29.9.20 Communion Sunday Retiral Offering
During the course of the year a number of Sunday Services are chosen for a retiral offering in respect of our agreed charities which, this year, are:
St Vincent’s Hospice
Home-Start (Renfrewshire and Inverclyde)
Erskine Home/SSAFA (Remembrance Sunday)
Mwandi Milk Project
Due to the current restrictions there have been no collections. However, it is intended to give everyone the opportunity to donate either online via the ‘retiral offering’ button in the charities section of the Kirk website homepage or at the Foodbank point in the West Halls on Tuesday 6 October.
This is a particularly challenging time for all charities and your support will be most welcome.
Loving……Caring……Sharing….
Next Sunday, 4 October is our Harvest and Communion Sunday Service. The service will be posted online on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. where you can share your own bread and wine if you wish.
Sunday Morning
Between 10 00 and 12 noon we are having a ‘drive through’ communion where you can walk or drive past the Church and the Minister will distribute the elements (in a self contained sealed cup). In order for it to work, we will operate a one-way system by coming down North Street towards the Kirk and leave along Kirk Road!
Hope to see a few of you in person...‘these are the gifts of God, for the people of God’
Loving...Caring...sharing...
28.9.20 Beatson Cancer Charity Fundraiser
A huge thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged and sponsored our charity cycle.
The legs have all recovered, we got a sunny day, shared a few laughs, supported each other...but most importantly raised almost £3,000 for the charity.
This is alongside our friends at Gryffe High School who have also raised over £1000 for the charity this weekend with their 3k runs...a fantastic effort!
Loving...Caring...Sharing!!!
Thank you ❤️
24.9.20 Midweek Service Podcast
Wednesday's service is available by clicking on date/title box and appears on the usual Podcast webpage. Please note that no congregational singing took place in line with the Scottish Government's Coronavirus Legislation and the first hymn was recorded from the service of Sunday 7 July 2019.
"Having attended Wednesday’s service, I thought I would share my experience with you as I’m sure many of you are wondering “how did it go?”! I had the pleasure of being on the duty team which gave us the responsibility of ensuring the safety of everyone attending, following the guidelines from the CoS risk assessments to the letter, and hopefully, provide a warm welcome and alleviate any underlying anxieties!
It was a morning filled with emotions - nerves, anxiety, anticipation, excitement, happiness, love, and we gained strength and support from everyone attending. While it was strange sitting listening to the organ playing the hymns, singing them into yourself, behind your mask, it was also wonderful to be there doing just that. Everyone in attendance was considerate and caring adhering to social distancing guidelines.
It goes without saying that Gary’s prayers and reflection were powerful and moving, and we appreciate all the effort that has been done “behind the scenes” to enable us to take this first positive step back to some normality in our community.
I know some of you will not feel comfortable attending, or are unable to attend for many reasons, but for those of you who are considering it, I hope this post may give you some reassurance and encouragement to take that step."
Gillian McFarlane
Thank you to all who donated bulbs and seeds for Adams House Care Home. We took them along to Adam's House yesterday together with the planters that the Kirk donated for green fingered residents to enjoy planting!
Please click on the date/title box to view then click on the photo to use the arrows to advance to the other two photos.
Loving...Caring...Sharing!!🌷🌱🌷🌱🌷🌱
After a long wait, we are returning to the Kirk!
We will be having a short service weekly on a Wednesday 1130-1200, starting next week (23 September) but things will look very different.
There is a limit on the number of people who can attend so please click on the date/title box for details
14.9.20 Renfrewshire Foodbank
18,000 Meals Donated by Houston Community
Yes, in the 6 months since the start of Lockdown, Foodbank donations at the West Halls have provided over 18,000 meals for those dependent on the Renfrewshire Foodbank. This may be described as “very generous, incredible, phenomenal, dedicated support.”
However, it’s best to quote Elizabeth Alexander, Foodbank Manager: “What a wonderful effort from the good people of Houston. Your support is helping to make sure we can provide parcels of food which contain a good variety of meals and some treats for everyone and the toiletries and cleaning items people need too. We see, on a daily basis, the relief this gives to those people who need our help.”
Sadly, these people continue to need the support of the Foodbank and the donations from those in the Houston Community and other areas of Renfrewshire. We have set the bar very high and our challenge is to strive to continue this phenomenal support. We can do it!
Loving!!! Caring!!! Sharing!!!
7.9.20 Scottish Huntingdon's Association Fundraising
I am again doing a Walk of Hope at Erskine on 12/09/2020 to raise money for Scottish Huntington's Association. These are very difficult times for all charities and we need support more than ever. I would really appreciate your help. We will have fewer attending the walk this year and will comply with social distancing requirements.
Donating to my JustGiving page is easy - just click on the date/title box or the SHA button at the top of the homepage.
Thank you.
Margaret
25.8.20 Solar Calculators for Mwandi
Each year we send solar scientific calculators for senior maths students in Mwandi in Zambia. This gives them a better chance of good grades in their exams and generally better life chances.
Our missionary partner, Keith Waddell, was a maths teacher and so is very keen to help this group of students and we get a very good deal on a bulk buy - just less than £5 per calculator including postage to Mwandi.
The students are always very grateful for our gift and although schools in Zambia were closed at the beginning of the pandemic, they are open now and end of year exams will go ahead.
You can give in 2 ways :
1. The box at the foodbank collection on Tuesdays in September
or
2. The Mwandi Calculators button at the top of the HOMEPAGE
Thank you, in advance, for your donation.
21.8.20 Sing-a-long
Isabel Thompson is one of our lovely regulars at "Come Zoom with Me!" our dementia inclusive weekly sing-along. She keeps us all well entertained with her fabulous dancing and great sense of humour!
Isabel is taking part in this year's Alzheimer Scotland Memory Walk on 19th September 2020 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.
If you would like to support Isabel's fundraising efforts you can donate via the following link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Isabel-Thompson4
or just click on the Alzheimer Scotland button at the top of the homepage.
Loving...Caring...Sharing...!!!
Many of you know David Sweeney who is a member of the Kirk, and his mum Christine was also a member. David is raising funds for MND Scotland. Please read the article and support David and MND Scotland if you can! The neck scarves look fab and could be used as a face covering!
Please click on the date/title box to view the MND article.
3.6.20 Standing Order & Gift Aid Forms
If you are unable to print out the form(s) we would be very happy to deliver the printed forms to your home.
Please contact Kay Farley on
(01505) 613314 or email: mikeandkayfarley@btinternet.com
These details will remain on the Standing Order and Gift Aid Form pages of the website.
A few people have been asking how they can continue to give their offering/donate when not in church.
There are a few ways to do this:
(a) set up a standing order
(b) give online
(c) for those who give by WFO envelopes - these can be handed in to the West Halls on a Tuesday 10 -12 noon and 7-8 p.m. during the Foodbank collections. There will be a box available to deposit.
Please click on the date/title box or button on homepage (Weekly Offerings) to access the methods of giving.
While we can’t meet in the church, we are being Church more than ever before and we are grateful to everyone for their support!
If anyone would be willing to record a short video, reading the scripture for our recorded service on a Sunday, please send a message on this page or email the Minister
You don’t need to be a member, or even live here, and can be any age, you just need to be able to video record two readings and send them in by a Thursday.
3.9.20 Church Magazine
Copy date is Friday 16 October for publication on Sunday 1 November