It seems incredible that it is well over a year since Lyall and Isabel sold their home in Aberdeenshire and moved to Caithness. Since then they have increasingly got involved in a huge number of things in our parish - and Lyall is looking after Dunnet and Keiss as well! We are very grateful for his energy and vision and see in him an example of real commitment. Thanks, Lyall - and thanks too, Isabel. We thank God for both of them.
Esme Duncan
Canisbay Sunday Club
Canisbay Sunday Club had a glorious day for their annual joint picnic on Dunnet Sands in June. We enjoyed paddling, sandcastle building, games and a great picnic! Since returning after the Summer break we organised and did a charity water walk to raise funds for our World Vision child that we support. Our child, Mariam Elia Mduma, lives with her family in Tanzania and she has to fetch water for her family every day so we thought we could try to carry some water for a short distance and ask for donations. It was a very windy day but we enjoyed being together for a great cause. Gillian Dunnet
Dear Friends,
The months have rolled past and we are well into Autumn. With Autumn comes this Newsletter and our Annual Appeal. As always we depend on the generosity of everyone who values Canisbay Church within our community. Gifts placed in the accompanying envelope may be left at the local Post Office or handed to a member of the Congregational Board. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Canisbay Church’. Tax payers: see below.
During the summer two very different events happened in the life of our congregation. Jeanne Sutherland who has been greatly involved in our church for twelve years and who was Session Clerk since 2005 moved back to Mull. We miss her greatly and are only gradually discovering some of the things for which she quietly took responsibility.
We are all very grateful to her for what she did so willingly both in the church and in the community. Naturally she continues to be very interested in what is happening in Canisbay Church and we keep her up to date.
At the beginning of August we held our Flower Festival. Christine Shearer organised this and together with a number of talented and hard-working people the Church was decorated so beautifully that folk are still talking about it. Teas were served in the church hall and a wonderful time of fellowship and friendship was enjoyed. Although Christine and some of her team worked through the night before the Festival opened, they are already thinking about next year. Watch this space!
We have been encouraged to welcome new people to our congregation and we feel that we are growing. Please be assured of a warm welcome.
One outcome of Jeanne’s departure is that I have become Session Clerk, at least for the immediate future. I’m enjoying working with Lyall: I became friends with Lyall and Isabel when Lyall and I started on training for the Readership more than sixteen years ago. Little did we guess where we would end up!!
Along with the Office bearers I offer you and your family our best wishes.
Esme Duncan.
WHAT’S MISSING? U R! come and join us when you can!
A couple of new ventures have started……
CRAFT GROUP
On Wednesday afternoons from 2 – 4 pm, we have a craft group in the church hall.
It is an opportunity to learn a new craft, knit for charity, or bring your own work. Or why not just drop in for a cup of tea and a blether!
All Ages are welcome to this ‘informal’ get together. You don’t have to commit to every week, just come when you can.
For further information contact Isabel on 611756.
YOUTH GROUP
The Youth Group meets in the church hall on Friday nights from 7 – 9 pm. Various activities including arts and crafts, drama, music and baking are enjoyed by the group, which is open to Primary 6/7 and secondary 1/2.
For further information contact Lyall on 611756.
And a long established one continues under new leadership ….
SOUP AND SWEET LUNCH
The soup and sweet lunch runs all year on Thursdays from 12.30 – 2 pm in the church hall.
We are grateful to June Knox and Jean Thompson who are helping in the organisation of this.
All are welcome. Anyone wishing to help or for more information contact Isabel on 611756.
CANISBAY GUILD
Our new Session commenced with a delicious meal at The Castletown Hotel. Several of our members were away from home but three brave men accompanied their wives so that Lyall wasn’t the only man present! The theme for the new session is ‘Called to love mercy’ and some of our monthly meetings will focus on aspects of forgiveness. We meet in the church hall at 7.30pm usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month and are always happy to welcome women and men who feel like looking in to see what we are about. We enjoy friendship and fellowship, support very worthwhile Projects, have fun … and meetings end with refreshments, usually with cake! How about coming?
Esme (611455)
DIARY DATES
November 7 Communion Service
14 Armistice Service at 12 noon preceded by short services at the War Memorials as usual.
28 Service with members of the Guild marking the end of Guild Week
December 12 Christmas Praise in John O’Groats Hall
19 All Age Christmas Service with our Sunday Club and Youth Group
24 Christmas Eve Watchnight Service in Keiss Church at 11.30pm.
25 Christmas Day - Short All Age Service in Canisbay Church at 11.00am.
THE LOCKED CHURCH …. He walked up the path to the beautiful church. A quiet time, alone with God, a time of peace, a time to collect his thoughts. But when he reached the door and turned the handle, he found the door was locked. Then he saw the piece of paper pinned to the door. ‘Sorry, I’m not here. I’m out there. God.’
A word (or more!) from Keith Muir (our Treasurer) …..
Yes folks, it is that time of year again when we are looking long and hard at our finances and asking our friends to do what they can to support us.
§Did you know that just to stand still, we need to raise around £15,000 a year?
That is a big ask in a very small community like ours, and as ever we are extremely grateful to all of you who have helped us throughout the past year, whether through donations of money, time and expertise, or through helping in fund-raising.
§If we have more, we can do more!!
As a living, vibrant Church at the heart of our community, we have no interest in accumulating money for its own sake, and every penny we can raise will go to support the Church in its work throughout our community and beyond.
§How can I help?
There are a number of ways in which you can help us in our work. Whilst we are always glad of money, we also need your practical skills, your time and your energy, so do please get involved – just ask any of the office-bearers, or why not come along any Sunday, say hello and take it from there.
§Have you thought about Gift Aid?
This is a cracking good wheeze which allows us to add tax relief to anything you are able to give us. Whilst we value any donation from any source, if you can help us to claim the extra – well, so much the better. Just pop a note of your name and address in with any donation and we’ll do the rest!
§Standing Orders make life easy!
Many of our supporters choose to donate regularly by setting up standing orders with their banks – it makes life easy for them and for us, especially if we can claim Gift Aid to add to their contributions!
§For more information please contact Keith on 01955 611268 or any member of the Board.
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Interim Moderator: Rev Alastair Gray Watten Manse 621220
Locum Minister: Lyall Rennie Canisbay Manse 611756
Session Clerk: Esme Duncan Avalon, Canisbay 611455
Treasurer: Keith Muir 2 Houston Drive, Canisbay 611268
