Intimations – w/c 4th December 2023

1.     Our Sunday Service is held at 10.45am and is also available online live via YouTube with a recording available afterwards on the website, Twilio phone service (01294 444201) and podcasting channels. The midweek Thursday service continues every week at 10.30am. The Sunday School has also restarted for children of all ages.

2.     This week we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

3.     The Kirk Session will meet at the close of this week’s morning service.

4.     Thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas Fair last Saturday. Over £3,132 has now been raised – a magnificent effort.

5.    Our Christmas Tree Festival will be held next Saturday, 9th December from 10am, which will be followed by a short Shoppers’ Carol Service at 3pm. We hope to have 24 trees decorated based around the theme of “The 12 Days of Christmas”.

6.     The Guild meets on Monday 4th December at 2pm for an afternoon of carols and readings.

7.     The Craft Team meets on Thursday this week from 1pm-4pm.

9.     The Country Dancing meets on Thurs 7th December at 7.30pm

10.     The Care and Share lunch run in conjunction with CHANA, is held in the hall every Friday from 12.30pm – 2pm.

11.      There will be a Kirk Session and Congregational meeting in Park Church, Ardrossan on Wednesday 13th December at 6.30pm to discuss and vote on an amended Basis of Union. Please make every effort to attend if you can.

Intimations – 24th November 2023

1.     Our Christmas Fair will be held on Sat 25th December from 11am – 2pm (click thumbnail to enlarge poster).

2.     This Sunday there will be no service in Kirkgate as we will be holding a joint service with our friends in the North Parish Church at 11.00am. This will be the final service of worship in the North Parish Church and we hope that as many of our members will come along to support the North’s congregation at this difficult time for them. There won’t be a live stream nor recording available this week either – normal service should resume on 3rd December, the first Sunday in Advent, when we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion!

3.     Articles for the December edition of the Kirkgate Messenger are required by the editor, Elizabeth McMahon, by Sunday 26th please.

4.     We’re still looking for volunteers to decorate a Christmas tree at our forthcoming Christmas Tree Festival being held in December. A list is available in the vestibule – see any of the Craft Team for more information.

5.     The Craft Team meets on Tuesdays from 1pm-4pm.

6.     The Bible Study meets on Wednesday at 7pm.

7.     The Country Dancing meets on Thurs 30th November at 2.30pm

8.     The Care and Share lunch run in conjunction with CHANA, is held in the hall every Friday from 12.30pm – 2pm.

Voting Results on Basis of Union

Please find below the results from this morning’s votes.

Saltcoats: North.
Basis of Union (excluding clause 7)
Approving = 26
Not approving = 2
Abstaining = 1
Decision on clause 7.
Approving = 27
Not approving = 2.

Ardrossan: Park.
Basis of Union (excluding clause 7)
Approving  = 55
Not approving = 13
Decision on clause 7.
Approving = 39
Not approving = 29

Ardrossan and Saltcoats: Kirkgate.
Basis of Union (complete)
Approving : 59
Not approving : 0

Saltcoats: St Cuthbert’s.
Basis of Union (excluding clause 7)
Approving = 14
Not approving = 65
Decision on clause 7.
Approving = 17
Not approving = 61

Intimations – w/c 19th November 2023

1.     Our Sunday Service is held at 10.45am and is also available online live via YouTube with a recording available afterwards on the website, Twilio phone service (01294 444201) and podcasting channels. The midweek Thursday service continues every week at 10.30am. The Sunday School has also restarted for children of all ages.

2.     This Sunday there will be a congregational meeting at 10.45am followed by the service which will start as soon as possible afterwards (the live stream will start after the congregational meeting is finished). This meeting is to allow members to vote on the Basis of Union. Only those present and whose name is on the Electoral Register will be able to vote. The result of the voting from the four churches will be announced on the website here hopefully later on Sunday afternoon.

3.     Next Sunday there will be no service here in Kirkgate as we will be holding a joint service with our friends in the North Parish Church at 11.00am. This will be the final service of worship in the North Parish Church and we hope that as many of our members will come along to support the North’s congregation at this difficult time for them. There won’t be a livestream or recording of the service available next Sunday.

4.     The Guild will meet on Monday 20th November at 2pm and will have a talk about by Rev John Carrick about God Working in the Middle East.

5.     The Christmas Fair will be held next Saturday, 25th December from 11am – 2pm. Tickets for the tearoom are £3 (£1 children), but entry to the stalls is free. The church will be open from 4-6pm on Friday afternoon to receive any donations for the Christmas Fair.

6.     Elizabeth Howie’s Christmas quizzes are still available. They can be found in the vestibule for just £1 per sheet.

7.     We’re still looking for volunteers to decorate a Christmas tree at our forthcoming Christmas Tree Festival being held in December. A list is available in the vestibule – see any of the Craft Team for more information.

8.     The Craft Team meets on Tuesdays from 1pm-4pm.

9.     The Bible Study meets on Wednesday at 7pm.

10.  The Country Dancing meets on Thurs 9th November at 7.30pm

11.   The Care and Share lunch run in conjunction with CHANA, is held in the hall every Friday from 12.30pm – 2pm.

12.   Articles for the Kirkgate Messenger are needed by next Sunday please.

Draft Basis of Union

We will be holding a Congregational Meeting before the start of worship on Sunday 19th November at 10.45am in order to vote on the proposed Draft Basis of Union. Only those present and whose name is on the Electoral Register can vote – proxy votes for anyone unable to attend are not allowed under church law. Representatives from Presbytery will be on hand to oversee the vote which will be done by secret ballot paper. Please bring a pen/pencil to church if possible! Printed copies of the Draft Basis of Union are available to uplift at the church.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats – DRAFT BASIS OF UNION 

The congregations of Ardrossan Park Parish Church of Scotland (SC004736); Ardrossan & Saltcoats Kirkgate Parish Church of Scotland (SC023003), Saltcoats North Parish Church Of Scotland (SC003299) and Saltcoats St Cuthberts Parish Church of Scotland (SC002905) shall be united from 1st January 2024, and that on the following terms and conditions:

1. Name: The name of the united charge shall be Ardrossan and Saltcoats Church of Scotland and SC023003 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 effected.
3. Places of Worship: The churches at present used and occupied by the congregations of Ardrossan: Park and Ardrossan and Saltcoats: Kirkgate shall be the places of worship of the united charge. The churches at present used by the congregations of Saltcoats North and Saltcoats St Cuthberts shall be used, sold, let or otherwise disposed of subject to the titles on which they are 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 in Ardrossan and Saltcoats Church of Scotland (former Park building) and in Ardrossan and Saltcoats Church of Scotland (former Kirkgate building) each Sunday at times to be decided by the Ministers 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 present four parishes or as the Presbytery shall determine.
5. Kirk Session: The elders of the four Kirk Sessions shall form with the ministers 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 Rev Nigel Chikanya, currently minister at Ardrossan and Saltcoats Kirkgate shall be the minister of the united charge in terms of Section 8.2 of Act 8, 2021, as amended. Presbytery will create a Team Ministry Charge within the new charge to include a second Minister of Word and Sacrament subject to their agreement to the Basis of Team Ministry. Appointment shall be through the vacancy processes set out in Act VIII 2003.
8. Manse: The manse of the present congregation of Kirkgate shall be the manse of the united charge. In due course, a second manse, selected from the other three present manses, shall be chosen for the second minister of the charge. The remaining two manses 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 four congregations now uniting, the united charge shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.