Please find below a number of relevant pieces of information for distribution and consideration by Presbyters.
A reminder that if you are a member of Presbytery and have not already filled out a Committee Choice form for the coming Presbytery Year, these should be filled out and returned to the Presbytery office as soon as possible so that they can be collated and passed onto the Connections and Nominations Committee who will be putting together the committees in the near future. This includes Ministers and Equalising/Balancing Elders. The form can be downloaded here and should be returned by email or post to the Presbytery Office.
This is also a reminder that the deadline for Elder Commission returns is past and there are still a number of congregations that haven't returned details of their new/returning Presbytery Elder. We thank those that have already sent in details.
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
From Rev Donald Prentice:
I am a recently retired Church of Scotland Minister, formerly Moray Presbytery, ( St Leonards Forres Rafford and Dallas)
After several months rest, I feel able to take on light duties including locums and pulpit supply.
If you have need of my services, I can be contacted as follows:
Rev Donald Prentice
3 Firth View
Burghead
Moray IV 30 5YW TEL: 07519 558 508 or answerphone 01343 33 33 10
EMAIL: Dprentice@churchofscotland.org.uk
Aberdour Church are working on a plan to repurpose their Church, and are creating a 'warm hub' where they will offer refreshments several times each week and a separate 'heritage area'. They are looking to furnish with tables and chairs for the hub, and glass display cabinets for the heritage space. They realise that there may be Churches which are closing and may have these items surplus to requirements. If that is the case, you can get in touch with the Session Clerk by clicking here.
From Gillian Douglas, Lead Chaplain and Head of Spiritual Care at NHS Grampian:
I am due to retire from my post as Lead Chaplain and Head of Spiritual Care at the end of June. I am now working reduced hours as part of the phased retirement arrangements that NHS Grampian offer. Interviews for the post were held in March but an appointment was not made.
Interim arrangements are being made whereby my colleague Katrina Blackwood, one of our Senior Chaplains, will be acting up in the role from the beginning of June for a period of four months. The post will be readvertised in due course.