District News

Alyth

Church Morning worship on Sunday was conducted by Rev Mike Erskine. Morning worship on Sunday this week begins at the usual time of 11am. During term time, the Sunday school for children over age three meets in the front pews of the church. All welcome. A crèche for under threes is available during every Sunday morning service. The Prayer Group meets on Thursdays in Burnside Court Lounge at 10.30am. Choir rehearsal is every Friday at 6.45pm. New members welcome. The church website, www.alythparishchurch.org. uk, is updated weekly. Family History Project The Project is open in Alyth Parish Church from 2-4pm every Sunday until Remembrance. New photos are always welcome, which are copied and returned. The archive contains thousands of records for baptisms, weddings, burials plus maps, newspapers etc. Admission free. Enquiries always welcome at fhp@alythparishchurch.org.uk or via the project’s Facebook page. Pipe Band Alyth Pipe Band is on the lookout for new members, either beginners or those with previous piping or drumming experience. Practice sessions take place on Tuesdays from 6pm at Alyth Town Hall. Contact Elaine Sturrock on 01828 640312.

\Bendochy

Church See the Coupar Angus section for details of Sunday’s sermon, given by Rev Tom Tait. The reader at Bendochy was Nick Tulloch.

Burrelton

Church Rev Stevie Thomson led morning worship where the Sacra- ment of Holy Communion was celebrated. Sheena McNaughton read from 2 Samuel ch 11, v 26-27; ch 12, v 1-10 and 13-15. New Testament readings were from Luke ch 7, v 36-50 and ch 8, v 1-3. Office-bearers on duty were Donna Lamont and Gail MacKenzie. The organist was Lynne Mitchell. Flowers were donated by the McIntosh family. Bowling Club May 20 hat night winners were Milly Ward and Anne Morrison. ‘150 Club’ ticket winners were: Alex Laing (£10) and Margaret Pennycook (£5). May 27 hat night winners were Margaret Moir and John Findlay. ‘150 Club’ ticket winners were Sheena McNaughton (£10) and Barbara Pratt (£5). June 3 hat night winners were Marie Milne and Doug Gannon. ‘150 Club’ ticket winners were Sandy Wilson (£10) and Jim Hutchison (£5). The weekly hat night on June 10 was cancelled due to heavy rain. ‘150 Club’ ticket winners were Sheena McNaughton (£10) and Jim Ower (£5). ‘Souper Sunday’ The ‘Souper Sunday’ fete is in the church grounds on Sunday this week. A free lunch of soup, rolls, strawberries, cakes and tea will be served. For more information email Lynne via dayzpot@ gmail.com. Market on the Green The Market on the Green will be held from 2-5pm on August 13. Now in its seventh year, would-be stallholders are invited to contact organisers on villagehall@burrelton.com or 01828 670292. It’s £15 for a pitch. A limited number of covered pitches and tables are available, at extra cost, and must be reserved in advance. The event includes craft stalls, hot food, pony rides, local produce, games, face-painting and more.

\Bridge of Cally

Sheepdog Trial The Blairgowrie Open Sheepdog Trial takes place from 7.30am on Sunday this week at Ashmore Farm, off the A93 a short distance north of Bridge of Cally. Refreshments available. Includes raffle.

\Coupar Angus

Church Sunday’s service was led by Rev Tom Tait and began with the choir’s introit This Little Light of Mine. Six-month-old Samuel Dominic Parys was baptised and welcomed into the family of the church. The congregation sang The Lord Bless You and Keep You. This symbolic sacrament of baptism with water was a special moment for Samuel’s great grandfather Peter McNab, a stalwart of the Abbey choir. The scripture reading by Jeff Brewer was from Mathew ch 14 and the sermon focused on the healing touch of Jesus. Physical contact was said to be part of the normal human experience, and may invoke reactions of either pleasure comfort or safety. Hand in hand, handshakes, arm-in-arm, all involve the sensation of touch. Scripture readings remind of the way Jesus made contact with many different ‘untouchable’ people – an unclean woman, a girl, a leper – all cleansed and cured by his healing touch, his unconditional love which broke social convention. All who touched were made well. The girl’s father, Jairus, may have turned to Jesus in desperation for the sake of his daughter – Jesus touched the girl physically but also touched the father spiritually. He forgave the unforgivable. Contagious leprosy meant laws of isolation but Jesus stretched out his hand to a leper and touched him, showing sympathy and understand- ing. Then and now, people wanted to see and experience Jesus’ presence, yet people themselves may be standing in his way. He will only enter the door of people’s hearts when they open the door to people as well. Even the prophet Isaiah needed the touching of his lips by live coal to feel cleansed by God. In everyone people meet, the light of the Lord Jesus continues to kindle faith and when the lives of others touch people, their gloom will be dispelled and their faith renewed. In the sacrament of Baptism earlier in the service, Samuel was accepted into the fellowship of the Church by water and by touch. After the service, Austin Wilkie treated the congregation to a stirring organ recital including The Flower of the Quern, The Ashokan Farewell, and an English Country Garden. Charity shop The Abbey Church Charity Shop will be open from July 4-16. Donations of small furniture, jewellery, good second hand clothes and any other items would be appreciated. Items can be collected. Picnic An event is being planned on a bring your own food and drink basis for an evening picnic at the community woodland in Coupar Angus. A provisional date has been set at June 24, weather permitting. Further details to be announced shortly. Junior football Coupar Angus JFC will hold its AGM from 7.30pm on June 28 at the town’s Red House Hotel. Pipe Band Coupar Angus Pipe Band practice on Mondays and Tuesdays in the primary school. Monday sessions run from 7-9pm, while Tuesdays run from 7-8.30pm. Contact Pipe Major Kevin Douglas on 07518 801839. Pride of Place Volunteers will be distributing the town’s award-winning hanging baskets, troughs and tubs full of summer flowers in Beautiful Scotland colours in the coming weeks. These will be the spearhead of PoP’s efforts in this year’s Beautiful Scotland competition, and the attempt to regain the coveted Rose Bowl won in 2014.

\Kinclaven

Church Sunday’s service was conducted by Rev Peggy Ewart-Roberts and the organist was Janet Coyle. Bible readings from Psalm 32, v 1-7, and Luke ch 7, v 36-50, were by Mike Abbott. Donations are still being taken in aid of the Let Us Build A House charity, which seeks to assist those displaced following the earthquake in Nepal. Morning worship on Sunday this week begins at the usual time of 9.45am.

\Kirkmichael

Sheepdog Trials The annual Strathardle Sheepdog Trials take place from noon on Saturday, July 30, on Glenfernate Estate, near Enochdhu. Summer festival Kirkmichael Summer Festival takes place from 10am4pm on June 25 and 11am-4pm the following day. Attractions include a ‘fairy tale’-themed flower festival in Kirkmichael Parish Church. There will also be a tombola and book, bric a brac, cake and candy and tea/coffee stalls in the Session House. Arts and crafts will be exhibited in Kirkmichael Village Hall. The village shop is hosting a strawberry fayre, featuring freshly-made tarts and other refreshments. A barbecue lunch will take place at the Strathardle Inn both days. The festival will close with the traditional songs of praise service from 6pm in Kirkmichael Parish Church on June 26.