Dec 2011 KNOX S NEWSLETTER

Dec 2011 KNOX S NEWSLETTER No 281 SC 011361 MINISTER REV Dr NELU BALAJ TEL 873206 SESSION CLERK MRS A MENMUIR, 30 VICTORIA STREET TEL 873542 ASSISTANT SESSION CLERK MR JOHN LOGUE, 17 GRANGE ROAD TEL 874883 TREASURER MR J CHALMERS, 39 GALLOWDEN AVE. TEL 877369 WFO TREASURER GIFT AID TREASURER MRS Y LOGUE, 17 GRANGE ROAD TEL 874883 MR MRS BRENDA McLEOD 4 BEECHWOOD GDNS TEL 878724 KEEPER OF COMMUNION ROLL MRS M SIM, 2 ALVESTON GARDENS TEL 876880 ORGANIST MRS A MENMUIR, 30 VICTORIA STREET TEL 873542 1

From the Manse It was a year ago when I wrote my first letter and contributions to you for the December-January issue of the magazine. It was with much anticipation, enthusiasm and I have to admit some trepidation that I wrote those first contributions. I hear that many of you had similar emotions and feelings at that time. I was aware of some of the challenges that were ahead of us, but at the same time I was not sure what surprises were waiting under the surface. I am sure that many of you were also not sure what to expect from this new minister with all the baggage he might carry. Looking back, the year has passed so fast; it was a very busy year but also a fulfilling year. I feel that we as congregations have continued to grow in our relationship with each other and with God; that we have taken decisive steps in our journeys to find and follow our call and our commitment to serve God and our parishes. There is no doubt that there is so much more to do and we would be fooling ourselves if we thought that we had done it all right. But we know that God is with us as we seek his guidance to serve him and become more like Jesus in our lives and our journeys. Lesley received a poem form a member of one of the congregations which was read at the induction of a minister in another charge and I thought I would share with you a few selected verses from that poem. The Church and their new Pastor You asked for a pastor to shepherd the flock And keep all the elders from running amok Your wishes were simple the person you sought Should be a good preacher well-read and well taught, 2

Who s move with the times yet stuck to the truth Who d please all the old folk and relate to the youth Who d appeal to the toddlers the tods and the teens The fourscore and the tens and all between. His wife should be pleasant, and able to bake With a light hand for pastry and willing to take The odd women s meeting do dishes or sing. In short must be able to do anything. No, you didn t want much but most people knew Nothing much less than perfection would do Did you never despair that your hopes were forlorn You were waiting for someone Who d never be born. As there is no perfect minister, there is no perfect church, but in partnership we can support each other in our search to fulfil God s call for us. Nelu.. And finally my wish for Christmas and New Year is: That each one of you will know God s presence in your lives and be showered with much love and blessings. And to meet every one of you, who is able to come, in the church this year. 3

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DOOR DUTIES Office bearers to welcome you to worship are : Dec 11 Dec 18 Jan 1 Jan 8 Jan 15 Kitty Milne & Dec Eric Milne & 25 Tom Ecob Margaret Sim Martin McLeod & Gloria Ecob 2012 Ruth McCormick Jan Liz Crerar & & Nessie Spink 22 Joyce Redman Michael Christie & Jan Liz Aiken & Yvonne Logue 29 Isobel Bell John Christie & Feb Bill Ramsay & Jim Chalmers 5 Helen Orsi Please arrange for another office-bearer to cover your duties if you are unable to attend. CHURCH REGISTER DEATHS 9.11.11. Thomas Robertson Lunan Court. K.P. 15.11.11. Miss McFarlane Honeyford House. M. 5

Christmas Services:Sunday 18th Dec. 2011 10a.m. Nativity, led by K.S. club and Toddlers!! Mince pies and cakes, with coffee/tea/juice to follow in hall. Sunday 18th. Dec.2011--KNOX'S CHURCH--3p.m Service of Reflection for the Bereaved. Saturday 24th Dec.--Christmas Eve Tarriebank House-----3p.m. St. Vigeans Church---Family Service 6p.m. Christmas Carols at 11.15 p.m. with Service at 11.30p.m. Sunday 25th. Dec. CHURC KNOX'S H--- 11a.m 6

The Guild Christmas Fayre Knox s Church Hall Saturday 10th December 10 11.30 a.m. Stalls Including Home Baking, Lucky Parcel, Table Arrangements, Gifts, etc.. 1 (includes refreshments). (We would be very grateful for any donations of home baking, items for the Lucky Parcel stall, gifts, etc., to help make this a successful occasion). 7

Christmas Stocking Appeal. Yes! it's that time of year again. Will all who are contributing to the Christmas Stocking Appeal Fund, please note that the monies gathered are, as from the first Sunday in December, due for collection. If you are also a subscriber to the government tax system, and have a F W O envelope, please give your F W O envelope number when handing over your collection. This enables our Kirk treasurer to claim an extra percentage from Government funds against your donation. Names are not required. Please retain your stocking for future use. Thank you to all who contribute in this way. All contributions may be given to Mrs Gladys Macrae, who will then pass the contributions over to me. She is at church most Sundays, or, alternatively, your money can be given to any Guild member who will in turn pass it on to me. If you do not have a stocking and would like one please advise me and I will make one for you. Mrs Vina Beedie, Christmas Stocking Organiser. Sunday 4th, 11th, 18th There will be a box in the vestibule for donations of non-perishable goods for the Old &Abbey church shop which donates to the homeless and needy locally. 8

WAGS Christmas Meal Angus College th 8 December. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-- Wednesday January 25 2012. 8 p.m. Lochlands Bar th Excerpt from a past Sunday Post - Anne Murray Family Events. 9

What a great success the HalloWii Party was. There were over 60 people came along and every generation of the family was represented from a baby who was only a few weeks old to someone who was significantly older. We played wii games and some more traditional dominoes and cards and enjoyed some baked tatties, which were generously donated from the harvest display. I would like to thank all those that helped make this event a great success. We hope that the next event will be a family ceilidh in January or February, which will be hosted by St. Vigeans Sunday School, we hope that this will also be a great achievement. REMINDER TO ALL DEACONS & ELDERS--From Dec. 8th 2011 Deacons' Court meetings will commence at 7p.m. HOLY COMMUNION KNOX'S CHURCH 10a.m. Sunday 29th. Jan. 2012 OFFICE BEARERS' SUPPER WEDNESDAY 8th. FEBRUARY 2012 INDOOR BOWLING CLUB--7 for 7.30pm. 10

Toddlers@Knox s Toddlers remains very busy and places are highly sought after, we again have a waiting list but we try to offer places as quickly as possible to children. We have had some great fun this session with biscuit decorating, sticking & gluing and Halloween parties. We even managed to host a very successful toy sale and coffee morning which raised 320 which was split between both churches. We are now looking towards Christmas and are preparing for our party for the children. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and wish you a Merry Christmas. Lesley Balaj. Prayer Circle Prayer is absolutely crucial in everything that we do, so it is wonderful to announce Knox s prayer circle. If you have any concerns that you feel would benefit from prayer please tell Isobel Bell and she will pass the message on to the prayer circle and the issue or event will be prayed for. If any elder is made aware of situations within their district that require prayer please let Isobel know. If you would like to join the prayer circle speak to Isobel 11

The Guild We will be holding our Carol Evening on Tuesday 20th December in the hall at 7.30 pm. This evening will consist of seasonal readings and poems along with singing some of our favourite Christmas Carols followed by the serving of Christmas Pies and Shortbread. We would like to take this opportunity to invite the members of the congregation 12

to this evening which is always a most enjoyable occasion. We wish to extend to our members a very Happy Christmas and a Joyful New Year. 13

Financial Statement Income WFO 4319 Plate 310 Hall Rent 824 Bus 70 Funeral Donation 300 Toddlers Donation 170 Special Collections 106 General Committee 162 Sept/Oct Expenditure Ministry & Mission Ministers Expenses Organ Supply Salaries Herald Reid s Taxis(Bus) Stamps Relief Cleaner Gas/Elect Stationary Colin Smart (Slater) 6261 5420 201 80 653 122 144 38 61 104 7 14 72 6902

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Here s some Christmas facts you might (or might not) want to know?? DESPITE the tale of three wise men paying homage to baby Jesus, the Bible never gives a number. Matthew's Gospel refers to merely "wise men". CAROLS weren't sung in churches until they were introduced by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. THE word Noel derives from the French expression "les bonnes nouvelles" or "the good news". In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world's biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall THE holly in a wreath symbolises Christ's crown of thorns while the red berries are drops of his blood. THE largest Christmas cracker-45.72m long and 3.04m in diameter-was pulled in Australia in 1991. (Pull the other one) JINGLE Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965. (Bye they must have had loud voices) CHRISTMAS pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine. (Sounds good to me!) GOLD-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor. (I like these! BEFORE turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig's head and mustard. (Do you really want to know?) 16

Here s a few Christmas Recipes. Why not send in some of your own? Try making this easy aromatic mulled wine recipe in the slow cooker. Ingredients ½ bottle red wine 1 cinnamon stick 2 star anise 2 cloves 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 50g/1¾oz brown sugar Preparation method Place all of the ingredients into a saucepan and simmer gently for 6-8 minutes, without boiling. To serve, pour the mulled wine into heatproof glasses two biscuits make perfect presents and they can also be made into TheseServes Christmas Christmas tree decorations. Ingredients 100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened at room temperature 100g/3½oz caster sugar 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten 275g/10oz plain flour 1 tsp vanilla extract To decorate 400g/14oz icing sugar 3-4 tbsp water 2-3 drops food colourings Edible glitter Preparation method Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, a little at a time, until well combined. Stir in the flour until the mixture comes together as a dough. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 1cm/½in. Using biscuit cutters or a glass, cut biscuits out of the dough and carefully place onto the baking tray. To make into Christmas tree decorations, carefully make a hole in the top of the biscuit using a straw. Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to harden for 5 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in enough water to create a smooth mixture. Stir in the you foodall colouring. Anne & Martin wish a Joyous Christmas Carefully spread the icing onto the biscuits using a knife and sprinkle over the andglitter. a Happy New until Year.theAnd forward to your contributions to the Magazine Set aside icinglook hardens. in 2012. 17

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