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Church Magazine 

 
Sunday Services dependant on Area Restrictions Auchincruive OR Dalmilling OR Online
In Church at 10:30 a.m. Auchincruive or Dalmilling on Alternate Sundays
MINISTER Tel: 01292 861641 Rev John McCutcheon
SESSION CLERK Tel: 01292 315 529 David McMahon

Minister’s Letter

Probably one of the most used phrases since March has been “It’s been some year” or something similar. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting my first year as Minister of St Quivox to be like. And we will all have our own thoughts and memories of what this year has meant for us. There will be things that we remember and other things that we want to forget.
It can be easy to overlook the significance of Christmas at times such as these because we become focussed on other things. But it is worth reminding ourselves that it was for moments such as this that Jesus came into the world to show the love of God to His people. He came as a reminder to us that we had not been forgotten about and didn’t have to go through things on our own. Christmas is the assurance that the promises of the past and the love that is offered are there to be experienced rather than merely read about and believed.
Zoom meetings have become a focus for keeping us together and allowing groups such as the Kirk Session to meet and carry on the business of the Church. It does have many advantages. However, the one draw back to it is that not everyone is able to join in. If you don’t have IT in any capacity you are unable to be part of the Zoom meeting. And everyone that takes part are all agreed that whilst these meetings are good, it is always better doing things face to face.
Such is the story of Christmas; God, in Jesus came to meet us face to face to tell us just how much we are valued and loved.
This Christmas may not be ‘like the ones we used to know’, but may we still draw strength and be encouraged that the Christmas message never changes despite our circumstances, and despite what may be going on in the world today.
Love came down at Christmas, coming as a light that the darkness has been unable to put out.
In the struggles that we face and the worries we may have about not
being able to meet loved ones, in some small way, may be find strength in knowing that we are loved, we haven’t been forgotten about, and that “the hopes and fears of all the years, are met in you tonight”.
For all of you, may your Christmas be a time of experiencing Love, Joy, Peace and Hope.
Merry Christmas John

Also

Can I just record my appreciation to everyone in the church who has stuck with us over the last year. A lot of effort and the learning of new skills has taken place to reopen the church in physical and virtual forms, most of which has happened behind the scenes, and is probably not fully appreciated by everyone. So thanks to everyone for the sacrifices that have been made. These are the things that make us the people and community that we are.
Also, for all those who have been unable to get out or have decided to wait until things get better, you are not forgotten about either. We are all looking forward to the first service when we are all united again under one roof, united in God’s love, united with each other.
But until then, take care, stay safe and be kind to yourself and one another.
John

Treasurer's Report
It has been a very difficult year for us financially. Our Income so far is only 81% of our Budget and considerably down on last year. We have not been able to have any Fund Raising events this year and virtually no Fabric envelopes received. Things picked up a bit when the Church re-opened and we received some FWO envelopes and the Dance Group re-started but now as the Church has closed again this Income will not continue.
Much of our Expenditure remains constant and outwith our control. The “bottom-line” is that overall our total Income against our total Payments is short by £0.97 per week per member and somehow we need to get our Income up a bit. We will shortly be preparing our Budget for next year which will give us a better idea of where we stand and where we’re going.
Colin Mutch Treasurer
If you want to find out more about us then why not visit :
http://www.ayrstquivox.com/

Correspondence
​
I've just had an email from a Professor Martin in Durham who is researching Lady Jane Munro née Cambell, who is buried in the Playfair Mausoleum in the Auchincruive Churchyard. She was one of the Campbells of Craigie. He had watched our video for the Doors Open Day and got in touch with me via YouTube. What he says is very interesting and I thought it might be something that people might like to read about in the magazine.
This is what Professor Martin writes.
"Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to make this delightful and spiritual film. The focus of the curved pews is lovely. I am researching Lady Jane Munro, née Campbell, (1790-1850), whose monument is in the Playfair mausoleum. She was very highly thought of and almost certainly a pillar in reforming education in Regency India for girls and boys, Hindus and Muslims. She would have sat in the Craigie pew as a child, but I have no doubt that she was no stranger to altruism and the common touch. Do please look at her portrait - she deserves to be a lot better known: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw04578/Jane- Lady-Munro"
I have written back to him with a photo of her tomb in the Mausoleum.
Yours, Eileen

Update from Paul

I hope you are all well. I never expected ‘lockdown’ to go on this long. It’s been a bizarre year! Great year too though. In February, Suzanne and I, welcomed our little boy Zachary in to the world. You may have seen him at the church. He is doing great and his mum is doing well too. Suzanne’s health wasn’t great for most of lockdown, but she seems to be recovering well now.
I was furloughed for 3 full months and then back part time, July to September, and now full time again since November 2nd.
The work we were doing has suffered. Our 2 weekly groups (127 after school club and Wild Rhythm music group) and our monthly ‘Faith Food Fun’ have been cancelled since March. The work we had within the school ended then too as schools across the nation closed.
What’ve I been doing? I have taken Wild Rhythm online, which has resulted in us getting new people attending, as well as connecting with Southcraig School, Belmont. Our numbers have dropped, which I expected as it’s just not suitable for all our clientele.
I’ve been offering support, encouragement and friendship to men from North Ayr, who are in recovery, or seeking to recover, from substance misuse issues.
We have a short time of reflection (via Zoom) on Fridays at 5pm. This has been a great encouragement for all who have attended. Let me know if you want the details to check it out (palgeo@churchofscotland.org.uk or 07494 264103).
I do have plans to get in to Dalmilling Primary and Ayr Academy, but I’m just in the process of ironing out the finer details.
We have been remembering you all and praying for you all during this time. Your prayers for me and our work here in Dalmilling and Ayr North as a whole are much appreciated, and greatly needed.

Paul Algeo


What did you do during lockdown? 

Maybe that will be the question people will ask in the future. Well, Gwyn and I have always had a notion to visit the Western Isles, so we decided to learn Gaelic. We used Duolingo – an online App which uses the ‘throw enough mud against a brick wall, and some of it will stick’ method! LOTS of repetition!
We’ve learned a lot – how to pronounce the word ‘Gaelic’ for one thing! (It’s GAH – lic for Scottish, and GAY – lic, for the Irish, but you probably knew that!)
We also learned that, we actually all use a bit of Gaelic in our everyday speech, in some surprising ways!
Smashing! A Gaelic phrase: ‘is math sin’, pronounced ‘iss ma shin,’ means ‘it is good, this.’ In WW1, the Highland soldiers were heard saying this and it caught on with English speakers to describe....... good things!
‘Galore’ was another word picked up by servicemen during the Great War. ‘gu leòr’ pronounced ‘goo lye-oar’ means enough, sufficient, or plenty. Whisky Galore! Enough for everyone!
Have you ever called a cupboard, a ‘press’? My Gran had a press, which held all her pots and pans, and food in her tenement kitchen in Springburn. You’ve guessed it – Gaelic for cupboard is ‘preas’ ( p. press).
Trousers are ‘briogais’ pronounced breekish. Breeks. A ‘wee doch an’ doris’? ‘Deoch’ is a drink, ‘doras’ is a door. It’s ‘a drink at the door,’ as in ‘one for the road.’
And don’t we often say “that’s the rain on” rather than “it’s raining’? We’re using a Gaelic sentence construction. ‘’Tha an’ t-uisge ann.’ (Ha ann t-ooshg-e awn) It is the (rain) water on.
Uisge (ooshg-e) is water, and uisge beatha, (ooshg-e bay-ah) the
water of life, or whisky. And whisky, of course, is ‘glé mhath’ (glay – va) ‘very good’ – and that’s why one brand is called Glayva!
You might be interested to know about some place names hereabouts. Troon: an t-sròn: (ann tsron) the nose, describes its promontory. Stranraer: an t-sròn reamhar (ann tsron row-ar), the fat nose, has a wider promontory! And Ballantrae: Baile na traigh (bal na try) is ‘the town on the beach’, which it is.
It’s not the easiest of languages. The pronunciation is not easy and certainly not intuitive, as letters which are not there are pronounced, and some letters which are there are not pronounced! So, Alba (Scotland) is pronounced Al-a-ba; Glaschu (Glasgow) is Glas-a-chu); and our personal favourite phrase for ‘soon,’ ‘a dh’aithghearr,’ pronounced ag-igher.
Obh! Obh! (ov,ov) Oh dear! Oh dear!
Well, we’ve still got a way to go with the language. We may not be able yet to book a hotel room for two in Gaelic, but at least we now know how to say that we won’t be playing shinty tomorrow as it will be raining!
Eileen Williams
Being a lowlander I’m ashamed to say the only Gaelic I know has been gleaned from reading then watching the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. Elizabeth Brechany


 Christmas 2020
Are you prepared for this Christmas? Are you ready to forget all your usual traditions and have back up plans in place? Have you gone all out and put up your decorations early this Year?
My family always have Christmas dinner together but unless restrictions are relaxed this will not be happening. We are four households but I’m in a bubble with my niece so counted as three. If we still can't visit other households, I can have dinner with those in my bubble. If you can meet one other household then we can split into two. So, plans are being made for 3 different options and food has been ordered to suit any eventuality.
What about presents? Obviously, we won't be going on our annual shopping spree to Glasgow. That would be breaking rules about travelling outside our council area. We would be unable to all go together in one car or to have a leisurely dinner with a glass or two of wine (except for the driver of course)! Some presents have been bought locally and others online where the right size or type are not available.
My dad used to tell us there was one year he got a torch for Christmas and the following year he got the batteries to go with it. One of my purchases does require batteries and a memory card which fortunately I remembered to get at the time. I am also crocheting blankets for baby doll bunk beds that Jem has asked Santa to bring. I thought I better do this after she asked me to crochet a blanket for Heidi the naughty elf who gets up to all sorts of mischief in her house leading up to Christmas.
Where did that tradition start? According to what I have read the Scout Elf is supposed to help Santa manage ‘the Nice list’ reporting back to him at the North Pole each night with any adventures the family have been having. It seems the Elves have taken on a life of their own and go on their own adventures every night leading up to Christmas.
What about church at this holiest time of the year. Well with the strict distancing required and limits on numbers there will be no Christmas Eve services. As for Christmas Carols, we can forget that with the No Singing Aloud rule.
We cannot complain however for both Muslim and Hindu followers have been unable to participate and gather on some of their special days. COVID-19 is no respecter of race, creed, colour, or religion.
What we all should have though is Faith. Throughout this crisis there have been moments of great self-sacrifice, humanity, compassion, and community in a world which has too often been missing these things. As we look forward in hope with the news of vaccines coming soon let us continue to look out for one another as we slowly return to our lives fully lived.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Elizabeth Brechany

by 1st Dalmilling Brownies Brown Owl Lise Whittle
Since March, all Girlguiding face-to-
face activities have been suspended,
which meant that our Pack Holiday
planned for the end of March was
sadly put on hold. So we had a
Virtual Brownies Sleepover on Zoom instead! We have had a couple more Zoom sessions since then, including a Zoom Pumpkin Party where the girls were invited to wear fancy dress costumes, and join in lots of games from home
The Owls at 1st Dalmilling Brownies are Barn
Owl Karen (aka ‘Karen from Asda’!), my daughter Little Owl, young leader Caitlyn Owl and myself, and we
have stayed in contact with the Brownies since March
with regular weekly activity emails including badge work.
We’re aware that not everyone has home printers, so we
posted the Brownies cards, stamps and a stamp album,
plasticine and colouring sheets, crosswords and word
searches. We completed the Have Adventures theme badge and also the Express Myself theme badge by adapting the programmes so the girls could do it all from home. They have been able to write about themselves, enter a stamp competition, follow yoga pictures, have quizzes and singalongs with their families; we told them about kite flying races in Afghanistan, and looked at garden birds; we included

  some lovely traditional stories like ‘The Gnome’s Garden’, ‘The Moon Has Toothache’, ‘The Flying Dutchman’, and ‘Tottie and The Dolls House’; we found out about wooden peg hinged dolls
(like Tottie, if you know the story), and the Brownies
could design a new Brownie uniform for themselves; they listened to music noticing the speed, volume, pitch and tone, with online links to suggested music ‘The Blue Danube’, ‘Carnival of the Animals’, ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ and ‘Let’s Twist Again’ (Chubby Checker!).
When Mars had a ‘close approach’ in October, we let the girls know how to spot it in the night sky, and Little Owl Lara included a Martian fitness workout, as well as some links to Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’ music, and Mars themed model scene-making craft activities.
As Autumn approached we showed them how to make an indoor pretend campfire, learn why composting is important,
how to press leaves, and gave them ideas of things to
do with fallen leaves – leaf mazes, craft pictures,
model trees, and how to make a leaf identification
display box, clay leaf imprints, dried leaf lacquered
bowls and leaf scrap books. We encouraged them to take a photograph of the same tree every week to see how it changes
during Autumn.
For Remembrance we reminded the Brownies which soldier from the War Memorial was
their special person to remember,
and we asked the girls to paint a
poppy onto a stone to leave at the Memorial. We provided a wreath for Remembrance Day on behalf of the Brownies and Rainbows
We gave the girls some tongue-twisters to try including ‘Betty Botter Bought a Bit o’ Butter’, ‘She Sells Seashells’, and ‘Fresh Fried Fish’! The Brownies were also given a link to follow a Girlguiding badge work activity about vortex and how to make a vortex air cannon to play a game of skittles using it (with paper cups for the skittles). We reminded the girls it’s important to remember to say ‘thank you’ to people, and gave them a chart to fill in for a week.
One of our badge activities was to make
a diorama model representing a scene
with three-dimensional figures, and we
told the Brownies about a YouTube link
online called ‘The Mia Show’ of a young
Brownie-aged girl showing how to build
mountains, make trees, plants, grass, and
flowers, and also a beaver dam, a waterfall, a lake, and a river. This links in with making model railway scenery, and also making a ‘room in a shoe box’ model (which linked in with our instalments of ‘The Dolls House’ story by Rumer Godden), and we found lots of examples for the Brownies.
We have now started the Skills for my Future badge theme. This will include practising at home using tools, working out how to budget for shopping, road safety and cooking – an exciting variety of activities all of which can be done at home.
Earlier in the year, Girlguiding put on a national ‘Festival at Home’ fun day on YouTube, which was very popular. Then Girlguiding Ayrshire South put on a local fun day on their Facebook page to celebrate the Girlguide Centre at Nether Auchendrane’s 60th birthday. The event had over 900 hits on the site, which shows how popular it was!



Girlguiding are now arranging a free online
pantomime show on YouTube. It’s called
‘Sisterhood in the Wood’ and will be first
shown on Saturday 5th December at 4.00pm,
and will be available to see again afterwards
on YouTube. It’s a tale of excitement, fun and
friendship, complete with dancing and ways
to get involved from home. You don’t have to
be a member of Girlguiding to watch it, so please feel welcome to join us on the Girlguiding YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/ user/girlguiding
We’re planning to have a virtual Christmas party on Zoom for the Brownies and Rainbows in December. We thank everyone in the Church for their support, encouragement and kind words during this time especially John, Elizabeth, Allan and Eileen, and we wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.
We look forward to getting back to our regular meetings when it is safe to do so. If you know of any young girls aged between 5-10 who might like to join Rainbows or Brownies, or even just to receive the free Brownies weekly activity emails, please ask their families to get in touch. dalmillingbrownies@hotmail.com


And so this is Christmas
Winter frost, diamond bright Silver stars in the sky at night. At such a time our Saviour came, the Holy child, Jesus his name.
Angels appeared and shepherds sought news of the child whose birth was brought in heraldic song from the heavenly host just when the world needed him most.
Wise men travelled from out of the east.
They went to the palace expecting a feast.
But in a manger in Bethlehem he lay as foretold and honoured him with frankincense, myrrh and gold.
What gifts can we then give him today
as we live in a world gone sadly astray. With hunger and poverty and war all around let us have compassion and not wanting be found.
Elizabeth Brechany

Yea Lord, we greet thee.
He rules the world with truth and grace
Soon the shepherds came that way where the baby lay Omega and Alpha he! Andfitusforheaven,tolivewithyouthere.
Saviour, since thou art born!
QUIZ NAME THAT CAROL

It’s easy to name a carol from the first line or if you hear the music. But what about the first or in some cases last line of the last verse. (I’ve used the last line where the first line is repeated).
1. The Shepherds came where the baby was born. 2. Mine are riches, from your poverty.
3. The let us all with one accord,
4. Sacred infant all Divine.
5. What can I give him poor as I am?
6. Not in that poor lowly stable,
7. Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! 8. All glory be to God on high
9. Love shall be our token,
Answers are given as Hymn numbers based on CH4 and can be found
next.

Let me know how you got on. Elizabeth Brechany



1. Hy 300
2. Hy 310
3 Hy 323
4 Hy 313
5. Hy 305

6 Hy 315
7 Hy 301
8 Hy 296
9 Hy 316
10 Hy 306

11 Hy 320
12 Hy 302
13 Hy 331
14 Hy 312
15 Hy 309
WALKING GROUP REPORT
Needless to say, in view of the restrictions placed on us this year, we have been unable to arrange any walks. However, Vickie and I have completed a number of walks as follows and, hopefully soon, we can do some of them again with the Group.
ROCKCLIFFE/KIPPFORD, SOLWAY COAST
A nice walk from Rockcliffe over to Kippford via Mark Hill and lovely views over the Solway. Kippford is one of our favourite places. We walked back to Rockcliffe along the Jubilee Path.
DRUMLANRIG CASTLE
An easy walk around the grounds and alongside the River Nith. Lovely scenery all around.

KELBURN CASTLE
The painted Castle, the home of the Earl of Glasgow. A walk around the estate and through the Secret Forest (great for kids). Views over the Firth of Clyde to the Isles of Cumbrae and Bute.

LUCE BAY
A lovely walk from the village of Glenluce down to the picturesque hamlet of Stairhaven. Walked back along the side of Luce Bay with views over to the Mull of Galloway.
CULZEAN COUNTRY PARK/MAIDENS
A walk through the Estate to Maidens via “Happy Valley” and back by the Swan Pond

TURNBERRY/MAIDENS
Walked along the beach and over the golf course looking over to Ailsa Craig and Arran. Walked along to Maidens then back via Little Turnberry to buy our fresh eggs!
PORTPATRICK
Another of our favourite places. Walked up and along the cliff top to Dunskey Castle with great views over the Irish Sea.

BLAIRQUHAN ESTATE
Started off in the lovely village of Straiton. Walked around the Estate by the castles of Blairquhan and Cloncaird.
NEW CUMNOCK/GLEN AFTON
Drove down to the village of New Cumnock and walked up Glen Afton and around the Afton Water Dam. Walked back around the village seeing various “Burns-related” buildings then over to view the Knockshinnoch Mining Disaster Memorial.

DUMFRIES HOUSE
We walked around the lovely grounds of the Estate through the Arboretum, the Walled Garden and over the various bridges including the Chinese Bridge. Strolled along the delightful Duchess of Rothesay Avenue. We finished off with a nice coffee/cake from the Coach House Café!

PARISH REGISTER 
Funerals
23rd September 30th September 13th October 15th October 18th November 19th November 23rd November 23rd November
Douglas Boyd Mary Britton George McCaigh Robert Campbell David Wills Jenny Clancey Roberta Sinclair Evelyn Boyle
John 14:1-4 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
CONTACTS


Minister
Rev John McCutcheon
01292 861641

Church Office
Dalmilling Church
262177

Session Clerk
David McMahon
315529

Treasurer
Colin Mutch
263678

Roll Keeper & Elders Districts
Vickie Mutch
263678

Family/ Community Worker
Paul Algeo
262177

Data Protection Officer
To be elected.

Health and Safety Officer
Allan Leydon
262293

Safeguarding Team
A Leydon, R Alexander, Rev John McCutcheon

Audio/Visual Programmer
Andrew Templeton

Order of Service & Intimations Secretary
Vickie Mutch
263678

Organists
Jennifer McCutcheon Anne Houston
261248 521763
Auchincruive Church Officer
Katharine Black
478242

Dalm. Sunday Church Officer
Allan Leydon
262293

Dalm. Premises co-ordinator
Allan Leydon
262293

Auchincruive Communion
Katharine & John Black.
478242

Dalmilling Communion
Allan Leydon Elizabeth Brechany
262293 268363
Flowers Auchincruive
Rosemary Alexander

Flowers Dalmilling
Pat Smith

Hall Bookings Secretary
Elizabeth Brechany
07925 574925

Magazine Editor
Elizabeth Brechany
268363
30
We Invite YOU!
To join us for COMMUNION
On Sunday 13th December
But only if we have moved out of Level 4 Details on our Website and Facebook pages
Next issue of Church Magazine
All items should be submitted to Elizabeth Brechany by Sunday 7th February 2021
St Quivox Parish Church: Ayr (Church of Scotland) (known as Ayr:St Quivox Parish Church) is a Scottish Charity, SC004906, regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)