Our new sound and recording system enables services to be recorded. As a trial, these are being made available on the web site so that those unable to attend the service can still "participate" and enjoy the event. We hope you enjoy this facility. Any comments or suggestions can be sent to the Webmaster.
"Coming Home" Service 20 December 2009 (39 minutes)
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS - Loose Loot ~~~ A Smart Move ~~~The Knitters ~~~ Home Baking ~~~ Coffee mornings/evenings ~~~Sponsorship of chairs and flooring
Loose Loot jars may be handed in to the office at the Kirk Centre.
Smarties may be obtained at the office and returned there when tube is filled with 20pences or £1 coins
Home Baking - why not bake a few extras and bring them along to Ellon or Slains to sell after the service?
The Knitters—Morag Doak and Fiona Grant have their knitting needles at the ready . Just supply the wool and pattern and they will create that sweater for you for a donation to the Refurbishment Fund
MORE FUNDRAISERS .......
COOKERY BOOK
Plans are afoot to publish a Cookery book in aid of the Refurbishment fund and we would like copies of your tried and tested recipes.
These may be handed into the Kirk Centre or put into the baking bowl in the church at Ellon, by the end of March.
THANKS
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM 1st ELLON GIRLS’ BRIGADE
They raised £870 at their Coffee Morning and Sale on Saturday 31st January.
A wonderful effort considering the weather conditions.
Thanks to everyone for the support.
Art @ the Coffee Shop
Many thanks to those who donated paintings for the refurbishment project.
£250 was raised from this.
EPC Christmas Cards
Thanks to everyone who purchased the ‘Peace Window’ cards. The total raised was £269
GUESS MY BIRTHDAY
The birthday was 28th November but as no-one
guessed the correct date the nearest date was a draw, the winners being W. Jervis and Ros Johnstone. Thank you all very much for having a guess and making my £1 grow into a magnificent £82.74 for the Refurbishment Fund.
Thanks again April Walker
“THE KNITTERS”
Would you like to own a lovely hand knitted jumper, but don't know one
end of a knitting needle from the other?? Then don't despair! Fiona Grant
and Morag Doak will do your knitting for you. All you have to do is supply
the pattern and the wool. And all they ask in return is that you make a
donation to the Refurbishment Fund.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL…
By making a Will this November - or reviewing the Will you made some time ago - you can ensure that your family is provided for while helping the fundraising effort for the Kirk refurbishment.
Winchesters, Solicitors, Ellon have agreed to waive their fees in return for a donation to the Kirk Refurbishment Fund.
Tubes of Smarties will be available before and after worship at Ellon and Slains or from the office in the Kirk Centre. Please take one and once you have enjoyed the contents fill the tube with £12 of 20p coins or 35 X £1 coins then return to The Kirk Centre. For further information contact Lynn Paterson on 01358 761455 or e-mail ianlynnpat@aol.com
Fill a Jar For Refurbishment
Eileen and Ron Davidson are urging you to search in your jacket pockets
and those corners of your purse or wallet for loose change. Why not collect coins in a jar
for the Refurbishment Project? It’s amazing how a few coins can mount up!
Filled jars may be handed in to The Kirk Centre Office. For further information contact Eileen or Ron on 01358 720330
Still plenty of room for any user group of the church or the halls to help raise our target figure of £200,000
We look forward to seeing you at our next sale on Saturday 13th February 2010 10.00am - 12.30pm in the Kirk Centre
Items may be handed into the Kirk Centre between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the Friday prior to sale.
If you have ever wondered what happens to unsold goods, don’t worry nothing is discarded or wasted. We donate items to The New Hope Trust and everything is distributed from their depot.
PRESENT AID
Present Aid catalogues will be available in the Kirk Centre on the small tablenear the office door and in the hall when teas are being served on Sunday mornings.
Please take one and consider this as an alternative way to give a gift
while helping those in need.
ELLON PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND DRAMA GROUP
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
The Pantomime Group are currently looking for a new Musical Director, to
work with the cast in the run up to and for the shows in December. If you would like a new challenge and a bit of fun, are adaptable, creative,
imaginative and game for a laugh and very, very patient - then you could be
just who we are looking for!
If you are interested or would like more information please contact Ann Reid
on 01358 721922.
New Purpose Built Care and Dementia Home at Rubislaw Park in Aberdeen which opened in August 2009
Rubislaw is a state of the art £6 million 64-place facility. There is a specific remit to provide specialist dementia care to 40 older people as well as 24 residential places, with all the rooms having full en-suite facilities.
Not only do statistics tell us that dementia is an increasing demographic, but Aberdeen City Council have a need to increase this provision and are supportive of the CrossReach development. It is important that individuals with dementia are cared for in safe and appropriate surroundings – ones that meet the specific needs that this degenerative condition requires.
CrossReach has been working for some years on developing a new facility that will exceed legislative and social care standards, whilst continuing to meet the needs of older people in the area.
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CIRCLE OF CARE MAGAZINES and PRAYER LETTERS are available from The Kirk Centre. A sample of the Circle of Care Calendar may be viewed on the main notice board in the Kirk Centre along with order details. The Christmas Collection is available to order by telephone: 0131 4544374 or online at www.crossreach.org.uk
Kenya sweeps away top-ranked police
The government in Kenya has replaced almost all of the country's most senior police officers in what analysts say could be the start of major reform. Human rights groups blame the police for much of the killing that took place during violence that followed elections in 2007.
Source: BBC NEWS The Presbyterian Church of East Africa is the partner church of the Church of Scotland in Kenya
Africa Boesak urges Christians to challenge destructive' global system.
Christians have an obligation to take a stand against a system that wreaks destruction on societies in the service of a small number of elites, a churches' meeting in South Africa has been told. Addressing a consultation near Johannesburg this month organised by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), Professor Allan Boesak of Stellenbosch University described this system as "empire". This is an "all-encompassing global reality serving, protecting and defending the interests of powerful corporations, nations, elites and privileged people, while imperiously excluding, even sacrificing humanity and exploiting creation". It is driven, Boesak claims, by "a pervasive spirit of destructive self-interest, even greed - the worship of money, goods and possessions". Its gospel is one of "consumerism, proclaimed through powerful propaganda". WARC groups 214 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United churches in 107 countries, together accounting for 75 million Christians.
Source: Ecumenical News International
Please pray for all our Mission Partners, some of whom are dealing with family concerns and responsibilities at the moment. Pray for all Mission Partners for the furtherance of their work with church partners and organisations worldwide. Pray for their health and well-being; give thanks for their commitment and faith.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE GUILD?
This year we are starting a new 3 year theme based on Micah 6:8
“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
This year we have been Called to Act Justly. How can you join in?
We have been asked to support 6 projects which will make a difference to Justice, Mercy and Humility in our hearts, in our church, in Scotland, and even in the world.
These projects are asking us for prayer, publicity and finally financial support.
CROSSREACH - ON THE OTHER SIDE - SCOTLAND
HIV/AIDS PROJECT - A NEW HUNGER - VARIOUS COUNTRIES
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION - TERRIFY NO MORE - CAMBODIA
MINISTRIES COUNCIL - A PLACE FOR HOPE - UK
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP - MISSION RUN – MADAGASGAR
WORLD MISSION COUNCIL - INTERFAITH SUPPORT - ISRAEL/PALESTINE
More information on these projects is available on the Church of Scotland web site or contact me, Catriona McIntyre on 01651 842338, emailcatriona@millofallathan.co.uk. I would be delighted to let you know what is going on in neighbouring Guilds.
As you will have noticed in an earlier copy of the Newsletter we in EPC are looking to set up a Library within the Kirk Centre detailing as much information as possible on EPC and its surrounding area.
If you have anything to loan which may be of interest—photos, newspaper cuttings memorabilia etc. we would be most grateful. A BIG thank you to those who have gifted or loaned items for the project.
We are still on the look out for as much information or publications as possible and to that end this is just a gentle reminder to all members of the congregation and public who might still have documentation of any description that you feel would be of interest of the Church.
If you have any old materials or books etc that you would like to donate to this Library I would be grateful if you could hand them into the Office within the Kirk Centre.
Ann M Gammack
Session Clerk
Creche
A note for all parents wishing to use the crèche (or anyone who knows families that would use a crèche facility).
Please advise the Ellon Parish Church of Scotland office in the Kirk Centre of your name and telephone number and the amount of children you would like to use the crèche.
The following is an extract from a letter printed in previous newsletters referring to the Hospital Chaplaincy and the Data Protection Act. As some people remain uncertain of the procedure, it is worth a re-print.
If you land in hospital and wish your ministers to visit the responsibility for letting them know is yours and yours alone.
This will fall broadly into one of two categories. If your admission is pre-planned then you can inform the minister of the date you are going in, which ward you will be in and how long you expect to be there. On the other hand if you are admitted as an emergency then at the earliest opportunity inform your minister yourself or authorise someone else to do this for you. If you fail to do any of these and are not visited then do not blame the ministers for they quite simply will not know of your situation.
A problem can arise when where a well meaning friend, without permission, informs the ministers that someone is in hospital and would be “better of a visit.” This cannot be acted on for, depending on the circumstances, the minister at that time may be the last person the patient wants to see! The patient’s permission is essential.
It is hoped that sooner or later common sense will prevail and ministerial support for the ill will again become straightforward, but meantime we have a national problem that will require a national solution and that unfortunately will take time.
Dr Charles S Burgess
Calling All Knitters
Project Linus was named after the security blanket toting character in the Peanuts comic strip. His creator, the late Charles Schulz, was pleased to have Linus inspire blanket makers to help sick and traumatised children.
The project originated in America, December 1995 when Karen Loucks saw a newspaper article showing how much a comfort blanket had helped a child cancer victim and decided to organise blankets for the Denver Rocky Mountain Children's’ Cancer Centre and started spreading the word. Since that time over 2,300,000 blankets and quilts have been delivered worldwide.
Project Linus arrived in Scotland in October 2001. .In N.E. Scotland most blankets are distributed through hospitals but occasionally, we have requests for individual children who may be seriously ill, disabled, traumatised or otherwise in need and are being cared for at home. We also do not exclude children in the family of a sick sibling or parent - terminal illness is traumatic for the healthy children as well, so, where we can, we will ensure they get the ’comfort’ they need.
How You Can Help:
Make a quilt or blanket and donate it to Project Linus UK (via Ellon Parish Church of Scotland Mission Group)
Donate supplies such as fabric, wool, office supplies and postage stamps.
Spread the word! Encourage your friends to get involved too.
TO GET YOU STARTED HERE ARE TWO KNITTED BLANKET PATTERNS
for more patterns and informationvisit Project Linus website.
Unwanted Items
Do you have any old mobile phones, jewellery, foreign coins or stamps etc.?
These items can all be turned into cash and the proceeds given to the National Bible Society.
There will be boxes available at the back of both churches for you to put your items into, or hand them into the Kirk Centre Office.
2010 – A Year of Mission In Gordon Presbytery
The E.P.C. Mission Group has drawn up a calendar for the next year. Throughout 2009 we learned about the Fruit of the Spirit. Now it’s time for action - now is the time To Do and To Be .
At the beginning of the year all the church groups and organisations will have the opportunity to showcase what they do at an Open House. They will set out their stalls showing what they have done, what they are doing and what they have planned for the future. This is our chance to be the church in the market place, so the groups will sell their news. This will be a springboard to launch a year full of activity. This will walk hand in hand comfortably with our refurbishment, for what better way to promote ourselves, to show the community what is on offer. We are a busy, bustling vibrant church and we are there for the entire community of Ellon and way beyond - out into a parish covering 82 square miles.
Journey with us as we travel through 2010 - A Year of Mission. Each month different groups will focus on a Fruit of the Spirit. We look forward to the adventure and welcome you aboard.
2010 YEAR OF MISSION CALENDAR
FEBRUARY - GENTLENESS
Candlelit Supper: 13th February - Rotary/Mission Group/Coffee Shop
Guide 100th Thinking Day Service: 21st February - Helen Simpson & Girl Guiding U.K
Fairtrade Fortnight: 22nd Feb – 22nd March- Fairtrade Team – possibly speaker on the Sunday
Do Something for Lent - All Congregation
MARCH - LOVE
5th: World Day of Prayer -Elaine Henderson/Worship Group
28th: Palm Sunday Walk - Youngstars
Holy Week: Church Open - Pastoral Care/Flower Committee/Worship Team
APRIL - KINDNESS
Easter Breakfast - Coffee Shop
Easter Services - Ministry/Worship Group
MAY - SELF-CONTROL
Christian Aid Week 9-15th May Isobel White/Mission Group
From the North-East to Ghana Speaker - Melinda Stewart
Girls’ Brigade Display
Boys’ Brigade Displays
JUNE - FAITHFULNESS
Family Picnic and Service: 13th June - Mission Group/Youngstars/Chatroom
If dry hold service and picnic in Deer Park – if wet hold everything in church
JULY - HUMILITY
Holidays!! Rest, Relaxation & Meditation
AUGUST - PRAYER
Rest, Relaxation & Meditation
SEPTEMBER - PEACE
World Day of Peace: 21st September - Mission Group
OCTOBER - GOODNESS
Let’s Celebrate: 1st October - Ministry/B.B. and G.B.
Harvest/Flower Festival/Fairtrade/Music - Mission Group/ Schools/Flower Committee/Fairtrade Group/Director of Music
NOVEMBER - HOPE
Remembrance - Ministry/British Legion
St. Andrew’s Songs of Praise: 28th -Director of Music/Choir/Band
OTHER “THINGS”
~ Nearly New ~ Fit Faith ~ Remember and Reflect ~ Crèche ~
~ Prayer Group ~ Newsletter ~ Social Club ~
~ Scottish Country Dancing ~ B.B Christmas Card Deliver ~
~ Coffee Shop ~
This Calendar will appear every month in the newsletter, the intimations, the press and it will be posted in side and outside the Kirk Centre. Please note what is planned and come ...
be part of it!
