Glencairn & St Ninians Church
Minister's Musings
Christine Sime 01387 820245
Saint Ninians
Although two very distinct parishes, Glencairn and Dunscore are connected not least through the church. This provides challenges for those involved in both, but also great opportunities.
We share ideas, and resources; we go along to each other's events (both to support and also to discover some great ideas that can be used).
One joint project started ten years ago was Rock Solid - a group for p7 (or 11 year olds) to S3 (14 year olds or thereabouts). Run on the basis of some games - both run-around and silly - with discussion and chat round a particular topic; culminating in food provided for us by so many generous folks of the parishes. Each week there is a theme, and there is a Christian perspective offered on that theme.
A Glencairn initiative which has attracted the attention of folks from Dunscore – well there are quite a number! For example: Our Saturday lunches, the Toy Library, the Bells of St. Ninian's, the Paterson Rooms, our proposed new window at Glencairn, the Book Club.
We gain so much when we are willing to share and work together. Life… faith… should not be a matter of competition, but of building the best we can in community and church together.
Christine
Background
Glencairn Church, Kirkland
The two churches of Glencairn & Moniaive Parish look very different, both inside and out. Glencairn Kirk is the Parish church, this particular building being built in 1836, but previous buildings date back to the twelfth century. The gable ends of this Kirk still standing in the Kirkyard. The site of the Church is said to be where St Cuthbert visited and worshipped in the seventh century. The church that stands there today has just had major restoration work done on stonework, the roof, the pinnacles and the bell tower.
Much of the money for his was raised locally, we also received large grants from Historic Scotland, The Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust, the Baird Trust, and Solway Heritage.
The bell tower was completed, and after many years lying redundant the bell was rehung in time to ring in the year 2000.
We are looking now to the future, and to the renovation required inside.
St Ninian's was built as a mission hall in 1887 and lies in the centre of the village. It has been used as a church form some years now, and offers a very adaptable space where we can worship, socialise, have sales and fund raisers, and have meetings.
In recent years it has seen the addition of a kitchen on 1968, recently modernised; a new coat of paint, and a ramp to help the less-abled access the building.
The churches look different yet are exactly the same. Forboth are used for worship which is the whole hub of our being ..to worship God. And the folks of Glencairnparish come along to offer their praise and thanks to God, and to encourage one another.
Our Sunday School is small, but very important to us all. They join us for the first part of the service each week, before going off to their own worship and learning.
Our Sunday School have just started their preparations for the Nativity service - 23rd Dec at 10am in Glencairn which is the larger of our two churches - we have plenty room for all. Hope you can come.
We also have a joint youth group with Dunscore. Rock Solid is for 11 - 14 year olds and the majority of youngster who come along are from families who don't generally come to church. We have games around a theme, with a short Christian input to draw that theme together. The biggest draw however is probably the food! Volunteers from both congregations supply food each week, from soup and rolls, to pizza, to chips, to doughnuts and there is never much left!
We have two Bible Study groups, and a prayer secretary who produces a prayer Diary for us each month.
We may not be the biggest church around, and maybe we are not the brightest or the best - maybe - but our hope is that we offer a positive way of life through Jesus, such that others will be attracted to Christ as we allow his light to shine, and that somewhere and somehow we will make a difference in the community.
