Outreach & Service

Many of the activities listed below have been suspended during the pandemic but we continue to promote and support the work of a number of organisations and charities.

Tea n Toast

A free drop-in for parents or carers with babies or pre-school children. Join us in the Meeting Room of the Church Hall any Friday morning during term time from 9am for a relaxing cuppa, a slice of toast and a chat while the children play.


Eco-Congregation @ St Mary’s

St Mary’s was awarded a Silver Eco-Congregation Award in 2013 after a significant project funded by the Climate Challenge Fund involving fabric improvements within the Church Hall as well as a congregational focus on reducing their personal carbon footprint. St Mary’s continues to be committed to minimising environmental impact and promoting sustainable living.
We are in the process of starting up a new Eco Congregation steering group with the intention of going for gold!


Mothers’ Union

Mothers’ Union, a world-wide organisation, affiliated to the Anglican Church, supports a wide variety of projects which seek to encourage and improve family life and to foster social justice and equality. Here in the St Andrews Diocese we run a creche in Glenochil Prison; support those in desperate need of a break from the stress of daily living; knit prem baby clothes for the local hospital, and provide gowns for stillborn babies, supporting both parents and nursing staff with prayer. Members at St Mary’s are part of the Forth Valley branch, which also covers Alloa, Stirling and Dollar, though it is also possible to be a Diocesan member which is a looser network. Members meet for an informal Celtic Communion Service on the first Thursday of every month.


Fairtrade

St Mary’s has supported Fair Trade producers for many years by running a monthly Traidcraft stall and being involved in local ecumenical events and national campaigns.

Fairtrade goods from Traidcraft are for sale after church on the first Sunday of every month. Goods for Start-Up Stirling can be purchased at the stall.

The stall has been running for more than 25 years and is stocked with a variety of foods, beverages and household items such as toilet rolls and rubber gloves. We can order items from the catalogue so you don’t need to pay a delivery charge. All profits are donated to Traidcraft Exchange, the charity arm of Traidcraft.

Not all Fairtrade is the same. Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, Traidcraft’s mission is to fight poverty through trade, pioneering, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives. They work with smaller, more remote, more marginalised and poorer producers than the supermarkets. For Traidcraft the bottom line is communities not commodities.

If you would like to help run the stall or would like to promote or sell Traidcraft products in different places please get in touch at traidcraft @ stmarysdunblane.org


Stirling Street Pastors

Stirling Street Pastors have been part of the Stirling night time scene at weekends since 2009. The team members are all trained volunteers from a diverse range of local churches and are committed to caring, listening and helping on the streets as a practical witness to their Christian faith.

 

Members of St Mary’s give prayer support to Stirling Street Pastors and help raise awareness of their ministry.


Start-up Stirling

St Mary’s was a founding member of Start-up Stirling, an organisation originally set up to provide starter packs for people entering their first tenancy after a period of homelessness. Today, in addition to the starter packs, it provides emergency and toiletry packs for men and women who are homeless and runs food banks for local people in hardship. Members of our congregation serve as volunteers and trustees and also contribute regularly to the Donation Station which is located in the back of the church.


Dunblane Christian Aid Group

St Mary’s is an active member of the local Christian Aid organising group, taking its turn in hosting the Annual Christian Aid Service and supporting the Christian Aid Week Café and house-to-house collection. We also take part in campaigns and contribute to emergency collections whenever the need arises. Please keep an eye on our FaceBook page for more information.


Dunblane Bible Society Committee

(more details to follow…)


Dunblane Churches Together

St Mary’s is an active member of Dunblane Churches Together which is made up of the town’s eight congregations. It puts on an annual St Blane’s Day event in August, contributes to the Dunblane Christmas Extravaganza and has a tent at the Dunblane Fling. It also organises study groups during Lent. For more information about DCT events, visit our Facebook page or check our calendar.


Dunblane Churches Holiday Club

Members of St Mary’s have been involved in the ecumenical holiday club for primary school children (formerly Radio Rainbow) since its inception almost 20 years ago. The week-long club is held every year during the mornings of the last week of the Summer Holidays and attracts children from all three schools in Dunbane. Older children and adults from the church enjoy being part of the team and others support the venture by preparing crafts, scenery, costumes and props etc.

A brochure and application form for summer 2019 can be downloaded here…