Latest news with #JonathanFleming
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Children enjoy crafts and songs at Greenock holiday club at church
CHILDREN got in focus for a fun-filled week at Lyle Kirk and Westburn Church holiday club. This year's holiday club was called Magnified and the theme was seeing the greatness of God in the smallest things. The kids looked at the wonder of God in nature and in the smallest of creatures. (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) The summer get-together was led by ministers Jonathan Fleming and Susan Harbison and a group of volunteers. Jonathan said: "The theme of the holiday club is seeing the bigness of God in the smallest of things. "God created the world and sometimes we might feel small but even the smallest things are important because we are so loved by God." OTHER NEWS: Church holiday club in Port Glasgow hits the right notes with youngsters PICTURES: Cool kids show off their dance moves at summer playscheme in Greenock It was full steam ahead for local kids as they jumped on the Waverley for a day trip (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) (Image: George Munro) There were 23 children who popped along every morning between 10 and 12noon. There were crafts, including making binoculars and kaleidoscopes, songs, games and even water pistol fights. When the Tele popped along youngsters were making sheep biscuits with icing, chocolate drops and marshmallows. Jonathan said: "We've had crafts, games and water pistol fights. "We also had three evening events at Lyle Kirk, we had a beetle drive and we had 30 people that night, and there was a movie night and a family barbecue." Jonathan wanted to thank the volunteers who have helped during the week including two teenage helpers. The week ended with a joint service at Westburn Church on Sunday.
Scotsman
08-08-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Women fight unholy war against Girls' Brigade Scotland over 'heartbreak' of 'ageist' policies
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An unholy row has broken out between mature members of Girls' Brigade Scotland and the management of the organisation over "ageist" policies. Women who have been leaders in the Christian youth charity for decades are now fighting to overturn a system they claim is causing 'heartbreak'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Musicians from Girls' Brigade parade march. Picture: PA | PA Girls' Brigade Scotland introduced rules that ban any woman over the age of 65 from becoming a group leader and mandate leaders resign in the year they turn 70. While the organisation says the policy is necessary for 'succession planning' and dealing with 'capability issues', one local group has decided to defy the rules. READ MORE: The massive sums paid by Scottish universities to overseas recruiting agents revealed Members of 5th Motherwell Girls' Brigade say the policy is ageist, unnecessary and is causing turmoil for women forced to leave and the girls left behind. Women calling themselves the Golden Girls have now started a petition to see the rule withdrawn - and a battle of words between supporters and the organisation has broken out on social media. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Caroline Gordon, a chaplain and former member of 5th Motherwell Girls' Brigade, said: 'This is a challenge to an outdated and irrelevant policy that clearly they have no interest in discussing. Quoting scripture to make a point is both cowardly and dangerous. 'There are many scriptures exhorting us to honour our elders and indeed women elders, widows, and orphans. There is zero mention from the chaplain about the emotional impact their policy is having on many women through their organisation. 'There is no comfort being offered to those so deeply affected by this policy. That includes the many parents who have reached out devastated that their girls will lose the influence of these terrific women.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Facebook, the organisation said the policy, which was first introduced in 2016, was to 'prepare Companies for the future by allowing new Leaders to progress through the organisation'. It also, Girls' Brigade Scotland said, was needed to 'maintain the health and safety' and 'address difficulties with providing insurance cover for Leaders above certain age thresholds'. The organisation's National Chaplain, Reverend Jonathan Fleming, also took to Facebook to counsel those embroiled in the row to 'reflect Christ' in how they argue online. 'Disagreement is allowed. Disrespect is not,' he said. Critics of the succession plan say women in their 70s are far fitter than in previous generations and well able to cope with the rigours of company events. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some women have given decades of service to Girls' Brigade Scotland, but have quietly complied with the policy. Mrs Gordon asked Girls' Brigade Scotland to consider the 'depth of pain and sorrow' the 'so-called succession planning' was causing to women who have volunteered in the organisation for decades. Between them they have more than 150 years service. 'For those who served in the most deprived parts of Scotland they brought stability otherwise unheard of,' she said. 'These women created self-esteem where there was none, they nurtured before that was a word, mitigating against the many adverse experiences faced by so many of their girls.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In Motherwell, particularly, the chaplain said there were women in North Lanarkshire who have achieved success in life because of Girls' Brigade leaders. 'Nobody was left behind when the steel works closed and money disappeared,' she said. 'Every girl somehow made it to camp. We had our uniforms. 'The model of 5th Motherwell Girls' Brigade should be written about and exemplified.' Caroline Goodfellow, chief executive of Girls' Brigade Scotland (GBS), said it was 'paramount that members are safe'. She said the policy had been in place for ten years and reviewed previously.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Portland State University's Commencement Week means to one graduating senior
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It's Commencement Week at Portland State University. This weekend, more than 55,000 people will be on campus for 10 different graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies are culminations of years of hard work, and KOIN 6 News spoke with graduating senior Jonathan Fleming about his plans for the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
