Dull and Weem Parish Church

Strategic Programme for 2009/12

is

"What does the Lord require of you?"

Micah 6:8

Guild Theme 2010/11

"To Love Mercy"

"Be merciful, just as your father is merciful"

Luke 6:36

"Whose we are and whom we serve"

This will follow in the Autumn

The Guild is an important part of Church life. It has been around for over one hundred years, always growing, adapting and changing to serve the Lord, using the spiritual gifts and practical energies of men and women. It is endeavouring to continue to be relevant to us in facing today's challenges.

It is over 110 years since Dr. Archibald Charteris, ahead of his times, had his inspiring vision of a Church in which women participated fully, and founded the Women's Guild so that the Church should have the benefit of the spiritual and practical energies of women.

Despite continual efforts to update itself and adapt to the times and the needs of women, the Women's Guild membership has steadily declined. For many women, however, it is still an important and valued means of deepening and expressing their faith.

In January 1972 a group of ladies called 'Dull & Weem Work Party' became officially affiliated with the Church of Scotland Women's Guild, and so Dull & Weem Women's Guild began, it is now 37 years old.

The original Weem Church Ladies Work Party, however, had been going for many years (no one knows for how long), although an old photograph taken in 1926 would certainly indicate that the Work Party was in existence over 80 years ago. The Work Party did the usual work of fund raising for the Church whilst holding regular, friendly meetings - a 'Guild' in all but name.

Four members of that original Dull & Weem Work Party - as far back as the 1960's - have each given over 30 years of devoted service and three of them still continue to do so.

On the Guild's 30th anniversary, Certificates of Long service were awarded to: Mrs Betty MacDonald (now deceased), Mrs Katie Campbell, Mrs Margaret McDiarmid and Mrs Pam McDiarmid.

Meetings are currently held monthly from October to March and the Guild continues to play an active part in the life of the church.

To celebrate the Millenium, every Church of Scotland Guild Presbyterial Council joined in a national project to make banners to represent each book of the Bible - 66 in all - to celebrate this special period of reflection on the Birth of Christ.

Banners depict a message of inspiration which can reach across barriers of language, age and belief.

Dunkeld & Meigle Guild Council were given the challenge to represent Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament.

"From the Rising of the Sun to the

going down of the same, my name

shall be great among the Nations"

This was the text chosen by Dull & Weem Guild, a rather poignant message in an age of continuing conflict throughout the world.