At a recent Fruits of Faith Steering Group meeting our thoughts turned to all that had been achieved in the last six or so years – is it really that long? What was born out of a congregational retreat has seen our 20/20 Vision become a reality in so many areas of our church's life. And that journey continues...

We've spent a lot of time over the past year / 18 months looking at elder and Board training, indeed congregational training generally, and we are delighted that a new working group has now been set up to take this forward. This working group, led by Matt Sime and Alastair Robertson will co-ordinate training issues and report directly to the Kirk Session.

A Church Directory is almost complete and will be available soon; as will a leaflet about worship at Balloch – in good time for its 25th Anniversary (about which more is written elsewhere in the magazine).

We had planned to present plans to the Kirk Session for a “Getting To Know You” service to be held in February but have decided to delay that until later in the year. This service was to launch the updating of our church register and our 'Gifts & Talents' register. In the four years since this exercise was originally undertaken we have welcomed many new faces to the congregation and so it was felt that it was time to update our records. It was also felt that completing such an exercise might identify and encourage individuals not already involved in church affairs to lend a helping hand. As we all know, any of our current groups would gratefully welcome a new face, or two.

However, Fruits of Faith has run into a problem: the group numbers have gradually fallen to a point where the remaining members are unable to continue the plans outlined above, as it is a very demanding task. Those leaving the group have all contributed greatly to the achievements made over the years by the group on behalf of the Kirk Session. It says much for their involvement that they left this group because of the pressure of other commitments and we acknowledge their valuable contribution. So, in order to continue, we need your support, your ideas, your time – yourselves.

Since its inception Fruits of Faith has been involved in special worship services, congregational events (who could forget Brian's sketches and dialogues?) from May 2002 and the original “Getting To Know You” event, followed by October 2002 and the Gifts & Talents event.

We've helped members build up the House of God and grow our Church Family Tree; we have seen ourselves as others see us; explored Belonging, and Using Our Gifts.

Office-bearers and visitors have been supported and encouraged with special informal training sessions. We have shared a Christian Aid lunch and put our vision into action – our Mission Statement, and the banners proclaiming it, came from a congregational event we helped organise.

The undertaking of additional pastoral duties has eased the load on the Minister and Deacon. Perhaps most important of all, the group has enjoyed great fellowship and still feel they have so much to contribute towards the work of the Kirk Session.

So this is not about looking back – although we have much to thank God for, and we do – but looking forward and anticipating what God still has in store for us.

With this in mind, the Fruits of Faith group currently intends to focus on:

1. Completing the “Getting To Know You” exercise, i.e. re-issuing the drop-cards to allow updating of the congregational register and the Gifts & Talents register.
2. Following on from that, developing processes for Register Management and congregational administration generally.
3. Maintaining our link with Church Without Walls.
4. Responding to other needs identified by the Kirk Session.
   

In moving forward we need to recruit a significant number of new members – six or more would be ideal, and they don't need to be members of either the Congregational Board or Kirk Session. We also need your support and prayers.

“The Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 22,23)

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