21 December.
In
January we will start practising for a concert which we have been invited to
present at Greenbank Church in Edinburgh in April 2007
Numbers are expanding with Nancy Overend, Winnie Mutl and
Penny Nisbet having joined us. Are there any basses hiding themselves
out there? If so please contact me as soon as possible at 01899
308240
Gaynor Russell, Choir Director
CAIRNGRYFFE BOWLING NIGHT
In
Carmichael Village Hall, on Tuesday 5th December, the fun
starts at 7pm! All are welcome to come along and join in. Tea/coffee and cakes
will be served to refresh the bowlers.
Admission is FREE!
Numbers of those wishing to attend are needed by Friday 1st December, so that the playing schedules can be made up.
Contact Sandra Stewart at 01555 880655
SYMINGTON COFFEE CLUB
The Coffee Club is open each Tuesday at 10:30 am in the Church Hall and all are welcome, young and old. With the Christmas Season approaching the Coffee Club will close on the 12th December 2006 and reopen on the 16th January 2007. We hope to see you then.
SYMINGTON VISITORS TEAM
The team is now up and running and visits are taking place. Remember to let Gaynor Russell know (308240) if you think of anyone who might welcome a short visit from time to time
Lanark Presbytery Report
The Rev Iain Goring, who was the Interim Minister at Carstairs in union with Carstairs Junction, has left to take up the interim ministry at Holytown linked with New Stevenston. The Moderator of Presbytery, Rev Dr Graham Houston, thanked Iain for his service in the community over past eighteen months. Mrs Irene Williams, on behalf of the congregation, expressed her appreciation of the contribution Iain had made to the life of the congregation and wished him well in his new appointment.
The Rev. Harry Findlay has been appointed as a Chaplain to Presbytery. Harry was formally the minister at Wishaw: St. Mark�s, a position he held for many years.
The Church of Scotland is currently in a period of change and to facilitate that change a Special Commission on Structure and Chance has been established. The congregations of Biggar, Cairngryffe linked with Symington, Carluke: Kirkton and Kirkmuirhill represented Lanark Presbytery at the meeting which was held in Kirkmuirhill in October.
The Clyde Presbyteries have released preliminary details of their �Nexus� event which will be held in Glasgow, at the SECC, from the 23rd to 25th August 2007. The event will aim to help make connections between Churches across Scotland.
There is to be an �Elders� Evening� in Carstairs Community Centre on the 20th March 2007. The speaker that evening will be Rev David Currie from the Mission and Discipleship Council and his topic will be �You�re an Angel � talking about faith�
As Christmas approaches many of the Churches in Presbytery are preparing for their Christmas activities. Amongst these is the United Parish of Carstairs and Carstairs Junction who have arranged an Advent Labyrinth which will be held in Carstairs Junction Church. This will be open on Thursday and Friday, 7th and 8th December, from 2:00 � 4:00pm and 7:00 � 8:30pm. It will also be open on Saturday 9th December from 10:00am till 2:00pm.
Presbytery is to consider the introduction of Marriage Preparation Courses for couples being married within the Presbytery area. The course, for those who would find it beneficial, could include such subjects as finance, living together and becoming a couple.
Robert Carson, Elder to Presbytery
Struggling with your Christmas shopping?
Q. What do you buy for people who already have everything?
A. Something for those who have very little!
Try World Vision (www.greatgifts.org or 0845 600 6446) or Christian Aid (www.presentaid.org or 0845 3300 500) for all sorts of gifts. You will receive a card to give to your friends telling them what you have bought on their behalf. With World Vision you can even personalise a card chosen from a large selection on the website.
You could buy a tap for �6, some tree seedlings for �10, a stethoscope for �18 or many other items from World Vision. Orders over the internet can be done as late as 20th December, but need to be earlier if over the phone or by post.
From Christian Aid you could get mosquito nets for �11, a grant to help a child go to school for a month for �29 or lots of other gifts right up to a Community Health worker�s annual salary.
Christian Aid orders should be received by 13th December. Marianna Watson
SYMINGTON ADULT BADMINTON
Symington adult badminton continues on Wednesday afternoons at 1pm and Friday evenings at 8pm. To check dates phone Marianna Watson (308711).
SHOE BOX APPEAL
Peggy Prentice would like to thank everyone who recently handed in shoe boxes. A total of 35 boxes have now been passed on to Blythswood Care and will be transported to countries in Eastern Europe in time for Christmas.
Editor's Note
Thank you to all contributors who provided the information contained in this newsletter. Some items have had to be held over to the next issue or edited.
The Spring edition of FOCUS will be issued late in February.
Contributions from both village and church organizations and groups, covering the period from March 2007 to the end of May 2007 should be sent to me by Sunday 18th February 2007 at the latest.
I can be reached at: - Rena Mitchell, Mossgiel, 64 Biggar Road, Symington, ML12 6FT Tel: 01899 308261
or by email at [email protected]