District News
\Alyth
Parish Church Morning worship on Sunday, December 3, was conducted by Rev Mike Erskine and the evening service took place at 6pm. Next week morning worship will take place at the usual time of 11am. During term time the Sunday school welcomes children to the front pews of the church. A creche for under-threes is available during 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 at www. alythparishchurch.org.uk is updated weekly and contains details of the Family History Project, Kirk news, and lots of photos. All events and services are open to everyone. Family History Alyth Family History Project is now closed until Easter. Genealogy enquiries are welcome by email on fhp@alythparishchurch.org. uk or through the project’s Facebook page. Pipe band Alyth and District Pipe Band practice on Wednesdays from 6pm in Alyth Town Hall. For more information contact Elaine Sturrock on 01828 640312 or email elaine@ alythpipeband.org. The band is on the lookout for a lead tip, drummers and pipers of all abilities with the intention of entering competitions for 2018 season. The lead tip will be expected to teach the learners. For more information contact Pipe Major Gordon Barton on 07971 485893 or gordonbarton@mac.com.
\Bendochy
Church For details of the service and further intimations see Coupar Angus Abbey Church. The gift service will be held on Sunday, December 10, and all contributions will be donated to the Salvation Army. There will be carols in the church on Christmas Eve at 7pm. Everyone welcome. This Sunday the service at Bendochy is from 10am to 10.45am, all welcome.
\Burrelton
Church Morning worship was led by Dr Hugh Ormiston with Lynne Mitchell as organist. The first Advent Candle (Hope) was lit by Elizabeth McLean. Lynne Mitchell read from Jeremiah ch 33 vv 14-16, Romans ch 1 vv 10-12 and the Gospel of Mark ch 13 vv 24-37. Officebearers on duty were John Alexander, Ishbel Chambers and Sandy Duthie. Sunday Club was led by Caroline Mackay and Maria Juma. Flowers were provided by Moira Ormiston and tea and coffee was served by Margaret and Jim Mackay. A meeting of the Kirk Session will take place at 7pm on Monday, December 11, in the Church Halls, Woodside. A Christmas gift box for the Salvation Army in Perth will be in the church until Sunday, December 17. Please wrap gifts and label with age and gender as appropriate and help bring a smile to a little face on Christmas morning. Christmas Services On Sunday, December 17, there will be a service in Collace Church at 7pm, Nine Lessons and Carols. The collection will be for CHAS. On Thursday, December 21, there will be a service to remember loved ones from 7pm to 7.30pm at Cargill/Burrelton. On Sunday, December 24 there will be morning worship at Cargill/Burrelton at 10am and at Collace at 11.15am. There will also be a nativity and Christingle service for children and the young at heart from 6pm to 7pm at Cargill/ Burrelton. At the close of the service mulled wine, juice and nibbles will be served in the Church Halls. The Watchnight Service on Sunday, December 24, will be from 11.40pm to 12.10am. The retiring collection will be for the Erskine Hospital. On Monday, December 25, there will be a service at Collace at 10am. Guild Fiona McMartin gave a presentation on Lakeland Plastics. Rita Blackwell gave the vote of thanks. Devotions were led by Rita Blackwell with praise accompanied by Moira Ormiston. Tea hostess was Margaret Mackay. The next meeting is an update on CHAS on Thursday, January 11, in the Church Halls, Woodside at 2pm. All welcome. Senior Club The next meeting is on Thursday, December 6, when Callum Wallace will entertain. Burrelton and Woodside Senior Club fundraising events this year are the Christmas hampers raffle, which will be drawn on December 21, and a whist drive on February 9. Raffle tickets for the Christmas hampers are on sale now.
\Clunie
Knit and Natter The group meets in Clunie Hall on the third Wednesday of every month from 2-4pm.
\Coupar Angus
Abbey Church The service on Sunday, December 3, the first Sunday of Advent, was led by Rev. Andrew Graham. The choir opened the service with the introit, ‘In the bleak mid-winter’, and Rev Graham gave an Advent Reflection, reading from Isaiah ch 9 vv 2-7. The first of the four Advent Candles (Hope) was lit by Margaret Patullo, followed by the Advent hymn, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’. Rev. Graham reminded the congregation that people around the world will have lots of personal reasons for their ‘hope’. Many will hope for a stable home, or to be able to leave their homes without fear of being shot, or just to be able to afford to heat their homes. Hope, in terms of our faith, is to know God better, every single day. Bible lessons were read by Irene Henderson from Mark ch 13 vv 32-37 and First Corinthians ch 1 vv 3-9. Mark warned us to keep alert for we don’t know what time we will meet our maker, and Paul, in Corinthians, writes of grace and peace. In his address, Rev Graham informed how important Jesus Christ was to Paul. In the short passage from First Corinthians Paul mentions the name of Jesus eight times. Nothing made sense to Paul without Jesus at its heart. Although the world around us does not meet our hopes, we should never stop praying for humanity, for the world leaders to look for a way of peace. Church music and hymns ‘Make way, make way for Christ the King’, ‘My Jesus My Saviour’ and ‘Jesus Shall Reign’ contributed to a very enjoyable first Advent service and were played by Jenny and Bill Whyte. Advent is a time of anticipation and waiting. Rev Graham asked: “Are we ready to catch this flame of hope and take it with us”, and reflected, “I hope so”. The Sunday service at the Abbey Church is from 11.15am to 12.15pm, all welcome. The Prayer Group and Bible Study continue on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7.15pm respectively. This week the discussion will be about Luke 1; all are welcome. The Children’s Ministry nativity will be held on Thursday, December 21, at 7pm in the Abbey Church. Tickets are £3 and are on sale now. The Church of Scotland has created a new online advent calendar and each day the calendar will journey with the characters in the natiivity through video, reflections and prayer. Sign up at http://churchofscotland.adventcalendar.net or access it through www.bandcachurch.org.uk. The next Friendly Friday at the Abbey will be on February 2 from 1.30pm to 3pm. All welcome for beverage and cake. Intimations for next Sunday to Ellen at emcgibbon@sky.com or telephone 07541009398 by Thursday. Heritage Association The association meets on the first Friday of each month at 7.30pm in the St Anne’s Church hall on Forfar Road. Tickets for the Christmas meal on January 12 in the Red House Hotel at 7pm are available at the Heritage Centre or by telephoning Sheila Legge on 01828 628886. Thursday Friends The Christmas party will be in the Red House Hotel on Thursday, December 14 at 1pm for 1.30pm.
\Kettins
Parish Hall There will be a coffee morning to draw the Christmas raffle on Saturday, December 9 from 10am
to 11.30am. All welcome.
\Kinclaven
Church The service on Sunday was conducted by Rev Peggy EwartRoberts. The sermon was by Rev Bill Ewart and the prayers by Rosemary Patterson. The organist was Janet Coyle and Audrey Awburn read from Isaiah ch 64 vv 1-9 and Mark ch 13 vv 24-37. Audrey also lit the first candle of Advent, signifying hope. On Sunday, December 10, there will be a service of reflection and prayer in the church at 4pm to remember at Christmas time loved ones who are no longer with us and much missed. The joint lunch club will be held in Caputh on Tuesday, December 12 at 12.30pm. Contact Gill Hayes on 01738 710848. The Guild Christmas Concert will be held in the hall at 7pm on Thursday, December 14. All welcome. Sunday services are at 9.45am and all are welcome.
\Kirkmichael
Church There will be a Christmas concert on Friday, December 15, featuring the popular group Meigle Musicality. The concert is in aid of Session House funds. A donation will also be made to CHAS. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £7 which includes refreshments and are available from Petrina Menzies, Kirkmichael Session House, telephone 01250 881770 or 882242.