the June 2015 edition of “Focus”

MAY 2014
FOCUS
FOCUS
The Church Newsletter of Peterculter Parish Church
June 2015
Saturday 13th June 2015
2pm – 4pm
Tickets: Adults £3.00/Children £1.50
Available from Church Office or at the door
(Price includes tea/coffee & home baking)
Stalls include:
Bric-a brac
Books
Bottle stall
Cake and Candy
Chocolate Tombola
Toys/Games
DVDs/CDs
Traidcraft
As new stall (not clothes) Flowers
Please hand in any donations for stalls on Friday 12th June from 7 – 9pm
To arrange any collection contact Richard Little on 733166 or Margaret at
the Church Office on 735845
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Dear Friends
Many congregations nowadays have house groups in which church
members can meet together in one another’s homes to explore the Bible or
certain Christian topics, as well as taking time for prayer.
House groups are an excellent way of getting to know one another better
and I would be delighted if we could
launch a house group in our
congregation. They enhance
fellowship in our church and are a
great way to informally explore the
faith together. Not every member of a
House Group has to be the host – as
long as two or three people are willing
to open up their home for a small
group, then it will work. Would you
be interested? If so, please let me
know.
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Church of Scotland or
know of someone who might be? I hope to hold a short series of informal
meetings to explore the basics of the
Christian faith in the autumn. In
particular, it would be good to attract
those who may simply want to talk about
faith issues without making any
commitment to actually joining. I would
like to explore fundamental questions
about religion and would welcome people
who are sceptical about the faith and
those searching for answers. If you are
interested, please get in touch.
I hope you all have a lovely summer and that, if you are travelling, you
appreciate the beauty and wonder of God’s amazing creation.
Yours sincerely
John Ferguson
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Swimathon
On Saturday 20th June, we will be holding a
Swimathon from 1.00 pm- 2.30 pm at
Banchory Swimming Pool.
The event will be in aid of Aberdeen
Presbytery’s project to raise money for our
partner church in Malawi. Anyone wishing to
take part or to sponsor a participant can
contact Fiona Jones on 07775 955250 or email
[email protected]
Delta Bible Study
Group
All are welcome to join this group which meets in the extension area of the church 10 -­‐ 11 am on the first Thursday of each month
Table Top Sale
Saturday 6th June
10 am - 12 noon
A table costs £5 and set up is from
9 am -­‐ 10 am. To book contact Jean cook on 734233 or contact the church office on 735845. This is the last sale before the summer break www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Holiday Club
We will be holding a Summer Club again this year for
all primary school age children
It will take place from July 20th - 24th 10.00 am – 12 noon
Large church hall
To sign up, please email [email protected] or
phone 01224 735845 and leave a message if the office is
closed
Summer Fayre Help
Saturday 13th June, 2 – 4 pm
Extra assistance at Teas and
Coffees will be greatly appreciated.
A list will be available at the side
entrance to the church for those
willing to volunteer to serve or
clear up and/or bake.
Please add your name to the list or phone Edna Ledingham on 733723.
If anyone would like to help between 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm on Saturday the
14th June by attending stalls and clearing up after the Fayre please speak to
Richard Little or phone 733166 or email [email protected]
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Outdoor Worship Service
On Sunday June 21st at 11.00am (note later
time) we hope to hold our Outdoor Summer
Service, weather permitting.
The service will take place at the glebe, which is
the field beside St Peter’s Heritage Centre.
Chairs will be provided and transport will also
be made available from the church from 10.30
am onwards for those unable to manage to walk
down.
The service will be followed by a barbecue in the glebe.
If the weather is poor, then the service will take place in the church, still at
the later time of 11.00 am and the picnic will be cancelled.
Exploring the Faith
Interested in becoming a member of the Church of Scotland or know of
someone who might be? I hope to hold a short series of informal meetings
to explore the basics of the Christian faith in the autumn. In particular, it
would be good to attract those who may simply want to talk about faith
issues without making any commitment. I would like to explore
fundamental questions about religion and would welcome people who are
sceptical about the faith and those searching for answers.
If you are interested, please get in touch.
John Ferguson
01224 735041
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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MAY 2015
FOCUS
7th June
10.30 am - Morning Worship
John Ferguson
14th June
10.30 am - Morning Worship
John Ferguson
21st June
11.00 am - Outdoor Service
The Glebe
John Ferguson
28th June
10.30 am - Morning Worship
John Ferguson
Please Help!
As usual, we will be running the Sunday Gang
for children attending worship over the
summer. There is a sheet at the church door for
those who have been PVG checked and can help
out during July and part of August. This allows
our hard working Young Church staff to have a
well earned break.
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Church Directory
Baptism
Robert Wood McGregor
Son of Sarah and Calum
Funerals
Mrs Lynn McGow
Millside Road, Peterculter
Mr John Robertson
Pittengullies Circle, Peterculter
Mrs Margaret Barrack
Kingswood Court
Mrs Bunty Farquhar
Johnston Gardens West
The Stord Girls’ Choir
From Norway
&
The Shell Choir
Thursday 30th July
In the Church Tickets £8/£5 (conc)
Available from the Church Office
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Elders’ Long Service
Long Service Certificates
certificates were
presented at a recent
service of worship at
Newhills Church by the
Moderator of the
General Assembly to
Wilma Angus, Betty
Davidson and Margaret
Watt for over thirty
years of service as
elders. Well done to
them all!
The Friendship Club Resumes in September
The opening meeting is on Tuesday 1st September at 7.30pm in the small
hall when we will have “ Fiona G “ to entertain us by singing and on her
keyboard.
On 15th September 2015 we have a talk from Brian Harrison on First Aid.
On 29th September 2015 we hope to have a talk from someone from
Eastleigh.
Do come along on the above dates to enjoy
Friendship and Fellowship.
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Presbytery Matters - Presbytery
Meeting Tuesday 5th May
Presbytery was welcomed for ordinary
business to the familiar setting of Newhills
Parish Church.
Installation of Moderator for 2015/16
The Rev Duncan Eddie of Holburn West was
installed as Moderator of Aberdeen
Presbytery for 2015/16 in succession to the Rev Hugh Wallace. A version of
Scripture of his choosing was presented to the new Moderator by the Rev
Dr Henry R Sefton on behalf of the Scottish Bible Society Aberdeen Branch.
Presbytery Clerk
The Rev George Cowie has been serving as Acting Depute Clerk to the
General Assembly since May last year. The option of resuming a job share
as Presbytery Clerk with the Rev Dr John Ferguson was held open for the
time when he would cease to be Acting Depute Clerk. George has decided
not to take up that option. Presbytery appointed the Rev Dr John Ferguson
as Presbytery Clerk for a five year term, with the option to review and
reappoint after five years.
Visit to Aberdeen of the Moderator of
the General Assembly
The visit of the Moderator, the Rt Rev
John Chalmers, in April was a great
success. He was given a balanced
picture of life in Aberdeen Presbytery
with visits to industries, companies, the
Army Reserve Centre and charities
along with several churches. He was
also shown that Aberdeen has pockets
of deprivation as well as areas of
wealth.
(continued on page 10)
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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(continued from page 9)
Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
Currently the Scottish Parliament
has under consideration the
Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill,
which over the last few months has been under scrutiny in committee, and
which has also been subject to evidence being given in parliament both for
and against, by interested bodies. Presbytery:
• Noted that the Church and Society Council have given evidence
encouraging MSPs to oppose the Assisted Suicide Bill when it comes
before the Scottish Parliament.
• Supported the position taken by the Church and Society Council in
opposition to the current proposed legislation on Assisted Suicide.
• Encouraged members of congregations within Presbytery to
communicate their views on the Assisted Suicide Bill, and end of life
issues, to local MSPs.
More detailed and thorough consideration of the issues is available on the
Church of Scotland website.
Venues for Ordinary Meetings 2015/2016
Presbytery will meet at Holburn West on September 1st, October 6th,
November 3rd and December 1st. In 2016 meetings will be at Queen’s
Cross on February 2nd, March 1st and May 3rd. The last meeting of the
session will be at Peterculter on June 28th 2016.
Richard Little
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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Church Flowers
Thank you to Jessie Taylor who has donated
towards the church flowers for May.
Summer Fayre
Any plants etc. for the Flower stall can be
handed in to the church hall on the evening of
the 12th June or on the morning of the Fayre
when they will be gratefully received.
We also replant all the tubs at the beginning
of June, which will take us through till
Autumn, and brighten up the two entrances of
the church.
Convenor: Violet Smith, 01224 733317
Treasurer: Mabel Smith, 01224 732030
Mid Week Lunches
The next mid week lunch will be on Wednesday
3rd June and is the last one before the summer
break. Serving starts around 12.30 pm and the
price has been held at £3.50. We would love to
see you there.
Moira Marshall and the Team
Coffee Time
Join us for tea or coffee on Thursdays and
Saturdays from 10.00 am - 12 noon.
Fine fare and fine company to be had!
Also stay for our short service of worship on
Thursday at 11.30 am.
All welcome!
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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JUNE 2015
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Peterculter Parish Church
Mission Statement
The purpose of Peterculter Parish Church
is to celebrate our faith in God and in the
Good News of
Jesus Christ
through
worship,
fellowship, teaching, outreach and pastoral
care and to participate in the work of the
worldwide church.
Minister
Magazine Editor
Rev John Ferguson
Tel: 01224 735041
Email: [email protected]
Val Muir
Tel: 01224 735001
Email: [email protected]
Session Clerk
Church Office
Dave Gordon
Tel: 01224 732036
Email: [email protected]
Margaret Bruce
Tel: 01224 735845
Email: [email protected]
Church Office Hours
Wednesdays & Fridays : 9 am - 1 pm
Next Issue - September 2015
Material to editor
Sunday 23rd August 2015
Ready for distribution
Sunday 30th August 2015
Registered as a charity: SCO01452
www.culterkirk.co.uk
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