ADVENT  and  CHRISTMAS  

DATE EVENT Sun 3rd Dec 11.15am ADVENT SUNDAY Sun 10th Dec 11.15am THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Lighting of The Grimstad Christmas Tree Sun 17th Dec 9.30 am Communion Service in the St Rognvald Chapel.

11.15am THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT 6.30pm FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS - The Cathedral Choir

Tues 19th Dec 7.30 pm KGS Carol Service Wed 20th Dec 10.00am Papdale Primary School Christmas Service Sun 24th Dec 11.15 am Christmas Eve – ALL-AGE WORSHIP SERVICE

11.00pm Community Carol Singing 11.30pm JOINT WATCHNIGHT SERVICE

   Sun 31st Dec 11.15 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS    

Services are held in St Magnus Cathedral every Sunday at 11.15 am

All  Age  Worship  

We  are  hoping  to  have  an  All-­‐age  Worship  Service  on  the  24th  of  December,  to  which  all  are  invited.    

 

The year’s Christmas Offerings from the joint Watchnight Service will go to the St Magnus Way and Christian Aid

Please join us for

mulled wine, sherry and mince pies

after the Sunday morning service on

Sunday 24th December.

service  beginning  at  11.15am    

 Christmas 2017

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From  the  Manse  

   God  is  not  Santa  Claus.  

He  sees  you  when  you’re  sleeping.  

He  knows  when  you’re  awake.  

He  knows  if  you’ve  been  bad  or  good,  

So  be  good  for  goodness  sake.  

The  older   I   get  and   the   longer   I  walk   this   road  of   faith,   the  more   I   realize  how   little   I  understand  about  God.  The  easy  answers  of  my  youth  no  longer  suffice,  and  I  now  need  to  find  better  ones.  

Like  many  Christians,  I  was  unknowingly  raised  on  the  idea  of  God-­‐as-­‐Santa-­‐Claus.  

God  watched  me   at   all   times,   keeping   careful   track   of  my  goodness   or   badness,   deciding  my   reward  or  rejection.    Stay  on  His  good  side  and  He’d  bring  tidings  of  great  joy,  but  be  placed  on  the  wrong  list  and  I’d  be  left  with  tears  and  sulphur  when  He  came  back.  

Prayer  became  a  daily,  glorified  Christmas  List;  an  ever-­‐growing  petition  for  the  stuff  I  wanted  from  the  Big  Man,  and  my   job  was   to  be  good  enough  to  merit   those   things  and  to  understand  that  my  performance  was  the  key  to  it  all.    Good  kids  got  good  things.  

Like   Santa,   God   was   conditionally   benevolent.   He   was   prepared   to   be   unfathomably   generous   with  blessings  —  but  I  had  to  earn  it.    Yes,  God  had  Grace  to  lavish  on  us,  but  we  had  to  do  enough  to  get  Him  to  open  His  bag.  

I  no  longer  have  peace  with  that  God.  

I  no  longer  believe  that  God  is  an  invisible,  yet  ever-­‐present  monitor,  continually  separating  the  Naughty  or  Nice  and  doling  out  favour  or  damnation  accordingly;  that  my  days  are  nothing  more  than  a  perpetual  act  of  trying  to  deserve  gifts  of  answered  prayers  and  avoiding  the  penalty  of  being  found  not  nice  enough.  

I  think  the   idea  of  Santa  that  was  always  so  disturbing  was  that  there  could  be  some  clearly  defined  line  between  Good  and  Bad  girls  and  boys;  that  this  world  was  a  stark  binary  split  of  those  who  earned  reward  and   those  who  merited   cruelty.   You   couldn’t   be   found   in  both   lists.     That  was  where   the   cracks   in   that  Christmas  story  began  to  show  for  me  as  a  young  boy.    I  knew  that  two  distinct  lists  of  the  In  and  the  Out  didn’t  match  my  experience  of  people.    I  knew  it  didn’t  mesh  with  my  understanding  of  myself.  

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I  couldn’t  imagine  life  as  a  pass-­‐fail  experience,  with  people’s  worth  being  determined  by  the  sum  total  of  our  every  act.  

And  this  is  where  my  adult  spiritual  journey  has  meandered  away  from  the  kids’  stuff  that  I  once  accepted  without  thinking.    I  am  seeking  a  better  story;  one  that  allows  for  the  nuance  and  the  grey  that  I  find  as  I  live  in  it.      I’m  looking  for  a  religion  that  is  as  messy  as  the  world  around  me.  

Some   will   say   that   God   should   receive   the   same   fate   as   Santa   Claus,   that   a   Divine   Creator   should  be  relegated  to  childhood  myths  that  we  outgrow  once  we  learn  to  face  the  difficult  paradoxes  of  this  life.  But   I’m   hopeful   that   there   is   a   way   to   understand   faith   and   God   as   an   adult;   one  that   doesn’t  require  perfection  or  grade  performance,  and  that  doesn’t  reduce  humanity  to  the  Good  and  the  Bad.    I’ve  seen  what  that  idea  does  in  the  world,  and  how  every  dangerous  it  is.  

I’m  searching  for  a  spirituality  that  doesn’t  revolve  around  a  bearded  man  with  a  big  book,  who’s  watching  my  every  move  and  needs  me  to  get   it  right  or  be  very  disappointed  when  he  returns.     I’m  praying  for  a  God  I  don’t  need  to  outgrow.  

That’s  what’s  on  my  Christmas  List  this  year!  

Wishing  you  a  peaceful  Christmas    

Fraser  

 

Our  new  Elders  -­‐  Denise  &  Simon  Brown  

We  have  been  asked  to  introduce  ourselves  as  we  are  the  newest  Elders  at  the  Cathedral,  so  here  goes.  

We  came  to  Orkney  first  for  a  few  days’  holiday  in  2002  and  fell  under  its   spell;   after   a   second   visit,   in   2004,   we   decided  we  would  move  here  when   I   [Denise]   retired   in   2009.   This   was  met   by   a   variety   of  responses   from   family   and   friends;   those   who   knew  where   Orkney  was  thought  we  were  mad,  those  who  didn’t  spent  ages  with  a  map  scouring   the   Western   Isles   for   Orkney.   They   were,   however,   all  agreed  on  one  thing  –  it  would  never  happen.  We  lived  in  Old  Harlow,  Essex,  before  moving  to  Orkney,  and  both  worked  in  the  main  library  in   Harlow,   with   Simon   driving   the   mobile   library   van.     I   had   been  there  for  over  30  years  and  Simon  for  25  years,  so  we  were  pretty  set  

in  our  ways.  

 However,   fate   took   a   hand,   and   a   friend   saw   an   advert   for   a   mobile   library   driver   in   Orkney.     Simon  applied,  and  he  moved  here  to  start  work  in  March  2006.    I  stayed  behind  to  sell  our  house  and  moved  in  June  the  same  year.  We  stayed  in  Kirkwall  before  buying  our  house  in  Deerness,  and  went  to  services  at  the  Cathedral   right   from   the   start.    All   our   family   and  most  of   our   friends  have  been   to  Orkney   several  times.    No  one  thinks  we  are  mad  now.    We  are  truly  settled  and  very  happy.    

We  were  surprised  and  honoured  to  be  asked  to  become  Elders  and  were  ordained  in  August  this  year.  

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Planting  a  seed  for  the  Rohingya  

 

As  you  may  be  aware,  there  is  a  crisis  in  Myanmar  (the  old  Burma),  where  600,000  Rohingya  people  are   fleeing   for   their   safety   into   India   and  Bangladesh.   This   is   an   ethnic   group   which   is  known   as   the   “world’s   most   persecuted  minority”.  

The  Rohingians  are  in  a  stateless  vacuum  as  they  are   not   recognised   as   citizens   of   that   country.  They   live   in   the  coastal  area  of  Rakhine,   in  small  villages,  and  have  very  little  in  the  way  of  services  or  opportunities.  Over   the   last   few  months   their  homes,   shops   and   entire   villages   have   been  burned   to   the   ground.   The   refugees   fleeing   the  violence   have   crossed   the   border   from   Burma  injured   and   ill,   and   in   need   of   urgent   medical  attention.   There   are   camps   in   Bangladesh  which  do   not   have   sufficient   resources   to   treat   the  injured  or  feed  the  many  that  haven't  eaten  for  a  long  time,  and  so  they  need  our  help.  

In   the   Cathedral,   we   had   raised   some   funds  earlier   this  year   for   refugees  by  having  a  retiring  collection.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But  now  the  challenge  is  to  do  more:  could  we  do  something  different?     Could  we   raise   the  profile  of  this  group  as  well  as  raising  some  desperately  needed  cash?  

On   the   20th   of   October,   we   were   issued   a  challenge  by  a  member  of  the  congregation,  who  donated   some   seed   funding  of   £100   in   £10   lots.    These   £10   ‘investment   parcels’   were   offered   to  members  of  the  congregation  for  them  to  employ  their   time   and   talents   to   transform   the   £10  parcels   into   goods   to   sell,   and   so   generate  additional   funds.   The   proceeds   will   be   given   to  the  emergency  appeal.  

 Members   of   the   congregation   are   already  creating  all  manner  of  things:    baking,  making  and  creating,   and   selling   them   to   friends   and   family,  and   hopefully   there   are   even   more   ideas   that  have  not  yet  come  to  light!  

Whatever   the   final   amount   raised,   the  profile  of  this   desperate   people   has   been   highlighted   and  we  have  been  able   to  keep  the  Rohingya  people  in  our  thoughts.  

 

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Looking back ...............

Long-­‐serving  members  of  St.  Magnus  Cathedral  choir  receive  their  Long  Service  Certificates.  

Can  anyone  remember  in  which  issue  and  date  of  The  Grapevine  this  photograph  featured,  and  name  the  singers?    Answers  to  the  editor  to  receive  a  Christmas  pudding!  

 

.......... and looking forward

The  new  St  Magnus  Cathedral  Choir  CD,  Magnus  900,  will  be  released  in  the  very  near  future.      There  are  23  pieces  on  the  CD,  including:  

Ave  Verum  Corpus,                                                                                        Mozart;          Pater  Noster,                                    Stravinsky;    Be  Still  for  the  Presence  of  the  Lord,                      arr  Evans;                                  For  You  the  Pride,                          arr  Roberton;    O  Magnus  of  My  Love,                              Iain  Campbell;        In    Remembrance,                                  Andy  Cant;                                                                  

Trisagion,                    Palestrina  /Russian  Orthodox  Chant;                              The  Chorister’s  Prayer,                      Michael  Bell.

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........... and wise words.

When  a  man  whose  marriage  was  in  trouble  sought  his  advice,  the  Abba  said,  ‘You  must  learn  to  listen  to  your  wife’.  

The  man  took  this  advice  to  heart,  and  returned  after  a  month  to  say  that  he  had  learned  to  listen  to  every  word  his  wife  was  saying.  

Said  the  Abba  with  a  smile,’  Now  go  home  and  listen  to  every  word  she  isn’t  saying!’  

Anthony  de  Mello,  One  Minute  Wisdom  

Psalm  26:3      Jeremiah  31:22        John    13:23  

St  Magnus  Way  and  the  Guild  

The   Guild,   which   is   open   to   all,   was   delighted   to   welcome  many  members   and   friends   to   their   recent  meeting,  when  the  Reverend  David  McNeish  gave  a  most  interesting  presentation  on  the  creation  of  the  St  Magnus  Way,  the  new  55-­‐mile  pilgrim  walk  from  Evie  to  Kirkwall.                                                        

This  project  was  certainly  no   simple   task  but   the  coming   together  of  many   like-­‐minded   people,   with   David   taking   the   lead.     After   many  trials  and  tribulations,  the  first  stretch  of  the  walk  was  opened  back  in  April.  

There  are  five  sections  to  the  walk,  with  each  part  reflecting  an  aspect  of  the  martyrdom  of  Magnus.    For  Evie  to  Birsay  it  is  loss,  then  Birsay  to  Dounby,  growth.     The   third   section,   from  Dounby   to   Finstown,   is  change,  and  Finstown  to  Orphir  Is  forgiveness.    The  final  stretch,  from  Orphir  to  Kirkwall  and  the  Cathedral,  is  hospitality.  

For  those  of  us  who  are   less  able  but  have  access  to  technology,  there   is  going  to  be  the  possibility  of  a  virtual  walk,  thanks  to  Google.  

In  the  meantime,  the  route  will  hopefully  continue  to  be  improved,  and  from  next  April  there  will  be  a  St  Magnus  Way  leaflet  and  guide  book  available,  as  well  as  fundraising  gifts.  

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  whole  venture  has  been  a  great  success,  so  much  so  that  David  hinted  at  several  other  pilgrimage  routes  being  created  within  these  islands,  although  he  was  quick  to  say  that  he  would  not  be  getting  involved!      

If  you  would  like  to  know  more,  please  log  on  to  www.stmagnusway.com  

The  2018  Spring  Guild  programme  is  as  follows:  

Tuesday  9th  January                ‘Can  We  Help’,      Kirkwall  Citizens  Advice  Bureau.  Saturday  10th  Feb.                      ‘Come  for  a  cuppa’  coffee  morning  

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Tuesday  13th  Feb.                        ‘Visit  to  Clan’  Friday  2nd  March                          ‘World  Day  of  Prayer’  Tuesday  13th  March                  AGM  +  ‘The  work  of  The  Children’s  Panel’,  Rosie  Wallace.  April  lunch                                                  Details  to  follow    

Sit  down,  don't  go,  stay  a  bit  longer!  

These  are  the  words  I  hear  every  day  when  I'm  out  visiting.      Of  course  you  don't  have  to  be  sick,  bereaved  or  elderly  to  be  lonely,  although  loneliness  is  most  prevalent  in  these  groups  of  people.      Perhaps  we  fail  to  recognise  loneliness  -­‐  it  is  not  always  obvious!  There  are  those  who,  even  though  they  are  surrounded  by  people,  don't  feel  understood,  loved  or  cared  for.    Loneliness  is  a  feeling!    Loneliness  is  smiling  cheerfully,  but   feeling  alone  no  matter  how  many  people  are  around  you.   It   is  a   feeling  of  being  separated,  disconnected,  unplugged,  left  out  and  isolated.    Loneliness  is  an  emotional  pain,  a  yearning  to  be  accepted  by  someone.  As  the  Bible  story  of  Adam  and  Eve  illustrates,  God  intends  for  us  to  share  our  lives  with  other  people.    By  God's  design,  we  have  an   innate  need   to  be   loved  and   to  belong.   It's  when   that  need   for   affection  and  fellowship  goes  unfulfilled  that  we  become  restless,  unhappy  and  lonely.  If  you  are  struggling  with  loneliness,  you're  not  alone.  The  Christmas  season  is,  for  many,  the  hardest  time  of   the   year.     We   look   through   windows   and   see   twinkling   Christmas   trees;   we   imagine   happy   family  celebrations  and   feel   left  out   in   the  cold.    Then   the  TV  bombards  us  with  an  often  unrealistic  picture  of  festive  cheer  which  can  depress  us  further.      This  Christmas,  please  give  time:    time  to  a  neighbour,  a  friend  or  a  relative.    Pick  up  the  phone,  send  an  email,  and  make  peace  where  there  has  been  a  family  rift.    Time  really  is  the  best  present.  May  God's  love  and  peace  surround  you  this  Christmas  and  always.    

Candles  of  Waiting  and  Hope  for  Advent  &  Christmas  

Candle  One  

What  are  we  waiting  for?  Switch  on  the  lights!  Twinkling,  glitzy  lights  leading  to  shops,  Internet  delights.  Seductive  and  brash,  special  offers  are  waiting  ...  for  credit  card  or  cash.  

Candle  Two  

What  are  they  waiting  for?  Give  them  some  light!  Tiny  pinpricks  of  light,  leading  to  peace,  

an  end  to  their  plight.  In  darkness,  despair,  these  folk  are  waiting  for  someone  to  care.  

Candle  Three  

What  are  we  hoping  for?  Blaze  out  the  lights!  Bigger,  flashier  lights  outdoing  our  neighbours,  blinding  our  nights.  Tech  gadgets,  over-­‐priced  toys,  children  are  hoping  for  these  short-­‐lived  joys.  Candle  Four  

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What  are  they  hoping  for?  Flash  out  a  light!  Welcome,  guiding  light  leading  to  safety,  a  bed  for  the  night.  Shelter,  warmth,  food  on  the  table,  that’s  what  they’re  hoping.  Yes,  even  a  stable.    

Candle  for  Christmas  Day  

Waiting  and  hoping?  Is  this  what  it’s  for?  Enter  the  Christ-­‐light!  Frail,  new-­‐born  light,  glowing  in  Bethlehem,  understated  but  bright.  If  our  love  feeds  the  flame,  this  world’s  waiting  and  hoping  will  not  be  in  vain.  

 

Recipes  –  The  Stuffing  and  the  Gravy  

 

Stuffing  

5oz  butter  

5oz  marg  

6oz  oatmeal    

6oz  porage  oats    

12oz  diced  onions  

1  ½  Knorr  chicken  stock  cubes    

Melt  butter  and  marg  and  lightly  fry  diced  onions  for  5  mins.  

Add  oatmeal  and  porage  oats  and  mix  well.    Add  crushed  stock  cubes  and  mix  well.  

Add  pepper  to  taste.  NO  additional  salt  required  when  using  stock  cubes.  

Cook  in  double  boiler  for  at  least  60  mins,  or  at  175-­‐185⁰  in  ovenproof  dish  for  60-­‐90  mins.  

These  quantities  can  be  easily  adjusted  to  increase  or  decrease  amount  required.  

 

Gravy  

Butter  

Finely  diced  onions  

Stock  

Bisto  +  cornflour  

 

Gently  fry  onions  in  melted  butter  till  starting  to  go  soft.  

Add  prepared  stock  of  your  choice  +  pepper  (no  salt  at  this  point).  

 

9    

Bring  to  boil  and  thicken  to  desired  consistency  with  half-­‐and-­‐half  Bisto  gravy  powder  and  cornflour,  slaked  with  a  little  water.  

Bring  back  to  boil  and  cook  out  gently  for  a  few  mins,  adjusting  seasoning  if  necessary.  

This  method  of  thickening  doesn’t  produce  such  a  glutinous  end  product.

 

And  for  Christmas  tea  ...        Mincemeat  Ravioli  (apologies  to  Delia)  

Roll  out  half  the  pastry  of  your  choice  into  an  oblong  and  brush  with  egg.  

Space  out  small  amounts  of  mincemeat  on  the  oblong  (e.g.  5×6),  and  roll  out  the  rest  of  the  pastry  and  cover.    Press  down  and  mark  with  a  pastry  wheel.  

Egg  wash,  sprinkle  with  sugar  and  put  a  couple  of  snips  in  each  section  to  allow  steam  to  escape.      Bake  at  200°  for  approx  15  mins.  

TIP.    For  easy  flaky  pastry,  grate  frozen  butter  into  flour  and  proceed  as  normal.  

 

 

.  

Our  November  Thursday-­‐morning  pop-­‐up  cafe   in   the  St  Magnus  Centre   (10am  -­‐  12  noon)  has  been  well  frequented,  with  people  saying  such  nice  things  as,  ‘A  great  idea.    It's  always  nice  to  meet  new  people,  and  in  the  cafe  with  the  best  view’.  

10    

So  we  have  decided  to  carry  on  the  cafe  over  December  and  January  at   least,  but,   in  order  to  do  so,  we  would  need  a  few  more  people  to  be  involved  in  the  very  simple  preparation  and  serving.    It  really  is  just  a  case   of   making   the   tea   and   coffee   and   chatting   with   people   ...   a   lovely   way   to   share   a   morning   in  fellowship.  

Would  you  be  willing   to   take  a   turn?     If   so,  please  contact  either  Barbara  on  874955,  Shona  on  872893,  Elspeth  on  874061  or  Helen  on  861260.  

We   hope   there   are   enough   volunteers   so   that   you   would   only   be   ‘on   duty’   once   a   month,   from  approximately  9.45am  -­‐  12  noon  on  a  Thursday  morning.  

You  will,  of  course,  be  warmly  welcomed  and  supported  as  you  learn  the  ropes!          

From  a  children’s  nativity  play:  

Mary  (thrusting  a  large  doll  (Jesus)  onto  Joseph’s  knee):    

‘You  have  him  a  bit,  he’s  getting  heavy!’  

 

11    

 

Isobel  Scholes  

Isobel  was  born  on  24  May,  1933,   second  daughter   to   James  &  Violet  Couper.    Her  older  sister   is  Violet  Grieve.  

Isobel  went  to  school   in  Kirkwall.    When  she  was  not  helping  at  home,  she  was  a  keen  Girl  Guide.    After  leaving  school,   she   joined  a   local  bank.    While  single,   Isobel   loved  to  travel.    Her   first  visits   to  aunties   in  London  involved  driving  from  Kirkwall  to  London  with  her  parents,  a  trip  that  took  three  days.  Later,  she  had  regular  trips  to  London  with  friends  to  visit  her  relations,  and  also  enjoyed  bus  trips  to  both  Italy  and  Norway.   Isobel   regularly   took  part   in   the   annual   KAOS  production;  Gilbert  &   Sullivan  musicals  were  her  favourite.  

Her   single   days   ended   when   she   met   Alastair   Scholes.   Alastair   had   arrived   from  Dumfries  to  work  at  Foubister  &  Bain,  Chartered  Accountants,  and  he  later  set  up  his  own  practice,  A  J  B  Scholes,  CA.    Isobel  and  Alastair  had  three  children  -­‐  Inga,  Karen  &  Leonard.  

Isobel   spent  her  days   supporting  both  her   family  and   the  business.   She   continued  her  love  of  travel,  and  was  delighted  to  visit  India,  Hong  Kong  and  New  York,  along  with   most   European   cities.   Portugal   was   a   favourite   destination   for   Isobel   and  Alastair.  

Hobbies  were  few,  but  she  was  an  active  member  of  Kirkwall  &  St  Ola  Community  Council,  Kirkwall  &  St  Ola  WI,   St  Magnus   Cathedral   Guild   and   the   Choir.     She   lived   for   her   family,   and   spent   her   later   years  childminding  for  her  grandchildren,  Morgan,  Marcus  &  Katelin.    She  then  cared  for  her  mum,  who  lived  to  the  fantastic  age  of  102.  

Sadly,  Isobel  passed  away  on  1st  September,  2017,  after  a  brief  battle  with  cancer.    She  is  missed  every  day.  

 

Long  Table  communion    

 

 Our  next  Long  Table  communion  will  be  on  the  4th  of  February.  

Our  aim  is  to  recreate  the  sense  of  community  at  communion  –  a  sense  that  everyone  sitting  around  the  table  will  hopefully  feel.    

 

We  hope  to  welcome  you  to  this  special  communion.  

12    

   

St.  Magnus  Cathedral:  Outreach    

Following   a   suggestion  made   by   a   visitor   to   the   Cathedral,   votive   candleholders   were   provided   by   the  congregation  so  that  people  could  take  a  moment,   light  a  candle,  reflect,  say  a  prayer  or   just  remember  loved   ones.       The   candles   are   looked   after   on   busy   days   by   volunteers   from   the   congregation,   but  otherwise   the   support   of   the   custodians   has   been   invaluable.     The   generosity   of   those   taking   the  opportunity   to   light   a   candle   has   generated   funds   of   about   £8,500   in   each   of   the   last   two   years.      Reflecting  on  this,  the  Kirk  Session  felt  that  these  funds  should  benefit  more  than  the  congregation.    For  2017,   therefore,   it   was   decided   that   these   donations   would   be   collected   for   local,   national   and  international   charities.       This   extends   significantly   the   initiative   taken   in   2016   to   donate   funds   raised   at  soup   lunches   and   the  County   Show   to  other   charities,   and   for   the  offering  on  Remembrance   Sunday   to  benefit   the  Royal  British  Legion.   It   is  hoped  to  continue  this  approach   for  as   long  as  we  can  continue  to  balance  our  congregational  income  and  expenditure.  

After  careful  consideration  the  recipients  of  St  Magnus  Outreach  donations  for  2017  are:  

Street  Pastors,  both  local  and  nationally.            Locally,  Street  Pastors  help  people  avoid  getting  into  trouble,  becoming  a  nuisance  or  hurting   themselves  or  others.    Nationally,   there  are   teams  of  Response  Pastors,  Rail  Pastors  (on  platforms  and  on  trains),  and  School  Pastors.  

Weekly  pop-­‐up  congregational  cafe  in  the  St  Magnus  Centre.        Members  of  the  congregation  and  their  friends  are  invited  to  the  Centre  to  enjoy  a  cuppa  and  conversation.    

Befriending  in  Orkney.        Befriending  is  aimed  at  combating  loneliness  among  the  elderly  and  developing  social  skills  in  disadvantaged  young  people.      

Dementia   Friendly  Community   for  Orkney.          Dementia   Friendly  Orkney   aims   to  promote   a   dementia-­‐  friendly  culture  within  the  community  of  Orkney,  and  to  assist  people  with  dementia,  and  those  who  care  for  them,  to  enjoy  life  and  feel  valued.      

If  you  know  anyone  with  dementia,  you  may  be  interested  to  know  that  National  Trading  Standards  will  provide  them  with   a   free   call   blocker   if   they   are   currently   receiving   scam   or   nuisance   phone   calls.   They   should   apply   at  www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/callblocker  

St  Magnus  Way.          The  St  Magnus  Way  pilgrimage  route  was  completed  this  year.    Future  publicity  may  include  ideas  such  as  St  Magnus  Way  postcards  and  a  guide  book.  

Fuel  vouchers  at  The  Orkney  Foodbank.          Donating  money  for  fuel  vouchers  means  that  deserving  people  will  not  have  to  choose  between  cooking,  heating  or  eating.  

Fischy  Music.            Fischy  Music  is  a  charity  that  supports  emotional,  social  and  spiritual  wellbeing  in  children  through  song.    The  group  visited  Orkney  in  September.  

Borderline.           Borderline   was   founded   in   1990   by   The   Church   of   Scotland   London   Advisory   Service  (COSLAS)  to  support  homeless  and  insecurely  housed  Scots   in  London,  and  to  tackle,  where  possible,  the  causes  of  homelessness.  

13    

Oxfam.        Projects  include:    share  in  a  farmyard,  goats,  feed  a  family,  seeds,  and    honey  bees.    

Farm  Africa.            Farm  Africa  is  an  international  organisation  helping  farmers  to  increase  their  harvests,  build  their  incomes  and  sustain  natural  resources.    

Water  Aid.            Water  Aid  works  with  local  partners  in  37  countries  to  transform  millions  of  lives  every  year  by  improving  access  to  safe  water,  toilets  and  hygiene.  

Disasters  Emergency  Committee.          This  agency  provides   support  and  aid   to   tackle   the  disasters  which  afflict  the  world  every  year,  from  drought  and  famine  to  floods,  storms  and  earthquakes.  

The  Grenfell  Tower  Block  disaster.    A  donation  was  sent  at   the   time  to  support  anyone  affected  by   the  disaster.  

 

Parish  Register  

 

WEDDING  

14th  October           Eilidh  Russell  and  Fraser  Christie  

   

FUNERALS  

2nd  October       Mike  Berston  29a  Victoria  Street,  Kirkwall  

4th  November       Diana  Preston    Kingsdale  Lodge,  Grimbister  

11th  November     Laurie  Hale    Rosewood,  Holm  Road,  Kirkwall  

23rd  November     Marjorie  Campbell    89  Meadowbank,  Kirkwall  

 

 

  Gabriel:      ‘Are  you  Mary?’  

Mary:            ‘Yes!’  

Gabriel:      ‘God  sent  me  to  tell  you  you’re  having  a  baby.’  

Mary:              ‘I  don’t  know  anything  about  this.’  

Gabriel:      ‘It  will  be  a  boy,  and  he  will  be  great…’  

Mary:            ‘What  if  it’s  a  girl?’