Special events

Easter at Keills

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Easter at Keills Chapel
Easter Sunday 31st March – 9.00am
“He is risen indeed!”

Around 600 AD the Irish missionaries were bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our shores.
They came first to Dalriada, to the West coast and on to Iona.
In the 700s AD a missionary named Cormac, or Carmaig set up a centre for worship and prayer at the tip of the Keills peninsula, south of Tayvallich. He also made a place for retreat on the Island of Eilan Mor, one of the McCormac Isles.
In the 1100s AD a Chapel was built at Keills and this still stands overlooking the Sound of Jura and the seaway to and from Ireland. It is breathtaking to imagine the Irish missionary monks coming over these waters in their small wood and hide boats
Until the 16th Century this was the Parish church for Knapdale – drawing people from both sides of Loch Sween, until a larger building was made at Inverlussa near Achnamara.
Since the 1980s the congregation of North Knapdale has held worship services in Keills Chapel on Easter Sunday Morning to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. A wonderful setting to retell the good news and to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation all around.
Many come, both local and visitors, and know the joy of continuing centuries of worship, and celebrating that the Church of Christ is alive here, 13 centuries after it was first preached to the pagan communities of Knapdale and beyond.
Come and join us at on Easter Sunday this year on March 31st at 9.00am.
Keills is about five miles past Tayvallich – keep going to the end of the road! Then it is a short scramble across rough ground to the chapel.
If you can’t make it to the service – make another time for a visit – you will find a beautiful chapel, lovely views, and a “thin place” where you can enjoy a meeting place with God.
“Rejoice, O Church!, Exult in Glory!
The risen Saviour shines upon you!
May this place resound with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of all God’s people
Alleluia!”
“Liturgies of Lindisfarne”, Ray Simpson

Dalriada Mid Argyll Church of Scotland

Exceptional Circumstances, Sermons, Services, Special events

Last North Knapdale worship

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In our service today we are contemplating an end and a beginning, turning a page to a new chapter in our church’s history. Next week we move from North Knapdale Church to become Dalriada, Mid Argyll church, so today we will give some time to thinking of this change.

Call to Worship Ps 23 vs 1 – 3

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.

Prayer together for Dalriada Mid Argyll Church and area.*

Lord, this Parish of Dalriada, Mid Argyll, this land of forest and loch, of hill and field, of town and village,
of homes and work, of rest and holidays,
Make this be a place of Your peace.

Here be the peace of those who do Thy will,
Here be the peace of people serving others,
Here be the peace of holy people obeying,
Here be the peace of praise by dark and day,

Be this land Thy holy place.
We, thy servants make this prayer.
May it be it in thy care

Amen.

Readings – Is 55 vs 1 – 3 and 8 – 9
John 4 vs 7 – 14
John 7 vs 37 – 39.

This move into a united congregation will bring challenges, and it will bring blessings, we look forward to that, but we also look back and have our own memories of our worship and life as North Knapdale, in Tayvallich, in Bellanoch and in Inverlussa, some too might remember services at the hut at Kilmory. But as this hymn encourages us – Be thou my vision – not our thoughts but God’s, not our ways but His.
I would like us all to take a few minutes in quiet reflection together – yes to remember the good from the past, but also to look for a God-given vision for our church into the future.
How will we work with God to bring a river of living water to our thirsty communities?
I’ve asked Catherine to play quietly as we sit and ponder these things – to pray or to contemplate our memories and our visions.

Time of quiet

Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father, who is in heaven
Hallowed be your name
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done,
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kingdom
The power and the Glory
Forever

Blessing:

May this day bring Sabbath rest to our hearts and homes
May we know the grace to embrace our own finite smallness,
in the arms of God’s infinite greatness
May God’s word feed us and his Spirit lead us,
Into the week and life to come.
And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with us now and always;
Amen.

*amended from a poem attributed to St Aiden for the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, from Celtic Daily Prayer, The Northumbria Community Trust.

Exceptional Circumstances, Kirk Session, Special events

The vote

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Notice is hereby given that
In connection with the proposed union of the congregations of Ardrishaig, Glassary, Kilmartin & Ford, Lochgilphead, North Knapdale and South Knapdale to form the congregation known as Dalriada Mid Argyll per the approved Presbytery Plan of 14th June 2022,
the congregation of North Knapdale will meet on Sunday, 2nd April 2023 in Tayvallich Church when voting will take place.
Only members and adherents attending in person will be entitled to vote.
The vote will take place after the Stated Annual Meeting.

Exceptional Circumstances, Kirk Session, Mission

Draft basis of union Dalriada Mid Argyll

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The congregations of Ardrishaig Parish Church (Church of Scotland) (SC010713), Glassary, Kilmartin & Ford Parish Church of Scotland (SC002121), Lochgilphead Church of Scotland (SC016311), North Knapdale Parish Church of Scotland (SC001002) and South Knapdale Parish Church (Church of Scotland) (SC010782) shall be united on 1st January 2023, or from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:

1. Name: The name of the united congregation shall be Dalriada Mid Argyll (Church of Scotland) and SC001002 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 congregation and any transference necessary shall be duly effected.
3. Places of Worship: The Places of worship of the united congregation shall be as determined in The Presbytery Mission Plan (See note below). All buildings designated (b) shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of subject to the titles on which it is held, subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation. Services shall be conducted at times to be decided by the Minister and Kirk Session, subject to the approval of Presbytery.
4. Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the united charge shall be designated as the bounds of the parishes of Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead, Glassaray, Kilmartin & Ford, North Knapdale and South Knapdale, or as the Presbytery shall determine.
5. Kirk Session: The elders of all five Kirk Sessions shall form with the minister the Kirk Session of the united congregation.
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 Rev David Carruthers, currently minister at Ardrishaig lw South Knapdale, shall be the minister of the united charge in terms of Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII, 2021) Section 8.
8. Manse: The manse of the congregation of Ardrishaig shall be the manse of the united congregation. The manses of the congregations of Lochgilphead and Glassaray, Kilmartin & Ford shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of, subject to the titles on which they are held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.
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 the five congregations now uniting, the united congregation shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.

Note: Presbytery Mission Plan Buildings Designations

Approved 14th June 2022 

Glassary, Kilmartin & Ford Church (New Building)

  

(a)

Glassary Church NR 859 935

Under Offer

(b)

Glassaray, Kilmartin & Ford Manse 

Let

  

Tayvallich Church NR 741 871

  

(a)

Bellanoch Church NR 797 924

31/12/2022

(b)

Lochgilphead Church NR 864 883

31/12/2026

(b)

Lochgilphead Hall

  

(a)

Lochgilphead Manse

Let

  

Ardrishaig Church NR 852 852

  

(a)

Ardrishaig Church Hall 

  

(a)

Ardrishaig Manse (Occupied by Minister UT)

    

Achahoish Church (South Knapdale)

  

(a)