2018 Summer Messenger

St Mark’s Messenger Summer 2018

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

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Letter from the Interim Moderator

3 Men’s Club / Ramblers

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Letter from Ian and Marjorie Lord Christian Aid

4 Malawi Committee 5 God’s Favourite Name

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Nominating Committee

6 Worship Calendar (2)

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Big Issue / Supper Club Abigail Ministries - Rugut Projects

7 Roll Changes 9 Guild of Friendship

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Discovery Award Worship Calendar (1)

11 Courts Service / SCD 12 Dates for your Diaries

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Duty Rotas Pull Out Supplement

13 St Mark’s Contacts

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William Wallace The William Wallace Statue was erected in 1888 (St Mark’s, then the South Church, four years later in 1892) and depicts Sir William Wallace, Scottish hero and victor over the English army at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Sculpted by William Grant Stevenson, the statue is positioned on the link road from Rosemount Viaduct to Union Terrace and adjacent to St Mark’s. It was paid for with funds left for the purpose by John Steill of Edinburgh, the son of James Steill sometime of Easter Baldowrie in Angus. There is no known link between Wallace and Aberdeen but at least he shows the way to our church.

The saltire shaped wreath was laid during a Wallace Day commemoration and is not a permanent feature on the statue.

Heroes are not the ones that never fail, but the ones who never give up.

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Letter from the Interim Moderator Dear folks at St. Mark’s Several developments are taking place at St. Mark’s at this time: the sale of the former St. Mark’s manse at 65 Mile End Avenue, the imminent sale of the Queen Street church building and on Sunday 29th April, the election of the Nominating Committee. It is on the latter event I wish to focus. The St. Mark’s congregation elected the following to serve on the Nominating Committee: Joyce Forbes, Helen Burr, Garry Niven, Ghasem Heydari (Oliver), Anne Haining, Doreen Gray, Raymond Carrol, Kathleen Innes, Sheena Catto, Gail Hogg, Elsa Black, Jean Black and Lynn Low. They have been entrusted with the important tasks of publicising the vacancy, inviting applications for the charge of St. Mark’s, seeking a sole nominee as minister for the congregation. These tasks are to be carried out creatively, imaginatively and wisely. Discretion and confidentiality is essential.

The Nominating Committee will receive guidance and support from the Presbytery Advisory committee, the Interim Moderator and Church of Scotland guidelines. Your support, principally through prayer, will be of great value. In due course we trust and pray that a sole nominee will lead worship before the congregation and the calling of a new minister for St. Mark’s will be affirmed.

This is an exciting time as we take these steps forward. During the vacancy, thankfully, many of the regular important activities continue.

It is also a good time to take stock, review and consider how God is seeking to lead us now and in the future. Are there particular things that we hope an incoming minister would bring to the life, ministry and mission of the congregation and parish of St. Mark’s? It’s good to share these thoughts with the Nominating committee as they seek out the minister that will be right for St. Mark’s.

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Another development we note is the resignations of Ian and Marjorie Lord as Co Session Clerks of St. Mark’s as of the end of April 2018. Ian is to undergo surgery and it was felt by them that this was the right time to resign. Both Ian and Marjorie have served St. Mark’s church well as Session Clerks with great dedication, wise leadership and a sharing of their respective gifts. Thankfully Ian and Marjorie will still be very much involved in the congregational life and ministry of St. Mark’s. We wish them both well as they retire from the Session Clerk posts and with the forthcoming medical treatment. Please pray for the Kirk Session as we seek to appoint a new Session Clerk or Clerks.

On a closing note, I very much enjoyed leading worship at St. Mark’s on Sunday 29th April. I had a sense that the congregation was in good heart, alert, responsive and expectant on God’s leading. Attendances, I understand, are holding up well. This is due to a number of factors: the commitment of the office bearers, the fellowship provided through the hospitality offered and the regular leading of worship by Stiubhart MacChoille. There is much to give thanks for.

May God bless you richly through this part of your journey together at St. Mark’s Church.

Duncan C. Eddie Interim Moderator

Ian & Marjorie Lord Dear members of St Mark’s Church, As you are reading this in the summer magazine, it is with regret that we are informing you that we will have retired from the position of joint Session Clerks.

I have been advised to have major surgery on an ongoing health issue and this will require a long recovery period and the nursing care of 4

Marjorie. It was a difficult decision and one we didn’t take without thinking long and hard about it.

We realise that it is a difficult time as the Church leadership move forward in the process to get a new minister however we are confident that the Church is in good hands and we look forward to seeing how things progress during the following months.

We take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the years that we have served the Church, we have made some lovely friendships and as soon as recovery allows I hope to worship with you all in St Mark’s again.

We would like to thank the ministers who have helped the Church during the vacancy and a special thank you to Stiubhart MacChoille for his fresh approach to preaching and looking after the Church membership on a Sunday morning.

God Bless Ian and Marjorie Lord

Christian Aid This year Christian Aid Week ran from 13-19 May and the theme was ‘Together we are stronger than the Storms’. The Week in 2016 raised £10.4m, part of the total donations in 2016-17 amounting to £54.7m.

When added together with income from institutions, both grants and contracts, of £42.1m, this enabled Christian Aid to spend over £80m in 37 countries working with 475 partners. It delivered long-term development programmes, responded to humanitarian crises and through campaigning, advocacy and education achieved long-term change for the world’s poorest communities. Many donations during the Week come in small amounts from individuals like us which added together can result in amazing totals.

Doreen Gray

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The Nominating Committee After worship on Sunday 29 April the congregation elected its Nominating Committee, whose job it will be to search for our next minister. The Committee will advertise for and interview candidates from whom they will select a sole nominee to preach to the whole congregation who will vote for (or against) this single candidate.

The members of the Committee and their proposers and seconders are as follows (in the order they were nominated): Helen Burr Nominated by David Yacamini Seconded by Sylvia Strachan Anne Haining Christina Hunter Irene Kindness Raymond Carrol Marjorie Lord Judy Millar Elsa Black Anne Donaldson Ian Lord Jean Black William McDonald Derek Caie Gail Hogg Alex McConochie C Brazendale Doreen Gray Sandy Paton Kathleen Innes Kathleen Innes Marjorie Lord David Yacamini Joyce Forbes Carole Brazendale Jean Black Lynn Low Gail Hogg Anne Donaldson Garry Niven Peter Gray C Brazendale Sheena Catto Marjorie Lord Ian Lord Ghasem (Oliver) Heydari Ian Lord Gail Hogg The Committee will have a strenuous task ahead of them and we should all keep them, individually and as a group in our prayers.

PS Latest News: At the first meeting of the Committee Gail Hogg was appointed Convenor, Kathleen Innes Vice-Convenor and Helen Burr Clerk. Congratulations to all three!

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The Big Issue Immediately following the union, the Big Issue Distribution Centre transferred from the Chapel at Queen Street Church to the small meeting room on the lower level of St. Mark's, opposite the main hall. It took a little time to arrange the smaller space to suit our purpose, but where there's a will it can be done.

And so it is that we are well settled into our new home and our vendors have found their way there with little or no trouble. We appreciate the work put in by members of St. Mark's to rearrange their accommodation. Special thanks are due to Dianne Morrison for volunteering to be on hand when the magazines are delivered each weekend and to Betty Steel, Hall Keeper, for ensuring that we have entry to the building as necessary, five days out of seven.

Audrey M. Skinner Editor’s Note The Big Issue distribution centre is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, weekly with two ‘shifts’ running from 9.30am - 12.00 and 12.00 to 2.30pm (not Wednesdays or Saturdays - only one shift) New volunteers are always welcome, contact Audrey or the St Mark’s Committee Representative, Elaine Macdonald, or call in at any time.

The Supper Club The Supper Club began at Queen Street Church in the spring of 2013. It takes place on the first Thursday of each month at 6.45pm with the exception of July and August.

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I volunteer with Bethany Christian Trust at a project called the Toastie Club which is open to homeless, lonely and vulnerable people, supporting them and where possible enabling them to move on in their lives. As a result of my experience with this project I thought that Queen Street Church might be in a position to provide a place where we would be able to serve a freshly cooked meal in a safe, warm welcoming environment. With the support of the Congregational Board and the congregation a small group of volunteers was able to do this.

It is not a drop in; everyone sits down together to eat and where possible volunteers join them. The aim is to bring a bit of normality into what are often chaotic lonely lives.

All of those who come along, on average about 16 mostly men, never fail to express gratitude for what we give – food, a listening ear and a warm welcome. We are glad to be able to continue at St Mark’s and look forward to welcoming new volunteers.

Myra J Calder

“That’s the Chair of our Nominating Committee” © Tim Walburg

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ABIGAIL MINISTRIES – RUGUT PROJECTS

Abigail Ministries is a Christian charity run by Roger and Shena Smith and their immediate family. They live and work in London but Shena is originally from Aberdeen. The charity provides hope and comfort to destitute families living in Kenya. They believe that while the poor have similar needs, they are all individuals and therefore have individual needs. To cater for these needs, Roger and Shena visit the homes and families of the people they sponsor once or twice every year to evaluate their progress and discuss the best way to proceed. This has the added advantage of them getting to know the families personally and becoming friends with them. Abigail provides food parcels, cooking facilities, beds and bedding and anything else required to give these people stable and waterproof homes. They also provide hope for the future by sponsoring primary or secondary school education for children, and college courses and apprenticeship training for teenagers.

And for the adults, Abigail Ministries helps to set up income generating micro businesses and group working for women to enable them to become self-sufficient, making poverty a thing of the past for their families. All the money raised by Abigail is either sent to a designated account in Kenya or handed over personally when they make a visit.

I first came across Abigail Ministries when I was looking for a sponsor for Daniel Rugut and his projects in Eldoret, Kenya. Daniel came to our Church when he was studying at Aberdeen University and since he has returned to Kenya, I have continued to support him and his family both personally and through the Church.

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Daniel would request smallish sums of money for his projects which we were able to support through fund raising. But when Daniel requested £10,000 to build a school, we realised that we would require help from a charity and Abigail agreed to help support his school and projects.

The Rugut fund was originally set up in 2005 and it started with one person’s donation and it has grown over the years with small monthly standing orders, coffee mornings, toffee making and selling, Just Giving Pages, retiring offerings, donations; and add to that Gift Aid and it soon adds up to over £50,000 and every penny has been used in Eldoret to fund the new school and to enhance the lives of the people associated with SEED School.

I have been to Kenya 3 times now and over the years, I have seen huge changes in the people and their environment each time we visit. It is amazing to see the difference that can be made in people’s lives with even the smallest amount of effort. To date, we have built the first block of SEED school, a clinic, which was officially opened last month, facilitated a water supply and electricity. There is also a hostel, where some of the school children board, a bakery and an equipped school kitchen. The second block of the school hit some problems, but I am happy to report that after a very lengthy delay, the builders have restarted the work and we are hopeful that it will be completed without any further delays. As you can see in the photo (on the previous page), the roof has now been completed.

On the next page are Daniel, Grace and family. Kathleen is in the picture on the left, Kinyor in the middle picture and Chepchumba is on the right.

If anyone would like any more information on the projects, or would be able to offer any financial support, please let me know.

Please can you remember Daniel, Grace, their children and the wider community in your prayers.

Kathleen Innes.

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Discovery Award.

The Discovery Scheme is like the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme but is for over 50s.

There are three stages. Bronze, Silver and Gold and for each stage you are required to do four categories.

1 Service in the Community, which is a volunteering activity.

2 Recreational Pursuit, which involves learning a new sport or skill.

3 Hobby or Interest, such as craft work, art, family history research etc.

4 Challenge, which requires you to do something new to challenge yourself.

I started doing Bronze nearly six years ago and for Service in the Community section, I helped the Church Treasurer input the church accounts onto the new accounting system. I also researched Alzheimers as my Challenge. When I did Silver, I used my trip to Kenya to visit Daniel and Grace at SEED School in Eldoret as my Challenge.

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

During the current vacancy, Stiubhart MacChoille will lead us in worship each Sunday, with Sacramental Services led by invited Preachers. Further details will be available in the Pew Leaflet and on the Website. www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/worship 3 June

10 June

17 June

24 June

1 July

8 July

15 July

Second Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Don’t Forget the Bread’ 11.00am Celebration of Holy Communion 2.00pm Circle of Care Communion Followed by Afternoon Tea Services led by Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Team Up’ Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Open Your Door, Open Your Heart’ Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship Sunday School Promotion Service Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘See the Need, Touch the Heart’ Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Prepare for Persecution’ (Worship Calendar Continues on Page 23)

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Summer Messenger Pull Out Supplement Beadle Duty Rota This is the latest version following some personnel changes made in April. Although Ian and Marjorie will have stepped down as Session Clerks before this list comes into effect they have made arrangements for substitutes to perform their duties. Future lists will reflect actual duty Elders.

BEADLE DUTY LIST 2018 Beadles do duty on a single Sunday throughout the year Sunday, June 03, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 17, 2018 Sunday, June 24, 2018 Sunday, July 01, 2018 Sunday, July 08, 2018 Sunday, July 15, 2018 Sunday, July 22, 2018 Sunday, July 29, 2018 Sunday, August 05, 2018 Sunday, August 12, 2018 Sunday, August 19, 2018 Sunday, August 26, 2018 Sunday, September 02, 2018 Sunday, September 09, 2018 Sunday, September 16, 2018 Sunday, September 23, 2018 Sunday, September 30, 2018

Mrs Helen Burr Mrs Jacqueline Hepburn Mr Graeme Low Miss Elaine Macdonald Mr Alex McConochie Mrs Gail Hogg Mrs Joyce Forbes Mr Ian Lord Mr Lewis Donaldson Miss Elsa Black Mr Alan Brown Mrs Helen Burr Mrs Jacqueline Hepburn Mr Graeme Low Miss Elaine Macdonald Mr Alex McConochie Mrs Joyce Forbes Mr Ian Lord

Mr John Burr Miss Rosalyn Rennie Mrs Lynn Low Miss Dianne Morrison Mrs Jillian Carrol Mrs Helen McKenzie Mr William Forbes Mrs Marjorie Lord Mrs Anne Donaldson Miss Jean Black Mrs Arlene Grant Mr John Burr Miss Dianne Morrison Mrs Lynn Low Miss Dianne Morrison Mrs Jillian Carrol Mr William Forbes Mrs Marjorie Lord

The full list of Duty Rotas is available on the Church Website as well as details of the work required from Beadles on the Duty days

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Summer Messenger Pull Out Supplement Door Duty Rota

This list also reflects the changes made in April. If it becomes necessary for you to change your duty, please update the copy displayed in the vestibule.

For the avoidance of doubt Door Duty Elders should attend at 10.30am, hand out the Order of Service, Hymn Books etc and arrange for one person at each side to carry in the offering at the start of the Service. One (or two) Elders should uplift the offering at the close of worship and take it to the Deacons’ Room where all four (or five on Communion Sundays) will count and record the offering.

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Summer Messenger Pull Out Supplement Readers’ Rota READERS' ROTA Readers read the lesson(s) on a single Sunday throughout the year Sunday, June 03, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 17, 2018 Sunday, June 24, 2018 Sunday, July 01, 2018 Sunday, July 08, 2018 Sunday, July 15, 2018 Sunday, July 22, 2018 Sunday, July 29, 2018 Sunday, August 05, 2018 Sunday, August 12, 2018 Sunday, August 19, 2018 Sunday, August 26, 2018 Sunday, September 02, 2018 Sunday, September 09, 2018 Sunday, September 16, 2018 Sunday, September 23, 2018 Sunday, September 30, 2018

Mrs Kay Montgomery Mr Milton Montgomery Mrs Helen Rennie Mr Malcolm Steel Mr David Yacamini

Mrs Anne Donaldson Mr Milton Montgomery Mrs Gail Hogg Mr Alex McConochie Mrs Linda Allan Miss Jean Black Miss Elsa Black Miss Carole-Anne Brazendale Mrs Helen Burr Mrs Arlene Grant Prof Peter Gray Mrs Kathleen Innes Mrs Gail Hogg

If you are unable to do your reading duty, please find a substitute from within the list (or the full list on the website) and update the list on display in the vestibule. If you have not received details of your reading by 12.00noon on Thursday, please contact the Church Office.

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St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Summer Messenger Pull Out Supplement Flower Duty Rota FLOWER ROTA Where possible those donating flowers are able to select their preferred date Date Sunday, June 03, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 17, 2018 Sunday, June 24, 2018 Sunday, July 01, 2018 Sunday, July 08, 2018 Sunday, July 15, 2018 Sunday, July 22, 2018 Sunday, July 29, 2018 Sunday, August 05, 2018 Sunday, August 12, 2018 Sunday, August 19, 2018 Sunday, August 26, 2018 Sunday, September 02, 2018 Sunday, September 09, 2018 Sunday, September 16, 2018 Sunday, September 23, 2018 Sunday, September 30, 2018

Provision Mrs A Grant Miss Jenny Guyan Mrs S Main Mrs M Lamb Mrs G Hogg Mrs M Rae Miss Anna McDonald Prof P Gray Miss Anna McDonald Mrs A Officer Mrs M Brown Mrs P Skene Mrs Joyce Forbes Misses J & E Black Mrs Arlene Grant Mrs Brenda Duthie Mrs & Miss Morrison Mrs Irene Mann Mrs M Caie

Distribution Mrs Yacamini Mrs S Main Mrs B Coull Mrs Yacamini

Mrs Yacamini Mrs Officer Mrs Brown

Mrs Sutherland Mrs Christie Mrs & Miss Morrison Mr McFarlane

As you can see there are still gaps in the Distribution Rota and it would help if volunteers could speak to Babs Coull, the Flower Convenor, about taking on these duties. Receiving the Church Flowers always gives a boost to members who have been ill or bereaved and the job is easily performed on the way home from Church. Please think about helping out in this way.

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The St Mark’s Men’s club finished their session on Monday 9th April with a joint meal with the Guild ladies at the Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club at Summerhill.

A big thank you to Jean Black and the Guild ladies for the organising and making sure we all had the correct menu selections. A lovely evening was had by all.

Ian Lord

St Mark’s Rambling and Hill Walking Group The weather has not been kind to us recently, a few walks had to be postponed during the early part of the year, however the following were a few that we enjoyed.

Wednesday 21st March: Stonehaven was the destination for a short wander around, we walked along the sea front noticing the stones washed over the prom due to stormy seas and we stopped for a coffee break beside the harbour. We carried on and through the woods along a good circular path and on return to the sea front had our lunch sandwiches beside the swimming pool. After lunch we took the path up to the cemetery beside the golf course and then took the interesting path back via the cliff and beach.

Tuesday 27th March: Walk around Duthie Park and Riverside with a continuation up and around the Kincorth hill before we headed back to town.

Tuesday 3rd April: Kemnay and Riverside walk. Postponed due to poor weather.

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St Mark’s Rambling and Hill Walking Group (Continued) Saturday 7th April: Brimond and Elrick Hills and Forest Walk, this was an interesting and well attended walk first up Brimmond where we enjoyed fine views before the trek through a rough field that took us down to Elrick hill. The steep path was soon climbed and as we traversed this hill we again had good views although the path was very muddy in places. After the lunch stop and a walk through the Tyrebagger Forest we made our way back to the cars.

Tuesday 10th April: The Tarland Forest Walk was changed to a bus run to Culter and a lovely walk back along the railway to Pitfodels. The rain forced an early finish to this walk Wednesday 18th April, had the walkers meeting at the former Monkey House for the walk to Tollohill Woods with a stop at the Duthie Park Winter Gardens on the outward and return journeys. A little damp on the lunch stop at the woods, however the sun came out for the return along the riverside path.

During the summer it is hoped to have some evening walks and along with other proposed walks are listed below.

Tuesday 22nd May Tuesday 29th May Saturday 2nd June Thursday 7th June Tuesday 12th June Thursday 21st June Tuesday 26th June

Easy walk around Hazlehead park and woods Inverbervie circular coastal wander Glas Maol, a Munro in Glenshee. Ski carpark at 10 am Evening walk along beach prom. Meet Fittie toilets 7 pm Kemnay and circular riverside walk passing the Bishops’ Palace Evening walk around Seaton Park. Meet outside main gate 7 pm Aden Country Park Walk

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Thursday 5th July

Evening walk around Hazlehead park. Meet old tram shelter 7 pm Saturday 7th July Summer walk around Glentanar meet there 10am Thursday 19th July Evening walk around Stonehaven meet Swimming Pool 7 pm Tuesday 24th July Bucksburn to Kingswells and Hazlehead Thursday 2nd August Evening walk around Duthie park and riverside meet Polmuir Road 7 pm Saturday 11th August Crathes Castle grounds and Banchory, meet Milton of Crathes 10 am Tuesday 14th August Newburgh, walk to Collieston and return Tuesday 21st August Seaton Park and River Don circular Due to me having to undergo major surgery I will not be able to lead or coordinate the walks during the summer however either Alan Brown or Milton Montgomery would be able to help. Please contact the office on 01224 640672 and Carole will pass on your details.

Ian Lord

From the Malawi Committee Recently, Norman Liddle, Community Partnership Manager at the Scottish Bible Society ventured to Malawi to see what God is doing in the warm heart of Africa. On his journey he met Pastor Tingo Wende who showed him his Bible. It was old and worn out and had many pages missing. Norman provided him with a new Bible and said he will never forget seeing Tingo’s joy at having a complete Bible again. Pastor Wende's new Bible is the only one in his whole congregation. The Bible Society requested monetary gifts which would help supply much-needed Bibles. St. Mark's donated £1,000 from our Malawi Fund.

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£1,000 was also donated to Mary's Meals Malawi. Mary's Meals works in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Malawi is home to their largest school feeding programme. It remains one of the poorest countries in the world and faces huge challenges in education, access to healthcare and widespread malnutrition. Meals are provided to 30% of primary school aged children across the country. Mary's Meals Malawi operates out of Blantyre in southern Malawi and now has around 114 employees who manage, deliver and monitor their school feeding programme.

The Session agreed to support these two worthy charities.

David Yacamini

“Ah there but for the grace of my thieving, greedy, avaricious ancestors go I.” ©ThePavement 2018

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God’s Favourite Name

By Stiubhart MacChoille Of all his names, Father, is God’s favourite. We know he loves this name most because this is the one he used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” more than two hundred times. In his first recorded words Jesus explained, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” (Luke 2:49). In his final triumphant prayer, he proclaims, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”?

Abba was an everyday word. It was a homely family-word. The equivalent today would be Daddy or Dad. Now, it’s right and proper for us to call God our Creator. We speak truth when we call Him our Master. We should call Him our King, Lord and Sovereign God. But if we want to touch his heart, we should call him by the name he loves to hear. Call Him Abba. Call him your Father.

We can call him this because of what he does for us. When we wandered away, he found us. When he found us, he lowered himself to our level. He brushed away our tears. He gave us a word of correction. He picked us up and he leads us home. He is our Father.

I know what you might be thinking. Yeah, God may do that for some people. For good people. For strong people. But not for me. I’m just average. There’s nothing special about me. Really? According to what I read in the Bible, we are anything but ordinary. I read that when we said “yes” to Jesus, he said “yes” to us, that when we gave him our heart he returned the favour and gave us his.

The Bible says that God “has blessed [us] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

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We are a “new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

We “have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:11).

We are “…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).

I read that we are: “an ambassador of Christ…” (II Cor. 5:20) “…the fragrance of Christ…” (2 Cor. 2:15) that we are being “…. transformed into the image of Christ” (Rom. 8:29).

I read that we have been “delivered . . . from the power of darkness and conveyed . . . into the kingdom of the Son” (Col. 1:13). I read that “…no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

Normal? I don’t think so. Jesus tells us, “Ask, and you shall receive, Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7). “Whatever you ask in the name of your Father that will be given unto you” (Jn. 16:23).

I even read this: “Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4).

We might have called ourselves normal, ho-hum, and average. But when we trust in Christ, we are not who we used to be! We are: God’s child (John 1:12); Christ’s friend (John 15:15); a member of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:27); a saint (Eph. 1:1); redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Col. 1:14); complete in Christ, lacking in nothing (Col. 2:10); free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1–2); God’s co-worker (2 Cor. 6:1); seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6); God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10): a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20); adopted into God’s family (Eph. 1:5); born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you (1 John 5:18); You have been bought with a price… you belong to God (I Cor 6:20).You cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35).

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Our Heavenly Father has high affection for us! If we have taken on the name of Christ, then we have clout. When we speak, God listens.

When we pray, heaven takes note. What we bind on earth is bound in heaven. What we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. Our prayer impacts the actions of God. I’ll let that sink in for a moment.

Why is this so? Because we are a child of God. And we have a good father…a really good Heavenly Father.

Stiubhart MacChoille

St Mark’s Worship Calendar : St Mark’s Worship Calendar 22 July

29 July

5 August

12 August

19 August

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Stand up for the Have-Nots’ Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Remember who Holds You’ Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Breech Some Walls’ Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Don’t Write Anyone Off’ Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Pray First, Pray Most’

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

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Roll Changes Special message from The Session Clerk Can I ask that all Church members notify the office with any changes in circumstances or changes of address especially if you are going into residential care.

Recently with the union of the two churches there were numerous instances of people moving, but without our knowing. If you are not able to do so personally get family or friends to let us know of your changed circumstances. Thank you.

Ian Lord

Disjunctions 2017 (no date) 2017 (no date) 02/03/2018 15/04/2018

Mrs D Robb Mr Andrew Buchan Mrs Helen Rennie Mrs Winifred Jeffrey

Deaths - He will surround you with love on that golden day 04/03/2018 10/03/2018 11/03/2018 22/03/2018 23/04/2018

Mrs Betty McDonald (ex Queen Street) Mrs Ivy Cruickshank (ex St Mark’s) Mrs Margaret Murdoch (ex Queen Street) Mrs Ethel Duncan (ex St Mark’s) Ms Mary Stephen (ex Queen Street)

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Discovery Award (Cont’d) For Gold, I did sewing, knitting and crocheting and am selling some of the items to raise funds for a bathroom conversion at Summerhill Eventide Home. I also researched family history and did a course at Aberdeen College to learn British Sign Language. And as part of my Service in the Community, one of my volunteer activities was Big Issue.

The award was presented at the Annual Discovery conference in Dundee. It has been a great adventure and I have thoroughly enjoyed my Journey of Discovery. If anyone would like any further details about joining the scheme, please let me know.

Kathleen Innes

St Mark’s Guild of Friendship By the time you read this we will have had our final meeting.

Due to the Bus Drivers’ strike we had to cancel our normal arrangements and finally decided to hold a get together on Monday 14 May in the form of an Afternoon Tea, with each member taking along a raffle, so that everyone goes home with a gift.

We re-start at the beginning of October and hope that new members from the Church will come along and support our afternoon Guild.

Kay Montgomery Chairperson

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COURTS SERVICE A service is held on the first Sunday of the month at Constitution Court. It starts at 2pm and lasts for around 45 minutes. We do readings, prayers, a bible based sketch and a themed talk, as well as 5 hymns or songs. Most services end with a cup of tea and cake. The courts ladies (we do not have any men attending at the present time) like a mixture of old and new songs. We (Kathleen Innes, Kate Fraser and Ian McIver) take it in turn to do the talk. The song words are projected on a screen and we use recored music.

We would be delighted if anyone would like to join us at any of the services, there is no commitment, just come along and join in.

But if anyone would like to contribute, especially with music accompaniment, we would love to hear from you.

Kathleen Innes

St Mark’s Scottish Country Dancers The Scottish Country Dance Class ended its winter session on Wednesday18 April with a party Night, inviting friends to join us as we Jigged, Reeled and Strathspeyed the night away.

A great time was had by all and the evening finished with a lovely supper. We hope to resume on Wednesday 12 September, but further notice will be made.

Margaret Brown

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Summer Coffee Shops It’s that time of year again and our weekly Coffee Shops start on Saturday 2 June 2018. If you are able to help on any Saturday, or even Saturdays, up to the middle of September please give your name to our Convenor, Anne Donaldson.

If you can’t do a ‘shift’, how about donating, Home Baking, Homemade Jams etc or something as simple as a Raffle Prize. And remember we have the best prices in town, so if you cannot contribute to the running of the Saturday mornings just come along as a customer and bring your friends and neighbours.

The Indoor Garden Party So far, we have not yet found a new outdoor venue, but the format is still popular and so this year put the date of Sunday 15 July 2018 in your diaries and ‘watch this space’ (or the Pew Leaflet or Website) for further information and details of Ticket Sales.

Please welcome Sid who has agreed to talk to us on the subject of Homelessness © thePavement 2018

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Aberdeen St Mark’s Church of Scotland

Interim Moderator

Rev Duncan Eddie 31 Cranford Road

Session Clerks

Post(s) now vacant

01224 325873

Prayer Co-ordinator

Mrs Gail Hogg 10 Binghill Road North

01224 868924

FWO Treasurer

Miss Dianne Morison 45 Bonnymuir Place

01224 630161

Treasurer

Mr Alex McConochie 73 Oakhill Grange

01224 950338

Gift Aid Convener

Mrs Lynn Low 6 St John’s Walk, Newtonhill

01569 549391

Organist

Mrs Kathleen Anderson 15 Counteswells Terrace

01224 321584

Church Secretary

Miss Carole-Anne Brazendale St Mark’s Church Rosemount Viaduct AB25 1JY

01224 640672

Church Office

Down steps between the Church and Library.

Open 10.00am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday. Answering Machine operates when the office is closed. Leave name, message and contact number.  01224 640672 Messenger Editor - Alex McConochie messenger@stmarksaberdeen.org.uk www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk 28