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Convener's Report to Presbytery
April 2003Moderator, as Convenor of Aberdeen Presbyterial
Council, I bring the report of the Guild and the greetings of the members.
This Session has been the final one of the Guild’s three year strategy
under the overall title “Strength for Living” In our busy lives we do well
to remember Paul’s letter to the Philipians Chapter 4 verse 13 “I have the
strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.”
The annual theme for 2002-3 is “Strength Through God’s Empowerment”and
this was launched at the Annual Meeting “Unite 2002” in the Royal Concert
Hall in Glasgow.An inspiring talk on the Theme was given by Dr. Daleep
Mukarji UK Director of Christian Aid.He reminded us all that we can make a
difference to the poorest people of the world, not just by giving
financial support, but by speaking up for justice. In his address, the
Moderator, Rt. Reverend Dr Finlay Macdonald, spoke about his hope for a
confident Church of Scotland- a church in which the Guild had an important
part to play. Guild Link is now ten years old and three linked guilds
including St. Ninians Aberdeen and St Peters and St.Andrews Thurso shared
their experiences.
Many guilds have focused on the Discussion Topic for the session which has
been “Let’s check out our values, share God’s world”. This looked at
issues of globalisation and interdependence of cultures and nations. It
also highlighted Christian Aid’s current “Trade for Life”campaign to
change international trade rules.
The issue of violence continues to be on the Guild’s agenda and many
groups have made it their business to find out more about local support
networks for victims of abuse and to display information and helpline
contact numbers. The Guild welcomed the decision of the 2002 General
Assembly to instruct the Church and Nation Committee to bring a major
report on this whole issue to this years Assembly.
Guilds have continued to support a range of Projects under the “Strength
for Living”Theme. They are
The Well-Asian advice centre-National Mission
With Wings as Eagles-Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua New Guinea
Rainy Hospital upgrading, Southern India-World Mission
Rebuilding Lives-Lodging house Mission work with the homeless
Forgotten Frontier-Scottish Bible Society work in Siberia
A Way of Life-Board of Communication website for the Church
As the period of support for this group of projects comes to an end, the
total amount given is fast approaching half a million pounds. Indeed, over
a million pounds has been raised for projects since the introduction of
the project partnership scheme in 1997.Hot off the press today the current
amount raised for these projects stands at £486,381.47
The Guild continues to be a member organisation of the Women’s National
Commission, which is an advisory body to government on women’s issues. It
is also part of the Network of Ecumenical Women in Scotland, through which
it works with other Christian organisations on events like the conference
held last September on domestic abuse. Membership of wider bodies, both
within and beyond the church, enriches the life of the Guild and offers
many opportunities to contribute a distinctively Christian voice to
debate. For example, the Guild has commented recently on the Scottish
Executive’s Strategy for Carers and its Strategy to Prevent Domestic
Abuse.
Speakers atAberdeen Presbyterial Council Rallies have included Mrs Elspeth
Kerr who shared with us some of her experiences while National Convenor of
the Guild. Rev Carole Fox who gave us an insight into the work of The
Mothers Union, and Mrs Eleanor Butters spoke on the visit by National
Convenor Vivienne McDonald, Vice Convenor Moira Alexander and herself to
Abuja Nigeria for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Women’s Guild,
Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.Greetings from Aberdeen Presbytery were
conveyed by Rev Ian Dick Moderator at our Spring Rally in March.
Looking ahead, this Council is holding a flower festival at Craigiebuckler
Church on 2nd and 3rd May entitled“Empowered by His Spirit” followed by an
ecumenical “Songs of Praise” on Sunday 4th May at 3pm. The offering from
the service will go to the Archie Foundation towards the New Children’s
Hospital Chapel.Guild ladies ask for your support in this venture. Teas
and coffees will be served on Friday and Saturday.
Guild ladies contiue to knit and sew for Ekwedeni Hospital and for Project
Linus UK. Along with Christian women together it is hope to make a soft
wall hanging for the chapel at Woodend Hospital.
As this session comes to an end we look forward to our summer activities
and to the beginning of a whole new three year programme beginning in
September.
Moderator, I am grateful to you for inviting me to speak and I now present
this report to Presbytery.
Betty Murdo
Convener
Reports from Other years
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