The Guild

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