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Raise the Roof!

22
Oct
Submitted by stmagnusadmin on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 19:16

St Magnus Church Roof Repairs - October 2009 Update

Raise the Roof - Phase One

The “Raise the Roof” appeal was initially launched in June 2007 with a “Songs of Praise” service held in the Church.
We had already received confirmation of a Stage 1 Pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland both offering grants of £125,000. This was just the start of a lot of hard work for our first fundraising committee of Sue Cooper, Cushla Bretton, Joan Sandison, Marghie West, Mary West, Billy Mycock and Pat Baker, aiming to raise what we thought would be the final £50,000 towards the work to be done. Twenty months later after having several very successful fundraising events – The Art Fair, Classical Music Concert, Sale of Slates, Donations and Gift Aid,
the ongoing 5p Collection, Whist drive, Elma Johnson - The Life of Christ, Valentines Night meal and the promise of four smaller grants we had raised the magnificent sum of £47,396.

Raise the Roof - Phase Two

When the final total for the work came in at £500,098, a second committee - Raise the Roof - Phase Two was formed to raise a further £50,000. This was finally realized after holding several more very successful fundraising events – 2 Bingo Nights, 3 Soup and Sweet Lunches, the Grand Raffle, the Silent Auction, Anagram Competition, Fundraising Letters, Donations, Lent & Easter Teas,  Whist Drive, Bag Packing at The CO-OP, Bag Packing at Tesco,  a Talk by Emsley Nimmo on Church Music, Elma Johnson – The Life of Christ Part II, the Toy Show, Ivy’s Sale, 2 Talks by Douglas Sinclair, 2 Book Sales, 3 Car Boot Sales, Walking Tours Teas in the Church Hall  and the promise of three smaller grants.

Further donations were kindly given in memory of Fiona Watt and Ina Mouat.

Thanks

The Vestry of St. Magnus Church would like to thank both of the fundraising committees and also all the members of the congregation (and their families and friends) who gave their support and contributed both time and money to raise these funds.

3
Oct

Bible Reading Marathon Successful!

Submitted by stmagnusadmin on Mon, 10/03/2011 - 18:19

On Friday 24th June at  4.30pm the church  began a Bible Reading Marathon. The aim of the exercise was to read continuously without stopping the entire bible in public and getting as many people as possible from Shetland to take part in the reading.

Sir John Scott, the Lord Lieutenant, began our reading with Genesis 1:1 and we continued from then with each reader changing every ten minutes. Many people had offered to read and we had Sunday Schools including our own taking their own turns. The atmosphere for the whole weekend was heartening and electric, and many people kept returning just to experience the feeling again. The final chapters of the book of Revelation were read by The Dean Emsley Nimmo and Bishop Bob and when Bishop Bob concluded with the final 'Amen'  the congregation then gathered for the start of a Thanksgiving Service responded with a resounding, 'Amen, Amen!'

The whole weekend and the Thanksgiving Service were to give thanks for the £585,000 work of restoration of St Magnus Church Building, and as Bishop Bob preached at the Thanksgiving Service on the Monday night, we were setting our faces to the future mission and work of the church here. The church looked stunning for the weekend and the worship and many hours of loving attention and cleaning and decoration were duly admired and acknowledged.

Following the service we held a reception in the Church Hall and those gathered admitted they had been moved by the Bible Reading and the worship, greatly enhanced by the church choir who sang anthems and led the fine singing.

It was on June 27th 1864 that St Magnus church was dedicated to the glory of God and for service in this community. We felt it fitting and right that we should choose this occasion for the service of Thanksgiving. There has been a huge sense of connectedness with past pioneers here and we have expressed thanks for all that has been achieved here down the past 147 years. We are now left wondering how to celebrate the 150th anniversary