Author: James Hyman

Presbytery Mailing 17/05/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

Prayers with and for Asylum Seekers – Fortnightly prayer meeting at Crown Terrace Baptist Church, 7pm starting 16th May. A chance to gather in prayer for and with asylum seekers in what are stressful times for them. A warm welcome is extended to anyone who would like to come along. At the first meeting a large number of the asylum seekers who are being accommodated in a nearby hotel joined with members of Crown Terrace Baptists and others. It was a moving and powerful prayer time. The option to join via Zoom is also being explored. For more details of the prayer meetings and how you can help in practical ways please contact the pastor at Crown Terrace Baptists, Gary Smith, at ctbcpastor@gmail.com

I wanted to inform you of two upcoming safeguarding sessions that will be held at Dyce Parish Church with trainers David and Ann:

1. Trustee Training
• Date: Monday, 3rd June
• Time: 7pm

2. Introductory Training
• Date: Monday, 17th June
• Time: 7pm

Both courses will take place at Dyce Parish Church and are scheduled to start promptly at 7pm.

To register on the app click here or online or contact NHepburn@churchofscotland.org.uk

Click here to download a poster for a new initiative that's been set up by the Cowdray Club and Quarriers, to support people with loved ones in care homes. It's for anyone with a relative in a care home, not just the Cowdray.

The exhibition is between 6-28 July and features the work of Elizabeth Gray-King. Elizabeth is a retired URC minister and her exhibition, Spirit Justice, is touring the UK, more details are available here:

https://www.elizabethgrayking.com/spirit-justice-tour

 

Presbytery Mailing 10/05/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

A new Presbytery Clerk has been appointed, more information can be found here.

Aberdeen Hillside has set up a list of items that they no longer need, click here to download it for more details.

Christian Aid is running an event in Aberdeen in June and would like to invite everyone to it.

Christian Aid’s Sierra Leone Country Director Mattia Dimoh is coming to Aberdeen to speak about the impact your support has on communities. Mattia oversees a range of projects, spanning from gender justice and social inclusion to climate justice. You will also hear about In Their Lifetime, Christian Aid’s pioneering programme which seeks to invest in innovative projects that transform lives. A Q&A session will follow with tea/coffee provided.  

 

Location: Upper Hall, Aberdeen Methodist Church (8 Crown Terrace, Aberdeen AB11 6HE).  

Please RSVP so we can track numbers, by emailing Christian Aid at philanthropy@christian-aid.org. 

A quick reminder about the Presbytery Prayer Training Day tomorrow, click here to download a poster for the upcoming event.

Moving forward from the Prayer vigil that was held last week, Crown Terrace Baptists will be holding the following events fortnightly for the foreseeable future.

Prayers with and for Asylum Seekers – Fortnightly prayer meeting at Crown Terrace Baptist Church, 7pm starting 16th May. A chance to gather in prayer for and with asylum seekers in what are stressful times for them. A warm welcome is extended to anyone who would like to come along. At the first meeting a large number of the asylum seekers who are being accommodated in a nearby hotel joined with members of Crown Terrace Baptists and others. It was a moving and powerful prayer time. The option to join via Zoom is also being explored. For more details of the prayer meetings and how you can help in practical ways please contact the pastor at Crown Terrace Baptists, Gary Smith, at ctbcpastor@gmail.com

Presbytery Mailing 03/05/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

What a wonderful day at Balmoral and great to have raised (so far) over £3300 for CrossReach on behalf of The Presbytery of Northeast and Northern Isles.

Pictured are Keith and Aaron Blackwood (Mannofield) Amy Bender, Krista and Ken Brown (Keith North Churches), and Sean Swindells (Cruden Bay)

All were happy with their Runs and moreover delighted to be backed by so much generosity for this worthy cause.

Join the BRF Ministries Messy Church team for a day of encouragement and inspiration! This event is intended for both those interested in finding out more about Messy Church as well as established Messy Church teams and leaders. In the morning there are two workshops to choose from depending on your experience. We’ll then be joined for some musical worship with our friends and special guests from Fischy Music. After lunch, we’ll get hands on outdoors with Messy Church Goes Wild and we’ll finish with a time of celebration together.

They are running two events in Scotland:

Dundee- Friday 7th June- 10am-4pm at Lochee Church

Glasgow- Saturday 8th June- 10am-4pm at Croftfoot Church

Each days costs £20, including lunch. See the Messy Church website to book.

The congregation of Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman is featured in a new book from the Church of Scotland Stewardship team! The book, Living Generously: a whole-life response to God’s love, is a new resource which explores how we recognise and steward God’s gifts in different areas of our life. Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman features in the chapter on Earth, where they talk about their Eco Action Plan which encourages everyone to play their part in valuing and caring for God’s creation. If you would like more information or to purchase the book, please visit https://standrewpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781800830493/living-generously

Sunday 19 May, 7-9pm

St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh

You are invited to join us at the launch of God Welcomes All, the Church of Scotland’s new hymnary supplement.

This new collection features over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world. The majority have been written in the last 20 years and with a focus on hospitality and welcome, the book features contemporary themes such as creation and the climate crisis, lament, healing, pilgrimage, ageing and dementia, migration, and reconciliation.

The launch event will feature special guests who have songs included in the collection, and we are forming a choir to help lead singing on the night.

Tickets are free but expected to go quickly, so sign up now to be part of the choir, to join the singing from your seat, or simply to enjoy the music.

https://forms.office.com/e/nkc3VYd1i3

Click here to read the Partner Plan from Fiona Kendall.

The latest edition of Presbytery Prayer Points can be found here.

Presbytery Mailing 26/04/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

Click here to download an updated poster for the upcoming Prayer Training Event on the 11th of May.

Click here to download a final reminder note about the Crossreach Balmoral run this weekend.

Click here to download a poster for an event for the Singing Hands Concert that was mentioned at Presbytery on Tuesday, to be held on the 18th of May in aid of the Vine Trust.

Click here to download a poster for The Great British Dog Walk at Balmoral run by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

White Armband Day will be commemorated on the 31st of May by Beyond Srebenica, a genocide education charity, more details and free tickets can be found here.

Presbytery Mailing 19/04/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

There is a new post from the Mission Development Officer on the website. Click here to view the post.

From Faith Action Programme:

Sunday 19 May, 7-9pm

St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh

You are invited to join us at the launch of God Welcomes All, the Church of Scotland’s new hymnary supplement.

This new collection features over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world. The majority have been written in the last 20 years and with a focus on hospitality and welcome, the book features contemporary themes such as creation and the climate crisis, lament, healing, pilgrimage, ageing and dementia, migration, and reconciliation.

The launch event will feature special guests who have songs included in the collection, and we are forming a choir to help lead singing on the night.

Tickets are free but expected to go quickly, so sign up now to be part of the choir (deadline 26th April), to join the singing from your seat, or simply to enjoy the music.

https://forms.office.com/e/nkc3VYd1i3

If you are unable to be in Edinburgh that week, don't worry! Faith Action are hoping to hold regional launch events at other times.

Presbytery Mailing 12/04/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

Apologies for the lack of content in last week's mailing, the regular compiler of these was on holiday and we hadn't received any further information for the temporary compiler to add in.

The latest edition of Presbytery Prayer Points can be found here.

Meldrum & Bourtie Church have asked that we share the below message.

We are in desperate need of new IT/Audio/Visual equipment. As a church we have been slow to upgrade because we did not know our future in terms of redevelopment. We now have a much clearer plan, but that is still a 2 or more-year long road. Do you know of any churches with redundant equipment that needs a new home? We would be grateful for anything that can help us upgrade our very old system while we wait for our full upgrade and new redevelopment project. Any help would be very appreciated.

If you are able to help, you can get in contact with Rev Alisa McDonald at Alisa.McDonald@churchofscotland.org.uk or 07838835778.

The Mission Development Officer, Rev Dr Robert Smith, will be preparing information and resources for mission for the website, this can be found at https://nenipresbytery.org.uk/mission-news/.

Presbytery Mailing 29/03/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

We have received event invitation details from a Christian Aid volunteer within the Presbytery:

On Monday June 10th, we would like to invite you to meet with Mattia Dimoh, Christian Aid’s Sierra Leone Country Director. Mattia oversees a range of projects, spanning from gender justice and social inclusion to climate justice. He will be talking in-person about the impact your support has on communities.

This will also be an opportunity to hear about “In Their Lifetime”, Christian Aid’s pioneering programme which seeks to invest in innovative projects that transform lives. 

Location: Upper Hall, Aberdeen Methodist Church on Crown Terrace (8 Crown Terrace, Aberdeen AB11 6HE). From 2pm to 4pm.

There will be time to ask questions and teas/coffees will be provided. Please let us know if you would like to attend so we can track numbers, by emailing Christian Aid at philanthropy@christian-aid.org 

The location has been chosen to encourage travel from outside Aberdeen by train, bus or car (multi-storey parking in South College St.), though car travellers may have some anxiety about both the, by then, very new LEZ and nearby Bus Gates. Another challenge for some may be the longish, steepish stairs from S College St. up to Crown Terrace, so advice on disabled access & parking from someone very familiar with the area would be welcome. The event details are not yet posted on the CA Scotland webpages so, if you have questions, feel free to contact Fionnuala (the Christian Aid staff member leading the planning) direct (using the email in the invitation) or Ian, who will then speak with her.

Presbytery Mailing 22/03/2024

Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.

We are currently advertising for a Full-Time Presbytery Clerk, details on how to apply can be found here.

For informal enquiries about the role, please contact the Revd. Peter Johnston on 07834 281176 or
PJohnston@churchofscotland.org.uk.

Closing date: 12 noon on Monday, 25 March 2024

There will be a Presbytery Prayer Training Morning held in May, click here to download a save the date poster provided by Rev John Cook.

Rev Dr Robert Smith, the Presbytery's Mission Development Officer has put together a document giving details of the Seeds For Growth scheme, click here to download his cover note and here to download the document.

Iain Hunter of Mannofield Church in Aberdeen has asked that details of ther Balmoral Run be shared by Presbyters as widely as possible. A letter with details and sponsor form and powerpoint slide are available for this purpose.

The important thing is to get this out to congregations and not get it stuck in anyone’s inbox.

Iain also makes a special request of Treasurers – some people might donate via an envelope in the plate and he requests that such donations are forwarded to him at Mannofield Church.

Click here to download Rev Carl Irvine's report on the most recent meeting of Aberdeenshire Education and Children's Services Committee for distribution to congregations in the Aberdeenshire Council area.

Fountainhall Church in Aberdeen are hosting a music event with Instant Neighbour on the 14th of April. Click here or here to download the poster in different formats.

Instant Neighbour was formed 40 years ago by Aberdeen Church of Scotland ministers and is still very much needed as a resource for the local community. They are hoping to raise £40k in this their 40th year to continue to serve the community. Rev Tanya Webster is Presbytery representative on the board of Instant Neighbour and would be happy to talk to anyone about the good work they are doing or fundraising for them.