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Dingwall Castle Street
Church of Scotland
Achievements and
Performance 2011
Worship:
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The average
attendance at morning service remains at approximately 90, and
approximately 35 at the evening service. This year it was
decided to hold all the Evening Services in the hall apart from
special occasions. This was (a) in order to cut heating costs,
and (b) give an opportunity for more informal times of worship.
During 2011 the teaching on Sundays has been on: The Lord’s
Prayer, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, Mark’s Gospel, John’s
Gospel, and the Book of Revelation.
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Members of the
congregation regularly read the lessons, and occasionally lead
in prayer. Mike Power, a student at HTC who was enquiring
concerning CofS ministry was involved in the life of the
congregation until May. Since October Farquhar Forbes, also a
CofS candidate for the ministry has been placed with the
congregation.
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The organists and
singing group continue to enhance worship as they lead the
praise, and this group has grown slightly in numbers.
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The weekly Bible
Study and Prayer group is attended by 15-20 people per meeting.
Joint Prayer Meetings have continued to be held regularly with
the Free Church. The format has varied, with direct teaching;
DVDs plus discussions; missionary meetings, etc. The main
teaching has been on John 17 and First Corinthians.
Children & Young People
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There is a small
Sunday School and crèche available each Sunday.
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A Youth Fellowship
started in September and is a very lively group of 6 teenagers
plus 3 regular leaders: the main focus has been hearing from
various Christian people about their faith, Bible Study,
Singing, and Fun.
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The Ignition Youth
Group has had to go into abeyance since the Youth Leaders were
unable to stay in Scotland, but it is hoped to restart this
soon.
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After a year of
careful planning the Kirk Session appointed Yvonne Fraser as our
Family Worker: she started in December. Yvonne’s focus will be
ministry to young families: an area in which we are weak at
present. This is funded through monies saved by the congregation
in the past few years.
Pastoral Care:
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The congregation
provides the ordinances of religion to the congregation and
parish.
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The minister and
elders give support and pastoral care to any within the
congregation and parish area who need assistance.
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Any in the
congregation or parish area needing help at times of bereavement
have full access to the resources of the work of the
congregation.
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A few members also
take part in Hospital visiting schemes.
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The minister is
chaplain to St. Clements Special Needs School, plus visiting
Dingwall Primary School. St. Clements School comes to church for
Christmas and Easter Services, and the minister takes monthly
assemblies.
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In 2010 the Kirk
Session agreed to a new project, called The Well, which
focuses on providing a place for pastoral help. This has run
since January 2011 with four appointed helpers who run it on a
rota basis. A steady number of folk have come along and been
helped.
Ecumenical Activities:
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A joint service was
held with St Clements Church of Scotland to mark Guild week.
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The congregation
took part with other local churches in Christian Aid week,
co-ordinating church collections, and running a Quiz Night to
raise funds to help with Disaster Relief in East Africa.
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The joint Christian
Aid service was held in 2011 in Castle Street Church. Christian
Aid collections were held during Christian Aid week.
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The ecumenical carol
service in the Town Hall was well attended.
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Joint prayer
meetings with the Free Church continued.
Regular Activities:
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Between 20 and 25
ladies attend the Guild, with occasional visits by male members
of the congregation.
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The Parent and
Toddler Group has not yet restarted, but plans are advancing for
it and a Mums and Babies Group to start in 2012.
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The congregation
continues to run a weekly coffee morning which is well attended
by both members of the congregation and the general public, and
produces generous donations to Church funds.
Special Activities
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Members of the
congregation continue to assist the organisation Friendship
International, which does work among the poor and orphans in
Romania.
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A member of the
congregation went to Romania in May to assist with the further
construction of facilities run by Friendship International.
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The congregation
again hosted a music concert at which the New Song choir
of Friendship International took part. This was on the
evening of Easter Sunday when several congregations came along.
The attendance at the concert was excellent.
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Eilidh Wilkinson, a
member of the congregation, has started work with the music
ministry of Friendship International.
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The Congregation
continued to support the Blythswood organisation through
participating in the Shoebox Scheme, and providing food for the
Highland Foodbank for those in critical need.
The Balaka Partnership
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The congregation
continues to be formally partnered with Balaka church in Malawi
through the Church of Scotland partnership scheme. This
partnership involves education, mutual assistance, exchange
visits, involvement in spiritual and environmental projects, and
fostering Scotland-Malawi links.
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By September 2011
the congregation reached its goal of raising £5000 to help
Balaka CCAP with its programmes.
Special Collections
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Special collections
were donated to: The War Blinded, Zomba Theological College in
Malawi, The Botha’s work in Ekwendeni in Malawi, the Church of
Scotland World Mission Fund, Christian Aid, Balaka, Highland
Theological College, WEC, Blythswood, and other good causes.
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