There is much happening across our Presbytery at the moment. A few vacant congregations are at the stage of hearing sole nominees preach, and a number of congregations have agreed on joining together and are now celebrating that through services…
Faithfulness
Over recent weeks I have been privileged to travel across Presbytery meeting up with Kirk Sessions and congregations. As someone brought up on a farm, I have a great fondness for this time of year. The countryside is looking glorious,…
Being stretched
At one of the training conferences during probation, a speaker gave each of us an elastic band. He spoke about how we rely on such bands maintaining their elasticity. We want them to stretch and then to return to their…
Dealing with disappointment
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” (Robert Burns: To a Mouse) No matter how carefully we make plans or how much effort we collectively put into implementing them, there are times when things do not…
Back to school
This week thousands of children and young people, across our Presbytery, have headed back to school – with their new schoolbags and new uniform. After a six week holiday it will no doubt be a bit of shock to the…
Shortfalls
One of the significant changes in legislation coming from this year’s General Assembly relates to ‘insolvent’ congregations. Within the newly amended Presbytery Mission Plan Act, you will now find a section entitled Financial Sustainability Review. Such a review, which will…
Farewell to the Tall Ships
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 is an international sailing event where tall ships from around the world compete and showcase their vessels. From last Saturday until yesterday, the harbour was packed full of tall ships and people, with…
Vacancies – allowances and action plans
As promised, this week we are picking up on another new piece of legislation with financial implications for congregations in our Presbytery. The CALL, ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS OF WORD AND SACRAMENT ACT revises the way in which we…
Presbytery Services
The last week of June saw Presbytery meet four times. Two of these gatherings were Services of Induction, one was our June meeting and one was a Service of Union. Our Communications Officer put together ‘reels’ for each of these…
Bearing Fruit
Finance is something which is exercising the minds of many people in our Presbytery and across the whole of the Church of Scotland at the moment. Over the coming weeks, I’m going to spend a bit of time exploring what…