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“Let no one be a stranger within these walls”
The work of the Kirk Session is facilitated by several special interest groups made up of elders and others, reporting at intervals to the Session.
This group takes an interest in all aspects of our services. This can include the planning of special services, organising Bible readers for morning worship and arranging speakers for evening services. Although the minister has overall control of services, he believes that worship entails the whole congregation and so he (as a member of the Worship Group) is always open to any suggestions regarding the manner in which worship is conducted. By means of such suggestions (some quite minor, but meaningful to many, such as the congregation standing when the Bible is brought to the pulpit) our services are constantly being revised and shaped.
The group’s function is to consider the Christian outreach of the the church within the parish and the wider community, and to involve the congregation in making the church attractive and available to all who might contact us in any way and for any reason. Group members visit new homes with a welcome message, and organise a leaflet drop in our parish at Easter and Christmas. The Mission Group also oversees the working of our house groups, runs a library for Christian reading and audio tapes, and co-operates with town initiatives for evangelical and mission work.
This group’s function is to act as a link between the Board of World Mission of the Church of Scotland and the congregation, ensuring that the latter are kept informed about various aspects of World Mission and also of Christian Aid, through the Newsletter, by contributions at services and in other ways.
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This group is mainly involved in facilitating the production and distribution of the church Newsletter and the preparation of other printed material. It also ensures that information reaches the local press.
This group has responsibilities for transport arrangements for those needing help to get to services; ensuring that new members are supported and encouraged to become involved; contact with parents and godparents of children baptised; in arranging visiting of the housebound; establishing a list of members’ interests, talents and offers of help; facilitating elder training; organising the participation of members in special services such as the annual Cradle Roll and Memorial Services; ensuring an adequate support structure for the Junior Church; organising the annual Senior Members’ Dinner.
