Church Magazine - 173 - June/July 1999
Dear Friends - From the Minister
Breaking the Chain - Jubilee 2000
Nurturing the Body - Building the Kingdom
Jeremy and Laurel Sanderson
Open Door - Points for Prayer
Puzzle Page
In Brief - News of People
Dates for your Diary
Church Finances
Dear Friends,
In recent weeks our elders and pastoral assistants have been considering very important issues in the life and witness of our congregation. We are taking our time to digest the findings from our very helpful conference held on April 25th facilitated by Dr John Swinton. He gave it the excellent title: "Nurturing the Body, Building the Kingdom".
These are clearly challenging, even difficult days in which to be the church in an area like Tillydrone. Are some of us in danger of slipping into discouragement? The summer months can present their own kind of challenge. In some congregations an observer could conclude from reduced numbers and the absence of children that God goes on holiday in July and August! We are one of the few congregations in the city which do not stop their evening services in the summer, and I would invite you to consider coming to them for they are different from the morning ones.
It is precisely because God does not go on holiday in the summer that we have been allocated a summer assistant again. He is Jeremy Sanderson, and he has brought his wife Laurel here: they introduce themselves elsewhere in this issue. Jeremy is going into the 3rd year of his divinity course in the Presbyterian Church’s Seminary in Vancouver, Canada, and he is looking forward to being in a very different kind of Christian context. It will be even more of a culture shock when he and Laurel go to St Petersburg in July (please pray for their Russian visas).
These past few months have been full of political change and human trauma. There has been the election of members to the new Scottish Parliament. Leaders have changed in countries like Israel, Nigeria and South Africa and other nations face many uncertainties over their government. The appalling war in Kosovo is only one of many across the face of our world, with all the ensuing desperate human tragedy, costly destruction of communities, economies and environmental and cultural heritages.
Several weeks ago in an evening service we considered the hard question: " Why does God allow war?" Now we are studying the prophecy of Habbakuk, where we read of other questions for God: Why? How long…? How can You…? Such a book is so relevant for today, revealing as it does the agonised praying of a servant of God. Habbakuk was not chided by God, and I believe He permits us to ask such difficult questions too. Habbakuk, however, could also affirm his faith in these words: "Lord, from the very beginning You are God. You are my God, holy and eternal, Lord, my God and Protector …." (Hab 1:12 GNB) Can we say the same?
With all good wishes to all who read our magazine (and who access it on our web site), and loving prayer,
Shirley A. Fraser
On
Saturday June 12 , thousands of people converged on the centre of Edinburgh in what was
certainly one of the largest demonstrations Scotland has ever seen. Why? In order to
persuade the leaders of the world’s richest countries that the mountainous, unpayable
debts owed by the world’s poorest countries must be cancelled by the end of the year
2000. The demonstration, held by the Jubilee 2000 campaign, focussed public attention on
the G8 summit being held in Cologne on Saturday June 19.
Last year, 70,000 people joined hands to encircle the G8 leaders in Birmingham - and forced debt onto the G8 agenda. This year, the fine words of May 1998 must be translated into meaningful action. So what happened on June 12? Throughout the morning, people gathered in or around Princes Street Gardens. Between noon and 1 pm they formed a vast human chain to encircle the Castle and the gardens - and then, on the signal of the one o’clock gun, they linked hands before breaking to celebrate by singing, shouting, blowing whistles, banging drums ... in other words, generating a huge noise! Twelve cyclists then set off on their journey from Scotland’s capital city to Cologne, taking a special petition to present to the G8 leaders.
The human chain symbolised the chain of debt experienced by the world’s poorest countries; one which blights the future of more than a billion people world-wide. But it also represented the links which bind people in the wealthy northern hemisphere to those in the southern one, where poverty is a way of life.
Anyone who can imagine the situation of a teenager in Honduras who has recently lost a home, a family and a future should be part of demonstrations like those held in Edinburgh on June 12. We must make a debt-free start for a billion people a reality as we enter the new millennium.
Adapted from Jubilee 2000 campaign material
Nurturing the Body, Building the Kingdom
Recently the church leadership have been thinking about our vision for the future. At our conference for elders and pastoral assistants Dr John Swinton facilitated some stimulating discussion focussing on "The way we were", "The way we are" and "The way we could be". A number of points came out of our (far too brief!) discussion around what is best for the future. Some of the main strategies considered were as follows:Deeper community involvement.
There was a good deal of concern expressed about the lack of contact between St George’s and the local community. Various suggestions were put forward as to how best this gap might be addressed:
Ownership - it was felt that there was a need for the congregation to feel more ownership of the church. Those in leadership should think about how the congregation can be inspired to become more involved in what goes on in church. There is a need for more encouragement of ideas arising from the congregation.
House groups and other small groups- to begin to develop this important area of fellowship and mission.
Parents and Toddlers - to think through strategies to enable young parents within the community to become a part of this group.
Worship - People expressed the view that we need to focus on making our worship services more enjoyable. There was discussion on the variable quality of the singing and how this could be improved. It was felt that the establishment of a Worship Planning Group with a remit to look at the area of worship might be worthwhile.
The discussions continue and we would value your prayers and views about how we take action on these ideas.
Alan Duncan (modified from notes by John Swinton)
Jeremy
Sanderson is our new summer assistant from Canada. He and and his wife Laurel introduce
themselves:
He Said:
Laurel and I both come from Calgary, Alberta in Canada. It has been our home for a long while, at least until recently when we moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, so I could attend Seminary.
Laurel and I are alike in many ways: we both grew up in Christian homes, went to school and university in Calgary, enjoyed outdoors and having fun. But we also have our differences. My idea of a good time is a good book, soft music and a fireplace. Laurel would rather be chasing a soccer (football) ball down a field and scoring a crucial goal! But then, we met through the mail …. Ah, the power of words!
I guess I should say a bit about that… Laurel had gone to Russia for a year to teach English. So had my best friend. Well, as mail was scarce, it got shared around. One thing led to another, and soon Laurel and I were pen-pals, and them some!
This summer is a bit of a dream for the two of us. I have always wanted to come to Scotland and to serve the church is a huge bonus. Laurel has always had a love for Russia. And after her year there, she’s looked to return. And return she shall (with me timidly following in her wake). For July, we will travel to St Petersburg where we will teach English and engage in Christian witness. So there you have it; dreams do come true!
She said:
A frequently asked question is "Do you have Scottish roots?" Yes we do. My family is Polish on my father’s side and Scottish/Welsh on my mother’s. My kilt is my grandmother’s (Macallum tartan). Jeremy’s heritage is English on his mother’s side and Scottish/Norse on his father’s. Scottish traditions have been revived in my family and we celebrate Burn’s Night in style with haggis, neaps and tatties. Jeremy is fond of his Scottish roots, so for a wedding gift, I bought him a kilt: MacDonald of Glengary (apparently he’s a subsidiary of this clan). Bagpipes have also been popular in Jeremy’s home with his father and brother both being pipers in the Calgary Police Pipe Band. I’m waiting for Jeremy to take up the pipes himself. So if you hear a racket from 2c, it may not just be the children playing!
Points for Prayer
Muriel Collie
News of People
We rejoice with Tom and Sarah on the birth of their first child, James Sunderland.
On May 23rd, Simon Craik’s baptism took place, with Rev Colin Strong (Mid-Craigie, Dundee) conducting the service.
It was with great sadness that Eileen Marnoch’s death was announced. She had had a long courageous battle against cancer, and our sympathy goes out to her husband John, and her daughter, Amanda and her family who are now back in Tillydrone.
The Donald family is
settling in well in Wemyss, in Fife. The photograph shows them (minus Ashleigh) standing
in front of the garden shed. Our farewell gift to them went towards its purchase and the
Donalds have sent their thanks to all who contributed.
At the end of June, our Careforce volunteer, Helen McDougall, will also be leaving us, after her busy time in Tillydrone and St G’s. We will thank Helen at our all-age service on June 27th, and wish her every blessing and God’s leading for the next step in her life.
In September, we hope to welcome another Careforce volunteer, Ezra Okoti from Kenya, who is already experienced in youth work. He will live in "2c". If anyone would like to send him an e-mail, his address is: WOLNBI@MAF.org (subject = Ezra Okoti) and his postal address is P.O. Box 29120, Nairobi, Kenya. Pray that he will obtain a visa without any hitch (remember Markus’ difficulty?).
We also pray for the congregation of Bridge of Don: Oldmachar, now without its minister. Graham Black has not been well for some time, and has had to resign. Remember Graham, Hazel and their family as they look for a new home.
On May 16th, Andy Hay
took his leave of St George’s after living in "2c" and giving much to our
Church life in many ways. He has moved to Belfast to teach and he and Jackie are to
be married on June 30th in Bearsden Baptist Church. Andy’s father will
marry them and Ron McDowell will conduct the service. We wish them God’s richest
blessing in their life together.
One of our Assessor Elders, Jim Hay, has moved back north after a time in Abbeyfield care in Edinburgh. He is now in Annesley Nursing Home, Torphins, AB31 4HL as he has become quite frail of late. This move brings him closer to his N.E. roots, and to his son Ian in Ballater.
Recently, Shirley has had contact with Sommai and Arroonsri Priprem in Thailand. Sommai now has two administrative posts in the University of Khon Kaen, and Arroonsri has a new job at the University’s Academic Secretariat. They are planning to move Ming (13) to another school, nearer home. They miss St George’s and ask us to pray for them.
It was a surprise to discover that Manok Ro, with Seong and Miriam, is back in UK, this time in Bristol. She is hoping to finish her PhD at Cardiff University.
This summer some of our friends serving abroad will be home for brief visits: Ian and Fay Kirby from Kyrgistan for the birth of their third child; Rhona Cruickshank is having a break in Burghead where her parents now live.
We rejoice to hear of the safe arrival of a second daughter for our missionary partners, Mike and Jane Fucella. Ailie was born on May 28th, in Edinburgh. Their address is 2 Grange Loan Gardens, EH9 2EB.
Cathie
Aberdour has been given a motorbike. In early June she will be taking this by boat up
the Purus River (which will take a week!) The motor bike will help Cathie reach some of
the more remote Apurina with whom she hopes to run literacy courses.
Jane Howitt (Latvia) will be involved in summer camps with Scripture Union again this year.
Karel Matejka (Czech Republic), our Bursar is not leaving Aberdeen quite yet, as he has a dissertation to write in order to complete his degree. He very much enjoyed being able to attend the General Assembly in Edinburgh in May, thus sharing in the historic opening of the Scottish Parliament.
Dr John Swinton, a lecturer in Practical Theology at Aberdeen University, will be ordained during the Presbytery Licensing service to be held in Summerhill Parish Church, Stronsay Drive on Thursday 24th June 1999 at 7.30 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Frances White, a member of Elim Church, has started a group for Christian singles, and asks for it to be made known. Details about the Aberdeen Christian Social Group can be obtained from George.
Friendship Hour. The last meeting in June (24th) will take the form of a bus trip and there may be spaces for non-members. Please contact Mary Ross. Friendship Hour will resume on Sept 23rd.
Prayer Chain. We are always glad to welcome new people onto the church’s "Prayer Chain". For details, ask Mary Ross.
Vacancies in the Alexander Terrace Flat for two Christian males, one from 1/9/99 and the other from 1/10/99. Rent: £75 per month. Please ask Shirley for details.
| Sun 27th June | 11.15 |
Celebration service for all ages (Summer Sunday Club from July 4th – Aug 29th) |
| Sun 18th July | 11.15 6.30 |
Rev Paul Mumo Karel Matejka |
| Sun 1st,8th,15th Aug 11.15 and 6.30 |
Jeremy Sanderson, Summer Assistant (Shirley on holiday July 29th – Aug 19th) |
|
| Sun 12th Sept | 6.30 |
Bruce and Sarah Clark, who have been working with SERVE in Pakistan and Afghanistan. |
££££ Church Finances ££££ We encourage you to consider your giving at this time in the light of our reduced income. To put you in the picture, at the end of April our givings total was £6,063. This time last year the givings were £7,224. Expenditure is well under control: at the end of April it was £7,000 as compared to a figure this time last year of £11,500. We still have a debt to 121 George Street of £13,200. We hope this information will prove helpful and that you will continue to support the Church’s work through your generous giving. Des Chrystal |
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 18 July 1999. Thanks to Ray Hepburn, Dorothy Irvine and Helen McDougall for regular help with photocopying, folding etc. Web site mastered by George McLeod at Tillybin.
Open Door