ST DAVID S HIGH KIRK DUNDEE THE KIRK NEWS ISSUE 89 FEBRUARY 2016 FROM THE MANSE Dear Friends, As a child, I was brought up on the stories of Winnie the Pooh by A.A.Milne. Indeed, I can still in my mind, all these years later, hear them being read to me by my parents, and see the pages and the pictures as I learned to read them for myself. Even at university a group of us read Pooh stories and other children s books to each other late at night! And my very elderly, and much loved and battered Teddy Bear who many of you will have seen, rejoices in the name of Winnie the Pooh. So I want to share with you one or two of the thoughts of Pooh about friendship today. One day Pooh Bear was about to go for a walk in the Hundred Acre Wood. It was about 11-30 in the morning, a very good time of day to go calling so he thought - just before lunch!. So he set out across the stream, stepping from stone to stone, and when he got to the middle of the stream he sat down on a warm stone and thought about where would be the best place of all to make a call. He said to himself, I think I ll go and see Tigger. But he dismissed that idea as Tigger was just too energetic for him. Then he thought he might go and see Owl. But he decided against that because as he said, Owl always used long and hard to understand words. He finally decided that he would go and see Rabbit because he liked Rabbit. And he liked Rabbit because he used encouraging words like How about lunch? and Help yourself Pooh! So off he went to visit Rabbit. These thoughts of Pooh have much to say to us about the nature of friendship. And real friendship is so important, especially in a day and age when so many people feel marginalized because they are not on line, or because they are no longer able to do the things they once did. Winnie the Pooh was a rather overweight bear of very little brain, who was very fond of honey, and who Takes what exercise he can, by falling off the ottoman. So when he thought about going to see Tigger he thought again because Tigger was just too energetic. It is important in every friendship that friends think about each other, and what their needs and capabilities are, and try to fit in with each other. Friendships where one dominates the other do not work nearly so well. Next, a visit to Owl is rejected because Owl is just too clever. Friendships where one tries to score intellectual points off the other are not usually the most successful because one begins to feel inferior whilst the other begins to feel superior, It does have to be said though, that some friendships do thrive on a good argument!
In the end Pooh decides to go and see Rabbit because he likes him, and he thinks that he is a great encourager. And that is what real. friendship should be like, people who help and encourage each other to be the best they can be. Friendship should always be about listening and understanding, sharing and encouraging and especially about empathizing. The popular hymn What a friend we have in Jesus grew out of great tragedy for the author of the words. It has much to say to us about friendship in general and our friendship with Jesus in particular, so I quote it here. What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Jesus is our only refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there. The writer of the Gospel of St John says Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) There have been many down the years who have been called upon to do this and indeed, we still sometimes read about people who have done so in our own day. And whilst our human friendships will probably never put us in such a position we should never forget that this is what God in Christ did for us on the Hill of Calvary. Real friendships are both important and precious, so let us try never to take it for granted, for without friends, both human and divine, all lives are very much the poorer. With every blessing Your Friend and Minister Marion J. Paton EASTER ARRANGEMENTS The Kirk Session has agreed the service arrangements for Easter will be: Maundy Thursday March 24 Communion Service with Coldside Parish Church in Coldside at 7 pm Good Friday March 25 Service in St David s High Kirk at 7 pm Easter Sunday March 27 Service at the top of Dundee Law at 9.30 am, followed by breakfast in the hall. Family service in the church at 11 am followed by a short informal Communion Service for those who wish to stay. STATED ANNUAL MEETING The Stated Annual Meeting of the congregation will take place immediately after the service on Sunday March 20. The Minutes of the last meeting will be circulated with the next issue The Kirk News.
ORDINATION OF NEW ELDERS AND PRESENTATION OF LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES There will be a service of Ordination and Admission of new elders and the presentation of Church of Scotland Long Service Certificates during the morning service on Sunday February 28. There will be a soup and roll lunch in the hall for everyone after the service. PROPERTY UPDATE The Kirk Session has approved further works to the stonework of the tower and repairs to the two round windows. The timescale for these is unknown but please do not be alarmed if you see scaffolding appearing around the tower. COLIN WILSON PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND For many pilgrims, the Holy Land epitomizes the ultimate pilgrimage destination and in April this year, assuming the political situation remains safe, sixteen members and friends of St David s High Kirk will be going there. To visit the land that Jesus loved and knew so well has to be one of life s greatest and most moving experiences and although we know so much about it from our reading of scripture, actually to be there can a faith enhancing and life changing experience. To stand on the hillside where Jesus fed the five thousand, to visit the Garden Tomb, to visit the place where Jesus was born, to walk down the Mount of Olives towards Calvary, to sail on the Sea of Galilee and to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion on its shores all of these are such special things to do, and it is simply impossible to put into words the feeling one gets by being there. Our Pilgrimage has been tailored to the requests of those travelling and we shall be staying in the St Andrews Church of Scotland Guest House in Jerusalem, as well as visiting Tiberius and Petra in Jordan. Please pray for us and for our guide Moshe as we make our final preparations for this special journey. MARION CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE A big thank you to everyone who came to our Scots Night it was an excellent evening and thank you to all the wonderful singers/piper/storyteller who entertained us so well. We raised 456.04 for church funds. There will be a soup and roll lunch after the service on February 28. Names are now being taken by Wilma Duncan for next year s panto visit to Jack & The Beanstalk on Saturday January 7, 2017. CHRISTINE WILSON THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB We meet on Friday afternoons at 2 pm when our programme for the next few weeks is: Feb 12 - Games afternoon and Bring & Buy sale; Feb 19 -. New Kirk Singers; Feb 26 - Free Voice Singers; Mar 4 - Celia McArtney an art class; Mar 11 - Strathspey and Reel music; Mar 18 - Lesley McLuckie and Peter Gilmore sing local songs. All are welcome to join us for a cup of tea, entertainment and friendship. CATHERINE CARDOZO
THE BOYS BRIGADE There has been some interest in the disposal of equipment mentioned in the last Kirk News but there are still a number of items left including large games equipment, drum kit, sports kits, air hockey table and (1/4 size) snooker-table. Before removing/disposing of this property anyone interested in viewing it should contact me to make arrangements. JACKIE FISHER. PRAYER TIME The next meeting of our Prayer Time takes place on Sunday March 6 at 10.30 am in the Vestry. All will be made very welcome. Please remember that if you would like us to include someone or something in our prayers just complete one of the prayer request forms that you can pick up at the front and side doors of the church. RAMBLERS January. At last! Having been forced by the weather to cancel our last three walks, we were delighted to get out into the countryside once more. We had planned a short walk round Cameron reservoir, just outside St Andrews, and were delighted to complete it at last. There was a good covering of snow on the fields as we approached the turn towards the reservoir but the track was snowy and icy, causing us to drive very slowly, avoiding the potholes and frozen puddles. The car park was a sheet of ice but we managed to get ourselves on to the track round the reservoir without mishaps. The frozen water by the edges stretched some distance into the water, but we were well away from it. A hazy sun and patches of blue sky added to our enjoyment and we watched as several swans landed, to make up a group of about fourteen. A short break amongst the trees on the south side of the reservoir was welcome, if a little chilly, and we were soon on our way again. Pausing on the bridge across the eastern end of the reservoir, a heron was seen by the burn and we watched its majestic flight as it departed. A helpful couple made sure we had enough traction to negotiate the tracks back to the main road and we all agreed that it was lovely to be once again enjoying our beautiful countryside. The next walk will be on February 27. NORMA STURROCK FAIRTRADE BREAKFAST Fairtrade are promoting a Fairtrade Breakfast during Fairtrade Fortnight, Feb 29 to Mar 13. We are hoping to hold a breakfast on Sunday March 13 from 9.30 am 10.30 am. If you wish to come along please put your name on the lists which will be on the noticeboards in the lower and upper halls from Sunday Feb 21. All are welcome to come along and find out what a Fairtrade Breakfast is all about. MARGARET MULGREW THE GUILD Our programme for the next few weeks is: Feb 9 - Scottish Air Ambulance; Feb 16 Samaritans; Feb 23 Guild Rally at St Andrew s Church [there will be no Guild meeting in the hall on Feb 23]; Mar 1 AGM/Bring & Buy Sale; Mar 8 Old Dundee. All are welcome. WILMA DUNCAN, Co-ordinator.
FOODBANK COLLECTIONS As Foodbanks are becoming a more and more necessary part of everyday life, we in St David's High Kirk would like to help the more needy in our community by collecting donations of food on a more regular basis. It has been decided to hold these collections on the first Sunday of every month, the first one being on Sunday March 6. Please, if you can, leave your donations on these dates in the Ladies room at the entrance to the church and these will be taken after the service to either the Dundee Foodbank, at the Full Gospel Church on Constitution Street, or to St Salvador's church for their Drop-in Centre which they have every Sunday. Many thanks if you can put an extra packet or tin in your shopping to bring along on these Sundays. MARGARET MULGREW CHRISTIAN AID Christian Aid have brought out their usual Count Your Blessings leaflet for the six weeks leading up to Easter. This leaflet works by reading and answering the question for every day and filling in the appropriate amount and at the end of the six weeks, counting up what this all amounts to and sending it off to Christian Aid. If you would like one of these leaflets, please see me and I can send off for a number of these leaflets. MARGARET MULGREW From a church noticeboard: Low Self Esteem group meets on Thursday at 7 pm. Please used the back door. SUNDAY DUTIES Date Door Table Coll Beadle Team Feb 14 F Anderson R Husband 4 A Keith I R McArtney J S Oswald Feb 21 S Bisset D A Husband 5 J G Halley M McMahon H Proudfoot Feb 28 C Cardozo A W Joss 1 A W Joss S Mulligan I Paxton Mar 6 J S Cargill W Joss 2 R A McArtney M Murdoch M Smith Mar 13 A Cathro C Oswald A Keith F Anderson 3 M Mulgrew
FLOWERS IN CHURCH Provided by: Delivered by: Feb 14 Mrs E Gray Mrs M Thomson 21 Mrs H Proudfoot Mrs A Oglvie 28 Mrs D Wilson Miss J Wood Mar 6 Mrs M Murdoch Mrs J Halley 13 Mrs L Duthie Mrs W Duncan If you know of any church member who is ill or would appreciate receiving the church flowers, please contact Margaret Edmonds. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Wednesday Feb 10 Midweek Service. Coldside church, 1.45 pm Wednesday Feb 17 Midweek Service, St David s High Kirk, 1.45 pm Wednesday Feb 24 Midweek Service, Coldside church, 1.45 pm Saturday Feb 27 Ramblers, outside church, 9.30 am Sunday Feb 28 Wednesday March 2 Sunday March 6 Soup & roll lunch after service Midweek Service, St David s High Kirk, 1.45 pm Prayer Time, vestry, 10.30 am Wednesday March 9 Midweek Service, Coldside church, 1.45 pm Sunday March 13 Fair Trade Breakfast, hall, 9.30 am Sunday March 20 Thursday March 24 Friday March 25 Sunday March 27 Sat Jan 7, 2017 Stated Annual Meeting after church Maundy service, Coldside church, 7 pm Good Friday service, St David s High Kirk, 7 pm Service top of Law at 9.30 am, breakfast after in hall, service in St David s High Kirk at 11 am Panto Jack & The Beanstalk Thought for the Day I am immersed in the light of God the Father I am immersed in the love of God the Son I am immersed in the leading of the Spirit I am immersed in the Three in One.
LATE INFORMATION On page 6 you will read there is to be a Service of Ordination and Admission of new elders and the Presentation of Long Service Certificates. At Marion s suggestion, the Kirk Session was happy to agree to there being a guest preacher that day. We are delighted to intimate that the Very Rev John Chalmers will be preaching in our pulpit that morning. John is presently the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly and was Moderator of the General Assembly in 2014/15.