J OTTINGS. NEWS and VIEWS FROM WEST MEARNS PARISH. Scottish Charity No.: SC016193

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1 J OTTINGS NEWS and VIEWS FROM WEST MEARNS PARISH Issue No. 33 Winter 2015 Scottish Charity No.: SC

2 PARISH REGISTER BAPTISMS The Promise is to you and your children. 13/09/15 Ava Lamont, daughter of Mr & Mrs Douglas Downie, Coreen, Fordoun (at Auchenblae) 04/10/15 James Joseph, son of Mr & Mrs Kenneth Carlson, 2 Pittengardner Way, Fordoun (at Glenbervie) NEW COMMUNICANTS We are members one of another. By Profession of Faith (at Auchenblae on 25th October) (Mrs) Mary Taylor, 8 Glenfarquhar Cres, Auchenblae (Mrs) Evelyn Richardson, Gean Cottage, Auchenblae MARRIAGES Whom God has joined together 05/08/15 Ferdinand Strasser, Germany and Ashley McWilliam, Haughead Farm (at St. Palladius Chapel, Drumtochty) 17/09/15 Brian Sinclair and Emma Steel, 2 Middleton Cottages, Fettercairn (at Fettercairn) FUNERALS I am the resurrection and the life. 17/08/15 (Mrs) Jemima Dalgarno (d 09/08/15, aged 100), Queen Elizabeth Court, Fettercairn 14/08/15 (Mrs) Jean Streach (nee Muiry) (d 24/12/14 in Nova Scotia) ashes buried at Auchenblae 14/09/15 Victor Middleton (d 26/08/15 at Kirk Lodge), Drumallan, Fordoun 07/09/15 James Davidson (d 30/08/15), 11 Redmyre Place, Fordoun 11/09/15 (Mrs) Hildegard (Hilda) Davidson (d 07/09/15) 09/10/15 30th September 2015 (Mrs) Freda Shelton (d 30/09/15), Hazelbank, Brigton, Laurencekirk 22/10/15 John Hannay-Wilson (d 11/10/15) Melrose Cottage, Drumlithie 20/10/15 0(Mrs) Jean Gammie (d 13/10/15), Drumlithie 2

3 A message from Rev Douglas Lamb, our locum minister Dear Friends, Recently someone (not of West Mearns!) asked me about church and minster s fees. A question that I have been asked before on different occasions. I explained that each parish may or may not set a fee for the use of the kirk maintenance, lighting & heating, insurance etc. Sometimes a couple before Baptism might ask Is there a charge? to which I would reply: It has been already paid - on the Cross where the good Lord died for your wee one, though I would add, Donations are always very welcome. And maybe, somewhat jokingly suggest a large sum! When it comes to a minister s fee I always say, Nothing. I would explain that, as a minister s vocation and task has to do with God s grace in Christ, you cannot buy grace. Technically indeed, a working minister doesn t get a salary as such but a stipend. There s no rate for the job but a stipend: a living allowance. In the past such was supplemented in kind: by glebe rent, by fiars prices (where the stipend varied with price of corn: the minister benefitting and suffering with his parishioners in a very agricultural economy) etc. I have been known to say when someone says : How much? albeit half in fun, You cannot afford me! Not a vain affirmation but trying to make the point that that there are things, things in life, things of the spirit, things of God, that have nothing to do with any monetary price. I am reminded here of Oscar Wilde s definition of a cynic: Some who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Relative to that there is the old and true story of a Lewis crofter sometime after WW1. The proprietor of much of the Western Isles, Lord Leverhulme, having remarked on the hovels of houses and thought to give men steady work and income and improve their lot was told by the crofter Strange as it may seem to you, we do not greatly desire them. We attend to our crofts in seed-time and harvest and we follow the fishing in the season and when neither requires our attention we are free to rest and contemplate. You have referred to our homes as hovels! But they are our homes, and I will venture to say my Lord that poor as these homes may be you will find more real happiness in them than you will find in your castles throughout the land While we all want folk to have decent houses, a happy home is something else. Besides as the Bible says, There is great gain in godliness with contentment. And with Christmas approaching as I write, may we realise anew that Christ, though He was rich, yet for our sake became poor, so that by his poverty we might rich! May we all be wise unto salvation and appreciate especially at this Season what really matters! Have a truly happy Christmas at no cost at all. Blessings, Douglas Lamb 3

4 ABERDEEN CYRENIANS AUCHENBLAE Church members continue to bring gifts of non perishable goods, Sunday by Sunday, and we are grateful to Graeme Rennie for transporting them to Summer Street in Aberdeen. We must also thank Jenny Thomson and her daughter Margo for doing the needful while Graeme was abroad on holiday. There was much to take as the children from the Primary School brought gifts to their Harvest Service. We are grateful to the Head Teacher and his staff for this generous gesture. The Cyrenians provide food and other help while Shelter, a sister charity, takes only clothing and bric a brac which they then take to charity shops. CHRISTMAS STAR Cairn o Mount shoulders the solitude of Night time still Fettercairn lies in peace under the shadow Of neighbouring hills; At Pitnamoon the wild cherry draped in Snow. Her boughs primed, lean against winter s relentless blow; Quiet hills cradle their frost borne night skies, A white carpeted landscape glistening to An open Moon lies. Snow laden skies shed a blanket of small boys dreams, Children s voices of joy echo about a shopping mall s Christmas themes. The creaking woods to winter s calling bow. Hark! to the harbingers of Christmas joy ring Out across the meadows now. Peter Morriss, 2013 A REMINDER ABOUT THE GIFT AID SMALL DONATIONS SCHEME THIS scheme allows the Church to claim a new Gift Aid style top up payment on small unidentified cash donations (notes or coins) of 20 or less as plate offerings at services. Donors are not identified and they needn t be tax payers. 10 will earn the church

5 For the period April 2013-April 2014 the sum earned was 1600, so it is worth while. This scheme runs alongside the present Gift Aid Scheme. For more information contact: Fiona Duff, Tel or e mail fionaduff01@btinternet.com CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL THIS takes place on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 28 th and 29 th November, in Fettercairn Church from 10am 4pm on Saturday and from 11am 4pm on the Sunday. Organisations and businesses are busy preparing their trees and we look forward to seeing them all. We also welcome individual entries. It is always a happy occasion and gets you into the Christmas spirit. As we prepare for this year s festival, we find we are missing Catherine s love and support for this event. While we are unable to hold a Soup and Sweet this year, due to the closure of the Public Hall, refreshments will be served both days in the Church Hall. Scones and biscuits will be served on Saturday morning, sausage rolls and fruit loaf at lunchtime and home-bakes in the afternoon. On the Sunday, mince pies, shortbread and home-bakes will be the order of the day. There will also be a Christmas gift stall, a guess-the-price-of-the-hamper and a children s lucky dip. Donations for these stalls will be most welcome. We are still looking for helpers over the weekend, to contribute baking, serve teas, help at the stalls or be on duty in the Church. We simply cannot do it without the help of the congregation. Please contact Helen Thomson on if you can help in any way. AUCHENBLAE GUILD IT S good to be back after what seems to be a long holiday. By the time you read this we will already have had three meetings and also our first coffee morning, and we are really looking forward to what December brings. We are holding our usual Carols, Candles and Christmas Pies evening in the Church at 7.30pm on Friday 11 th December. It is always a beautiful lead-in to Christmas. Thanks to Jenny the Church looks really lovely, lit entirely by candles. The evening concludes with fellowship over tea, coffee, mulled wine, mince pies and shortbread. You are all cordially invited to join us. On December 18 th it will be our Christmas lunch. Our January meeting on Wednesday 20 th will be our Winter lunch. You must think that we do nothing but eat at our Guild meetings but I do assure you that we have some really interesting speakers at most of our meetings. Warmest greetings to all for a happy, peaceful Christmas and for a good

6 FETTERCAIRN GUILD IN October we had a very interesting talk from Vhari Campbell, on her recent return visit to Rwanda. In the past, Vhari has worked with the children in one of the orphanages. However this time when she went, there were no children. This was due to the new government s initiative to find homes for them within the community. Vhari was able to visit some of the children in their new homes, where for the most part, they were happy and settled. It was heartening to hear of this progress. This did not mean Vhari had nothing to do, as the orphanage was now home to some of the country s most vulnerable adults, who sadly are low on the list of priorities for care. They have little or no status and the orphanage is their lifeline. It was a humbling experience and, as we hit the shops for Christmas, we will give a little more consideration to our spending power I m sure, and do something for those much less fortunate than ourselves. This month we have been busy making our decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival and wrapping up gifts for the Christmas stall. Also, by the time you read this, we will have been to Queen Elizabeth Court to take the service which will be on the theme for this year s Guild week, Be Bold, Be Strong. December will see us having our annual Christmas party. In the new year, we hope to focus more on the work of the Guild and less on fund-raising. We will also welcome new members. It would be wonderful for us to have more members than there are days in the week! If you know of anyone who is interested, please contact: Agnes Hay, Helen Thomson or indeed any Guild member. AUCHENBLAE FRIENDSHIP GROUP WE continue to meet every Wednesday morning in the Church Hall at 10.00am. We do have room for more members and you are all welcome to give us a try if you are at a loose end. On Wednesday 23rd December we will be holding our Christmas Party, and a good time will be had by all. This year we have had a special treat. A girl in primary 7 in the village school asked if she could bake cakes for us sometimes. They really are very good. We look forward to possibly seeing her on The Great British Bake Off sometime in the future if it lasts that long. Very good wishes from us all to you for a peaceful Christmas and a happy new Year. 6

7 A message from Rev Colin Dempster, our Interim Moderator. Christmas 2015 THIS is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do no be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Dear Friends, I love the story of the Scottish shepherd who won the Christmas Hamper Competition at his local Church Fayre. When asked by the Minister what he was going to do with it, he began to list the items he would open first and those he would keep until Christmas day. When asked what his wife would be getting from the hamper, the shepherd turned in surprise and said What! Has she won a hamper as well? Yes it is that time again; how quickly it comes around. But whether you are looking forward to Christmas or not, I pray that we are all able to share together the 3 R s. No, not Reading, Riting and Rithmetic, but Reflection, Realization and Rejoicing. Reflection - for many of us this brings back all kinds of memories. My own are mostly good ones. From getting the Christmas tree and decorating it, - to roasting chestnuts on the open fire. From going to the Sunday School party - to our own extended family gathering on Christmas Day. Then there was waking up on Christmas morning to find some nuts and a tangerine in your stocking, in front of a lovely crackling fire oh happy days!! Or were they? Yes, the fire was good, but it was still freezing in the rest of the house no central heating. My fingers were already tingling (not in a good way) with the sharp jags of the holly, which my big brother had put in my Christmas stocking. Then there were 7

8 the tears when my other brother sat on my new (second hand) guitar, breaking the neck, making it irreparable. I m sure many of you have similar, or worse, tales to tell. Apart from these latter experiences, they were happy days simpler, where presents and expectations were not so high. Of course many things change and that brings us to the second R Realization - that God sent his son Jesus Christ into the world to live among us, giving us something worthwhile to celebrate. With all the changes in society, Christ is being left more and more out of Christmas. That s a pity because he is the reason for the season. You only need to look at some of our major cities, which no longer have ChristmasFestivals, but WinterFestivals. In the above passage from Matthew s Gospel we are told that the other name for Jesus was Immanuel, which means, God with us. have a God who truly loves us, but for many this may be too hard to believe. They want proof of God s love, but He did this by allowing this same Jesus, His Son, to die on the cross at Calvary and more than that, through the resurrection, He gives us all hope of eternal life in Heaven. What a Saviour to Rejoice in. Yes the final R Rejoicing let us rejoice this Christmas by accepting the priceless gift offered to everyone, whatever the situation or circumstances. The priceless gift, of course, Our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. May the blessing and presence of the risen Christ be with you all this Christmas. Colin Dempster GIRL GUIDING AUCHENBLAE Girl Guides and Rainbows continue to have their meetings in the Church hall. Their notice board is always interesting and the Rainbows decorate the middle window ledge with Easter and Christmas items, much appreciated on Sunday mornings by those who remain after the service for tea and coffee, and by the Friendship Group on Wednesday mornings. The planters outside are also carefully tended by the Rainbows who plant bulbs and flowers in season. The Guides will be delivering Christmas cards round the village as usual look out for the boxes in the shop and in the Church hall. A modest amount will be charged per card, proceeds to GirlGuiding. 8

9 MY TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ON the first day of Christmas, my true love said to me I m glad we bought a fresh turkey and a proper Christmas tree. On the second day of Christmas such laughter could be heard, As we tucked into our turkey a most delicious bird. The third day we entertained the people next door. The turkey tasted just as good as it had the day before. Day four our relations came to stay: poor Gran is looking old. We finished up the Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold. The fifth day of Christmas, outside the snowflakes flurried But we were nice and warm inside, for we had the turkey curried. The sixth day, I must admit, the Christmas spirit died, The children fought and bickered; we had turkey fried. The seventh day of Christmas, my true love he did wince When he sat down at the table and was offered turkey mince. Day eight and nerves were getting frayed, the dog had run for shelter, I served up turkey pancakes, with a glass of Alka Seltzer. On day nine our cat left home; by lunchtime Dad was blotto. He said he d have to drink, to face turkey risotto. The tenth day, the booze had gone, except for our home brew. As if that wasn t bad enough, we suffered turkey stew. The eleventh day of Christmas, the Christmas tree was moulting, The mince pies were as hard as rocks and the turkey was revolting. The twelfth day, my true love had a smile upon his lips, The guests had gone, the turkey too, and we dined on fish and chips! (anon) FETTERCAIRN CHURCH HALL PLEASE give the ladies of the Guild a word of encouragement, for taking it upon themselves to help organise the constant putting up and taking down of tables, chairs, and bric-a-brac that has been generated by the increased use of the Church Hall owing to the closure of the Public Hall. In relation to this, this year s Senior Citizens lunch takes place in the Church Hall on Saturday 12th December, and we need to clear the hall of as much of its contents as possible. This will mean moving items from the Church Hall to either the Manse garage or the Public Hall. It is not a job that can be undertaken by the Guild ladies alone, and I am appealing for your help. I have set aside Friday 4th and Sunday 6th December for this purpose. Please phone Helen Thomson if you are able to help. Our Senior Citizens deserve it. It s the least we can do. They are great supporters of all our fund-raisers, and many groups have been glad of them and the use of the Church Hall for their fund-raising events Fettercairn Public Property, Young Farmers, Bowlers, WRI, Charity events, not to mention ourselves. 9

10 GLENBERVIE COFFEE MORNING GLENBERVIE Coffee Morning, held at the end of September, raised over 500. This is to go towards the cost of painting the outside of the Church. Many thanks to all who supported this event. JEAN GAMMIE JEAN GAMMIE, an elder for many years at Glenbervie Church, died on 13th October. Over the last few years, Jean has had many health problems which prevented her from attending Church. Jean was a joy to visit, always welcoming you with a smile, and very interested to hear about Church and village activities. Jean will be missed not only by her family, but by her many friends in the area. THANKS The cover for this edition of Jottings made use of stock images by Duncan Rennie who also sets out the magazine. Thank you Duncan. Here, I d also like to thank his mum, Ann Rennie for all the different articles she finds for us. This would be a much poorer magazine without her input. Macphie of Glenbervie, we are very grateful for your continued support in the publication of Jottings. It is much appreciated. WE RE NO AWA TO BIDE AWA! AS many of you will know I have intimated my demission as part-time locum in West Mearns after the second Sunday in January 2016 if the good Lord spares me till then! Our times are ever in His hands. By January I will have done more or less two years. Then I ll be awa. As you will appreciate I am getting on in years. Besides, Sundays come round too quickly despite the great help of the Rev John Anderson once a month. I have too, family down South and I don t get much opportunity as a locum to visit them. Another thought though I am engaged, Sundays apart, to do one day per week, often I do quite a bit more. That last reason is of course my own doing and that of my conscience. To quit as locum will to some extent relieve my conscience and give me considerable freedom. I may say that I had no intention of undertaking another locum in the first place but as a member of West Mearns and living close by I thought to do my bit in helping in our minister s illness which sadly was terminal. All that said and meant, I m no awa to bide awa. I will continue my connection with the church and parish albeit I ll be sitting in a pew. Besides, I ll still be around to help on occasion, given the permission of an interim moderator, a new locum, or 10

11 hopefully a new minister, and if it suits me. The good Lord said that we are to love our neighbour as our self so I ll maybe try to love myself. Of course, no way do I want or intend to intrude on another s responsibility and work. Finally, I would thank all who gave me help & encouragement, by their friendship, their love and laughter as by their prayers. My gratitude to each and every one of you. It s been said that God loves each one of us as if there was only one to love. Though too numerous to mention by name, I express my gratitude to each and all of you in that style and manner. May God bless you all. Sincerely, Douglas L THIS REPRODUCTION IS A NEGATIVE Look at the three spots in the centre of the face for 60 seconds without moving your eyelids. Then gaze up at the ceiling and you will see the positive a surprise to you. Keep looking until the image appears. 11

12 AN EXCERPT FROM 1 st CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 13, FROM THE LORIMER NEW TESTAMENT Translation from Greek into Scots GIN I speak wi the tungs o men an angels, but hae nae luve I my hairt, I am no nane better nor dunnerin bress or a ringing cymbal. Gin I hae the gift o prophecie, an am acquent wi the saicret mind o God, an ken aathing ither at man may ken, an gin I hae siccan faith as can flit the hills frae their larachs gin I hae aa that, but hae naae luve I my hairt, I am nocht. Gin I skail aa my guids an graith in awmous, an gin I gie up my bodie tae be brunt in aiss gin I een dae that, but hae nae luve I my hairt, I am nane the better o it. Luve is patientfu; luve is couthie an kind; luve is nane jailous; nane sprosie; nane bowdent wi pride; nane mislaired; nane hame-draucgtit; nane toustie. Luve keeps nae nickstick o the wrangs it drees; finnds nae pleisur I the ill wark o ithers; is ey liftit up whan truith dings lies; kens ey tae keep a caum souch; is ey sweired tae misdout; ey howps the best; ey bides the warst. Luve will ne er fail. In smaa: there is three things bides for ey: faith, howp, luve. But the grytest o the three is luve. A SMILE! Away in a manger no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus Laid down his wee Ted. Father Time is a great artist but many do not care for the lines he draws. Doubtful compliments to ministers: I don t care what other people say, I like your sermons! If I had known you were going to be good today, I would have brought a friend. It s not that you preach longer than others, it just seems longer! You always find something to fill up the time. A PRAYER A prayer as you come into the House of God: LOVING God, Joy of the Universe, your love and Your holiness are beyond words, beyond all music and song. You have made us for love, and here we try to bring You the best that we can offer. As we breathe out all that is stagnant and infectious and pernicious and shameful in our lives, we breathe in Your Holy Spirit, the fresh breath of heaven, until it flushes through every part of our body, mind and soul. In the course of this act of worship, lift up our lives to the heights, O Lord, showing us what we can be as individuals and as Your people in this place. Open 12

13 our eyes, our ears, our arms, our hearts, until earth and heaven become one complete circle of joy. Through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. PAUSE FOR REFLECTION The more of everything you share, The more you ll always have to spare. The more you love, the more you ll find That life is good and friends are kind. For only what we give away Enriches us from day to day. (Anon) Mercy is Love being gracious Eloquence is Love talking Prophecy is Love foretelling Faith is Love believing Charity is Love acting Sacrifice is Love offering itself Patience is Love waiting Endurance is Love abiding Hope is Love expecting Peace is Love resting Prayer is Love communing. (Anon) THE BUZZARD, THE BAT AND THE BUMBLE BEE The Buzzard - if you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6ft by 8ft which is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that the buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10ft to 12ft. Without space to run as is its habit it will not even attempt to fly but will remain a prisoner for life. The Bat - the ordinary bat that flies around at night is a remarkably nimble creature in the air but cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or on flat ground, all it can do is shuffle until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air, then it takes off like a flash. The Bumble Bee - the bumble bee if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top but persists 13

14 in trying to find some way through the sides or the bottom. It will seek an escape where none exists till it completely destroys itself. PEOPLE - people in many ways are very like the buzzard, the bat and the bumble bee. We struggle with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is to look up! That is the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem. JUST LOOK UP! WHO S WHO Our Interim Moderator Rev. Colin Dempster from Mearns Coastal Parish is still conducting Board and Session meetings and steering us towards electing a Nomination, (formerly Vacancy) Committee. At a joint service at 10.30am on Sunday15th November at Auchenblae this committee should be elected. Our Locum. The Rev. Douglas Lamb has been conducting Sunday services, funerals (of which sadly there have been a fair few!) and weddings in the vacancy. In his time with us, he has visited hospitals and members in their own homes as well as dropping in on various Care Homes locally. Mr Lamb has indicated his retiral at the start of the new year. We are all very grateful for all he has done over the past two years and we wish him a long and happy retirement. His place as locum will be taken by Rev Linda Broadley, and we welcome her to our parish. Our Assistant Locum Rev John Anderson, who retired from Aberdeen and now lives in Montrose, conducts worship on the third Sunday of each month and agreed to take the fifth Sunday services, if any. It was his bad luck that this year there have been more fifth Sundays than usual. He continues to add more names to his repertoire what an enviable memory he has! Sunday Intimations A reminder that as sometimes there are rather too many bits of paper left on vestry tables on Sunday mornings, it would help all ministers and readers if intimations could be notified in advance. Mary Taylor has kindly offered to have intimations printed if they are ed or telephoned to her in advance, best before five o clock on the Friday. maryt796@gmail.com, telephone Nominating Committee The nominating committee is the group that will work together to find a new minister. Their business is private, so please don t ask them questions about what s happening. Thank You continued on P 15 14

15 WORSHIP AT WEST MEARNS PARISH CHURCH Auchenblae, Fettercairn, Glenbervie Services continue as usual: Fettercairn am every Sunday Glenbervie - 11am the first Sunday of every month Auchenblae - 11am the other Sundays in the month Queen Elizabeth Court, Fettercairn 2.30pm usually the last Sunday of the month Sunday School for the children at all three churches. CHURCH DIRECTORY Minister: Locum Minister Rev Douglas Lamb Tel lamb.edzell@talk21.com Interim Moderator Rev Colin Dempster Tel Session Clerk: Mr David Galbraith Tel Treasurer: Mrs Alison Argo Tel Clerk to Board: Mr David Middleton Tel Property Convener: Mr Donald Barrie Tel Roll Keeper: Mr Angus Murdoch Tel WFO Recorder: Mrs Jenny Thomson Tel Gift Aid Convener: Mrs Fiona Duff Tel Sunday Schools: Mrs June Scott (A/b, G/b) Tel Mrs Helen Thomson (F/c) Tel Guild Contacts: Mrs Ann Rennie (A/b) Tel Mrs Helen Thomson (F/c) Tel Safeguarding Co-ordinator Mrs Helen Ritchie Tel Organists: Miss Anne Caird Tel Mrs Helen Doig Tel Members of the Communications & Publications Group Mrs Ann Rennie Tel Mr Duncan Rennie Tel Mrs Marjorie Shearer Tel Mrs Helen Ritchie Tel or jottings@koti.me.uk continued from P14 The committee, chosen at the united service on Sunday 15th November is as follows: Donald Barrie, Heather Donachie, Fiona Duff, David Galbraith, Jane McBain, David Middleton, Mary Taylor, Helen Thomson and Isobel Trigger. 15

16 WEST MEARNS PARISH CHURCH ADVENT & CHRISTMAS DIARY 2015 Please note that some of these dates may be liable to change, although this is unlikely. Saturday 28 th November: Christmas Tree Festival in Fettercairn Church, 10am - 4pm Sunday 29 th November: Christmas Tree Festival in Fettercairn Church, 11am 4pm For further details, see also article elsewhere in Jottings. 1st Sunday in Advent: 29 th December Services: 9.30am at Fettercairn (among the Christmas trees!); 11am at Auchenblae, where White Gift Sunday will be celebrated (see below) 2nd Sunday in Advent: 6 th December: White Gift Sunday Services: 9.30am at Fettercairn; 11am at Glenbervie At both these service and at Auchenblae the week before, we will welcome gifts for children and adults in need. These should be wrapped in white paper. Friday 11 th December: Carols, Candles and Christmas Pies, Auchenblae Church, 7.00 for 7.30pm (Editor s note: If you have never been to this service, it is beautiful. Please come along and see.) 3rd Sunday in Advent: 13 th December Services: 9.30am at Fettercairn; 11am at Auchenblae 4th Sunday in Advent: 20 th December Services: 9.30am at Fettercairn; 11am at Auchenblae Christmas Eve: Thursday 24 th December 6.30pm: Children s Carol Service at Auchenblae for 11.30: Christmas Eve Service at Fettercairn Christmas Day: Friday 25 th December 11.00am: United Christmas Day Service at Glenbervie Church 2016 Sunday 10 th January: 10.30am: United Service at Fettercairn. This will be our last Sunday with Rev Douglas Lamb as our Locum Minister 16