Scottish Episcopal Church:

St James’, Stonehaven

St Philip’s, Catterline

 Newsletter

February 2007

Parables for today: Trust in the Lord

It had been raining solidly for weeks. The land was saturated. Inevitably there were floods. Now George was noted as a pillar of the community, a prayerful and devout man. When the floodwaters reached his front doorstep, a neighbour brought his wee boat round. ‘Hey, George, put your precious stuff in here, and come along with us, we’ll take you to higher ground.’

‘No, no’ replied George. ‘I trust in the Lord. He will save me.’

Soon the floodwaters reached halfway up the house, and George retreated to the bedroom floor. The MRI lifeboat came by, with its motors roaring. ‘Come on, lad, we’ll take you to higher ground’ shouted the skipper.

‘No, no’ replied George. ‘I trust in the Lord. He will save me.’

The water didn’t stop. George was on the roof, hanging on to the tv aerial fixed to his chimney. Everyone else in the village had been taken off to higher ground. The water was almost up to his neck. A helicopter hovered overhead, the winchman dangling a lifesaver and calling down ‘Come on, man, grab the lifesaver and we’ll winch you up to safety.’

‘No, no’ replied George. I trust in the Lord. He will save me.’

A few minutes later, a wave swept him off the roof, and he perished. On arrival at the Pearly Gates, George was introduced to the Lord God and expressed himself disappointed. ‘God, I really trusted that you would save me’ he moaned. ‘Was my praying all in vain?’

‘Heavens, man’ replied the Lord God. ‘I heard you all right. I sent a neighbour with a rowboat, the MRI lifeboat – and a helicopter. What more could I do?’

(shades of 1 Kings 19, 9ff)  submitted by Anne Geldart

From the Registers

Daniel Marks died on 20^th January. A funeral service is to be held in Aberdeen on 2^nd February. Our sympathy to his family, Sandra and Brian Arnold.

News from the Action Groups

Sunday School: Anne Geldart

At a very successful meeting on 15^th January, a full list of Teachers and Helpers was agreed, as well as topics, activities and songs for the forthcoming six months.

Our Teachers are: Ceri Ritchie (Principal), Angela Craig, Nicola Mentiplay, Julie Lawrence, Lynne Lawrie.

All our leaders have completed  Disclosure Scotland forms and have received clearance – we felt this necessary because we take our responsibility for the care of our children very seriously. In addition, a number of adult helpers are contributing to lessons: Shona Cameron, Lynn Geldart, Sheila Lanning, Sarah McRobbie, Irene Paterson and family, Jennifer Shuttleworth, Sonia McQuade. A list of our activities is pinned on the noticeboard in the Baptistry, for all those interested in what’s going on.

Next important date: 4^th February: Prizegiving!!!!!

Communications: Sandy Cook

We are asking our young people to design a cover for the Easter edition of the Newsletter. A theme that speaks of new life – resurrection! All entries to be in by March 18^th (Mothering Sunday Family Service), when they will be judged.

Prayer and Spirituality: Rita Paterson

Our first meeting in the New Year is on Tuesday 6^th February, 11.00 am in St. James’ Hall. We start off with tea and coffee and chat and every body is made welcome.          

Peace, Justice and Creation: Bridget O’Hare

A very big thank you to Val Cadd and all the Social Committee for providing such a delicious soup and sweet lunch for the Swaziland presentation, given by Angela Kilby and Gillian Millar from St John’s Church Dundee. It was also most interesting to hear the Rev Rita Paterson’s building experiences over there and very sad to learn that the priest whose house they partly built died in a car crash. If you look in the current winter issue of Grapevine - you will see that more building will be going on this year. Of a nursery. The bricks were made last year by Iowans. Brechinese will build this autumn. This is the cathedral’s project. Details of the trip in Grapevine. The Bishop’s Lenten Appeal is also for Swaziland: see that Grapevine.

Thank you to everyone who gave money at this event. It was handed over to Angela and Gillian immediately and I’m sure will be spent in Swaziland very soon. There was talk about whether St James would like a link with St Mathias church where Rita had worked. We were told that the priest’s house is still standing.

Fairtrade Fortnight: February 26^th – 11^th March 2007

There will be posters up and bright balloons and an opportunity for you to buy fairly traded goods in the baptistery. Quite a number of local shops stock items - e.g. Culinaire in the Square has Fairtrade honey. When you know where to buy Fairtrade products it’s relatively easy to buy them habitually, and in this way to ameliorate directly the living conditions of growers in other countries. They produce what you both need and want and when you choose to buy Fair Trade products you’re saying to these small farmers: “I value you. This is a fair exchange. We’re equals. We’re in partnership.”

Remembering Group: Jean Carnie

Our next meeting is at 10 am on Monday January 29^th when we discuss “Living with loss – living the New Year”, led by Rev Rita Acarnley. All welcome.

Worship and Liturgy Group: Rev Rita Acarnley

The Lay Readers are meeting with other Readers from the Diocese and Bishop John on February 10^th. Readers are an invaluable part of the life of the Church Community and time to reflect on their ministry with others is invaluable for Arma, Anne and Jack.

We are delighted as a group with the services over Christmas, and the comments people fed back to us. This was the first year I arranged and held a Christingle Service. We were delighted that 90 people joined us for that time, of all ages ! And of course a great deal of that support was for Donald. However I hope the service and time together was enough of an encouragement for folk to think of being with us at St James’ again on another occasion. The next meeting is on 9^th February when services will be planned for the Easter season.

Social Committee: Val Cadd

I have just received a delightful card from Bridget O’Hare (Peace and Justice) thanking all the members of the church and social committee who helped at the delicious lunch on Sunday 14^th January for Angela and Gillian who came to tell us about their work and dedicated support for Swaziland.

I suspect when the Newsletter is published we will have all had great fun at the Burns Supper that Julie Lawrence and Lynn Geldart are arranging for Saturday 27^th January in the Church Hall. They have already
(I’m writing this on 21^st) put a fantastic amount of effort into it. A big thank you to them both.

The next coffee morning to raise funds for the church is on Saturday 17^th March from 10 am in the Church Hall. All donations to the cake and candy, book and raffle stalls would be gratefully received. Further information will be available on the weekly newssheets nearer the date.

The next Social Committee meeting is on Tuesday 27^th February at 7.30 pm in the Church to discuss the coffee morning and future events.

Climate Change: Brechin Diocesan Conference

Saturday 17^th February 2007 at The Links Hotel, Montrose

Led by Professor Alan Werrity. Cost £12.00 inc coffee, buffet lunch and scone tea. Please return forms (lying at back of church) before Feb 2^nd to Vanessa Stark, 18 Cupar Road, Newport on Tay Fife DD6 8DF. Cheques to "Diocese of Brechin". Time: 10 am for 10.30 am. Tea at 3.45 pm. Any late queries: Phone Vanessa Stark 01382 542342

Lent

We begin Lent together at 7 pm on Wednesday 21^st February with an Ash Wednesday Service.

There will be two occasions during Lent when a service will be held at 8.30 am at St James’ – Saturdays 24^th February and 31^st March. The short service will be followed by a Lenten meditation and coffee and toast in the Hall.

On Thursdays 8^th and 15^th March following the 7 pm Eucharist, there will be a discussion group meeting from 7.45 – 9 pm.

On Mondays 19^th March and 2^nd April at 2 pm in St James Hall, there will be a Bible Study for Lent.

I hope these various dates, times and different approaches will provide opportunity for everyone to prepare for Easter in their own way.

Rev. Rita Acarnley

Diary

Book Review

‘A Season with Verona’ by Tim Parks

Tim Parks, a writer living in Verona, set out to produce an alternative Italian travelogue by attending every football match played by Hellas Verona in Serie A for a whole season. You don’t have to be a football fanatic to enjoy this book (though it helps!) because Parks uses his experiences to give a view of Italian society far removed from the tourist image of piazza and pizza, gelato and gallery.

Travel to away matches highlights the regional differences with the country, particularly the Italian version of the North-South divide, apparently promoted by the numerous police forces. Meanwhile our Romeo-and-Juliet view of Verona is shattered by the disgraceful racial abuse hurled at visiting black players by the home fans. Faced with their club’s threatened suspension from the league because of repeated monkey chanting, the fans are astonished to find an unlikely and unintentional compromise is reached when the club signs a new player, Adrian Mutu, whose name they can call out with impunity.

The season reaches a dramatic conclusion with Verona in their traditional position at the foot of the league. A relegation play-off produces a result so improbable that no fiction writer would have dared to manufacture it. I won’t spoil it for you!

Paul Acarnley

SUDOKU !

February Medium (No. 15)

January Solution (No 14)