\Carron Valley

\Alva

Alva Toddlers Tuesdays and Fridays 9.30-11.30am in the Cochrane Hall. Look on Facebook for Alva Toddlers. Darby and Joan Group Weekly whist and dominoes take place on Wednesdays at 1.45pm in the Cochrane Foundation Hall, Croftshaw Road. Knitting group Meets at Parklands Centre, 7.30pm, on the first and third Mondays of the month. Open doors Alva Baptist Church is open for tea/coffee and prayers on Wednesdays from 10am-noon. Wee County Walkers Meet for free Monday walks at noon from Cochrane Hall car park. New walkers and walk leaders welcome. See www. weecountywalkers.wordpress.com. Alzheimer Scotland A dementia cafe is held in the Alzheimer Scotland bungalow at 22 Viewfield Drive every Saturday from 2.30-4pm, £2.50. Contact Kerry MacPhee on 01786 831171 or email kmacphee@alzscot.org. Carpet bowls Monday and Friday sessions from 1.30-3.30pm at Alva Parklands. Call Pam on 01259 215031. Age Concern Meetings on Thursdays from 2pm in Alva Parish Church Hall. Notice board The notice board is outside the CAP/library. Anyone who wants to use it can see the notice board for details. Bridge club Club meets on Tuesdays at the Cochrane Foundation at 7pm. All levels of players are welcome and partners can be arranged, if required. For further details, please contact Sandra Hopkins on 01259 214963. Clean up day Alva Community Council’s events group has organised a Cemetery Clean-Up Day on Saturday, March 17 from 1-4pm. The cemetery has suffered a decline in standards so the group is asking the community to work together to do something about it. Clackmannanshire Council has agreed there will be access to the former cemetery house for refreshments and use of the toilets. There are common areas of the cemetery, which will be identified beforehand, where weeding and litter picking needs to be carried out. As it is not permitted to touch any headstone not belonging to those taking parts, those with a family lair or headstone could perhaps come along and tidy up their own area. Everyone is asked to bring their own garden tools, gloves etc. Community council Next meeting is on Monday, March 12 in Alva Baptist Church at 7.30pm, all welcome. If you have any item you wish to have discussed you canemail info@ alvacommunity council.org.uk or via Alva CAP. Minutes on the website at www.alvacommunitycouncil.org.uk or visit Alva Community Council on Facebook and Twitter @AlvaCommCouncil.

\Bannockburn

Miners Welfare Social Club Bingo on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8pm. Elaine Gray will perform in the quiet lounge on Saturday March 10. Community council Meets in Bannockburn Community Centre on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm. Stirling Christadelphian Church Bible hour at the church at 40 Main Street is held on Sunday from 2.30pm with Sunday school at the same time. Concert The Strathcarron Singers will be performing “Singing Literary Greats” on Friday, March 16 at 7.30pm in Allan Church. Tickets only £7, available from Traynor’s newsagent or post office, Main Street, Bannockburn or pay at door on the night. Price includes tea/coffee and home baking or an extra donation if wished. All proceeds to Strathcarron Hospice. Allan Church Service on Sunday is at 11.15am led by Rev Ken Russell with Welcome Team 1 on duty. Sunday school and creche available, all welcome. Anyone interested in their children attending Sunday school please speak to Kirsty MacGowan (Sunday school superintendent). The Tuesday coffee club is from 10-11.30am in Allan Church Hall with Team 2 on duty. Home baking served with tea or coffee, all welcome. Nominating committee meets tonight (Wednesday) at 7.30pm and Bible Study is tomorrow (Thursday) from 2-3pm. Anyone interested in finding out about how to use the digital hymnary please contact Lesley 07968 329764 or Douglas. Community Craft Club Today (Wednesday) the club meets from 2-4pm in Allan Church Hall. All welcome, tea and coffee 50p or donation. Any donations of wool will be gratefully received and can be handed in at the coffee club, the craft club or on a Sunday. Organisers are looking for demonstrators - If you have an expertise and can assist with this please contact Margaret on 01786 813281. Community Lunch Club Next meeting is on Monday, March 12 from noon-1.30pm in Allan Church Hall. All members of the community welcome, particularly the elderly and those who live alone. Bring friends or come along and make new friends. Cost £2.50 includes homemade soup, filled roll, tea/coffee and biscuits. World Day of Prayer The event which was postponed on March 2 due to the weather has been rescheduled for Friday, March 9 at 7pm in Our Lady and St Ninian RC Church. All welcome. Murrayfield UF Church Service on Sunday at 10.30am will be led by Rev Gary Barclay. Parent/toddler group meets in the church hall on Tuesdays from 9.30-11.30am. A valuation evening is being held in the church hall tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm, See John Cross for details. Welcoming team on Sunday is Mrs R Newlands and Mrs J Kerr and offering team is Miss E Hastings and Mr J Martin. Bowling club Joint AGM is tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm. On Friday, bingo and Chase the Ace is at 9.30pm. On Saturday the club open at 1.30pm and dominoes is at 3.30pm.

\Braehead

Lunch club Meets on Wednesdays in the Crawford Hall, Colquhoun Street, 1-3pm. Scouts Beavers (ages 6-8) meet on Wednesdays, Cubs (ages 8-10) meet on Mondays and Scouts (ages 10-14) meet on Fridays. Contact braeheadscouts@hotmail.com for more information and to note interest. Race night The Scouts will be holding a fundraising Race a Night on Friday, March 30 in Bannockburn Miners Welfare Social Club. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are available by emailing scoutleader88th@hotmail. co.uk or on the door. Adult tickets are £5, ages five-15 are £2.50 and under 5s are free. Rainbows The 3rd Stirling Rainbows meet in North Parish Church Hall. Details from braeheadrainbows@ gmail.com. North Parish Church Today (Wednesday) 10am-noon, Coffee Pot Cafe, all welcome. Tomorrow (Thursday) 10.15am, Mumzone meet at the church. creche available. Sunday schedule: 9.50am - meet for prayer; 10.30am - morning service including visit from missionary partners Sid and Jean Garland (creche and zones available); 6.30pm evening service; Tuesday, March 13, 7.30pm kirk session meeting.

\Bridge of Allan

Parish Church On Sunday, the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at 11am and 6.30pm. Both services will be conducted by Rev Dan Harper and the retiring offering will go to Prospects, a charity whose aim is to support learning disabled adults, and to enable them to reach their full potential. Sunday school meets at the usual time and Little Lentils - faith-based fun for preschoolers and their adults continues in the meeting room. Coffee fellowship will be served in the Chalmers Hall afterwards. The joint Lent Study Course continues tonight (Wednesday) at 7.30pm at St Saviour’s Episcopal Church. This week’s theme is Ignatian Spirituality by Rev Liz Baker. This will be followed by a Q&A session and evening prayer. Ian Souter will give a talk on the tramways in the UK to the Men’s Speaker Group tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm in the Session Room. The Hear and Now group (S2-plus) meets in the Chalmers Hall on Fridays from 7-8.30pm. St Saviour’s Episcopal Church Eucharist services are on Sundays at 8am and 10am Sung Eucharist with organ, choir and congregation songs and hymns. Creche and young church for those youngsters who like to go to the Church Hall for stories and activities first if wished. Coffee/ tea is served in the church hall after the 10am service. Wednesdays 11am in the Choir Vestry - a quiet, peaceful service with coffee/ tea afterwards. Tonight (Wednesday) 7.30pm, Lent Course third session. On Saturday, April 21 at 2pm in Bridge of Allan Parish Church Hall is the Bridge of Allan Bake Off with afternoon tea. There will be a flower demonstration during the judging of the cakes. More details soon. Lecropt Kirk Sunday worship commences at 11.30am. Sunday school and bible class meet in church at same time. Door duty: Anne Fielding and Janet Craigie. Joint evening service in St Blane’s at 6.30pm when the focus will be on prayer. Both services conducted by Rev Gary Caldwell. All welcome. Walking groups With trained leaders on Wednesdays 2-2.45pm. Contact Frances on 01786 821790 for the meeting point. Stirling University Partnership walk group is on Saturdays 10.30am-noon, meeting at the Macrobert. Call Ian on 07768 984176. Crochet and knitting A group meets in the library on the last Thursday of each month 2.30-4.30pm. Donations of leftover wool welcome. Allanbridge Social Club Two function rooms are available to hire. Enquiries on 01786 832198 or 07840 518896 or Facebook. Rock’n’Reel Fitness classes for the over-60s with routines set to Scottish/ contemporary music every Tuesday in Bridge of Allan Parish Church from 2-3pm. This is a seated or standing class and is suitable for wheelchair users. Cost is £4, including coffee. Call Tricia Chillas on 07740 676639. Young at Heart Low impact dance fitness classes for ages 50-plus are on Mondays in Bridge of Allan Parish Church Hall from 2-2.45pm and Friday 11-11.45am. For more information please call Janice on 07565 182259.

\Cambusbarron

Bruce Memorial Church All welcome to Sunday worship at 11am. Reading will be from Mark 9. Friendship Group is in church hall today (Wednesday) from 10-11.30am. Guest speaker will be Craig Mair, local historian and author. Coffee morning tomorrow (Thursday) from 10am-noon in the church hall. CambusBairns is on Friday from 9.15-10.45am in church hall. Stirling Presbytery PURE ‘Welcome’ is on Monday, March 12 at 7.30pm. The latest pop up resource event in Cambusbarron Church Hall and will be an opportunity to share the benefits of the ‘Everybody Welcome’ course with other congregations in Stirling Presbytery. All welcome. Historic talk Grave-robbers and Covenanters will feature in a talk about recent archaeological investigations, funded by Heritage Lottery, of Kirk o’ Muir graveyard and de Graham Castle, two important historical sites in Carron Valley. Speakers will be Dr Murray Cook, Stirling Council archaeologist, and Hanneke Booij, who has been studying gravestones. Findings include neolithic activity, medieval fish ponds, possible 15th century castle, location of a tiny early 19th century school and stones from Covenanting era. Talk is on Tuesday, March 13 at 7.30pm in St Ninians Old Parish Church Hall, Kirk Wynd, Stirling. All welcome, free admission. Organised by Valley Renewables Group, the local development trust.

\Causewayhead

Baby and toddler group Every Thursday at Stirling County Rugby Club from 10-11.30am. Cost £2 for the first child and 50p for additional children. Cost includes snack for children and tea/coffee. Cornerstone Community Church Service on Sundays at 10.30am in Wallace High School. Groups for children of all ages. Logie Kirk Service on Sunday begins at 11am led by Rev Ruth Halley is an all-age service for Mothering Sunday and Cradle roll. All welcome, creche available. A coffee morning is held every Tuesday in the hall at Causewayhead at 10am. Lunch club for seniors living in the area meets in the hall every Thursday at 12.30pm. Any seniors in the area wishing to join should contact Elizabeth Crozier on 01259 213016. Quiz night On Saturday, March 17, Riverside Athletic are holding a quiz night with a magnificent drinks hamper for the winning team at Causewayhead Bowling Club. Doors will open at 7pm and it is hoped the quiz will be complete by 11pm. Tickets are £4 each and teams can be between four to eight people. You can bring your own drink and nibbles. If you would like to enter a team please get in touch by calling Keith on 07598 794 389 asap.

City Centre

Walking group A free health walk with trained leaders takes place every Monday from 2-2.45pm. Meet at Stirling bus station by the ticket office. Also meet at Stirling Community Hospital from 11am. Contact walking@activestirling.org.uk. Viewfield Erskine Church Worship on Sunday at 10am includes Sacrament of Holy Communion, re-arranged from the previous week. Minister is Rev AF Miller and organist Mr D McDonald. Tea and coffee will be served after the morning service in the Upper Hall. The AGM of Viewfield Church will be on Wednesday, March 14 at 7.30pm in the Lower Hall, all members welcome. Next Guild meeting will be on Monday, March 12 in the Upper Hall. This will be a joint meeting and the guest speaker will be Rev Gary McIntyre of St Ninians Old Parish Church. Please note the badminton club has been cancelled on Monday, March 12 but will resume on Monday, March 19. There will be choir practices on Sundays (March 18 and 25) in the church at 9.30am. St Columba’s Church Sunday service at 11am will be led by Rev Alex Millar. Easter Holiday Club will run from April 3-6 at 10am-12.30pm in St Ninians Old Parish Halls. The regular, weekly Coffee Club meets on Thursdays at 10.30-11.30am. All welcome. The next monthly friendship lunch will be held on Monday, March 13 from 12.30pm- 2pm. Please note the change in time from the regular slot. This is due to a funeral service being held in the church at 11am. Kirk session will meet at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday). Papers are available in elders’ folders. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Today (Wednesday) the Lent Study Group continues at 10.30am at the Rectory and also tomorrow (Thursday) at 8.15pm in the church hall. On Friday, March 9 Holy Communion will be celebrated at 11am and on Sunday there will be Holy Communion at 8.30am followed by all age Eucharist for Mothering Sunday at 10.30am. Church hall is available for hire. Please contact shaws1@ talktalk.net for more information. All welcome to all services and activities. For more details, visit www.holytrinitystirling.org. Stirling Free Church Sunday’s meetings are in the Smith Art Gallery and Museum at 11am (Communion) with minister Rev Iain MacAskill and at 5.30pm in The Well, Upper Craigs with speaker Rev David Meredith. Meetings in The Well this week: tonight (Wednesday) congregational meeting at 7.30pm. Please make every effort to attend this important meeting; tomorrow (Thursday) Men’s Bible Study at 10.30am, Drop In at 2pm; Christianity Explored at 7.30pm. Monday, March 12: Ladies Bible Study 2-3.30pm (Jesus’ Final Week’). Tuesday, March 13: Wee Wellies at 10:30am and Road to Recovery at 7.30pm. Church of the Holy Rude As morning service was cancelled due to the adverse weather, service on Sunday will be conducted by Rev Alan Miller and Holy Communion will be celebrated during morning service. The annual quiz evening will take place in the church on Friday, March 17 (7pm for 7.30 pm). Tickets £10, to include light refreshments and soft drinks ( BYOB, if something stronger preferred), are available from social committee members or at the door. Parking will be available at the Old Jail. A raffle will be held on the night. The Edinburgh Singers will present a programme of a cappella music in the church on Sunday, March 18 at 7.30pm. This will feature works by Talbot, Whitacre, Ešenvalds and a world premiere by Edinburgh composer Chris Hutchings, specially commissioned in collaboration with Creative Scotland. Tickets (£12/£10 concessions, under 12s free) are available from the Macrobert Arts Centre or at the door. Parking on the castle esplanade until 10.30pm, courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland.

\Cornton

Credit union Cornton and District Credit Union is open every Monday from 9am-3pm and Fridays 4pm6pm in the community centre. Needles and Pins Knitting and sewing group meets every Monday from 9.30-noon in the community centre. No sewing machine needed, £1 donation for tea, coffee and biscuits. Cornton Baptist Church Tonight (Wednesday) at 6pm CBC Kids Club. Tomorrow (Thursday) at 10.15am coffee morning and 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Pastries. Friday, March 9 at 10am Noah’s Ark Parent and Toddler Group and 7.30pm youth cafe. Sunday services at 11am and 6.30pm in the church with Rev Hamish Wishart.

\Cowie

One O’Clock Gang Lunch club in the Miners Welfare Club, Mondays, 1pm.

\Dollar

Wee County Walkers Meet every Thursday, 10am, beside the health