St Mary's Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries :: Church news

Dumfries Christian Council

Dave — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:26:30 +0000

The Dumfries Christian Council has recently unveiled its new website. Why not take a look? You can find it at www.dumfrieschurches.org.uk.

Minister leaving for a new role

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:18:53 +0000

St Mary's-Greyfriars' minister, Jamie Milliken, is taking up a new post in Kilmarnock, with his last service in Dumfries before the end of the month.

The following letter was read out in church on Sunday November 16.

Dear Elders, members and adherents of St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ Parish Church
Proposed Demission from the Charge of St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ linked with Caerlaverock

On Friday November 7 I was successfully interviewed for the post of Associate minister of the charge of St Andrew’s and St Marnock’s, Kilmarnock and have now accepted the offer. As a consequence I will be seeking the permission of Presbytery to demit the charge of St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ with Caerlaverock as of Wednesday December 31 to take up this new ministry in the new year.

This is not a knee-jerk reaction to recent events in the St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ Board but rather it is a considered decision taken after much personal searching. As I have served in this charge I have had the opportunity to grow in my understanding of my own calling in ministry and as I have done so I have become increasingly convinced that a ministry development post would be much more in keeping with my passions for renewal in the Church. The post in Kilmarnock provides such opportunities through the development of a Church Centre for outreach, youth work and disciple making.

I wish you God’s guidance and blessing.

Yours sincerely

Jamie Milliken

The bombshell news of the impending departure of our minister to a call in Kilmarnock brought into stark focus the three short but fruitful years since his induction on October 25 2005 in a well-filled St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ Church. That evening was only four days before the clocks changed and marked a significant change in the leadership of our unified congregation.

His previous work experience has obviously proved to stand him in good stead in social interaction, and his Christian outreach in our sister church at Caerlaverock has lifted the hearts and minds of that whole parish, in spite of the difficulties of distance and pastoral time constraints, particularly at morning worship.

Visits by the minister to homes, residential care and hospital have proved rewarding for the visitees, and his empathy at a time of illness or loss was unpretentious and meaningful.

Minister as a verb relates to serving and administrating, and add to that his ability to correlate with unambiguous analogies to bring the Christian message home to us all. With Rev Jamie Milliken, you were guaranteed to have “the best seats in the house”.

We join in wishing Jamie and his family well in their new life in Ayrshire. His many talents will most assuredly be fulfilled.

It is intended to give Jamie a farewell gift to show our appreciation of his Ministry here with us over the past 3 years. Please either give your donation to Stewart Williamson or to any duty Elder. You can also post your donation to interim session clerk David Matheson at 44 Auchenkeld Avenue, Heathhall, Dumfries DG1 3QY. The closing date will be Friday December 19.

Festive services

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:14:20 +0000

Sunday December 7: Second Sunday of Advent: 10am Advent Reflections Group in small hall; 11.30am Worship Gathering, reading from Mark 1:1-8

Sunday December 14: Third Sunday of Advent: 10am Advent Reflections Group in small hall; 11.30am Worship Gathering, reading from John 1:6-8, 19-28

Wednesday December 17: SANDS service, 7pm in the church (a chance to gently celebrate a baby who has died)

Thursday December 18: Christmas service for pupils in church, 1.45pm Dumfries High School

Sunday December 21: Fourth Sunday of Advent: 10am Advent Reflections Group in small hall; 11.30am All-age worship, followed by informal communion

Wednesday December 24, Christmas Eve: 8pm Caerlaverock Carol Service in the Barbour Hall, Glencaple; 11.30pm Watchnight service with Caerlaverock and St George’s

Sunday December 28: Worship Gathering, led by the Reverend David Bennett

Meeting space results

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:13:47 +0000

Background
Over the summer months members of the congregation were invited to take part in a survey about creating a meeting space at the back of the church. 88 people submitted their views and here are some of the main issues:

Capacity: The vast majority recognise that we don’t need all the pews in the church even for future growth.
Purpose of the church building: Opinion was very evenly balanced about whether the church should be used solely as a place of worship or if it should also be a place to encourage informal discussions before and after worship.
Making changes: There were about equal numbers of people who thought that there
should be no changes to the church because it is an historic building and those who thought it was okay to change the building to suit our need for a place for fellowship after a church
service.
Other options: There were a number of different suggestions for the layout of the back of the church or removing the front pews for a meeting space

Board discussion and decision
The board discussed the survey results in detail at its meeting in October. It was recognised that the church halls are across a busy road and attempts to encourage fellowship in the hall before and after services have not been successful. So if we want to support fellowship it would need to be in the same building as the worship service - the success of the services held in the hall on the last Thursday of the month, and which are followed by a light lunch, were seen to be a good model.

The Board also recognised that, while there was support for creating a meeting space in the church, there were very strong feelings against removing the pews at the rear of the church to do so.

It was therefore agreed not to create a meeting space in the church building but to increase other opportunities for worship, eg making greater use of the halls so people could come together for fellowship and discussion before/after the service/event. The Kirk Session will therefore consider this decision in due course.

A copy of the full report considered by the Board is available on request – please contact the clerk on 07796 044903 or by e-mail at elisabeth.manson@btinternet.com.

Social update

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:13:07 +0000

The social and fundraising committee draws your attention to the following events which are taking place:

December 14 - Christmas musical evening
Come along and join us for an evening filled with Christmas music, sketches etc and communal singing at 6.30pm in the church. Refreshments will be served in the hall after the service. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of fellowship. Cost £2 per head, £5 per family, towards church funds.

December 24 - Watchnight service
Prior to the service beginning, come along heat yourself up and enjoy some friendly banter with either a cup of tea and coffee along with mince pies and shortbread which will be served in the church hall from 10.30pm until 11.15pm. No cost but donations towards church funds will be welcomed.

Forthcoming events
Bacon buttie morning: As in the past few years, rather than hold a coffee morning in January, come along and join us for breakfast – either a roll and sausage or bacon, toast, tea or coffee etc. This will be held on Saturday January 10 from 9.30 to 11.30am. Cost £1.50.
Coffee mornings: With effect from the February coffee morning, the cost of entry will be increased to £2. We are sorry to have to pass this increase on to you but the price had remained at £1.50 since March 2003. Whilst the coffee mornings are more fellowship meetings, we do still have to try and raise funds from these events.
We are looking for volunteers to convene some of the coffee mornings next year. This is not an onerous task – it is basically just a name for people to contact to offer their services to assist.

“Our church”
Coasters depicting our church from the late 1800s are available at a cost of £2 each or a pack of four for £7.50. These were available at the Bazaar on December 6 but if you missed them and would like to purchase any of these, please contact me with your name, address and your requirements.

St Mary’s-Greyfriars cookbook
It is 30-odd years since St Mary’s issued a cookbook and it is time to re-issue one. Please let us have your favourite recipes which we will combine into a cookbook and we hope to have this available for sale later in the year. Recipes can be left in the box in the vestibule or handed to any member of the social and fundraising committee.

Glasgow Phoenix Choir - Saturday April 18
The committee has arranged for the above choir to perform in the church on Saturday April 18. Please keep this date free in your diaries. Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly at a cost of £10 per person and these will be available either from members of the social and fundraising committee or myself. I can be contacted on 264973 or 07743 940639 with your requirements. This will be our major fundraiser for 2009. Further details to follow.

Janet McSherry, Convener

Offerings

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:11:45 +0000

As we near the end of another year, this is the ideal time to think of starting to give to the church by Weekly Freewill Offering. Anyone wishing to join the scheme for 2009 is asked to contact John Wright on 251574 or any Elder. If you would like more information on the scheme and how it works, John will be more than pleased to talk to you.

The use of Freewill Offering envelopes is most helpful in the essential budgeting which is required and we commend this method of giving to all those who regularly put cash in the collection plate. Giving by this method can also be combined with the Gift Aid scheme. Further details on this are available on request.

Weekly Freewill Offering envelopes for 2009 for those already in the scheme will be available for collection in the church vestibule from Sunday December 7.

John Wright

I will name that tune!

Dave — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:05:42 +0000

I have ruminated on an idea from a social evening many years ago led by Rev and Mrs Wotherspoon, and more recently by our Session Clerk Isobel Evans. The fundamentals come in the form of an evening of fellowship fun where members of the congregation kick-start their cerebral endorphins and arrive at the hall to give a brief precis on a couple of tunes that have left a meaningful mark on their life. Their choice would then be exposed by an appropriate CD.

As everyone has their own Desert Island Disc, a form of favourite, it would be enjoyable to share this. The content would be so diverse – Robbie Shephard, Ella Fitzgerald; Queen (we must have Queen or I’m not playing!); Nicky Spence and all that jazz! I’m assured there would be something for everyone. If you think this sounds a worthwhile idea for January, with proceeds hopefully going to charity, speak to a duty elder or give me a ring on 257691.

Tommy Jardine

Christianity Explored

Dave — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:05:21 +0000

If you’ve been meaning to come along but haven’t quite got round to it then don’t leave it too long. Christianity Explored is a great opportunity for an informal chat and a think about anything and everything about our faith – and you even get a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit!

The group is looking at different bits of Mark’s Gospel and has looked at Jesus’s healing ministry and talked about the reactions of the people who witnessed Jesus’s death. The guide that we’re using helps us think about these issues by asking simple questions like what has Jesus come to do, and why did Jesus forgive sins before healing a man?

The more people who come along the more interesting it is, so make a date in your diary to come along at least one occasion – it’s on Thursday evenings, 7.30pm, usually in the hall and the remaining dates are November 6, 13, 20 and 27. If you would like a lift it’s easy to arrange - please just give Anne Twiname (263241) or Elisabeth Manson (07796 044903) a ring.

Christmas is coming …

Dave — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:45:59 +0100

The social and fundraising committee would like to remind members that the Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday December 6. Anyone wishing to convene a stall should contact Janet McSherry on 264973, Bette Archibald on 07899 916565 or Anne Mackie on 249129. Stalls presently are Cake and Candy, Garden Club, Unwanted Gifts, Handcraft, Books Teas. Any other stalls please contact us.

This year, the format has changed. The Bazaar will run from 10am to 12 noon. Only teas and coffees will be served. Lunches will not be available.

There will be a Christmas Quiz in aid of church funds, available from the church or members of the Garden Club. Quizzes should be returned to David Cannon, 30 Ashton Drive, Lochside, Dumfries by Friday November 28.

Christmas music evening
This will be held in the Church on Sunday December 14 at 6.30pm. Come along and enjoy an evening of Christmas music, singing, recitations and festive spirit. Refreshments will be served in the church hall following the service in the church at a cost of £2 per person or £5 per family. If anyone wishes to take part in the evening, please contact Agnes Fraser on 254332.

Tearfund/Tearcraft

Dave — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:44:26 +0100

Tearfund/Tearcraft catalogues are available in the vestibule of the church. If you would like to take one please follow the instructions inside on how to place an order.

Goods from the catalogue can also be viewed and bought at the following times:
- Saturday November 1 at the charities fayre in DG One from 11am to 3pm;
- Monday November 3 at Georgetown library from 2-6pm;
- Thursday November 6 in our church hall from 7.30-9pm, when a DVD on the work of this charity will also be shown and supper will be served.

There is also a book on Living Gifts for Christmas in the vestibule of the church. We only have one copy of this. If you would like to borrow it please return it as soon as you can.