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Picture by Kurt Simon, Copyright
Bethlehem is situated on two hills and is 2361 feet above the level of the sea. The western hill is the Bethlehem of Scripture, while on the eastern elevation is situated the Basilica of the Nativity erected over the grotto. We may imagine that the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph, there being “no room at the inn”, left the town and came to a cave or stable on the eastern hill, which served as a place of refuge for shepherds and their flocks against the inclemency of the weather. From the earliest times, ecclesiastical writers bear witness to this tradition. St Justin who died in 165, said “Having failed to find any lodging in the town, Joseph sought shelter in a neighbouring cavern of Bethlehem” (Dialogue with Trypho 70). About half a century later, Origen wrote “If anyone desires to satisfy himself without appealing to the prophecy of Micheas, or to the history of Christ as written by his disciples, that Jesus was
Pastoral Letter and Church Meetings born in Bethlehem, let him know that, in accordance with the gospel narrative, at Bethlehem is shown the grotto where he first saw the light.” (Against Celsus I.51). Devotion to the crib is of ancient origin, but it remained to St Francis of Assisi to popularise it and to give to it the form which is known at the present time. St Francis arrived at Greccio on Christmas Eve, when, with the aid of his friend Giovanni Velita, he constructed a crib and grouped around it figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Joseph, the ass, the ox, and the shepherds who had come to adore the new born infant. The legend relates that after having sung the words of the gospel, he knelt down to meditate on the sublime mystery of the birth of Jesus, and there appeared in his arms a child surrounded by a brilliant light. A painting by Giotto representing St Francis celebrating Christmas in Greccio is preserved in the Basilica of
Buckie Baptist Church meets Sundays 11am & 5.45pm. Contact Rev. V MacDougall Email bydand52@aol.com - Children are welcome to join us on Sunday morning at Rainbow Kids (0-5yrs) and Junior Church (5yrs upwards) Contact Irene 01542 840821 Buckie North, C of S, Cluny Square, contact Rev Gordon Mathew 831328 email jg.mathew@btinternet.com or Mr Graeme Gerrard (Session Clerk) 01542 831124 email graeme_gerrard@hotmail.com Buckie, Riverside Christian Church, Sundays 10.30am, contact 01542 833923 or visit www.riversidebuckie.org Buckie, St Peters Church RC contact 832196 Buckie Methodist Church Sundays 11am & 6pm, alternative Sundays at Portessie. Sunday School, Bible Studies, Prayer meetings, Study groups, Women's Guild, Men's Prayer Breakfast and House Groups Cullen & Deskford C of S every Sunday at 10.30am. First Sunday of Month in the Hall Church, every other Sunday in the Auld Kirk, 2nd and 4th Sundays in Jubilee Hall Deskford at 12noon, contact 01542 840193 or email:gordonmcneillg@btinternet.com Cullen Methodist Church, Seatown, Cullen, Buckie Sunday morning worship at 11am led by a Minister or an authorised Local Preacher; Coffee Morning Wednesdays 10am-11.30am; Guild Meeting Wednesdays 2pm; Activities for children are available as required. Findochty Methodist Church welcomes you to fellowship every Sunday morning at 11am. We also meet weekly every Wednesday from 2pm-3.30pm for fellowship and fun.
St Francis in Assisi. After his death in 1226, the custom of having the crib at Christmas spread widely through Europe. The simple celebration was not the first time the birth of Jesus was celebrated in a dramatic way, but Francis brought to the scene a vision that saw more than the pleasant tableau we now have. He wanted to show the hardships Jesus suffered already as an infant. In the daring phrase of St. Paul, he saw the emptying of the glory of the Son of God, born of a gentle mother but still thrown upon a stony and resisting world. In St Thomas Church in Keith, we construct a crib after the same Franciscan tradition, and you are are very welcome to come and see it. The Church is open from early morning till 4pm every day. Fr Maximilian McKeown Order of Friars Minor Conventual
Keith, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Family Eucharist 11.30am. Keith, C of S - North, Newmill, Boharm and Rothiemay North Church : Sunday 11am; Boharm Church : Sunday 9.30am (first Sunday of the month at Mulben village hall); Rothiemay Church : Sunday 9.30am, except the first Sunday in each month. Contact: Rev G Hutton Steel or email: knnbrchurch@btconnect.com Keith, C of S - St Rufus, Botriphnie and Grange St Rufus Church : Sunday 10.15am; Botriphnie Church : Sunday 11.45am (alternate Sundays); Grange Church : Sunday 11.45am (alternate Sundays), contact: Rev Ranald S.R. Gauld or email: kay_gauld@strufus.fsnet.co.uk Keith, St. Thomas’ Church RC, Vigil-Mass 9.30am and 6.30pm Confessions Saturday 10am on request. Portessie Methodist Church, Portessie, Buckie Sunday worship at 11am (with Sunday school) and at 6pm (alternately here & at Buckie). Portgordon Methodist Church, Portgordon, Buckie meets for Sunday worship at 11am, bible study meeting on alternate Mondays with the Church of Scotland congregation at 2pm, craft group meets on Wednesdays at 2pm Rathven Church of Scotland Sunday morning worship at 9.45am led by a Minister or an authorised Local Preacher. Sunday School outwith the local school holidays. Wee ones also very welcome. Contact Moira 01542 833956 or Ann 01542 831607
If you are a member of a church not listed here, please email the details to natalie@spotlighton.co.uk and we may print this in future issues.
page 6 - December 2010
tel: 01309 690063
SpotLight - Buckie, Keith and District