Church of Scotland Guild Newsletter | February 2017

The Guild is a component element of the Church of Scotland • Scottish Charity Number SC011353 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 1 WELCOME! WELCOME! I can hardly believe that it's 6 months since I joined the team at The Guild. Thank you to everyone who has helped make me feel so at home. During the past 6 months I have had the Church of Scotland Guild opportunity to meet Guild members from all 121 George Street, EH2 4YN over Scotland and I have been heartened by 0131 240 2217 their strength of purpose and commitment to CONTENTS [email protected] each other and to The Guild family. www.cos-guild.org.uk FROM THE NATIONAL One of the most memorable moments for CONVENER & me was at the Big Sing in Greenock, the hairs GENERAL SECRETARY 4 on the back of my neck literally stood on end Gui(l)d News is a publication by the Church of Scotland Guild, when 1000 people began to sing ‘Praise my a component element of the Church of Scotland, CONVENERS Soul the King of Heaven’ and I knew then I was ELECT 5 Scottish Charity No. SC011353 part of something very special.

Front cover photograph: Chris Hoskins We are now more than half way through our 3 NEWS FROM year Project Partner cycle. The Guild is at the GUILDS 6-13 forefront of highlighting difficult but important issues and of course raising much needed funds PROJECTS UPDATES 14-17 Join in the conversation online! to make these projects possible. In this edition there are updates from each project which we facebook.com/cofsguildguild hope you find inspiring and encouraging. COUNCILS & COMMITTEES 18-20 We also hope you enjoy all the articles @cofsguildguild and photos from you, our members, which ANNUAL GATHERING encapsulate just a little of what The Guild is up & BIG SING GREENOCK 21-22 @cofsguildguild to across Scotland. Thank you for sharing them and we hope you are all encouraged that The Guild remains BOLD and STRONG as we go DATES FOR forward in 2017. YOUR DIARY 23

Karen Karen Gillon Gui(l)d News Editor

GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 2 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 3 Dear Friends At the General Assembly in May, the new National Convener and Vice-Convener Since writing in the last magazine in September, life has been very busy in Guild world! Here will be appointed for 2017-18. We are delighted to introduce both to you now! are a few of my highlights …. I have visited the northern most Presbyterial Councils in Shetland and Orkney and one of NATIONAL CONVENER ELECT the most southerly Guilds at Crown Court Church in London! The furthest west I have travelled is Oban and the furthest east Newbattle, with various places in between. Thank Marge Paterson, Ayr Presbyterial Council you all for your wonderful welcome and for the inspirational work you do. Marge lived overseas for many years and was involved in During Guild Week, I was delighted to present the Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr churches of many different denominations, joining the Guild with his individual member’s certificate, but the highlight of the week was the Big Sing in in 1991 while living in Pittenweem, Fife. She then moved to Greenock where 1,000 voices from Guilds across Scotland sang with great??????? joy. Cumnock and is a member of both Old Cumnock Old Guild National Convener and Lugar Guild. She has served on Ayr Presbyterial Council One cold night in November, I went out for a half shift with the Street Pastors in Perth. since 1996, as Secretary, Convener and National Committee What an eye-opening experience that was – their ministry goes a very long way to ensure Rep. She is very involved with many church activities, singing in the safety of vulnerable people on the streets and it is good to know that we are supporting the choir and is Scottish Rep. on the Handbell Ringers of Great this good work. Britain Executive. She chairs the Management Committee of God Bless! Rosemary Rosemary Johnston, the Church’s Coffee Shop and Bookshop offering fellowship and Christian literature to the National Convener wider community. Marge is married to John, a Church of Scotland Minister and is also a Primary School Teacher. FROM the NATIONAL CONVENER Marge said “I have served as your National Vice Convener for the past year and have thoroughly enjoyed getting out and about and meeting Guild folk. I look forward (with a bit of FROM the GENERAL SECRETARY trepidation!) to serving as National Convener for the next year and hope to meet as many of you as possible.” In May of this year, the Guild will celebrate 130 years since its inception. That is an amazing number, but amazing numbers are something the Guild produces regularly! VICE-CONVENER ELECT The Guild is about worship, prayer, action and fellowship and our success should be measured against these things. That said, numbers can have a place as we seek to reflect on Patricia Robertson, Greenock Presbyterial Council our work. Here are some numbers! Patricia is a retired Home Economics and Additional Support • 130 years Needs teacher. An elder in Westburn Parish Church, she is a • Over 800 Groups; 50 Presbyterial Councils;20 000 members former National Convener of the Young Women’s Group. She • £300 000 raised for the present group of projects and over £6 million over the years has served the Guild in many ways locally, at Council level and • An estimated 13 000 Guild meetings each year on the National Council, most recently as convener of the • 61 projects partnered since 1969, touching the lives of many 1000’s of people Resources Group. • 2000 people at the Annual Gathering and over 1000 at our Big Sings Patricia has lived in Greenock all her life, is married to Stuart, and they have a daughter, Fiona and 2 grandchildren. She particularly enjoys singing and Too often, the confidence of the Guild is weakened by stories of decline. These numbers, flower arranging and is a former member of Greenock Gaelic Choir. She is also very though not “values” in the qualitative sense, shine a light on the vibrancy and vitality of the involved in the life and witness at Westburn Parish Church. Guild. As we look forward to the remaining months of our year of “joy” and to the next Patricia says: “I am honoured to be elected as the next National Vice - Convener of one of “love”, let’s celebrate and take strength from the numbers. the Guild, however it is with trepidation that I accepted when I think of all the people who have gone before me. I hope with the support of my local Guild, Presbyterial and These values reflect our values…let’s make them count. Iain Whyte, the National Council I will fulfil the position to the best of my ability.” General Secretary GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2016 | Page 4 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 5 NEWS FROM GUILDS Moderator joins The Guild! Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr has become the first Perth Presbyterial Council enjoyed Moderator to join the Guild an evening of Scottish songs and poetry during his Moderatorial year. to celebrate St Andrews Night. We Dr Barr said: “This is a great raised £510 for projects and it was a honour. I was present with you super, very happy evening. at your rally in Dundee and what a wonderful occasion that was. The warmth and the welcome and the enthusiasm and the singing and the fun and the laughter: it was a great Wormit & Balmerino Guild recently occasion. held a Fashion Show which was aimed “Be bold be strong and be at promoting Charity Shops and the joyful and, my goodness, The organisations behind them. Members Guild are very joyful. I am visited shops run by Sense, Save the delighted to be the newest Children and Barnardo’s provided outfits member of the Church of on a ‘Sale or return’ basis. These were Scotland Guild.” modelled for the Show, and the audience told something about the work of each charity involved. Forfar East and Old Guild recently enjoyed an evening of craft making with members trying their hand at greetings cards and cardboard Greenock modelling. Presbyterial Council have collected over 400 packets of pants and St David's High Kirk Guild, £141 for Smalls for All. Dundee, celebrated its 75th They are delighted birthday in December. The that they have been Guild was formed in 1941. The able to support girls birthday cake was cut by the two and women in Africa. oldest members Rose Soutar and Betty Bell. more news on the next page!

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Ardrossan Presbyterial Council held a "Fayre Presents" event in November where people were able to buy fair trade gifts and Christian books. They also had a Bible Bring and Buy! What a fun idea. Wigtown Presbyterial Council had Helen Crawford as their speaker at their Autumn rally. She gave a fascinating look at the topic of “Flowers and Fruit of the Bible”. Brucefield Church Guild held an open day today to celebrate Guild Week. This is a photo of two members performing the sketch on a bus which was included in the info each Guild receives each year. What a laugh they Erskine Parish Church Guild had, they certainly went out in Joy! held an evening to raise funds for Guild projects. They were joined by friends from other Guilds and the local community. £272 raised for Guild Torry St. Fitticks Guild were in projects and the evening certainly lived great voice as they enjoyed a Moody up to the theme ' Go in Joy'. and Sankey evening. What a great idea!

Duthil Guild chose a beautiful day for their Treasure Hunt. Children and parents searched the woods for plates hanging from the trees. It spelt out Away in a Manger. They then had Gatehouse of Fleet Guild Ballantrae Guild held a Messy Mannofield Guildcombined Guild hot chocolate and toast and made celebrated its 120th birthday in Guild meeting. There was mug painting week and preparation for Christmas calendars. October. Longest serving members and Bible colouring sheets! They had a with a well-attended Christmas fayre and This has become an annual event Mrs Phemie McCarlie and Dr Barbara very good time of fellowship and much coffee morning. which the children look forward to. Law cut the celebration cake. hilarity. A very joyful evening indeed. GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 8 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 9 MORE NEWS St. Vigeans Guild recently paid tribute to one of their stalwart members Violet Brandie who had been part of The Guild for many years. Violet was treasurer of St. Vigeans Guild for 32 years! Quite phenomenal service to The Guild.

Annan and Eskdale Presbyterial Council supported Smalls for All at their annual Carol Service at Laurieston Church. More than 1,750 Stow Brae Kirk Paisley pants and bras were collected and are had now on their way to women in Africa. Shetland Presbyterial Council organised a busy Guild Week that included a relay with the Annual Gathering DVD which a visit from Prospects, leading made its way to Guilds throughout their area. An morning worship and soup and Kettins –Ardler Guild was 110 years young in 2016. To celebrate Duntocher Trinity Guild innovative way to share resources! sweet lunch. they held a ‘Big Sing in Kettins’ for commissioned a banner to their Dedication Service. It was a celebrate Guild Week. Each leaf has Monkland Guild met with ladies local Abrahamic Roots Group. They shared great community event with local a member's name, both past and stories, food and discussed issues that affected both groups. A really interesting and artists, the church choir and Sunday present. worthwhile evening. School all taking part. They showed clips of 3 of the Guild projects which they are supporting along with support for the local village hall project. To date they have raised RESOURCE DAYS £1120 and counting. It was a great success for both Guild and Church.

Crossmichael, Parton and NATIONAL LOCAL Balmaghie Guild heard recently about ‘Place for Hope’ a charity that Ayr 4 March Angus East and West 4 March helps bring mediation in all aspects of Glasgow 11 March Perth 11 March conflict in ministry and congregational Dundee 11 March Hamilton Nth /South 18 March matters. They heard how mediation Aberdeen 18 March Gordon 25 March often resolves friction, transforms it, Inverness 18 March Buchan East/ West 27 March and embraces difference. Edinburgh 27 April All 10am – 1pm Check with Presbyterial Council for local Resource Day Details Holburn West Guild had a great afternoon of fun and fellowship with entertainment provided by Jubilee. GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 10 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 11 Pilgrimages to Israel and The Guild at Christmas the Occupied Palestinian LONG SERVICE GALLERY Territories. In late April, The World Mission Council will be leading a Larbert West pilgrimage. It will be supported Congratulations to the 10 by Paraic Reamonn and members of Larbert West Kate Reynolds, our ministers Church Guild who were in Jerusalem and Tiberias recently presented with respectively. Numbers are long service badges. limited for this tour, which takes in many of the Biblical Houston & Killellan Kirk Guild held a Victorian Christmas Market. It was a Sites, but also meets with many wonderful atmosphere and a very successful day indeed. Their oldest member, Marion, who Duns Presbytery of the Church of Scotland is 100 was there as she is at all their events. What a star! partners, which will enable Guild celebrated with participants to support the members who have all local Christian community, and had more than 60 years hear from key thinkers in the of continuous service in region. For more information the Guild. contact Kenny Roger Kroger@ churchofscotland.org.uk

Kenmure Guild Perth North Guild held a Christmas Ancrum Guild held their Christmas recognised the long film night with everyone shown to their Afternoon and were joined by Guilds in service of 7 ladies who seats in darkness by usherettes, popcorn Jedburgh East Presbytery. It was have all been members and sweeties dished out, an usherette with a good start to Christmas and £80 was for more than 30 years. ice cream at the interval! Then tea, coffee, raised for the Guild Projects. mince pies etc after the film.

Broughty Ferry New Kirk Guild Then in October Marjorie 16 ladies received Long Paton and her husband, Iain will Service Certificates be leading another pilgrimage totalling 547 years of and a few places remain. The service. Well done folks. group will be visiting some of the previous Guild projects Each year, at Christmas, the Westray Inverleith St Serfs Guild enjoyed a which were based there. Kirk Guild and the Baptist Ladies time of food, fun and fellowship to start Trinity Guild in Details can be obtained from combine to have a celebratory meal their Christmas celebrations. Everyone had Inverness celebrated Marjorie; tel. 01764682234; together. This year was the turn of the a great time! members wo had long email marjorie.v.paton@ Baptist Ladies who provided a festive service from 25-60 years. btinternet.com evening in the Graand Owld Byre in Well done to you all. Pierowall village.

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GUILD PROJECTS PROJECT UPDATES

Thank you to everyone who has already supported the current Projects.

Current donation totals (to 31 Jan 2017): Prospects It has been wonderful to see the partnership between Prospects in Scotland and the Guild developing as we get to know each other better. It's the same in individual churches - people with learning disabilities and other church members getting to know each other better and building £54,584.05 friendships with each other and together deepen £69,224.62 their faith. Our "big news" is the appointment of Trish Archibald as Assistant Mission Development Coordinator. This post is fully funded by the Guild project and we hope you will feel that it is a good use of the money you work so hard to raise.

Mission International £72,367.37 £45,585.59 In the middle of a big building project and the fundraising, it can be very easy to forget about the individual stories of people in Haiti. But this project is all about helping ordinary people and giving them hope of a better future. Davide was born in Port au Prince but like many others he went to the Dominican Republic for work. While working in Santo Domingo for an electric company, he was badly injured and lost both of his lower arms. This has left him very vulnerable given his disability. £44,081.46 £43,193.19 Trinity Church stepped in to help Davide when he returned from the Dominican Republic. He is looked after and cared for by a number of ladies in Total £329,046.28 the church and he is able to sleep in relative safety in the church. The new church building will make a big difference as they seek to help many more people like Davide.

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PROJECT UPDATES

Christian Aid Feed the Minds In the autumn, we were delighted to welcome to In Kuria, parents are said to have the “final say” Scotland Cecilia Cordova from our Bolivia office. on whether their daughters are cut, yet FGM During her visit to Scotland, Cecilia explained how continues. Uncut girls can be seen as not fit for the initial families are now using the ovens every day marriage and families receive a considerable and while they are a simple technology, their impact dowry when girls are married -the equivalent has been significant: the ovens enable people to eat of five-month average salary. These are just well; prevent trees being cut down for wood; allow some of the challenges. Thanks to the Guild’s communities to be resilient and to stay on their land support, we have organised FGM workshops for despite the impact of climate change; and free up mothers, fathers and both parents together. The women to participate more fully in community life workshops combine topics of interest, such as advice and decision making. on how to access school bursaries, with training on FGM, human rights and the At the end of the pilot phase in June 2016, we gave out a further 56 ovens. This benefits of keeping their children in school. They also offer a “safe space” to share means that every family in two of the local communities now has an oven. concerns with fellow mothers or fathers, without fear of judgement. As a result, The remaining two communities will receive ovens in 2018. With your help, the Guild more families are collectively choosing not to cut their daughters and committing project will provide a total of 150 ovens to the four communities. to end FGM.

Care for the Family Street Pastors Thanks to the Guild funding from Year Thanks to the funding we have received from One, Care for the Family has been able Guild members, our 600 Street Pastors are even to develop a new online training resource better trained than they were, and better known for’Let’s Stick Together’ so that people can than they were. Core training on the roles and train from wherever they are in Scotland responsibilities of a street pastor and the Good (with the help of a mentor) to become News training is funded from your contributions. a Volunteer Presenter. This is a brand The core role is and will remain on the streets, new initiative for out charity and we are but we are increasing our engagement in schools; excited that ’Let’s Stick Together’ is the on station platforms and on trains; a team will first material to be developed in this way. be trained to respond in the aftermath of a We will keep you updated on how the serious incident. Our credibility is at an all time training has been greeted. high, with specialist training being offered by We are also running a further traditional ‘Lets’ Stick Together’ training day in May Police Scotland to raise our awareness of the 2017 for more new Volunteer Presenters as we have done before. A choice of possible significance of things we see when we training methods is therefore becoming a reality for interested people offering them are out and the signs of possible exploitation and greater flexibility but just as much support. trafficking of people, particularly children. Thank 2017 promises to be a year full of both new ventures and strengthening our you for your continued support. foundations. We’re looking forward to it very much. Thank you for continuing to be with us as we support families Scotland-wide.

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Crossreach Stamp Appeal Church and Society Council - Meet Your MSP Update Collecting stamps and other treasures is an easy and fun way to help CrossReach stamp out social cares across Scotland. It’s a new year for the Meet Your MSP project, which is part of Church and Society's Many of our projects depend on voluntary donations. Stamps and collectables 'Doing Politics Differently' strand, and meetings are taking place all over the country. can be an exciting and sustainable way of generating funds for these projects. This month, Richard Frazer (above right), Convenor of the Church and Society Council The sale of a bag of stamps can help to raise enough money to cover a will meet leader of the Party MSP (above) to show her counselling session for a parent in need, or cover the cost of an interactive play the work being done at the Grassmarket Community Project. session. A collectable of value can help keep a hurting family together. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed her support for the project at the church To support Scotland’s most vulnerable with a gift of stamps: leaders' meeting organised by SCPO in January 2017, and expressed her desire to meet local churches as part of the Meet Your MSP project • Collect UK and foreign stamps, both current and past issue also. • Rare stamps, whole collections and first day covers can be of high value • Please ensure that loose stamps have between 4mm and 8mm thickness of To see pictures and details of where in Scotland MYM border around each edge. Please do not soak stamps off paper meetings have taken place, take a look at the Meet Your • Please separate foreign and UK stamps: include Channel Island and Isle of MSP map at www.scpo.scot/meet-your-msp-map/ Man stamps as foreign stamps The project also celebrated what has been achieved at a • We can also accept old postcards and coins that are not currently in recent event in the . We hope that you circulation will be inspired to get involved. You can collect the stamps yourselves or the Guild can act as the local co- To find out more about the Council's Speak Out work ordinator for your church. visit www.churchofscotland.org.uk/speak_out or follow Please send your gift of stamps or collectables to “Stamps” at CrossReach, us on facebook www.facebook.com/churchsocietycouncil Charis House, 47 Milton Road East, Edinburgh, EH15 2SR. and keep an eye out for our seven brand new films being On behalf of the 2,000+ families we support each and every year, thank you! launched over the next few months.

GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 18 World Mission Council - A Parrot or a Person? Are you a Fairtrade Guild? If your congregation has achieved ANNUAL GATHERING Fairtrade Status and proudly displays its certificate, then the answer is ‘Yes’. Or it should be ‘Yes’! This means you should use tea, coffee and sugar with the Fairtrade Symbol on them at all your meetings. Do you realise that if you do not, then your congregation could lose its status. More importantly, if you do not use Fairtrade products then perhaps the farmers who have produced the products are not getting a fair wage. The Fairtrade Mark is very distinctive. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, “some see a parrot, others a green leaf, some see the black swirl at the center as a road leading to a brighter future. The most popular interpretation is to imagine the blue as sky, the green as grass, and the black dot and swirl at the centre as a person holding one arm aloft. That figure represents the people at the heart of the Fairtrade system. Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 27th February – 12th March in 2017. This gives you time to find out your congregation’s status, to remind the Guild why it is important to use Fairtrade products in church and at home. If your congregation has not yet achieved Fairtrade status, perhaps this is a good time for the Guild to be a change maker and to spearhead the process? For more information contact [email protected]. Mission and Discipleship - Creating A Culture of Invitation How do we encourage and equip our congregations to invite? Nowadays it takes a brave person to walk into a church building on their own or start a God conversation with a Christian. This is why building a culture of invitation, alongside a culture of welcome and transformation is essential in our post-Christian context. Andrew was one of the first two disciples that Jesus called. The first thing he did was to invite his brother Simon. That invitation alone has impacted the world. Jesus is still inviting and calling people today. Join us for this day conference for Church of Scotland ministers, elders and mission conveners at Hampden Park, Glasgow, to become not just a welcoming but an inviting church. The day includes lunch, with the doors opening at 9:30, and finishing time of 15:30. Spaces are limited so be sure to register soon to avoid disappointment. To register, visit www.resourcingmission.org.uk/events/creating-culture-invitation The programme includes contributions from a number of interesting and informative speakers. Alpha Scotland in conjunction with the Church of Scotland Mission & Discipleship Council Why Believe? Group.

GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 20 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 21 BIG SING GREENOCK GUILD AT Congratulations to A fabulous day of worship, prayer and action for all involved in the Big Sing in Greenock. Christine Greer from An amazing £2533.65 has been sent to LISAP to help support work with those without Trinity Church Guild food this year. who managed to find 711 130This month instead of a words from Go in Peace, competition we are trying to Go in Joy, Go in Love, our find out our oldest member, competition in the last our longest serving member, edition. our youngest member and our newest member! If you or someone you know fits into any category please get in touch.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

GUILD WEEK • 19-26 NOVEMBER 2017

NATIONAL COUNCIL 20 April SPRING BREAK 14 June TAKING NEW FORM. DETAILS CIRCULATED LEADERSHIP TEAM TO ALL GUILDS 19 April 8 June

RESOURCE COORDINATORS CONFERENCE 24 February PROJECT COORDINATORS CONFERENCE 6 April 1 June COUNCIL CONVENERS CONFERENCE WORLD DAY OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 20 - 26 May PRAYERGUI -(L) 3D NEWSMARCH | Feb 2016 | Page 23 HEART & SOUL 21 May CHECK FOR LOCAL ANNUAL GATHERING 2 September EVENTS

GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 22 GUI(L)D NEWS | Feb 2017 | Page 23 Stock up on Guild shop goodies for the new session - brand new items will be unveiled before the Annual Gathering!

GET READY TO

Pick up a Theme & Discussion Topic Guide and join us for a Resource Day to dig into the new theme!

Join us in the Caird Hall on 2 September to hear Pam, or stream the event online like friends as far apart as Inverness and Yetholm did last year.

Pam Cairns, Author and reitred GP

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