The Church Newsletter of Peterculter Parish Church March 2017
MARCH 2017 FROM THE MANSE Dear Friends We are about to enter into the period of Lent, when many Churches explore the fact that Jesus was tempted to use his powers in the wrong way. Why not use his powers to impress others - to make them believe by performing astonishing miracles - rather than using his powers simply to heal and save people? Why not use his power to gain control of the kingdoms of the world - to take over worldly power for his own ends? Or why not use his power to satisfy himself? He's feeling hungry - just turn the stones into bread! And why not check out God's powers to see if his Father will save him - jump off the temple and wait and see if angels come along to catch him. Again and again, Jesus resisted these temptations and the key point is that he will use his powers in a completely different sense. Christ's power will not be used for selfish ends - it will not be used to build a Kingdom to satisfy his own needs. Christ's power is self giving - it is used to help others and it's rooted in the power of love. Those who have worldly power today, the heads of State, the Prime Ministers and Presidents, all have a tremendous privilege. To be able to have such power over your nation and over people s lives carries with it great responsibilities. There is always the strong temptation to use your power for selfish ends, rather than use it to improve the lives of the citizens whom you are supposed to serve. During this time of reflection and prayer in Lent, perhaps we should take some time to pray that those leaders who are corrupt, selfish and ruthless may look to the Christ who used his power solely in the service of others. Yours sincerely John Ferguson www.culterkirk.co.uk!2
MARCH 2017 CAN YOU HELP? Volunteer drivers urgently required for transport of members to/from Church. If you can help please contact Pam Fraser on 01224 869576, or the Church Office. Save the Date! Panda Ayes in Concert Sat 27th May 2017 7.30 pm In the Church Proceeds in aid of the Church and the Gala Committee Save the Date! Souper Sunday Sunday 12th March Lunch in aid of Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Fund SING ALONG AT CORONATION COURT Come along for an enjoyable hour of community singing on Monday 13th March and bring a friend for good fun and fellowship. Words are provided. Future dates are:. Monday 13th March Monday 10th April Monday 8th May www.culterkirk.co.uk!3
MARCH 2017 COFFEE TIME Join us for tea or coffee on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10.00 am - 12 noon. Fine fare and fine company to be had! Also stay for our short service of worship on Thursday at 11.30 am. All welcome! MID WEEK LUNCHES A two course lunch is available on the first Wednesday of each month in the large hall. Serving starts around 12.30 pm and the price is only 3.50. We would love to see you there. BIBLE STUDY GROUPS The Evening Bible Study Group will be exploring the letter of James and would very much welcome new people coming along. It meets on the following evenings at 7.30 pm in the small hall: 9th March 23rd March 6th April The Afternoon Bible Study Group meets on the same dates at 71 Johnston Gardens West at 2 pm. This group is exploring the miracles in John s gospel. TRAIDCRAFT The Traidcraft Stall is available after morning worship on 5th March when a wide range of freely traded goods will be on sale. Many thanks for your continued support. www.culterkirk.co.uk!4
MARCH 2017 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. FLOWERS Many thanks to everyone who has contributed towards the church flowers for January/February. We are always most grateful for your donations. Convener: Violet Smith 01224 733317 Treasurer: Mabel Taylor 01224 732030 Chris Masson Moira West Sylvia Nicol FRIENDSHIP CLUB The Friendship Club continues every second Tuesday. Each evening starts at 7.30 pm costing only 1.50 per occasion. Tue 14th March 2017 Tue 28th March 2017 Club At Home Evening with Bring & Buy Stall Malawi Fruits with Lorimer Gray www.culterkirk.co.uk!5
MARCH 2017 CHURCH DIRECTORY Funerals 30th December Shirley Reid Dalmaik Crescent 31st January Dorothy Sutherland Annesley House, Torphins 3rd February Davina Greig Malcolm Road 23rd February Connie Duncan North Deeside Road SENIOR CITIZENS AFTERNOON TEA Come and enjoy afternoon tea and entertainment Sunday 19th March 2-4pm. Please give your name to your Elder if you wish to attend. Transport can be arranged. WEDNESDAY CLUB The Wednesday Club meets in Culter Parish Church with a variety of interesting fortnightly talks starting at 2 pm. Members pay 1 per meeting, visitors, 2. Membership is not compulsory and we extend a warm welcome to visitors on a frequent/ infrequent basis. 8th March 22nd March 5th April - 2pm Start More Songs and Stories - Yvonne Morton, Pianist Charity Work in Sierra Leone - Alastair Brodie AGM/Beetle Drive/Tasty Treats www.culterkirk.co.uk!6
HATS FOR HOWARD AT THE HARBOUR. Twenty knitted hats were delivered recently to the Aberdeen Seafarers Centre. The Rev Howard Drysdale is always delighted to accept such to gift to visitors to the harbour. He is Port Chaplain and looks after the welfare of seafarers at the Centre. The pattern for the hats is included below, should anyone care to knit a hat. Please then hand in the finished item to the Church Office on a Wednesday or Friday am. Many thanks. TO KNIT A HAT: Pattern: Using no. 4mm needles. Cast on 100 stitches. K1, P1 for 3 inches. Change to 1 row purl and 1 row knit for 5 inches. Then decrease as follows (on every knit row only): K9, K2 together to end of row. K8, K2 together to end of row. K7, K2 together to end of row K6, K2 together to end of row K5, K2 together to end of row K4, K2 together to end of row K3, K2 together to end of row Thread wool through remaining stitches and sew up. And that is it! Really simple (well that is what one lady told me!)
PRESBYTERY MATTERS The first meeting of Presbytery in 2017 was at Holburn West Church on Tuesday 7 th February and the business included the following: St Machar's Cathedral Presbytery gave permission to St. Machar s Cathedral to proceed with the initial stages of a project estimated to cost 6,000,000, to replace the pews, carry out repairs to the roof, the stained glass windows and the towers and to build an extension to the east of the current church. Due to limitations in the existing building, the congregation recognised the need for an extension which is planned to be set on the old position of the ancient transepts which fell down in the 17 th century. It will be on two floors (with a lift) and will house, on the ground floor, toilet accommodation, a new and enhanced shop, and an area for interpretation and display of artefacts. The extension will link into the church at the north east corner. On the first floor there will be a café, a meeting room and replacement office and vestry provision. The café area will be capable of subdivision to allow use on Sundays for Sunday School etc. The congregation had been advised of the cost of the project and they have developed and are refining a funding strategy. They propose to look for support to a number of funding bodies and to individuals and businesses. St Mark's, Queen Street and City Centre Review The Demission of the Rev Diane Hobson from St Mark's on 19 th February and the subsequent vacancy would normally mean that St Mark s be given an Unrestricted Call in line with the Presbytery Plan. However, the question of possible readjustment raised by the Kirk Session of Queen Street, where the minister, the Rev Dr Graham Deans, will retire on April 30 th has meant that the Parish Development Committee (PDC) requires time to evaluate the situation with neighbouring congregations being vacant. In addition, a City Centre Review Group was due to meet with part of its remit being to propose a justifiable geographical definition of the City Centre and to consider how the Church of Scotland can best minister and fulfil its mission to such a geographical area, the Group to report to Presbytery in October 2017. Presbytery agreed to the suspension of the Presbytery Plan with regard to St Mark s and Queen Street to enable the PDC to enter into discussions with both congregations and to allow time for the City Centre Review Group to present its report. Richard Little
STEWARDSHIP SEASON 2017 - TIME The General Assembly of 2011 instructed that every congregation will be expected to take some action with regard to stewardship every year with a focus on the giving of Money one year, Talents another and Time another. Having previously covered Money and Talents, this year our Stewardship Season topic is again about Time which was last considered in 2013. Time is a fundamental part of God s creation (Genesis 1: 14-19) and should be recognised as a very important gift from God. In considering the Christian giving of Time, we are all encouraged to reflect on the way we use our Time all of it. The following themes provide a useful exploration of Time: Time for God Time for friends and family Time for rest and recreation Time for the Church In 2013 members were asked to complete a diary insert in the church magazine in an attempt to quantify the amount of time spent on church activities to fully appreciate all those who give so generously to the life of the church. Everyone put a great deal of thought into coming up with a figure that, although approximate, reflected the number of hours spent on each task. The final count was an incredible testament to the commitment of our congregation and there is every reason to suppose that the same exercise carried out now would give a similar answer. Results included the beautiful flowers we admire each week (720 hours annually), the teas and coffees we enjoy on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (1068 hours annually) and the Young Church leaders (400 hours annually). Taking everything into account the annual total was 15,615 hours of time given to the church which is greatly appreciated and without which our church could not continue to operate as it presently does. The Sunday services on March 19 th and March 26 th will have Time as the theme. The Stewardship Team
AN EXPLORATION OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION This short course will explore how the reformation developed in Europe as we approach the 500 th anniversary of the beginning of the movement which changed the course of history. It will take place on May 9 th, 16 th, 23 rd, 30th at 7.30 pm in the small hall and everyone is very welcome to come along. BUS OUTING FOR SENIORS 2017. This year's outing will be on Wednesday 10th May 2017, going to Christie's of Fochabers in time for lunch and afterwards to enjoy a browse around the shop and garden centre. The coach will leave from the Church at 11 am and depart from Fochabers at 3 pm to return to Culter by around 4.30 pm. Transport to and from the Church will be provided if required. At Christie's an area will be set aside for us for lunch and table service provided. The lunch menu will consist of 3 courses (starters, main course, dessert, finished with tea or coffee) and will cost 13.50 for 2 courses or 15.50 for 3 courses. A full copy of the menu will be provided for each person who wishes to attend, so that their choices may be collated and sent to Christie's in advance of the trip. The charge towards the cost of transport and driver's gratuity will remain at 10 per person. If you wish to go on this outing, please give your name and your 10 to your Elder as soon as possible and certainly no later than Sunday 30th April 2017. As numbers are limited, places on the bus will be allocated on a "first come first served" basis and a reserve list will be used to take up any cancelled places. Refunds will be made where appropriate. MOIRA CONNON, Convener, Pastoral Care Team.
MARCH 2017 5th March 12th March 19th February 26th March 10.30 am - Morning Worship Prayer Time after the service John Ferguson 10.30 am - Morning Worship Souper Sunday John Ferguson 10.30 am - Morning Worship John Ferguson 10.30 am - Morning Worship Sacrament of Baptism Followed by Sacrament of Communion John Ferguson WORLD DAY OF PRAYER The World Day of Prayer service for 2017 will be held at Cults Parish Church on Friday 3rd March at 7 pm. The theme this year is Am I Being Unfair to You?, written by the Christian women of the Philippines. www.culterkirk.co.uk!11
MARCH 2017 Peterculter Parish Church Mission Statement The purpose of Peterculter Parish Church is to celebrate our faith in God and in the Good News of MINISTER Rev John Ferguson Tel: 01224 735041 Email: JFerguson@churchofscotland.org.uk SESSION CLERK Dave Gordon Tel: 01224 732036 Email: sessionclerk@culterkirk.co.uk Jesus Christ through worship, fellowship, teaching, outreach and pastoral care and to participate in the work of the worldwide church. MAGAZINE EDITOR Val Muir Tel: 01224 735001 Email: editor@culterkirk.co.uk CHURCH OFFICE Margaret Bruce Tel: 01224 735845 Email: secretary@culterkirk.co.uk CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Wednesdays & Fridays : 9 am - 1 pm 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. Follow us, like us and visit us! Website Twitter Facebook www.culterkirk.co.uk @culterkirk www.facebook.com/culterkirk NEXT ISSUE - APRIL 2017 Material to editor Ready for distribution Sunday 19th March Sunday 26th March Scottish Charity No. SCO01452 www.culterkirk.co.uk!12