Ruach - West Kirk Magazine

Dear Friends,

The wit and wisdom of Mark Twain has been a rich vein for pithy comments for generations.

When a ruthless and not-very-attractive businessman said to him that when he retired he intended to travel to the Holy Land, climb Mount Sinai and from the top read the Ten Commandments out loud.

‘I have a better idea,’ said Mark Twain. ‘Why not just stay at home and keep them?’

Whether you holiday abroad this summer or enjoy a ‘staycation’ in this recession and volcano-ridden year, let travel broaden the mind and at the same time help us to appreciate and embrace the basic things of day-to-day life at home!

David W. Clark

Summer Services

The theme of our six-week period of united services this year is ‘Travellers’ Tales’ - a look at some of the issues raised by the accounts in the Book of Acts of the journeys of the apostle Paul, by land and sea, in the very early days of the Christian Church.

Our four ministers will take turns in conducting our united worship, as indicated on the left. Paul’s four journeys will occupy weeks 2 - 5, leaving the first Sunday with the theme ‘Getting Away’ and the last ‘Home Again’.

Each Sunday there will be two services - at 9.00am a half-hour less formal service, followed by Morning Worship at 10.00am. In the West Kirk the early services will be in the choir area; in the other churches they may be in the hall or side-chapel. There will be activities for young people provided for the 10.00am services. Each will be followed by a coffee time together.

SS Wesley

On 15^th August , the first Sunday after the united services, our music will reflect the bicentenary (14 August) of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, one of the greatest church musicians of the Victorian era.

He was the grandson of Charles Wesley. In addition to many anthems, he has given us some abiding hymn tunes such as those associated with the hymns - ‘The Church’s one foundation ’, ‘ O thou who camest from above’, and ‘Awake, my soul, and with the sun’.

Good News from Gambia

The letter below recently arrived from Caroline Lusack, head teacher of Dumbarton London Corner School, Gambia. It is addressed to all the school’s supporters in the Dumbarton and Helensburgh areas, including all at West Kirk. Tina

‘Our vision is to build future leaders, operating in a friendly environment. At Dumbarton London Corner Nursery School, we embrace all religions and also cater for both boys and girls. The school is for non-privileged children and it is blessed with qualified teachers. The children enjoy free meals everyday and free medical attention in cases of emergency.

The classrooms and had teacher’s office are newly painted. The roof has been replaced by a new one. It still remains to paint the front view and outside walls, which will be done after the rains. It’s a pleasure to see the head teacher’s office – everywhere spick and span.

Thanks to our donors for their love and concern. They have done so much for the school, which is highly appreciated. May the Almighty God reward them abundantly.’

Caroline Lusack, head teacher

Loch Lomond Cruise

A date in your diary for the late summer. We have arranged another cruise on Loch Lomond to take place on Sunday 29 August, departing Tarbet at 2.00pm. If you’ve been on our cruise before, please note that the arrangements are slightly different. Have your lunch beforehand and then enjoy the two-hour cruise around the loch. The ticket price of £11.50 includes a ‘Rob Roy Whisky Coffee’ !

Space is likely to be limited so get your name down on the list in Kirk Cottage as soon as possible.

Welcome to Visitors

Our annual programme of providing welcoming stewards to the church is now under way - and invites your help.

Although the church is open every day from 9.30-5.00, the stewarding is on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2.00-4.00 during June, July and August. If you can help on any afternoon, please sign up on the sheet at the church door.

We are claiming that this was a world first - until such times as someone can prove otherwise! At any rate, it was the first time any of those involved had run such an event so it is miraculous that everything ran so smoothly. The Outreach Group is really grateful to a whole host of people who helped to make it all happen. They are grateful to the congregation for coming along and bringing friends and relations. Support from members of the congregation of St Columba Church was also very much appreciated. We were overwhelmed with appreciative comments and the visitors’ book contains a good indication of the impact of the event on our many visitors. For the record, we are claiming over 1,500 visits (including the attendance at the three church services) and a net income to go to our chosen charities of £1,500.

Two questions were asked frequently during the exhibition. The first was “how did you get the strings way up there?” The truth is that a model helicopter was indeed used to take the first fine twine over the highest beams. The second one was “how did the Christmas mobile come to be?” The answer to that is that Blythswood Care, a charity that the congregation has supported over the years, sent us some silver stars by way of a thank you one Christmas. The Minister asked the church secretary to think of something to do with them and she handed the problem on to her husband. Although there were three sizes of stars and about twelve in all, they were too small to have any visual impact in our church building. The solution was to attach three stars to a single orb to make a simple motif. This was replicated and the units made up into a large mobile. They were decorated with holographic paper to provide a subtle glitter and change of colour. For many years, the line was thrown over the beam each year using cotton thread and a ball of blue tack. More recently, we took the opportunity of scaffolding in the church to install a more permanent arrangement.

But, you may still be wondering what the festival was all about? Certainly, local people had a lot of fun making the mobiles and certainly the local schools made good use of them as teaching aids. Of course the number of visitors who came and enjoyed the event is a mark of success in one sense. So is the money raised for charity, thanks to the generosity of all the visitors. But the aim was to reach out to the community. Well, we had people come along from most of the churches in the town. We also had local people of various ethnic backgrounds pay us a visit, including some Sikhs. Various former members of the congregation came along - confessing that they had not been in the church for some time and remarking what a beautiful building it is. Grown up children of church members appeared, again saying that it was the first time in years that they had come back to the church. It is not everyone’s idea of “outreach” but it fits my definition and I have no doubt that the event touched many people in quiet ways that you may not have imagined possible. All in all, a successful event - of which you may never see the like again!

Sandy Kerr Outreach Convener

On their bikes … and got there!

Ali and Sue McKichan arrived at John o’Groats on Monday 7 June, completing their Big Bike Ride cycling ‘End to End’. They cycled a total of 969 miles in 2 weeks, having set off from Land’s End on 23 May. They enjoyed every minute of the whole trip (well, apart from their longest day in the saddle – 102 miles cycled entirely in pouring rain).

Alhough they said they were doing the Ride unsupported, (ie carrying all their own kit in panniers), in fact they had tremendous support along the way; they stayed with friends and family on several nights, had friends join them to cycle sections of the Scottish legs, and met up with their parents, Duncan and Leila for lunch by Loch Lomond. They enjoyed fine, sunny weather for the most of the journey and luckily suffered no mechanical breakdowns – of bodies or bikes!
Throughout the trip, they have been raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and have raised £5,000 for the charity, with donations still coming in. Speaking about their fundraising, Sue and Ali commented: “We’re really touched by the fantastic support we’ve had from so many friends in Helensburgh and would especially like to thank everyone at the West Kirk for all their generous donations.”
Photos and more information about Ali & Sue’s Big Bike Ride here: http://aliandsuesbigbikeride.weebly.com/

Congregational Register

BAPTISMS

May 30 Madeleine Hope and Catriona McKillop,

June 20 Rory Frew

DEATHS

May 16 Mrs. Elsie Leishman,

June 17 Mrs. Jean Clarkson.

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