ORKNEY CE REUNION

June this year saw the start of 50^th anniversary celebrations of Kirkwall Baptist Church and this seemed like a good time to celebrate the role of Christian Endeavour in Orkney which predated the church itself, and which celebrated 40 years of CE Camps in Orkney.

A weekend of CE took place starting with a gathering of as many former CE members and Campers could get to Orkney for the Friday night and continued with an exhibition of memorabilia, a beach barbecue and a Sunday service before everyone headed back for home.

The Friday event saw over 180 folk gather in St Magnus Centre enjoying  an evening of action songs, testimonies and a quiz on the history of CE which the juniors delivered in their usual lively style, narrowly beating the alumni! Orkney has had active CE societies at various times dating back as far as 1930 and camps from 1963. A “Former Camper” appeared from behind a screen to great hilarity as he demonstrated the rudiments of making camp porridge, while playing his moothie and dancing with both legs off the ground at the same time. (The audience were sufficiently recovered in time to eat a lovely supper.)

Rodney Stout came home to bring greetings from the wider CE family and tribute was paid to George Rendal who was presented with a Bible inscribed by most of the guests to honour his 27 years of leading camps (three each year for most of that time) and even more years leading the weekly meetings. Other guests included former CE members who have gone into ministry, missions and mainstream service – quite a night to remember