Islay North Churches Blog

We now have a Nominating Committtee consisting of 7 members drawn from the three chuches who are in the process of looking for a new Minister for the parishes. A Parish Profile is available from our Interim Moderator, Rev Anne McIvor and the vacancy has been advertised on two occasions in the Presbytery of Argyll column in Life and Work.

We were blessed with favourable weather for our outdoor activities. Sunday 8th November saw St Kiaran’s usual Remembrance service, with the wreaths – Coastguards, Community Council and the Church – laid at the memorial plaque followed by 2 minutes silence and Phillip Maxwell reciting ” For the Fallen” Following the normal service two wreaths were taken and laid on the War Memorial at Port Ban, one remaining in the church for a week, before also being laid on the War Memorial.

27th June was a perfect day for a strawberry tea; tennis at Wimbledon, a dry and warm day, but with a breeze to keep the midges at bay!

A goodly number of people gathered at the Manse in Port Charlotte, to eat strawberries and cream, with scones and jam, and drink tea. Church members and visitors from the villages around the island, and further afield, were attracted to this happy event, and a total of £420 was donated for the Klay Orphenage project. St Kiaran’s church, in partnership with the charity “Mary’s Meals” is funding this orphanage in Liberia, west Africa during 2009.

Many thanks are due to the people who baked scones for the tea, and the volunteer who picked the Strawberries from Bridgend Community Garden! Also the staff who served on the day, Patricia Halsall, Jean MacKay, Karen Cracknell, Janet Waterworth, Chris Fulcher.

The next St Kiaran’s events are 23 July Summer Bazaar in Bruichladdich Hall; 9 August Open Air Service on Port Charlotte green.

A very successful coffee afternoon was held in Bruichladdich Hall on Saturday 28th February by St Kiaran’s Church to support Mary’s Meals charity and our involvement with the Klay Orphenage in Liberia.
It costs just £5.80 to feed a child FOR A YEAR in Liberia, and St Kiaran’s congregation have committed themselves to raise enough funds for Mary’s Meals, the Dalmally based charity, to feed and educate all the children in this Orphenage.

The coffee afternoon was supported by people from right across the island, and Bruichladdich Hall was swamped! In the end, £319 was raised at the event, but with donations this rose to £453. In all St Kiaran’s has raised £1494.90 for this project since we began in January 2009, and this is in addition to our other commitments.

Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard for this project, and to all who supported it. Keep up the good work!