Dear Friends,

“Can a leopard change its spots?” is a well known saying (found in the Bible at Jeremiah 13:23). Can Alexander Terrace change? Some of you remember its existence as Kilgour Avenue, and lived through the hoped-for transformation assisted by a change of name. Now we hear of some money from the Housing Department being allocated to improve housing stock and amenities in Alexander Terrace, together with Hayton Road and Formartine Road. This is in large measure the result of the campaigning by Ter Action, and all credit to its workers. As a church we want to see the parish of Tillydrone being revitalised. Having two of the tenancies in Alexander Terrace, we have a particular interest in the well –being of those who live in the area.

Nowadays, some question the relevance of a church having a “parish” responsibility, but I am glad of it, as I believe we in St George’s have much to offer everyone living in Tillydrone. Many may not know that… and so we are presented with a huge challenge. One of the observations made at our recent Elders’ and Pastoral Assistants’ discussions was our awareness of not really knowing our parish as we should. We need to be involved in as many aspects of life in Tillydrone as possible. We want to work for the good of people in Tillydrone in every way. We are called to be salt and light in Jesus’ terms in Matt 5:13-16. Would it be a help to some who do not live in Tillydrone if we were to arrange a parish tour? Are we open to taking part in regular “prayer walks” in it?

Another question we are considering is how to mark the Millennium. One possibility is to give every Primary School a special edition of a Gospel. Have you any other suggestions which will help people in Tillydrone to connect the Millennium with the coming of our Saviour – for them? Our esteemed magazine editor, Alan Duncan, often pleads for some “feedback” about its content, and I echo that plea: In this letter, I’ve given you two questions to consider: are there any replies?

Wishing you blessing and refreshment in the summer months, especially if you are unable to have a holiday.

Today, I serve with Word of Life as a full time staff member. These past six years in full-time ministry have been fulfilling. I’ve seen God’s hand working in people’s lives - it’s a dynamic experience. Aside from that, I have a soft spot for theatre and soccer. Manchester United did the British fans proud - but I guess you’d be happier if it were Aberdeen F.C.....right?!

It’s two weeks now since I left Aberdeen. It’s been quite strange not being able to drop in on you. Thank you for all the gifts, cards and cake. Well .... it was a nightmare moving back into my flat. Unpacking boxes, (especially everything I gathered in Aberdeen). Reflecting on the past 10 months, I think of the many friends that I have met – people I had the privilege of contacting. I also think of the great potential I saw in people. I must say I am really blessed.

Exciting news! I’ve got a job (hooray). It’s at the Lodging House Mission in Glasgow and I’ll be acting as a Visitor Support Worker. It’s working with homeless people and I start in August. Thank you for all your prayer. I know you will keep me in your thoughts. I’ll close now.

Helen

What do you think of Tillydrone as a place to live? A walk through its streets is enough to convince most people that the housing is in sore need of upgrading. That was certainly the conclusion that led a group of local residents to form an action group called Ter Action to put pressure on the powers that be to make Tillydrone a better place to live. In an ambitious initiative, the group were involved in putting together a bid for Scottish Office funding to upgrade housing stock in Tillydrone. The price tag for the work? £23 million! The news in February of this year that the bid had been turned down came as a bitter blow to Ter Action activists and the residents of Tillydrone on whose behalf they act. Since then, there has been some consolation in the news that £1.6m is to be spent on the renovation of housing in Alexander Terrace, Hayton Road and Formartine Road. Even more recently a further initiative has been announced; £20,000 has been raised to fund the setting up of a shop unit in Tillydrone Shopping Centre to provide a focus for further community based action. The shop will be jointly funded by the Great Northern Partnership, Scottish Homes and the Council and should provide a boost to future housing regeneration plans. The next National Housing Bid is scheduled for 2002 and the newly established shop will give the opportunity for local people to be involved in developing an excellent bid next time round.

Meanwhile, Ter Action has shifted its focus to become more involved in wider community initiatives from its HQ at 2 Alexander Terrace (the same stair as our legendary church flat). Great Northern Partnership funds the community flat which now boasts computer facilities, creche facilities and a part-time employee. Ter Action have just published their first newsletter which along with the newly revamped Tilly Tattle should provide a useful source of information on what’s going on in the community.

Open Door

Points for Prayer

• Pray that our minister, Shirley Fraser, will have a relaxing holiday and return refreshed and strengthened for the busy months ahead.
• Pray that a visa will be granted to Ezra Okoti from Kenya so that he will be able to join us as our Careforce worker for the next year.
• Continue to pray that our summer assistant and his wife, Jeremy and Laurel Sanderson, will have a fruitful ministry as they spend the month of August in Tillydrone.
• Pray for organisations and groups preparing to resume after the summer break, remembering especially the needs of the Junior Church.
• Continue to pray for troubled countries where there is war and famine. Pray for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.

Muriel Collie

Puzzle Page

Snippets

Brief news of people and events

There are vacancies for 2 Christian males in the church’s 2c Alexander Terrace flat, one from 1^st Sept, 1999 and the other from 1^st Oct, 1999. We will be saying goodbye to two of its tenants toward the end of August: Jeremy and Laurel Sanderson (who have done so much work improving it!) and at the end of September, Erastus Lufungulo, returning to Tanzania.

Ian and Fay Kirby recently returned to Scotland for the birth of their third child. The baby has now arrived, a boy called Andrew.

Congratulations to Andrew Bromiley and Susan Macmillan on their marriage on August 7^th in Fetteresso Church, Stonehaven.

Following previous successes we are going to have another Scots Night on August 20th with live music led by Don and his group; dancing; light refreshments. Anyone is welcome, and lifts can be arranged. Don’t miss it!

Zelie (nee Appleton) and Richard now living in Brussels have had a baby girl called Keziah.

Aberdeen University are again offering places on their Christian Studies Programme. Courses for this year include studies of St Mark’s Gospel, Jesus in His Social Setting and Near Eastern Faiths. The courses are run in 12 week modules and classes are in the evenings or at week-ends. For further details and a prospectus call Elaine Cameron.

St Andrew’s Boness Church are organising a “Scottish Cathedrals Cycle Challenge” scheduled for June 2000. The event will raise money for development of the use of multi-media resources in worship. The cycle ride will call in at important Scottish Cathedrals. For further info.

The 6th Christian Resources Exhibition will take place at the SECC, Glasgow from 9th - 11th September, 1999. According to the publicity this is “your once in three year chance to get up to date with the very latest resources”. Entry is free. For more details.

Church Finances are still in an unhealthy state. We are well down on our income for the same time last year. Please do review your giving. If you have a bank account, please think about taking out a covenant, however small. It has dual benefit: (1) it’s not so easy to forget to give (2) we get money back from the tax man. For further details, speak to Muriel Collie
Alan Duncan

As you can see, the magazine has had a make-over. The idea was to give it a more modern feel. Any comments on style or content would be most welcome. If you feel inspired by the dashing new design why not write a short article. Always a good idea to speak to the editor about your ideas before putting pen to paper.

Andy Hay and Jackie Hamilton were married in Bearsden Baptist Church last month. The wedding got off to a slow start with crucial members of the bridal party getting caught in traffic in the Clyde Tunnel. Once underway the wedding was very special.

Church of Scotland News

It's Definitely a Hit!

In one week in May, 4699 people visited the Church of Scotland Internet sites. The figures collated by the Church's Internet adviser, the Rev Iain Morrison of Linlithgow, show that in one year the total reached 234,000. There are 183 ministers listed with Email - considerably more than the three registered three years ago. Seventy-four congregations are listed as having Internet pages.

Musical Minister's Canadian Honour

One of the Church of Scotland's best known hymn-writing ministers, the Rev John Bell from the Iona Community's Wild Goose Resource Group, has been asked to run a series of seminars and workshops for the Presbyterian Church in Canada in November. Earlier this year, his work was recognised by the Canadian Church when they conferred the E.H. Johnson Award on him at their general assembly, 'to honour the work and missionary spirit' of 'Ted' Johnson, a missionary who served in Manchuria, China, until 1941. Born in Kilmarnock in 1949, John's ministry began in Amsterdam where he was an associate minister. He then became Youth Advisor to Glasgow Presbytery and Youth Co-ordinator for Iona Community before taking up his post with Wild Goose, - set up to encourage new initiatives in worship. Convener of the Kirk's Panel on Worship, John will be awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music in Glasgow Cathedral, in September.

Medical Charity Moves to Carberry

The medical charity Care for Mission (CFM) is to move from rural Berwickshire to Carberry Tower, the Christian conference centre near Musselburgh, at the end of June. Founded in 1983 by Mike and Liz Jones, the charity provides health care for missionaries and full time Christian workers. A clinic with residential units was developed and referrals grew with nearly 200 patients being drawn from about 100 agencies including the Church of Scotland and Scottish Baptist Church. The founders contacted Carberry warden the Rev Jock Stein last October and, within months, a feasibility study had been completed. As a result, the clinic will be housed in Carberry Tower for about a year and funds released by the sale of its Berwickshire properties will be used to renovate part of the Elphinstone Wing at Musselburgh, as a new clinic and counselling centre.

General Assembly Quotes

“Thank you for the warmth and friendship and the support shown to my late father throughout his ministry. Today I feel guided by his faith and yours. When the history of the crusade to help the world's poor is written, one of its finest chapters will detail and honour the commitment of all denominations of churches in Britain.” - The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown, a son of the manse addressing the General Assembly.

“Are we as a church happy to decline in comfort, to die, suitably sedated with a large infusion of traditional Presbyterian jargon and ritual? Or are we willing, against all predictions, to take bold steps towards radical transformation of our structures? Time will tell, though time is not on our side.” - The Rev Professor George Newlands, retiring convener, Panel on Doctrine.

“It is no time for self doubt. This is not a time for divisions. We can find new ways, our ways, Scotland's ways for this nation in this century. At best they will be God's ways. Ways of love and peace. Ways of the future, ways of hope and of promise.” - The Moderator, the Rt Rev John Cairns in his General Assembly sermon.

Church Telephone Directory
The church magazine in print includes a list of telephone numbers of contact persons within the church. We do not intend publishing this on our web site - however if you would like a copy, please e-mail George and we will gladly send you one.

From the editor...
Many of you submit articles which you have typed on computers. You then print them off and give them to me. I then type them in again. It would make my job much easier if you could give me the disks (in any PC format) and the paper. I'm quite happy to return disks later.

St George's-Tillydrone magazine is edited by Alan Duncan. The church web site is at http://www.ifb.co.uk/~tillybin/stgeorge. Submissions are welcome by email, on disk or on paper (in that order of preference). Contributions may be edited. Copy date for the next magazine is 19 October 1999. Thanks to Ray Hepburn and Dorothy Irvine for regular help with photocopying, folding etc. Web site mastered by George McLeod at Tillybin.