Read Now - Inverurie West Parish Church

The Magazine of Inverurie West Parish
Church
Summer 2016
www.inveruriewestchurch.org
Scottish Charity SC016907
In my journeying with you,
may I never lose my sense of
direction,
never lose sight of the landmark
towards which I travel.
And should cloud or rain obscure
my vision,
may I draw closer to you,
so that my feet may tread
in your footsteps,
your words be my encouragement,
and your love my protection
against the storms that assail me.
faithandworship.com/prayer_journey
Dear Friends
Well this is it, the last pastoral letter I will write in Encounter!
Thanks to the strangeness of the English language that word “last” can
have all kinds of meanings. There is the obvious one, as with this letter,
or the final meal Jesus had with his disciples in that upper room. Last, as
in final.
But then there are those immortal words of parents throughout the ages
as their offspring rush to eat the packet of their favourite sweet – “make
it last”, meaning don’t use it up too quickly, delay the end.
Then I remembered that a last is also a piece of kit used by the
shoemaker to give a shape to the shoe they are making or repairing.
These past 26 ½ years with you folks in Inverurie West have been a
mixture of everything ministry will always be – exciting, frustrating,
depressing and rewarding. Hopefully we have been able to achieve
some things together which have enriched our congregational life as
well as offer something to the community at large and Anne’s and my
prayer for you all for the future is that you will continue to discover
God’s vision for the Church and for the Acorn Centre.
We thank you all for your friendship and support over the years and
hope that through all the changes and new beginnings we can all shape
our lives around the last which is the unchanging love of God for each
one of us.
Best wishes.
Ian B. Groves
2
Introducing the Interim Moderator
The Rev Dr Kay Gauld has been appointed as the
Interim Moderator during the vacancy so we
thought she should tell us something about herself.
“I was brought up in the town of Foggie, on the
High Shore, not far from the harbour! At the age of fourteen, I was a
relief organist for the Foggie churches. I was asked by the Rev. George
Stewart to play at Drumblade Church for three months and was there
for thirteen years!
One day, I asked Mr Stewart about becoming a Youth Worker. He
immediately stated, “You will be a minister!” I laughed! “There’s no
way I’m getting into a pulpit!” I replied. However, guided by Mr
Stewart, I was accepted first time at selection school and, as a Divinity
student of Gordon Presbytery, embarked on a BD Honours Degree at
Aberdeen University.
I met my husband in the Hebrew Class, Ranald Gauld, the son of the
well known Dr. Bill Gauld, Chief Physician at A.R.I., and his wife
Vivian. We were both ministers in Keith for twenty years until he died
in February 2014, having battled four different types of cancer over
thirteen years. I am now trying to adapt to life on my own and have a
very supportive congregation at Insch-Leslie-Premnay-Oyne Parish
Church to which I was inducted last August. I look forward to working
with the congregation of Inverurie West.”

Pastoral Care
Just a wee reminder that the Pastoral Care Team are here to
offer support or a listening ear. If you are looking for help
with a job or just wanting to chat to someone, we can help
to put you in touch with the right person.
You can contact us by leaving a message at the Church Acorn Centre in
a sealed envelope labelled “Pastoral Care” or phone 01467 671488.
Alison Sharp
3
Vacancy Update
Following morning worship on Sunday,12th June Rev Dr Kay Gauld,
our Interim Moderator, chaired a congregational meeting to elect the
Nominating Committee for the forthcoming vacancy. The purpose of
this Committee will be to nominate one person to the congregation to be
the new minister. Eighteen nominations were received and this
necessitated a written ballot for the thirteen places on the Committee.
The following people were duly elected to serve on the Nominating
Committee:
Biff Barrow
Ann-Marie Coleman
Joy Doorghen
Marc Falconer
Alan Harrow
Richard Huxtable
Stuart Law
Isla McLellan
Eleanor Mitchell
Mark Paterson
Olivia Paterson
Alison Sharp
George Taylor
The Nominating Committee then met with the Vacancy Advisory
Committee appointed by the Presbytery of Gordon to oversee our
vacancy on Wednesday, 22nd June and were advised on what has to be
done at various times during the vacancy. At the meeting, Rev Dr Kay
Gauld volunteered to convene the Nominating Committee, and Mark
Paterson agreed to act as Clerk. The Committee will now begin the task
of finding the new minister on behalf of the congregation.
If you have any questions regarding the vacancy please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Gillian and Mark Paterson
Session Clerks
Tel: 625675
sessionclerk@inveruriewestchurch.org
4
Mainly Music
Did you "wake up this morning with a smile on your face?" or
perhaps with "dancing feet?"
Well, if you did you
were most likely
attending our weekly
sessions of Mainly
Music.
Every Tuesday around 30 families of preschool children
toddle up the stairs
and into the church
to sing songs, chant
rhymes and share an
active, musical 90
minutes. The wee ones also enjoy a
healthy fruity snack while the adults relish a "fine piece" from the
Acorn Centre catering. Then we, the volunteers, get down to
earth and play with the children while the parents have a rare,
precious social time with other adults.
What the parents say:
A great variety of songs, catchy tunes,
easy to learn; often funny, some serious
with a Christian focus.
A fantastic, informal time doing
something fun with my child, and all the
family can come too!
My son is becoming more confident in this safe environment.
5
Great multi-sensory equipment - and a
wealth of props and toys.
All the volunteers are calm, fun and
friendly.
Everyone is sure to leave happy and
well fed!
How do the children respond?
When told it's a M.M. day he claps his
hands and runs to get his shoes - it's
an 18 month old's way of saying I love
it!
Although we've moved south, she still
sings the
songs and
smiles when I
mention M.M.
I like the "up
and down"
games, Mummy.
It’s a "SPARKLE DAY!!!"
************************************
For more information, contact Jane Fraser
(jane5541@hotmail.com)
6
Youthful Reflections on a General Assembly
On Friday, 21st May I attended this year’s General
Assembly as a youth representative of Gordon
Presbytery. I was among 39 young people from other
presbyteries across Scotland and one representing the Presbytery of
Europe.
Staying the same hotel enabled us to worship together every morning
and evening, and to prepare for the next day’s session. This was such
an important part for me as a newcomer as everything was explained to
us and we were able to discuss the issues which would be dealt with at
the Assembly.
We were advised by the pastoral team about the procedures to be
followed if we wanted to ask a question or say something in connection
with the various reports which were presented throughout the week. I
was surprised at how many amendments and deliverances were put
through by the youth representatives and how their views and opinions
were valued and respected by the other commissioners. The humour of
the Moderator, clerks and other commissioners also surprised me as I
did not expect to laugh as much as I did throughout the week.
One of the highlights was the daily worship and I particularly enjoyed
the unaccompanied singing which sounded amazing in the Assembly
Hall. I felt privileged to be asked to serve at the Communion service on
Monday morning, although the hour and a half practice on the Saturday
afternoon was not ideal – I have not recommended this to Mum and
Dad!
I was interested to hear all the reports which were presented during the
week including the ones from the National Youth Assembly and the
Guild but I particularly enjoyed the Church and Society report as it
really opened my eyes to the work of the Church of Scotland.
7
The Ecumenical Relations report was also very interesting and it was
great to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury speaking about the Columba
Declaration which recognises the longstanding ecumenical partnership
between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England and will
help encourage and support new initiatives between the two churches in
the future.
Throughout the week we attended a number of events including ‘Heart
and Soul’ in Princes Street Gardens which is now an annual celebration
of the life and work of the Church. We also attended The Guild’s Big
Sing and a book launch for ‘The Invisible Church’.
We were invited to two receptions, one
hosted by the Lord High Commissioner
at Holyrood Palace where we met some
past Moderators and Assembly officials
and the other hosted by the Moderator,
Rev Russell Barr, and his wife.
Everyone we met and spoke to at these
receptions were very interested in what
we did and in our congregations back home.
Overall the week was an eye opening experience that allowed me to
learn so much about the work of the Church of Scotland at home and
abroad. It was also a great opportunity to meet young people who all
have a common interest in the Church.
Olivia Paterson
    
Inverurie West Church Guild
“Go In Joy” - the first meeting of the Session is on Tuesday
13th September when the speaker will be Rev. Neil Meyer
from Kintore.
8
The following are the final figures for Christian
Aid week 2016.
House to house collection - £3348.04
Book Fair - £1021.31
Home Baking Stall - £148.90
Big Breakfast - £97.00
A big thank you to all who helped in any way.
Sheila Rennie
Treasurer
    
Congratulations to Junior Church member
Angus Stephen who was awarded Best
Boy at the Boys’ Brigade open night.
Angus was also a member of the winning
team – the Sharks!
  
 
Congratulations to Mitchell Wright, the
winner of this year’s Acorn Award
presented at Inverurie Academy
Leavers’ Ceremony.
9
Welcome to Anthea Burke who takes over as
Manager of Ubuntu from mid July.
Anthea writes, Born and brought up near
Aberlour I left to commence nurse
training at the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh. I then moved to London and
became a District Nurse in the King’s
Cross area. After getting married and
having two children I gave up clinical
nursing but used my background for various related roles such as a
Patient Advice and Liaison Officer at St George’s Hospital and
Information Officer at Age Concern. Since moving to Aberdeen I have
been an Advocacy Worker, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Befriending and
worked in the Bethany Charity Shop. I am very much looking forward
to my new role in UBUNTU and to be able to support the ethos of Fair
Trade.
Anthea is introduced to some of the stock by
Anne Groves, who is retiring after twenty-six
years of developing Fairtrade in Inverurie
West. Bringing her previous experience
working with Oxfam and the Third World
Centre in Aberdeen, Anne has seen through
the expansion from a monthly stall in the hall,
to the full time presence through Ubuntu.
At a recent volunteer training evening
members of the Ubuntu volunteer team had
the opportunity to say their farewells to Anne
with a presentation of a necklace and flowers.
10
Pilgrimage
One Pilgrim’s Tale: John Smith of Oldmeldrum tells us of his
pilgrimage journey.
In 2005 at the age of 63 I walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.
It had been a long time ambition. The 800 kms took me more than five
weeks, I gained many blisters on my feet and shed no less than 20
pounds in weight.
I am not a strictly religious person, but being a Catholic by
upbringing, it is difficult to shake off certain feelings of the faith. So,
my Camino (which means “The
The Final Group
Way”), took on a sense of finding my
way back to my roots. Of the many
people of all nationalities whom I
encountered on the dusty roads and
tricky mountain tracks, very few were
taking the pilgrimage out of spiritual
motives. Yet most had a mission. One
German woman, a non-Catholic, had
just lost her husband to cancer. He had wanted to go to Santiago but
never could and her promise to him to make the journey was fulfilled.
60 year old Bernard from Chicago had not planned to walk, but only
to accompany his wife to Pamplona and fly back as soon as she got
going. She promptly broke her leg at Bilbao airport! Her ambition
thwarted, she insisted that he do it for her! He did, and on returning to
the USA started training for the diaconate!
One Australian, Len Cahill, whom I met up with at a monastery in the
Pyrenees mountains, became a particular friend. He was 75 years old,
but as fit as a fiddle. We shared the route most of the way.
I admit that I made every mistake possible. Leaving from Dover I
presented my passport to the French gendarme on the Ferry, who
politely welcomed me to France, but smilingly advised that I get my
11
passport updated for the next trip. It had expired six months earlier.
Landing at Calais with just minutes to spare I missed my high speed
train to Paris, and had to spend an extra night in the Capital. Oh, I
spoke neither French nor Spanish.
Perhaps the silliest thing was to carry a rucksack with too much stuff
in it – including a heavy Open University textbook. The weight at the
start was 15 kilograms. I jettisoned much of that, the book included,
pretty quickly.
The weather ranged from snow in the
Pyrenees, quite a lot of wind and rain,
Superior
and many days of blazing sun. Very
Accommodation!!!
few churches were open, due to
shortages of priests. Each day we
started at dawn and slept in albergues
which are special hostels for pilgrims.
After washing our clothes and
enjoying good food, each day was
analysed and chewed over in great companionship. I began to
appreciate Spanish wine. When we arrived at our destination, the
square in front of the great Cathedral was packed with tired and
exhausted but truly happy people. There was much meeting and
greeting. Most of us said, “ It was great, but never again”.
I have since done the Camino nine more times,
often on different routes! It is addictive.
At the Crus de Ferro generations of pilgrims
have built up a huge cairn at which prayers
are said.
12
Retirement Presentation to Ian and Anne …
… and some pictures of the social event at Logie House …
13
… and a special thank you to our friends from St Andrew’s who very
kindly helped out on the day.
14
Nazareth Hospital Bike Ride
The last bike ride in support of the Nazareth Hospital,
Galilee, Israel was in 2011, it was my 9th and I thought it was my last, as
we were told that there would be no more. But, having received
notification earlier this year that the Nazareth Trust was to bring back
the bike ride this year, I was tempted to round off my cycling career
with a 10th effort for the hospital which has meant so much to me over
the last couple of decades, and Robert has now decided to join me.
It all started 19 years ago when I was much younger and fitter - the
1997 bike ride challenged me and changed my life. I have cycled ‘Into
Galilee’, ‘Jerusalem to Nazareth’, ‘The Negev Desert’, ‘The Three Seas’
to name but a few, and have helped to raise money to build a new A&E
department, provide new labour beds, build a new dedicated School of
Nursing as well as a new state of the art operating suite. Large and
small, each project has benefitted and enhanced the care that patients
receive at ‘The English Hospital’, as it is affectionately known.
This year’s focus is the Paediatric Ward, which is in the
oldest part of the hospital and in major need of
extension and refurbishment. It is hoped that the ward
will be extended, complete with patient and family
bathrooms, a play area and a small education centre
where the young patients can do their school work
whilst in hospital.
UP to Nazareth
The ride itself will take place over 5 days in November from Mt Carmel
northwards, then along the Lebanon border before returning south
along the Jordan Valley to the Sea of Galilee. The last leg to Nazareth is
via Mt Tabor and UP to Nazareth. Please consider giving a donation
which will directly benefit the vital work of the hospital to the young
patients it sees on a daily basis.
Cycle The Galilee 2016
Ann-Marie Coleman
15
Junior Church Project
Bhopal Medical Appeal
Over the past two years, members of the Inverurie
West Junior Church have taken as their project the Bhopal Medical
Appeal. The Appeal aims to help care for the people of the city of
Bhopal in central India who were badly affected by the explosion in a
chemical plant in 1984, leaving many dead in the immediate aftermath
and many thousands more coping with the deforming effects of the
poisonous gas ever since.
On Sunday 26th June Laurie Flynn, the Chairperson of the Bhopal
Medical Appeal, joined the congregation for a service led by members
of the Junior Church. During the service, Laurie was presented with a
cheque for £3,500, which had been raised by Junior Church through a
variety of events including sponsored walks, a curry night and an
evening of Indian Dance.
Of course, along with the fundraising, the Junior Church have made us
all more aware of the situation in Bhopal, and through the drawings
and friendship bracelets sent, they have made their own connection
with the families there.
Junior Church Members
with Laurie Flynn (back
right) after the Sunday
Service marking the end
of Junior Church
session.
United Summer Services
West and St Andrew’s Churches, Inverurie
10.00 a.m. each Sunday
10th, 17th, 24th & 31st July in Inverurie West
7th, 14th, 21st & 28th August in Inverurie St Andrew’s
4th August 2016
Aberdeen International Youth Festival Thursday August 4th, 7.30pm
An evening of variety:
Two Scottish traditional music groups: Feis Ros and Treol;
A Norwegian all girl folk/pop group; and
The Opera North Youth Chorus.
Tickets from Rose Lane (ex Morgan's Music) 624629, or at the
door.
21st August 2016
We have been invited to join with our friends from St Andrew’s
Church at Haddo House for a summer barbecue. Further details
on time and cost will be advertised when available.