Month: September 2010

John Chestnut and his cousin Andrew Service are cycling 4,112 miles across America, starting in September and finishing in December, in aid of Christian Aid.

Their journey will start in Seattle, Washington on 27 September, before heading down the Pacific Coast through San Francisco to Los Angeles.  From there they head across the desert to Phoenix, before moving through Texas and the Gulf coast until they reach the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of Florida.  They will be doing this trip unsupported by any backup teams and will be camping along the way.  They hope to finish in Jacksonville, Florida on 20 December.

If you would like to sponsor this mammoth undertaking in support of Christian Aid, they have set up a JustGiving account to collect donations at http://www.justgiving.com/fourlegstwobumsandafewthousandmile

To celebrate their 120th anniversary the Guild is seeking to fill 120 shoeboxes for the Blythswood Christmas Appeal.   The shoeboxes can be for children, teenagers or adults of either sex.

Don’t worry if you can’t fill a shoebox,  donations of empty shoeboxes are also welcome as are cash donations towards the cost of the contents.  Please see Margaret Ross, Alison Dartnell or Jennifer Laird for further details.

This year is the 20th anniversary of Borderline, the charity which supports homeless and insecurely housed first and second generation Scots in London.  The congregation has been generous in its support of Borderline over the years.

On 3 October, Willie Docherty, Chief Executive, will be running in the Loch Ness Marathon in support of Borderline.  There is a sponsorship form on the notice board in the hall so please sign up to support him in this effort.  You can also sign up for the 300 Club by setting up a regular standing order.  For more information call Ross on 020 7240 3718

The Organist and choir members would like to thank members of the congregation for their positive comments from time to time.  It is always good to know that our contribution to the worship is appreciated.

With the approach of autumn and the thought of starting new things, even for those of us who are not involved with school or college, why not take the opportunity to consider if you – or someone you know –  would like to join the choir.  The group is not large at the moment and it would be nice to have some additional singers to enjoy singing more music and to make it easier to manage when holidays and work keep people away.

Over the coming months special events include the Harvest Festival, Advent, the visit of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and, of course, Christmas with the Canadian Women’s Club carol service, the Gordonstoun School carol service, our own Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, the Watchnight Service on Christmas Eve and the Christmas Day service.

The ability to sight-sing is not necessary; all we ask is that you enjoy singing.  The choir meets to practise every Wednesday at 7.15pm and on Sundays at 10.45am before the service so there is plenty of opportunity for note-bashing!  If you would like to join the choir please speak to the Organist or a member of the choir any Sunday, or just come along one Wednesday evening.