Happy New Year
Thursday, January 12th, 2012Hurray and Halleluiah! . After an absence of three years Kilmeny Church was at last able to hold the Carol Evening on a fine clear night with no snow. We are grateful to the youngsters of Islay High School Wind Band for coming along to accompany the well-known Christmas carols under the leadership of their dedicated instructor Scott McDermott. The church looked so attractive in candlelight with the fairy lights twinkling away on the tree and nothing was set alight.
The goodly sized congregation sang with enthusiasm and members of Kilmeny read lessons and poems. The evening was led by Rev Angus Morrison and Jim McNulty of the Islay Baptist Church, both of whom did a first-rate job. Once the singing was over the hospitality continued with tea, sandwiches and cakes after which people eventually began to wend their way home. We are extremely grateful to the members of the Band, to the folk who made and served the food and especially to Rev Angus Morrison who thought he had retired, but is very willing to help as much as he can, and to Jim NcNulty who already had had an afternoon of carol singing before coming up the road.
And after a two year absence we were able to welcome the children, parents and staff of Keills School to the church for their Christmas Assembly on the last day of term. It may have been a dreich day but it was very suitable for the children to walk from the main road. The children did the school proud with their story of the first nativity and singing of carols. After the service they were presented with a Christmas card and activity pack by the Church and off they, their parents and the staff went to enjoy the holiday.
Christmas Day saw a very good congregation come for a service of Lessons and Carols taken by the Elders. Again it was a fine day for travelling and we at last have managed to hold all the church Christmas events without let or hindrance ie weather. Deo gratias
Portnahaven held a successful Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve with tea and fellowship afterwards which everyone stayed behind for On Christmas Day the service was again one of Lessons and Carols, none of which had been sung the previous day. Again, these were led by the Elders and everyone went home happy having felt that it was actually Christmas Day with its true meaning being observed. The Advent Candles were lit on both occasions, 4 on Christmas Eve and 5 on Christmas Day.
New Year’s Day was special in Portnahaven when the Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated with the service conducted by Rev Angus Morrison, while in Kilmeny the service was again led by the Elders.
St Kiaran’s also had successful Watchnight, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day services led by members of the Worship Team. Now that we are into a new year we will continue to have worship services in each of the three churches while the Nominating Committee searches for a Minister for our charge.