ST QUIVOX AND LOCAL NEWS

This is where all the news and intimations from St Quivox Parish Church live.
The page is updated every couple of days or so, so please keep checking back.

August 2021

Which church this Sunday?

and....... HALLELUJAH!!!!!.......... SINGING IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(still with masks - just sing a tiny bit louder!!!)

and.........
the happiness of saying The Lord's Prayer
out loud, and together as a family of God.

August 2021	Sunday Services are at 10:30am. A warm welcome awaits!
Sunday 1st	Auchincruive Church
Sunday 8th	Dalmilling Church
Sunday 15th	Auchincruive Church
Sunday 22nd	Dalmilling Church
Sunday 29th	Auchincruive Church

Church Magazine

Get your keyboards polished up
and send your articles to Elizabeth Brechany
by the 8th August
for the Autumn Edition of the Church Magazine!

Don't be shy now!!
Elizabeth is waiting for YOUR email!

Another request for historical information

We had a request for information from a lady from North Wales who is writing a book about famous women of history. One of the women she has chosen to write about is Mary Oswald, the wife of Richard Oswald. You'll perhaps remember the poem by Robert Burns written expressing his displeasure at being put out from an Inn in Sanquar into the rainy night, to make room for the cortège accompanying Mary Oswald's body being returned to Auchincruive after her death!

O, bitter mockery of the pompous bier,
While down the wretched Vital Part is driven!
The cave-lodged Beggar,with a conscience clear,
Expires in rags, unknown, and goes to Heaven.

(from 'Ode, Sacred to the memory of Mrs Oswald of Auchincruive' by Robert Burns)

It will be fascinating to get a copy of her book when it is published and hear more about Mary Oswald.

July 2021

Notice from the Church of Scotland
about the nomination process for Moderator of the General Assemble
and how to nominate an individual for the position

Dear Friends,

I hope you have noticed the piece on the Church of Scotland’s website in which intimation is made that the Committee to Nominate the Moderator is now inviting nominations for the 2022-2023 Moderator of the General Assembly.

All of the necessary details are on the website so there’s no need for me to repeat them here, other than to underline that the closing date is Friday 13 August.

Most of all, my purpose in writing is to encourage you to participate in the process - by making it known as widely as possible, and by praying reflectively as to whether there might be somebody that you’d like to nominate.

I noticed that someone had commented on the Facebook post to the effect: ‘What’s the point, you won’t listen anyway!’ Let me assure everyone concerned; the Committee will listen! The idea that this process might be ‘stitched up’ couldn’t be further from the truth!

Finally, please uphold the Committee in your prayers as the members will themselves be praying for God’s leading in the task that is theirs.

With every blessing,

The Very Reverend Dr W Martin Fair
Convener of the Committee to Nominate the Moderator

A HUGE WELCOME BACK to Wild Rhythm! Thursday afternoons at 1:30pm. Outside at the moment, but it's fabulous to see you back, everyone!!

Sunday Services for July
All services begin at 10:30am
Come and be welcomed in Love.

July 2021	Venue
Sunday 4th	Auchincruive Church, in St Quivox village
Sunday 11th	Dalmilling Church, in Whitletts
Sunday 18th	Auchincruive Church
Sunday 25th	Dalmilling Church

An exciting opportunity from the Hymnary Supplement Group of the Church of Scotland, to submit your choice of contemporary worship songs to be published by Hymns Ancient and Modern.

Please get in touch with David McMahon with your suggestions!

Dear Mr David McMahon

We hope that this email finds you well and looking forward to some time off over the summer.
We are getting in touch on behalf of the Church of Scotland Hymnary Supplement group who are looking for input from across the church to help in the production of a new collection of congregational songs that are relevant to our contemporary context and which can complement the rich musical resources the church already has to offer. The collection will be published by Hymns Ancient and Modern, accompanied by an online resource.

We would like to hear from congregations about your experience of contemporary congregational song: the songs you have found meaningful to sing in worship and the gaps in your repertoire. We are looking for songs written in any musical style since 2003 (inclusive), which was the cut-off date for CH4, including new words to be sung to older tunes. This is a gathering process (not a vote for songs) to provide the group with a broad selection to consider for inclusion in the new collection.

Please submit your response by completing the survey at the link below by Friday 27th August 2021. Please try and coordinate locally to provide one response per congregation.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hymnarysupplement

We would also like to invite writers and composers based in Scotland, or connected to Church of Scotland congregations outside Scotland, to submit songs in any musical style for consideration, including new words to be sung to older tunes, also by Friday 27th August 2021.

Please follow the link below for the pdf containing full information. We would really appreciate your help in spreading the word about this opportunity to any writers and composers you know. https://www.resourcingmission.org.uk/music/ch4-online
Thanks in advance for your input and your help in shaping this exciting resource.
Best wishes
Iain McLarty (Worship Development Worker - Priority Areas)
Phill Mellstrom (Worship Development Worker - Resourcing Worship)
On behalf of the Hymnary Supplement Group

July's stunning flowers

An oddly named plant, this is Nipplewort. It grows in open woods, hedgerows, waste places and, obviously, at a bus stop outside Auchincruive Estate. The young leaves can be used as salad leaves. Its name comes from the shape of the young buds. In times gone by, under the doctrine of signatures ( whereby if a plant looked like a bodily part it could be used to treat that part), it was used to treat diseases of the breast.

Hogweed growing on the south facing banks of the River Ayr. This one is native to our shores, as opposed to Giant Hogweed. Its sap is not toxic and hollow stems have been used by children as pea shooters, water guns and swords.

(Your website editor's husband testifies to many happy hours spent as a child with his hogweed peashooter)

Oxeye daisies growing in profusion beside one of the newly renovated cottages in Auchincruive Estate. A native of Europe and Western Asia, it loves heavy rainfall and damp ground, and grows pretty well anywhere. Apparently, the unopened flower heads can be pickled and used as capers!

for Sunday June 27th 2021

The Sunday Service this week is in Dalmilling Church, Whitletts, Ayr at 10:30am
Come as a stranger, perhaps, but leave as a friend.

Please find the letter here of 16th June 2021 from the Presbytery of Ayr, regarding Presbytery Planning and the implementation timetable. A special meeting of Ayr Presbytery will be held on Tuesday 10th August to discuss their proposals.

We will then have an ADMIN COMMITTEE meeting on Wednesday 18th August and a KIRK SESSION meeting on Tuesday 24th August to further discuss these proposals and any possible alternative proposals.

Please diary these important dates as everyone's opinion matters!!

A couple of Cool Cats up at Grace's house today!
Takes one to know one!

These Summer Flowers have a purple theme, and we saw them all this week in Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow.

The Marsh (or Swamp) Thistle is found throughout Britain, in damp wetland and woodland. It was rated to be the number one of the top ten nectar producers, by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.

The Foxglove, is native to Europe, west Asia and northwest Africa. In 1785, an English botanist, William Withering, described the first medical use of this plant (digitalis) to treat dropsy, the swelling of the ankles and legs caused by heart failure. The drug DIGOXIN came from this. Digoxin increases the power of the heartbeat and damps down abnormal heart rhythms and has been the mainstay of the treatment of atrial fibrillation for decades.

The Marsh Orchid grows throughout Eurasia, and, as an orchid, is a protected species. Its numbers have been dwindling as nitrogen fertilisers have been added to soils to cultivate pastureland. This plant prefers a nitrogen poor environment. We saw it in an area which had been deliberately left to re-wild.

for Sunday June 20th 2021

This week's bouquet of Summer flowers of the week were all seen this week on a wee trip to the Borders region.

This is the Water Aven. Its delicate pink and white bell-shaped flowers grow near rivers, and this one was on the banks of the River Teviot. It grows commonly in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but is less common in England. Another name for it is Indian Chocolate, as its roots, when boiled, give a liquid which tastes faintly of chocolate. (So I'm told!)

Purple or Wood Vetch. This pretty flowered plant was growing beside a country road beside woodland. In fields it can be used as a forage crop when mixed with grass, and in the USA is used as a soil improver for rice crops.

This deep red flower is the Midland or Woodland Hawthorn. It grows best in ancient woodland and is most common in Central and Southern England, and uncommon in Scotland. This one was growing on the North bank of the River Teviot just outside Hawick. It has the same kind of flowers as our more common May, but the most glorious, glorious red! It's found more commonly in the East of the country..

for Sunday June 13th 2021

From The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Dear All,

https://giving.give-star.com/online/christian-aid/cos-just-vaccine-rollout

At the closing of the General Assembly,
I had the opportunity to launch

a joint initiative between the Church of Scotland and Christian Aid,
encouraging members to give a financial gift in thanksgiving
once they had received full vaccination for Covid-19.

It has been much on my mind as to how fortunate I have been to have received my two vaccinations; but had I been living elsewhere in the world, the story would have been quite different. In my year as Moderator, the plan is to visit Lebanon and Malawi. Just taking these two places as examples, the percentage of population vaccinated with only one vaccination is 4% and 0.8% respectively. That is against more than 60% of our population in UK.

The World Health Organisation have said no-one is protected until all are protected, therefore we are urging the UK Government to do all that it can to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available throughout the world. Alongside this we must also seek to limit the impact of the virus on health, livelihoods, and personal safety, for those in the poorest parts of the world. By supporting Christian Aid in their efforts to provide basics such as soap, water, and food, we can ensure that vulnerable communities stay safer as they wait for vaccination.

In this very tangible way, as we seek global justice, here is a practical opportunity to give real expression in 2021 to loving our global neighbours.
I sincerely hope that you will join with me and together we will respond generously,
as a mark of our gratitude for what we have received.

To give a gift, please click on the following link: https://giving.give-star.com/online/christian-aid/cos-just-vaccine-rollout

I urge you to share this message with your whole congregation.

I would also like to share the following prayer from Christian Aid for your use:

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of Hope, Sustainer of all life,
We give You thanks for the Coronavirus vaccines,
for the skill and wisdom of scientists, NHS staff and Key Workers.

By the power of Your Spirit,
may we overflow with hope and joy
as we see our friends, families and neighbours protected.

God of Justice, Protector of the vulnerable,
may we be your well-washed hands and willing feet.

Move us to give and act,
to challenge the injustices that anger You.

May we seek to protect all Your children,
particularly those for whom the vaccine is out of reach.
With hope and trust we pray,
Amen.

Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC
Moderator
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Summer flowers of the week
Some easily mixed-up flowers to compare this week, all growing on the hillside above Loch Libo, near Uplawmoor

So, so similar, but the one with the FIVE petals is the Alpine Cinquefoil and the FOUR petal flower is Tormentil

Here we have our good friend the Dandelion, recognised by its flower and by its succulent stem. Its lookalike is the Mouse-eared Hawkweed whose leaves are indeed 'mouse-eared' in shape.

A Posy of Pansies

A tricky one here - and they were growing not ten feet from each other. The dark petalled one is the Field or Mountain Pansy and the paler one the Wild Pansy (or Heartsease)

for Sunday June 6th 2021

This Sunday 6th June 2021,
in Auchincruive Church at 10:30am
and also online:
The Sacrament of Communion
Please bring your own wine or juice, and bread to church.
Whatever helps you feel closest to God.

Video highlights from this year's
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
are here.

Summer flowers of the week
Back to our local flora again this week!

Bistort likes the roadside verges - it's growing here on the road from St Q to Auchincruive.

It's called the Pudding Dock in the North of England, and was used to make a pudding around Lent. Said to be delicious when boiled or roasted, though I've never tried it. It can also be powdered and made into bread.

Red Clover: Widespread in Scottish grasslands, but now found worldwide. The grass here is in Auchincruive estate.
Used the world over as a natural fertiliser, it's of extreme economic importance on Chile.
The flowers and leaves are edible as a garnish or ground into a flour.
It has many medicinal uses, and is the national flower of Denmark.

In amongst the buttercups and clover, grows the white Pignut, again a lover of grasslands, and spotted here in Auchincruive.

It's a member of the carrot family. Its tuberous roots grow to 20cm long and apparently taste like hazelnuts. Digging for them used to be a popular children's pastime.

Pick-a-back

Also called 'a thousand mothers' it was introduced from North America and is now naturalised as a garden escapee. This one was on the bank of the River Ayr.

Weirdly, new plants form at the base of the leaves and fall to the ground to take root there. Hence the strange names.

More a tree really, but included because it really has got a stonking great flower, the mighty Horse Chestnut and bringer forth of the wonderful conker, which may or may not repel spiders from the home. (Your botanical guide's husband is convinced of their efficacy in this regard!)

for Sunday May 30th 2021

This week's Sunday Service will be in Dalmilling Church at 10:30am

The next Sacrament of Communion
will be held on
Sunday 6th June 2021, in Auchincruive Church at 10:30am
and will also be available online.
Please bring your own wine or juice, and bread to church.
Whatever helps you feel closest to God.

Hooray!
Elizabeth Brechany has worked her magic,
and the June 2021 ST Q Church Magazine is out now!

Your Elder will deliver yours to you quite soon.
A version is also available on the website here.

Thank You!

Gwyn and Eileen would like to thank everyone for the cards, congratulations
and well wishes on the birth of their first grandchild, Arran Hugh Gwyn. The wee lad's doing well and the new mum and dad are getting some sleep, some nights!

Another Ancestry Enquiry

A lady from Lancashire contacted us this week to find out a bit more about a marriage which had taken place in the St Q Manse Cottage in the mid 1800s. She knew the name of the place where the couple had lived but couldn't find it on the map. Our trusty in-house expert, Mr John Black, was able to identify the name of the farm and its location, and this information, and where on the website to find an image of the Rev James Wilson who officiated, were passed to the lady to further her research.

An absolute delight of Summer flowers for you!

Your botanical guide had a seaside break this week, so these flowers were all seen on the Mull of Galloway peninsula.

First off the block has to be the gorgeous White Rose of Scotland, also known as the Burnet Rose, these ones hiding in a rocky crevice away from the sea breezes. It may have been the inspiration for the Jacobite White Cockade, and its hips produce a dye used in the past to dye the tartan.

Hugh MacDiarmid wrote the poem, The Little White Rose containing these words:

"The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland.
That smells sharp and sweet - and breaks the heart."

Birds Foot Trefoil: A very common roadside plant, sometimes known as 'Eggs and Bacon'!

Seen here on a grassy path. It's an important food source for woodland butterfly caterpillars.

This is Wild Radish. It's found all over Europe, Asia and North Africa. It's an important food source for Honey Bees before the main summer flowers appear. This one was by the sea wall.

Sea Campion or Bladder Campion.

It grows along coastal cliff ledges and shingle banks, as here in New England Bay. The bladder is the seed capsule, which is light enough to be carried on the wind.

But beware! Superstition tells us that to pick them and bring them into the house invites Death to follow. Certainly, don't lean over the cliff edges to pick them!!

The beautiful Gorse. It's been out in flower for a while now, and is a common sight in the countryside, but I think it is never lovelier than when it grows by the sea.
As well as being an important source of food for many species, it has also been used as fuel for firing bread ovens, fodder for livestock, making floor brushes, and even as a colouring for painting Easter eggs!

Seaside Sandplant, or Sea Purslane, grows above the high water mark on sand or shingle shores in Northern Europe, North Asia and North America.

It's rich in Vitamins A and C and can be eaten raw or cooked. In Iceland they ferment it to make a sauerkraut-like dish.

Green Alkanet was introduced into gardens in 1700, and found in the wild 24 years later. It is sometimes mistaken for Forget-me-not. It is part of the same family, but grows much taller and has a brighter blue flower. Beautiful in abundance in the countryside, it is now considered a real pest if it gets into the garden as it spreads very easily by seed and regenerates from a deep tap-root. It grows in damp, shady places, and these were on a roadside verge by a wood near Logan Gardens. 'Alkanet' comes from the Arabic word for Henna, and a henna-like colour can be made from extracts from the tap root. It may have been deliberately introduced for its dye-making properties.

for Sunday May 23rd 2021

The next Sacrament of Communion
will be held in two weeks' time on
Sunday 6th June 2021, in Auchincruive Church at 10:30am
and will also be available online.
Please bring your own wine or juice, and bread to church.
Whatever helps you feel closest to God.

The Church Magazine
will be distributed in hard copy at the beginning of June.
It will also be available online.

Summer Flowers of the Week

Cow Parsley

You'll see this growing all over the UK. It likes shadier places and it's common along hedgerows and the edges of woods.

It is an early source of pollen for bees, hoverflies and other insects and provides food for moths and nectar for orange-tip butterflies too.

This one was growing on the roadside above Maybole.

Red Campion

A beautiful splash of colour in the grass verges, and hedgerows when the bluebells have faded, the red campion is also a food source for insects, bees and butterflies. We saw this pretty flower in Auchincruive estate.

It often indicates an ancient woodland.

In folklore, it guards the bees' honey stores, and protects fairies from being discovered.

In the Anglican Church it is associated with St James, as it is in bloom around his Feast Day. (July 25th)

Sweet Cicely

Native to the mountains of Southern Europe, this beautifully delicate flower was introduced to Great Britain, and is now easily seen on verges, grassland, woodland and hedgerows. This one was growing in a small wood near Maybole.

for Sunday May 16th 2021

The next services are on
Sunday 16th May at 10:30am
in Dalmilling Church
and
Sunday 23rd May at 10:30am
in Auchincruive Church

Willie Campbell gets his
Certificate of Long Service
as an Elder of the Church of Scotland.

A wonderful achievement.

Summer Flowers of the week

The Welsh Poppy (Papaver Cambricum) growing on the verge across the road from the Old Manse in St Quivox village. Found all over the uplands areas of Western Europe and the western parts of the British Isles, and likes damp, rocky, shady ground best. It's the logo of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Nationalist and Social Democratic political party.

Comfrey is part of the borage family. It doesn't seed, so doesn't spread out of control, instead propagating from the root. Many languages give it a name indicating a belief in its usefulness for mending bones eg Knitbone and Boneset. (It is called Consoude in French: 'to weld') It shouldn't be taken internally though!

It contains lots of Nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and is the Organic Gardener's best friend! Get the recipe for comfrey fertiliser here! There is plenty growing on the grass verges in St Quivox! and along the banks of the River Ayr!

for Sunday May 9th 2021

The next services are on
Sunday 9th May at 10:30am
in Auchincruive Church
and
Sunday 16th May at 10:30am
in Dalmilling Church

The Annual Stated Meeting for St Quivox Parish Church
will take place via Zoom on
Tuesday 11th May at 18:30pm.

It will be followed immediately
by the next meeting of the Kirk Session.

Please contact David McMahon for the Zoom link if you want to be at either meeting.
Church members not on the Kirk Session are always welcome to attend that too.

The Agenda for the Kirk Session is available here

Willie Campbell celebrates 50 years as an Elder in the Church of Scotland

Willie Campbell celebrated this wonderful achievement on Sunday and will soon receive a Certificate signed by the Moderator.

Our Session Clerk was able to deliver a wee Afternoon Tea in a Box and a Card to Willie on Tuesday as a gesture from the Congregation congratulating this Golden Anniversary and 50 years of magnificent service to St. Quivox Parish Church.
Well done Willie Campbell!

Great to see people coming back to the church services again! We still have to keep socially distanced so we're all a bit spread out - but there's plenty room for more!

Everyone is welcome in this place.

New baby of the week

Welcoming Arwel and Marianne's new little son born this week.
Arwel and Marianne were married in Auchincruive Church last March.

Summer flowers of the week

Marsh Marigold

A member of the buttercup family - the name 'Mary Gold' referring to its use as a tribute to the Virgin Mary in Medieval Churches. It's a common flower with many other names such as Mary-blob, May-blob, Soldier's buttons and publican's cloak!
These were beside a burn near Failford.

Siberian Spring Beauty

Otherwise known as Pink Purslane, this pretty plant was introduced to the UK in the 18th century is found in damp woodland and flowers between February and August.

There is a white variety, which is called the Stewarton Flower, as it is a genetic variety only found in that part of North Ayrshire.

These more common pink ones were on the River Ayr walk near Ballochmyle Viaduct.

Yellow Dead Nettle

Sometimes known as the Yellow Archangel, this started out life as a European wild flower but was then introduced to UK gardens to provide dense cover. Unfortunately it escaped from the gardens and is now choking native wild plants. It's now an offence to plant these in the wild.

The leaves don't sting - hence the name 'dead' nettle.

This one was seen in woodland near the River Ayr.

for Sunday May 2nd 2021

The next services are on
Sunday 2nd May at 10:30am
in Dalmilling Church in Whitletts
and
Sunday 9th May at 10:30am
in Auchincruive Church in St Quivox village

It gives great pleasure to celebrate the faithful service given by
Willie Campbell
who celebrates
his 50th Anniversary
of becoming an Elder in the Church of Scotland.

Well done Willie!

We regret to announce the sad death
of another of our church family,
Irene McCrorie
latterly of Claremont Care Home

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

Summer flowers of the week
So many to choose from now, as the earth and the air heat up and the hedgerows, woods and grasses are filled with colour!

Top of the list today is the beautiful blue Speedwell which popped its head up on the grass verge beside Auchincruive Church.

Just further along the wall were some White Bluebells, a happy genetic mutation from the more common blue bluebell.

Beside almost every roadway now you can see the tall Hedge Garlic, with its nettle-like leaves. Its other names are Jack by the Hedge, or Poor Man's Mustard, and if you rub the leaves you can get a mild mustardy smell from them. These were by the side of the road in St Q.
(The nettle is a member of the mint family and its flowers are more droopy)

And last, but by no means least, this week, is the humble Buttercup, which has finally made its appearance in Auchincruive Estate. It grows everywhere in Western Europe, from the north shores of the Med to the 60 degN parallel.

And, if you can get there to see them, the combination of the cherry blossom, remaining daffodils and the carpet of bluebells in the woods in Auchincruive Estate just now is breathtaking.

for Sunday April 25th 2021

The next services are on
Sunday 25th April at 10:30am
in Auchincruive Church in St Quivox village
and
Sunday 2nd May at 10:30am
in Dalmilling Church in Whitletts

The Annual Stated Meeting for St Quivox Parish Church
will take place via Zoom on
Tuesday 11th May at 18:30pm.

It will be followed immediately
by the next meeting of the Kirk Session.

Please contact David McMahon for the Zoom link if you want to be at the meeting.
Church members not on the Kirk Session are always welcome to attend that too.

The next issue of the
St Q Church Magazine
will be out in June
to coincide with the June Communion Service.

Please send any articles, ideas of interest or anything that takes your fancy for including in the magazine
to Elizabeth Brechany
by Sunday 9th May.

That's two weeks from this Sunday.

It's your magazine!
Let Elizabeth hear from you!

A special St Q welcome
to this wee cutie!

Introducing
Keira
who has chosen John and Kath as her family.

Keira is just two months old and has already discovered the pleasures to had
in swinging on the window blinds.

My, what fun you're all going to have!

Spring Flower of the week

Our native Wild Garlic has now appeared! You can see its broad leaves and multiple flower heads on each stem and you'll certainly be able to smell it as you walk through our woodlands. Its aromatic carpet is another sign of an ancient woodland.

Milder in taste to conventional garlic, the flowers and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and can be blended to make a delicious pesto to add to pasta, salads or soups. Also great in sandwiches!

This can be confused with Lily of the Valley, which is poisonous, so make sure you get the correct plant!!

And.....this young couple celebrate
their 40 year Ruby Wedding Anniversary on Sunday 25th April 2021.

They were married in Merrylea Parish Church by the Rev Ernest Smart and
Y Parchedig (the Rev) R Gwilym Hughes
of Caernarfon.

The hymns were:
'All people that on Earth do dwell'
and
'O Love divine and tender, that through our homes dost move.'

for Sunday April 18th 2021

The next services are on
Sunday 18th April at 10:30am
in Dalmilling Church in Whitletts
and
Sunday 25th April at 10:30am
in Auchincruive Church in St Quivox village

Spring Flower of the week

How wonderful! The bluebells have returned to Auchincruive Estate, ready to thrill us all with their heady perfumed displays in the woods. They live in ancient woodland and have long been associated with fairy magic - if you pick one, you might be led astray by the fairies, to wander lost for evermore!

In the Victorian language of flowers, the bluebell is a symbol of humility, constancy, gratitude and everlasting love. It is said that if you can turn a bluebell inside-out without tearing it, you will win the one you love, and if you wear a wreath of bluebells, you will only be able to speak the truth. All this is going to be awkward however, if you want to avoid being led astray as above!

You may find it of interest to read the text of the late
HRH Prince Philip's 1969 address
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

for Sunday April 11th 2021

The service this Sunday, 11th April '21, is in
Auchincruive Church, St Quivox at 10:30am

(The service on Sunday 18th April '21 will be in
Dalmilling Church, Whitletts)

Spring Flowers of the week

Every day new flowers are appearing, bringing splashes of bright colour
to the woods and the hedgerows.

My Lady's Smock is also known as the Cuckooflower, as its pretty lilac flowers open around the time of the first cuckoo's call. It likes damp grassland or verges. This bunch were on the side of the road between Stair and Annbank. It's an important food plant for butterflies. And you can use the young leaves instead of cress in sandwiches!

Red Campion is next - a very common sight all over the British Isles. These were in woodland on the River Ayr walk, on the sunny side of the river. Bumblebees and butterflies feed on its nectar and moths eat the leaves.

These Few Flowered Garlic flowers are springing from the narrow leaves in the photo. They are invaders from Iran, the Caucuasus and Turmenistan, brought here in 1823. The Wildlife and Countryside Act makes it illegal to plant this in the wild as it forms a broad carpet, smothering native plants such as snowdrops. You can eat it raw and cooked. The broad leaves at the back will give rise later in the month to our own native Wild Garlic.

These beautiful, beautiful Violets were growing on the sunny banks of the River Ayr behind Annbank. Species of Violets are found the world over. Newly opened violets are used to decorate dishes. The young leaves are edible, if bland. It is the traditional birth flower for February, and the county flower of Lincolnshire.

for Sunday April 4th 2021 - Easter Sunday

Easter Services this week are -
Good Friday 2nd April (7pm in Auchincruive Church)
and Easter Sunday 4th April (10:30am in Dalmilling Church)
A big 'Welcome Back' to all!

Next Sunday - 11th April will be at 10:30 in
Auchincruive Church, St Quivox village

The 1st Dalmilling Brownies have sent an Easter Card, wishing everyone at St Quivox Church -

Happy Easter 2021

from all the Owls and Brownies

"What kinds of books does the Easter Bunny like?
Ones with hoppy endings, of course!"

Something a bit different, sent by our South African relatives
to wish everyone a Happy Easter

Indodana is a traditional isiXhosa Easter Hymn.

It is a prayer asking God to be with us in the time of mourning before the resurrection.
Singing in celebration of the Holy Week, we light a candle of unity as Christians around the world gather in spirit.

TRANSLATION

Ngob’umthathile umtwana wakho, uhlale nathi – because you have taken your son please stay with us Indodana ka Nkulunkulu bay’bethelela – they crucified the son of God Baba – Father (God)

Lead Singers: Lungelo Masango & Sandile Majola

Spring Cleaning at Auchincruive

With the help of a couple of bin bags and a shredder, all the old decaying wreaths have now gone, and the dead trees and branches turned into bark chippings. Looks a lot better now.

Dalmilling has felt the love too. Glenbuild have been back to redo some roofing problems, and all the litter has been cleared from the grounds on a number of occasions.

Spring Flower(s) of the week

A veritable posy of Spring Flowers this week, as the weather warms up and they poke their heads up at last. These are some which are easily overlooked!

All were seen this week in the woodland on the north bank of the River Ayr, in a warm, but shaded area.

The top picture shows the yellow flower of Woodspurge. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Christina 'In the Bleak Midwinter' Rosetti's brother) wrote a poem mentioning it -

......... My eyes, wide open, had the run
of some ten weeds to fix upon:
Among those few, out of the sun,
The woodspurge flower'd, three cups in one.............

Barren Strawberry is next. It's a member of the rose family. Although it looks like a strawberry plant, it doesn't bear fruit. It's found all over Europe and likes woodland.

The bottom photo is of Dog's Foot Mercury. It's an extremely poisonous woodland plant which grows in dense carpets. The last reported case of poisoning was in 1983. Its name comes from the fact that it looks a bit like another plant - Lincolnshire spinach, also called Mercury, with the 'dog' added to denote that it is bad, being poisonous. It can be used to make a blue dye, similar to indigo. It only grows south of the Great Glen.

for Sunday March 28th 2021

St Quivox Parish Churches are re-opening for Public Worship
on Good Friday
and Easter Sunday
then every Sunday after.

The first services are:-
Good Friday 2nd April (7pm in Auchincruive Church)
and Easter Sunday 4th April (10:30am in Dalmilling Church)

A series of three Reflections as we journey through Holy Week

Newton Wallacetown Church is hosting a series of reflections for Holy Week

Monday Rona Young from Newton Wallacetown
Tuesday Linda Watson from the Salvation Army
Wednesday John McCutcheon from St Quivox

These will be available as live videos at 7pm
on the Newton Wallacetown facebook page

A wee bit of useful and helpful advice from Voluntary Action South Ayrshire

Spring Flower of the week

The Coltsfoot is this week's flower, which lasts until early summer. A member of the daisy family, the leaf is supposed to look like a colt's foot, and the flower often mistaken for a dandelion. (Special reference to this week's Bible reading where there is a mention of a colt!)

This one was spotted during a litter clearing session in the grounds of Dalmilling Church, enjoying the morning sunshine outside the Wilson Hall emergency exit doors. (As was the litter picker-upper!)

Its 'Sunday Name' is Tussilago farfara - Latin 'tussa' to cough and 'ago' to act on, or to cast off. It's still used as an ingredient in some cough medicines, and is also in the confectionary, coltsfoot rock, but it's got some rather nasty actions on the liver if taken in excess.

for Sunday March 21st 2021

Dalmilling Church roof

There have been some problems over the past weeks' wet weather with water coming in through the roof in the corridor leading from the church to the Wilson Hall. Unfortunately, the leak was very close to the electricity meter, which meant the electricity had to be turned off, so there has been no heating in the church. The good news is that the leak has now been repaired, thanks to Kevin Aitken, and we are now waiting for the area to dry out before switching on the electricity again. Once we can get the electricity on, and the heating and lighting back on then we can get back in again!

There are still some problems with continuing roof leaks over the new back kitchen and Paul's office, which is causing damp in both these spaces, but the Fabric team are on the case and are chasing up the roofers.

Spring Flower of the week

The Butterbur is this week's flower, appearing from March to May.

It grows in wet ground beside rivers, canals and lakes, and in marshes and meadows. This one was on the bank of the River Ayr, near Annbank.

It grows very densely and the leaves can reach 1-1.5m across. The huge leaves were once used to wrap pats of butter - hence the name.

Moderator's Photo Competition
This was a competition to find the best photo of the Cross, hidden in plain sight.
There are lots and lots of entries on the Church of Scotland competition webpage now, including at least three from St Q!
Have a browse through them - some are very inventive!

for Sunday March 14th 2021

We have recently heard of the sad death of one of our church family,
John Cuthbert
after a long illness.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter, Shona,
and all his family and friends.

Churches re-opening for Public Worship

The First Minister has announced that churches may open for Public Worship from Friday 26th March with a maximum of 50 people in attendance, but a final decision will be taken on Tuesday 23rd March.

Currently, we plan to open with our first services on Good Friday 2nd April (7pm)
and Easter Sunday 4th April (10am), but this is still provisional.

I will update the website with the and times
as soon the information becomes available.

Spring Flower of the week

The Lesser Celandine is regarded by many as a harbinger of Spring.

A member of the Buttercup family, its welcoming bright, yellow, glossy petals appear in early March. These little beauties popped up in Auchincruive Estate this week.

Its older name is Pilewort, an ointment of raw leaves said to bring relief to the appropriate area.

Although pretty, it is poisonous if ingested raw, and potentially fatal to grazing animals and livestock such as horses, cattle and sheep.

for Sunday March 7th 2021

Remember
Sunday, 7th March is
Communion Sunday

You may be a member of the congregation;
you may be just 'passing though',
or perhaps, for whatever reason, you haven't been to a Communion Service for a long time,
and are wondering about
whether or not to watch this service.

Whoever you are, and whatever your situation, you are welcome.
If you would like to, have a glass of wine or juice and some bread ready.

The Rev James Wilson's relative

We had another nice email from the gentleman who had discovered that he was related to the Rev James Wilson (see 6th Dec 2020 news entry) He's been doing more research into the family history and found the sad information that the Rev Wilson had two young daughters, aged ten years and three years, who both died of scarlet fever within a fortnight of each other in 1878.
----
(It's sobering to think of these times before antibiotics, when scarlet fever was the leading cause of death in children. Nowadays, because antibiotics have sometimes been used too widely, some strains of the particular bacteria which causes this illness have become resistant to the antibiotics normally used to treat it. Ed)
----
On a happier note, the gentleman is still hoping to visit us here in St Quivox when the Covid coast is clear!

for Sunday February 28th 2021

More about the wall at Auchincruive today!

The lads from FT Stonemasonry are putting the finishing touches to the part of the wall by the gate. If you look closely at the close up of the wall, below, you'll see that the mortar to the bottom left of the photo is smooth, but the top right is rough. They use a sharp tool to roughen every area of the surface to bring out the beauty and sparkle of the aggregates in the mortar. It also makes it look instantly older. The mortar has been coloured a pinkish-buff using stone quarried in the West of Scotland to blend in with the mortar used on the surrounding stone buildings. The stonemasons say their business is going well, and if anyone wants any stonework attended to - here are their details!

Some more interesting History

The Rev Gerald Jones of Kirkmichael and of Straiton St Cuthbert's churches sent us, this week, some interesting historical information about Auchincruive Church and its links via the Oswalds of Auchincruive and the Kennedys of Culzean to the well-known author and broadcaster Sir Ludovic Kennedy.

Signs of Spring and Hope.
The catkins are in bud, flowers are enjoying the sun,
and Auchincruive Churchyard has rolled out its Spring carpet of snowdrops and crocuses for us.
A little yellow Celandine, one of the first flowers of Spring has also appeared.

Dalmilling Church is having its fair share of ongoing roadworks in front of it these days, as Scottish Gas upgrade the Gas Network. The works started in January and are planned to last 12 weeks in total.

for Sunday February 21st 2021

On the 15th February this year,
Douglas Boyd, our friend,
would have celebrated his 40th year as a Church Elder.
We remember him and miss him.

Kirk Session
There will be an extraordinary Meeting of the Kirk Session by Zoom
at 18:30 hrs on Tuesday 23rd February 2021.
This meeting is to sign off the annual accounts.

If any one wishes to view the accounts and has not received a copy by email or post
please contact the Session Clerk.

Easter is only a few weeks away now and we will have to wait for guidance on Church Opening.

Good Friday is on April 2nd 2021
Easter Sunday is April 4th 2021

If we are able to open the churches,
the Easter Services will be in church.

If we are still unable to gather as a congregation in church, Services on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday will be held live, by Zoom.

More details will appear on the web and on fb as we get nearer the time,
and the situation becomes clearer.

Please keep checking back for updates.

Dalmilling Church Roof problems

There has been a fairly major leak in the roof at Dalmilling Church, in the area of the old kitchen/janitor room. The leak was above the electricity meter, so the electrics have been switched off for safety. This means that the heating is off. Fortunately we seem to be past the worst of the cold weather for the moment. An initial inspection has showed problems with the asphalt roof covering at that point. As there have been more minor leaks in some other areas of the roof, some ongoing, the Fabric Committee has recommended an inspection of the entire roof, and also need estimates on the costs of repairing the various leaks. Allan is helping enormously in finding roofers to give us the information needed.

Fire Safety News

Following on from the fires at the Glasgow School of Art, the Church of Scotland asked for Fire Inspections to be carried out at all its A Listed Church buildings. Auchincruive has been inspected and the recommendations from the report are being put in place. The only outstanding action is Fire Safety Training for the Elders, and Allan is booked to do a training session soon (by Zoom) so that he can relay the training to the rest of the Elders.

The snowdrops are at their best now at Auchincruive, but look! There are tiny crocuses lifting their heads above ground too!

Wall Update!

They've put on the mortar on the wall by the side gate now, and covered it up with a tarpaulin while it dries. The architect from the Council has recommended a mortar mix of 'buff and pink,' as he said it was not a true 'Mauchline pink,' having looked at the mortar on the surrounding cottage walls for comparison.

The workers have been very tidy, but I think all the neighbours will be glad to get the full width of the road back again.

The far end of the churchyard wall has been built back up, and is looking really good. There is still a huge hole behind it, and piles of earth and turf waiting, ready to make it good as new. The finishing touch of the mortar has still to go on.

for Sunday February 14th 2021

As Christians, we are looking now towards Easter.

Good Friday is on April 2nd 2021
Easter Sunday is April 4th 2021

If we are able to open the churches,
the Easter Services will be in church.

If we are still unable to gather as a congregation in church, Services on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday will be held live, by Zoom.

More details will appear on the web and on fb as we get nearer the time,
and the situation becomes clearer.
Please keep checking back for updates.

A Spring-like feel to the light today at Auchincruive, even with the snow on Arran across the water.

The wall keeps getting better! The coping stones are on and protected from the frost by a tarpaulin weighted down by turf!

Voluntary Action
South Ayrshire
What matters to you?
Click here
for the South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Strategic Plan for 2021-2024
and here to have your say

for Sunday February 7th 2021

We're going to miss wee Tess 'helping'
John and Katharine
around Auchincruive church, and coming with them every December to advise on the
Christmas decorations.

Click the image to go to the Home4Cancer webpage for more info

Home4Cancer Capital Campaign

aims to build a centre in Ayrshire
to develop our existing work to include essential support services
for children and young people
affected by, or bereaved through, cancer.

The campaign is now looking for Volunteer Ambassadors

If this is something you, or someone you know, would be interested in, please get in touch with Martin Quigley at QuigleyM@ayrshirecs.org

Role profile

Be active in the Ayrshire community raising awareness
of the Home4Cancer Capital Campaign
to ensure that the community is informed about the project
and the vital role Ayrshire Cancer Support provides to cancer patients in Ayrshire, their families and friends.

Be the “face of the capital campaign” locally
to raise awareness of our services and the profile of the capital campaign generally.
Share our posts on social media platforms, Facebook, Linkedin etc.

Deliver talks to community groups and organisations, such as churches, Rotary clubs, etc.

Proactively seek opportunities to present information about the charity to local groups and organisations – but in particular your own contacts.

Represent the charity at cheque presentations when thanking a group, individual or company for their donation. Be comfortable getting photograph taken and providing a quote for press releases for local newspapers.

Expected commitment 2/3 hours per month.

The snowdrops are in full bloom in Auchincruive churchyard.

Auchincruive wall update - the back wall is ready now for the men to heave the huge coping stones into place - missing pieces of stone where some had just gone to rubble, have been replaced with brand new sandstone. One of the stonemasons said that the wall seemed to have been built in two stages - an earlier, lower and wider part, which had then been heightened at a later date. It's interesting to conjecture that these may have corresponded to the 1500s early church and then the 1700s restoration.

KIRK SESSION MEETING

The next meeting of the Kirk Session will be on Tuesday 9th February 2021 at 18:30pm
The meeting will be by Zoom and the link will be emailed to you in advance.

The next North Ayr Prayer Meeting
is on Monday 8th Feb by Zoom.
The meetings are at 18:30pm
If you want to to get the link and join in, please get in touch with Paul Algeo, our Community Worker
on PAlgeo@churchofscotland.org.uk
or the minister.

March issue of the Church Magazine

Something you've seen, or you'd like to write, or send into
the March issue of the Church Magazine?
Please let Elizabeth have it either in writing before the 7th of Feb
or by email by the 11th of Feb.

for Sunday January 31st 2021

All news for this week has been moved to next week as still current.

for Sunday January 24th 2021

It is with great sadness that the death of
Elizabeth Gilmour
is announced.

Please remember
Elizabeth, and Gordon and all family and friends in your prayers.

The next North Ayr Prayer Meetings
is on Monday 8th Feb by Zoom.
The meetings are at 18:30pm
If you want to to get the link and join in, please get in touch with Paul Algeo, our Community Worker
on PAlgeo@churchofscotland.org.uk
or the minister

An important letter to all,
from The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Dear friends,

Perhaps as never before in recent times, folks have 'tried praying'!
The global pandemic has raised so many questions, not least about our vulnerability and mortality,
that many people have found themselves wondering about deeper matters
and not least that which is usually referred to as 'spiritual'.

There are some within the Christian fold who adopt a somewhat sneering, cynical attitude in response.
Much as they criticise those who worship at Christmas by asking: "Where are they on the other fifty-one weeks of the year?", they contemptuously dismiss those who have turned to prayer in recent times,
suggesting that looking for God in an emergency is shallow and infantile and hardly worthy of a response.

I take a different view. An entirely different view.

Should those who are genuinely seeking be dismissed and put off, or encouraged?
If there is even a mustard-seed worth of faith, shouldn't it be fed and nourished?

The trypraying initiative has grown significantly through the years
and now has a significant degree of 'brand recognition'.
Its simple seven-day format offers a challenge,
but one that seems attainable to those who may be doing no more than enquiring.
And just as importantly, trypraying has now built up a considerable case history;
that is, people who have tried praying and have met with significant responses.

I can't imagine that there's a better year for congregations to have a go with trypraying.
I'm delighted to commend it to you and offer my encouragement to those who make it happen,
that it may be a blessing to the whole Church at this time:

www.trypraying.co.uk
www.thereishope.co.uk
Every blessing,

Rt Revd Dr W Martin Fair
Moderator
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Good progress on the walls at Auchincruive.

The coping stones are back on the wall by the gate. Lovely job.

Sandstone blocks arriving to replace old disintegrated stone

for Sunday January 17th 2021

This week we are saddened to hear of the death of
Mr Jim Sinclair

Jim's son Alan and his wife Daisy have been coming regularly to the St Quivox Parish Church services since they arrived from Malaysia in February last year, before the first lockdown, because of the illness and subsequent death of Jim's wife Sally.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family just now
in this hard year for them.

March issue of the ST Q Church Magazine
Something you've seen or you'd like to write or send into
the March issue of the Church Magazine?
Please let Elizabeth have it
either in writing before the 7th of Feb
or by email by the 11th of Feb.

North Ayr Prayer Meetings
started up on Monday evening (11th January) by Zoom.
The meetings are at 18:30pm
If you want to join in, please get in touch with Paul Algeo, our Community Worker
on PAlgeo@churchofscotland.org.uk
and he'll send you the link.

Work is continuing on the walls at Auchincruive. The gentlemen have made a really neat job of the wall at the gate and have now just the coping stones to replace. That first one with the V cut out is going to find its place easily I think! They have also opened up the far wall more extensively.

Into the churchyard, the snowdrops are back in abundance.

for Sunday January 10th 2021

Anne Houston wishes to thank you for your thoughts, prayers and condolences following the death of her dear husband Tom at the end of November

An icy churchyard this morning

River Ayr from Oswald Bridge

The weather is so cold that no further work has been possible on the wall at Auchincruive. The soil is frozen solid.

We live in a beautiful area.
And even with so much cold weather, and ice on the River Ayr at Auchincruive,
a Chinese Rowan tree in the grounds of the estate is thinking of Spring.

Following the First Minister's Statement at 1400hrs today (Monday 4th January),
there will be no public services of Worship
at either Dalmilling or Auchincruive churches during January.
Funerals and Weddings are still permitted but with considerable restrictions on numbers.

The weekly Sunday Online services will continue as usual.

North Ayr Prayer Meetings
are starting up next Monday evening (11th January) by Zoom.
The meetings will be at 18:30pm
If you want to join in, please get in touch with Paul Algeo, our Community Worker
on PAlgeo@churchofscotland.org.uk
and he'll send you the link.

Spooky goings-on at Auchincruive churchyard?
No - just a stonemason sheltering from the cold in his cosy wee bivouac.

The intrepid Fabric Team have braved the Artic conditions and have taken down the Christmas banners and the Dalmilling Church Christmas Tree and lights, and put everything away safely for next Christmas. Thanks Gentlemen!

for Sunday January 3rd 2021

This is where all the news and intimations from St Quivox Parish Church live.The page is updated every couple of days or so, so please keep checking back.​

And, if you can get there to see them, the combination of the cherry blossom, remaining daffodils and the carpet of bluebells in the woods in Auchincruive Estate just now is breathtaking.

This is where all the news and intimations from St Quivox Parish Church live.
The page is updated every couple of days or so, so please keep checking back.