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Features and News
QUEEN’S JUBILEE
Please note that the Kirk Centre and Coffee Shop will be closed on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations
This year’s appeal is for Palestinian refugees in Southern Lebanon learning agricultural skills thanks to a farming project set up more than a decade ago near the city of Tyre. Money raised will go towards improvements to the building. If you have any used stamps please hand them in to the Kirk Centre Office or either church (please remember to leave a border round the stamp.
MARY’S MEALS
Do you shop in Tesco? If so, would you like to collect the “Vouchers for Schools” as these are being used to raise money for Mary’s Meals, the charity which EPC supported last year. There is a basket at the back of the church or you can hand the vouchers in to the Kirk Centre.
Thank you
WALKING GROUP
Fancy some exercise now the light nights are here again? Then why not come along and join the walking group. They meet at the Kirk Centre at 6.30p.m. every Wednesday evening (weather permitting!) More info from the Kirk Centre Office
E.P.C. TEA ROTA
Do you enjoy your “cuppie” and buttery after the service in Ellon Church? Can you help out on a rota basis? If you can, please give the Kirk Centre Office a ring and let them know.
HARD WORK, FUN and CELEBRATION!
HARD WORK and FUN!!
Not only do the twice monthly ‘Nearly New‘ sales continue to generate a huge amount of money for church funds, they also generate a great deal of fellowship amongst the dedicated band of volunteer staff and the public love to drop in for a browse and a chat if not to buy. Also, it’s a great opportunity to recycle pre-loved clothes; books; C.D’s/DVD’s; furniture; bric-a-brac and much more.
Many a bargain has been grabbed....nothing wrong with that! The same can be said of the extremely busy Coffee Shop which offers a haven for folk who feel a bit lonely and are awkward or shy about having a ’fly cup’ in a more ‘exposed’ restaurant. The volunteer and paid staff share a lot of fun along with the hard work and it filters through to our loyal customers.
HARD WORK, FUN and CELEBRATION
EPC has much to celebrate, for the launch of ‘COFFEE and CHAT’ last Friday was indeed a resounding success. Pam Adam our PPW and the Pastoral Care Team have had this on the back burner for a wee while. A great deal of thought and planning has gone in to ensure what was on offer was the right type of service for the parish and community of Ellon. This new venture is responding to a request from older people in the community after a very successful Christmas Carol Tea Party held in the church last
December.
The church is offering a much needed service to the community for there are many older people who feel isolated and would love to meet up for a ‘cuppie’ and a blether.
The Ellon Parish Church of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC008819. Two years ago Ellon Parish Church underwent a massive renovation project, involving the removal of pews to open up the sanctuary and the installation of under floor heating to keep the church at a pleasant temperature throughout the year. This project allows us to open the church for many more forms of min-istry other than Sunday worship.
We have worked closely with CLAN and hold a twice monthly “Time to Remember and Reflect” which is a time for anyone to come into the church for a time of peace and a time for thought. Of course the ubiquitous C of S cup of tea is on offer too!
CELEBRATION
We at EPC truly believe it is vital to show God’s face in the community and that’s exactly what we did when the 1st Ellon Companies of the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade joined together to rededicate themselves in an evening of great music, fun, presentations and reminders of what they are about. All this was in the company of friends and family (the church was filled to capacity!) many of whom have no connection with any church and were amazed at the power of the message they received from the Rev Stephen Emery, the officers, staff and members of both organisations.
Yes - hard work but oh, what a CELEBRATION and a great way to spread the GOOD NEWS of our Lord Jesus Christ!
EPC are never complacent.........the work goes on...........WHAT’S NEXT??!!
Just a wee post script.........On Sunday 25th March, the Rev Iain Thomson, Moderator of Gordon Presbytery accompanied by Mrs Thomson paid a very welcome visit to Ellon Parish Church as part of his Moderatorial Tour of churches within Presbytery.
1st Ellon Co. Boys’ Brigade were leading the service and Mr Dennis Chalmers was commissioned as their new Captain. It was very special for Dennis to have Jim Jamieson, President, Aberdeen & District Battalion The Boys’ Brigade; the Moderator of Presbytery and his own Parish Minister, Steve Emery jointly share in the laying on of hands as a prayer was offered.
AND...little did the Moderator realise that he would be involved in an extremely vigorous and competitive team race up and down the aisle to collect building blocks, the aim being to be the first team to complete a huge jig-saw of the B.B. badge.
Ahem...........The Moderator’s team didn’t win but he did receive an enormous, encouraging round of applause from the congregation as he flashed by in tornado fashion on his sprint!
He was certainly glad of some well earned refreshment at the close of worship
“COFFEE AND CHAT”
For more information speak with Pam Adam or Sheila Fraser or contact them c/o the Kirk Centre Office.
Keep It Green .........
Every member of Ellon Parish Church has a responsibility for safeguarding its finances. Generally we think of its income and encourage giving but this of course is only one side of the balance sheet, reducing expenditure is equally important.
One area where we are spending more than necessary is in the production of this newsletter. Costs for paper and ink mount up, coloured ink for pictures is particularly expensive and a huge annual saving could be made if more households received their copy electronically. By this means you can still read, store or discard each edition as you do with a paper copy but with email there is no paper and no ink.
Therefore if you have a computer and are happy to save the church money by using this system we would be grateful if you could supply your email address to thekirk@btinternet.com . Remember also that the Newsletter is also available from the website.
You will be kept informed of the progress of this venture.
Do you have any spare balls of wool?
If so, we have a lady in the congregation who would love to knit them into blankets etc. please hand on to Eileen Davidson or the Kirk Centre Office.
NURSING HOME VOLUNTEERS
As part of its service in the community, Ellon Parish Church has a rota of volunteers who visit various nursing homes once a month.
If you want to enjoy the companionship of the existing team and also the enjoyment of visiting the nursing homes please call The Kirk Centre Office on 01358 725690 or email thekirk@btinternet.com with your name and phone number and a member of the team will then contact you.
There is no set time schedule for these visits as they are undertaken at the volunteer's discretion. The rota is flexible and only involves one visit per month. Companionship on these visits is also available from fellow team members so there is no need to feel you have to visit on your own.
We look forward to hearing from future fellow volunteers for these enjoyable monthly outings.
Many Thanks
Care Home Visiting Team
“What makes the Church tick?”
Meetings are being planned for the near future.
If you are interested in joining the Church of Scotland here in Ellon Parish, please contact the Kirk Centre Office on 01358 725690 with your name and contact details.
Newsletters
Click on the month and the newsletter will open in a new window.
The keys for both churches are available from the Kirk Centre Office (opening hours 9am–12noon and 12.30pm-2.30pm, Monday to Friday). From 2.30pm on a Friday until 4pm on a Saturday they will be available in the Coffee Shop.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 13 – 19 MAY
Any donations for Christian Aid Week may be left in the Kirk Centre Office.
There is also a quiz on sale in the Coffee Shop - £1 per copy – prizes are FAIRTRADE goody bags
Friday, May 18th
11.00a.m. - Slater Court Communion Service
Sunday, May 20th
10.00am –Communion Service at Slains Kirk
Followed by a refreshment
10.00am – Sunday School will meet in the Community Centre at Collieston then join the congregation in church at the end of the service.
10.00am – Service at Ellon Parish Church – Reading – Acts 1:1-11
Followed by refreshment
Youngstars Children’s Church Groups meet as follows:
9.50am – Primary 1-7 meet in the Kirk Centre then join the congregation in church at close of worship.
10.00am - Preschool children meet in the Wee Chapel
11.30am – Chatroom for S 1-6 meet in the Kirk Centre
Tuesday, May 22nd
7.00pm – Newsletter Folding in the Coffee Shop
Wednesday, May 23rd
Newsletters will be available for uplift and delivery
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Thursday, May 24th
2.00p.m. – Auchtercrag Communion Service
1st Ellon Boys’ Brigade Company Section Annual Display and Presentation of Awards
at 7.30pm in Ellon Parish Church
Friday, May 25th
11.00a.m. –Meadowvale Communion Service
Please contact Pam Adam or Sheila Fraser c/o the Kirk Centre Office for more information.
Church of Scotland
Clann
“Clann” is the new Church of Scotland site for ministry to and with children. “Clann” is Gaelic for “children” . It’s pronounced a bit like clown, so I’m told - apologies to Gaelic speakers!
Go to the web site.
Moderator's Blog
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has his own personal blog to share his views on what his role as the Kirk's public face entails. Click here to visit the blog.
Public Relations Officer
Surprise, surprise!
2010 - A year of Mission. How to begin the new year? ..... With a bang, of course!
When I, as Public Relations Officer and Co-Convenor of the Education and Communication Group first approached groups (including my own) asking them to consider how they could sell what they are about I was met with gasps of horror and “we dinna dae much”... “what on earth could we put on a stall?” ... “We can’t show what we do” and “we haven’t got a clue what to do” etc.
So I sent them packing to have a think about it trying to reassure them that I’d come up with some bright idea if they were stuck. I ’m prone to opening my mouth before engaging my brain but there, too late - I’d said it!
Now this is where the surprise bit comes in .... Every single group surprised themselves, for when they had got heads together they came up with some brilliant ideas for setting out their stalls and the true surprise was in the realisation of just how much EPC does do. We are a busy, vibrant church - a church in the marketplace and have accepted the Mission Group’s challenge. we have learned about the Fruit of the Spirit and if, as the caption on the 2010 - a Year of Mission Calendar states, “A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUIT” then our church (the tree) is trying to be first class fruit and the showcase illustrated that we are prepared to BE and DO the work of the Spirit.
As I spoke with visitors after the service the same positive message came across. “What a great service, I’m pleasantly surprised at the welcome and at how folk got up from their seat and walked around” .... “Great atmosphere, very friendly” .... When I told them that apart from the dedication it’s what we always do, it was their turn to be surprised and a few said, “If this is what church is about then I’ll be back” these were just some of the comments and on the Monday morning I received many emails containing similar views. So well done EPC!
THANKS to you all for ‘pulling out the stops’
Lynn Paterson
Webmaster Postscript:
Did you know that 98% of the website content and 99% of all photographs are contributed by the PRO. Well done "Snappy".
Web Site Content Contributions
Contributions for inclusion on the web site are welcome from all. They are preferred electronically in the following media:-
Text in email or as Word attachments
Original size photographs (I'll take care of compresion and cropping for the website)
These are only preferences-whatever you have (Works, Publisher, pdf, etc), just send it in and we'll take care of it.
If you only have hard copy then no worries. Drop it off at the Kirk Centre office with your name and address, marked "Attention Webmaster" and we'll convert your conribution to electronic format and let you have the originals back promptly.
2010 - A year of Mission. How to begin the new year? ..... With a bang, of course! 