At a time when so much of our news is hard to take, it's wonderful to be able to report on our most successful ever Christian Aid week..

Perhaps this was due, at least in part, to the very simple but moving sermon preached by Rev Stewart Smith in late April. Clean water is taken so much for granted by all of us and it's almost impossible to imagine daily life without it. Now, with the money raised here, Christian Aid can make fresh, clean water available to many more disadvantaged people in Kenya and elsewhere.

Last year each collector raised an average of £30, enough to help pay for a month's salary for a Kenyan sanitation block worker who cleans the block and collects a minimal fee from people using it to ensure the facility is maintained.

Thanks to the efforts of the people of Cumbernauld Old Parish, an amazing £3121.68 was raised this year. This represents £2505.50 from the annual door-to-door collection (£1091.15 of which was Gift-Aided). A further £410 was raised by our enterprising Boys' Brigade Company at their recent display. Well done boys and, of course, your officers and helpers. Also thanks to the counters who toiled well into the night to process the collection.

Heartfelt thanks to all who helped with this magnificent achievement. Job very well done indeed. See you all next year! (New recruits always welcome.)