The Fife Herald has kindly given the Dairsie web site permission to copy the Dairsie News that is printed in the Fife Herald every week.
It was good to see the church well filled, when the three congregations united in worship in Dairsie Church on Sunday, October 26. The minister, the Rev. Alex Strickland, spoke on faith, and trust in the constant supportive presence of God. The readings were given by two church elders, Major Underwood, Strathkinness, and David Inglis, Kemback. Congratulations were expressed to the organist, Lewis Thomson, now a student at St. Andrews University, on his award of a scholarship giving him regular organ tuition. The exhibition in the church on a Guild Bazaar of 100 years ago was still in place, and much interest was shown by the visiting congregations, and by Dairsie members who had missed it earlier. Refreshments and fellowship were shared afterwards in the church hall.
The service of remembrance in Dairsie Church was led by the minister, Rev. Alex Strickland, who spoke of the sadness and suffering, and those who still remember the two World Wars, and subsequent wars and troubled times. There were prayers that man may learn to live in peace and harmony. He also asked the congregation to remember Mrs Ann Forbes, who died recently in the Victoria Hospice, Kirkcaldy, and whose funeral service was to be held in Dairsie Church the following day, November 10. With her husband Arthur, they had only moved into the village about 18 months ago, after around 45 years in St Andrews, coming to the village for a more convenient house, and the pleasure of a larger garden. Mrs Forbes was always a faithful member of the church, and a kindly, caring person. Our thoughts go to her family and friends at this sad time.
The usual five yearly visit is currently taking place in the linked churches of Dairsie, Kemback and Strathkinnes. The visiting committee have called an open meeting, not just for office bearers, but all interested parties to be held in Dairsie Church Hall on Tuesday, November 18 - the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the way forward for the churches of the triple linkage on the impending retiral of the minister, Rev. Alex Strickland in 2005.
A small group attended the inter-denominational service at Dairsie War Memorial Hall, which is organised every year by Dairsie SWRI. Rev. Alex Strickland led the worship indoors, moving outside for the placing of the cross of poppies on the War Memorial plaque.
Perhaps with present as well as past conflict and suffering in our minds, Dairsie folk gave the generous sum of £340 for the poppy collection. Thanks are conveyed by convenor Carol Owen, to all who gave, and the collectors who were; J. Davies, D. Eccles, H. Horsburgh, M. Jones, Y. Littlrjohn, C. Owen, M. Williamson, and also Dairsie's Autopoint, Mini-Mart and SWRI.
A relaxed, friendly evening is promised, when the church fund-raising committee members are to entertain with a wide-ranging variety of stories, before all tuck in to the stovies. Friday, November 28, 7.30 p.m. in the church hall - admission £2. All are welcome - not just for church members!
Come and have a nice warming soup lunch tomorrow (Saturday), at the village hall between noon and 1 p.m. There will also be cake and candy stall, tombola and raffle. Admission £2. The Christmas hamper raffle will also be drawn - the lucky winner will receive all the goodies needed for a super Christmas lunch. The committee look forward to welcoming everyone along to support the hall.
Members of Dairsie, Kemback and Strathkinness linked churches gathered in Dairsie Church hall on Tuesday, November 18 to meet the Parish Reappraisal Team. Chaired by Alex Lawrie, a presbytery elder, the meeting was called to consider the future for the three churches on the retiral in 2005 of the present minister, The Rev. Alex Strickland. Members were told of the nation-wide picture - there is a shortage of ministers throughout Scotland, and fewer ministers are to be available in the foreseeable future. Some parishes have had no minister for years, and a reappraisal of the distribution of ministers, to ensure that it is just and equable, is now vital. In the light of this, the local situation must be reviewed. Ceres and Springfield have a vacancy - might we link with them? Many options were considered, and opinions expressed. Finally, it was decided that each church should call a meeting of its members as soon as possible. A further meeting is to be held in January with the Reappraisal Team, when it is hoped an acceptable agreement will be found.
As always, the support for the village hall was great, with a full house - all coming along to buy from stalls, or raffle, and then enjoying the home-made soup, with roll, and pancakes and biscuits to follow with the tea or coffee. It was a cheery, friendly assembly, and Morag Jones, chair of the hall committee thanked all for their support - helpers and local folk. The Christmas hamper was won by Mrs. B. Maxwell, and the event raised £280 for hall funds - well up on last year. In addition, Christmas hamper ticket sales raised £98.
If you have any concerns or comments about local affairs, they can be raised at the next community council meeting, to be held in the War Memorial hall on Thursday, December 4 at 7.30 p.m.