Kirkpatrick

Our Guild meets every month from October through to March, and we now have a flexibility of dates for meetings to suit both our members and proposed meeting content. The Church of Scotland Guild is a movement within the Church of Scotland which invites and encourages both women and men to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and enables them to express their faith in worship, prayer and action. Membership is open to all who accept the Aim. Our motto is "Whose we are and Whom we serve" a scriptural quotation from Acts:27 verse 23.The Church of Scotland Guild has it's own website www.cos-guild.org.uk where information regarding current programme and projects may be found

Kirkpatrick Durham Guild at Alma House, Dalbeattie

On Sunday 6 June members spent an enjoyable afternoon leading worship at Alma House. The theme was Summer Colours, with Dee Cusack introducing the group and offering prayers. Sheila Bishop spoke about the many colours of the flowers in the garden and the abundant growth which takes place at this time of year. Each resident was given a colourful pot plant to brighten their room. Jackie Horner played the hymns for the occasion, which were sung and enlivened by percussion instruments kindly loaned from Springholm School , and played with gusto by all present.

Church Birthday Tea Party

On Monday 24 May the Kirkpatrick Durham Guild spent a pleasant afternoon in the church hall enjoying tea in celebration of the 80th birthday of Jackie Horner of Springholm. Surprise guests included past members who provided much about which to reminisce. After Jackie had cut her cake, Jan Wishart read out this poem of appreciation to her :

JACKIE

Mention Jackie Horner and most folk, you'd doubtless find,

Would say she's aye hard-working, with community in mind.

She keeps the village tidy in all weathers, all year round,

Seeking out the litter, focussed firmly on the ground.

Community Council, Church and Guild, the Women's Rural too,

Springholm Senior Citizen's Club, to all she's ever true.

Plus poppy time (Remembrance Week) and "Action Christian Aid",

With ever giving time and verve her part she's more than played.

But that's not all, if you should need a poster, she'll supply

And distribute to all those parts for catching of the eye!

Yet still there's more, with time at home for craft and stitchwork days,

Replenishing that grand wee stall for further fundraise ways!

So could there possibly be more? "Indeed there is!" we say.

For if you need an organist, our Jackie here will play.

It's eighty years we now salute with high raised glass of "Cheers!"

To thank this lady from the heart, for her many giving years.

Yes, "Eighty years a' going strong" all hats are doffed today.

"Godspeed, good health and joys anew along your future way!"

On Thursday 24 June, Muriel Edgar, Marjory Riddick and Jackie Horner from Kirkpatrick Durham Guild joined Guildswomen from the Presbytery to visit the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh . At the front of the building all bags have to pass through a security conveyer belt before you enter the Main Hall, the first and largest public area. We were impressed by the use of natural Scottish materials in its building, and by the Saltire crosses carved into the ceiling. Here we saw the sculpture "Honours of Scotland" which Her Majesty the Queen presented to

Scotland

at the opening of the Parliament in 2004.

The Parliament Garden is in the centre of the building complex and is in traditional style with knot garden, box hedging, lavender and other plants. The Garden Lobby, next to the Parliament Garden , links all the buildings on the site. It is often used for television interviews, particularly on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the main business days.

We were shown into the Debating Chamber whilst First Minister's Question Time was taking place and witnessed well known Members of Parliament in action, including Alex Salmond (First Minister), Nicola Sturgeon (Deputy First Minister), Alex Fergusson (Presiding Officer) and Annabel Goldie and Tavish Scott. When the debate ended at 12:30 pm Alex Fergusson showed us round the chamber and told us about the recording systems used in all debates. He joined us in one of the committee rooms where we enjoyed a light buffet lunch literally "on the house" and was pleased to answer any questions.

Queensbury House, in traditional style with pantile roof, is a complete contrast to the very modern parliament. It was built in 1670 and has had several uses since that time. In 2000 it underwent necessary major structural repair work. It now houses office accommodation for the Presiding Officer and other staff. There are views of Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat and the nameplate "The Royal Mile" can be seen on entering and leaving the building.

On Saturday evening, February 5^th, Kirkpatrick Durham Guild hosted another Family Ceilidh in the village community hall. ‘Spectrum’, a ceilidh band from the Churches Together partnership in Annan, paid a welcome return visit to the village, and Mary Burney, our session clerk cum country dance “suprendo” very ably provided all the necessary instruction and guidance for the dances. It was so lovely to see even the smallest of children so cheerily concentrating on “getting it right”! Dances were interspersed with items of entertainment. Firstly, we were introduced to singers Marina Miller and her daughter Ailsa, from Southwick. Their lovely selection of songs, a mixture of traditional and modern, proved a delightful blend of contrast and compliment to the very ably delivered items of recitation and verse of younger members of ‘Spectrum’.

An interval supper comprised a delicious savoury and sweet buffet and this was followed by an equally bountiful raffle.

As the evening drew to it’s conclusion, Sheila Bishop led a vote of thanks, both to the superb entertainers and to all those who had supported the event in so many different contributory ways. The work of the Guild locally, including its support of the 6 current national Guild projects has benefited to a total of over £200.

Equally importantly, those present had enjoyed another very heart-warming evening of uplifting community fellowship.

The theme for this session was the second in the three year series and was entitled ‘Called to Love Mercy.

Our Minister Sally Marsh was our first speaker and concentrated our thoughts by giving derivations of the word Mercy. She also told us about the groups visit to the Holy Land .

Once again the Guild held a Harvest Supper in the village hall which was a financial success as well as a time for fellowship in the local community.

In November one of our members Joan McAndrew along with one of her colleagues explained to us the intricacies of fostering children. They explained that they kept in constant contact with the fosterers and the children being fostered. As Joan said at the close of their talk that their mobiles were never switched off.

As usual we held a advent and carols service in the church. Although it was a very cold night we had a reasonable turn out of friends and other Guild members from Kirkpatrick Durham.

At our January meeting Liz Dougan, a defence lawyer and member of our church talked about Mercy in Law. She encouraged us to discuss the various aspects of the subject which led to us having a very lively discussion indeed. I am happy to say that Liz survived having to run the gauntlet as it were, and to defend her calling as a defence lawyer

In February once again a member courageously faced her fellow members and spoke of nursing with mercy. She outlined the lives of many nurses in the past who had faced many hardships as they nursed in far off lands and in wartime. She later also led us in discussion about various aspects of medicine in general.

Tonight we have heard from Christine Fairweather about her work and of the volunteers with the C.A.B. (Citizens Advice Bureau) One of our Guild members is a C.A.B.volunteer, Sue Moorehouse, who also spoke of her experiences in that category