St Mary's Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries :: The Guild

Update: February

Dave — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:40:23 +0000

St Mary's-Greyfriars' Guild met on February 3 and the meeting was opened with "Man has a soul, a human spirit and a physical body. God has a divine soul, a holy spirit and a physical body through Jesus Christ". "Will you come and follow me" was sung followed by Rosalind Fraser reading 1 Peter 1:3-9, a living hope. Prayer followed.

Business concluded, the evening took the form of the members being involved in the entertainment. "Round Robin" stories involved the convener giving a one-line introduction and the members took turns to add to the stories through humour and any other means that suited the topic. There were a lot of happy interludes when "I remember" was involved in the story telling. The inhouse entertainment provided an interesting if different kind of Guild meeting. Closing hymn was 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty', followed by a Blessing including the words, 'Just as the seasons need the element of change, we need you in our ever changing lives. Lord for this we are truly blessed.

The Guild met on February 17, with 'Help us to know your love deep in our hearts and enable that love to flow from us to those with whom we are in contact'. 'Let us build a house where prophets speak' was sung and Lorna White read from 'Luke 10 vs 38 - 41, Jesus visits Martha. Prayer followed.

Five members had visited St George's Guild on February 3 and had reported having a great evening. The topic was the twinning of a Presbyterian Congregation in Zambia with the Congregations of Dunscore, Moniaive and Glencairn. Between 2007-2008 there has been visits to Zambia and a visit from the Zambians to these parishes. The groups are learning how to work together. The wealth of the local Congregations in the aforementioned churches allows them to give practical help to the congregation of 500 in Zambia. 200 children attend Sunday School. The fundraising has enabled a bore-hole to be created giving clean water, a school to be built, computers bought, a mini bus bought, instruments for their own band. The Zambian Army are giving tuition to the band. The locals dug trenches, made bricks and constructed the school themselves within their own community. Street children come to the school and are given food and fellowship wherever there is the greatest need. If families have money to buy a bag of rice they share what they have with their neighbours. Local ladies give help to those who are suffering from HIV/Aids.

All money raised within our local Congregations is put into the World Mission Fund at 121 George Street in Edinburgh. The full amount raised is transferred to the Zambian Congregation's bank account which allows those involved in running the Church there full autonomy over any income they are fortunate enough to receive. Anyone wishing to donate to this wonderful twinning should contact the Rev Christine Sime.

Nine members visited Mouswald Guild on February 11 and had a lovely time singing along with the Village Singers from Eaglesfield. Fellowship and supper at both meetings was superb as always. Members were asked to help out at the Guild Coffee Morning on March 7 in whatever way they could. This is the annual fund raising event for the Guild.

The Presbyterial Council will hold the Annual Spring Rally in Maxwelltown West Church on March 11 at 7.30pm. Members were encouraged to attend this meeting and support their Guild. A proposed theatre trip and supper for May 5 was agreed on with names being taken.

The annual Guild summer outing was discussed and suggestions sought for the next meeting. The speaker for the evening was Colin Powell from The Eden House which is the children's wing of The Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle. He gave a powerpoint presentation on the Hospice accompanied by an informative talk. Rosalind Fraser gave the vote of thanks. Closing hymn was 'Think of a world without any flowers' which was followed by a Blessing.

Update: December

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:09:22 +0000

Our meeting on November 4 was superb with more than 100 people in attendance from other Guilds and members of the public who wanted to hear our speaker. We shared the meeting with Troqueer Church Guild and Helen Teenan co-hosted with me. Helen knew the speaker personally and so it was appropriate that she introduced May Nicholson, who had travelled from Paisley to speak.

May founded the Preshal Trust in Govan, Glasgow, and told stories of her own troubles in life and how she has overcame them. She was brought up in Ferguslie Park in Paisley, in a family of 13 in a tenement building. At 15, she started to drink cheap wine with her friends and before long she was an alcoholic. May was often in trouble with the police, ending up in a mental hospital. When she was released the first thing she did was to go and get a bottle of cheap wine and get drunk.

Her mother gave her money to go and stay in the Channel Islands in the hope that would help her to recover her life, but she became involved in crime there. She settled in Blackpool and was sleeping rough when she phoned her mother asking for help. Her mother sent her money to get home to Paisley and greeted her with a roast dinner in the oven. May told the group that she felt like the Prodigal Son. Her mother told her she hated her sins but loved the sinner. However, May fell back into her old ways, until she attended a church meeting and a man prayed for her, saying: “Lord, we can all see she is filthy, touch her and clean her.”

Twenty-six years later, May has never touched another drop of alcohol and has devoted her life to working to help others in desperate need. She founded the trust, which is devoted to helping people in poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, low literacy and numeracy levels, depression and low self-esteem. May gave a wonderful account of her life story and brought with her many things for sale made by prisoners in Cornton Vale plus a book on her life, Miracles from Mayhem. A retiral collection of £222 was donated to May for her work.

On November 18, we were again thrilled to have more than 100 people in attendance. I co-hosted this meeting with Mary McLeod, convener at Maxwelltown West Guild. I held aloft a blue rose as I read: “There is so much beauty in this wondrous blue rose, if only we could capture it within our very souls. If we could take its beauty and apply the glow within, search a little deeper in the soul beneath our skin. Take what it stands for and shed its love abroad, don’t hide the glow within you, but share the love of God. You know you can’t touch beauty without it rubbing off on you, and spreading it to others in the kindness that you do. There lies within each one of us, the beauty like this rose, when it’s used in touching others, then its beauty overflows.”

Mary McLeod announced our entertainment for our social evening. The Annan Singers are well known for the wonderful entertainment they provide and they did not disappoint.

Christmas dinner is in the Woodlands Hotel on December 16 – 7pm for dining at 7.30pm. Donations in an envelope will be collected in aid of Guild charities.

Catherine Nicholson, convener

Update: November

Dave — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:03:54 +0000

St Mary’s-Greyfriars’ Guild opening meeting was held on October 7. Part of the Guild theme, Body, Soul and Spirit, was explored in Reflections on the Soul. Members contributed in song, poetry, music and shared experiences, much to the enjoyment of all present. Guild members are a resourceful group and it was no surprise to see how much talent we have amongst us. On October 21, guest speaker was Brian McBride, area rep for Mission Aviation Fellowship, or MAF. It is a Christian charity that uses light planes to take aid to some of the world’s most remote places. While of course they need money to function, they also need prayerful support. Please remember them in your prayers. Our Guild meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7.30pm in the church hall, and everyone is welcome to come along.

Coming up …

Dave — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:46:39 +0100

The Guild are delighted to welcome May Nicholson from the Preshal Trust on November 4. May’s story was recently featured in Life and Work. We are co-hosting that evening with Troqueer Guild who have invited all Guilds in the Presbytery to come along and hear this wonderful lady speaking. All are welcome to come and join us. A buffet supper will be served and donations will be welcome for the Preshal Trust and Guild charities. Kings Bookshop will also be in attendance.

On November 18 we are having our social evening in Guild week. The entertainment will be The Annan Singers who are regulars at making an evening go with a swing. They are a large group whose music appeals to all ages and we welcome any visitors to come along and enjoy the evening with us. That evening will be co-hosted with Maxwelltown West Guild. All Guilds in the Presbytery have been invited to come along and join us and a buffet supper will be served. Donations will be welcome in support of Guild charities. Kings will be in attendance again and the Guild will also have a sales table – please bring something to sell.

Catherine Nicholson, convener

Guild outings

Dave — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:40:25 +0100

On May 27, members visited Irving's Bakery in Castle Douglas. Keith Irving and his mother, Christine, gave us a guided tour of the bakery. The business has progressed from a farm kitchen in 1988 to a firm employing 24 people. We watched Keith cut up traybakes in an automatic machine. In the finishing area we saw orders made up to go out for the following day. We were treated to supper and the shop was opened for us. The members left with their hands full of varying varieties of the cakes and biscuits made at Irving's. I have received a letter from the Castle Douglas committee of Cancer Research UK Scotland thanking the members for their kind donation of £95.50 which was given on the night to Keith Irving.

Our next visit is on Tuesday August 26 to DS Smith Special Packaging in Lockerbie. Please meet at the factory for a 7pm tour. Any queries contact Catherine Nicholson on 265422.

Summer recess

Dave — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:33:52 +0100

The Guild is now in summer recess. However, we are looking to recruit members for the new session starting in October. We are a pro-active Guild. We have excellent fellowship, speakers, trips out and Christmas dinner together.

Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month throughout the winter, until March.

Many people do not consider joining for fear of having to serve on committee. Please allow us to help you put these fears away. We would like to invite you to consider coming along to a few meetings and see for yourself what we do.

The Church of Scotland Guild supports various nominated charities as well as local charities every year. Our Guild has an excellent record of supporting our own church.

We would be delighted to welcome you along to any of our meetings and hope you would consider joining our membership. The Guild welcomes all ages, male and female members are most welcome.

We are hosting a coffee morning on September 20 in aid of the Mercy Ships charity. Please come along and support us.

Contact Catherine Nicholson on 265422 for more information.

Mercy Ships

Dave — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:33:06 +0100

The Guild is holding a coffee morning on September 20, from 10am until 12 noon in aid of the Mercy Ships charity.

Mercy Ships exists as a compassionate response to a world in need. On ships and land bases, dedicated volunteers bring their wide-ranging skills to promote health and wellbeing by serving the urgent medical needs of the forgotten poor and empowering communities. All monies made on the day will be donated to this very worthwhile cause.

The Guild invites you to support this venture. Any donations of baking for the sales table, gifts for the £1 stall, small items for the tea tables will be gratefully received. More importantly, come along on the day and show your support to our effort in raising awareness and much needed funds for the Mercy Ships. Any donations will be most welcome.

Contact Catherine Nicholson, guild convener, on 265422 for more information or to offer help.

For more information on the charity’s work, visit www.mercyships.org.uk.

Update: May

Dave — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:11:52 +0100

The convener opened the Guild AGM with a talk on a survival kit for everyday life, using several props to illustrate ways to survive. A toothpick was used to illustrate that we should pick out the good qualities in others and not be so judgemental; a teabag was shown to remind us that we all need to relax more and think about the blessings we have in our lives. Prayer followed.

Hymn 274 - I heard the voice of Jesus say - was sung, and the reading was Ephesians 1:15-23 - Paul's Prayer. A tribute was read following the death of Joan McLennan, who had been a Guild member for many years.

The Guild has donated £800 to St Mary's-Greyfriars' Church and will be convening a coffee morning on September 20 to raise money for the Mercy Ships Charity. Information will go to all Guilds in the Presbytery and their ministers with regards to promoting this event in due course.

Janette Kirkpatrick gave the Treasurer's Report, and the convener gave her report on all the events the Guild had been involved in over the past session. Guild members have been out to visit twelve other Guilds in our Presbytery - the convener remarked that we have great affection for other Guilds and try to visit whenever we can. This has been a tremendously successful year for members going out to visit.

The Guild outing is to Irvings Bakery in Castle Douglas on May 27, with 27 members attending. A tour of DS Smith Special Packaging Ltd in Lockerbie has been arranged for August 27.

Presentations were made to Freda Hunter and Moira Cannon who were retiring from serving on the committee. Kathleen Greer received a gift and a card wishing her well in her new home in Easter Ross when she moves to be nearer her family with her husband, the Rev Dr David Greer. The Rev Jamie Milliken officiated the election of new committee members - Bette Archibald, Anne Mackie, Carol Forbes and Sheena Watson.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Helen Gray, Eunice Sutherland, Anne Twiname, Lorma Bell, Irma Mitchell, Lorna White, Isobel Evans and Janette Kirkpatrick. We had a selection of piano solos, poetry, choir singing and a sketch - a most entertaining arrangement from these talented members. To close the meeting, Hymn 649 - The King of love my Shepherd is - was sung and Mr Milliken gave the Blessing.

The Guild session is now closed until October 7. Everyone is welcome to come along and join us.

Catherine Nicholson
Convener

Update: April

Dave — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:09:13 +0100

On March 4, thanks was given to Rosemary Chambers and her helpers for the work which was undertaken at the very successful Lent Lunch that they catered for on behalf of our church. Final details were given for the Guild outing to the theatre in April. High Tea will be enjoyed at the Woodlands Hotel before the event. The Guild will also visit DS Smith Special Packaging on August 26.

The Guild coffee morning raised the magnificent sum of £637.90 and grateful thanks were expressed to all who had helped in whatever way. Our outing is on June 17 to Irving Bakery in Castle Douglas. Supper will be provided at the bakery and any empty seats on the bus will be offered to the congregation on a first-come, first-served basis.

A suggestion from the committee that we hold our January 2009 meeting in the afternoon to allow members who don't wish to come out at night to attend a Guild meeting was agreed. Cards were signed for Ruth Hattersley and Kathleen Greer who are both leaving the area - we wish them both well in their new homes.

The Rev Alan Donaldson was the speaker and he was a real treat. He told us that if he was not a minister he would want to be a jester. He rode his unicycle, demonstrated how to use the diablo, juggled balls, rings, clubs and throughout his time. He entertained and intertwined the bible stories throughout his act. Alan had the members in fits of laughter when they were making balloon animals. He was a fantastic speaker and the way in which he delivered a biblical message was most original. The Guild were delighted with his repartee with them.

March 18 was vice-president's night. The membership agreed to donate £800 to the church funds. We are holding a coffee morning on September 20 to raise funds for the Mercy Ships charity. This is as a result of our members being touched by the work that happens on the ships when a volunteer spoke at St George's Guild last month. We will contact all the Guilds and ministers in our presbytery to ask them to support our venture and hopefully raise a considerable amount to donate to this very worthwhile charity.

Our speaker was Dr George Stirling, retired consultant psychiatrist and medical director from the Crichton Royal Hospital. George told the members how he had came to the position of psychiatrist as opposed to working in general practice. He regaled us with many tales of his career from South Ronaldsay to the Torquay. He was the longest-serving medical director at the Crichton, with more than 35 years' service. He explained the different facets of mental illness and how they are treated. George gave statistics on how mental illness and depression differs between men and women.

Our next meeting is the AGM on April 22. If anyone from the congregation would like to join the Guild on the trip to Irvings Bakery on June 17, please contact me on 265422.

Catherine Nicholson, convener

About us

Dave — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:37:54 +0100

The Guild of St Mary's-Greyfriars' Church is open to men and women who want to join in the fellowship of sharing God's word within a warm and friendly group. The theme for our 2007-08 session is "Let's Live: Body, Mind and Soul".

More details about the Guild can be found here.