Argyll and Bute Guild members are told of Palestinians’ plight
MEMBERS of the Church of Scotland’s largest organisation, the Guild, lived up to their current motto: Be Bold, Be Strong and Go in Joy as they met in Southend Parish Church.
Women from Guilds across Argyll and Bute assembled for the South Argyll Presbyterial Guild Council summer rally last week on Wednesday evening.
The Guild’s current membership, of about 22,000, makes it the largest organisation in the Church of Scotland but it is about four-fifths smaller than in its heyday when there were more than 100,000 members.
Marion McDonald, 53, one of the younger members at the evening, from A ’Chleit, said: ‘The Guild has led the way in highlighting issues affecting women, including female genital mutilation and domestic violence, long be fore mainstream media tackled these subjects.’
West Coast Motors’ coaches collected members from Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead, Campbeltown Lorne and Lowland, Kilcalmonell, Killean and Kilkenzie, Saddell and Carradale and Tarbert and Kilberry.
The rally combined a church service, including three hymns – Sing to the Lord a Joyful Song, We Heard a Joyful Sound and You Shall go out with Joy – and readings and prayers.
In addition there was a talk by invited speaker, Islay Quaker, Bronwen Currie, and a supper of sandwiches and home baked cakes.
At the end members bought books and cards which helped boost funds. Mrs Currie’s talk – Living Under Occupation in a Divided Land – described the plight of Palestinians’ lives on the West Bank of the River Jordan and the work of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).
This is a programme, coordinated by the World Council of Churches, to bring internationals to the West Bank for three months at a time to be Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs).
EAs’ mission is to witness life in an occupied land and mix with Israelis and Palestinians to pursue peace and urge the community to act against injustice in the region.
Mrs Currie said: ‘Part of the Quaker faith is to go out and help people as much as possible.
‘An EA’s work is to monitor, record and report to organisations like the United Nations and other agencies about what is happening on the ground.’
Mrs Currie spoke about the destruction of Palestinian houses because they did not have the correct building permits and the daily hardships of living on the West Bank. These include hours spent in transit points between the two areas of Jerusalem and Israel.
A donation of £100 was paid from the evening’s collection to EAPPI.
After the speech words of thanks were given by the South Argyll Guild president Pat McMillan and Reverend Steve Fulcher made the benediction.