St Andrew s Lhanbryd & Urquhart Parish Church TO KNOW - TO LOVE - TO SERVE We want to KNOW God more fully to LOVE Him more intimately and to SERVE Him amongst our neighbours
Contents MISSION STATEMENT... 3 INTRODUCTION... 3 WORSHIP... 3 CONSTITUTION & STRUCTURE... 6 CONGREGATIONAL ROLL... 6 STEWARDSHIP & CHURCH FINANCES... 6 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION... 8 PASTORAL CARE... 10 CHURCH ORGANISATIONS & ACTIVITIES... 11 OUTREACH... 13 SALU HISTORY... 15 THE PARISH & THE WIDER COMMUNITY... 15 THE BUILDINGS... 17 COMMUNICATION... 19 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE... 20 THE INVITATION... 21 2
MISSION STATEMENT To know, to love to serve. We want to know God more fully, love Him more intimately and serve Him amongst our neighbours. We seek to be and believe that we are a friendly and welcoming church, where members and visitors alike feel accepted and valued. As a congregation, we seek to support and care for our minister and manse family, mindful of the workload and challenges of the ministry today. INTRODUCTION St Andrew s Lhanbryd & Urquhart Parish Church (SALU) became vacant after the call of Rev Andrew Robertson to Eaglesham Parish Church. SALU is a rural church mid-way between Inverness and Aberdeen and 3 miles east of Elgin. SALU is a result of the successful union of two churches in 1988 - St Andrew s Lhanbryd and Urquhart: we are one congregation with two places of worship. Moray Presbytery has determined that this is an unrestricted call. What s in a name? The spelling of Langbryde/Langbride/Lhanbride/Lhanbryd/Lhanbryde. In 1791, Rev. William Leslie decided he liked Lhanbryd for the parish name. No-one knows why, but he was the minister. It is now settled that the parish is Lhanbryd and the village Lhanbryde. WORSHIP Worship is at the very heart of our church life. Communion is held regularly four times each year with other more informal Communions on an ad hoc basis. As well as the weekly service at 11 am every Sunday at St Andrews Lhanbryd, a service is held at 7 pm on the last Sunday evening of the month in St Margaret s Hall, Urquhart. The audio system has recently been upgraded and the visual component is under review. 3
Additional services take place at particular times of year, mainly Easter, Christmas and during Christian Aid Week. In addition, Remembrance Day services take place every year at the war memorials in Urquhart and Lhanbryde. Worship is enlightening, thought provoking and participatory; our pattern of worship is flexible and continually evolving. Members of the congregation expect to be involved and challenged. There is a Worship Support Group that is actively involved in supporting the minister. We have enjoyed cordial informal links with Bellie Church of Scotland Church in Fochabers. We have also collaborated with them and Gordon Chapel (Scottish Episcopal) to share services during Holy Week. Once a year at Speyfest Music Festival we help with an ecumenical service in the main marquee. This involves working with Bellie, Gordon Chapel and St. Mary s ( R.C.) 4
Church Services Sunday morning services are recorded on tape and cd and are available to borrow. We are in the process of making the services available on-line. (podbean) The text of the sermon is made available on the Church website under Sunday Takeaways. Music We have a team of organists who work on a rota to lead the singing, along with our church choir. We also have a small Praise Group (with instrumentalists) who occasionally contribute. Children & Young People Children & young people are an important part of our congregation although numbers are small. We recognise the importance both of their being a part of the regular Sunday worship but also of receiving an input appropriate for them. For part of the service they meet together in the halls as Young Church and Tic Tacs (Together in Christ Together at Church). They are also invited to take Communion with their parents. Prayer The congregation makes entries into the Prayer book each week. This is then circulated after the service via email to all elders and those who wish the information, to encourage prayer for those mentioned. Prayers for the future of the church are led each Sunday by different members of the congregation. All members are invited to attend the monthly evening church prayer meeting. 5
CONSTITUTION & STRUCTURE There are currently 37 active elders serving under a Unitary Constitution (implemented 9 years ago). 17 of our elders are male; 20 are female. 5 of our elders were on the Kirk Session prior to the union of St Andrews Lhanbryd with Urquhart in 1988. Most recently 3 new elders have been ordained and one admitted (September 2017). On average, our elders have served for over 16 years. The Session comprises four working groups: Fellowship, Outreach, Stewardship/Finance and Worship Support. There is also a group responsible for Young Church and CONNECT. These groups meet on a regular basis and contribute to worship services. Talkabout Sessions The Session hosts regular Talkabout meetings, which aim to grow both the eldership and the congregation. Recent topics have included What are spiritual gifts? and The future of SALU - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. These are day sessions and have proven popular and thought- and action-provoking. National Church Representation As a congregation we like to encourage our young people to attend the Church of Scotland s National Youth Assembly. A number of young people therefore have attended the General Assembly as the Presbytery s Youth representatives, which has allowed them to become involved with presbytery throughout the year. In addition some have become involved with the national councils of the church. CONGREGATIONAL ROLL The church roll is currently 340 members and 14 adherents. We have a regular attendance of between 70-90 every Sunday morning and 20-30 on Sunday evenings. STEWARDSHIP & CHURCH FINANCES Stewardship Campaigns SALU is actively involved in the National Stewardship Campaign. We have just completed Stewardship of Time and last year finished Stewardship of Talents. For a summary of the 14 months of the talents campaign see link. 6
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Finances Our Church is in a healthy position. Total receipts for 2016 amounted to 81,540 and payments were 69,210 resulting in a surplus of receipts over payments of 12,330 Our principal source of income is offerings made by Gift Aid; tax recovered in 2016 amounted to 11,219 SALU is recognised as a Scottish Charity SC008850. For Annual reports and accounts 2012-2016 see SALU website https://salucofs.wordpress.com/annual-reports/ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Creche and Young Church Young Church is aimed primarily at youngsters who are at primary school. Each Sunday morning they join the whole church family for the first part of the service and then go through to the hall for a time of exploring the Bible through games, stories, music, video and crafts. To assist parents, crèche helpers are available from 11 am to allow the youngest children to be cared for from the start of service. Like many churches we face the challenge of competing interests on Sunday mornings. We do not see a regular large group of youngsters, but we seek to continue to encourage those families who do come. Connect For some time the Young Church team have been discussing how to engage better with the young families in our church and community. From the Talkabout in autumn 2015, we developed the concept of an early Sunday morning café style session. Starting in Feb 2016, we now normally run CONNECT twice a month in the church hall, starting with breakfast at 9.30 am. The emphasis is on an informal, relaxed environment with youngsters and adults learning and sharing together. CONNECT lasts an hour, so allowing people to move on to the service at 11 am. 8
In each CONNECT the topic is linked to the 11am service and its relevance for today through film clips, readings, music, discussion and interactive prayer. Conflicting demands on family life have meant we do not always see the same faces on each occasion, but the overall feedback has been positive. Refreshing. The sharing of time, stories and interactivity makes it real. I am not a passenger this is important. Great to meet in an informal setting to discuss aspects of our faith. House Groups Evening and daytime house-groups led by SALU members met regularly for a block of 5 weeks (2015-2016) to explore Steven Croft s study guide Experiencing God s Love. Saturday Morning Discussion 14-16 people met during the autumn (2015) to discuss contemporary topics and how to apply them. We have looked at The End of Religion by Bruxy Cavey and Rob Bell s Everything is Spiritual podcast. 9
PASTORAL CARE Pastoral care is delivered by the Elders who inform the minister of pastoral issues. The Elders are supported by members of the congregation who also visit. We also have a dedicated hospital visitor. With an ageing congregation and declining numbers of young families attending, funerals are not surprisingly more common than baptisms. In the last three full years we have had 3 baptisms (one each year), 46 funerals and 4 weddings. 7 new members have joined the church in the same period 2 by profession and 5 by certificate of transference. Welcome Corner We have a reputation for being a welcoming and caring church. However, as it is difficult to have a proper conversation in the narrow aisles as you come into the church, a Welcome Corner has been created at the back of the church. As well as a small seated area there is a table which was made out of the pews removed to provide the additional space. This table is used for the visitors book, the prayer book, the flower distribution book and displays. 10
CHURCH ORGANISATIONS & ACTIVITIES TOFM (Together On Friday Mornings) This group of ladies from the congregation and community meets on Friday mornings, to share fun and laughter while exercising, studying, stitching a banner, reading poetry, cinema going or engaging in a wide range of other activities. Whatever the activity, coffee and chat always feature as does caring and sharing! St Margaret s Hall Coffee & Chat Moderator s visit to TOFM The Guild The Guild is a happy group of about 24 women who are very supportive of each other and are good team players. The Guild theme is followed and good use is made of the discussion topic. We support national Guild projects. The Thrift Shop The Thrift Shop is run in a garage adjacent to the manse and manned by church volunteers. It opens Tuesday 10:00am - 11:30am, Thursday 1:30pm - 3:00pm. The Thrift Shop is often referred to as an Aladdin s Cave and sells a variety of clothes, toys and household goods donated by the community. Fifty percent of money raised goes to Christian Aid, with the remainder supporting local charities. 11
Our Aladdin s Cave The Christmas Eve Walk This is a walk around the village of Urquhart to help keep the Christmas message alive. At the end of the walk and carol singing, we gather in St Margaret s Hall for more carol singing and of course mince meat pies, refreshments and fellowship. It has become a popular event attracting in excess of 100 people, many of whom do not attend church. Follow the star In from the cold on Christmas Eve Flower-arranging Team We have an enthusiastic team of ladies who arrange the flowers each week. After worship on Sunday the flowers are delivered to someone in the parish who is ill or just in need of cheering up. 12
A lesson from Marlene & Susan OUTREACH Messy Church Messy Church ran for 3 years but is currently in abeyance as we are concentrating efforts on CONNECT. Link to SALU Messy Church School Chaplaincy We have good relationships with Lhanbryde Primary School. We share the chaplaincy at Milnes High School, Fochabers. 13
Christian Aid We have supported the work of Christian Aid for over 30 years and Christian Aid Week in May has become a very important time in our church life. Organised by a small, dedicated group, events are very well supported both in church and throughout the villages and district. How many boats have made it Margaret? The boat race team at Burnside Burn Souper Sunday Our church continues to support the work of World Mission in their HIV programme by holding the annual service and lunch. Missionary Partners Five of our congregation volunteer as Street Pastors in Elgin listening, caring and helping people where they are, without judgement or prejudice. As a church we support them in prayer. We also support one of our young people who was part of our Tic Tacs and is now a Relay Worker with UCCF (Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship) working with students at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. 14
SALU HISTORY The united charge of St Andrew s Lhanbryd & Urquhart came into being in November 1988, following the departure of Rev David Lunan from St Andrews Lhanbryd and the retiral of Rev Stanley Forsyth from Urquhart. Urquhart Church is first mentioned in a deed dated 1237. The original Parish Church was dedicated to St Margaret. The first reference to a church in Lhanbryde was in 1225 - St Bride's Church in Walkers Crescent. This building became a ruin around 1783. At much the same time, the church at Kirkhill, in the Parish of St Andrews, was burned to the ground. These churches were replaced by the present building, and the parishes renamed St Andrew s Lhanbryd. Following the union of the two churches in 1988, the church and manse at Urquhart were sold, with St Margaret's Hall being retained as our place of worship in Urquhart. The church, formerly known as St Andrew s Lhanbryd, then became the St Andrew s Lhanbryd and Urquhart Parish Church. For further info click here. THE PARISH & THE WIDER COMMUNITY The Parish is to the east of Elgin, lying to the north and south of the A96. It is a pleasant rural parish, about 30 square miles in size, with agriculture the predominant industry. Many of the residents of our parish travel to work beyond its bounds to Elgin and other locations. A significant minority of our congregation live outside the parish. Lhanbryde is the larger of the two villages within the parish, with over 2000 inhabitants. It has a mixture of private and council housing. Amenities include the village shop, pharmacy, hairdresser, butcher, post office, a pub and the village hall. There is a primary school, within easy walking distance of the manse. The church has both formal and informal links with the busy and thriving community centre. Several of our members are involved in the Lhanbryde Community Challenge. Urquhart, with a population of around 500, is about 2 miles to the north of Lhanbryde. It is a small village with a village hall. There are some newer housing developments as well as the original village. Our church is the only centre of worship in the parish; there is no other church presence. (Parish Statistics) 15
Our village volunteer gardeners Summer basket outside the manse Nearby Lossie East Beach Attractions of Moray SALU is in the area of Moray which enjoys a mild microclimate and excellent natural beauty with a variety of beaches and forests within easy reach. The Moray coastline was voted 11 th best in the world by National Geographic Travel. There are many things to do in Moray including outdoor activities such as golf, mountain biking, watching dolphins, touring distilleries, visiting castles, fishing and exploring museums. The nearby county town of Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray and hosts the football team Elgin City. Elgin has a shopping centre and retail parks and a wide selection of supermarkets and restaurants. It has a leisure centre and ice rink, bowling alley and a three-screen cinema. It has a District General hospital - Dr Gray s - and Moray College, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. There are good public transport links with bus services to Aberdeen and Inverness, railway stations at Elgin and Keith and easy access to Aberdeen and Inverness airports which now serve an expanding list of UK and international destinations. The local Lhanbryde Primary School is a feeder school for Milne s High School, Fochabers and Elgin Academy. The websites listed below all give further information about the area: www.moray.gov.uk www.northern-scot.co.uk http://www.speyfest.com 16
THE BUILDINGS The Church Situated in a rural location a mile or so on the Elgin side of Lhanbryde village, the church is a traditionally styled building, dating from 1783. In addition to the sanctuary, the building comprises a large and a small hall, the purple room suitable for small groups (designed by teenagers), a modern kitchen with good facilities and two toilets, one of which has disabled access. The property is well maintained throughout, benefits from recent additions and refurbishment, and complies with all current statutory requirements. There are two large parking areas, one to the north and one to the south of the building, the latter having designated disabled parking spaces. View from the balcony Church bus linking community to Sunday service 17
St Margaret s Hall St Margaret s Hall is located in Urquhart village. It is a multifunctional facility. In addition to the hall area itself, there is a small kitchen and a toilet with disabled access. It is a warm and homely place particularly so on winter Sunday evenings when an open fire is used to dispel the winter chill! There is a grassed area adjacent to the building which provides car parking space. Thanks to a member s efforts a defibrillator is now situated outside St Margaret s Hall. A wellattended barbeque celebrated the installation one summer Sunday evening which was followed by the evening service. 18
The Manse The manse is a traditional stone-built detached house on the main street in Lhanbryde. It is a spacious family home. On the ground floor are 2 public rooms, a study, a fitted kitchen, a utility room and toilet with shower. Upstairs are 5 bedrooms and a bathroom. There is a small garden at the front and a large low-maintenance lawned garden to the rear. There are three outbuildings, including a single garage and a building adjacent to the manse which is used as the Thrift Shop. The manse meets the standards required by the Church of Scotland. We have made some modest interior alterations to the manse, which we consider will improve its function as a family home and official manse. Further redecoration will take place in consultation with the new minister. The location of the manse in Lhanbryde makes the minister accessible to the community. The manse is a tangible presence of the church within the village and is a focal point for contact and outreach. COMMUNICATION Church Magazine See link for copies of magazine Bulletin The weekly activities and forthcoming events are publicised in the following ways: In the printed order of service on the church website via the blog on website which is emailed to those who sign up Social Media The church uses the following social media: Church website Blogs to those signed up with email Facebook page Twitter @salucofs 19
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE We were actively exploring involvement in Path of Renewal. However, our minister s call to another parish meant we were unable to take this forward meantime. We are currently investigating the use of GO FOR IT Funding to facilitate work with the community. We are a congregation that pulls together and would welcome a minister whose fresh ideas could use our strength and talents to develop and encourage new avenues of worship and outreach in our predominantly rural parish. Strengths We are very welcoming, warm, supportive and caring to outsiders Strong well run and supported groups within the congregation A strong kirk session with a good mix & wide skill base Our faith and commitment to God; desire to put God at the centre Eagerness and enthusiasm in facing challenge and openness to new ideas Willingness to use our personal gifts and talents Weaknesses Geographical location of the church too far from the village; too far from the school Age spectrum: lack of young people generally we need to connect with and attract the young folk in Lhanbryde & Urquhart Narrow social spectrum within the congregation; need to engage with the whole community Church aesthetics: non-flexible seating in sanctuary Lack of helpers -some people becoming over-loaded Opportunities Opportunity to attract new members from Urquhart, coffee mornings? Holiday club? Lunch Club? We have a physical presence in St Margaret s Hall. TOFM has attracted non church-goers, some of whom now attend church Opportunity to reach a wide demographic of people with the possible use of Go for it Funding Opportunity for greater involvement in our communities practical work (see a need, meet a need) publicising who we are Increased interaction with schools Threats Conflicting demands on families on Sundays Lack of connection with people in our communities Society moving away from faith to a shopping culture; relevance of church to people Ageing congregation what will our church look like in 20 years time? Lack of a base in Lhanbryde village 20
THE INVITATION God has brought us to the stage where we have undertaken a period of self-reflection and have begun some new initiatives. We believe the Parish Profile demonstrates an exciting proposition and opportunity to lead and take forward the ministry of SALU supported by a congregation who are open to new horizons and challenges. Are you the minister God is calling to SALU? Have you found yourself saying as you have read our profile - Yes! They sound like my kind of people! I could work with them! That s my kind of vision for the church! Then we need to meet! At our Spring Talkabout - we were praying and asking ourselves What are we looking for, hoping for, praying for, in our new minister? We want our new minister to be him or herself, and for us to be willing and open to giving him or her the space and the encouragement to lead us, perhaps in ways we had not considered or imagined, and to challenge us to step out in faith along new paths to walk and work with us in a shared vision as we step out together with God. We have what we imagine to be the common hopes of many congregations, which find expression in the qualities we would hope for in our new minister: A minister who will help us understand the Bible and how to apply it in our lives An individual with good people skills and an enthusiasm for outreach to all within our local community, especially to families, schools and young people Someone who is open to innovation A person who has a deep pastoral care for people within our church and parish A leader who will walk and work with us to shape our church for the future, including new initiatives in local communities While we have compiled the list above, it may be of course that God is preparing someone very different as the right person to be our minister and we are open to hearing and following God s leading. 21
Informal Visit & Enquiries We appreciate you may wish to find out more or to make an informal visit to SALU before you consider making an application. We would be pleased to show you and your family the area, the church and the manse and can arrange a visit in confidence if required please contact our Interim Moderator, Rev Isabel Buchan to discuss this. Contact Details Interim Moderator: Rev Isabel Buchan North Manse 14 St Peter s Road BUCKIE Banffshire AB56 1DL Tel: 01542 832118 Mobile: 07519 972124 Email: revicbuchan@bluebucket.org Applications and recommendations should be made to: Clerk to Nominating Committee: Email: Rhoda Murdoch salucofs@gmail.com 22