OUR LINKS WITH THE COMMUNITY and OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY


Our Church Hall is used by many organisations, all with strong Kirk affiliations. However, our premises are also home to a variety of other groups, either on a weekly, monthly, or "one-off" basis.

FOR EXAMPLE:-
1. Each week the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous has its meetings in the Sun Lounge and uses the kitchen for cups of tea. This arrangement seems to work well.
 
2. The Young Farmers (J.A.C.) use our hall for club nights, and rehearse for their annual concerts.

3. We have a close association with B.L.E.S. (Blackburn Local Employment Scheme). One of our elders, John Ewart, manages this initiative. Some of the projects have been most beneficial to our Church and have provided much needed work experience for the young people involved; the alliance has proved to be most successful.

4.Each year our Church holds a Christmas lunch for Senior Citizen members and friends in Blackburn and Seafield. The food provided is beautifully cooked by Tom Stockman, one of our elders.

5.Like many Churches, we support Christian Aid and before Christian Aid week, our Session Clerk, Anna, organises the special envelopes. We have been fortunate in having so many willing helpers going from door to door collecting for this very necessary cause, BUT it would be good to have a few more!!  

6. Still on this theme, we support the Earl Haig fund and some other good causes as the need arises. We also try to support Isobel Brown, our Prayer Secretary, in her dual role as our contact with the Bible Society, especially now, as help is greatly needed for beleaguered Christians in the Lebanon.

7. Once a month there is a short service held in Almondvale Gardens, which is much enjoyed by the residents. Do come and join in.

8. Another "Outreach" project has been the rental of a mini-bus to bring folk from Seafield and parts of Blackburn to the Kirk. Jim Robertson is responsible for the collection and driving of the bus. He has a few relief drivers, but he desperately needs more. Are you a good driver? Would you be able to help now and again?

9. Our minister, Robert, is chaplain to several schools in the area. Unfortunately, "the powers that be" seem determined to erase Christianity from the curriculum, so we are delighted that Robert can still go to our schools and tell the children the wonderful story of Jesus and His love.

10. Our Social Responsibility is not only confined to helping locally. We continue to support our partner Church in Riamukurwe, Kenya, sending them much-needed funds for the orphanage there.

11. Last year we sent 125 Christmas boxes to families in Romania.

This is a brief insight into some of the wider work of this congregation. As ever, extra help is ALWAYS needed, so don't let your talents go to waste!!! REMEMBER, OUR LIGHT'S OAN, AND THERE'S AYE SOMEBUDDY  IN!!!!