Review of 2011
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Birse & Feughside yearly round up
Jan
Book Discussion Group A new group under the leadership of John Forster started meeting fortnightly on a Thursday evening. Books discussed to date:- “What Religion Really Means” by Karen Armstrong and “The God of Surprises” by Gerard W. Hughes.
Prayer Group The Prayer Group started to meet in the vestry on a Sunday between 10.15 and 10.45am under the leadership of Heather Morrison. Members of the congregation were invited to leave prayer requests in a book in the lobby.
FEB
“And Did Those Feet” A viewing of the new film based on the book “Jesus the Master Builder” written by the late Rev Gordon Strachan. (Ben’s brother)
Sole Nominee Rev Jack Holt was invited to preach as Sole Nominee in Polwarth Church, Edinburgh.
March
Lent Table Talks and Lent Lectures Rev Jack Holt gave a series of talks on Lent.
World Day of Prayer A service written by Christian women of Chile raised £116.41
APRIL
Holy Week All Holy Week events were very well attended. These included the ” Sing and See” night, Palm Sunday service, “Agape Meal Communion” and the Good Friday Service.
Daffodil Tea The annual fund- raising event in Finzean Hall raised £995 for Church funds.
Easter Breakfast Families and friends joined together to share in a short act of worship and breakfast after which the children had an Easter egg hunt outside in Finzean Hall grounds. Rev Jack Holt was presented by members of the Junior Church with a Mel Shand Painting of what Jack’s ministry had meant to them over the years.
Family Easter Service This was Rev Jack Holt’s final service as minister of Birse & Feughside Church.
Royal Wedding The Forget Me Not Club gathered in the Church all dressed up in their finery to watch the Royal Wedding on the big screen. Lunch was served by ladies of the Church and Susan Zappert later provided musical entertainment.
Jack & Sandra Holt’s Farewell The Church was full as members of the congregation and invited guests shared a meal together in honour of the Holt family. A slide show was played during the meal made up of memories of Jacks 16 ½ years with the Congregation. Speeches were made by Pam Taylor and Donald Farquharson and gifts were presented to Sandra and Jack.
May
Interim Moderator The congregation welcomed the Rev Bill Wallace from Banchory as their Interim Moderator.
Rev Canon Rex Chapman James Alexander Chapman of Finzean was baptised by grandfather, the Rev Canon Rex Chapman.
JUNE
Finzean House Garden Open Day £2,400 was raised in aid of the Scottish Garden Charities and The Forget Me Not Club.
Junior Church Jean Haslam and Anne Horsfall stood down from their roles within the Junior Church and we welcomed the new team of Nancy Davidson, Anne Silcock and Ann Fletcher, while Julie Christie joined the Crèche team
JULY
Kenya Visit Andrew Douglas, Jean Haslam & Jill Phillips went on a visit to our Twinning partners in Kenya.
AUGUST
Members of the Congregation joined together to share a picnic while Susan and Louise took everybody on a musical tour of Scotland.
SeptemBER
Kenyan Evening People were invited to try some Kenyan supper and hear a talk by Andrew, Jean & Jill of their time spent with our Twinning Partners.
OCTOBER
Harvest Thanksgiving Service Rev John Forbes led the service in Bills absence. £270 was raised for the work of Tearfund.
NOVEMBER
Guild Week Soup Lunch £161.50 was raised at this event and added to the Feb Lunch total meant that £354.70 was donated to Guild Charities for this year.
Tenants for the Manse We warmly welcome Jeremy, Kate & family who have taken up tenancy of the Manse during the vacancy.
St Andrews Night A good night was had by all at the Stovies and concert night organised by the youth group. “ Finzean ye kin it’s richt. “ People enjoyed a night of music, dance, song and poetry to raise funds for the Church.
Visit to Kenya – July 2011
In July of this year, three members of our congregation, Jill Phillips, Andrew Douglas and Jean Haslam, set off for Kenya to visit our partner church, Icaciri, which is situated about an hour’s drive north of Nairobi. They were soon to learn that the rural parish was, in fact, made up of five churches – not just one! They spent ten very busy days driving around dirt track roads, meeting members of the Guild and Men’s groups, attending a big children’s rally, talking to groups of over 400 children and just generally enjoying the friendly warmth and hospitality that was on offer to them. They managed too to each sit through a three hour service on Sunday!
An evening of music, films and photographs about their visit, as well as a tasty Kenyan meal was shared with members back home in Birse and Feughside Church in September. We hope to build on the ideas which they brought back with them and encourage people to be involved in strengthening our links in the months to come.
Photographs of their trip are still on display in the Church.
Community Partnership
We continue to support the Forget-Me-Not Club through our partnership, a few members of the congregation have become volunteers, and help at one of the many and varied group sessions throughout the week. Examples are Singing, Tai-Chi quizzes, crafts and games. We continue to help where we can with fund-raising and catering for example, the celebrations for the Royal Wedding held in the Church, the open garden day at Finzean House. We are prayerfully supporting the plans to purchase and alter a house in Banchory, to become the FORGRT-ME-NOT HOUSE AND RESOURSE CENTRE where many of the groups can meet and very importantly an easy access point of help and support for new clients and carers. Donations are always welcome and can be made to the Church or Just Giving on line. If you want more info/or to volunteer contact Dorothy Dinnie on:- marywell farm@googlemail.com or 013398 86339
Christmas Dates for your Diary
Sunday 18th December – Toy Appeal Saturday 24th December – Christingle Service 6.30pm Sunday 25th December – Christmas Day Service 10am Sunday 1st January 2012 – Communion Service 11am
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