FOCUS The Church Newsletter of Peterculter Parish Church September 2018

Transcription

1 The Church Newsletter of Peterculter Parish Church September 2018 Young Church enjoying some ice creams from Fits the Scoop Praise in the Park Holiday Club

2 Holiday Club

3 DEAR FRIENDS I hope you ve all had a great summer and have been able to enjoy the glorious weather! We had another successful event in Hazlehead Park, with well over 200 people coming along for Praise in the Park in June. It just happened to be one day when the weather wasn t so good, but everyone enjoyed the worship nevertheless. We also had a highly successful Gift Day and the amount raised is quite astonishing! The final figure is included elsewhere in the magazine. Thank you to everyone for your generosity and for giving such a tremendous boost to our funds. Our Holiday Club this year was hugely successful with 40 children coming along and all having a brilliant time. Again, many thanks to Joyce Cowie and the team for all their hard work. It was also great that around 15 children came to the follow up Family Service afterwards. Young Church starts up again this coming Sunday as I write and it s wonderful that we have such an enthusiastic group of leaders. I am also delighted that we have a small group of teenagers who have grown up in the church and who do such a great job with the Traidcraft Stall. At a time when this generation is so lacking in churches, we really should value them. One area which was a bit disappointing this summer was the fact that Young Church teachers had to step in to lead the Sunday Summer Gang. The idea is that volunteers do this in order to give the staff a break. Hopefully, next year we will be able to find more help. Our new disabled toilet at the front door area of the church is now finished and up and running. I would like to thank Dave Gordon for taking the lead in this project and bringing it to a successful conclusion. I hope that people will feel free to use it during worship as it allows you to discreetly nip out whenever it suits, even during the sermon! It has been really good to be working with Martin Greig over the past few weeks. Martin is training for the Church of Scotland Readership and will be attached to us until the end of October. It s been good to hear from Martin that he has felt very welcome in our congregation. Finally, I have been appointed as Interim Moderator at Garthdee Church. On top of my Presbytery Clerk duties, this isn t ideal, but hopefully it won t be for too long. I plan to preach there at some point in the next few weeks. Yours sincerely Yours sincerely John Ferguson

4 PRESBYTERY MATTERS Holburn West Parish Church hosted the Presbytery meeting in June and the business included the following: Report of the Presbytery Business Review Group Presbytery approved the recommendations contained in the Review Group s Final Report, which introduced a number of changes to how Presbytery undertakes its business. Amongst the recommendations were: That Presbytery schedule six business meetings each year to be held in September, November, December, March, May and June; plus two conference-style meetings (as required) in October and February, each with a focus on a major issue, which outside speakers might be invited to address. That business meetings (apart from the September meeting which will continue to be held in the Moderator s home church) be normally held in Queen s Cross Church sanctuary. Business meetings start at 7 pm and are open to the public. The Presbytery meeting on Tuesday 4 th September is at Ferryhill Parish Church, the church of the Moderator, Mrs Lorna Glen. Rev Hugh Wallace The Rev Hugh Wallace of Newhills Parish Church, who is due to retire at the end of September, ended his term as Convener of the Church and Society Committee. He was warmly thanked for his services to Presbytery, in particular his work in support of the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Aberdeen, also for his part in setting up the monthly ecumenical City-wide Prayer Gatherings and the network of Living Well Cafes. Presbytery appointed the Rev Shuna Dicks of Cults Parish Church as the new Convener of the Church and Society Committee with immediate effect. Richard Little

5 WORSHIP 2nd September am - Morning Worship Confirma;on & Admission Service Kirk Session meets at 10.20am Followed by Prayer Time John Ferguson 9th September am - Morning Worship John Ferguson 16th September am - Family Service Boys Brigade Enrolment John Ferguson 23rd September 30th September am - Morning Worship John Ferguson am - Family Service for Harvest Followed by Communion STRAWBERRY TEAS GIFT DAY Saturday 16 th June 2018 Excellent Strawberry Teas were provided by the Social Team for the Gift Day in June when the morning and afternoon sessions were well attended by both church members and nonmembers. A convivial atmosphere was evident with all enjoying the spread on offer. The remarkable total for the day of 7,196.80, which includes 1, of tax recovered from Gift Aid, was achieved. This will prove a great boost for church funds. Thanks are due to all who donated, including those who were unable to come along on the day and to all who helped to make the day such a success. The Flower Team stall also added to the occasion. Stewardship Team

6 FLOWERS Many thanks to all who gave so generously towards the church flowers during July and August. It is very much appreciated. During the long spell of very warm, sunny weather it has been mainly due to Dayer, with a little help from a friend, that the church flower containers outside the church have stayed looking so good. That was a lot of watering morning and evening most days - so thank you Dayer! Convener: Violet Smith Treasurer: Mabel Taylor Mr & Mrs Player Dorothy Reid Doug Duncan Alison Middler Mr & Mrs Adam Hilda Rodger Anne Dey Louise Allan & Steven Kirk Wedding Frances Chapman BIBLE STUDY GROUPS We now have two Bible Study Groups running in the church. An afternoon group and an evening group meet every second Thursday. The afternoon group meets in people s homes and the evening group in the church Small Hall.

7 FRIENDSHIP CLUB The Friendship Club restarts on Tuesday September 4th, when we will have a musical evening by Scotch Broth. Other dates are the 2nd October, 6th November, and 4th December. All welcome. GALA DAY SUCCESS Peterculter Parish Church won third prize in the Gala Day stalls competition and raised the amazing amount of 620 for church funds. Many thanks to the Outreach Team and everyone who contributed. The picture shows Mike Mackie and Alison Middler with the Lord Provost and another unexpected guest.

8 COFFEE TIME Teas, coffees and home baking are served every Thursday and Saturday from am - 12 noon. Fine fare and fine company to be had! Also stay for our short service of worship on Thursday at am. All welcome! Thursday coffees will start again after the summer break on 6th September. Saturday coffees start again on 8th September. Alison Middler would like to thank in particular all the helpers who have retired this year. MID WEEK LUNCHES A two course lunch is available on the first Wednesday of each month in the large hall. Our next midweek lunch is on 5th September at pm. The price is only We would love to see you there. SINGALONG-A-CORRIE The Sing Along for restarts on Monday 17th September at Coronation Court Lounge at 2pm. We sing for approximately an hour and printer sheets with the words are supplied. All welcome to enjoy a good sing. Please phone Tessa Cowie on who will be pleased to arrange lifts and returns.

9 CHURCH DIRECTORY Funerals 1st June 8th June 25th July 10th August 17th August BeOy Murray, Aberdeen Harry Connachie, Deeside Care Home Jack Salmon, Hillview Road, Peterculter Michael Webster, Springfield Gardens, Aberdeen Cathie McKay, Inverurie Wedding 28th July Steven Kirk and Louise Allan THE WEDNESDAY CLUB Started in September 2010, The Wednesday Club begins the 2018/19 session on Wednesday 12 September in the church. We meet fortnightly at 2.00 pm and hope to provide interesting and varied talks for you to enjoy. 12th September - Eva Robertson and Friends September - Andy Hall - Aberdeenshire Photography 10 October - Tom Martin - A Fireman s Story (postponed from last session) 24 October - Neil Cooney - Aberdeen Picture Palaces 7 November - Jane Wordie - In the Steps of Shackleton NB 2.30 pm start (Church Lunches). The annual membership is 10 plus 1 per meeting. Membership is not compulsory, we extend a very warm welcome to visitors on a frequent or infrequent basis - visitors pay 2 per meeting. We look forward to your company - tea/coffee and biscuits are served in the Small Hall after each meeting.

10 TRAIDCRAFT A selection of fairly traded goods is for sale after Morning Worship each Sunday in the Large Hall during coffees. PRAYER TIME - FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH On the first Sunday of every month, after morning worship, there is a short Prayer Time, which is an opportunity to pray for others. Cards are available on the table at the extension door and should be placed in the box provided. KIDNEY CARE U.K. Many thanks to all who continue to collect used postage stamps. I forward them to Kidney Care U.K. I ve received their magazine. A copy of Kidney Matters is available at the extension door. Feel free to read it and return for someone else to read it. This Issue 2 is well worth looking into. Dayer Colburn THANK YOU As reported in the last issue of Focus, John retired in May after 20 years service as Church Beadle. I would like to say thank you very much for the lovely barometer I was presented with. I enjoyed my time as Beadle and made many good friends during this time said John. The barometer now takes pride of place in his hallway.

11 PETERCULTER PARISH CHURCH ONLINE We regularly update our Facebook page and Twitter feed with details of all our activities as well as making everything available on our main website. Website Twitter Facebook MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING The World s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday 28th September is Macmillan s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer. People all over the UK host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year alone over 27 million was raised and together we can make this another successful year. We will be holding a MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday September 28th from am 12 noon in the large church hall.

12 Peterculter Parish Church Mission Statement The purpose of Peterculter Parish Church is to celebrate our faith in God and in the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, fellowship, teaching, outreach and pastoral care and to participate in the work of the worldwide church. MINISTER Rev. Dr. John Ferguson Tel: SESSION CLERK Dave Gordon Tel: MAGAZINE EDITOR Val Muir Tel: CHURCH OFFICE Margaret Bruce Tel: CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Wednesdays & Fridays : 9 am - 1 pm NEXT ISSUE - OCTOBER 2018 Material to editor Ready for distribu;on Sunday 23rd September Sunday 30th September Scottish Charity No. SCO