Nowadays, Ashkirk Parish Church has a weekly service of worship at noon each Sunday. There are about 10 – 15 people who regularly attend the Service.The main challenge for the future of Ashkirk Church is how the congregation can reach out to the parish and encourage more people, especially the young, to come into the church and experience the message of the gospel for themselves.
The congregation’s regular hymn book is CH4 but hymns from various other sources are also employed. The music is led by an organ which was built in the 1980s by a former church member.
In recent ministries our regular worship has been enriched with special services at the Christian festivals. These include a Christingle service, a service of ‘words for Christmas’ and, one of the highlights of the year, a Watchnight service which draws many people from Selkirk and beyond. (Soup and sometimes mulled wine are served after the service). The Christmas timetable also includes a parish meal in the local pub and carol singing round the village, when a group of parishioners brave the elements for as long they can before warming up with mulled wine and mince pies. Easter has traditionally been celebrated with an early morning service held outside in the churchyard followed later with an Easter family service in the church. Harvest Thanksgiving also holds a particular significance in this rural parish. At present there is one child who regularly attends and now takes part in worship with Bible readings. Other members of the congregation also take part in readings and in leading prayers.
The Guild, though small in number, meets once a month from October to April and has a varied programme.
The main fundraiser for the Church is held in early summer. The “Church Weekend,” as it is called, provides a focus for bringing the community and the church together. It starts with a Fayre on the Saturday providing sales tables, games and competitions, morning coffee and lunch. The weekend concludes with a service of thanksgiving and celebration on the Sunday evening.
The church has a relatively small annual income of about £10,000 which is sufficient to meet routine expenditure. The impact on the finances of the Quinquennial Report is still to be assessed. Should a copy of the church accounts be required, this can be provided.
The church is administered in accordance with the terms of the Deed of Constitution (quoad omnia). Consequently there is no Congregational Board. The Kirk Session therefore deals with the management affairs of the Church in addition to having responsibility for spiritual affairs within the church. The Kirk Session has five elders, one of whom is a qualified reader.
Ashkirk Parish Church is a member of the Selkirk Council of Churches, and is represented at their meetings throughout the year. The church is also part of a Parish Grouping with Selkirk, Ettrick and Yarrow, which provides a number of benefits, including support for the minister at busy times. The church also participates actively in the annual World Day of Prayer in Selkirk.
The congregation is generous in its response to calls for help from various charities such as Christian Aid, Tear Fund, the Presbytery’s Malawi project, Fresh Start Borders, Blythswood shoeboxes and emergency appeals.