|
“Lent and Rejoicing” Some may be a little surprised at the title of this letter. Isn’t Lent that time of year when Christians look mournful, give up chocolate or whatever is nice, remind themselves all about sin? But the word Lent is one connected to the concept of Spring – of new life. Change is all around us, the birds are preparing nests, the snowdrops are magnificent, the old of winter passes away ready for new life. Lent then is a time when we acknowledge the reality of change, of our mortality, our humanity. But it is a time of quiet hope in the God who allows change in order to bring us to new life. We try and set time aside each Lent to enjoy being with God, and with one another, to learn again how to live in harmony with the changing seasons of life and the truth and reality of Easter. Your Vestry and the Action Group Leaders have received notification that I will be leaving St James’ and St Philip’s in May. Such a decision is very hard to make as Paul and I have cherished our time here among you. However I feel that my aim of creating foundations for shared church life here is well established and that the next part of your journey will be exciting and better served by the appointment of another Rector. I am confident that with your usual level of commitment and love, life in the church here will continue and grow in these months ahead. Please be assured of my continuing prayers for you all and for the future of the charges. I hope we can travel through Lent, living with loss and change and learning to trust in the God who goes before us and beside us in life. A wise and wonderful monk once said to me ‘Remember, with Christ, the best is yet to be’ and I know that will be so, for you all. With every blessing for a Holy Lent and a glorious future. Rev Rita Acarnley
A parable for today – Increase our faith. In his book Edge of Adventure, Bruce Larson tells this story. There’s a baking-powder tin wired to the handle of an old pump in the Armagosa Desert in the USA. This pump provides the only hope of water for miles around. Inside the tin is a message. ‘This pump is alright as of June 1932. I put the new leather sucker washer into it, and it ought to last several years. But this leather washer dries out and the pump has got to be primes. Under the white rock, I buried a bottle of water. There’s enough water in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. Pour in about one-quarter, and let her soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest, medium fast, and pump like crazy. You’ll get water. The well has never run dry. Have faith. When you get watered up, fill the bottle and put it back like you found it for the next feller. (signed) Desert Pete PS – Don’t go drinking up the water first. Prime the pump with it first, and you’ll get all the water you can hold.’ Anne Geldart
New Rectory The Vestry is pleased to announce that as from 3rd March 3 Ramsay Road, Stonehaven, will be the property of the Church. Because of the very short notice for the date of completion, and the fact that the Rector will have to vacate the house in the next two weeks, the Vestry have agreed that she will only be able to conduct scheduled services. Sadly the Lent courses and services up to 18th. March cannot run, as there will be no office for her to use the computer or books and prepare materials. Readers’ Meeting at Brechin: 10th February The three Readers from St James with St Philip’s travelled down the A90 in very stormy conditions and arrived at the Northern Hotel, Brechin, the venue for our meeting. We were three of the eight Readers who arrived for the meeting – quite a large proportion, as there are only 13 Readers in the Diocese. There was a short talk from the Bishop, in which he outlined his ideas for the way forward, which included the formation of Chapters for clergy and for Readers, which would meet regularly for sharing thoughts on ministry and for training. He said that Readers were essential to churches in Scotland, where fewer people were coming forward for ordination, and for this reason he wanted Readers to be fully competent to lead worship as well as preach. He was frustrated to hear that some readers were not given opportunities to develop all aspects of their ministry. Indeed, he had come across one charge (whether here or in a previous diocese he didn’t say) where a reader had given up, because he had not been invited to preach for over a year and only read the lesson occasionally. He did say, on the other hand, that if he discovered a Reader was opting out of responsibilities and declining to carry out duties, then that Reader’s licence would not be renewed. We, from the Northeast could gladly say we were not among such persons, and were very busy. Then we had a session ‘sharing experiences’ in which we each outlined those aspects of our work which gave us most satisfaction, and those which we found frustrating. Most found preaching their most satisfying activity, with pastoral care a close second. Only one mentioned work in schools (me, actually) and one felt she was gifted in inspiring others and encouraging them to take on responsibilities. Pastoral care also provided an area of frustration for one reader – though she didn’t say why. Other readers felt their work was not recognised and lack of communication was a cause of frustration for several. We then had 40 minutes or so examining a text (Luke 7:1-10 – the Centurion’s servant) as a contextual Bible study. This was very interesting and some found the approach challenging. We then looked at patterns for training for the year ahead. It was felt that an annual ‘Readers Day’ would be useful. New readers could be admitted and licensed, with an element of worship, followed by a meeting for training. It was also suggested that we might have two further meetings for training, either on a Saturday daytime, or Sunday afternoon/evening. Further training might involve: Pastoral care, liturgy and worship, preaching , ethics, church history and current spirituality. We concluded with the Grace, followed by a light lunch. Then we all went to St Andrews to welcome the new Rector. Ann Geldart
News from the Action Groups 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! Entries please, by March 18th (Mothering Sunday Family Service), when they will be judged. Music: David Fleming. Come and Sing. Stainer’s “Crucifixion” led by the Bervie Singers is being performed in the church on 31st. March, at 7 pm. The “Crucifixion” is a classic and dramatic setting of the Good Friday story. It contains solos, music which can be easily learnt, and well known hymns. Come and join in at whichever level you wish. Rehearsals will be held on Saturday 10th, 17th and 24th March, at 6.00pm. Prayer and Spirituality: Rita Paterson. The Prayer and Spirituality Group meet on Tues. 6th March, 11am in St.James' Hall. All are welcome. Remembering: Jean Carnie It was decided that a plaque was to be placed beside the Christmas Bauble Tree. A book of Remembrance was discussed and the Lady Chapel seemed an appropriate place to site it. It would be helpful if members of the congregation would check the Years Mind Book for the spelling and dates for any deceased relatives or friends, and members should feel free to add names. The Years Mind Book is kept in the Baptistry at present. The next meeting of the group is March 26th there will be a service in church at 7 pm followed by a light supper at 8 pm in the hall. Anyone wishing to join us should put their name on the sheet at the back of church. Pastoral Care Group: Jane Early. At our latest meeting, on 12th February, a talk was given by a member of Cross Roads, on the history of the organization, and its aims within the community. These are to provide a high quality service to enable carers to take time off when needed. The objective being to relieve stress of the individual, or family, caring for physically or mentally disabled or elderly persons, or to care, in appropriate circumstances, for physically disabled or elderly persons living alone. There are leaflets available at the back of the church about Cross Roads. Social Committee: Val Cadd The Burns Supper organised by Julie Lawrence and Lynn Geldart was an ENORMOUS success, thank you so much ladies for all your hard work. All the speakers were wonderful and our thanks go to Alma Isles, Irene Paterson, Jack Emslie and Sandy Cook for doing all the speeches so brilliantly. The next social/ fundraising event is the Spring coffee morning on Saturday 17th March in the Church Hall at 10 o'clock. (Our coffee morning are fun as well as raising needed funds for the Church.) All donations to the cake and candy, book and raffle stalls will be very gratefully received. The Hall will be set up on Friday afternoon at 2p.m. The next Social Committee meeting is on Tuesday 27th February at 7.30p.m. in the church to discuss the final details for the coffee morning and other future events including the Beetle Drive and the Ury Player's show. Peace and Justice: Bridget O'Hare Fairtrade Fortnight 26th February-11 March 2007 Sunday 4th March, in St James's Hall 10.30am until 1pm Fair trade items from local shops For viewing and for purchase Fairly trade tea, coffee, juice and snacks available Come and bring your friends/acquaintances The theme this year is Change Today Choose Fairtrade Aquilino Duran's banana farm is in the Dominican Republic. He is a member of a 191-strong farmer co-operative certified to sell to the Fairtrade market since 2004. The Fairtrade premium has meant the co-operative has been able to support the farmers in upgrading their farms to meet the requirements to sell to European supermarkets. For each box sold to the Fairtrade market, Aquilo earns an agreed and stable price, which can be around a dollar more than he would earn from the conventional market. “For us it feels like God has come down from heaven and been sent to our farms” “My hope is that I will be able to continue making progress, and be able to educate my children and my family. As for the farm, with all the help that we get from Fairtrade, we have hopes of a good future.” Aquilino says, “The Fairtrade premium has helped many farmers improve their packing facilities...We have also used the premium to establish projects in the community such as sports facilities, schools, repairing houses and many more things. It's also been used to improve health, and with the sports facilities we've focused on young people, because sport can help keep them out of trouble.” There's going to be a Big Banana in church that Sunday ........for the Brownie's Thinking Day service
Sunday
I lay awake praying in the early morning, I thought I heard a sound of
distant bells. It was an intense frost. I sat down in my bath upon a sheet
of thick ice which broke in the middle into large pieces whilst sharp points
and jagged edges stuck all round the sides of the tub, like chevaux de frise,
not particularly comforting to the naked thighs and loins, for the keen ice
cut like broken glass. The ice water stung and scorched like fire. I had to
collect the floating pieces of ice and pile them on a chair before I could
use the sponge and then I had to thaw the sponge in my hands for it was a
mass of ice. The morning was most brilliant. Walked to the Sunday School
with Gibbins and the road sparkled with millions of rainbows, the seven
colours gleaming in every glittering point of hoar frost. The Church was
very cold in spite of two roaring stove fires. Bridget O’Hare
Book Review: Jane Early The Boy with No Shoes by William Horwood A memoir of the boyhood of the author. A description of loss and failure on so many levels caused by those people closest to him. Despite this he overcame his tragic childhood helped by the wisdom of others and his own efforts. He attained manhood with self esteem and courage. A very moving and beautifully written book.
Diary
By Gone Days Going through some old files, I came across this reproduction, inherited in 1991, from an outgoing treasurer. Even in those days they had a deficit! £12.16 in old money – I will leave you to work that out in “new” money. Jim Brankin
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
