St Mark’s Messenger

Winter 2011

A Congregation of the Aberdeen City Centre Grouping The Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting Queen Street Church St Mark's Church Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity No SC015451

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Index to the Winter 2011 Issue

Letter from the Manse 3 Christmas Anagrams 20

Roll Changes 5 Books of the Bible Quiz 21

Kid’s Korner 6 Circle of Care 22

Lead Academy 8 CrossReach 22

Hillwalking and Rambling 9 The Strollers 23

St Mark’s Guild 10 Scottish Country Dancing 23

Projects Committee 10 Blessings 24

From the Treasurer 11 Men’s Club 26

Sunday School 13 Guild of friendship 27

Christmas Coffee Mornings 14 Flower Power 27

How to Improve Your Life 15 Standing Orders 28

Worship Calendar 16 O.A.K. 30

Thank You 18 “Hintfull Helps” 30

Flower List 19 Readers’ Rota 31

Christmas Gift Envelopes 20 St Mark’s Office Bearers 32

Members of the Malawi Committee and of the St Mark’s Family were saddened to hear in early November of the death of Brian Kandiero. Brian and Grace visited us in 2007

and were guests at the Manse. Both of them spoke in church during that visit and their deep faith was obvious to all who heard them. We in St Mark’s offer our deepest sympathy to Grace and daughter Caroline.

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Letter from the Manse

Dear Friends, I can hardly believe a whole year has passed since I came to St Mark's. I count myself very fortunate that God has called me to such a lovely Church Family. Thank you to everyone who has made it such a special year.

What a lot has been done to share God’s love. Coffee mornings, Oak Café, our friendship with the Crown Terrace Methodist Church, the night shelters, the question and answer times, the charity shop, sign language lessons, Guild and fellowship groups, joint fun events with the other two churches in the Parish Grouping, a hilarious play by Garry Watson and the musical Joseph which will be performed next week (as I write this in time for the magazine deadline). The Christmas Coffee mornings are about to start too, and will be running when you get your magazine!

We have hosted services including Holy Week and the British Legion Garden of Remembrance service a few weeks ago. The Sunday School has been amazing; they even wrote a song with me in it! I was so impressed and touched by their kindness. We have been out to have fun afternoons together. We have some very good teenage bowlers in our midst just as we are very fortunate to have excellent Sunday School leaders. I know we are all looking forward to another good Nativity Service this Christmas.

Over the year I have observed the faithfulness of so many people so I would like to say on behalf of the Kirk Session and myself a big thank you to everyone who supports the work of God in so many different ways. Our heartfelt thanks go to Milton Montgomery, who has served Christ and His Church faithfully for 11 years as the Property Convenor. Milton has

(Con�nued on page 4)

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stepped down. We appreciate his dedication, time and effort that he and his committee have put into maintaining the Church buildings. Graham Low and Margaret Brown are now heading up the Property Committee; thank you to them for their volunteering to do this important job.

So what of this Christmas? God has given us such a special gift in Jesus Christ! There is a most beautiful stained glass window on the left hand stairs as you enter the front doors of the Church. It is of Jesus waiting, whilst holding a lantern. He is by an ivy covered closed door, which has no handle for Jesus to use to open the door. In the stained glass window it is as if Christ is just waiting and will wait a long time until the door is opened. This is how Jesus treats us, no force, just with pure love and respect. We are to follow His example in how to deal with people. So this Christmas may you have great fun and enjoy and find Christ at the centre of your celebrations.

Shalom, God Bless You.

Diane

HHHHappyappyappyappy CCCChristmashristmashristmashristmas

AAAAndndndnd aaaa HHHHappyappyappyappy NNNNewewewew YYYYearearearear

From Diane and DaveFrom Diane and DaveFrom Diane and DaveFrom Diane and Dave

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Roll Changes (10 August - 10 November 2011)

Change of Address Mrs Isabella Beagrie Hilton - Echt Mrs Margaret Collins Countesswells - London

Disjunction Mrs Pamela Cummings (née Davidson) To Kingswells Church New Member by Certificate Mrs Rhoda Downie Rosemount Baptisms 9 October Lilah Rose Brock Daughter of Fiona & Fraser Brock 23 October Bethany Anne Gillies Daughter of Donna & Jon Brock

Deaths 7 October Mr William McKenzie, City Centre 23 October Mrs Alice Park, Torry He will surround you with love on that golden day

Owing to Data Protection issues full address details are no longer provided in relation to Roll Changes. Further details are available to members from the office.

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Well kids, you must be either really busy or just plain lazy!

Only two entries came in for the Joseph colouring competition

so I have decided to award two prizes just for trying.

Both entries were very good and you can see them on the Kids

Korner page on the website at:

www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/organisa�ons.htm and click on Kids

Korner in the menu.

This time around there is a new colouring competition.

Because this is the Christmas magazine I want you to colour

the Nativity scene on the next page. Entries by Christmas

Eve please and the prize (age and neatness will be taken into

account) will be awarded on Christmas Day.

When you’ve eaten all the Christmas Dinner you can eat and

you can’t get near your new games console because the adults

are just “checking it’s working” why not try this word search

all about Christmas. BALL BELL BLITZEN CANDY

CHIMNEY COMET CUPID

DANCER DASHER DEER

DONNER ELF FROSTY GIFT

PRANCER PRESENT RUDOLPH

SACK SANTA SLED SNOWMAN

STAR TOY TREE VIXEN

WREATH

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I recently attended a taster day in Perth run by Lead Academy, a relationally-based organisation dedicated to envisioning, equipping and supporting church leaders. One of the key issues facing leaders in today’s post-Christendom, post-modern, secularised society is how to move forward and become more effective in fulfilling the church’s vision. Lead Academy is specifically designed to address these needs. In the first place, churches sending teams - e.g. minister plus two or three others - to Lead Academy must have a clear sense of mission and already be committed to implementing the vision God has given them. Twice a year for two years the group joins with six to 10 other church teams to learn from each other’s successes and failures, share challenges and get inspired by the stories and faith of one another. Research has shown that principal leaders also benefit greatly from having time out with God and others away from the pressures of daily ministry. For this reason, two overnight retreat-style events are scheduled into the two-year programme. By employing a collaborative learning approach, most of the input and knowledge comes from the group itself, with participants being encouraged to share experiences, work through common issues and develop realistic and measurable strategies that will significantly equip them for the next phase of ministry.

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Lead Academy is not designed to be a course or a set programme, and no specific model of ‘doing church’ is employed. It is, however, a safe and challenging place for leaders to advance in their calling to serve God’s Kingdom in a 21st century context. Even if this particular option is not right for any of the three churches in our Grouping, it does give an idea of the kind of assistance that is available to churches seeking to develop mission in a parish setting.

Ian McIver Community Outreach Worker 07890 932677 ianmci@hotmail.co.uk

St Mark’s Rambling and Walking

Group

Recent walks have been a circular walk of Loch Muick; this was rearranged from earlier in the year. It was a nice walk and the weather stayed dry but it got very windy at times. Glen Tanar was also visited and a lovely walk around the estate took us to the small ‘Fairy Lochan’ where the dragon-flies were putting on a flying display.

Future walks during the winter will be mainly within the Aberdeen area but at the time of writing this, no dates have yet been arranged.

If you would like to find out more about rambling and walking or would like to join us, please contact; Ian Lord 321882 or mobile 07929 720846 and I can advise you of the dates when they become available.

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St Mark’s Guild

Here we are again at the end of the first half of the Guild session, finishing with the joint Christmas party on Monday 5th December 2011.

The Guild Committee would like to wish all a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2012.

Our meetings for 2012 are as follows:

St Mark’s Projects Committee.

An evening of ‘Jewellery, Handbags and Scarves was held on Friday 11th November, when the amazing amount of £594.31 was raised. The Committee would like to thank all who supported the event and hope you had an enjoyable evening.

Copper and Silver Mines I would like to remind the congregation of the COPPER and SILVER jars in the vestibule, any 1p and 2p coins go in the COPPER MINE and silver coins go in the SILVER MINE. Many thanks, Anne Donaldson

January 6th Discussion Topic - “Thanking God for His

Creation” - Led by Rev Diane Hobson.

January 23rd ‘Burns’ Evening

February 6th Talk on St Kilda - Mr D Paterson.

February 20th Slide Show - Mr Ian Lord.

March 5th Operation Mobilisation - Mr Steve Packwood.

March 19th A.G.M. - ‘Play Your Cards Right’

April 10th End of Session Meal with Men’s Club.

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A Note from the Treasurer

“We’re doooomed, Captain Mainwaring, doomed!” So repeated Private Jock Frazer, the dour Scottish undertaker in Dad’s Army on virtually every occasion. A very funny character, the archetypal mean Scotsman. At least so I thought until someone recently commented that I reminded them of him.

Apparently my contributions to the Messenger always have that air of doom and despondency about them. But no more. In this season of Advent with the upcoming joy of Christmas I want to share some good news with you. Good news about the hard work and generosity of the St Mark’s family.

It started with this year’s Garden Party, rained off to the Church Hall; the generous people of St Mark’s bought quizzes, calendars, teas, coffees, sandwiches, cakes etc etc to the tune of £642.48. A fabulous total and the most ever raised at our long running summer event.

And there's more. Our Summer Coffee Shops raised a staggering £6,099 which is almost £500 more than each of the Summer Coffee Shops in the past two years. But the best of all was the September week at the George Street Charity Shop. With no single item sold for more than £15 (actually, one at £15 and one at £10) and most others not going above £1 the shop team raised the amazing total of £1,709.12. Once again beating last time’s total.

So thank you all from me for bringing a smile to my face, not just for the money but for the hard work, friendship and fellowship engendered by these and other events throughout the year.

As Captain Mainwaring would have said, I was just a “stupid boy!” when I wrote my previous articles.

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Don’t be a “Stupid Boy”

(or girl for that ma!er)

Bank on your offering being there

every week.

Get a Standing Order set up

by using the form

On Page 28

I’m not a “Stupid Boy”

I already have a Standing

Order

But I’ve lost my scarf!

Compe//on

Why did Private Pike wear this par/cular colour of scarf ?

(Claret & Blue)

Answers (by 29th January 2012) to

The Treasurer, St Mark’s Church, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen, AB25 1JY

There’s a prize for the first correct answer drawn.

The correct answer and the winner’s name will appear

in the next “Messenger”.

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Work on our Joseph display has slowed down while we are busy with other projects but we hope to get back on track soon. Meanwhile we are looking forward to a night out to see ‘Joseph’ at St Mark’s. Our Queen Street friends will be joining us.

Our Harvest bags were well received and we have had several ‘Thank You’ messages.

The Sunday School trip to Satrosphere was a great success with all ages exploring the fun activities, as you can see here. (There are more photos on the website.) The Planetarium show at the end was particularly interesting; we lay down in a dark dome shaped tent and

admired the stars. No-one is admitting to falling asleep but gentle snoring could be heard...Allan, Diane? Anyone want to confess? Everyone had a grand time at the joint service. Who knew we could scrub up so well? Decked out in our wedding finery we marched off to St Mark’s where we made our own clay lamps, scoured the local papers for acts of kindness (we did find some!) and made ‘Helping Hands’ vouchers. Hopefully the children have been handing these out as they do acts of kindness for others. I myself received one last night and it came in very handy when I needed help tidying up.

(Con�nued on page 14)

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As with all good weddings there was dancing and merriment. We devoured the Wedding cake as we sipped sparkling fruit juice from posh wedding glasses. I hope our visiting children didn’t think Sunday School was like that every week! A big thank you to all the volunteers at our Coffee Morning and everyone who made donations of home bakes, raffle prizes and bottles. Your time and effort was very much appreciated and the fabulous total at the end will be put to good use during the festive period and the following months. Matthew Donaldson is adhering to a strict dental hygiene regime since he won a bottle of mouth-wash at the bottle stall. It only cost his mother £3 to win and she donated it! The next event on our calendar is the Christmas Party followed by a trip to Inverurie to see Aladdin, then before you know it we will be performing our Nativity for you. We have a real treat in store for you this year. I bet you don’t know how many angelic children we have in the Sunday School. Jo Donaldson

Christmas Coffee Mornings The Christmas coffee mornings are being held on the 3rd, 10th and 17th December, donations of home baking, Christmas goods for the stalls and raffle prizes will be gratefully received.

Please come along and bring your friends to sample probably the best and cheapest soup, coffee and bacon rolls in Aberdeen.

Let’s try and make the Treasurer happy at the end of 2011.

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POINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Written by the late Professor Randy Pausch, author of “The last lecture”, one of the bestsellers in 2007.

Personality: 1. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 3. Don't over do; keep your limits. 4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does. 5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. 6. Dream more while you are awake. 7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. 9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others. 10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present 11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 13. Smile and laugh more. 14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community: 15. Call your family often. 16. Each day give something good to others. 17. Forgive everyone for everything. 18. Spend time with people over age 70 & under age 6. 19. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 20. What other people think of you is none of your business. 21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

(Con�nued on page 18)

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Worship Calendar

Please note that all Sunday morning services at St Mark’s normally start at 11am. Any changes

will be intimated in the Pew Leaflet

Further details of the services will be available on the Church website or Pew leaflet.

4th December 11am Morning Worship (2nd Sunday in Advent) “Waiting with Patience for Christ”

11th December 11am Morning Worship (3rd Sunday in Advent) Christingle Sunday - “Waiting with Joy for Christ” 6.30pm OAK Evening Service

18th December Fourth Sunday in Advent 11am Sunday School Nativity Service of Nine Readings and Carols

19th -23rd December

During Christmas Week the Sanctuary will be open weekdays for quiet contemplation from 12.00 noon - 2.30pm. Tea & Coffee available.

22nd December 12.00 noon Shoppers’ Carol Service with soup served afterwards until 1.00pm close. 6.00pm Carol singing on the front steps with Mulled Wine & Mince Pies served until 8.00pm

Saturday 24th December

10.45pm Carol Singing and fun! 11.30pm Watchnight Service - “Are we there yet?” Tea & Mince Pies after, served in the hall

25th December 10.30am Christmas Day Family Service “Here, Hear the Love” Bring your presents to show! Followed by informal Holy Communion

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Worship Calendar 2012

1st January 11.00am New Year’s Day Service (40mins) “A New Year Calling”

8th January 11.00am Morning Worship - Epiphany 1 Celebration of Holy Communion “I will do this, You do . . .” 6.30pm OAK Service Crown Terrace Methodist Church

15th January 11.00am Morning Worship - Epiphany 2 “God name calls!”

22nd January 11.00am Morning Worship Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Crown Terrace Methodist Church

29th January 11.00am Morning Worship “Favouring Authority”

5th February 11.00am Morning Worship “The Art of God”

12th February 11.00am Morning Worship Joint Parish Grouping Service Queen Street Church

19th February 11.00am Morning Worship “God’s time limit!”

26th February 11.00am Morning Worship - 1st Sunday in Lent “Trusting Good News!”

4th March 11.00am Morning Worship - 2nd Sunday in Lent “Just, Transparent Good News!”

11th March 11.00am Morning Worship - 3rd Sunday in Lent “Holy Space!”

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Life: 22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do. 23. GOD heals everything. 24. Do the right things. 25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 27. The best is yet to come. 28. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. 30. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy. While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with. Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you.

Professor Pausch died of Pancreatic Cancer in 2008 and left this ”Guide to a better life” in a letter to his wife and children.

THANK YOU

At its meeting on 9 October the Congregational Board received the resignation of Mr Milton Montgomery as Property Convenor. Milton had served St Mark’s for eleven years in a role which is time consuming and involves what these days is referred to as “unsocial hours”. Essentially this is a twenty-four hour a day on-call, unpaid and often thankless task.

On behalf of all of the St Mark’s Family, Milton is due a well earned “THANK YOU”.

Graeme Low, assisted by Margaret Brown has taken over from Milton.

(Con�nued from page 15) HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

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DateDateDateDate SupplySupplySupplySupply DistributionDistributionDistributionDistribution

04 December Miss S Strachan Mrs Lord 11 December Miss A McDonald 18 December Mrs P McDonald 25 December Miss M Donald For the Minister

2012201220122012

01 January Mrs M Leslie & Miss O Watt

Miss O Watt

08 January Miss J Morgan Mrs S Main 15 January Mrs S Mann 22 January Mrs B Coull Mrs B Coull 29 January Mrs I Grieve 05 February Miss S Henry 12 February Mrs B Duthie 19 February Mrs A Brown Mr R Irwin 26 February Mrs E Leys Mrs A Officer 04 March Mr A Sim 11 March Mrs S Kessack Mrs M Brown 18 March Miss J Davie Mrs Cunningham 25 March Mrs B Ballantyne 01 April 08 April Mrs C Laurie The Misses Black

THIS COULD BE YOU (see Babs Coull)

There is a desperate need for more people to volunteer to distribute the flowers after the service. Speak to Mrs Babs Coull in church on a Sunday about helping

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AEIIONPSTT AEIOMMNPT AECCKRRS AEUBBJSSY (2) AEEIICCGHHNRSTTVW (2) AOCLRS AIOBDGNXY (2) AAAEECDDLNNRTV (2) AECDLNS AAIIOCHLNNTSS (2) AEIOOCDNRST AOMNNSW AIINTTVY AAEUBCDNRSY (2) AEGMNR EEIOLMSTT EUKRTY EEIUDLTY EUCHNSSTT EENPRSST Entries to: Ian McIver, Queen Street Church, 79 Queen Street, Aberdeen,

AB10 1AN, or by email to ianmci@hotmail.co.uk. Closing date is 28th

December 2011. The first correct entry out of the bag at 5pm on that day

will win a £20 food voucher.

Christmas Gift Envelopes

Last year we issued over 400 Gift Envelopes but only 68 members took the time to return them with about a third of those not being returned until the first few months of 2011.

This year no Christmas Gift Envelopes will be issued and if members wish to make a special contribution for Christmas please use an ordinary envelope and mark it “Christmas Gift”. If you wish your Christmas Gift to be covered by Gift Aid please enclose a note of your name and address.

Thank you to those who think about St Mark’s at this special time of year. Please remember St Mark’s thinks about all of you throughout the year.

CHRISTMAS ANAGRAM COMPETITION (In association with “Triskeles News”)

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Books of the Bible

There are 30 books of the Bible on this page. Can you find them?

This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an aeroplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving; she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam; especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new sales record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "the books are all right there in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers, also keep in mind that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere on this page waiting to be found.

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Circle of Care

The afternoon Communion and Tea was well attended and appreciated by all present. Invaluable help was given by the volunteer drivers, members of the Social Committee and Circle of Care visitors. We are most grateful to them. Our thanks also go to Rev Diane Hobson and to the pianist, Miss Leona McConochie. We pray that all members of the congregation will have a joyful Christmas, good health and much happiness in 2012.

Church of Scotland Social Care Our services provide a wide range of vital support to individuals who are, depressed, grieving, suicidal, experiencing financial problems, relationship difficulties and people who have a range of other mental health needs. Post Natal Depression Services continue to focus on early intervention, supporting mothers and children/babies in improving their well-being. Specific support has now been made available for fathers. (Taken from an official CrossReach pamphlet entitled, “An introduction to our services”) Margaret Donald (who is now handing over to Mrs Carol Main as the CrossReach representative for St Mark’s)

PITHY SAYINGS The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, and the rest, willing to let them.

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The Strollers

We only had three strolls outwith Aberdeen during the last few months - at Ellon, Stonehaven and Drum Castle. In September we were able to take advantage of “Doors open Day” to visit some places of interest and enjoyed this very much. We have been happy to welcome to our group some ladies from outwith the congregation and we would invite YOU to join us on any of the following dates.

A Happy Christmas and New Year to all. Margaret Donald

The St Mark’s Scottish Country Dance Class

The class draws this session to a close with the Christmas Party on 7th December. We resume on

Wednesday 11th January 2012 at 7.30pm in the Church Hall. New members will be warmly welcomed.

Other Dates for 2012 Wednesdays:- January 25th, February 8th & 22nd, March 7th & 21st, April 4th & 18th. Margaret Brown

December January February March April

Tuesday 10.00am 13 10 31 21 13 3 24

Saturday 2.00pm 3 21 11 3 24 14

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Blessings

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.”

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them.” I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. “This is the Acknowledgment Section,” my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed.

“How is it that there is no work going on here?” I asked. “So sad,” the angel sighed. “After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.” “How does one acknowledge God's blessings?” I asked. “Simple,” the angel answered. “Just say, Thank you, Lord.”

“What blessings should they acknowledge?” I asked. “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof

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Blessings (Cont’d) overhead, and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. And if you have your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.”

“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 700 million people in the world. If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are envied by and more blessed than three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare. If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm. You're unique to all those in doubt and despair.”

Okay. What now? How can YOU start?

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. Have a good day. Count your blessings. And if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

ATTENTION: Acknowledgement Dept. “Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people with whom to share it.”

PITHY SAYINGS The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.

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By the time you are reading this article the Men’s Club and the Ladies of the Guild will have had their annual Christmas meal and party, (weather permitting). The joint night that featured a Beetle Drive on 24th October was well attended and as usual this was a great fun night.

The future meetings for early 2012 are:

PITHY SAYINGS (1) Friendship is the one bright light, that keeps on burning day and night. (2) A friend is one who knows all about you, and loves you just the same.

16th January Games Night

23rd January Burns Evening. With the Guild

30th January Games Night

6th February Talk about St Kilda. With the Guild

20th February Digital slide show about Jersey; Ian Lord

27th February Games Night

5th March Talk; Operation Mobilisation. With the Guild

19th March AGM & Games Night

16th April End of session meal.

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Guild of Friendship We have got off to a good start to our first session with five new ladies joining us. Although early on in the syllabus when writing this, we have had varied afternoons - two interesting (and comical) speakers, a couple of musical entertainers, a slide show and even a Beetle Drive! We have a lot more to look forward to before our Christmas party on 12 December. Our second session, next year, which starts on 9 January 2012, is just as varied, so if any lady still wishes to join us, she will be made very welcome. We wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas. Pat Skene (01224 642293)

Flower Power

Do you remember the shrivelled up wee bulbs Diane was giving away at Easter? Well just look at the power of life contained in those tiny things. The picture is of the results from one bulb planted by Lewis and Anne Donaldson (he dug the hole, she planted). Boasting 14 blooms the plant grew to 3 feet 6 inches!

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Bank Standing Order Mandate

To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . .

Please pay by Standing Order (payment details) Amount £ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled. (*please delete as appropriate) Quoting Reference . . . . . . . . . . . (To be completed by the church)

Pay to St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363

Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . Please note that Banks may decline to accept instructions to charge Standing Orders

to certain types of accounts other than Current accounts.

Please return to the Treasurer, St Mark's Church in the first instance.

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Bank Standing Order Mandate Amended Instruction

To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . .

Please amend my Standing Order payable to:-

St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363

To Amount £ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled quoting the existing reference number.

(*Please delete as appropriate)

Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above. Please note this supersedes my previous instruction relating to St Mark's Church.

Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . .

Please send this form directly to your Bank.

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O.A.K. would like to thank all those who have helped to keep the O.A.K. Café staffed during the past year. We have made a number of new friends and look forward to the continued support of staff old and new.

The knitting needles and shopping trolleys have been busy as we have had the usual generous support for the shoebox appeal. The boxes will be delivered in time for Christmas to spread the message of Peace and Goodwill.

We have had a series of successful Special Lunches and look forward to our Christmas Lunches after which The Café will closed until 9th January, 2012.

We wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. Betty & Malcolm Steel.

“Hintful Helps” - Are these for real?

Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables Get someone else to hold them!

Place a mouse trap on top of your alarm clock, it will prevent you rolling over and going back to sleep after hitting snooze!

You only need two tools in life - WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't use duct tape.

And there’s more (nonsense!)

Why is it that:

Writers write but fingers don't fing? Grocers don't groc and hammers don't ham? You can make amends but not one amend? We have noses that run and feet that smell?

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St Mark's Church Readers' Rota

4th D ecem ber Sheila M ain

11th D ecem ber G ail Hogg

18th D ecem ber Sunday School N ativity Service

24th D ecem ber A lex M cConoch ie (W atchn ight)

25th D ecem ber Jean Yacam in i

2012

1st January Kay M ontgom ery

8th January D avid Yacam in i (Com m union)

15th January Sheena Henry

22nd January W eek of Prayer for Christian U n ity at

Crow n Terrace M ethodist Church

29th January A nne D onaldson

5th February Jean B lack

12th February Joint Parish G roup ing Service at

Q ueen Street Church

19th February M uriel Fraser

26th February Sheila M ain

4th M arch G ail Hogg

11th M arch M ilton M ontgom ery

18th M arch M alcolm Steel

25th M arch Jean Yacam in i

1st A pril Kay M ontgom ery

8th A pril A lex M cConoch ie (am Com m union)

M argaret D onald (pm Com m union)

Readers are rem inded that they shou ld contact the Church office on

Thursday prior to their duty and read through and practice th eir

read ing(s) before the Sunday. If you are unable to attend on your

appointed day please find a substitute from w ith in the list o r contact

the office.

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St Mark's Church

Minister Rev Diane Hobson 65 Mile End Avenue

641758

Session Clerk

Mr Ian and Mrs Marjorie Lord 27 Hazelhead Road

321882

Clerk to The Board

Mrs Helen McKenzie 28 Blackhills Court, Westhill

740776

Treasurer Mr Alex McConochie 21 Woodcroft Road

703200

FWO

Treasurer Miss Dianne Morrison 45 Bonnymuir Place

630161

Gift Aid Convener

Mrs Lynn Low 6 St John’s Walk, Newtonhill

01569 731389

Organist Mrs Kathleen Anderson 15 Countesswells Terrace

321584

Church Secretary

Mrs Elspeth Mogendorff St Mark's Church Rosemount Viaduct AB25 1JY

640672

Church Office Down steps between the Church and Library. Open 9.00 am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday. Answering machine operates when the office is closed. Leave name, message and contact number.

Editor Mrs Lynn Thomson: lynn@pumpwell.co.uk

Assistant

www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk

Alex McConochie: grianan21@btinternet.com