Web 2015 spring

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Index to the Spring 2015 Issue Le er from the Manse

3 A Note from the Treasurer

Prayer for the New Year

5 Strollers/Guild of Friendship 15

Men’s Club / Ramblers

6 Roll Changes

16

Worship Calendar

8 Kid’s Korner

17

Duty Rotas Pull Out

9 St Mark’s Contacts

18

Worship Calendar (Cont’d)

13 Standing Order Cut out

14

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Nostalgia In the Winter 2014 issue the cover was a new image based on a design that was used a few years ago. This quarter I am using a cover we also used in the past but re-created from scratch. I hope this may s;r memories of what the magazine used to look like a few years ago. Over the next few issues I plan to use other different covers which I hope you will enjoy.

Treasurer The Treasurer’s usual ar;cle is on Page14 and the Standing Order Form referred to is on Page 19. You can use this without losing any of your Messenger because the final page has deliberately been kept blank. Think about changing to Standing Order. It ensures our regular income, it’s safe and secure. Any ques;ons ask the Treasurer.

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS St Mark’s Sco!sh Country Dance Class The class s;ll meets in the hall every fortnight on a Wednesday at 7.30pm, dancing to music on CD’s. Our numbers are small (12+) but we are very enthusias;c. By the ;me the Messenger is out we will have three more mee;ngs, 1st April, 15th April and our Party Night on April 29th.

Margaret Brown 2

Le(er from the Manse Dear Friends, Happy Easter. We hope this magazine brings you pleasure. If at any ;me you wish to put in something that will encourage others I know it will be gratefully received by the Editor.

I was surprised to find myself missing the first two months of the year. I am pleased to be able to say I felt very supported by God, family, friends and prayers. Thank you.

It was also reassuring for me to know that St Mark’s was in good hands, i.e. God's, the Session Clerks, Ian and Marjorie, the Clerk to the Board Dianne Morrison and Rev Andy Chris;e. I know God always looks aGer His Church and I thank God for that. I think we are so fortunate to have many dedicated and faithful people in St Mark’s. I am very grateful for their dedica;on. I thank them for their support of myself and St Mark’s during my illness. I know there were people quietly working in the background. I am sure you will join with me in thanking them too.

I am very pleased to be back. As I write we are heading through Lent.

I find Lent and Holy week are ;mes when there is space to focus on Jesus. I hope this year you too will find space to reflect. It is certainly worthwhile because the more ;me we spend with Jesus the more we get to know Him. Which in turn increases our faith in God. This is emphasised to us when we hear people say or maybe say them ourselves, ‘If it wasn't for my faith,’ or ‘How do people live without faith in God?’ Taking the opportuni;es to strengthen our faith is so important.

(Con nued on page 4)

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Good Friday is a difficult day in so many ways and yet is so important.

On Good Friday we are reminded that the pain Jesus experienced was made more so because He knew the Glory of God and the strong companionship of the Holy Spirit. Good Friday also invites us to look on the Cross as horrific. Then as we enter Saturday and Sunday morning there can be an increased dawning and understanding of the magnitude of God’s love for us and all people. What joy, what amazing love.

Loving yes and yet in sad and difficult ;mes we can doubt that. If you are experiencing difficult or sad ;mes please let me or someone else know in St Mark’s so that we can support you as best as we can. If you have good news or are happy because you feel so blessed, please share that too. It's great to celebrate other people’s happiness.

Talking of happiness, Easter Sunday is a ;me of great joy for many people. I love the excitement, the fun and the wonder that Jesus is alive today. To pronounce that Jesus has risen and to know that the Cross is now a place of hope, forgiveness and love is always a privilege. To know that we need not fear what happens aGer death and that God made an agreement with humanity for all our good, even before we lived. Well it just fills me with great joy. I pray it does you too.

So on that happy note enjoy the magazine.

God Bless you

Diane Suffering is NOT a Nega;ve... The Cross is a PLUS sign

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A Prayer for the New Year As this is the first ‘Messenger’ of 2015 here is a prayer for St Mark’s for the New Year.

Lord, make 2015 a very happy year for all of us individually, here at St Mark’s. Not by shielding us from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening us to bear it if it comes. Not by taking hardship from us, but by taking all cowardice and fear from our hearts as we meet hardships. Not by making our paths easy, but by making us sturdy enough to tread any path.

Not by gran;ng unbroken sunshine, but by keeping our faces bright even in the shadows. Not by making our lives always pleasant, but by showing us where others and your cause need us most and by making us zealous to be there and to help.

We pray also Lord you will bless us as a local congrega;on, not with great numbers of people who come looking for entertaining ac;vi;es and services, but with abundant opportuni;es to teach your word and do your work here in this area in all sincerity and truth.

Nor do we pray that you will make our name great as a local church, but that through us your great name will be magnified.

Father, make our year a happy one!

In Jesus’ Name Amen.

Prayer changes things

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By the ;me this appears in print the 2014/2015 winter mee;ngs will have come to a successful close. Even though we are few in number we have enjoyed some fun evenings with the Ladies of the Guild and some very interes;ng guest speakers have entertained us with a wide selec;on of topics.

These have been ‘Wedding Bells and Bacon BuOes’ with Rev Ewan Gilchrist, Dolphin SpoOng with Ian Lord, ScoOsh Hospitals in World War 1, a Burns evening with Mrs Gerrard and friends, and talks about “Somebody Cares” by Jenny Taylor, Rwanda Village with Jean Mair, and the Tivoli Theatre by Celia Walker.

We are taking a break during the summer and will be star;ng back in October so why not come and see what we have lined up to keep us entertained during the winter evenings.

Have a lovely summer from all at the Men’s club.

The St Mark’s Rambling and Hillwalking Group Due to weather and other reasons the group has not been very ac;ve since the last report, however a lovely walk from the Castlegate down to FiOe along the whole length of the prom then along the river Don before finishing in Woodside was a bit of a marathon but very enjoyable.

Recently a long walk through Johnston Gardens saw us pass around the Walker Dam and up into the woods at Hazlehead. We con;nued 6

by circling around the golf course and ďŹ nally through the Den of Maidencraig and picked up the bus for home at Woodend. A long ;ring walk but a very enjoyable day.

The planned walks for the next few months are as follows: Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Tuesday Saturday Wednesday Wednesday Saturday Thursday Tuesday Saturday

3rd 10th 18th 25th 7th 18th 22nd 6th 16th 21st 2nd 20th

March Bus sta;on to Cults March Stonehaven wander March Bucksburn to Kingswells March Newmachar to Dyce on the old railway line April Udny to Ellon April Spring walk around Glen Tanar April Bus sta;on to Cove via the bay of Nigg May Drumoak to Crathes Castle May Loch Muick circular May to be arranged June to be arranged June by car to Cullen for a lovely coastal walk

For travel arrangements, where to meet and more informa;on please contact Ian on 01224 321882 or 07929720846.

Walks are subject to change or cancella;on at short no;ce. There may be other walks arranged at shorter no;ce. If you would you be interested in being contacted let Ian know.

God didn't give us all things to enjoy life, but life to enjoy all things.

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Worship Calendar Worship Calendar Worship Calendar Please note that Sunday morning services normally start at 11.00am. Any changes will be intimated in the Pew Leaflet.

Further details of services will be available on the Church website or in the Pew Leaflet. www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/stmarks-worship.htm 22 March

Fi2h Sunday in Lent 11.00am Morning Worship Walking with God - Reading the small print

29 March

Palm Sunday 11.00am Morning Worship Walking with God - God says ‘Yes’ 2.00pm Circle of Care Communion Followed by AGernoon Tea

30 March

Holy Week - Other Evening Services will be adver5sed

2 April

Maundy Thursday - Walking with God Gathered together around the Lamb of God

3 April

Good Friday - Walking with God - To the foot of the Cross

5 April

Easter Sunday 9.00am Well of Spa Open Air Service Walking with God - He is Risen!

9.30am Easter Breakfast in the Hall 11.00am Sacrament of Holy Communion Easter Family Service - Alive!

Walking with God - The Covenant is Ac ve, now let’s celebrate

12 April

Second Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship Service led by Alex McConochie

19 April

Third Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship Service led by Alex McConochie 8

St Mark’s Church Duty Rotas Spring 2015 Duty Rotas Pull-out Supplement

Beadle Duty Rota

01 March 2015 08 March 2015 15 March 2015 22 March 2015 29 March 2015 05 April 2015 12 April 2015 19 April 2015 26 April 2015 03 May 2015 10 May 2015 17 May 2015 24 May 2015 31 May 2015 07 June 2015 14 June 2015 21 June 2015 28 June 2015

Mr Lewis Donaldson Mr Bill Forbes Mr Ian Lord Mr Maurice McFarlane Mr Malcolm Steel Mr Alan Brown Mr Graeme Low Mr Garry Watson Mr Ian Lord Mr Alan Brown Mr Alex McConochie Mr Derek Caie Mr Douglas Craighead Mr Garry Watson Mr Graeme Low Mr Maurice McFarlane Mr Lewis Donaldson Mr Bill Forbes

Mrs Anne Donaldson Mrs Joyce Forbes Mrs Marjorie Lord Mrs Helen Burr Mrs Betty Steel Miss Margaret Rennie Miss Rosalyn Rennie Mrs Alice Officer Mrs Marjorie Lord Mrs Helen McKenzie Mrs Gail Hogg Mrs Mary Caie Miss Dianne Morrison Mrs Carol Main Mrs Lynn Low Miss Elaine Macdonald Mrs Anne Donaldson Mrs Joyce Forbes

Highlighted dates are Communion Sundays 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 Spring 2015 Duty Rotas Pull-out Supplement

Door Duty Rota

01 March 2015 08 March 2015 15 March 2015 22 March 2015 29 March 2015 05 April 2015 12 April 2015 19 April 2015 26 April 2015 03 May 2015 10 May 2015 17 May 2015 24 May 2015 31 May 2015 07 June 2015 14 June 2015 21 June 2015 28 June 2015

Mrs Gail Hogg Mr Graeme Low Miss Margaret Rennie Mrs Kay Montgomery Miss Elaine Macdonald Mr William McDonald Mrs Alice Officer Miss Sylvia Strachan Mrs Betty Steel Mr David Yacamini Mr Bill Forbes Mr Lewis Donaldson Mrs Sandra Andrew Miss Margaret Rennie Miss Elsa Black Mr Alan Brown Mr Derek Caie Miss Margaret Donald

Mrs Carol Main Mrs Lynn Low Miss Dianne Morrison Mr Milton Montgomery Mr Maurice McFarlane Communion Mrs Helen McKenzie Mrs Sheila Main Miss Rosalyn Rennie Mr Garry Watson Mr Malcolm Steel Mrs Jean Yacamini Mrs Joyce Forbes Mrs Anne Donaldson Mrs Margaret Brown Mrs Helen Burr Miss Jean Black Communion Mr Douglas Craighead Mrs Sheila Main Mrs Mary Caie Mrs Jaqueline Hepburn

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 Spring 2015 Duty Rotas Pull-out Supplement

Readers’ Rota 01 March 2015 08 March 2015 15 March 2015 22 March 2015 29 March 2015 05 April 2015 12 April 2015 19 April 2015 26 April 2015 03 May 2015 10 May 2015 17 May 2015 24 May 2015 31 May 2015 07 June 2015 14 June 2015 21 June 2015 28 June 2015

Miss Jean Black Mr Malcolm Steel Mr David Yacamini Miss Elaine Macdonald Miss Carole-Anne Brazendale Mr Alex McConochie Mrs Gail Hogg Mr Milton Montgomery Mrs Kay Montgomery Mrs Helen Burr Mrs Anne Donaldson Miss Elaine Macdonald Mrs Gail Hogg Mr Alex McConochie Miss Elsa Black Mr Malcolm Steel Miss Jean Black Mr David Yacamini

Highlighted dates are Communion Sundays.

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 Spring 2015 Duty Rotas Pull-out Supplement

Flower Dona5on and Delivery Rota Dona;on 01 March 2015 08 March 2015 15 March 2015 22 March 2015 29 March 2015 05 April 2015 12 April 2015 19 April 2015 26 April 2015 03 May 2015 10 May 2015 17 May 2015 24 May 2015 31 May 2015 07 June 2015 14 June 2015 21 June 2015 28 June 2015

Delivery

Mr A Sim Mrs S Kessack Miss J Davie Mrs M Rae Mrs Ruth Strachan Mrs C Laurie Miss Oonagh Watt Mr Alex McConochie Miss J Webster Miss J Davie Mrs A Donaldson Mrs H Burr Mrs J Yacamini Mrs A Munro Mrs M Lord Rev Diane Hobson Miss Jenny Guyan Mrs S Main

Mrs M Brown

Misses Black Mrs Sutherland Mrs Christie Mrs Donaldson Mrs McDonald Mrs J Yacamini Mrs A Munro Mrs M Lord Mrs Yacamini Mrs S Main

Highlighted dates are Communion Sundays

As you can see there are s;ll a few gaps in the Flower Delivery 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 26 April

3 May

Fourth Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship ‘What’s a Shepherd got to do with it?’

Fi2h Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship with Joyce Swan visi;ng speaker Aberdeen Staff Worker for Friends Interna;onal ‘The vine and spiritual growth’

10 May

Sixth Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Abide in God - How?’

17 May

Seventh Sunday of Easter 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Who needs ‘Prayers of Protec on’?’

24 May

Pentecost 11.00am Morning Worship ‘Filled with the Holy Spirit - Does it happen today?’

31 May

Trinity Sunday 11.00am Morning Worship The early Chris an Communi es Iden ty, adver sing & gossip

7 June

11.00am Morning Worship The early Chris an Communi es - Life Style and Life Coaching

14 June

11.00am Morning Worship Sacrament of Holy Communion The early Chris an Communi es - Accep ng the un diness of true community 2.00pm Circle of Care Communion Headline! Doub ng Thomas accepts Jesus as his Risen Lord

21 June

11.00am Morning Worship The early Chris an Communi es - A caring community

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A Note from the Treasurer At this early stage in the year there is li le that can be said about our financial posi;on although things were a li le slow in January mainly due to the bad weather, all the more reason to move to Standing Order where your offering is received even if you can’t be in church. A form is included at the back of the ‘Messenger’.

Last year’s out-turn was good. The effect of ‘Our GiGs to God’ Stewardship Programme and members reviewing their offerings produced a 15% improvement in giving, an excellent result in difficult financial circumstances. If you are in the minority of members s;ll to consider your giving to St Mark’s, think and pray about it this year.

AGer many years of ‘no change’ the ;me has come for us to review our Coffee Shop prices. There is a poster and no;ces in the hall advising of the various changes but I am sure you agree that tea/ coffee and 3 eats for £2.00 is s;ll excellent value. Comparison with what you get for your money, with other churches, demonstrated that St Mark’s was under-selling itself and so change was necessary.

As we move forward into 2015 I will keep you up to date with our financial posi;on and following a Board decision taken last year Coffee Shop income will be provided monthly in the Pew Leaflet and quarterly in the ‘Messenger’. But be er than wai;ng to read about it why not come along to the Coffee Shops and other events and see for yourself how things are going, why not offer your home baking skills, or volunteer to help during the morning, you will enjoy it - and that’s not an instruc;on, it’s a fact!

Alex McConochie Congrega;onal Treasurer

God is able to do immeasurable deeds

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The St Mark’s Strollers The Strollers meet every 10/11 days at 10.00am on a Tuesday or at 2.00pm on a Saturday. We meet in town, take a bus to various places, such as The Beach or Hazlehead, then walk at a gentle pace for about an hour, before taking the bus back into town.

In the summer months we go to outlying districts, like Inverurie or Stonehaven. We are a very small group, so if you would like to join us you will be made very welcome on any of the following dates: Strolling Days

March

Tuesday 10.00am

3

Saturday 2.00pm

April

24

14

14

4

May 5

25

June

26 16

16 6

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Easter Blessings to you all.

St Mark’s Guild of Friendship By the ;me you are reading this ar;cle, we shall be nearing the end of our session, with the closing day on 23rd March. Thanks as always to the Commi ee and our Delegates for their con;nued support.

Although no arrangements have been made so far, we shall no doubt meet up in June for High Tea. Pat Skene 15

Roll Changes New Members - Welcome to the St Mark’s Family Mr George Allan Mrs Gertrude Allan Mr Ian Wemyss Mrs Jean Wemyss

– from Queen Street – from Queen Street – from South Holburn – from South Holburn

Disjunc5ons - We are sorry to see you leave Mrs Chris;na Beagrie Mr Ian Beagrie Mrs Joan Maclean Mr Daniel Maclean Mrs Lynn Rose

– moved to Craigiebuckler – moved to Craigiebuckler – moved to Gilcomston – moved to Gilcomston – now in Dubai

Deaths - He will surround you with love on that golden day 1 December 2014 9 January 2015 9 January 2015 February 2015 17 February2015 22 February 2015

Mrs Chris;na Blackwood Skene Miss Elizabeth Dinnes Rosemount Mrs Elizabeth Joiner Stockethill Mrs Sheila Edmund Residen;al Care Mrs Peggy Mitchell Hilton Mr Ronald Hendry Bridge of Don

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

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

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Welcome Kids, to your page of the magazine and to our Easter ‘Colour & Count’ Competition. Although this image is on the small side you can print a bigger one from the Kids Korner page on the website at www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk and click on KidsKorner on the menu.

Count how many eggs there are and also colour in the picture. Prizes for the best and most accurate submitted by Palm Sunday and Prizes awarded on Easter Sunday. More info on the website.

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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 18

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