Autumn Tidings from Killearn · PDF fileIrish Blessing. The service was followed by a presentation to Lee with Carole Young, Session Clerk, speaking about Lee’s ministry in Killearn

Autumn Tidings from

Killearn Kirk

November 2017 Volume 20 Issue 2

On Sunday, 27th August, the congregation gathered to mark the retiral of Rev Lee Messeder. Lee led us in worship for his last service in Killearn with many of his favourite hymns. An introit was played by Helen Barclay, organist and Paul Boutcher on trumpet. Lee’s last message to us all was the ‘Love of God’ and ‘Love for One Another’ from Acts 4:32-35 and Corinthians 5: 11 - 6: 2 reminding us that Christ’s Love is what the Christian Church is about. The service closed with the choir singing the Irish Blessing. The service was followed by a presentation to Lee with Carole Young, Session Clerk, speaking about Lee’s ministry in Killearn over the past seven years, using the definition of plants and flowers to explain his life and work. Lee received gifts of plants, a framed photograph of Killearn and a cheque. Evelyn was presented with a bouquet of flowers. Carole then extended the sincere appreciation and thanks of the members of the congregating and parish for his time here in Killearn. Lee thanked the congregation for their generosity and best wishes and he said he felt overwhelmed by the love and kindness received by everyone during his time in Killearn. A light buffet lunch was provided in the Kirk Halls with over 100 people attending, giving everyone the opportunity to chat to Lee and his family and to wish them every good blessing for the future. God's calling brought Lee to Killearn where he has inspired us with his preaching and encouraged us to think more deeply about how we live and apply the teaching of the written Word in our daily lives. He initiated prayer breakfast-get-togethers and reading / book groups enabling members of the church and community to come together for fellowship, and he has supported the different activities and work that Kirk Session members and the congregation have been part of within the community. Lee's pastoral care has been exceptional and many parishioners, and beyond, have expressed their appreciation of the calm, comforting and caring way he has supported and encouraged them, especially during times of illness and bereavement. Lee's calmness and gentle humour have helped in preparing many bride and groom couples for their happy occasions in coming to be married. Young parents too, have expressed their appreciation, of his calm manner when bringing a child forward for baptism, which has helped everyone to be relaxed and not-overawed by the occasion. Retirement is not an easy transition, especially when this has been brought forward sooner than he or anyone else expected. We pray that as he moves forward to this next stage of his life, he will know God's blessing and direction for the new beginning, and experience improved health. Having received plants, seeds and gardening books as part of his gifts we hope that Lee will find some relaxation and enjoyment in his gardening as he settles into his new home and the next stage of his life.

Revd. Lee Messeder retires as Minister of Killearn Kirk

Dates for your diary

9th Nov Killearn Kirk Messy Play. 9.30-11.15am in Kirk Halls. For children 0 – 5 years with their parents/carers11 Nov Killearn Kirk Jumble Sale Kirk Halls 10-12noon. Entry £1. Donations can be brought to the halls on 10 Nov 6–8pm.12 Nov Service of Remembrance at 10.45am at War Memorial followed by a service of remembrance in the church.23 Nov Messy Play in Kirk Halls from 9.30am – 11.15am3 Dec Communion service at 10.30am. 10 Dec Nativity Family and Gift Service with Kirk Kids14 Dec Messy Play at 9.30am in Kirk Halls17 Dec Service of Lessons & Carols24 Dec Christmas Eve Service. Carol singing from 11.15 followed by the watchnight service25 Dec Christmas Day Service at 10am. Children can bring along their favourite present.31 Dec Church Service 10.30am

Page 2 Autumn Tidings from Killearn Kirk

BaptismsMegan MacCollMurray DanielsRory DanielsArchie HendersonOlivia and Lily ChalmersAlice Leeman

WeddingsWilliam Hack and Caroline OrganWilliam West and Kirsty McNairTyson Bruner and Lauren PrydeJonny Letham and Sally BryceChristopher Sharp and Theodora BurrowsKyle Bednarski and Katy FrewDan Pringle and Bethany WithersTom Morrison and Katherine Allan

We are saddened to report the passing of the following, who were members of Killearn Kirk or whose funeral/memorial service was taken by our minister. Obituaries can be found in the Killearn Courier: www.kcfc.co.uk/courier.html.Alison RobinsonSir Arnold ClarkDonald BeatonKenneth BarrettGeorge McQuarrieRonald ChristiePatricia Knights

Killearn Kirk is a Charity Registered in Scotland No SC012140Killearn Kirk Tidings is edited by:

Scott Macintosh (tel 550794) - [email protected] printed by The Macintosh Partnership

Visit us online at www.killearnkirk.org.uk or visit our Facebook page:www.facebook.com/pages/Killearn-Kirk/116334885136784

Killearn Kirk People Session Clerk Carole Young Killearn Home Farm 550994 [email protected] Bob Ballantyne Kilmorie Cottage 550310 Roll Keeper & Safeguarding Co-ordinator Kirsty Smith 26 New Endrick Road 550654Hall bookings Sue Beck 550485

Sunday, 12 November 2017, Killearn Village will fall silent at 11am as we remember those who fought for us during World War I and World War II and all the other wars that continue to this day. Serving personnel, ex-Service men and women and their families, make, and have made, incredible sacrifices to meet the demands of being part of the British Armed Forces. The community of Killearn will be attending a Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial commencing at 10.45am. Rev David Munro will lead this Service which will then be followed by a service in the church.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Lt Col John McCrae

Personalia

Transport to ChurchYou may not be aware that Killearn Kirk will organise transport for anyone unable to make their own way to Church. If this would be of help to you, please contact Bob Ballantyne at 550310 or the Fellowship Committee members: Teresa, Jenifer, Alison Robinson, Hilary or Margaret Harrison.

On behalf of the leprosy mission, Jim Fallas would like to express my sincere thanks for all the used stamps, post cards, and foreign coins which have been donated - four carrier bags full. Keep 'em coming. Research into and treatment of this terrible affliction is gaining ground thanks to your efforts.

Autumn Tidings from Killearn Kirk Page 3

Letter from our Interim ModeratorThe Rev’s rant – Watch out !

My grandfather, (also a Rev Andrew Campbell), grew up round about this area and went to school in Balfron in the 1880s. His father was a weaver there and a man who valued education and so sent his son off to Glasgow University, after which Andrew became a Church of Scotland parish minister. When the First World War broke out, he, like many others, volunteered for the forces as a Chaplain and went off to France for much of the next four years. During that time he carried and used his silver pocket watch, which had been given to him on his twenty-first birthday by his family. It served him well throughout the rest of his life, and when he died in 1937, it was passed down to my Dad; (a wristwatch man), who put the pocket-watch safely in a drawer, in it’s original box, for the next fifty years; unseen, unused, untouched, but ‘safe’! When Dad died in the 1980s, the watch then came to me, and so I put it in my drawer! Then, years later I took it to a watch-maker who cleaned it, wound it and returned to me a perfectly serviceable watch which I enjoy using these days. I attached to it a silver chain that my wife gave to me – (that seemed appropriate) – and then added, to the other end of the chain, a slim, silver Millennium ingot, given as a gift from friends. It’s something once again valued and used after the years of neglect.

Y’know Christian faith can be a bit like Grandad’s watch. Something that is valued and useful in earlier years, but then either taken for granted or damaged by the harder knocks of life, put away and all but forgotten. If you want, though, you can go back to the Maker, have it restored (it’s usually less work than you think!), and begin using it again; to your own and others benefit, re-discovering true value. If you don’t believe me, come and have a conversation to find out more - either about the watch or your Christian faith.

Yours aye, Andy – your Interim Moderator. Tel. 07523420079 Email [email protected]

Holy Communion Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is open to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and have made a public confession of faith. It is a sacrament in which the Church remembers the death of Christ by eating bread and drinking wine, symbolising the body and blood of Christ. The bread and wine are also known as the “elements”.

At Killearn Kirk we celebrate Communion as part of the morning service on the first Sunday of each month. The elements are served to the congregation as they sit in their pews, with the bread and the cup being handed from neighbour to neighbour.

On the first Sunday of June and December, during the morning service, there is a slightly more formal celebration of Communion, where white cloths are laid on the communion table to symbolise the whole congregation sitting at one common table.Killearn Kirk warmly invite Christians of all traditions to join us in celebrating Communion. However, if for any reason you do not wish to receive either the bread or the wine, you are welcome simply to pass them to your neighbour.

Pastoral CareTraditionally parish visiting was the prerogative of the minister but as times change it is becoming more important that we have teams of pastoral visitors to assist in this role. The members of these teams recognise the importance of this ministry and are asked to serve in this role after being recruited, PVG checked, trained and supported. Pastoral Care is a vital dimension of the life of any Christian and is integral to the Church’s mission and purpose. The pastoral care team in Killearn supports the congregation and parish during times of need, illness and bereavements and at happy family occasions. At critical times in our lives such as illness or traumas it can be helpful to have someone else to speak to. Family and friends are often a very important support but sometimes the presence of a person who is more emotionally detached can be very helpful. The pastoral team member can be that listening ear. The pastoral care team in Killearn are Carole, Teresa, Doreen and Richard. If you would like a visit from any members of the team, or would like a visit from a minister, then please contact Carole on 550994 or email [email protected]

The injunction of Jesus to care is clear. ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ That is Christ’s command. Compassion, care and love are fundamental to the way we are as Christians and the expression of our commitment to our Lord.


Where are we at? …What’s happening? …Who’s in charge? …When do we get a new minister? …Why the wait?

On Sunday 22nd October we elected the nominating committee who have the task of seeking out the new minister for Killearn Kirk. It’s a good team that represent well the views and interests of the congregation, as well as being a good mix of age and gender. They will over the next few weeks, firstly create a parish profile that describes accurately our parish and the hopes of the congregation for ministers to read about us.

They’ll also be contacting ministers either by letter or through advertisements to let them know we are looking for a new minister, and then go and actually hear them conducting worship and having conversations with them; so you might notice few absences on Sundays. When they find the right person for the job here, they’ll inform the Kirk Session, (who are always in charge of where we are going!), that we have a ‘sole nominee’, and we’ll bring that person to Killearn for you to meet, so that you can either agree or otherwise that God is calling them to Killearn Kirk to be your parish minister. Meantime leave the nominating committee to get on with their task in peace! You will help them most by praying for them and keeping the kirk witnessing, working and worshipping.

How long will all this take? We don’t know an exact timeframe. Logie Kirk did it in eight months, Callander has taken three years, but are now looking at a new minister early 2018. Better to get the right person, than the wrong person quickly!

Meantime, we are grateful for the services of Rev David Munro during the months of October and November. Folk from the village who have been in hospital have been visited. All the services of worship are arranged up until the end of the year, with members of our session conducting worship on Christmas Eve (night) and Christmas morning . Rev Alan (Dusty) Dunnet will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion with you on Advent Sunday (December 3rd) and also lead worship on Christmas Eve morning (24th Dec) and on 31st December. Presbytery have completed their tasks for the moment and will tell us very soon who the new Interim Moderator will be as of 1st December. Our life as a congregation goes on and some of the fears and worries that we had of disruption, are now quelled.

Having acted as Interim Moderator at Killearn for the second time in just over a year, I know that you are a faithful congregation of Christian people who strive to serve God, and make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I would urge you to continue to worship together regularly. Pray, work and witness for the good of the congregation and support the Kirk Session and Nominating Committee as they forge forward. They won’t always be able to tell you exactly what is happening to find your new minister …nor should you ask(!)….focus instead on making this congregation the best it can be, and ready to engage with your new minister when s/he is identified and inducted.

Thank you for allowing me to work with you both in the summer of 2016 and more recently. I’ve enjoyed the experience and recognise what a diligent, enthusiastic, wise Session Clerk you have, a competent treasurer and a faithful, capable property convener. You are fortunate indeed: - value them!

Over the past few months Killearn Kirk Session have had many meetings with the Presbytery of Stirling to discuss the way forward. One of the discussions that we have had is that there is going to be a shortage of ministers in the near future and with this in mind, Killearn Kirk have accepted a five-year reviewable ministry to enable Stirling Presbytery to have a window to work out the best way forward for the parishes of the future. The nominating committee will create a parish profile, outlining the nature of Killearn parish, it’s church and congregation and the hopes of the future. The committee will advertise, meet and interview prospective candidates and make the choice of a sole nominee who will be recommended to the congregation. The proposed candidate will then come and conduct public worship and the congregation will then vote and sign the call.

During this process there must be confidentiality. The committee will not be allowed to discuss what is happening and it would be appreciated if they were not asked. We must respect applicant confidentiality. At the meeting the following members/adherents were nominated to the search team/nominating committee: Sue Beck, Paul Boutcher, Irene Davison, Dorothy Dunkinson, Richard Drew, Scott Macintosh, Kay Pollock, Teresa Prescott, Bethany Pringle, Isobel Shaw, Doreen Snadden, Jane Stephenson, Carole Young.

Finding a New Minister


FinanceTeresa Prescott has taken up the role of Assistant Treasurer and handles all transactions bi-monthly which spreads the load and gives us cover in this area. As such she joins our Finance Committee which comprises myself, Peter Rea, Scott Macintosh and Helen Gee. The committee meets to look at costs and income in an effort to balance the books.

Helen looks after Gift Aid tax recovery which allows us to claim back 25% of all donations made by each individual who pays tax and who signs a gift aid form. This is very valuable to registered charities and was worth £ 12,861 to us last year. Please see Helen if you qualify and help us to increase HMRC contributions to the Kirk.Until more of our members contribute financially it will always be a struggle to make ends meet but each year recently there has been unexpected income –a financial miracle- which has been a great help. This year it has come in the form of a legacy from the late Caroline Cuthbert’s trust (by no means the first) and the income from the recent filming at the Kirk.

We continue to support the Church of Scotland Ministry and Mission which provides a powerful ministry locally, nationally and globally. A good example of a national service is CROSSREACH which tackles problems in areas like Substance Abuse, Children & Families, Learning Disabilities and the Elderly employing 2000 people across Scotland.

It is better to give than to receive –in fact the more you give the more you get.

Bob Ballantyne, Treasurer

Facts are chiels that winna ding and downa be disputed…….It’s a weel kent phrase, frae the pen a’ Rabbie Burns …but whit does it aw mean ?

It means that ‘facts are fellows that won’t ever be shaken – and can’t reasonably be argued about,’ and while we recognise truths, we don’t always like them, especially when they either show us up in a bad light or ask us to do things that we really don’t want to.

Many of the challenges that Jesus made to his own communities and disciples were like that, which is why he used parables so effectively and incisively to get people to see truths about themselves in stories like the prodigal son, (Luke 15), the workers in the vineyard (Luke 20), and the great feast (Luke 14). In each of them Jesus makes us face the truth about ourselves, and does so with a touch of humour, to prick our balloon before challenging us to be better.

As we begin the real task, with God, of searching for the new parish minister for Killearn parish; one of the jobs is to create a new ‘parish profile’ for Killearn Kirk which sketches out what our congregation is like, our strengths and weakness, our character, our dreams. It contains information about our church, the community and the people; and it should do so accurately. Accurately enough to receive God’s nod of approval.

I’ve seen and read many a parish profile in my time, and some have made me laugh out loud, as folk blew their own trumpets …. and God blows a raspberry in response! Our parish profile should speak of future hopes rather than past laurels, and tell of the challenges we face and how we hope to meet these. It should indicate the skills our new minister will have to use to take us forward to build God’s Kingdom in this part of Scotland.

However if we are asking some of our folk to create an accurate parish profile, it might be a useful exercise for each of us, as individuals, to build an accurate personal profile, that outlined our spiritual life and how we intended to grow in discipleship, that we would be happy to put before our Saviour for him to read through. One that wouldn’t make Him laugh out loud.

Yours in Christ

Rev Andy CampbellInterim Moderator


Killearn Kirk KidsKirk Kids is alive and kicking this session with a lively bunch of children from 3-10years old (although we will be delighted to have older children join us too). We have a team of 9 teachers and helpers Lynne, Isobel, Agnes, Kirsty, Teresa, Eva, Alison, Shona, and Mhari Jane. There’s a Kirk Kids newsletter available at the front of the Church which gives information for parents including a programme of dates and activities for half the year.

We run a regular programme of Bible Stories and activities in the Church hall organised into small, age-appropriate groups. We use Scripture Union materials (Bubbles, Splash and Xtreme) and the members of our teaching team are vetted under the national child protection system (PVG). This term we are following the Israelites on their travels through the desert and by the time you get this magazine we will already have embarked upon our Christmas series of lessons. As part of our Christmas programme Lynne

has kindly volunteered to prepare the children for a nativity service on the 10th of December and we hope that you all can join us in this extra-special Gift Service. That will be your opportunity to bring along a gift for less fortunate children and lay it under our Christmas tree in the Church. Isobel is also planning a small Christmas party for the children on one of our Sundays in December, although at the moment we are keeping it a secret as to which Sunday, or the excitement might become too unbearable.

Family and Special Services

On other Sundays children are welcome to stay in the main Church service at both the all-age family services and the special services listed on our programme. We recognise that for some children on these days additional activities may be required to keep them fully engaged and so we have provided a variety of materials to keep them occupied. Just collect a bag and select a variety of activities to take with you into the service. These materials can be found just inside the hall (an elder will direct you). All we ask is that you return any materials that can be reused to their original place at the end of the service. Interested in Volunteering

We are always in need of extra teachers and helpers to keep the teaching commitment manageable for our busy group of volunteers so do not hesitate to contact me if you think you would like to join in the fun.

Kirk Kids Secret Prayer Partners

If you would like to become one of our secret prayer partners then please speak to Agnes. We will give you the name of one child who attends Sunday School and ask that you commit to pray for them once a week. James chapter 5 verse 16b Says that ‘ The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective’ and if we belong to Christ Jesus then we are all righteous before God because Jesus by His death and resurrection on the cross has clothed us in righteousness. Our children need our prayers growing up in society today. Not everyone can help in Sunday School but everyone can pray for the children and the staff and we would greatly appreciate it knowing that we have a living God who hears and answers prayer.Agnes Macintosh, Kirk Kids Leader


C Youth Work in Killearn Kirk

Xtreme 8-11’s

Bubbles Under 5’s

Splash 5-8’s


Killearn Kirk Messy Play

Killearn Kirk Messy Play is for newborns to school age children (age 0 - 5), not forgetting the parents, grandparents and carers. We are very fortunate to have Debbie Lyon as our playleader organising lots of messy activities for the children to play with as well as a quieter play area for the children who are not so keen on getting messy. We start off our morning singing some songs and hearing a short story before the messy part begins. A healthy snack and a drink is provided for the kids and a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit for the adults. Debbie has a huge variety of activities, so no one ever gets bored, such as painting, playing with bubbles, playdough, and lots more. Other volunteers are on hand to assist as well and all have completed PVG checks.

Messy Play meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 9.30am to 11.15am during school term. Pop in and join in the fun! We are always welcoming new faces, so please come along and join us.


GiYouth Work in Killearn KirkChristmas Word Search

T H S U A L C A T N A S E P W

H B S T N E M A N R O I G R I

T G E S R E I N D E E R A E N

F T G N I V I G S N E P L S T

I L I N B R G C H N P R I E E

F S Y T B L E S N I T E M N R

Y A A S O W S B N D I T N T S

T G D L N R E G M Y O A F S G

N A I L S E P L T E I R M S N

E Y L I M A F E I K C B S T I

W B O I P T N G C R R E O H K

T S H E B H Y S S U O L D G C

C H R I S T M A S T R E E I O

N G W H I T E C H R I C S L T

T M A S D E C O R A T I O N S

CELEBRATE REINDEER

CHRISTMAS TREE RIBBONS

DECEMBER SANTA CLAUS

DECORATIONS STOCKINGS

FAMILY TINSEL

GIVING TURKEY DINNER

HOLIDAY TWENTY-FIFTH

LIGHTS WINTER

ORNAMENTS WRAPPING PAPER

PRESENTS WREATH

Christmas Word Search
















CELEBRATE REINDEER




FAMILY TINSEL



LIGHTS WINTER


PRESENTS WREATH

Christmas Word Search
















CELEBRATE REINDEER




FAMILY TINSEL



LIGHTS WINTER


PRESENTS WREATH


DRYMEN DENTISTS RECOUNT MALAWI EXPERIENCESKILLEARN MALAWI GROUP (KMG) AGM

Margaret Colvin and Jill Armstrong were among a group of dental practitioners from Drymen who in September donated their skills to the people of Malawi. The Killearn Malawi Group and its Friends were very fortunate to hear about their experiences as a prelude to the AGM in Killearn Kirk Hall on 5th October. It was fascinating to hear about their adventures, and to see their photographs, which really brought to life the beautiful country and its friendly people. It was astonishing the number of teeth which were extracted - over 1000- which really alleviated a lot of pain. The dentistry practised can only be very basic because of the lack of facilities; we all winced when we heard about the dentist who used a hammer and chisel, very effectively apparently! There are no dentists in the north of Malawi, but even the Dental Therapists are few and far between. The Drymen group was based in the historic Scottish mission site at Livingstonia, but some of the communities along the shore of Lake Malawi could only be accessed by boat. The group, who were self-funding, were organised by the charity Smielawi, set up by two dentists from Dunoon. Their website is at : www.smileawi.com . Even now, arrangements are being made to send out 9 dentists' chairs to Malawi, packed with knitwear from Killearn!

The AGM gives an opportunity for the Friends to hear about the work of the Group over the year 2016-17. Ken Allen, now Chairperson, first paid tribute to the work of Jenifer Barrett, who established the group and worked tirelessly to advance its work. We are all very grateful that she continues to be active on the Committee. Ken mentioned the fundraising, particularly the Jumble Sale, which was very successful. The Group now has a website: www.killearnmalawigroup.org . KMG supported a number of projects, both in the North and in the South, which can be seen on the website. Sue Beck reported on the accounts, which were accepted by the meeting. The Committee of nine was re-elected: Ken Allen, Sue Beck, Jenifer Barrett, Shona Kelday, Helen Mailer, Hilary McGregor, Doreen Snadden, John Shaw and Jenny Wilds, with Eva Mailer our Junior Member.

The Meeting was also pleased to hear from John Challis, of the Raven Trust, who had travelled down from Strachur in Argyll to talk to us about the future of the Trust, which has worked very closely with KMG over the years. John brought copies of a new book on the work of the Trust, and invited us to a celebration of the Trust's work, at Strachur on October 21st. A group from KMG, including Ken Allen and Jenifer Barrett, subsequently attended the celebratory service, at which Ken was asked to speak of our common aims and of the genesis of both groups in a sense of Christian mission.

Ken was also able to give our meeting an update on recent developments of the KMG. There were recent photographs of more desks and chairs being delivered to Nkhande Secondary School, and of money for Killearn-Regson Scholarships being handed over to the Headteacher. Refreshments were served, and this gave an opportunity for the Friends present to talk to the committee and to our guests.

The next event for the Killearn Malawi Group is our legendary Jumble Sale, on Saturday 24th February, 2018 in the Kirk Hall. Start clearing out your cupboards now!! We would be delighted to welcome new Friends to the Killearn Malawi Group. It costs nothing but your interest, and you'll receive regular Newsletters updating you about our work, and invitations to events. Contact us on : [email protected]

KMG - small works with a BIG IMPACT

Malawi Update

JUMBLE SALE KILLEARN KIRK HALL

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER 10am-12noon Entry £1

Donations of “Goodies” gratefully received Fri 10 Nov 5.30-8.30pm Christmas Stocking Fillers, Household Items, Clothes, Handbags, Jewellery, Toys, Books, DVDs, CDs,

Garden and Sport Equipment, Bric-a-Brac, Miscellaneous Items (No ELECTRICS or FURNITURE please)

More info contact : Anne 550605 Katy 449358 Lynne 440507 Doreen 550834

KILLEARN KIRK Registered Charity SCO 12140


The GuildAfter another summer of mixed weather Autumn is well and truly upon us. By the time you read this The Guild will have started its programme for this session. We welcome back our members and look forward to welcoming new members. For some years men have been able to join The Guild and some Guilds have been successful in attracting a scattering of men. Come on gentlemen of Killearn, help our Guild to move into the 21st century. Our meetings are open to all so please come along if you see something of interest or if you want to “try” us out.

The Guild’s theme for 2017 is Go in Love and we can guarantee you a warm, friendly welcome, interesting talks and a cup of tea and fellowship to end with. Our meetings are mostly held on a Tuesday evening at 1930hrs in the Church Hall. Anyone living within the village requiring help with transport can be accommodated.

The meetings until the end of December are as follows.Oct 3rd at 1930 Glasgow Street Songs from Katrina followed by a light supper.Oct 17th at 1930 Talk on our first chosen project for this session – All Friends Together.Nov 7th at 1930 Open meeting for visiting Guilds. Talk Call the midwives Glasgow Style. Bring and Buy Sale.Nov 21st 1930 Bethany Trust talkDec 5th 1930 Bits and Pieces with Jean Woodburn.Dec 14th (Thursday) joint meeting with The Thursday Club at 1400hrs for Christmas Lunch followed by Christmas cheer organized by Anne McKay.

Important date for your diaries: Christmas Coffee Morning 10 to 12am Saturday 2nd December.We will supply freshly brewed coffee and limitless home made cakes.

Any queries please get in touch - Doreen Snadden 550834 or [email protected]

Sir Arnold ClarkThe name Arnold Clark is seen throughout Scotland and further afield but we in Killearn Kirk knew him as an individual. You only had to speak to him to realise how much he loved this Village. His interest in and willingness to support local projects was well known.

Perhaps most of all he was proud to be an Elder in the Kirk and from 1980 onwards he served on various committees particularly dealing with finance and property. Although I knew him before I came to Killearn in 1996 I was delighted to meet him, most Sunday mornings, walking his retrievers, before heading for Church which he attended regularly, being a man of great faith.

I later became his Elder and had the privilege of visiting him at home. The time he devoted to developing his business, even at weekends, was legendary but his love for his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was very evident. Sunday dinners for all the family were traditional affairs over which, I am told, Sir Arnold not only presided but assisted with the preparation. Lady Clark and Sir Arnold were genial hosts and I shall miss my visits to their home.

John Smith

Kirk Coffee and Fellowship'When I needed a neighbour, were you there?' During our seven week journey of Lent the monies received from the teas, a total of £90.75, were donated to Christian Aid. This time of continued fellowship give us opportunity to be with one another to better get to know our church family whilst enjoying a cuppa with a biscuit or occasionally baking if a volunteer has been able to do so or there has been some left over from the Guild sale. We would encourage more who attend the Sunday service to join us for this continued fellowship. Thank you for supporting the campaign with us and also to our volunteers who produce the tea and coffee and biscuits each week. If anyone would be interested in becoming a volunteer, which involves setting up, making and serving the teas and coffee and clearing away only 3 or 4 times a year, please contact Sue Beck.


Killearn Kirk PropertyThe Kirk buildings were seen in a different light in October when the filming was taking place using both the inside and outside of the Kirk for Grandpa’s Great Escape.

The Property Committee and a few willing volunteers continue to look after the buildings in a diligent manner. We do look at each job and assess whether it is within our ability to complete or do we seek appropriate tradesmen to do the work. In many cases we do require the external expertise. We made the internal areas of the clock tower safe from the intrusion of rooks and jackdaws earlier in the year using a steeplejack firm and an external inspection by them showed that there was some stonework requiring work in order to make the pinnacles safe which was done. All the urgent quinquennial work in the Kirk buildings mentioned in previous magazine issues has been completed.

The Manse is, at present, empty whilst we are without a minister and we will be letting it out until we have a new minister. We have had to upgrade a few safety features to meet current legislation and also other minor works to ensure the manse is safe for letting and for our next minister.

We need to remember that the Kirk building does not make up the Church in Killearn. It is the home of the church family where we can flourish. We know a house is not the family but the home is needed for all the important ingredients of family life to happen. Eating, playing, loving, laughing, arguing, learning, resting, and relating all need a safe space to happen within. Now you don’t have to own your own home, but it helps. Church is the same. There is a lot of family stuff that we need to get up to and that has to happen somewhere. It’s easier to have our own place where we can grow together and within the community.

Sue Beck

A big thank you to all who donated gifts of tins and non-perishable foods at our Harvest Thanksgiving Service. Glasgow City Mission have distributed to those in need. We were also able to send a large number of hygiene items. Grateful thanks have been extended from all who have received these gifts. Flowers were distributed to parishioners in the village and vegetables were given to Abbeyfield House.

Harvest Thanksgiving Service

Shoe Box AppealKillearn Kirk are once again taking part in the Christmas Blyswood Care Shoe Box Appeal. If you would like to contribute or put together a box then here is a list of the items that you could include; shampoo, comb, deodorant, clothes, make up, stationery, sewing equipment, book, toy. Please make the box appropriate to an age group. E.g. elderly woman, woman, teenager girl/boy, child (age) ,etc and mark on the box. We will be delivering the boxes on 19th November to the collection station in Drymen.

If you wish to contribute, then please pick up a leaflet available in the church / church hall, where you can also leave a completed box or items to be added to a box. Thanks, in advance, to all who contribute to this good cause.


Upate from INF in NepalIn the Himalayas, physical remoteness, poor soils, and old traditions can represent barriers to progress for local communities. In this essay, Alastair Seaman ([email protected]) of the International Nepal Fellowship discusses his organisation’s work in the region, and the approach it adopts as it works with locals to improve living standards and opportunities. According to the 2016 Nepal Population Report, life expectancy here is 59. One in 12 children will die before they reach the age of five. The challenges of living here are huge. Poor soils and steep slopes mean that there is never enough food to go round. Most men migrate to India for six months each year to find casual work so that they can buy enough food for their families to survive. Local belief systems are highly fatalistic, stunting vision and any sense of agency, while strong caste divisions limit the community’s ability to act effectively together. We’re a long way from anywhere. Its 10 hours walk and 22 hours painfully slow driving on treacherous roads to get to the nearest regional centre. You could get from Edinburgh to New York, and back, quicker. There are no quick fixes – but there is hope.

My colleagues have been living and working alongside these people for the last three years using an approach that we have honed over 20 years of working in similar communities. At the heart of this approach is an emphasis on building strong personal relationships. My colleagues don’t visit this village from time to time: they have made their home here. Paralleling our Christian theology of incarnation – literally “becoming flesh and bone” – we believe that you can only catalyse real change when you become a part of a community. Or as the business magnate and philanthropist Warren Buffet would say: ‘when you have skin in the game’. We don’t come with a pre-formed view of what the community’s problems are – or of how to solve them. Instead we come as learners. We seek to build relationship and earn trust. Through gentle questioning, we catalyse conversations that draw out the main issues and help villagers to disentangle the complex web of symptoms and causes of poverty. As trust builds, we support villagers to develop their own plans that focus on harnessing local assets and advocating for better services from government. It’s a painfully slow and undramatic process. Donors scratch their heads and wonder why it takes years of talking and drinking tea before we can ‘crack on’ with implementing something a bit more tangible. But we are building crucial foundations here: breaking down fatalism and deep caste divisions; kindling visions of hope and change; teaching skills in community planning and action; and building a sense of self-confidence. On these foundations, radical and sustainable change becomes a real possibility.

Life here is changing rapidly. When I first came to Nepal 15 years ago, this area was in grip of a Maoist insurgency that forced its most energetic young men to leave. Now there’s peace, the road network is steadily extending and micro-hydro schemes and solar panels mean that some villages have more reliable electricity than the capital. Fifteen years ago there was one phone in the district centre. Today, many villagers have mobile phones and the better-off have internet access and keep in touch with friends around the world on Facebook. The first local elections in 20 years were held this year, significantly improving the accountability of local government. There are growing business opportunities in eco-tourism and growing high quality fruit and vegetables to sell to the growing middle-class in India. Article and Photographs © International Nepal Fellowship

Christmas in CaliforniaSunnyvale is a city in northern California approximately forty miles south of San Francisco. It’s name reflects its wonderful climate.

The website of Sunnyvale’s Presbyterian Church declares them to be a warm and hospitable community of people, just like us, trying to figure out how to live the full and flourishing life God has created for us. They further describe themselves as an increasingly diverse community where you can expect to find people who are not sure what they believe to many who have a deep and abiding faith. Every Sunday they have three worship services:7.50am a contemplative service including communion.10am is the traditional service featuring time honoured hymns and yes I knew most of them.5pm is described as the casual contempory service.Children are welcome at all services.

Church school (Sunday School) for infants, children and youths is held at the same time as the 10am and 5pm services. As in Killearn the children seem to have lots of fun while learning Biblical history and stories.Every month they hold a family worship service where children remain for the entire service. This gives children the opportunity to practice the worship skills they have learned in Church school and it allows the entire congregation to worship together. They firmly believe the research which states that the capacity of a child’s faith to “stick” in later life is tied to their involvement in worship and their intergenerational connections to the Church.

My first visit to this Church was made on the Sunday before Christmas, my jet lag having evaporated. I chose to attend the traditional service. Having arrived early I was hesitating outside when I was approached by an elderly lady. She introduced herself with a lovely smile and quickly determined that I was a visitor and it seemed to be a bonus that I was from Scotland! I quickly found myself propelled into the Church, introduced to many other smiling friendly faces and shown to a seat in the middle of the Church. The Church is a modern, large building, dwarfing Killearn Kirk, situated in the centre of the city catering to a diverse community. Sunnyvale is in Silicone Valley and is home to many large international companies such as Google and Amazon. The congregation reflects this, almost every nationality seemed to have a representative present.

The Church is colourful, the pastors, both female, wore colourful robes. The choir too made a lovely splash of colour in their matching red and white surplices – all forty of them with at least half being men. The sound they produce was music to the ears. It was pleasingly full on all my visits. The congregation had a healthy number of young families but similar to Killearn had a predominance of people in their third age.

My intention during my visit had been to visit different Churches. Sunnyvale reflects its inhabitants and caters for many different religions. However following that first service I was escorted to the coffee room and found myself surrounded by quite a crowd. It’s fair to say my Christian credentials were of no great interest to them but my accent seemed to intrigue them immensely. Their friendliness ensured that I attended their Church for the remainder of my stay and everytime over coffee people approached me with the same request – please speak we just love your Scottish accent!

One service is particularly memorable. This was a family service at 7pm on Christmas Eve. My twin grandchildren accompanied me, their excitement about the prospects of Christmas morning mounting by the second.On arrival we were all provided with a candle in a flimsy candle holder. We learned they would be lit during the service. Finlay found this an exciting prospect but I was filled with a degree of apprehension, since I had learned that the person at the end of the pew would have his candle lit and then one by one down the length of the pew we would light one candle from the preceding one. Obviously health and safety had not been consulted. I sat between the twins and gave them a brief lecture on the dangers of fire or getting burned. Needless to say my warnings fell on deaf ears. Finlay could barely wait for the magical moment of lighting his candle. I said a quiet prayer.When the time came to light the candles the Church was plunged into total darkness, the organ played quietly and one by one the candles were lit. No mishap occurred. It was very moving and charged with unforgettable emotion as gradually bit by bit the Church was illuminated with several hundred flickering candles.

Following this service we all collected in the car park surrounding a couple of fire pits which were burning furiously, enjoying hot chocolate and marshmallows and looking at the dark sky full of twinkling stars.

Despite the apparent turmoil in the USA at present, from my experience of a very small part I found God’s Church alive and very healthy.Doreen Snadden

Documents

Autumn Tidings from Killearn · PDF fileIrish Blessing. The service was followed by a presentation to Lee with Carole Young, Session Clerk, speaking about Lee’s ministry in Killearn