The Link. Summer 2016

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1 The Link Summer 2016 The Parishes of Ardoch and Blackford Ardoch Parish Church of Scotland Charity registered in Scotland Charity No.SC Blackford Parish Church of Scotland Charity registered in Scotland Charity No.SC005594

2 Office Bearers in the Parishes of Ardoch and Blackford Minister: Revd. Mairi Perkins, Ardoch Manse, Feddal Road, Braco Tel ARDOCH Session Clerk: Mrs. Pearl Meldrum, Tel: Depute Session Clerk: Mr Bob Aitken Tel: Treasurer: Mr Roy Spiers Tel: Church Officer: Organist/Choirmaster: Mr. John Duncan Sunday School Leader Mrs Ann Gordon Tel: Safeguarding (for protection of vulnerable groups) Mrs. Joyce Wighton Tel: BLACKFORD Session Clerk: Mr William McLaren Tel: Depute Session Clerk: Mrs Fiona Lowson Tel: Treasurer: Mrs Jeannette Barr Tel: Church Officer: Mrs Jacqui Crawfurd Tel: Organist: Mrs Fiona Lowson Tel: Sunday School Superintendent Mrs Shona Stewart Tel: Safeguarding (for protection of vulnerable groups) Mrs Jeannette Barr Tel: Intimations and articles for inclusion in the Autumn edition of The Link by 25 September 2016 to 2

3 Pastoral Letter Dear Friends, It is so difficult to believe that my family and I have been in the Parish for almost 4 months now as we settle into our new way of life and community. There have been so many new friends to meet, new places to go and new things to do and see. I have always loved an adventure and if you do God s work then adventures just seem to be a normal part of your daily journeys, even when you don t expect them. We have been overwhelmed not only by the love and friendship of both congregations but also from the schools and both wider communities. Over the next few months we, as a church, hope to develop our mission and find ways of embracing the wider communities because our two churches are for every part of these communities and we are grateful for your ongoing support. If you have any ideas or suggestions which would help us engage more closely with you then please get in touch; you may know of a need in your community that we are unaware of but would be able to help if we knew. The summer will hold many community events and I am really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting as many people as I am able to. We have already experienced, duck races, galas, school services and school events and I know that there are lots more planned. I feel that I have been truly blessed to have been called by God to serve these communities and look forward to leading and developing our churches and our ministry to others as the months progress. Remember everyone is welcome any time; why don t you think about coming along and joining us or asking us to join with you and what you do. Please never hesitate to contact me at any time May God bless you, Rev Mairi Perkins 3

4 GREAT KEIR BURN DUCK RACE 2016 Race Winners Race Winners Under 4 Kai Henderson Angus Penman Aaron Titlow Kai Henderson Adult Female 1 Sheila Shaw Suzanne Ezzi Jemma Cockburn Girls 4-8 Boys 4-8 Girls 9 15 Boys 9 15 Angharad Benwell Catriona Scott Millie Foster Orlaith MacDonald Eion Robb Aaron Cameron Charlie Cameron Charlie Cameron Kerry Gordon Eilidh Nelson Eilidh Nelson Morven Hay Derek Taylor Jack Taylor Derek Taylor Idris Benwell 4 Adult Female 2 Adult Female 3 Adult Male 1 Adult Male 2 Adult Male 3 Kate Robertson Liz Paterson Caroline Davies Jan Duckworth Julie Whyte J Cameron John Souter Snr Fred Alexander Stewart McDonald Richard Duckworth Ramsay Provan Jim Drummond Andy Foster Bryce Gaulding A Matthew The latest fundraiser organised by the Fundraising and Stewardship Team was the Duck Race held on Sunday 19th June We didn t allow a bit of rain to spoil the afternoon and fun was had by all enjoying the side-shows and BBQ. The duck race started at 3pm and an amazing 854 was raised. The Team would

This has turned into a super annual event and we are already looking

5 like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped out, donated prizes, bought ducks, made tablet etc. This has turned into a super annual event and we are already looking forward to next year! Waiting in the rain while the ducks get ready to race An exciting race with a good current 5

Advance notice for future events in Ardoch: Auction Saturday, 17 September 2016 in Ardoch Church Hall (more details nearer the time in the Sunday Order of Service) For the Auction to be a success we

6 Advance notice for future events in Ardoch: Auction Saturday, 17 September 2016 in Ardoch Church Hall (more details nearer the time in the Sunday Order of Service) For the Auction to be a success we are looking for small collectables, jewellery, porcelain, etc - no furniture or bric-a-brac please. The Piggerybrae Concert is booked for Friday, 14th October 2016 at 7.30pm in Braco Village Hall. This will be a fun-filled family event - details nearer the time will be posted in the Sunday Order of Service. Many thanks again for your continued support. Maureen James, Stewardship & Fundraising Team Co-ordinator Ardoch Choir : An Appeal We, in the Ardoch Choir, love what we do - and what we can contribute through our singing - both in worship, and in the local community. However our numbers are small: we need more members in all departments ; soprano, alto, tenor and bass. If you would like to hear a richer sound from the choir, then lend us your voices and make our dream a reality! A choir is not about outstanding solo voices, but about ordinary voices blending together to make a beautiful sound, and about fun and fellowship together. The choir meets on Thursday evenings, from 7.30 to P.S. Folks who are not church members are more than welcome. John Duncan, Conductor. 6

7 ARDOCH PARISH CHURCH REVIEW OF GIVINGS At the Congregational Meeting in May I reported on our reliance on income from investments for the day to day running of the Church. Some of that income arises from legacies left to the church for a specific purpose. The balance, together with monies on deposit, is there to provide for extraordinary expenditure including major repairs and maintenance to the Church buildings and the Manse. My conclusion, which already had the support of the Kirk Session, was that if every member of the Church gave an extra 1.00 a week it would redress the imbalance. However, whilst the membership is 174, only 27 make regular gift aid donations and 7 regular freewill offerings. Our average attendance at Sunday services in 2015 was 55 people, all be it that our records show a total of 85 members attend Church sometime in the year. Those not giving by way of gift aid or freewill offerings use the open plate. This is an appeal to all members, whether attenders or not, to consider how they can help us achieve our extra 1.00 a week target in support of our Church which provides a valuable service to the local community. If you need guidance on how you can make donations please contact me either by telephone on or r.spiers758@btinternet.com To those of you who have already responded to the appeal many, many thanks. Online shopping Do you shop online? if so please go through This website is an easy way for the church to raise money as for every penny you spend the retailer will give a percentage to Ardoch Church. It's easy to register, there are lots of high street retailers who participate; Argos, John Lewis, M&S, NEXT, Amazon to name a few... every penny helps!! Since members of Ardoch started using this site over 200 has been raised for church funds Roy Spiers Ardoch Church Treasurer 7

8 Chez Outreach will re-open on 28 th 0ctober (Friday) at the usual time of 12.15pm for the community lunch. Hopefully we will continue to have a full house. Soup is the staple diet with a few additional surprises this winter. Recipients of the Link are very aware that the donations received help to purchase Christmas items and distribute flowers throughout the year within both communities. We raised in the first three months so how about helping the team to double this amount in We welcome new customers and assure you that you will not be disappointed. Contact is Joy Co-ordinator is Charles Ardoch Pastoral Care Anyone wishing a visit from the team should contact Charles Ardoch Property Report Following Session s approval for the storage extension to the hall, drawings have been presented for planning approval to P&K DC. This will take in the region of 6/8 weeks assuming no alterations to the plans are required by the Council. During July when services will be held in Blackford redecoration of small internal areas of the Church will be carried out in addition to the painting of the windows and gutter/downpipes. Extra cost was incurred to the external downpipes at the rear of the building due to vandalism. Bob Tannahill Property Team Co-ordinator Ardoch Scottish Country Dance Group Our session ended in March with a dance in the Village Hall. Some members joined the Kinbuck Class for their end of session dance in Kinbuck Hall. Mike Boxer arranged our annual trip to Pitlochry Theatre when members enjoyed a performance of Alan Ayckbourn s Flat Spin and a meal at the Port-na -Craig. This summer it was decided to hold two social evenings of dance and chat! The first one in May was a great success -we even had visitors from Canada and we re looking forward to our second one on 26 th July. We resume again in September. Charles Robertson 8

Messy Church The children at Messy Church, The Sunday Club and Hot Chocolate Club are raising money to build a house in Nepal after the devastating earthquake of last year.

9 Messy Church The children at Messy Church, The Sunday Club and Hot Chocolate Club are raising money to build a house in Nepal after the devastating earthquake of last year. It only takes 500 to build a house! They presented their idea to the congregation on Sunday 22nd May at the All Age Talk. They dressed as Nepalese children and told us about life in Nepal with only rough shelters one year on. We received little house money boxes, made by the children, to collect coins. It is hoped that by the end of June we will have achieved the target. Any donations can still be given to any Youth Team member Messy Church met in June and followed a global theme, emphasizing the idea of belonging to a worldwide church. We made doves of peace, spoke in different languages, made prayer flags and enjoyed a meal together. Our next Messy will be in September. Hot Chocolate Club has been meeting on the second Friday of each month and will resume in September when we ll welcome the new P7s. Coming soon! Adventure Cruise! A Holiday Club for children who have attended Primary School this last session. Come and join us in the Church Hall Monday to Friday 18 th -22 nd July at 10am -12noon each day. Cruise the 5 C s, meet the wacky Watt family, play games, sing and take part in craft activities! Enjoy a visit from Remake in Crieff. Above all, have fun! Names to Irene or Liz or irene.rob@btinternet.com 9

Ardoch Christian Aid Week Braco and Greenloaning house-to-house envelope collection. Very many thanks to all who contributed and to all the collectors for their time and effort.

10 Ardoch Christian Aid Week Braco and Greenloaning house-to-house envelope collection. Very many thanks to all who contributed and to all the collectors for their time and effort. The total donated was 1397 and the proportion of this gift-aided will raise the total by 150. This collection goes towards helping the world s poorest people become selfsufficient and aids them when natural disaster or conflict strikes. Pat Aitken, CAW Organiser Christian Aid Week, Blackford Our two sources of income this year were from door to door collections and The Hot Chocolate Club serving breakfast to the community. Together we raised with the addition of 104 to be collected from the Government through Gift Aid. Firstly, many thanks to our community for giving so generously. And secondly, a grateful thanks to our workers: each of our door to door team who were made up of some of our church members as well as friends in the community each member of our Hot Chocolate Youth Club who were able to actively participate with a hearty effort serving breakfast in the church session room which had been converted into a café. The strapline was "Helping beat poverty with a pancake or a pastry!" One example of how our giving impacts people's lives on a personal level is in the story of a lady called Feroza Begum: A simple earth plinth made a huge difference. Christian Aid has been able to raise her home so that she is secure from the floods. "I couldn't imagine that this kind of change could happen," she says. "I am hard working, but a little bit of money can really change things." THANK YOU! Jane Roy 10

Blackford Bible Study Since Easter we have been working through material called Fruitfulness on the Frontline identifying the ways in which we aim to provide a distinctive Christian voice within our

11 Blackford Bible Study Since Easter we have been working through material called Fruitfulness on the Frontline identifying the ways in which we aim to provide a distinctive Christian voice within our communities, families, workplaces and other areas we identified as frontlines for our faith. It s more than just our voices that bear fruit in these situations and we looked at the following topics; Modelling Godly Character, Making Good Work, Ministering Grace and Love, Moulding Culture, Mouthpiece for Truth and Justice, Messenger of the Gospel. The mixture of video, discussion and Bible study seemed to work well even though we did feel the previous study in this series from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity had been a better series! We start back in September with a study called Jesus through Old Testament Eyes. This belongs to a Good Book Company series of studies described in the following way: Simple and straightforward material ideal for those new to studying the Bible. Ideal for using in mixed groups, Pathway Bible Guides are designed to do justice to the passage being studied while not being too much of a stretch. This study looks at how and why the Old Testament is the indispensable key to properly understanding the life and ministry of the most extraordinary person who ever lived. It will help us to grow in our understanding of the Bible's big picture, and in our appreciation for the Lord Jesus and all he accomplished. If you ve never joined us before, this would be a great point to join us on Tuesday evenings at Beechwood, Stirling Street, Blackford at 8pm. Blackford Holiday Club The first week of July was again Holiday Club week at Blackford and this year it was the Guardians of Ancora theme that shaped our programme. More stories told of Jesus, more memories created, more reaching out to families, more fun together, more working together across a wide range of ages and contributions from within the church and the wider Christian community. What s not to like about these weeks? Just that it all seems to be over too quickly. Having said that our Showstoppers backdrops continue their Scottish tour; having been at Perth and Chryston last summer, they are in Kilsyth this summer; our Xpedition Force frieze of Holy Week is also out on the South Side of Glasgow this summer. 11

12 Blackford Primary School We ve had two assemblies and the summer end of term service since the last edition of The Link. We continued the series on the UN Rights of a Child with two outdoor assemblies making the most of the grounds and some summer weather. Jesus had a story to tell about those who absorb information and then do nothing with it so we looked at the two house builders for that Right to Information. God s anger at those who do harm physical or spiritual to his children is expressed in Matthew 18:6 so that became the focus of our June assembly. As in previous years we were able to offer copies of it s your move to the 8 P7s who move on to the Community School of Auchterarder in August, helping them to use godly wisdom to address the challenges, choices and changes they will face. Blackford Hot Chocolate It was a short, sharp term for Hot Chocolate with a regular meeting in May then the Gala Week Car Treasure Hunt in June. The Christian Aid Big Brekkie was the real highlight of the term as we prepared and served breakfast to a range of folk from the village while raising c 150 for Christian Aid. As usual several of this secondary age group will appear as Yellow T-shirts at the Holiday Club which we really appreciate. Gordon Roy Blackford Coffee Mornings continue to be well supported,we look forward to welcoming you on the first Tuesday of the month OUR VISION To develop the growth of Christ s Kingdom in the linked parishes of Ardoch and Blackford through the active commitment of the church community. This vision will be achieved by the church community through: Gathering regularly to worship, to learn about and to share the good news of God s love Reaching out to families, young people, the elderly and the housebound Providing a distinctive Christian voice within our communities Working together in parish activities and with other local groups Stewarding and using all our resources effectively 12

2016 Ardoch Blackford 07 Aug Moira Hay ------- 14 Aug Nan McColl ------- 21 Aug Ann Spiers ------- 28 Aug Jenny Kemp ------- 04 Sept Christine Souter Jim Docherty 11 Sept Fiona Lyle Sheila Whyte 18

13 2016 Ardoch Blackford 07 Aug Moira Hay Aug Nan McColl Aug Ann Spiers Aug Jenny Kemp Sept Christine Souter Jim Docherty 11 Sept Fiona Lyle Sheila Whyte 18 Sept Morag Smillie Jeannette Barr 25 Sept Pearl Meldrum Julie Tarbet 02 Oct Heather McDonald Winifred Shaw 09 Oct Gillian Scott vacant 16 Oct Lilian Ayre Anne Finnie 23 Oct Margaret Ferguson Jean Robertson 30 Oct Anne Walker vacant Many thanks to all who help both on Sundays and at the various displays. The Church flowers are always much appreciated by both members and friends in the Parish. As you can see from the chart above there are a few unfilled spaces on the Flower Rota, so if you would like to add your name for a particular Sunday, then contact Ardoch - Jenny Kemp on OR Nancy Dawson on Blackford - Julie Shankland on

14 Reading List 2016 Ardoch Blackford 07 Aug Muriel Smith Eva Bradley 14 Aug Peter Scott Sheila MacDonald 21 Aug Irene Robertson Bruce Tarbet 28 Aug Bob Aitken David MacDonald 04 Sept Alex Anderson Shona Stewart 11 Sept Roy Spiers John Graham 18 Sept Pearl Meldrum Jeannette Barr 25 Sept Phyllis MacLeod Laura Peacock 02 Oct Ann Spiers Julie Shankland 09 Oct Mike Boxer Fiona Lowson 16 Oct Liz Paterson Lawrence Compton - Howe 23 Oct Dorothy Johnston George Miller 30 Oct Peter Scott Jacqui Crawfurd For Ardoch; contact Pearl Meldrum on or pearl@pearlmeldrumtraining.co.uk For Blackford; please contact Jacqui Crawfurd (tel or FluffyBrains@aol.com) in order to find out what lessons you are required to read towards the end of the week when you are reading. If you are unable to keep your lesson reading commitment, please try to find somebody else on the list to take your place. If you are unable to find anybody please let me know on New Telephone Number John Graham 14

15 The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland released this specially written prayer in response to the EU referendum vote, which reflects on the uncertainty and conflicting emotions it has raised. Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr says at this time of change, people will wish to think about what the vote means for them, their friends and neighbours who may not all be in agreement about what the future holds. European Union Referendum Prayer God of grace, trusting in Your continuing concern for us and for all creation, we bring You our prayers for this land and its people. We thank You, that in all the changed and changing circumstances of life, You are always with us, Your Spirit around us and within. With Britain having voted to leave the European Union, some people are excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, while others are fearful of what it will mean. Some are pleased with the outcome of the vote and think it good, while others are left feeling disappointed and vulnerable. Hear our prayer for those who will be involved in the coming Negotiations, people who will make important decisions affecting the political and economic life of our nation and continent. Grant them Your gifts of wisdom and compassion, a commitment to seek the good of all people, and a desire to protect people weak and the vulnerable. Free us from all bitterness and recrimination, and in all things grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 15

16 UNITED FAMILY SERVICES DURING JULY & AUGUST 2016 ALL SERVICES AT 10AM 03 JULY BLACKFORD CHURCH 10 JULY 17 JULY 24 JULY 31 JULY 07 AUGUST ARDOCH CHURCH 14 AUGUST 21 AUGUST 28 AUGUST Normal Weekly Sunday Services will resume on 4 th September at the normal times of 10am at Blackford 11.30am at Ardoch

The Link. Summer 2017

The Link. Summer 2017 The Link Summer 2017 The Parishes of Ardoch and Blackford Ardoch Parish Church of Scotland Charity registered in Scotland Charity No.SC000139 Blackford Parish Church of Scotland Charity registered in Scotland