Intimations

Welcome. Our worship today will be conducted by Alastair Banks. Today’s worship will be followed by a vote on the proposed union by those on the electoral register.

Please join us in the hall for refreshments after the service today and, if you are visiting us, there is a visitors book which we’d be delighted if you would sign – it’s usually in the porch, but let us know if you can’t find it.

Worship next week will be conducted by our new locum, Angus Davidson. 

Manse Fellowship at 7pm today (24 Aird – on Muir of Aird road).

A message from Rev Ishie Macdonald: “A huge "Thank you" for the overwhelming generosity of gifts and good wishes from people in our congregations.  It is very humbling and very much appreciated.  May the Lord bless you richly for your kindness to me this week and over the years.”

Christmas Newsletter:  This is available to collect from the porch or can be downloaded here:

Christmas and New Year special collections will be for Uist and Barra Foodbank (local) and Al Shurooq School for Blind Children, in Bethlehem and Jeel al Amal orphanage and school in Bethany (abroad) as encouraged by our Presbytery Moderator, Rev Doug McRoberts.

Thursday 12 December:  Bible Study and Prayer Meeting at 4.30pm in the hall.

Sunday 15 December:  Community Carol Service at 6pm at Balivanich Primary School.

(No Needles & Pins on Monday 16 December – next one in 2025.)

Thursday 19 December:  Carols by children of Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath at 1.15pm in the church.

Christmas Cards Post Box:  This is now available for anyone wanting to send a card to others in the congregation.

Free Will Offering envelopes for 2025 are available for collection.

Stamp Appeal:  This is to “help the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) improve nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, create youth employment and mitigate the impact of the climate crisis.”  Box in the porch for your stamps.

A box is available at the back of the hall for Food Bank contributions. There is a particular need for contributions leading up to Christmas. A list of preferred items is posted on the hall noticeboard and can be accessed here.

If you are able to prepare refreshments after the Sunday service, or provide flowers for the services, or clean the church, please add your name to the rotas on the noticeboard in the hall porch.  Many thanks to those who have served in this way.

Congregational Meeting for the purpose of voting on the Union of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and Carinish

The congregation of Carinish Church of Scotland is called by Cleir Eilean Ì Presbytery to meet on 8^th December 2024 immediately following the 12noon Sunday service to vote on the Basis of Union prepared by the Kirk Sessions of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and Carinish Churches of Scotland, in accordance with the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021, as amended by Acts VII and XII, 2022)

Signed: Alison Hay

Interim Moderator

Voting will be limited to those in attendance at the meeting who are on the Electoral Register

BASIS OF UNION 

The congregations of Barra Church of Scotland (SC003980) l/w South Uist Church of Scotland (SC031790), and Benbecula Church of Scotland (SC002191) l/w Carinish Church of Scotland (SC016461) shall be united on 1^st January 2025, or from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:

1. Name: The name of the united charge shall be Uist and Barra Church of Scotland and SC002191 will be retained.

2. Transference of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to or held on behalf of each congregation shall belong to or be held on behalf of the united charge and any transference necessary shall be duly affected.

3. Places of Worship: The churches at present used and occupied by the congregations of Barra l/w South Uist, and Benbecula l/w Carinish shall be the places of worship of the united charge. Building decisions will be reviewed once the union is formed and consultation with the Presbytery has taken place.

4. Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the united charge shall be the bounds of the parishes of Barra l/w South Uist and Benbecula l/w Carinish or as the Presbytery shall determine.

5. Kirk Session: The elders of the 4 Kirk Sessions shall form with the minister(s) the Kirk Session of the united charge.

6. Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of the united congregation shall be administered by the Kirk Session in terms of the Unitary Constitution, the Delegation of Assembly being authorised to issue the appropriate Deed of Constitution to the said congregation.

7. Minister: The congregations to be united shall proceed to the appointment of a minister who shall be inducted as minister of Uist and Barra. The minister shall be called on a Basis of a Seven Year Reviewable Charge in terms of section 9.1.1 of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act 8, 2021).] and shall operate under a Basis of Team Ministry in terms of section 7(10) of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act 8, 2021) being 2 full time equivalent posts.

8. Manse: The manse of the congregation of Uist and Barra shall be the Manse, 24 Aird, Benbecula, it being the manse of the united charge.

9. Ministerial Support: The stipend of the charge shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the National Stipend Scheme.                                                                                                                          

10. Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms shall form the Basis of Union for Barra l/w South Uist with Benbecula l/w Carinish the united charge shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.

Intimations and other church information can be viewed on our church website www.carinish-church.co.uk   

New information to be displayed may be sent to Alastair Banks.

Also, check out cei.presbytery.org.uk for Presbytery information and news.

Could all intimations required for a Sunday please be phoned to or emailed to Alastair by mid-week or, at the latest, Friday – Tel or text 07901 950856, or Tel 01876 580617, or email banks@madasafish.com

If there are any bereavement or pastoral issues, community or hospital visiting required, please contact Rev Ishie Macdonald, Tel. 01870 601190, or email Ishie.Macdonald@churchofscotland.org.uk