Monymusk Church Newsletter: Issue 8
Kirk Matters
CONTACT US:
Minister: Rev Euan Glen The Manse Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01467 651470 26 St Ninians www: http://monymuskchurch.weebly.com
Monymusk AB51 7HF News: [email protected]
December 2014
In this Issue:
Presbytery News 2
Noticeboard 8
Newsletter printed by Timepieces, Kemnay
Letter from the Manse
By the time you read this it’s likely to be December.
Christmas is coming and the business of
the season catches up with many of us. I
like Christmas but I also like when it is past
for there is such a long build up and so
many things to do. It’s awfully easy in the
business of the season to forget the point of
the season that Jesus came to earth a child
born in manger.
The village square will be lit and we shall sing our carols under the lights with the Bon Accord Silver Band from Aberdeen.
It’s strange how an event can become a custom which then happens year in year out. I suspect that many of the customs of Christmas started the same way, with a one off event which worked then others joined in until it became a tradition.
I wonder what your family traditions are? Mine is to eat as much trifle on Christmas day as I can, once I have worshipped of course on Christmas morning. Whatever your traditions I hope that you have a blessed and joyful Christmas.
In August this year I was appointed interim moderator at Inverurie St Andrews, to look after the church following the sad and sudden death of the minister while on holiday.
This has added to my workload and meant that I have had less time to visit the folk of Monymusk as there have been alot of funerals in Inverurie St Andrews most of which I am doing. I am sorry that I have not been as diligent here as I would like and can assure you that I have indicated that this can’t go on too long. I hope to be able to hand over to another minister in the early spring. Please pray for the folk in Inverurie as they have had a hard time losing their minister so suddenly.
Further on in the newsletter we discuss a possible change in the way our congregation is run. I am happy to meet with anyone to discuss this further and encourage all to take time to think about it.
I wish you and yours every blessing .
Euan Glen
Family
announcements
Weddings
Congratulations to
Stacy and Murray
Laura and Donald
Rosemary and Hamish
??
who were married in
Monymusk church,
and former Sunday School
pupil, Holly Luck and Neil …
who were married in
Portugal.
photo
Baptism
? Beattie
In Loving memory
Patricia Imray
?
A special welcome to all
those who are spending
their first Christmas in
Monymusk.
Lots going on in the church
and community.
Hope to see you all at some
of these events.
Church Family News Page 2
Social and Fundraising Events:
Outing to Pluscarden Abbey
Harvest Thanksgiving
We celebrated Harvest Thankgiving on
Sunday 12th October.
Donations of dried foodstuffs collected
throughout the year were delivered to
Instant Neighbour in Aberdeen.
The Sunday School children made soup
packs which were delivered to older
people in the community.
Craft Fayre and Coffee morning
Monymusk and Cluny churches together held a fundraising Craft
Fayre and Coffee morning in Millbank Hall on Sat 1 November.
Local crafters exhibited jewellery, soft toys, candlelit products,
knitwear, hand –made chocolates, Bodyshop, cards and T Shirts,
quilting, knitted goods, plants and RAF goods alongside the usual
homebakes, Barnados and Fair Trade stalls.
£238.85 was raised for each congregation.
Remembrance Day:
On the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1
Monymusk Guides joined the Congregation to
commemorate those who gave their lives in
conflict.
After the service wreaths were laid at the
memorial in Monymusk Square.
mainly music
We meet on Tuesdays
from 1.45-3.15pm in
Monymusk Hall.
In December all our songs
will have a Christmas
theme and we will hold
one special event in
church followed by festive
refreshments in the hall.
We supported children in
need by collecting foreign
coins.
photo
Sunday school
Plans for December and
Nativity?
Party
Carols in the Square
This annual fixture in the
church/village calendar will take place on Weds 17th December at 7pm. We invite you to join us to
sing carols under the Christmas lights in Monymusk Square led by Bon Accord Silver Band.
The Grant Arms outdoor kitchen will be open for the sale of mulled wine and hot chocolate before the
event begins.
Support from Textile Fund
covers cost of band and donations on the night are distributed to other charities.
Christmas services Page 3
Christmas Eve and Watchnight Services
Special Services
Family Christingle Service
At the start of Advent we will hold a special service for families with young children in Monymusk Church at 4pm. During this short, informal service the children will join Euan in the chancel area of the church to make christingles and find out what they symbolise.
At the end of the service there is an opportunity to join in fellowship—juice and biscuits for the children, teas and bakes for the grown ups.
The choir: Service of Lessons and Carols
The Cluny and Monymusk Choir is once again preparing for Christmas when they will perform at Cluny Church on Friday 19th December and at Monymusk on the evening of Sunday 21st. (check
times). Each Monday we rehearse the two or three carols that have been chosen. At the beginning comes the ‘note bashing’ when you hope to hit all the right notes more or less at the right times and in the right order, regardless of the other parts who appear to be trying to put you off. Later, it all changes. As confidence grows in your own
part you are more conscious of the other parts around you and harmony develops. We’re almost there as we struggle with pace, volume, expression and diction. At last comes the performance which will be unlike any rehearsal that has gone before; the
interaction with the audience is the icing on the cake and gives the final boost. Heads up for Sandy…..
Cluny church children’s choir..
What we have now
A variation of the Model
deed of constitution.
The governing body of the
church in Monymusk is a
Committee comprising the
minister, 5 ordained elders
and 5 lay members elected
by the congregation or
invited by the committee.
A non–standard
constitution which is
recognised by Presbytery
but has to be explained on
an annual basis.
Duplication of
administration with records
kept for the Kirk Session,
when the elders meet on
their own, and the church
Committee when all meet
together.
The Unitary Constitution
A more modern constitution
under which the Kirk
Session will play a bigger
role in the running of the
church.
The Kirk Session will invite
lay members of the
congregation to join them
on committees set up for
specific purposes and
receive reports on their
activities.
Simplified record-keeping
requiring only one set of
minutes for each meeting
Changing the Constitution Page 4
In September the committee of Monymusk church met to
discuss a proposal to change the church constitution from
the current committee arrangement to the unitary
constitution.
The congregation is currently run by a Committee made up
of elders and lay members - folk who are part of the family of
the congregation.
The elders occasionally meet as the Kirk Session to deal
with spiritual matters. They welcome new members into the
life of the congregation, maintain the membership
(Communion) roll, authorise the minister to make decisions
about baptising children and adults, share in the pastoral
work of the congregation and parish (visiting the sick and
inviting people to Holy Communion) and distributing the
elements at Holy Communion.
The other Committee members help the elders with some of
this, but their main role is to take care of finance and
property matters to ensure the church has sufficient funds to
enable us to pay our bills and maintain the church and
manse. Much of the day to day work of the congregation is
arranged by the Committee.
Under the Unitary Constitution the work of the church will fall
to the Kirk Session, made up of ordained elders. They will be
supported by members from the church family who are
chosen for particular tasks such as fund raising, property
maintenance and social activities. There would only be one
set of church minutes to maintain, and the Session would
organise sub committees comprising elders and lay
members which could meet on their own to deal with
delegated tasks. This means that people with gifts and
interests could utilise their specific talents in one specific
task and not have to worry about or be involved in matters.
The committee agreed unanimously to accept the proposal.
The next stage of the process is to consult the congregation
and allow them to vote on the proposed change at the Stated
Annual Meeting in March 2015.
After that decision goes to Presbytery for approval and to
Church of Scotland.
We hope that you will consider the proposal carefully, and if
you have any questions please contact the minister to
discuss.
You may vote in person at the Stated Annual meeting.
Seasonal Fundraising
Events
Page 5
Production of Christmas
wreaths will start shortly.
Avoid disappointment by
ordering yours now.
Only £12.50!
Monymusk & Cluny
Churches together
Calendar 2015
On sale now—not to be
missed.
£7 each or 2 for £12.
Available from any
committee member or in
Monymusk Post Office
Monymusk Post Office and
Thrift Shop will be open on
Saturdays 29th November,
6th &13th December from
9-12am.
Monymusk Church will be
serving tea, coffee and
homebakes on 13th
December and invite you to
join us.
Presbytery News
Monymusk Senior Citizens Christmas lunch
Monymusk Hall - Saturday 6th December at 1pm.
This open to anybody in the area aged 60 years and over.
If your invitation hasn’t arrived please contact secretary Euan Glen
on 01467 651470 who will add you to the mailing list.
Christmas past Page 6
Christmas only became a public holiday in Scotland in 1958. Photos or memories Weddings on Christmas or Boxing Day—the only day off work
Church Calendar January to June 2015 Page 7
4 January 10 am 4 pm
Joint Service in Monymusk church Short Family Service in Monymusk church
11 January 9.30 am Morning Worship followed by informal Communion
18 January 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
25 January 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
27 January 7.30 pm Committee Meeting (TBC)
1 February 10 am Joint Service in Cluny church
Weds 4 February 7.10pm Prayer meeting and Bible study (7.30pm) in the Manse
8 February 9.30 am Morning Worship followed by informal Communion
15 February 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
22 February 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
1 March 10 am 4 pm
Joint Service In Monymusk church Short Family Service in Monymusk church
Weds 4 March 7.10pm Prayer meeting and Bible study (7.30pm) in the Manse
8 March 9.30 am Morning Worship followed by informal Communion
15 March 9.30 am Stated Annual Meeting during Morning Worship (TBC)
22 March 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
29 March 9.30 am Palm Sunday Service in Monymusk church
Weds 1 April 7.10pm Prayer meeting and Bible study (7.30pm) in the Manse
3 April 7 pm Good Friday Service in Cluny church
5 April 9.30 am
Easter Sunday Service in Monymusk Church followed by egg rolling
12 April 9.30 am Morning Worship followed by informal Communion
14 April 7.30 pm Committee Meeting in the Guild Room (TBC)
19 April 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
26 April 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
3 May 10 am 4 pm
Joint Service In Monymusk church Short Family Service in Monymusk church
Wed 6 May 7.10pm Prayer meeting and Bible study (7.30pm) in the Manse
10 May 9.30am Holy Communion in Monymusk Church
17 May 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
24 May 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
31 May 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
Wed 3 June 7.10pm Prayer meeting and Bible study (7.30pm) in the Manse
7 June 10 am Joint Service in Cluny church
14 June 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
Tues 16 June 7.30pm Joint Committee Meeting (TBC)
21 June 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
28 June 9.30 am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
Christmas Services and Community Events Page 8
Monymusk Parish Church of Scotland: Scottish Charity No. SC0 04525
Sat 29th Nov
9-12am Monymusk Post Office and Thrift Shop open.
Teas and homebakes in support of Monymusk Guides
5.30pm
6.30-11pm
Grand Christmas Lights Switch On
Family disco in Monymusk Hall
Sat 29th Nov-
Sun Dec 7th 10am –3pm Monymusk Arts Trust Christmas Craft Week
Sun 30th Nov 9.30am
3pm
Morning Worship in Monymusk church
Djordje Gajic in concert in Monymusk Church
Tues 2nd Dec 1.45-3pm mainly music in Monymusk Hall
9-12am Monymusk Post Office and Thrift Shop open.
Teas and homebakes in support of Monymusk Playgroup Sat 6th Dec
Time? Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch in Monymusk Hall
Sun 7th Dec 10am
4pm
Joint Service in Monymusk church
Family Christingle Service in Monymusk church
Tues 9th Dec 1.45-3pm mainly music in Monymusk Hall
Sat 13th Dec 9-12am Monymusk Post Office and Thrift Shop open.
Teas and homebakes in support of Monymusk church
Sun 14th Dec 10am Morning Worship in Monymusk church
Tues 16th Dec 1.45-3pm mainly music in Monymusk Hall
Weds 17th Dec 7pm Carols in the Square with Bon Accord Silver Band
Sat 20th Dec 7.30pm
Monymusk Cinema: Miracle on 34th Street
Doors open at 7pm. Wine and ice cream available.
Entry by donation
Sun 21st Dec
9.30am Morning Worship in Monymusk Church
7pm Service of Lessons and Carols in Monymusk church followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Hall
Weds 24th Dec 7.30pm
11.30pm
Family Christmas Service in Monymusk church
Traditional Watchnight Service in Cluny church
Thurs 25th Dec 10.30am Joint Family Service for Christmas Day in Monymusk
Church
Sun 28th Dec 10am Joint Family Service in Cluny Church
Sun 4th Jan 10am Joint Family Service in Monymusk Church