Church Organisations
Kirk Session
The Kirk Session is the body which oversees the spiritual life of the congregation. Working with the Minister, they are required to see to the Christian Education of the Parish, to ensure that services of worship are conducted regularly and in accordance with the practice of the Church of Scotland.
The Session Clerk, Jean Sommerville is responsible for keeping the Kirk Session Records. Since the Kirk Session is a court of the land, she has similar powers, in some respects, to a legal clerk. She is expected to help keep the Minister within the law of the Kirk, and to assist him (or her) in dealing with the routine business of the Church. Jean is also the Church's Child Protection Coordinator.
Sunday Club
Sunday Club is the name given to the time when our young people go out of the church and across to the Hall for their own activities. We consider it important to provide a time for young people to learn what the Bible teaches and what being a follower of Jesus Christ means. Our young people start and end their worship in the church but go to the Hall usually at the end of the second hymn and return in time for them to bring their offering forward with the one taken up in the church.
Congregational Board
Under the model constitution of the Church of Scotland, the Congregational Board is responsible for the financial affairs of the church. They oversee the collection of funds which are in the main remitted to Church Headquarters in Edinburgh. These funds cover the cost of the local ministry - Minister's stipend and travelling expenses, and the cost of the Manse, and a contribution towards the wider work of the church both nationally and internationally.
Lunch Club
On the first Wednesday of every month except January, a lunch club runs in Kirkoswald Parish Church Hall. This is open to anyone who wishes to come and aims to provide a good value meal and a chance for a blether for all participants. Two teams of staff run it on alternate months and both are always on the look-out for new helpers. Come along and enjoy.
The Guild
Nationally, The Church of Scotland Guild represents a significant number of people is often approached to comment on reports and issues by Government, press and other organisations. It is largely composed of women, but is open to all.
It expresses the faith of the Church through invitation, encouragement and commitment. It provides opportunities for continuing growth in the faith through worship - which is an essential ingredient in all meetings and activities - prayer -which underpins everything - and is a means of involving those members who cannot participate in other ways - and action - which means living out the faith through project work, exploration of the discussion topics and local involvement of groups and individual members in various aspects of Christian service.
The Guild at Kirkoswald meets on the first Tuesday of every month from October to March. Meetings are open to all.
The Guild's Convener is Mrs Nan Wilkinson, Manse of Kirkoswald, Kirk Brae, Kirkoswald. Telephone (01655) 760210. The Vice Convener is Mrs Jean Sommerville of 16 Baineshill Drive, Maidens. Telephone (01655) 331359.
The Churches of South Carrick
The area defined as 'South Carrick' includes the (Church of Scotland) parishes of Kirkoswald, Girvan North, Girvan South, Barr, Dailly, Arnsheen Barrhill, Colmonnell and Ballantrae. These churches co-operate, frequently also with all the other denominations in the area - The Scottish Episcopal Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Baptist Church - to organise local events and activities. These range from supporting charities such as the Macmillan Cancer Charity and the Children's Hospice Association Scotland, to running a Festival of Faith from time to time, and from Christian Aid activities to Holy Week services.
Festival of Faith
From time to time, the Churches of South Carrick get together in a Festival of Faith that can include workshops, interviews, worship, religious music, charity fund-raising events and other activities.
Christian Aid
Kirkoswald Parish Church, together with all the other churches in South Carrick, supports the work of Christian Aid in a variety of ways throughout the year. Christian Aid and Christian Aid Scotland work throughout the world. Their aid is provided in accordance with the instructions of Christ, but is neither exclusively for Christians nor aimed at securing converts except through the witness of living by Christian principles. Both organisations are also active in education in this country, to help people understand what life is like in a debt-ridden, third world country, where many of the things we take for granted just don't exist - not just TV or computer games, but more basic things, like the right to be educated, the right to have access to a clean water supply, and to be paid fairly for work done. The churches publicise the work of Christian Aid throughout the year and especially in Christian Aid Week
Macmillan Cancer Support
In the UK four in ten people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Macmillan Cancer Support has a goal of ensuring that everyone in the UK has equal and ready access to the best information, treatment and care for cancer. To achieve that goal, it funds services such as Macmillan nurses and doctors, patient information and grants, and Macmillan centres - places where information, support, treatment and care are provided. To raise funds there are cards, charity shops and lots of events.
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and Gospel literature. The program provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project that reaches out to suffering children while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas-Jesus Christ, God's greatest gift. In 2000, over 4 million shoe boxes were collected worldwide and distributed to children in more than 75 countries.
Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)
The Childrens Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a Scottish charity and a company limited by guarantee. CHAS was founded in 1992 by a small group of parents and professionals who understood the needs of children with life limiting conditions and their families. Their aim was to provide hospice services in Scotland to children and their families in line with need and demand. At this time Scotland had no children's hospice, forcing families to make long journeys south of the border with their sick children to receive the support and practical help that only a children's hospice can offer. In 1993 with the support of the Scottish Office, CHAS embarked on a programme of public, corporate and professional awareness raising to secure the funds to create Scotland's first children's hospice. At that point the charity was entirely dependent on volunteer support. Volunteers remain a key resource for CHAS and are involved in all areas of the organisation.
