Good turnout for church’s Gearchoille Wood festive celebration despite bad weather forecast
A Sutherland minister was worried no one would turn up to a festive event she had organised in Gearchoille Wood, Ardgay, last weekend because the weather forecast was so dire.
So Rev Carol Anne Porter, locum minister at Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland, was delighted when 46 “hardy souls” arrived at the meeting place, dressed for the weather and carrying umbrellas!
She said: “Fortunately, the 45 mph winds never showed, and the rain didn’t get us down. We set off from Drovers Square (Ardgay), following the star, and stopped along the way to tell the Christmas story and sing some carols. Afterwards we had hot chocolate and homemade treats in the shelter in the wood.”
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Stars of the event were donkeys Geordie and Jimmy.
“They had to stay in their trailer as it was a bit wet,” said Rev Porter. “Their owner had a stash of ginger nut biscuits, their favourites, and we all took turns feeding them. They were very gentle fellows.”
She added: “Thanks to everyone for coming along despite the weather and for getting into the spirit of it all.”
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