1

Udny & Pitmedden Church

Newsletter

December 2014

2

SERVICES FOR DEC 2014 TO FEB 2015

December

7th 10am Udny Green 14th 10am Pitmedden Nativity 21st 10am Pitmedden 21st 6.30pm Pitmedden 9 Lessons and

Carols 24th 6.30pm Pitmedden Christmas Eve

Service 24th 11.30pm Pitmedden Watchnight Service 25th 10.00am Udny Green Christmas Day

Service 28th 10am Pitmedden

January 4th 10am Udny Green

11th 10am Pitmedden 19th 10am Pitmedden 28th 10am Udny Green

February 1st 10am Udny Green 8th 10am Pitmedden 15th 10am Pitmedden 22nd 10am Pitmedden

March 1st 10am Udny Green 6th 7pm Pitmedden World Day of Prayer

ou do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you? They would have

asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought

disposable nappies as gifts!

3

Advent is the time of frosting!

Of waiting, of wondering,

of wild ideas and wide eyed children.

There’s tinsel and lights

and sparkling delights

in shops and doorways

and we count our pennies

and WAIT…..for THE BIG DAY! Well folks, but what are we waiting for? The same thing happens every year. It’s the same old story. The angel comes to the girl and she agrees. The donkey, the innkeeper, the wise men, the shepherds, the baby, the promise…. We know it’s about to happen because the adverts on our tellys have changed! Yes you can get it in time for THE BIG DAY. Whether it’s a sofa or a hoover or a wonderful new toy or a computer or, or, or..you can get it in time for THE BIG DAY!

THE BIG DAY has changed over the years. It is no longer the Christmas Season but the Holiday Season. Some cards say “Happy Holidays” rather than “Happy Christmas”. In fact, not so long ago in Scotland Christmas Day was not a holiday at all. Churches were not decorated. There was no singing of Carols in homes and streets, no Christmas parties, no presents and no turkey! But, you say,

“it’s a Christian festival that has been hijacked so let’s give it back to the Church. Let’s fight against the secular giants and try to offer something alternative that reminds people what Christmas is really about.”

4

Well yes, of course it IS a Christian Festival but I suspect we hijacked it ourselves in past time and Christianized the pagan mid-winter festivals making them into a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In that respect I suppose Jesus is a bit like the Queen. He has a real birthday (and there is some dispute about when that might be) and his official birthday on Christmas Day. The Church in the past realised that we all needed time to rejoice and in the darkness and doom of winter some light and delight was not a bad thing!

THE BIG DAY should indeed be something we look forward to with joy and anticipation and as your minister I urge you to use the time to contemplate the wonderful story of God’s arrival amongst us but it’s also okay to celebrate the traditions that we all associate with Christmas. The food, the family times, the parties and the laughter but here’s the health warning! It can also be a stressful time for many and we mustn’t forget to take time out to relax in the midst of all the hustle and bustle.

So, be kind to yourselves as you approach THE BIG DAY and remember it doesn’t matter if your new sofa doesn’t arrive in time. It doesn’t matter if the sprouts are a bit mushy. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t snow. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get all the things you wanted to get in your stocking. Be kind to each other as well, trying to notice those who are struggling and including those who feel left out. If THE BIG DAY is about anything it is about LOVE. Remember it was LOVE that came down at Christmas not STRESS!

5

With love Your minister Gillean,

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Udny and Pitmedden Church now has Facebook! I know what a surprise. You can find us by searching for Udny and Pitmedden Church on the Facebook search. If you would like to see something on the Facebook page message us through the page or leave a post. We are also happy to put up pictures of events and the Church. We would love a review about the page or even the church. Hope to see your post, comment and like very soon.

6

FORMARTINE YOUTH PROJECT I’m now 4 months into this new post with Formartine Youth Project (FYP) and it feels like I’ve never worked anywhere else. We been challenged, we’ve laughed and talked and most definitely ate cake to work out an action plan and vision for this joint youth project.

The reaction for everyone has been great and I’m very much looking forward to meeting more people and developing the individual groups across Udny & Pitmedden, Methlick, Tarves & Barthol Chapel. Each village has a different range of activities and we are looking on an individual basis how we can sustain and structure each to ensure long term sustainability as well as meeting the needs of our local community. We’ve been singing out hearts out at Mainly Music in Pitmedden; got messy at Messy Church in Tarves; structured the youth clubs in both Barthol Chapel and Pitmedden and forward planning for a sustainable youth programme in Methlick.

I have also been busy in a range of the 6 schools that we have contact with and this will continue throughout this school year. We’re starting to look at long term funding as well as carefully budgeting for this pilot year.

If you would like to hear more about the Formartine Youth Project, what’s going on and the overall vision, please come along to Pitmedden Church on Sunday 23rd November from 3pm. Refreshments will be served and come expecting a bit of fun and fellowship as we share the vision of this new project in your village. Claire Bell Youth Worker for Formartine Youth Project

7

Key dates for the remainder of 2014: Every Wednesday during term time: Meldrum Academy Christian Union, 1.15pm Sunday 23rd November, 3pm at Pitmedden Church: Vision Day Sunday 7th December 11-1pm, Youth Halls Messy Church in Tarves Friday 12th December from 7.30pm: Barthol Chapel Youth Club (P7-S6) Saturday 13th December: Messy Church at Udny Green Hall (Udny & Pitmedden Church), 10-12pm

MESSY CHURCH

We are having a

on the 13th of December

In Udny Green Hall For 2 hours of fun, fellowship and finger food

From 10am There will be crafts and games for the whole family to

enjoy together For more information Contact

The Church Facebook page @ Udny and Pitmedden Church of Scotland

Email: murry.mint@btinternet.com

8

UDNY GOOD COMPANIONS CLUB

At the November meeting names were taken for the Christmas lunch on 3rd December in Pitmedden Hall. The lunch will be provided by Food Affair followed by music from Dennis and Mary. Our next meeting will be a Games Afternoon on Wednesday 18th February 2015. A big thank you to everyone who supported our Annual Coffee Morning at the end of October in Pitmedden Hall. £806.70 was raised for Club funds.

YOUTH CAFÉ Saturday evenings continue to be lively as young folk gather in the Church kitchen to meet with friends, play games, chat and share a snack. It is great to have Claire, our Youth worker there most weeks, actively engaging and getting to know people. She plans to involve them in looking ahead at new activities. We’ve been blessed to receive a practically new air hockey table from folk in the village. We are thankful to have Alvan keeping things in good repair for us and to the Big Breakfast for funding us! We enjoyed visits from David and Rebecca Morton, our missionary partners in Malawi. David was having fun challenging people at air hockey! It was good to have Les Moffat for an evening too.

9

10

BIG BREAKFAST

Money from the Big Breakfast has been disbursed at follows

January £315 Kitchen equipment replaced February £435 Youth Café £100, Church funds

£335 March £490 Church funds £410, new aprons

etc £80 April £370 Church funds May £411 “Someone Cares” Charity June £420 Christian Aid £300, Youth Café

£120 July £400 F.R.O.M for hospital beds for

Malawi August £415 Church funds September £300 Church funds October £468 Church funds £320, Youth Café,

£100; Replacement Toaster £48

KIRK CAFÉ

The Kirk Café is held on Wednesday mornings. Come along and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and a scone.

11

MAINLY MUSIC It is a joy to come into the warmth of the carpeted church on a cold, wet Tuesday morning and to get warmed up as we dance around and cheered up as we see happy children’s laughs, smiles and giggles. A little snapshot……… a wee boy, just over 1, clapping perfectly in time to the music with the biggest smile on his face………. Another little 2 year old boy dancing away, totally absorbed in the music. Another wonderful thing is seeing the wee ones learning to receive, give and share. It is amazing how quickly they learn to help bring back props when we’ve used them for a song. Tuesday mornings are only a small part of these children’s lives, but they are a happy part. Hopefully we are planting seeds that the Church is a good, welcoming place to come. We are looking forward to an Italian night with the mums and carers very soon! If you would like to come and join us on Tuesday mornings to volunteer or even help with providing a little baking from time to time, that would be much appreciated. A big thank you, to all those who give of their time and talents, at the moment. We said good bye to Kathleen Wilkie at the beginning of the term as she has gone off to help with another mainly music group. Thank you, Kathleen for volunteering for the last 5 years and for all the props you have made. They will always remind us of you. Fiona Entwistle 842412

12

THE GUILD

The meetings are held on Wednesdays in the meeting room at Pitmedden Church at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome. The programme for the next year is . 10th Dec Joey Sleigh – Christmas Theme

7th Jan Rev Gillian Maclean – Guild Theme

4th Feb World Day of Prayer Preparation – The Bahamas

4th Mar Dr Tricia Kiehlmann – Hope Counselling

6th Mar World Day of Prayer

1st Apr Chris Crosley – Mothers’ Union (and AGM)

9th May Annual Coffee Morning

CHARITY FUNDRAISING If you are shopping online for Christmas you can help charities raise funds using the following website

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/find-a-cause/?v=a

When you make a purchase with one of the 2,700+ participating retailers, the retailer provides a donation for your chosen good cause. Retailers include Amazon, John Lewis, M&S and eBay. Find out how it works at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/how-it-works/#

13

CHURCH FUNDRAISING The Fundraising committee would like to thank everyone for their support at the Flower festival. It was a great success and the photo albums have raised a further £480 towards the total. Forthcoming events for your calendar will be: The fabulous Gourmet Auction at Udny Green hall on 20th February 2015: an evening not to be missed!! So everyone, please get your thinking caps on for culinary delights to tempt the buyers and raise lots of money!! A Race Night: Pitmedden Hall – 24th April 2015 Please give us your support and if you have any brilliant ideas for social or fundraising events please get in touch with one of the Fundraising Group or your elder P.S. Christmas cards and notelets are available in the church

14

CHRISTMAS WORD JUMBLE

Unscramble the letters to make the words from the list below

15

The weekly Church Diary and Parish Prayer Pointers is the best way to keep everyone informed of your organisation's regular meetings and one-off events, and draw attention to any issues or individuals you would like the church family to pray for. Please email details to Elaine at elainemoff@aol.com or phone 01651 842898 - and don't forget to let me know when a regular meeting is cancelled or takes a break!

CHURCH NEWS ARTICLES

The DEADLINE for the March edition is 15th February 2015. Send in your information at anytime so that your news can be shared with us all. Your comments, ideas and material are always welcome. Letters and articles should be given to: Alison Bruce, Byrbreck, Udny or send via email to udnypitmeddenchurchnews@gmail.com

16

CONTACT

Minister Rev Gillean Maclean

01651 843794

Session Clerk Mr Leslie Moffat 01651 842898

Treasurer & Gift Aid

Mr Garth Entwistle 01651 842412

Free Will Offering Mrs Anne Grant 01651 842332

Organists’ contact Mrs Anne Woodward

01651 842900

Church Officer (Udny Green)

Mr Bill Shewan 01651 842346

Church Officer (Pitmedden)

Mr Alvan Milne 01651 842967

Youth Cafe Mrs Fiona Entwistle

01651 842412

Big Breakfast Mr Andy Burslem 01651 842092

Boys Brigade Mr Andy Burslem 01651 842092

Good Companions Mrs Joey Sleigh 01651 851256

Guild Mrs Carol Marr 01651 842242

Kirk Café Mrs Gladys Ross 01651 843068

Ladies Fellowship Mrs Kathryn Moore 01651 842526

Mainly Music Mrs Fiona Entwistle

01651 842412