Events 2022
Welcoming of our Priest!
On Sunday 27th February our priest, Bishop Robert Hardwick, was welcomed to the Diocese in an Evensong service at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness. The service was well attended, and the congregation enjoyed refreshments afterwards. The photo [credit: Augusta MacLean] shows Bishop Rob
with Cathedral Provost Very Rev Sarah Murray and Most Rev Bishop Mark Strange.
Bishop Rob was commissioned as priest of St Ninian’s by our Bishop, Most Rev Mark Strange, at a special service in St Ninian’s on Saturday, 4th. December 2021. The service was followed by a ceremony of welcome for Bishop Rob and his wife, Lorraine, at Balnain Hall. You can see pictures of the event here.
Bishop Rob has come to us from Canada, where he retired from his post as Bishop of Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan.
Prayer for Peace in Ukraine
At the service on Sunday 27th February, Bishop Rob gave out copies of an ecumenical Prayer for Peace composed by the Scottish Church leaders Forum, for us to use in our own prayers at home.
Teaching Day – Engaging with the Bible
On Saturday 9th April Bishop Rob held a Teaching Day in Balnain Hall, which was attended also by members of other local churches. We learned through comparison of the different Gospels and through acting out the stories to gain a better understanding of the Last Supper and the healing of Jairus’s daughter.
Bishop’s Lent Appeal
Bishop Mark’s Lent Appeal this year is for Ukrainian refugees. Donations can be made to the donations box in the church at any service during Lent. Cheques should be made payable to St Ninian’s.
Tribute by Bishop Rob to Queen Elizabeth:
“It is with great sadness that we hear the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
Much loved and so highly regarded, The Queen has carried well the baton of faith and discharged her duties with great distinction.
The great preacher C.H. Spurgeon once poignantly said: “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you. So carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.”
Today and for many days and months to come, we mourn, we pray, and we forever remember a Queen who has written her name on our hearts. And we give thanks for The Queen of Scotland and of many nations.
I for one, count it a privilege to have lived during her long, happy, glorious and challenging reign. May God bring comfort and strength to Charles and to all the Royal family and to all who mourn her passing.
Rest eternal grant unto Elizabeth O Lord and light perpetual shine upon her. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.”
Raspberry Tea
Thanks to all who helped with our Raspberry Tea, and to all who attended. It was a great success and everyone seemed to enjoy it. It was lovely to see so many of our friends, and to be able to raise funds for our church.
Harvest Festival
Our Festival of Harvest Thanksgiving took place on Sunday 2nd October. We are grateful for the donations of food (fresh produce and also other items), which were used to decorate the church and which were afterwards distributed to the local food bank and to the Glen Urquhart Care Centre. Many thanks also to those who decorated the church.
Tearfund Quiz
On Thursday 17th November we joined with the Church of Scotland
and the Free Church in a Big Quiz Night, in aid of the Christian charity Tearfund, which works to tackle poverty in many developing countries around the world. The event was held in the Church of Scotland church hall in Drumnadrochit. St Ninian’s provided most of the refreshments, and members of St Ninian’s were in the winning team! A good sum of money was raised for this very worthwhile cause.
AGM
Our AGM was held on Sunday 20th November after the morning service..The congregation received the Vestry report, the Treasurer’s report, and the Lay Rep’s report. Bishop Rob had already given his report during the service. The Vestry for the coming year was elected. George Stone stood down from the Vestry, and was thanked for his many years of service. The Vestry will normally be chaired by Bishop Rob, but Christine Hart was elected as Vice-Chair. Gill Austen continues as Secretary and Sue Munro as Treasurer. Bridget Gordon continues as Lay Rep and Marjorie Wilson as Alt Lay Rep. Other Vestry members are John Cartledge, Frank Spencer-Nairn and Eric Wyllie.
