District News

\Alyth

Bible services Bible services will be held in Alyth Town Hall every Wednesday and Sunday in September from next week. Conducted by R Kerr and M Sykes, the weekly Wednesday services begin at 7.30pm from September 7 for the rest of the month, while the Sunday sessions get under way at 6.30pm from September 11. All sessions are free and everyone is welcome to attend. Church Morning worship on Sunday was conducted by Rev Mike Erskine. The morning service on Sunday this week begins at the usual time of 11am and will include the first Sunday school of the new term. The Sunday school, for those aged three years or older, meets in the front pews during each term time service. A crèche for those under three years 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. All events and services are open to everyone. Family History Project The project is open in Alyth Parish Church from 2-4pm each Sunday until Remembrance. New photos always welcome, which are copied and returned. The archive contains thousands of records for baptisms, weddings, burial plus maps, newspapers etc. Admission free. Enquiries welcome via fhp@alythparishchurch.org.uk or Facebook. Guild The new session of Alyth Parish Church Guild starts on Thursday this week. The meeting will be held from 2pm in the church’s Lower Hall. The minister will conduct the dedication service and give a talk on his recent trip to Ethiopia. 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 Sunday’s service was led by Rev Tom Tait. Readings from Jeremiah ch 2, v 26-37 and Mark ch 12, v 28-34 were by Jane Davidson. For sermon details, see the Coupar Angus section.

\Burrelton

Church ‘Rejection’ was the theme of morning worship, led by Rev Stevie Thomson. Readings were from Jeremiah ch 2, v 4-13 and from the Gospel of Luke ch 14, v 1 and v 7-14. Office-bearers on duty were Ann Baxter, John Baxter and Jim Mackay. Sunday Club was led by Ann Baird and Susan Christie. The organist was Lynne Mitchell and flowers were provided by Margaret Alexander. Senior Club The club will be running a charity shop in George Street, Coupar Angus, from September 25 for one week. Items for sale can be dropped off at the charity shop on September 25. Collection locally can be arranged. Contact Marie on 01828 670344 or Gladys on 01828 670692. The shop will also include a tombola and a raffle.

\Caputh/Clunie

Church The morning service at Clunie Church on Sunday this week will begin at the usual time of 11.15am. Annual Sale The annual coffee morning and sale will take place in Caputh Hall from 10.30am-12.30pm on September 10. The usual stalls and tables will be present, except a book stall. The hall will be open from 7-8pm on September 9 to allow items for sale to be dropped off.

\Coupar Angus

Church Sunday’s service was led by Rev Tom Tait, with Austin Wilkie at the organ. After the opening hymn, Praise My Soul The King of Heaven, prayers were said, followed by a story about ‘Bobby’. Mr Tait said that Bobby had challenged him to a race but insisted that he be given a one step start as he was just a boy. Mr Tait was a bit suspicious as he thought he was bound to win. However, he agreed but hadn’t banked on Bobby’s ingenuity in staging the race up a ladder. With a one step advantage, Bobby won. The minister explained that the moral of the tale was that, if people take the first step on the ladder of faith and keep going, then they will win as well. Readings from Jeremiah ch 2, v 26-37 and Mark ch 12, v 28-34 were by Anne Easson. Mr Tait took his text from Jeremiah. It stated: “You will all be disgraced – you say that a tree is your father and a rock is your mother. This will happen because you turned away from me.” Those gathered heard that psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud didn’t take a very sympathetic view of religion. He said that people feel frustrated and unfulfilled so they create an imaginary world called ‘religion’ and an imaginary father called ‘God’, who makes them feel important. This was nothing new as Jeremiah thought the same when he looked at the people around him in the 7th Century BC. People then were said to be worshipping Gods they had made up and would have been as well worshipping lumps of stone, according to the prophet. Mr Tait went on to give three examples of made-up ‘Gods’ – to cope with death, guilt and life itself, respectively. Mr Tait said people look to these ‘Gods’ to make everything right with little cost to themselves, for which they receive little comfort. There is only one real God, the Father of Jesus Christ. He alone can open the gate of eternal life and forgive sins, but people must repent first and turn their lives around. The one true God is the one who says he will support people no matter what pain they have to bear or tears they have to cry. Life is not necessarily easy, but he is there to help. The service closed with the hymn Thine be the Glory. Musical offerings by Austin were Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (JS Bach), Meditation From Thais (Jules Massenet), Chorus from the Merry Wives of Windsor (Otto Nicolai) and, lastly, a Blackpool Tower Ballroom-style Rhumba Medley. The Abbey Kirk Session will meet on September 6 from 7.30pm in the church. Children’s Ministry groups re-start on September 5 in the Abbey Church, Coupar Angus. There is an urgent need for helpers to set up equipment on Monday mornings and put away on Thursday evenings. Anyone willing to volunteer is asked to contact the Abbey Church Session Clerk. Heritage Association Coupar Angus and District Heritage Association is holding a charity shop in George Street from 9.30am-4pm until September 3. For more information contact Allan Legge on 01828 628886. Pipe Band Coupar Angus Pipe Band practice on Mondays and Tuesdays in the primary school. Monday sessions run from 7-9pm and Tuesdays run from 7-8.30pm. Contact Pipe Major Kevin Douglas on 07518 801839. Pride of Place Coupar Angus Pride of Place is running the charity shop in George Street from September 5. Open 9am-4pm each day, the fundraiser will close at noon a Saturday, September 10. The shop will be open from 2pm on September 3 to receive goods, as well as during the week itself. A spokesperson said: “The support we receive is very much appreciated and helps us provide and care for the floral displays in the town. Contributions of goods are very welcome.” Pride of Place will also have a stall at the Action Picnic on September 9 from 3-8pm in the town hall. The spokesperson added: “Besides trying to encourage folk to come and join our merry band of ‘Poppers’, we will have on display the updated plans of the work to be carried out at the Burn which we hope to be starting this autumn. These show the detail of the path and seating at the poultry processing plant end and the locations of the three interpretation panels that local P6 children will be involved in gathering the information for and designing.”

\Kettins

Big Sing Kettins Parish Church will host a Big Sing, featuring the talented members of Meigle Musicality, from 11am on October 2. A choir and the children of the congregation will also perform as part of the ‘Lend a Helping Hand’ theme. The singing will be followed by lunch. All proceeds will go towards Guild projects and the new Kettins Parish Hall fund. All welcome.

\Kinclaven

Church Sunday’s service was conducted by Rev Bill Ewart and the organist was Janet Coyle. Bible readings from Hebrews ch 12, v 18-29 and Luke ch 13 v 10-17 were by Mike Service. The next meeting of the Kirk Session is from 2pm on September 14. The service on Sunday this week begins at the usual time of 9.45am. Visitors welcome.