Keeping You in the Loop July 2020

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Here is the latest news from Pat, the Guild Secretary

Ardoch Parish Church Guild
Whose we are, and Whom we serve
One Journey, Many Roads

Keeping You in The Loop July 2020

In the past week or so the First Minister has announced some easing of the lockdown. However, on a personal level, I still feel very wary of going out and about. I am sure that most Guild members feel the same apprehension. We are desperate to see loved ones ‘in the flesh’ so to speak, but even they are cautious about getting together.
In the most recent church intimations there is still a feeling that we are not ready to start full church services in the near future although such things are officially ‘allowed’ by the Scottish Government. At the moment I personally don’t feel ready to start congregating in any way!
However, things are changing and the ‘new normal’ is taking shape, albeit slowly – and carefully.

Church Hall Screen: The installation of the video and screen equipment and upgrading of the sound system in the church and hall has been completed and this will be of great benefit to all using our church facilities. Unfortunately, the screen that was donated to the church by The Guild was not able to be utilised in the new system. The screen is to be recycled and has been gratefully received by Blackford Church.

Virtual Afternoon Tea: The Guild are inviting you to participate in a virtual afternoon Tea on 8th August at 2pm. You are asked to prepare an afternoon tea at home, perhaps asking another family to bring theirs, and enjoy it together in your garden (whilst following government guidance on social distancing of course).You will then be able to make a donation – either by cheque to the Guild office, or via an online donate page to be publicised.
All the donations will be shared equally between projects.

Sales Table for Projects: We would ask you to consider making items that can be sold for the projects when restrictions are relaxed and we can celebrate coming together again.
Whatever your craft let us see what you can do!

Wheelchair: Barbara McLaren advertised on the Braco and Greenloaning webpage and as a result we have been gifted a wheelchair by Mr Colin Mayall of Comrie whose son, Nick, lives in Greenloaning. We are so grateful to Mr Mayall for his generosity and willingness to help us in this way.

Guild Diaries: these are available at a cost of £4 each. Please contact Pat if you would like to order one.
Christmas Big Sing – 4th December 2020: This event is planned to take place at St George’s Tron, Glasgow. Tickets can be ordered NOW. There are 3 sessions – 3pm, 4.30pm and 7pm.
This is a very popular event so if you think you might be able to go then contact Pat Duncan ASAP to secure your ticket.
Virtual Annual Gathering : This will take place on 5th September at 11am. It will include hymns and music, and contributions from various people, and will end with communion that people will be able to participate in from home. The event can be watched ‘live’ through the website on your phone, tablet or computer.

I hope you all continue to stay safe and well. As we continue to make preparations for tentatively starting our syllabus in the new year of 2021. Our Guild theme for this session is ‘The Extra Mile’.
All good wishes,
Pat Duncan,
Guild Secretary,
3 Ardoch Way,
Braco.
01786880877

Keeping You in the Loop June 2020

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Check out the latest news from the Secretary of the Guild, Pat Duncan.

Ardoch Parish Church Guild
May 2020 Keeping You in the Loop:
Here we are at the end of May experiencing a few days of exceptionally hot weather… and not complaining. I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.
Things are changing very slowly as we very gradually venture out of lockdown. We are still being asked to ‘Stay Home’ as much as possible in order not to create a bridge for this virus to cross and so spread infection. Caution seems to be the operative word.
Church Activities – It would seem that church activities, including services, will probably not resume until Christmastime at the very earliest.
Your Guild Committee met online via ZOOM to discuss the way forward and we have agreed on a tentative syllabus that will start in January 2021 (dependent on permission for meetings being given).
Our president, Heather McDonald, has assiduously been phoning around members and so keeping in contact with us all.
I know how much I have appreciated these conversations with Heather as I am sure you have. I am sure you also are doing your bit to keep in touch with your friends and neighbours at this difficult time.
We, as a Guild, have done much this year – with inspirational speakers, outings, fundraising events and donations to many projects. Our session finished prematurely but we have still achieved much.
We donated £50 to Mercy Ships and gave £50 each to Elaine Hopley (the Atlantic rower) for the Altzeimers Society and Breda Seaman for ‘Dementia Friendly Dunblane.’
Two donations were sent to the Church of Scotland World Mission Aids Project (‘Sundae Sunday’ in September 2019 which
raised £137.61, and ‘Souper Sunday’ in January 2020 which raised £93).
Following a very successful World Day of Prayer organised by Sally Young we donated £120.
We have also given £500 to the church.
It was also thought that since ‘after- church collections’ for two charities did not take place this year that we would donate to these charities as follows:
£150 to Christian Aid
£150 Red Cross
Revision of church website – if you have access to the website you will find The Link and a Guild section there.
Wheelchair – The church is in need of a replacement wheelchair. It needs to be in very good condition and if any of our members know of how we might source such an item, please get in touch.

Wishing you all a wonderful Summer.
All good wishes,
Pat Duncan, Secretary, Ardoch Guild. (01786 880 877).

Sunday Church Flowers

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This Sunday the Guild would have put some lovely flowers into the Sanctuary and as usual they would have been distributed later.

As you click onto Zoom for our Sunday service from our link in the top right hand corner of the web page let us be thankful for all the beauty we have around us.

A personal message from our President

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In these quite different times (though I feel like I have been selfisolating since last September) how good is it to speak to someone on the phone! Something many of us are not now in the habit of doing. It has been my absolute pleasure to talk to all of our Guild members and most of my elder’s district over the past month. What an inspiration; so many different outlooks and opinions and all mostly positive. Living in such a beautiful part of the world, and sunny weather certainly helps. I just want to reiterate how good it is to talk. You all know who you can call at any time.

Heather McDonald, Ardoch Guild President (almost back to full strength)

Keeping You in the Loop – April 2020

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You folks are all aware that I have been ‘wintering’ on Lanzarote for almost 3 months – sunning myself and generally relaxing. The latter part of my time on Lanzarote was fraught, because our flight was cancelled and we had to find another. Instead of coming on a direct flight to Glasgow we had to go through London transferring from Gatwick to Heathrow before catching a flight to Glasgow. However, we are glad to be home now and effectively into quarantine mode for a couple of weeks.

I regularly heard news of all the Guild and community activities whilst away. Our president Heather, Phyllis, and the Guild Committee, have been doing a marvellous job keeping the Guild functioning, and the fundraising for projects has been wonderful. I also heard that the World Day of Prayer, organised by Sally Young was a great success. Our annual Spring Afternoon Tea when Fiona Chalamanda brings along the wee violinists was wisely cancelled due to the coronavirus – an event much missed. We have also had to cancel our last meeting of the session with a speaker from the Scots charity ‘ Malawi Fruits’ which was also to be our AGM.

We are hoping that you are all surviving self isolation – accepting help when it is offered and asking when you need it. We are a family – and family help each other.

The Community Council has put out a great pack of information including shopping lists for those who are advised not to take risks by going out and about.

We are in this for the long haul – probably 12 weeks at least.  Please don’t think twice about phoning any Guild Committee member if you need to chat or need help. We would be more than happy to talk with you and organise help if you are in need. Get in touch sooner rather than later.

The Community Council have distributed red/green posters so  please prominently display these in your window to let people know you are in need of help/or OK.

Green posters indicating that you are coping are as important to display as red ones indicating that you need help of some kind.

Remember to stay at home and stay safe!

I will be in touch in a wee while to keep you in the loop.

Pat Duncan, Secretary, Ardoch Guild. 01786 880 877