2014 autumn colour

St Mark’s Messenger Autumn 2014

Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a registered Sco sh charity No SC015451 St Mark’s is twinned with Mpachika Church Malawi

Index to the Autumn 2014 Issue Le er from the Manse

3 Worship Calendar (2)

15

Just a Thought / St Peter’s

4 Guild of Friendship

16

Coffee Shops / Projects

5 Note from the Treasurer

17

Big Issue

6 St Mark’s Guild/Roll Changes

18

CrossReach / O.A.K.

7 Rambling & Hillwalking

19

Malawi Commi ee

8 Men’s Club

20

Circle of Care / Strollers

9

21

Worship Calendar (1)

10 St Mark’s Contact Page

22

Duty Rotas Supplement

11 St Mark’s Ques>onnaire

23

Diane is looking for help from the congrega>on in planning future worship. On page 23 (which you can detach without damaging your Messenger) there is a short anonymous ques>onnaire about what you have enjoyed or found helpful, what you are looking for and what we should do this Christmas.

Please take a moment to complete your answers and get the form back as soon as possible. St Mark’s is your Church and this is your opportunity to say what you would like to see in future.

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Le'er from the Manse Dear Friends, I hope and pray this magazine finds you in good spirits aDer the warm Summer. What >mes of great change we live in. This Summer alone the Commonwealth Games have leD wonderful memories in our hearts.

Aberdeen football club has been in great shape. We in St Mark's have taken part in hos>ng Blessings who came with other visitors from Malawi. The Aberdeen Dolphin Trail has been a great success.

Did you know that St Mark's featured on one of them? The referendum has finished and Scotland's beau>ful landscape will be taking on the rich colourful mantle of Autumn.

The results of the referendum will have leD some people in Scotland content and others not. Regardless of the result the Church as a whole, has an important role to play in the future years ahead for Scotland. For Jesus asks us all to be lighthouses of His love. So that by our love, respect and valuing of each other, regardless of how we voted, our communi>es will know the prac>cal living power of Christ Jesus's love working in people's hearts and lives. I am quite sure that St Mark's lighthouse will shine brightly as we have done for over a 100 years.

It is a natural law that every ac>on, whether small or large creates a change elsewhere in the world. So when a bu erfly flaps its wings, the vibra>ons it makes change the flow of air. Prayer and small acts of kindness can make a huge difference to one or more people's lives and in doing so is a force for goodness and the World becomes a be er place. So let's not underes>mate how, we as the Church of St Mark's, are and can be in the future a force for love, goodness and peace in this World through our prayer and witness God Bless you all

Diane.

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Just a thought Words are incredibly powerful. Some>mes they can lead us into trouble. There are many spontaneous comments, especially by Sports Commentators, that have us laughing uninten>onally.

A couple of favourites are:“‘Forest have now lost six matches without winning.” (David Coleman).

And the unfortunate one by Ron Atkinson, “He dribbles a lot, and the opposi>on don’t like it - you can see it all over their faces.”

If you know of any more please don't hesitate to send them in to share with others through the Christmas Messenger. You can write, email or phone the office. (or email the Messenger, messenger@stmarksaberdeen.org.uk)

The Celebra*on of St Peter's Building St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Chapel Court, Jus>ce Street was built and opened for Worship 210 years ago.

There was a great celebra>on on 14 August star>ng with Worship and then a meal at the Town House. It was good to meet so many interes>ng people who have been involved in the ministry and life of St Peter’s over the years. Our prayerful best wishes were extended to them all.

Diane.

Tact, the unsaid part of what you think.

4

Summer Coffee Shops Wri>ng this in the middle of August we are s>ll busy with the Summer Coffee Mornings. They have been very successful and we appreciate the support each week. Grateful thanks must go to the helpers who have been on duty on many more occasions than their allo ed Saturday and to all who supply baking and raffle prizes.

Update. With only the two September Coffee Shops to go we have so far raised £5,843.91 for Church Funds.

Christmas Coffee Shops Our Christmas Coffee Shops will be held on 6th, 13th and 20th December. Yet again we would ask for your support with dona>ons of baking, raffles etc but we would especially like to see you , with your friends.

Projects As Alex decided to downsize, looking to his old age, and no longer has a garden it was decided to con>nue with ‘An Indoor Garden Party’, which was just as well because Sunday 20th July was not the best day of the Summer!

We had a very successful aDernoon with a lovely aDernoon tea, a well stocked baking stall and raffle. Thanks to Alex for organising the various quizzes and to Lynne and Garry for their ice cream stall. The amazing amount of £726.30 was raised.

Many thanks to all who helped or provided baking and prizes. It was a very happy aDernoon. Our next event is a ‘Table Top Haberdashery Sale’ on Saturday 11th October.

5

Big Issue You will all know that the Grouping churches took on the distribu>on of the Big Issue magazine about five years ago. With Presbytery’s decision to wind up the Grouping, Queen Street, St Nicholas and St Mark’s agreed to carry on the ini>a>ve and the volunteer team stayed together doing this vital work.

However in the current economic climate it is clear that the previous level of support for the magazine is falling. This is not only the case in Aberdeen but elsewhere in the country as well. From a high of around 2,000 magazines a week our distribu>on team is now only able to put about 500 copies each week on to the streets of Aberdeen and to places like Ellon and Inverurie as well.

How oDen do you buy the magazine, every week, every now and again or never? The ethos behind the Big Issue is ‘a hand up, not a hand out’.

The street vendors are all ve ed by the Big Issue organisa>on and buy their supplies of copies from distributors like us (I say ‘us’ because St Mark’s is an ac>ve par>cipant in the organisa>on) for £1.25 a copy and sell them to the public at £2.50. Although this is a big increase in the price since we started it is s>ll a value for money product and well worth the cost.

Why not try it for at least a few weeks and help boost our local circula>on as well as the vendors. You can pick up the magazine in many loca>ons in town and further afield. Vendors, in the main, are allocated a fixed ‘pitch’, outside supermarkets etc. and you’ll find them easily.

Please give it a try and give a ‘hand up, not a hand out’ to someone whose life is not as secure as yours and is doing what he or she can to improve their circumstances by doing something posi>ve.

6

Substance Misuse CrossReach provides residen>al rehabilita>on services, community drop-ins and prac>cal support to people in the community with substance misuse issues. We provide a specific service to improve the lives of children affected by drug and alcohol misuse in their families, which provides a range of therapeu>c support to children aged from birth to the end of primary school.

We also run an early interven>on service which supports children and young people at risk of geVng involved in an>-social behaviour to become involved in exis>ng community based ac>vi>es and services.

Carol Main CrossReach Representa*ve.

OAK Report O.A.K. has to thank all our staff who have kept the café open throughout the summer holiday period. We have been very fortunate in remaining open.

Our Special Lunches have had good a endances and we look forward to our next Lunch on 6th November for DENTAID. This is a charity which takes den>sts and dental nurses to Africa to hold a series of clinics. Our Christmas Lunches will be held on 17th and 18th December and we hope Santa has made a note in his diary.

The O.A.K. Evening Services con>nue on the Second Sunday evening of each month at 6.30pm in Crown Terrace Methodist Church and a warm welcome is assured.

We look forward to seeing you all at some of our events.

Be'y & Malcolm Steel.

7

Malawi Commi'ee Report The St Marks commi ee has had a well earned rest over the summer. We will be mee>ng soon to plan our ac>vi>es for the coming months. However at the end of August a delega>on of 5 Malawians were in Aberdeen for just over two weeks under the auspices of Aberdeen Presbytery.

Fanuel Blessings Moto is from our sister church Mpachika and was hosted by St Mark's for part of his visit. Alex McConochie very kindly offered to be his host in the Manse during Diane’s holiday to South Africa.

A very full programme was planned for the >me the Malawians were here. Ac>vi>es and visits included welcome and farewell dinners, devo>ons in Rubislaw church centre, Seafarers’ Mission, St Machar’s Cathedral, University Chaplaincy, Instant Neighbour, Salva>on Army Citadel, mee>ng the Lord Provost and a visit to the Town House, Braemar Games, Sunnybank school assembly, Crathes Gardens and a visit to Blantyre.

Blessings was at St Mark's on Sunday 31 August for the Celebrate Aberdeen service and was in the hall aDer the service to meet with members of the congrega>on when he received a warm welcome.

David Yacamini

© the Pavement

Tracy Emin’s taken up gardening 8

The Circle of Care Members of the Circle of Care will have seen many changes in the world during their life>mes and by the >me this is being read the ScoVsh Referendum outcome will be known. Whatever the posi>on, we in the Church know that we worship a God whose love for us is constant. So we celebrate this again at our Communion Service on Sunday October 12th.

The service will, as usual, be followed by an ADernoon Tea when we enjoy the fellowship of the Church family. As always we thank all those who help to make this a lovely happy occasion.

The Strollers Our recent ou>ngs have consisted of ‘Follow the Dolphins’ and this has made an interes>ng diversion as we wander around familiar loca>ons. We have succeeded in viewing 32 of the 50 situated around the town.

For the remainder of the year we shall meet on the following dates and you are welcome to join us on all or some of them.

October Tuesdays 10.00am

7

Saturdays 2.00pm

November

December

18

9

28 18

8

Messenger Deadlines Winter 2014 Spring 2015

Sunday 9 November 2014 Sunday 22 February 2015 9

29

20

Worship Calendar Worship Calendar Worship Calendar Please note that Sunday morning services at St Mark’s normally start at 11.00am. Any changes will be in>mated in the Pew Leaflet.

Further details of the services will be available on the Church website or in the Pew Leaflet. www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/stmarks-worship.htm 21 September 11.00am Morning Worship Holding On and LeVng Go “Why praising God in music is good for us no ma er how good our voices are.”

28 September 11.00am Morning Worship Life in the Kingdom of God “The Good, the Bad and the not so Ugly.”

5 October

11.00am Morning Worship Harvest Fes>val “The Law of Abundant Harves>ng.”

12 October

11.00am Morning Worship Sacrament of Holy Communion “Need your Peace - You’ll find it here.”

2.00pm Circle of Care Communion “Hopes of Peace and Times of Wonder in Life” Followed by ADernoon Tea

19 October

11.00am Morning Worship “To coin a phrase; Godly >ps on making a good living.”

26 October

11.00am Morning Worship “Stories of the Power of Love.”

NB Clocks go back at 2.00am

2 November

11.00am Morning Worship Possible Guest Preacher from Jersey 2.00pm Bri>sh Legion Garden Service Followed by Tea in the Hall Con>nued on Page 15 10

St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Autumn Messenger Pull-out Supplement Beadle Duty Rota

BEADLE DUTY ROTA 28 September 2014 05 October 2014 12 October 2014 19 October 2014 26 October 2014 02 November 2014 09 November 2014 16 November 2014 23 November 2014 30 November 2014 07 December 2014 14 December 2014 21 December 2014 24 December 2014 25 December 2014 28 December 2014 04 January 2015 11 January 2015

Mr Alan Brown Mrs Anne Donaldson Mr Alex McConochie Mr Ian Lord Mrs Joyce Forbes Mr Garry Watson Mr Derek Caie Mrs Alice Officer Miss Dianne Morrison Mr Malcolm Steel Mr Graeme Low Mrs Jaqueline Hepburn Mr Ian Lord Miss Elsa Black Mrs Helen Burr Mr Alan Brown Mr Ian Beagrie Mr Douglas Craighead

Miss Elaine Macdonald Mr Lewis Donaldson Mrs Gail Hogg Mrs Marjorie Lord Mr William Forbes Miss Rosalyn Rennie Mrs Mary Caie Mr Alan Brown Mr Maurice McFarlane Mrs Betty Steel Mrs Lynn Low Mr Douglas Craighead Mrs Marjorie Lord Miss Jean Black Mr Garry Watson Miss Elaine Macdonald Mrs Carol Main Mrs Helen McKenzie

If you are unable, for any reason to carry out your allocated duty please advise your partner and obtain a replacement by swapping with someone else on the Rota. Please update the lists in the ves>bule and Church Office First named should arrange to collect the keys from the Church office.

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Autumn Messenger Pull-out Supplement Door Duty Rota

DOOR DUTY ROTA 28 September 2014 05 October 2014 12 October 2014 19 October 2014 26 October 2014 02 November 2014 09 November 2014 16 November 2014 23 November 2014 30 November 2014 07 December 2014 14 December 2014 21 December 2014 24 December 2014 25 December 2014 28 December 2014 04 January 2015 11 January 2015

Bill McDonald David Yacamini Elsa Black Garry Watson Douglas Craighead Helen Burr Sylvia Strachan Margaret Brown Graeme Low Jacqueline Hepburn Milton Montgomery Derek Caie Ian Beagrie Ian Lord Maurice McFarlane Betty Steel Bill Forbes Lewis Donaldson

Elaine Macdonald Jean Yacamini Jean Black Rosalyn Rennie Sheila Main Sandra Andrew Helen McKenzie Maurice McFarlane Lynn Low Margaret Donald Kay Montgomery Mary Caie Alice Officer Marjorie Lord Dianne Morrison Malcolm Steel Joyce Forbes Anne Donaldson

Ian Beagrie

Lynn Low

If you are unable, for any reason to carry out your allocated duty please obtain a replacement by swapping with someone else on the Rota. Please update the lists in the ves>bule and Church OďŹƒce

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Autumn Messenger Pull-out Supplement Church Readers’ Rota

READERS' ROTA 21 September 2014 28 September 2014 05 October 2014 12 October 2014 19 October 2014 26 October 2014 02 November 2014 09 November 2014 16 November 2014 23 November 2014 30 November 2014 07 December 2014 14 December 2014 21 December 2014 24 December 2014 25 December 2014 28 December 2014 04 January 2015 11 January 2015

Gail Hogg Anne Donaldson Malcolm Steel Gail Hogg Alex McConochie Milton Montgomery Kay Montgomery Elsa Black Jean Black Anne Donaldson Gail Hogg Kay Montgomery Jean Black Elsa Black Alex McConochie David Yacamini Alex McConochie Kay Montgomery Gail Hogg

Readers should contact the Church office before 1.00pm on the Thursday to obtain details of the reading. Please go over the text several >mes before the Sunday to make sure you are happy with pronuncia>on etc.

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Autumn Messenger Pull-out Supplement Flower Supply & Distribu*on Rota

FLOWER ROTA Date

21 September 2014 28 September 2014 05 October 2014 12 October 2014 19 October 2014 26 October 2014 02 November 2014 09 November 2014 16 November 2014 23 November 2014 30 November 2014 07 December 2014 14 December 2014 21 December 2014 28 December 2014 04 January 2015 11 January 2015

Donation

Misses J & E Black Mrs I Sutherland Mrs E Leslie Mrs & Miss Morrison Mrs M Caie Mrs K McBain Mr A McConochie Mrs L Watson Mrs E Lennox Miss K Annand Miss S Strachan Miss A McDonald Mrs Pamela McDonald Miss M Donald Mrs M Leslie & Miss O Watt Peggy Mitchell Mrs S Mann

Distribution

Mrs Sutherland Mrs Christie Mrs & Miss Morrison Mr McFarlane Mr McConochie Mrs Yacamini Mrs McDonald Mrs Donaldson Mrs Lord Mrs Yacamini For the Minister Miss O Watt Mrs S Main

As you can see there are s>ll a couple of gaps in the Flower Distribu>on Rota this quarter. Receiving the Church flowers gives a real boost to bereaved or ill members and all you have to do is drop them off on the way home. Please think about helping out in this small way. One day it might be you receiving them.

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Worship Calendar Worship Calendar Worship Calendar 9 November

10.50am Morning Worship Remembrance Service 6.30pm OAK Remembrance Service Crown Terrace Methodist Church

16 November

11.00am Morning Worship Guild Dedica>on Service “The law of A rac>on, Acceptance, Tolerance and Approval " Followed by Soup & Sandwich Lunch

23 November

11.00am Morning Worship Boys’ Brigade Dedica>on Service “Steady people , who do extraordinary things” Followed by Tea & Coffee

30 November

11.00am Morning Worship First Sunday in Advent Service led by Mrs Anne Smith

7 December

11.00am Morning Worship Second Sunday in Advent Joint Service with St John’s (tbc)

14 December

11.00am Morning Worship Third Sunday in Advent Service led by Worship Commi ee

Week 15 - 20 December

Christmas week arrangements to be confirmed; Shoppers’ Carol Service with Soup & Sandwich lunch

21 December

11.00am Morning Worship Fourth Sunday in Advent Na>vity Service led by The Sunday School

24 December

Arrangements to be confirmed in Winter Messenger Carol Service Watchnight Service 15

Guild of Friendship We start our Monday aDernoon mee>ngs in the hall on 6th October at 2.15pm when our first guest is Rev Diane. We look forward to mee>ng up with familiar faces and hopefully a ‘new’ face or two!!

If you want a happy entertaining aDernoon do come along and bring a friend if you wish (they do not need to be a St Mark’s member).

The full syllabus for 2014 is as follows, with something for everyone.

Pat Skene

6th October

Rev Diane

13th October

Beetle Drive

20th October

Roy Rhodes (Music)

27th October

Ruth Sturgeon

3rd November

Bring & Buy Sale

10th November ‘Sounds Familiar’ (Music Group) 17th November ‘Audacity’ (Small Choir) 24th November Ian Lord (Film Show) 1st December Beacon Singers (Choir) 8th December Christmas Party

A friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

16

A Note from the Treasurer I am happy to report that St Mark’s finances seem to be going well and that we are benefi>ng from our ‘GiDs to God’ Stewardship Programme.

At the half-way point of the year (30 June 2014), Offerings are at 52% of budget, although Open Plate is s>ll running at a lower level than an>cipated. Other Ordinary General Income was running just below half-way at 48% but we received the balance of the Barbara Ballantyne legacy which boosted income. Our Total Ordinary General Income at £54,496 represented 51% of budget.

On the expenditure side our Ministries and Mission Alloca>on was at exactly 50% but Local Staffing Costs were up at 56% due to advance BT payments and the decision to employ a church cleaner, aDer the budget was fixed. Building Costs were at 44% but with some varia>on in individual lines of expenditure. Other Local Costs were however at only 47% so that Total Ordinary General Expenditure at £53,276 represented exactly 50% of the budget. This resulted in a surplus for the period of £1,220.

Although this is a good result so far we now face the second half of the year when some costs eg hea>ng and ligh>ng will push expenditure that bit further and keeping to budget may be difficult.

On the posi>ve side we will have July, August and September Coffee Shop income which should boost income overall.

In rela>on to the Coffee Shops the Board has instructed that income should be reported monthly so in June we raised £1,676.38, in July £1,789.91. and in August £2,415.22. Monthly income will also be provided in the Pew Leaflet.

Alex McConochie Life will only come once, so make the most out of it.

17

The St Mark’s Guild It is difficult to believe that the new session of the Guild commences on Monday 6th October, how quickly the lovely Summer has passed. We look forward to seeing all our members again and hopefully some new members.

Our syllabus un>l the end of the year is as follows: October 6th

Theme - ‘ A World to save’

20th

Wedding Belles & Bacon BuVes with Rev Ewen Gilchrist

27th

Beetle Drive

November 3rd Dolphin SpoVng with Mr Ian Lord 17th

Hospitals of World War One Dr Ann Robertson

December 1st Christmas Party On Saturday 8th November we will have a Coffee Morning.

If anyone would like more informa>on please contact:President Mrs Marjorie Lord 321882 Secretary Mrs Anne Donaldson 575663

Roll Changes Deaths - He will surround you with love on that golden day.

June 8th August 18th August 29th

John Diack James Sutherland Mrs Isabella Jamieson

Rosemount Morningside Riverside

For Data Protec>on reasons only limited address informa>on is provided in the Messenger.

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St Mark’s Rambling and Hillwalking Group A number of the planned walks had to be postponed or changed at short no>ce, however listed are highlights of a few of our recent travels.

On June 25th we took the bus to Dinnet for the start where we walked along the old railway line for part of the >me before ending the day in Ballater, a long >ring enjoyable day that managed to stay dry for us. On July 3rd, with a change of venue at short no>ce, it was decided to follow part of the Dolphin Trail in the city centre, looking at some of the beau>fully painted dolphins.

July 9th was a poorly a ended hill walk to Creag Leacach at Glenshee with only three hardy walkers braving the very windy weather. A good day out. On August 20th the most recent walk, at the >me of wri>ng, was a good walk from Inverbervie along the old coaching road to Benholm. We headed towards the sea and aDer a sandwich lunch sheltered from the wind but facing the sea and sun we returned along an old railway line path back to Inverbervie via Gourdon.

The following are a few of the planned walks that may be changed at short no>ce.

September 27th Lochnagar hill walk October 1st October 8

Banchory and Scolty

th

Loch Kinnord and Burn O’ Vat th

November 8

November 26

th

December 10th

Glen Tanar winter ramble Stonehaven and Dunno ar castle Winter ramble along the prom from Footdee

If you fancy joining us on any of the walks please contact Ian Lord on 321882 or 07929720846 for more informa>on 19

The St Mark’s Men’s club starts its winter season of mee>ngs on 6th October and we join the ladies of the Guild for some of these mee>ngs.

We would be very pleased to welcome some new members, if you want more informa>on please see or contact any of the office bearers listed below.

October 6th

Welcome back and Games Night

20th

Wedding Belles & Bacon BuVes with Rev Ewen Gilchrist

27th

Beetle Drive with the ladies of the Guild - All welcome.

November 3rd Dolphin SpoVng with Mr Ian Lord - All welcome 24th

Games Night

December 1st Christmas Party with the Guild President Milton Montgomery 486839 Vice President Graeme Low 01569 549391 Secretary Ian Lord 321882 Treasurer Derek Caie 317978

A friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

20

Sunday School New Term The Sunday school children and leaders had a warm welcome back last week in church and had a chance to share with each other their 'Summer' news. As always there had been lots of adventures and excitement.

Our Doves of Peace are winging their way to Edinburgh and we are looking forward to seeing a picture of the end result. With Harvest fast approaching we are preparing a small 'something' to share with you during the Harvest Sunday service, so much of our >me will be spent geVng ready for that.

However, we haven't forgo en about our Summer Ou>ng, which will need to be called our Autumn Ou>ng, and we will be busy planning what to do this year. The Sunday School leaders are all in training just in case the children would like to go ‘Tubing’ again, the hill we need to climb at Kaimhill doesn't get any smaller! Of course they might want to try ‘Zorbing’ instead! What would you choose?

Tubing?

OR Zorbing?

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St Mark's Church

Minister

Rev Diane Hobson 65 Mile End Avenue

641758

Session Clerks

Mr Ian and Mrs Marjorie Lord 27 Hazelhead Road

321882

Clerk to The Miss Dianne Morrison Board and FWO 45 Bonnymuir Place Treasurer

630161

Treasurer

Mr Alex McConochie 73 Oakhill Grange

950338

Gift Aid Convener

Mrs Lynn Low 6 St John’s Walk, Newtonhill

01569 731389

Organist

Mrs Kathleen Anderson 15 Countesswells Terrace

321584

Church Secretary

Miss Carole Brazendale St Mark's Church Rosemount Viaduct AB25 1JY

640672

Church Office Down steps between the Church and Library.

Open 10.00 am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday. Answering machine operates when the office is closed. Leave name, message and contact number.

Editor

Alex McConochie: messenger@stmarksaberdeen.org.uk www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk 22

ST MARK'S QUESTIONNAIRE

Please detach this page and return your answers as directed.

An old Chinese Proverb advises, ‘You must scale a mountain if you would see the plain.’

In St Mark’s case we would like your feedback so we can all grow in faith and love of God through Jesus Christ and enrich lives including our own. This Autumn we are seeking your comments on Sunday Worship and would appreciate your answers to the following ques>ons.

1)

What has been good, blessed, comforted, upliDed you in the services over the last year?

...........................................................

2)

What would you like to experience or see as part of Worship on Sunday?

...........................................................

3)

Do you wish this Christmas to have a Christmas Day short family service?

...........................................................

3a)

If we provide one will you be able to a end ?

YES / NO*

3b)

Would you like there to be a short Holy Communion aDer the Family Service?

YES / NO* *Please delete as appropriate Thank you for taking the >me to answer these ques>ons. Please give your answers to Rev Diane or pop into the Office or the box in the Church ves>bule.

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