ST. MOLIOS CHURCH MAGAZINE

JANUARY 2009 A New Year A New Beginning

‘John Donne, a poet and preacher who lived 400 years ago said, “No man is an island, entire of himself; Every man is a piece of a continent, part of the main”

We are all part of humankind and, although we are all a pretty small part, without us the world would be poorer and together we add up to something significant. Tell yourself today that you are valuable, your life is important and that you have something to give. Then go out and give it.’ From Love is a Wild Bird by Eddiie Askew

Read Romans chapter 12 verses 4 – 8. It says the same and much more.

2 Manse January 2009

Dear All,

As you may be aware the Scottish Government designated 2009 as the 'Year of Homecoming'. This is to be a special year in which as a nation, we will attempt to reconnect with all Scots living abroad, as well as with all the many millions around the globe who share Scottish ancestry. The aim of this exercise is to encourage as many as possible to return home to visit their 'roots'.

Brodick Church are also planning a special year of 'homecoming' to coincide with their centenary celebrations, which will run from August 2010 through to June 2011. The culmination of the year long festivities will be a service at which they hope all those connected with Brodick Church will be present, no matter where in the world, near or far, they might currently be living.

To help in the task of locating as many people as possible, a team headed by Stewart Lambie and Grace Sillars are going through the Cradle Roll to ensure that as many as possible of those baptized as infants in Brodick can be contacted and invited to be present. Stewart and Grace will be grateful for assistance from anyone on the island who might be able to help them in this task. As Arran folk are good at keeping in touch with each other in far flung places through that special shared island bond, they hope to be able to cast the net far and wide.

Whether people are able to be present or not, it will be a reminder for them that part of their 'roots', their upbringing and infant nurture, was given in Church. They might have forgotten about Brodick Church, but Brodick Church must never forget about them, for the promises made by the congregation of St Bride's at their baptism to support them and uphold them 16in prayer, were life-long promises – a reflection of the truth that God loves us with a love that never lets us go.

2 At this point you might well be wondering what has all this talk of St Bride's, Brodick got to do with St Molios, . Well it is hoped that over time, this important work will also be duplicated in all the other congregations in the linkage. The Brodick project might be the first, but it will hopefully not be the last, and should help to provide a model for others to copy. In fact I had already hoped with the help of the late Mary Smith, to have undertaken such a project for St Molios. Mary understood so well the family ties that bind islanders to each other and to their roots at home. Perhaps when we do now get around to this project at Shiskine, it might be dedicated to her memory.

In saying all this, nearer to home in the present, it has to be observed that although Arran folk are good at keeping in touch with kith and kin in many far flung places, sometimes we are not so great at maintaining contact with each other within the island itself.

The motto of our five linked churches is 'Independent, but working together'. We are certainly living up to the independent bit, but still have a long way to go before we can boast that we are truly 'working together'. It often seems that the majority of folk in each congregation couldn't give a fig about what is happening in the others. There are even many among our principal office bearers, who do not yet really know their counterparts in the other churches.

However this can't go on. No longer can each congregation be content simply to be the representatives of the national church in the midst of their own communities only, holding the fort in their own wee corner of God's kingdom. We as the joint linkage of Brodick, Corrie, , & Shiskine are only viable as a complete whole, what affects one, will eventually affect the rest. Our future as a single charge of the Church of is in pulling together, all five diverse congregations sharing a common vision to be the Church in North Arran.

To help in this process, we will once again have a joint meeting of our office bearers from all five churches, to take place in Kinloch Hotel at 7

2 p.m. on Saturday 31st January. The agenda will simply be to discuss North Arran as a whole, how things stand at present and where we are going in our future together.

The meeting will last no more than an hour and will be followed at 8 o'clock by a social evening and supper, to which every member of each congregation is cordially invited. This is a great opportunity to come together, both to renew old acquaintances from different villages and to get to know the folk from the other congregations.

Tickets priced £8 are now available from Elizabeth Lawrie 30 2782, John Lauder 30 3517 and Liz Clarke 860 219. I very much hope that you will be able to come and give this gathering your support.

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Shiskine Manse

We are now into the New Year, the Christmas season over once again. However it is about Christmas I am writing to you at this time. The Congregational Christmas card designed and made by the Sunday Club was a great success. Many of you used the card to share greetings with one another and in doing so raised funds for the work of Arran Youth. From your donations about £150. was raised and thanks to all who donated to this.

We know that Christmas cards are a big part of Christmas and that sending them in the conventional way as well , can give great pleasure to the sender as to those who receive them. In one of the Christmas cards I received this year, the sender included in it a poem. The poem is an

2 anonymous one, I don't know who wrote it. However it touched me very much that I wanted to share it, so here it is:-

Christmas Cards

1 2 There is a list of folks I know For each name stands for someone All written in a book Who has touched my life sometime And every year at Christmas time And in that meeting they've become I go and takes look The 'Rhythm of the Rhyme' And that is when I realise that I really feel I am composed Those names are a part Of each remembered name Not of the book they're written in My life is so much better But of my very heart. Than it was before you came.

3 4 So never think my Christmas cards And whither I've known you Are just a mere routine For many years or few Of names upon a list In some way you had a part Forgotten in between. In shaping things I do For when I send a Christmas card So every year when Christmas comes That is addressed to you I just realise anew Its because you're on that list The biggest gift that God can give Of folks I'm indebted to. Is knowing folks like you (Anon)

I am greatful to the person who sent me this (from Arran) and for the card that contained it. I hope you all have a blessed New Year

Jean Hunter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guild News

As I sit down to write this article we, in the church, are celebrating the continuing story of Christmas. It is

2 Epiphany: The time when we remember the journey undertaken by the Magi bringing gifts to the infant King.

Thinking of that journey made in faith reminds me of our visit to Guild in November when we heard Esme Duncan, our National Convenor, talk about her faith journey from her teenage years attending SU camp here on Arran to holding high office in the Guild. Esme was a great reminder to each of us that we are called to use the gifts that we have been given. We may not be called to serve on the national stage but we certainly are called to service in our Guild branch, in our church and in our community.

Guild Week this year was held between November 16th and 23rd. On Tuesday of that week we held a workshop at which we started to work on a hanging which reflects our theme for this session – “He Restores My Soul.” Our efforts were helped along by the occasional cup of coffee and lots of funny and entertaining stories told by Betty Ingham. The workshop was followed by a Soup and Sandwich lunch at which we were joined by a large contingent of our friends from Lamlash Guild. After lunch we all settled down to view the video of the National Rally which Helen Kerr and I had been privileged to attend in Dundee. It is always good to be reminded that, although we are a small Guild, we are part of something much larger. Good too to be brought up to date with the on-going work of the Guild.

At our December meeting members were invited to share their favourite hymn, prayer, or poem and, if they wished, to share why it was important to them. We had a wide range of items and it was interesting to learn what particularly touched others in a special way. We had an extra guest with us for the meeting. My four year old grandson, Ethan, joined us and has gone home thinking that we were all at Sunday School. Doesn’t it make you feel young again ladies?

Due to illness, outside pressures and international events we were forced, reluctantly, to cancel our usual Christmas party but hope to have an evening gathering in the not too distant future. This will be intimated as soon as possible.

2 Our meeting at 1 p.m. on 20th January will take the form of an Agape Meal to which everyone is invited. You do not have to be a Guild member to come along to any of our meetings. You can be assured of a warm welcome. Helen Knight. Treasurer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Work Party You will have noticed that our work party has been beavering away and we now have a handsome extension to the church hall. Their work has saved the church thousands of pounds and we wish to say a hearty thanks to each of them. There are still some outlying tasks such as the painting of the outside of the extension to be completed in the New Year and snagging to be sorted as with any building but their efforts represent much hard work and not a little camaraderie!

Apart from the regular workmen of Jim Henderson, Donald Campbell, Bert Green, Robert Smith and John Kerr there are some special thanks due to:

A. Smith for the use of his lorry and van B. Haddow for the use of his van G. Tod for the use of tractor and trailer G. Wilson for the gift of three doors with glass panes Shiskine Hall committee for donating flooring from the old High School R. Smith for donating concrete wall panels and roof joists.

To each of them we express our gratitude. Well done lads!

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2 It seems a very short time since the last church Magazine partly because November communion was well into the month and February communion is on the first but also because we had a one month holiday, extended by an extra six days ‘by courtesy of the Bangkok political protesters. Therefore we were not at the ACT St. Andrew’s service held on 27th November in Brodick Church but I hear that it was quite well attended. I always feel a little saddened by that word ‘quite’ in relation to attendance at church services At ACTs worship especially when we have the opportunity to not only say to our island community that we are able and do meet together as one body but also to be a support to each other as a larger body of the Christian community meeting together on Arran.

TAIZE Services continue to be held on the first Friday of each month in St Margaret’s Church at 8pm. Numbers range from 24-30+ and participants come from a wide representation of island churches. If you have not yet been to one of these services and enjoy the opportunity to have a time of corporate quiet do come along.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated again this year in Lamlash Church in Sunday the 18 th January at 12 noon (perhaps even before you get this magazine!). A short service will be conducted at St Molios at 10.45 am prior to going over to Lamlash. This year the preacher will be Rev. Gillian Maclean, the new minster at Kilmory and Lamlash, who is an experienced broadcaster. Those who attended the service for Christian unity last year’s service found it most encouraging and uplifting.

World Day of Prayer Service will take place in Kilmory Church on Friday 6 th March at 7pm The theme, prepared by Christians in Papua New Guinea, is ‘In Christ There are Many Members, yet One Body’ There is only one service on the island, held in the evening so that those who are working have the opportunity to attend

2 Good Friday Walk of Witness is a chance to publically demonstrate our togetherness through the walk on Friday 10 th April starting at 2pm with a short act of worship at Holy Cross Church in Brodick and after the walk through the village another short act of worship is held in Brodick Church. Helen Kerr ACT Representative ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Service of Prayer for Health and Healing On the last Sunday of each month, the linkage holds a service of prayer for health and healing at 7pm, alternatively in St Molios Shiskine and Brodick Churches. The next service will be in St. Molios. If you know of anyone, in need of prayer through illness, sorrow, or any form of distress or indeed if you yourself are in need of prayer please contact Mrs. Jean Hunter 860380 and first names only will be placed on the list. People being prayed for are from Arran, the mainland and indeed further abroad. This is a vital ministry of the church that we have been slow to fulfil but those of us attending these services know that it is good to be there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bible Study Group

Last year from September to December we had an interesting series on New World - Old Faith which presented many informative and challenging questions on contemporary issues facing Christians in modern times. Now in January we hope to start a new series leading up to Easter. Decisions on what book or study guide we will use will be decided at the meeting on the second Wednesday of January – 14th at 7.30 and we will meet in Shiskine manse. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

One member travels from Lochranza, one from Brodick and two from Pirnmill, while there are four from Shiskine. Our study group is open to anyone from all of our five congregations in the linkage of North Arran.

2 Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were growing too big and had to form two or even three groups?! New members always welcome.

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God Lives under the Bed! A story to give us pause for thought

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under the bed. At least that’s what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom and I stopped to listen, “Are you there God?” he said, “Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed….”

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin’s unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humour. I realised for the first time what a different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labour. Apart from his size (he’s 6’2”), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a seven year old and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under the bed; that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and those planes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realised that he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk the cocker spaniel, return to eat his favourite macaroni and cheese dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her new born child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 5.05, eager for a day of simple work. he wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner and he stays up twice a week to gather dirty

2 laundry for his next day’s laundry chores. And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That’s the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport for a soft drink, watch the planes land and take off while he speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. “That one’s going to Geneva!” Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. So goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn’t know what it is to be discontent. His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth and power and he does not care what brand of clothes he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy than when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpets, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done Kevin know how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept and when you are wrong you apologise instead of arguing. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. He trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning when he comes to Christ he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God – to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an ‘educated’ person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion,

In my moments of doubt and frustration in my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then that I realise that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances…. They all become disabilities when I do not entrust them to God’s care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things that I can never learn? After all he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and

2 soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day when the mysteries of heaven are opened and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts I’ll realise that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that BGod lived under the bed. Kevin won’t be surprised at all!

Say a prayer… that’s all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is powerful.

PRAYER IS ONE OF THE BEST FREE GIFTS WE RECEIVE. THERE IS NO COST BUT A LOT OF REWARDS.

Submitted by JIM WILLIAMSON

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News from Canada Some people in the congregation may remember that in 2004 a Canadian couple, Dr. Martin Whittles and Dr. Dawn Farrough, were married in St. Molios. In fact several members of the congregation were present at the wedding service. Just over a year ago we learned that Martin was fighting a battle against advanced cancer. Since then his wife, Dawn, has also had health problems and has had a hysterectomy. They are two of the people for whom prayer is offered during the monthly services of Prayers for Healing and this they appreciate.

This Christmas I received a card from Martin and Dawn with a very positive message. They have adopted as their motto for 2009 an Eskimo word - nuanaurpog - which translated means "The taking an extravagant pleasure in being alive." They also speak fondly of the happy time they spent here on Arran and ask that I pass on their best wishes to the congregation at St. Molios. Helen Knight

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Getting to Know You …….

The social evening and supper on Saturday 31 st January (7.45 for 8.00pm) is a great chance for folk from all our congregations in the linkage to be together. There is nothing like a meal to bring us together. Who knows we might even get to know someone within our own congregation better. However the idea is that we ‘mingle’ or mix with those from other far flung places! ‘Hope to see you there. Tickets £8.00 from Liz Clarke ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Baptism ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’

30th November James son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Morrison, New Members

By Profession of Faith: Ian Glen of By Resolution of the Kirk Session Jean Stone Sa-na-carriage, Shiskine Memorial Service

1st November Helen Allison of Blackwaterfoot

2 Dates for the Diary

Saturday 31st Jan.Gathering of the congregations in the linkage at the Kinloch Hotel at 7.45pm for 8pm. Tickets £8.00 from Liz Clarke contact 860219 (See the minister’s letter.) Sunday 1st Celebration of Holy Communion at 12 midday February Tues.17th Guild Meeting 2pm All welcome. February. Speaker Mrs. Jeny Faulkner, Society of Friends Wed. 11th and 25thBible Study Group at 7.30pm February (see weekly notices for venue) second and fourth Wed’days Friday 6th March World Day of Prayer Kilmory Church 7pm

Tues.17th of MarchGuild Meeting lunch together at1pm, AGM and surprise drama Friday 10th AprilArran Churches Together Good Friday Walk of Witness starts at Holy Cross Church at 2pm Sunday 10th May Celebration of Holy Communion at 12 midday

Last Sunday Service of prayer for health and healing at 7pm Each Month

Flower Fellowship

February Evelyn Hamilton March Eileen Johnston April Fiona Crawford and Margo Popplewell

Our grateful thanks to all the ladies who give time and substance to make our church beautiful.

2 Some Useful Contacts In St Molios Church in the Parish of North Arran Tel. no. The Minister Rev. Angus Adamson 302334 Parish AssistantMrs. Jean Hunter 860380

Elders Mr Robert A Smith Session Clerk 860286 Mr. James Henderson 860259 Mr. Murray Stewart 860479 Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton 860233 Mr. John Lammie 860418 Mrs. Diana McMurray 860349 Mrs. Elizabeth Clarke 860219 Mr. D.G. Weir 860232

Clerk to Deacon’s Court Mrs. Eileen Johnston 860227

Assistant to Session Clerk Mr. John Kerr 860498

OrganistMr. John Clarke 860219

Pastoral Support Team Coordinator Mrs. Eileen Johnston 860227

Worship Group Coordinator Mrs. Helen Kerr 860498

Articles for the next magazine should be handed to Helen Kerr or sent to [email protected] or call 860498 by 19 th April 2009 CCL No. 192209

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