\Riverside

Stirling University Choir will perform Mendelssohn’s Elijah in the church on Saturday, April 8 at 7pm. Tickets (adults £10, concessions £8, children £3) will be available at the door. Service for Holy Week in the Church of the Holy Rude is on Tuesday, April 11 at 7pm and will be conducted by Rev Stuart Davidson. Renewal of membership of Friends of the Church of the Holy Rude is now due. New members also welcome. The Friends now fund almost all of the repairs and maintenance of the church building. The annual subscription is £12 for a single membership (£10 for OAPs) and double these amounts for joint membership. If you are interested in supporting the Friends by becoming a member, please contact secretary Brian Morrison or any member of the Friends Council.

\Cornton

Credit union Cornton and District Credit Union is open every Monday from 9am-3pm and Fridays 4-6pm in the community centre. Pins ‘n’ Needles Knitting and sewing group meets in the community centre every Monday from 9.30-11.30am. Cornton Baptist Church Tomorrow (Thursday) at 10.15am coffee morning and 7.30pm Praise, Prayer and Pastries. Sunday services at 11am and 6.30pm with Rev Hamish Wishart.

\Cowie

One O’Clock Gang Lunch club in the Miners Welfare Club every Monday at 1pm. Miners Welfare Tickets priced £10 are on sale now for the Rod Stewart tribute night on April 8. Bob Wyper will be providing the entertainment. For tickets, phone 01786 816611 or 811248. Parish Church Service in Plean on Sunday at 10am. Bowling Club Top entertainer Dean Alexander comes along with female singer Askia Eng in the main hall on Easter Sunday at 4.30pm.

\Dollar

Wee County Walkers Meet every Thursday, 10am, beside the health centre. See www.weecountywalkers. wordpress.com.

\Dunblane

Cathedral Midweek service will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 11am. All welcome to this short service in the choir area of the church. On Saturday, April 8 there will be a coffee morning in the Cathedral Hall organised by the Scottish Women’s Institute. Doors open at 10am. Morning worship for Palm Sunday starts as usual at 10.30. Following the service, there will be Prayers for Wholeness and Healing. Tea and coffee are served in the hall following the service. The Traidcraft Stall will also be open. At 6.30pm, the choir will lead a service of music and readings for Lent. It would be appreciated if anyone going on the Easter Day walks for short services on Dumyat or Holmehill could give their name to David Christie (tel 01786 825209), Ros Wilson (tel 821220) or Alison Wright (tel 822693) to assist with catering for breakfast. During Holy Week, there will be service each evening at 7.30pm. On Maundy Thursday (April 13), the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated around the long table. Free Church Sunday’s services are at 11.30am with Kidz Club and creche plus evening service at 6.30pm. Prayer and Bible study meet on Thursdays at 7.30pm. More information from John Caldwell at 01786 821264 or email johndunblanefc@ gmail.com. Men’s breakfast at Choices Coffee Shop, Main Street, on the third Saturday of every month at 8am. More info from Alasdair Lunan 07886 216593. Tea dance Next dance is on Friday, April 7 in the Victoria Hall. Doors open 1.30pm, dancing from 2-4pm with live music from Raymond Carse. Tea and biscuits, bring your own mug - plus Easter bonnet. Cost £4. Walking group Free health walk with trained leaders every Wednesday from 10.30am. Meet in front of Dunblane Cathedral. Whist Club Weekly sessions on Thursdays at the Victoria Hall from 1.30-3.30pm. More details from Dolly Gemmell on 01786 822387. Arthritis Care Monthly meeting is on Monday, April 10 from 1.30-3.30pm in the Victoria Halls. All welcome. Guest speaker is John Ross from RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme). For branch information contact Pat Anderson on 01786 822505. Dunblane Christian Fellowship Celebration service every Sunday at 10.30am with Kids Church and creche. Chatty Crafters’ Club is Tuesdays, 10am-1pm. Mother, baby and toddlers group Tuesdays 2-4pm. DCF is running an Alpha course, a low key, friendly, fun way of exploring the Christian faith and there is no cost. Anyone interested in attending should contact Duncan Strathdee on 07789 912259 or e-mail dstrathd@ gmail.com for more information. DCF Youth Café is every Tuesday from 6-9pm with DCF Café open every Wednesday from 4-8pm. Details on Facebook or contact Duncan Strathdee as above. Senior Citizens The first summer coach trip of 2017 is to Hawick on Tuesday, April 25 leaving Dunblane at 10am with pick-up points at chapel, Strathallan Court in Bridge of Allan, Stirling railway station, Wellgreen in Stirling and St Ninians Toll. To book seats contact 01786 821128 and leave a message. A coffee morning will be held on Saturday, May 20 at 10am in the Cathedral Hall. Dunblane Civic Society Next meeting is on Monday, April 10 at 7.30pm in the Braeport Centre. Dr Neil Clark, Curator of the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow will talk on “Moving the Hunterian Collections to the Kelvin Hall”. All welcome. Visitors’ admission is £2. St Blane’s Sunday morning service and Sunday school will be held at 10am. Creche available during morning service. Tea and coffee will be served in the hall afterwards to which all are welcome. The evening service will be in the church hall at 6.30pm. This will be a less formal service, comprising worship, a DVD session and some thinking time as well as a cup of tea or coffee. There are some family-specific evening services planned for the first Sunday of each month up to the summer. The service will start at 5pm with a meal and worship in the hall. Sign the sheet in the Mitchell Room so that numbers and dietary requirements can be ascertained. In partnership with Dunblane Free Church there is a course based on Lee Strobel’s DVD, “The Case for Christ” with the next session on Monday, April 17 from 7.30-9pm in the Victoria Hall. StartUp Stirling is short of jars of sauce, cereal bars and tinned spaghetti or macaroni (but have a plentiful supply of pasta and tinned fish). Please put your donations in the trolley in the Mitchell Room. Forms are also available for monetary donations, used to purchase fresh food. The manse phone number is 825324. St Mary’s Episcopal Church The Mothers’ Union Link Communion Service will be held at 10.30am in the church tomorrow (Thursday) followed by coffee in the hall. There will be a working party on Saturday, April 8 at 10am. Services on Palm Sunday will be at 8.30am and 10.30am with tea and coffee after the later service.

\Fallin

Fallin Information Exchange Support and advice given on alternate Wednesdays 9.30am-noon in Fallin Library. Polmaise BC The bowls season opens on Saturday, April 8 at 2pm. All members, junior members and visitors welcome.

\Fishcross

Wee County Walkers A walk takes place every Tuesday, meet 2pm at Cats Protection League premises. See www.weecountywalkers.wordpress. com for details. Wee County Walkers Meet Sundays at 2pm in Dumyat Centre car park. fior walk with trained leaders. See www.weecountywalkers.wordpress. com for details. Menstrie Parish Church Today (Wednesday) T-in-2 from 10.3011.30am. Holy Week services from Monday, April 10 each evening at 7pm. Church also open each afternoon from 2-4pm. Short service in manse garden on Easter Sunday at 8am. Usual service at 11am – all welcome. Articles for next newsletter to Norma McAlpine by April 16. On Saturday, May 6 there is a concert by Shine Youth Theatre, tickets from elders or Rev Maggie Roderick. SWI The next meeting will be held in Menstrie Scout Hall on Wednesday, April 12 at 7.30pm when Jenny and her Griddle (Lochgilphead) will be speaker/demonstrator. Competitions: three meringue shells and a spring posy. New members and visitors welcome.

\Plean

Bookbug Sessions are every other Monday in the library from 11.1511.45am for babies and pre-school children. Church Sunday service at 10am.

\Raploch

Walking group Free health walks with trained leaders, Mondays from 11-11.45am, meet at the front entrance of the community campus. Contact Tricia on 07557 439111. Ochil Centre Every Monday 10.30am to noon, Messy Mondays toddlers playgroup. The Tuesday Club for the over 60s runs from noon-2pm – lunch with tea/coffee free. Every Wednesday 11am-noon, Stay and Play parent toddler group. Bingo every Wednesday and Sunday, eyes down 8pm. Call 01786 450011. Credit Union Paypoint Open Tuesday and Thursday from 11.30am2pm in community wing of Raploch Campus. Parant is Paiste Gaelic Parent and child group for children up to age five meets on Mondays from 10am-noon in Riverside Primary School. £1.50 per session (includes snack). Call 07805 704884. Bowling Club Opening day will be on Saturday, April 22. Easter Collection Riverside Veterinary Clinic is making an Easter collection of food and treats for homeless dogs and cats. In addition to either wet or dry food, blankets, towels, treats, bowls, beds, toys, collars and leads are also being sought. All donations will go to Bandeath Dog Shelter or the Cats Protection League, Fishcross. Donations should be handed in to Riverside Vet Clinic in Forth Crescent, Stirling; the clinic is open from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am till noon on Saturday.

\St Ninians

Walking group Free health walk with trained leaders, Thursdays from 11.30am-12.15pm, meeting at the library in the Mayfield Centre. Contact Tricia on 07557 439111. Civil Defence Club Two bingo sessions every Wednesday and Sunday, eyes down 8pm. Entertainment on Saturday by Alana Johnson plus bingo. Community Church Sunday service will take place at 11am. Coffee/tea served from 10.30am in the Mayfield Centre. All welcome. Old Parish Church The Easter Holiday Club will meet in St Columba’s Church Hall on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (April 5-7) from 2-4.30pm. Palm Sunday Service at 10.30am will be conducted by Rev Gary McIntyre and will include a baptism. There will be a joint church friendship lunch in St Columba’s Church Hall on Monday, April 10 from noon-1.30pm. There will be services each evening in Holy Week at 7pm in churches in the district and the Maundy Thursday Communion service will be in St Ninians Old and will be conducted by the Rev Scott McInnes. Further information can be found on the church website at www. stniniansold.org.uk United Free Church On Sunday the service at 11am will be conducted by Mr J Lingiah. Children’s activities will take place at the same time. Evening service at 7pm will be conducted by Mr J Lingiah. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Danny Gibson will be in the Mayfield Centre tonight (Wednesday) at 6.30pm. Family fun day St Ninians Playgroup’s annual family fun day takes place on Saturday, April 22 from 11am-1pm at St Ninians Old Parish Church Hall. The playgroup provides early years education and care in partnership with Stirling Council for children aged 2.5 to five and is based in St Ninians Old Parish Church Hall. The fun day will have games, face painting, tombola, home baking and a light lunch. Emergencies permitting the Scottish Fire Service have agreed to pop along with a fire engine. There is also a raffle with top prizes including a Lumia Spa voucher and family day pass for Blair Drummond Safari Park. At 11.45am, Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol will also be visiting. Entry is £1 per adult and children free.

\Throsk

Community centre Cash bingo every Wednesday, eyes down 7.30pm. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Alasdaur MacPherson will be in the community centre on Tuesday, April 11 at 6pm.

\Tillicoultry

Wee County Walkers Meet Saturdays, 10.30am near the Nike outlet at Sterling Mills in Cochrane Hall car park. See www.weecountywalkers. wordpress.com.

\Whins of Milton

Councillor’s surgery Councillor Christine Simpson will be in SEBN, Whins of Milton at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday).