We held our Annual General Meeting on the 26th November 2024. There were fifteen of us gathered in the hall. A goodly number and I just wondered if the promise of lots of cake might have helped. We discussed the year’s events and talked about the syllabus for the year ahead. The 2025 syllabus will be out by the time you read this so make sure you get your copy and check in the church magazine for our upcoming events, three of which are being held on a Wednesday. Do tell your friends and relatives what a friendly bunch we are and, with a fun-filled and interesting syllabus for the year ahead, they may want to come along.
We all gathered in the hall on the 11th December for our Church Christmas Lunch. The hall was beautifully decorated thanks to Jessie and Irene Stephen. We were served, once again, a lovely meal by the girls from Jackie’s Catering Service. We had carol singing from the Alison Bishop Singers and we were invited to join in which we did with gusto. We played an interesting game of ‘Pass the Parcel’ devised by Irene. There were two circles. The inner one for the men and the outer one for the women. There were a few prizes too – of novelty socks. Well done to the winners. We all left for home happy and full and full of he joy that Christmas brings.
A date for your diary – The Church Guild resumes on the Tuesday 11th February.
I am writing this on the 25th February, Rabbie Burn’s birthday so I thought you might like to read an account from the ‘Ward Chapel Castle Street Congregational Church Junior Guild Minute Book’ of the “Burn’s Supper 24th January 1956 7.30 start. Tickets 2/6 Attendance – 115.”
(It then listed the contributors to the evening, customary for a traditional Burn’s Supper, with the toasts, soloists and even a violin solo. The Rev. T.R.S. Campbell gave “The Immortal Memory”. The songs were “Bonnie Wee Thing”, “Ca’ the Ewes”, “Ae Fond Kiss” and “O’ Whisle and I’ll cam tae ye’” and the evening finished with “Auld Lang Syne”. The accompanist was Mrs. W.H. Duncan.)
“Supper:- Haggis, mashed potatoes, mashed turnip, trifle and jelly, tea and cakes, orange juice. 120 people were catered for and we finished with 18/4 in hand. Mr. Spence provided the potatoes, which the ladies of the committee cooked and brought down hot. Trifles and jellies were made by members of the committee. Cakes were ordered from D.P.M. also cream for trifles. Posies of Christmas Roses (given by Mrs. Blackwood), Anemones and Jasmine were arranged by Mrs. Donaldson and Mrs. Thoms and tastefully set at intervals along the tables. Supper cloths, dishes, cutlery, tumblers etc. all provided by Committee.
The evening (the first of its kind held in Ward Chapel) was an unqualified success and went without a hitch from start to finish.”
In another entry from the minute book it says, “We opened the evening with the “Ward Chapel Handshake” game. Here is a question for you all. What is the “Ward Chapel Handshake” game?
Marguerite Ruffle
