Issue 98 December 2016
Church Services
December
10.00am Aberlemno 11.30am Guthrie
January
10.00am Rescobie 11.30am Aberlemno
February
10.00am Guthrie m 11.30am Aberlemno
March
10.00am Rescobie 11.30am Aberlemno
Christmas Services
18th December - Family Service
10.00am - Aberlemno 11.30am – Guthrie
(Toys etc may be left under the Christmas Tree for needy children)
24th December
Carol Service 8.00pm at Aberlemno followed by tea in Church
Christmas Day 10.30am at Rescobie
1st January 2017
United Service at Aberlemno 11.30am
Our Christmas retiring offering this year will be for the Murton Trust Education Centre which provides, for any young people (14-19 years old) to gain meaningful vocational qualifications and work experience in hospitality and land-based skills and helps youngsters into their first jobs.
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CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
The Manse
Guthrie
December 2016
Dear Friends
Most of you will know how much I love Christmas and all the traditions, carols, readings and poems. It is all too easy to see Christmas as simply a brief escape from normal life, a precious thing we bring out to add some sparkle and joy in the bleak mid-winter.
Christmas is much, much more than that. The Christ Child who received gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh went on to say that a cup of cold water given to someone who thirsts is celebrated in Heaven.
The infant whose parents found no room at the inn would one day tell the story of a great feast where the homeless, the beggars and the down and outs would all be invited.
The boy whose birth was celebrated by Angels singing “Glory to God and Peace on Earth” grew into the teacher who said, “ Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”
I hope that you will all have a happy Christmas and I pray that those of you whose Christmas will be touched with sadness this year will find God’s Peace in your hearts.
I hope too that all of you will take more than a little of the true Spirit of Christmas into the New Year.
A Happy Christmas and every blessing in 2017.
Brian and Christine
Aberlemno Village Hall
As we head towards the New Year the Hall Committee are planning for next year. Ideas include a Scottish Night, Garden/Plant season, and an event to mark the formal opening of The Pictish Room. If you have any ideas or suggestions please get in touch with me or any other Committee Member.
On going work in and around the Hall include upgrading the turning circle but this is a hugely expensive exercise so we are investigating funding options after being informed that no Council support is available. There has been a lot of work put into tidying up and improving the planting and we hope you have enjoyed our new planters!
While reviewing funding sources we will develop our plans to renew and improve facilities in the Hall. Anyone is welcome to come and join our Committee, support our Hall and meet a group of amazing people. Thanks go to them for the successful events we have had and all their hard work over thisyear.
It only remains for me to wish you all a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Isabelle Davies
Chair, Aberlemno Hall Committee
Aberlemno Community Council
Angus was delighted to host the second Rural Parliament, which was held early in October. Hundreds of people from all walks of life and from across rural Scotland came to discuss all matters rural in the new community campus in Brechin. Observers from abroad also came to see how the Rural Parliament works in Scotland and to share their experiences. Workshops were held to explore the key issues rural people have in relation to living and working in rural parts of Scotland, and a draft manifesto has been published by Rural Action, the organisers of the Rural Parliament, with the priorities set out as: Broadband and mobile phone signal; democracy & governance; land; business.
The Aberlemno Community Council is part of the democratic process available to local people to have their voices heard. The Community Council is statutorily required to be consulted on a variety of issues and it feeds back opinions to Angus Council that need to be taken into account; it is your Community Council and it’s important that it represents your views. To find out more about what is discussed and who your community councillors are, please refer to the Community Council’s page on the www.Aberlemno.org website. The next meeting is on the 5 December 2016 at 7.30pm in the Aberlemno Church meeting room. All welcome.
GUTHRIE HALL
Our annual Craft Fair held at the end of October was a great success with the hall making over £700. With the cost of running the hall constantly rising this amount of money is vital and we can only thank everyone who supported this event. The generosity of the local community never fails, so, thank you.
Steven Carcary Scottish dancing evenings every second and fourth Wednesday of each month. 7.45pm to around 10.00pm. All welcome. For more details contact Steven on 079520 26633.
The Men’s Club – every Tuesday evening. All welcome. Contact Neil Ross 01241 828323 for information.
Aldbar WRI hold their meetings in the hall and would welcome new members. Contact Mrs Daun for more information on 01307 464935.
Angus Embroiderer and Textile Artists now hold their meetings regularly at the hall – please phone Pat Beaton on 01241 828092 for more details.
Guthrie Hall is available for private hire for wedding receptions, parties, meetings and club activities etc. – very modest rates and a superb venue with first class facilities. Please telephone Christine Shand on 01307 819473 for more details.
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9th December – Hall Dance – 7.30pm. Steven Carcary will be playing the music. Please bring your own nibbles, food and drinks. Children are most welcome.
Three Wise Women
Three Wise Women would have:
Asked directions
Arrived on time
Helped deliver the baby
Brought practical gifts
Cleaned the stable
Made a casserole…….
And there would have been peace on Earth.
ABERLEMNO CHURCH
TREASURER’S REPORT
A variety of tins and dried food was donated at our Harvest Thanksgiving service on 16th October and thereafter delivered to Blythswood Care by Lyall and Helen. The retiring offering of £144.32 was sent to the organisation ‘Send a Cow’, who were very grateful and have asked me to pass on their thanks to everyone.
Over 50 people attended a very enjoyable and successful Quiz night on 27th October at the very hospitable Canmore Bowling Club. I would like to thank Lovina for arranging the venue and also composing an interval quiz. Rev. Ramsay always enjoys his ‘Bamber Gascoigne’ role! The total amount raised was £202.
From our Remembrance Day service held on 13th November we were able to send £95.73 from our retiring offering to Poppy Scotland.
We have had a good response during 2016 in our fund-raising efforts which help greatly towards our financial situation. A big thank you to all who gave up so much time and energy to make these events successful and all those who supported us.
My very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Lorna Hooghiemstra
Treasurer
November 2016
GUTHRIE & RESCOBIE CHURCH
TREASURER’S REPORT
In August I predicted that it might be a close race between loss and surplus for the year by the time we got to 31st December 2016. This is still the case as we go to print. Over the last 19 years we have only had a deficit in three of these years, and it would be great if we can avoid one again this year.
We have a great community based round our two churches and are extremely fortunate like Aberlemno, in having Brian Ramsay as our Minister. We must look outwards and encourage all those who have an interest in keeping our churches going and in good condition and use the churches from time to time to assist financially. Please do spread the word.
Once again, can I thank our wonderful stalwarts who helped with our special events this year raising funds for the Church. The lunches, teas and coffees after Church have proved a great success not only financially but as a great get together.
Calendar Sales £75.00
Walk £1110.00
BBQ £439.08
Craft Fayre £163.00
Church Lunches £290.41
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£2,077.49
James Osborne
Treasurer
November 2016
GUTHRIE & RESCOBIE GUILD
Thanks to all who supported the Church stall at the craft fair. We raised £582.41 after expenses – slightly down on last year but still a good result.
Whisky winners were D Pringle on Saturday and Dougie on Sunday. Both had stalls at the craft fair.
To all the helpers over the weekend – thank you. Without everyone pulling together, the stall would not be so successful.
Our Afternoon Tea was well supported and once again the weather was kind to us. A total of £319 was raised. The sunshine bags have brought in almost £100 so far with still some to come.
Our last fund raiser of the year will be on 4th December when Joe Wishart from Montrose will entertain us with Christmas music and songs from the shows.
The Guild members appreciate all the support we receive. We wish you all a happy festive season and –
May sweet Hope travel with you
Out into the coming year
Do not venture far without her
Keep her close, and hold her near
Do not leave her by the wayside
When the steep hills you ascend
For unless you walk with Hope
You’ll never reach your journeys end
Take her, make her your companion
You will see through her clear eyes
Visions of the distant city
Bright against the morning skies.
May we all have hope for the New Year. We wish you all good health and happiness in the year to come.
Joyce Smith
Poppy Scotland Collections
This year’s Poppy collections were as follows;
Aberlemno Church; £95.73
Guthrie and Rescobie Church; £52.95
Rescobie and Guthrie area collecting tins; at the time of going to print this stood at over £300 with some tins still to be handed in.
A big thank you to Mrs Anona Gow and her team and all who supported this very worthwhile cause.
Sunday School Dates
The dates of the next session are as follows:
Aberlemno Sunday School
5th February and 5th March
Guthrie and Rescobie
8th January, 5th February and 5th March
Aberlemno Men’s Club 1934 - 1964
While tidying out some old files we found the minute book of the Aberlemno Men’s Club. This club was formed in 1934 for ‘the promotion of the intellectual, social and recreational welfare of the members’ but there is no record of the number of members at this time. The meetings were to be held in the school and the games to be played, Draughts, Dominoes, Cards, Wall Quoits, Table Tennis and Bagatelle.
The Club was very much at the heart of the community, organising a successful Christmas party and dance every year and raising funds for the School Picnic. In 1947 the Club admitted women and became The Aberlemno Social Club. At the first meeting of this new club 44 members were admitted and more expected.
All of these activities took place in the school. The cleaner who was paid 7/6p (38p) a year had to light the fires and the lamps before each meeting, not to mention filling the 10 gallon tea urn which was purchased from School Funds and the Social Club Funds.
This is a fascinating record of a lively village organisation and will be available at Angus Archives.
Rose Jackson
Craigesk
Minister:Rev Brian Ramsay B.D. D.P.S. M. Litt
The Manse
Guthrie
Forfar Tel: 01241 828243
ABERLEMNO
Session Clerk
Mr Lyall Ramsay
Cotton of Pitkennedy
01307 830285
Treasurer and Gift Aid
Mrs Lorna Hooghiemstra
Wood of Aldbar Cottage
By Brechin
01307 830441
Clerk to the Board
Miss Frances Urquhart
2Adelaide Cottages
Edzell
01356 648525
Treasurer (WFO)
Mike Macleod
Hillbarns
Tel: 01307 830318
GUTHRIE & RESCOBIE
Session Clerk
Arthur Smith
The Cottage
Gardyne
Tel: 01241 828465
Clerk to the Board
Mrs K Gray
Meadowlea
Clocksbriggs
Tel: 01307 464173
Treasurer and Bonds
James Osborne
Balmadies
Forfar
Tel: 01307 818242 / PARISH REGISTER
Aberlemno
Baptism
Aaron James Urquhart, son of Louise and Craig on Sunday
18th September 2016
Death
Mr John Stewart, Lunanhead (formerly of Netherton) on
11th November 2016
Transfer
Mr David Baillie and Mrs Lorna Baillie, Brechin to Bervie Parish Church
Guthrie & Rescobie
Wedding
Alison Watson to Steven Ritchie on 15th October 2016 at Guthrie Church
Death
Mrs Dorothy Blackie, Middle Drums on 7th September 2016
Mrs Mary Fyfe, Letham (formerly of Clocksbriggs) on
7th October 2016