The Magazine of Kingsgait Kirk Dundee
Minister
Rev Anita D C Kerr
Session Clerk
Margaret Adamson
Deputy Session Clerk
Evelyn Scanlan
Treasurer
Morag Stalker
Fabric Co-ordinator
Roddy Taylor
Church Officer & Rollkeeper
Mr Ron Chimiak
Presbytery Elder
Tim Xenophontos-Hellen
Organist
Ruth Irons
Hall Letting Convenor
Garry Collins
Safeguarding Co-ordinator
Pam Chimiak
Reader Co-Ordinator
Merelyn Baxter
Mission Partner
JustBee Productions
www.justbeeproductions.co.uk
Sunday worship is conducted by Rev Anita
Kerr, every week at 11am .
Girls’ Brigade Monday Evenings
18:30—19:45
Scouts - Thursday Evenings
18:30—19:30 at Meadowside St Pauls
See front cover for ‘Dates for your Diary’
Something else happening?
If you have anything you’d like intimated in the pre-service slides, please email Garry Collins by a Friday at the latest: alisongarry1@btinternet.com
Wednesday 22 June
Contributions for the next edition are welcome anytime during the coming weeks, but at the very latest by:
Friday 5th May email to thechurchmagazine@outlook.com
The May edition of the Wyvern will be available for collection by distributors on Sunday 14th May
In place of my usual greetings letter, I wanted to share this Easter Greeting issued by the Presbytery of Perth.
Blessings, Anita
Having ‘visited’ Wales to mark St David’s Day, later in the month we ‘travelled’ to Ireland to learn about St Patrick’s life. We discovered that he too had journeyed from Wales to Ireland when he was captured by slave traders who took him to Ireland from his home in Wales.
Australia was our final destination in March. We found out about the Aborigines and decorated boomerangs in their traditional style. We also learned about some of the wildlife and, thanks to Daniel Merrett, we had a wonderful display of Australian animals and flags.
In between all our journeys, we marked World Book Day by making bookmarks, learned a little about some of the projects helped by Comic Relief and also made cards for Mothers’ Day.
The Kingsgait Kirk Trustees' Report and Annual Accounts for 2022 were approved at the Kirk Session meeting on 29th March. As required by the Church of Scotland, these have now been submitted to the Stewardship & Finance Department at '121' and to the Presbytery of Perth. Any member who was unable to attend the meeting but would like to receive a copy of the Report & Accounts, please contact the Treasurer, Morag Stalker.
Easter Joy By Joanna FuchsJesus came to earth, To show us how to live, How to put others first, How to love and how to give.
Then He set about His work, That God sent Him to do; He took our punishment on Himself;
He made us clean and new.
He could have saved Himself, Calling angels from above, But He chose to pay our price for sin;
He paid it out of love.
Our Lord died on Good Friday, But the cross did not destroy His resurrection on Easter morn That fills our hearts with joy.
Now we know our earthly death, Like His, is just a rest. We'll be forever with Him
In heaven, where life is best.
So we live our lives for Jesus, Think of Him in all we do. Thank you Savior; Thank you Lord. Help us love like you!
Dr Kenneth Baxter’s talk about Women in Politics in Interwar Dundee gave a fascinating insight to the part played by so many women on the local political scene. The names of some of these ladies are familiar to many Dundonians because places around the city have been named after them. However, many will not realise the political connection. The last meeting in March was our Daffodil Tea when we were entertained by Alison and friends. Our toes were soon tapping as we sang along with the group. Their varied programme included a Rodgers and Hammerstein selection, songs from Mary Poppins and some of the Carpenters’ hits. They finished with the Easter Parade resplendent in their Easter bonnets. Thanks to the many members who provided ‘goodies’, we rounded off the afternoon with a lovely afternoon tea.
Our next meeting will be on April 11th .
The Kirkgait Kirk Charity Knitters (KKCK) will meet up again on Tuesday, 18th April at 6 p.m. Please get in touch for the address.
We are continuing our epic creation of lap blankets for Age Concern, Dundee, Five-Ways Day Centre. They have been working with older people since 1947 and the Day Centre is somewhere where day care is provided, clients find companionship, old friends can be met and new friends made, a safe environment is provided, along with nutritious, freshly cooked tasty food and there is a variety of stimulating activities on offer. Sound interesting? Why not give them a call on 01382-825624 to see if they have something just for you?
The KKCK would love to welcome any knitters, and even those who crochet, to join in the creative fun; if you can't make it to the meetings, don't worry, you can craft at home and still be part of the projects. We would also welcome ideas for future projects, the only provisos are that the preferred recipients of our work would be in Dundee, Scotland or the UK, in that order of preference. Also, the goods made need to be knitted or crocheted. Please either approach one of the group or give me a call (my number's in the Wyvern) with your ideas.
I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing from you; the kettle's on!
On Sunday 12th March, we celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight. This took the form of a themed service, followed by Fairtrade goodies being served in the St. Andrews hall (thank you Tim, for the wonderful muffins!) with donations going to Transform Trade. A total of £143 was raised – many thanks to all who contributed in any way. Some of you will know that Traidcraft PLC, the commercial part of the UK’s biggest Fairtrade organisation, is in administration. Since 1979, Traidcraft has operated on a strictly ethical basis and been buying from some of the most marginalised producers in the world, giving a market to those who otherwise couldn’t have participated in global trade. Due to a mix of circumstances including Covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis, it was no longer viable for Traidcraft to continue trading. However the charitable and advocacy side of the organisation continues, and has changed its name from Traidcraft Exchange to Transform Trade. It will carry on campaigning for fairer international trade rules, and supporting the producers Traidcraft used to buy from. This is needed now just as much as ever, as we learned from the quiz and the video during the Fairtrade service.
What does this mean for the Traidcraft stall?
At the time of writing, there is interest from three different sources in buying the Traidcraft brand, so it is possible that we may see the return of Traidcraft favourites, such as stem ginger cookies and fruit & nut muesli. Other lines, like the ever popular Divine chocolate, I can buy from other sources. And we already purchase the delicious Kilombero rice and tasty sauces from JTS, a social enterprise based in Paisley, which is a registered World Fair Trade Organisation. So the stall in the St Andrew’s Hall can keep going, and I would be very happy to order whatever Fairtrade products you would like to buy. Otherwise, I would recommend the Co-op (and your local Scotmid) for a good range of foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark. To be sure that producers are experiencing fair wages, decent working conditions, good environmental practice and freedom of association, look out for goods bearing these labels.
2013 – After long negotiations, permission was given to turn the barren area of ground to the west of the church into a garden. Members were encouraged to take home some of the seed packets, plant them and bring them back when ready for planting out in the warmer weather.
2003 – Christian Aid’s theme was ‘YOU CAN HELP CHANGE THE WORLD THIS WEEK’. David Pirie wrote ‘Christian Aid’s largest partner, The Middle East Council of Churches is planning to provide food and other relief items for people who are suffering the terrible consequences of the war in Iraq..’
1993 – Chocolate may not be very good for you, but, for the Ninewells Cancer Research Appeal, the Girls’ Brigade Chocolate Morning proved to be very good and £400 was raised for their Charity Project. The Seniors and Brigaders were working on ‘Church Improvement’, and they stripped down and re-varnished the two garden seats.
1983 – The Primary Sunday School were preparing for the entertainment to be given by the children in the Glasite Hall. This is their contribution to the Church with adult tickets at 35p and 20p for children. The annual picnic is planned for 28th May at Monikie Park.
1973 – The Easter Egg is an important part of our custom at Easter. During Lent it was forbidden to eat eggs so everyone looked to eggs, the symbol of the Resurrection. Often hard boiled, in Greece they are painted red and then banged against their friend’s eggs in turn saying, “Christ is risen” and receiving the reply “He is Risen indeed”. In America eggs are rolled down the lawn of the White House, the home of the President.
These customs were described, along with others, in The Children’s Page.
1963 – The Boys’ Brigade held their 72nd annual inspection in the Morgan Academy. The honoured guest was Lt Col D A Rowan Hamilton, MVO officer commanding, The 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch (RHA) TA. The full company paraded to the church on Sunday, 31st March, prior to the Wednesday night inspection and display.
1953 – The Dorcas Society distributed gifts of money at Christmastime to 25 senior members of the congregation. This little extra was gratefully received and it did make Christmas a little brighter for the old folks.
1943 – The Ex-Servicemen held a very successful whist drive in aid of the ‘Comforts Fund’. Card Master Mr John Ormand presided over 22 tables. Mrs Bunting, the minister’s wife, presented the prizes and catering was provided by George Ormand, the beadle.
1933 – The Quinquennial Review conducted by members of the Presbytery who were greatly impressed with all they heard and saw of congregational life. It was hoped that in another five years the congregation would continue to flourish and grow.
We were greatly saddened to learn of the sudden death of Cathy Robertson on 28th March. A long-standing and faithful member of Meadowside and then Meadowside St Paul’s Church, she retained a lively interest in Kingsgait Kirk, despite being unable to resume attendance at church after lockdown restrictions were lifted. Cathy was a member of the MSP Flower Committee for many years, taking much pleasure in helping to decorate the sanctuary at Flower Festivals, Christmas and Harvest, when she was particularly noted for her preparation of exquisite posy arrangements for distribution to members of the congregation. She was also an active member of the Guild and the Dorcas Society, acting as Treasurer of the latter for a number of years.
Cathy celebrated her 100th birthday last August, and her card/’telegram’ from the late Queen retained pride of place on the sideboard in the Pitkerro Road house and then in her room in Tigh-na-Muirn residential home where, after a spell in Ninewells, she spent the last two weeks of the life. A good friend to many, she was also devoted to her family - her late husband, Jim (Congregational Treasurer of MSP for around 40 years), daughter Jane and son Neil, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We were pleased to see Neil, who lives in New Zealand, in Kingsgait Kirk a few weeks ago when he was visiting his mother. Our thoughts are very much with Jane, Neil and their families at this time, as we all remember Cathy with great fondness – she will be much missed.
Christian Aid Week runs from 14th to 20th May and one of the many resources that has been produced for churches is A daily devotional, entitled “Unwavering hope”.
On the inside page, the first paragraph contains these words: “soaring costs and essentials are crushing dreams, keeping people in desperate poverty”.
This morning (30th March) I was in the large Tesco store on Riverside – it’s only the second time I’ve been in such a large supermarket since the start of the pandemic and I was very aware of the other shoppers around me, taking their time, studying prices and brands, some discussing it with the person accompanying them.
There is no doubt that there is poverty in our own city and country. How does it compare to Malawi (the country being described in the devotional)? I’m no economist and wouldn’t even attempt an answer to that question. So I leave you with this memory – it’s of a Nigerian woman who was a guest of Christian Aid some years ago; she thanked us for the money we had raised to enable her to build her own business. It was very personal and meaningful.
That was in the days when I used to take part in the house to house collection – usually arriving home with a bag made heavy by small change.
That small change can make a big difference! Please give what you can afford this coming Christian Aid Week.
If you’d like a copy of the daily devotional, you will find a bundle in the cloisters – please help yourself. If they run out, let me know.
Rev Caroline Taylor Christian Aid Co-ordinatorFlower Donor Flower Committee
April 2023
2nd Mrs. A. Forbes
Miss. M. Stalker
9th Mrs. S. Johnston
Miss. M. Robertson
16th Mrs. M. Spence
Mrs. I. Irvine
23rd Mrs. M. McKenzie
Mrs. A. Sanderson
Mrs. E. Strachan
Miss. M. Graham
Mrs. S. Valentine Mrs. M. McKenzie
30th Mr. P. Davidson
Mrs. S. Miller
Mrs. A. Sanderson
May 2023
7th Mrs. W. Petrie
Mrs. E. Strachan
14th Flower Fund Miss. M. Graham
21st Mr. J. Baxter Mrs. M. McKenzie
28th Flower Fund Mrs. A. Sanderson
Christian Aid Co-Ordinator
Reverend Caroline Taylor
Flower Committee
Avril Sanderson
Muriel McKenzie
If you have any pastoral needs or if you know of anybody at home, or in hospital who requires a visit please contact our Minister
Rev Anita Kerr
Email: Anita.Kerr@churchofscotland.org.uk
Telephone: 01382 456659 Or
Church Office
Kingsgait Kirk
2 King Street, Dundee, DD1 2JB
Tel: 01382 224860
Girls’ Brigade
Sheila Valentine
Guild President
Sheila Valentine
Kingsgait Kirk Charity Knitters
Stella Xenophontos-Hellen
Life and Work
Ron Coull
Traidcraft
Sally Romilly
Margaret Chisholm
Wyvern Distribution Co-ordinator
Alison Collins
Wyvern Editor
Aimee Brown
Email: standrewsdundee@outlook.com
Please note that Rev Anita Kerr is uncontactable on a Friday.
Kingsgait Kirk, Dundee www.standrewsparishcurch.co.uk
Meadowside St Paul’s l/w St Andrew’s