The Guild of Saltcoats St. Cuthbert’s Church decided  to celebrate “Guild Week 2016” by purchasing a Celtic cross carved from olive wood in the Holy Land.  The cross was presented to the church for the Communion Table on Sunday November 20, 2016 during the Guild Dedication service, at the end of Guild Week. The picture shows some of the Guild members at the close of the dedication service. Guild member and Session Clerk, Evelyn Slater, said a few words before the dedication of the cross.  “As we are aware the olive tree is mentioned on numerous occasions throughout the bible – Noah and the dove and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went to pray with his disciples on the night he was betrayed. In all probability he knelt under an olive tree to pray. Last year the Guild had a talk from a local group – the Olive Tree from Bridge of Weir. They support craft workers in Palestine by buying their wares and selling them here.     The Guild was impressed by their talk and decided to buy and donate a cross to the church. The charity had it made for us on their visit in September. This is the cross, made from the wood of an olive tree, maybe from Gethsemene. I would like to think so. We have asked Bert to dedicate this gift of the cross and we hope that you appreciate it’s beauty and find it an appropriate addition to our chancel. The cross is donated by the Guild to St. Cuthbert’s Church. Please accept it with our love and continued service to the work of the church.”