Building Renovation update June 2012

Music for a summer's evening

To see more photographs of the concert click on the photograph above or click here.

A near capacity audience enjoyed a fantastic evening of praise and worship at the third annual Summer Concert of the Ayr Community Gospel Choir, entitled, ‘Then sings my soul’.

The concert was held last Sunday in the Ayr Town Hall and featured Queen Victoria Brass, (a brass band comprising players who once attended the Salvation Army’s Scottish Music School), the Ayr Community Gospel Choir and Ayr Citadel’s young people’s singing group.

Gordon Anderson’s Worship Band started the evening with a time of community singing, which was followed by a scintillating opening Festival Fanfare, Horizons, from QV Brass, featuring Chris Shanks on Euphonium. It was a breath-taking start to some fantastic playing from the young people in the band.

The Ayr Community Gospel Choir presented a variety of music - gospel favourites like Singing in the Heavenly Choir, praise like How great thou art and reflective pieces, like Somebody prayed for me.

But it was the young people who stole the show, with their performance of Sing Aloud – with young Luke Parkhill (4) singing in a dinner jacket, complete with tartan bow tie!

Major Catherine Wyles, (DHQ) brought a scripture reading and carefully crafted her message to link perfectly with the spectacular presentation by QV Brass of Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral. Her message was powerful and well received by the congregation.

A presentation was made to Captain Graeme Parkhill and Daniel Elliott, who had completed a marathon cycle from John O’Groats to Ayr to raise funds for the Corps Building Fund. When added to the fantastic collection at the concert, Captain Wendy Parkhill was able to present a cheque to Cadets Tim and Cheryl Stone (prospective new corps officers) totalling £7,003! An excellent total.

The evening concluded with an arrangement of favourite classic hymns, composed by one of Ayr’s own – Peter Graham, and brought to an end a magnificent evening of Summer Praise at Ayr Town Hall.
Graeme Parkhill

Pastures New

Just the other week, my wife Wendy and I received notification from the Salvation Army that we would be moving appointments. Right now we are the Salvation Army Officers in Ayr, but by the time the summer comes we will be leaving our congregation and moving on to pastures new.

We have enjoyed seven happy years in Ayr, and we will be sorry to leave the many good friends we have made here.

But it got me to thinking that life is never often terribly straight forward. It’s true that life has its twists and turns; its ups and downs – that’s certainly been true in my life.

Christians know that God promises to be with us through it all. He never promises that there will always be good times, but he does say “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you”.

In fact, he recognises and tries to prepare us for the tough times we will go through and promises in his Word “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown”.

Whatever your circumstances, whatever you are going through today, be it good or bad, I trust you will know the presence of Almighty God with you just where you are.

Graeme Parkhill

Cycling for building renovation

During the week of June 10-17 our very own Capt. Graeme Parkhill and Daniel Elliott are planning to cycle from John O' Groats to Ayr in order to raise funds for our building renovation project. They are collecting sponsors for this effort and you can sponsor them online! Capt. Graeme has set up a donations page at http://www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Parkhill where you can support their effort!

Pray for fair winds and strong legs as they undertake this adventure!

Use it or lose it!

Just the other day I was talking with one of the teenagers in our congregation and he was telling me that he has just finished his prelim exams. He’s a 6th year pupil at Prestwick Academy and is hoping to study at the Strathclyde Business School – one of my old stomping grounds.

As we were talking, it put me in mind of a conversation that I had with one of my teenage neighbours a couple of years ago.

She was struggling with higher maths – don’t we all – and she knew that when I was at school, maths was one of my best subjects. So she came and asked if I would tutor her.

I explained that it had been some years since I had studied maths, but agreed to at least look through her text books to see if I could help.

However, although my exam certificate proudly shows an ‘A’ for higher maths, when I looked at her text books, it was like Double Dutch. And I mused – It’s true – “If you don’t use it you lose it”.

Religion is better kept when it is practiced. Faith is about relationships. Christianity – living a relationship with a loving God –relationships are strongest when there is much contact and communication. The same is true with our relationship with God – but watch out – if you don’t use it you lose it.

Graeme Parkhill

Midsummer Concert Announced

You should mark your calendar now to attend this concert on Sunday 17th June 2012 at 6:00 PM in Ayr Town Hall.

Come Sing With Us

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING GOSPEL?

Calling all singers who would like to sing in The Salvation Army’s AYR COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR.


Following on from the success of our 2011 Christmas concert and visit to Govan the Ayr Community Gospel Choir are calling all singers from 14yrs upwards (no limit!) to do it all again - this time for a Summer Concert on Sunday the 17th June 2012 at 6pm in Ayr Town Hall.


It would be great to see everybody again and you are more than welcome to bring someone new along!



The rehearsals will be in Ayr Community Church Hall 59 John Street Ayr.

• 22 March Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 03 April Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 19 April Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 03 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 17 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 31 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 14 June Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 17 June Rehearsal 3:30pm and Concert 6.00pm

All new participants will need to register (click here!) and for those of 14-18 years of age we will also require parents’ consent.
We will request a subscription of £5 for the session, this will cover the cost of music and other expenses.

This invitation is to members of the local community and beyond to come together and form a ‘Community Gospel Choir’ which is open to everyone aged 14 and above – you, your friends, local people …. In fact, anyone whether they have a faith or not.