HARVEST FESTIVAL SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER A dedicated team decorated the church for the Harvest Festival.  On the Saturday evening the men of the congregation served a delicious Harvest Supper, steak pie and vegetables followed by cheesecake.  The ladies were able to enjoy a well earned rest and were waited on all evening.

 

 

To view a Gallery of pictures from the Harvest Festival please click here.

PATRONAL FESTIVAL CONGREGATIONAL LUNCH SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER To celebrate St. Ninian’s Patronal Festival the congregation gathered for lunch following the Sung Eucharist.

DAY TRIP TO THE ISLE OF BUTE At the end of August a group from the church had a most enjoyable day out on the Isle of Bute.  Some cycled around the island and others visited Mount Stuart and the extensive gardens before heading back into Rothesay.  On returning to the mainland everyone gathered at Scotts in Largs for a bar supper.

TROON CHURCHES TOGETHER HOLIDAY CLUB 11th – 14th AUGUST In this the year the Commonwealth Games came to Glasgow the theme of the Holiday Club was Champion Makers.  All the activities had a sports theme.  The four days were well supported with helpers from all the Churches in Troon, a truly ecumenical event.

  BLESSING THE BOATS  SUNDAY 8th JUNE   The Annual Blessing of the Boats once again took place at Troon Harbour and this year the service was conducted by our Rector, The Revd. Tom Montgomery.  A short service took place on the quayside and then the clergy boarded the lifeboat and motored into the inner harbour for the blessing of all the boats around the harbour area.  The service was then followed by delicious fish & chips and ice cream provided by local restaurants.

  FAMILY BBQ 8th JUNE 2014 Following the Service on the Day of Pentecost and the presentation of gifts to the children of the Sunday School at the end of another action packed year for them, the congregation joined together in a BBQ.   The weather could have been better but nevertheless everyone enjoyed the food prepared on the BBQ and other delights available in the hall.

CHRISTIAN AID COLLECTION
A big thank you to everyone who helped with the Christian Aid Collection this year.  A total of £1,123.02 was raised which was just over £90 up on last year.  Also the Christian Aid Lunches in the town raised a total of £1,046.89 EASTER AT ST. NINIAN’s 2014 Bishop Gregor joined the congregation of St. Ninian’s from Palm Sunday through to Easter Day, taking part in all the services including the ecumenical services at Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Meddan and St Meddan’s Parish Church. On Good Friday the cross was carried out into the garden after the Easter Liturgy and the children made the Easter Garden in the hall during the service. The church was decorated with flowers on Holy Saturday and the day culminated with the Easter Vigil which included the congregation renewing their baptismal promises and a service of confirmation. On Easter Day the children rolled away the stone at the commencement of the service and the Bishop distributed Easter eggs to the children.  Following the Festal Eucharist the Bishop dedicated the Centenary Memorial Path and the Easter Cross was placed in the garden.

 For a gallery of Easter photos please click here.

MOTHERING SUNDAY – 30th MARCH Earlier in the month the Rector joined the children of the Sunday School to try and answer their searching questions.  A collage was then made of the questions, with his attempt to answer them, and displayed in front of the altar on Mothering Sunday. At the conclusion of the Mothering Sunday  Service the children handed out posies to all the ladies in the congregation.

FELLOWSHIP AGM The Fellowship AGM took place on Tuesday 18th March when a cheque for £1,128 was presented to the Dumbarton/London Corner Community Nursery School in the Gambia.  Members from St Augustine’s, Dumbarton, who support the charity, received the cheque.  This money was raised over the last six months as a result of, among other things, a Coffee Morning, Bridge Drive and Sponsored Walk.  More information is available about this project by clicking on the link  http://www.staugustinesdumbarton.co.uk/ministry/gambian-school/

HOMELESSNESS SUNDAY On Sunday 26th January Ali Gilmour from Care and Share Ayr came to talk about the charity.  Care & Share helps people who are homeless, have been homeless or are vulnerable to homelessness.  They have a drop-in every Wednesday afternoon at the Riverside Church in Ayr where folk can get a meal, make friends, and receive a wide range of advice on benefits matter, health care from the NHS, cookery classes or learn skills towards getting back into employment.  They can also get advice on housing, addiction and a whole range of other topics.  For more information please look at their website http://careandshare-ayr.org Following the service at St Ninian’s Care and Share were presented with a cheque for £850, this being money from the Retiring Collections at all the Christmas services, a proportion of the money raised at the Christmas Fair, and the proceeds from our monthly Small Change Collection. A further £120 was raised on Sunday morning at the ‘Cup of Tea Appeal’ for Scottish Churches Housing Action.

WEDNESDAY MORNING SERVICE Once a month, usually the last Wednesday of the month, the congregation at the 10.00am Holy Communion Service enjoy a cup of coffee together and a chance for a chat.