MISSION GROUP
The Mission Group has two main aims - one to work with organisations within Kilsyth Burns & Old and secondly to reach out to the local and worldwide community.
Mission Group Members:
John Comrie, Evelyn Hay, Janet Kidd, Lora Morrison,
Maureen Bathgate, Mary Paterson and
Janette Marshall.
NOVEMBER 2025
The Mission Group had another busy and productive meeting on Monday 3 November where we focused on preparations for the Reflective Service on Sunday 14 December. As always, we are extremely grateful to Rev Sandra Farrington for her guidance and support. We are very much looking forward to this service and hope you will be able to join in the fellowship and quiet reflection, either in person or on Conferoo.
Our next midweek service is on Tuesday 25 November. These services have proved to be very meaningful and well received and we extend our thanks to the Rev John Campbell, to the chcoir and to all others who have helped with these services in any way.
The Mission Group is also looking forward to taking part in the Christmas Tree Festival in the church on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December. Along with other individuals and groups within our church and beyond, we are busy working on plans to decorate our tree.
Wednesday Tea Bar
We would like to thank everyone who continues to attend and support the Wednesday Tea Bar. This has enabled many people from our own church and beyond to enjoy each other's company over a cup of tea/coffee. It really is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and to meet new people. The Tea Bar will resume in January - see the next edition of Contact and also here on the website for details.
Mary's Meals
We received the following communication from Marie Doyle, Executive Director of Mary's Meals on receipt of our recent cheque:
"Thank you so much for your precious gift of £1,208 which is helping to transform the lives of hungry children around the world with a nutritious daily meal in school.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your incredible generosity which will have life-changing impact on some of the world's poorest children, providing them with food, education and hope for a brighter future."
Thank you all at Burns & Old once again for supporting Mary's Meals.
The Mission Group is very grateful to the Kirk Session and the congregation for supporting what we do on your behalf.
OCTOBER 2025
The Mission Group met on 6 October. This was a busy and productive meeting where we reviewed recent events and continued planning for what is still to come.
Review of Recent Events
We were delighted to see so many people at the Midweek Service on Tuesday 23 September. It was a joyous and meaningful service, led again by Rev John Campbell. We are very grateful to him and to our choir for leading the singing. Thanks to everyone who came along and to all those who helped. We hope to have one further midweek afternoon service in November; details to follow.
Wednesday Tea Bar
If you haven't yet managed along to the Tea Bar, held every Wednesdy from 10.00-12.00noon in the church hall, please do come over the next few weeks. It is an ideal place to meet friends in a warm place over tea/coffee and delicious home baking. We look forward to seeing you there. The Tea Bar will continue up to and including Wednesday 26 November and will restart in January.
Mary's Meals Coffee Morning
This was a very enjoyable and successful Coffee Morning and we thank everyone who donated, baked and helped make the fundraiser such a successs. Sunday Tea Bar loose change was also added in, bringing the final amount to a fantastic £1207. Thank you once again everyone for your kindness.
Forward Planning
As mentioned above, we hope to hold one more further midweek service (details to follow) and we are looking forward to working with Rev Sandra Farrington to prepare the Reflective Service on Sunday 14 December. The Mission Group developed the concept of a reflective service many years ago. While the format has been adapted over the years, we hope that it will continue to provide an opportunity for worship and quiet reflection during the season of Advent.
Once again the Mission Group thanks you for your continued support.
SEPTEMBER 2025
The Mission Group met on 1 September and agreed that we should continue with the plans we had already made, at least for the latter part of this year or until we are advised differently.
Mid-week Afternoon Service
Following on the success of the previous afternoon service, we have decided to have another one this month. It will be led by Rev John Campbell on Tuesday 23 September at 2.00pm in the Church Street hall. The choir will be there to lead the singing and we look forward to seeing you all then. Feel free to bring a friend. If you require transport, please contact John Comrie. The Mission Group looks forrward to welcoming you for what we hope will be an uplifting service, with familiar hymns and prayers, as well as the warm hand of friendship extended to all.
Wednesday Tea Bar
In light of the decision regarding the closue of our church, the Mission Group agreed that it would be beneficial to commence the Wednesday Tea Bar sooner than previously intimated. It will therefore start on Wednesday 17 September (10.00-12.00 in the church hall) and will continue until further notice. We hope that you and your friends will be able to make use of this opportunity for fellowship over tea/coffee and some home baking.
Mary's Meals Coffee Morning
Carrying on the tradition of supporting Mary's Meals at Kilsyth Burns & Old, the Mission Group is pleased to advise that we will hold a Coffee Morning on Saturday 4 October from 10.00am until 12.00noon in the church hall. Please do come along to support this worthy cause.
The Mission Group thanks you for your continued support.
AUGUST 2025
After a break for the summer, the Mission Group met on 11 August to review recent events and plan ahead.
Review of Summer/Afternoon Service/Future Plans
This service was well attended and very well received, with a number of people asking when we would be holding another one! The hall was beautifully decorated and we are very grateful to the Rev John Campbell for leading worship, and to the choir for leading the singing. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this service.
We hope to hold another afternoon service, possibly next month, details to follow.
Mary's Meals
In keeping with our church's strong tradition of supporting Mary's Meals, we hope to have a fundraiser at some point over the coming months.
Wednesday Tea Bar
You will be pleased to hear that the Wednesday Tea Bar will resume on Wednesday 17 September (a bit earlier than usual) from 10.00-12.00noon in the Hall. It will run from then up to and including Wednesday 26 November.
The Mission Group very much looks forward to welcoming you to this time for a chat and catch-up over tea/coffee. If you haven't managed along yet, please mark the dates in your diary or calendar and join us whenever you can. You will be assured of a warm welcome.
We would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing to work on your behalf. If you have any thoughts or ideas about what we do, please don't hesitate to speak to a member of the group.
MAY 2025
Summer Afternoon Service - Tuesday 10 June
The Mission Group invites everyone to a short service lasting around 30 minutes on Tuesday 10 June at 2.00pm in the large Church Street hall.
We welcome all, but in particular those who find for whatever reason, attending Church on a Sunday morning difficult.
We are indebted to Rev John Campbell for leading our worship and to the Choir for leading us in song. For ease, you will remain seated throughout the service and you are welcome to just listen to the hymns or join in, whichever you prefer.
After the service, if you wish, you are welcome to continue fellowship in the hall over a cup of tea or coffee. There is no need to stay on if you would prefer to leave. (You can take your cake with you!) Additionally, if you would like to spend a short time in the Church, there will be people on hand to accommodate a visit for you.
If you require transport, then please contact John Comrie on 07943 522180 in the first instance and the Mission Group will endeavour to organise a lift where possible. We thank those members of our congregation who currently bring friends to Church and if possible, would do so on the day if they ere coming. This would greatly help us with transport.
We hope that in providing this short mid-week service, we may welcome new and also "well kent" faces into an inviting place of worship; to feel the warmth of our fellowship, familiar hymns, prayers and friendship despite not always seeing one another on a weekly basis. A passing glance at our Peace Garden in the Church grounds may also provide you with an uplifting moment or spiritual reflection.
All in all, the Mission Group looks forward to welcoming you on the day.
Plant Stall at the Spring Garden Fair
Thank you to everyone who kindly donated pots, compost, plants and monetary gifts to help fund the lovely filled pots at the Spring Garden Fair. It could not have been possible without your help. Thank you also to the people who helped assemble the pots.
Great (green-fingered) team work!
Continuing to recognise the importance of mission and outreach for the present and future wellbeing of the Church, the Mission Group would like to thank everyone for their support and we look forward to continuing to work on your behlf.
We wish you all a very pleasant summer.
APRIL 2025
Palm Sunday Service, 13 April
We hope that as many of you as possible were able to attend this service and to enjoy fellowship over lunch in the hall afterwards. It was good to see the church so well-filled for this joint service and good that so many people came up to the hall for lunch after the service.
Short Afternoon Service in June - advance notice
Following feedback from elders and district visitors, the Mission Group plans to hold a short service (c 30 minutes) in the hall one weekday in June. We hope that this will be of interest to those of you for whom attending the full service on a Sunday is not feasible. Tea/coffee will be provided for thosse who feel able to stay on after the service. The church will also be open for anyone who would like to spend some time there. Transport will be arranged for those who require it - please see the next edition of Contact, and also this page, for further details.
Wednesday Tea Bar
The Tea Bar will resume on Wednesday 1 October when we look forward to welcoming old friends and new.
Continuing to recognise the importance of mission and outreach for the present and future wellbeing of the church, the Mission Group would like to thank everyone for their support and we look forwardd to continuing to work on your behalf.
Service of Thanksgiving, Sunday 23 February
Despite torrential rain on the day, there was a good atmosphere and good fellowship in our church and hall as we celebrated 50 years since the union of the Burns Church and Old Parish Church. We were pleased to welcome a good number of invited guests and others with connection to our church. Here are some photographs taken on the day.
Palm Sunday Service, 13 April
Looking towards Easter, we are pleased to advise that the Mission Group will be providing a light lunch in the Church hall after the service. This will be a joint service with our friends from the Anderson Church and we look forard to sharing this time of fellowship with everyone.
Peace Garden
No doubt you too have been delighted to see the emergence of spring flowers and plants in our Peace Garden. There has been a significant amount of work done by the gardening group to plant and tidy the beds and to clean the paths and other areas. It can be hard and heavy work, sometimes battling against the ever-changing climate, but the gardeners and helpers always seem bright and cheerful; our thanks to everything they do!
Wednesday Tea Bar
Our last Tea Bar of the season is on Wednesday 26 March. We continue to welcome a good number of people each week, from our church and elsewhere. We have received very positive feed back about the Tea Bar, including a recent visitor from aother church who commented on the warmth of the fellowship. The Mission Group is very grateful to all who support the Tea Bar in any way; to those who attend and also those who kindly provide home baking and serve our visitors each week.
Thanks to the continuind generosity of those who attend the Tea Bar, the Mission Group is pleased to advise that we will be donating £200 to both the Brownies and the Rainbows, and also to the Cottage Hospital. Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated.
The Tea Bar will resume in the Autumn, date to be advised.
The Mission Group is very grateful for the support of the Kirk Session and the congregation as a whole in everything we do. Please speak to any member of the group if you have any thoughts or practical suggestions for mission and outreach.
FEBRUARY 2025
Service of Thanksgiving - Sunday 23 February
We hope and pray as many as possible will join us to celebrate 50 years since the Burns Church and Old Parish Church united to become Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church. We are very grateful to all those who have offered additional help on the day.
We also hope that you have a chance to view the photographs and other memorabilia on display. Again, sincere thanks to all who kindly shared these items.
Painting of Burns Church
courtesy of Peter Sim
Old Parish Church, 1900's
Service of Communion and Re-dedication, Sunday 16 March
Following on from the Service of Thanksgiving, there will be a Service of Communion and Re-dedication on Sunday 16 March, led by Rev Sandra Farrington. We look forward to welcoming you at this service.
Peace Garden
Nothing stands still in the life of a garden, even at this time of year and we are very grateful to the gardening group and friends who continue to work hard to keep the garden tidy. At this time of year, this can involve heavy work, sometimes in inclement weather; anyone who would like to lend a hand would be made most welcome. We look forward as always to seeing flowers and plants appearing when Spring comes and we hope the weather will allow as many of you as possible to spend a few minutes ejoying the beauty and peaceful atmosphere in the garden.
Wenesday Tea Bar
Since re-starting in January, we have been delighted to welcome old friends and new at the Tea Bar each Wednesday morning from 10.00-12.00. The Tea Bar will run up to and including Wednesday 26 March. Do please help us to spread the word, and encourage as many people to come along as possible. Look out for the new banners outside th church advertising the Tea Bar.
If you have any thoughts or practical suggestions for mission and outreach, please speak to any member of the Mission Group. We continue to value the support of the Kirk Session and the congregation as a whole in everything we do.
JANUARY 2025
Wednesday Tea Bar
The Tea Bar will continue to run on a Wednesday from 10.00am until 12.00 noon in the church hall up to and including Wednesday 26 March. We look forward to welcoming you and your friends there. If you haven't managed along up until now, please do come and join in the fellowship over a welcome cuppa and some home baking.
The "loose change" donated at the Wednesday Tea Bar over the course of October and November combined to give a total of £298. As always, the purpose of this tea bar is to provide a warm and friendly space for our community, so it is only fitting that these funds are passed on to do good in our area. Along with £102 raised from the Sunday Tea Bar during November, we were able to give £100 to Strathcarron Hospice, £100 to Kilsyth Community Food Bank, £100 to Kilsyth Senior Citizens Welfare Group and £100 to Aberlour Children's Charity.
Thank you to everyone who donated over this time.
Forthcoming Events
Sunday 23 February - Service of Thanksgiving
The 23 February marks 50 years since the Burns Church and the Old Parish Church united to become Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church. You are warmly invited to a Service of Thanksgiving at 11.00am on Sunday 23 February which will be led by our Interim Moderator, Rev Stuart Irvin. Please look out for your personal invitation which will be attached in this month's Contact.
As part of the celebration of this union, we plan to display some items in the lower hall on the day of the service. If you have any photographs or other memorabilia relating to this time, please bring them to the church and hand them to any member of the Mission Group by Sunday 16 February at the latest. We thank you in advance for your participation in this special service.
Sunday 16 March - Service of Communion and Rededication
Following on from the Service of Thanksgiving, there will be a Service of Communion and Rededication on Sunday 16 March. This service will be led by Rev Sandra Farrington. We look forward to welcoming you at these services.
If you have any thoughts or practical suggestions for mission and outreach, please speak to any member of the Mission Group. We continue to value the support of the Kirk Session and the congregation as a whole in everything we do.
To view historic information about the Mission Group click here
Information is shown in chronological order with the most recent information at the top of the page.